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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). The Company's functional and reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going-concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and discharge of liabilities in the normal course of business. Since its inception, the Company has incurred significant losses and negative cash flows from operations. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $67.9 million and cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $134.9 million. The Company has financed its operations primarily with the proceeds from the sale of stock. The Company will need to raise additional capital to meet its business objectives. The Company believes that its current cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund its planned expenditures and meet its obligations through at least the next twelve months. Use of Estimates The preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from such estimates. Initial Public Offering On March 22, 2016, the Company's registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-208850) relating to its initial public offering ("IPO") of its common stock was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and the shares of its common stock began trading on the NASDAQ Global Market on March 23, 2016. The public offering price of the shares sold in the IPO was $15.00 per share. The IPO closed on March 29, 2016, pursuant to which the Company sold 4,700,000 shares of its common stock. On April 26, 2016, the Company sold an additional 502,618 shares of its common stock to the underwriters upon partial exercise of their over-allotment option, at the initial offering price of $15.00 per share. The Company received aggregate net proceeds of approximately $70.6 million, after underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses. Immediately prior to the consummation of the IPO, all outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock were converted into common stocks. Concentrations of Credit Risk and Other Risks and Uncertainties Substantially all of the Company's cash and cash equivalents are deposited in accounts with two financial institutions that management believes are of high credit quality. Such deposits may, at times, exceed federally insured limits. The Company maintains its cash with an accredited financial institution and accordingly, such funds are subject to minimal credit risk. The Company's marketable securities are direct obligations of the United States government. The Company has not experienced any losses on its deposits of cash, cash equivalents or marketable securities. Since inception, the Company has recurring net losses and negative cash flows from operations. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company incurred a net loss of $36.4 million and used $27.9 million of cash in operations. At December 31, 2016, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $67.9 million and does not expect to experience positive cash flows from operations in the near future. The Company has financed operations to date primarily through private placements of convertible preferred stock and proceeds from its IPO. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $134.9 million. The Company is subject to a number of risks similar to other early stage biopharmaceutical companies, including, but not limited to, the need to obtain adequate additional funding, possible failure of preclinical testing or clinical trials, its reliance on third parties to conduct its clinical trials, the need to obtain marketing approval for its product candidates, competitors developing new technological innovations, the need to successfully commercialize and gain market acceptance of the Company's product candidates, its right to develop and commercialize its product candidates pursuant to the terms and conditions of the licenses granted to the Company, and protection of proprietary technology. If the Company does not successfully commercialize or partner any of its product candidates, it will be unable to generate product revenue or achieve profitability. Segments Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision-maker in making decisions regarding resource allocation and assessing performance. The Company views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment, that of the development of and commercialization of novel immuno-oncology therapies that are designed to harness the immune system to attack cancer cells. Cash and Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities The Company considers all highly liquid investment securities with remaining maturities at the date of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Investments with remaining maturities, at the date of purchase, greater than three months, but less than one year are considered short-term. The Company determines the appropriate classification of marketable securities at the time of purchase and evaluates such designation as of each balance sheet date. To date, all marketable securities have been classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, if any, included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders' equity (deficit). Interest and realized gains and losses are included in interest income. Realized gains and losses are recognized based on the specific identification method. Fair Value Measurements Fair value accounting is applied for all financial assets and liabilities and non-financial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). The carrying amount of the Company's financial instruments, including cash equivalents, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, approximate fair value due to their short-term maturities. Deferred Offering Costs Deferred offering costs consist primarily of direct incremental costs related to the Company's initial public offering of its common stock. Upon completion of the initial public offering in March 2016, these amounts were offset against the proceeds of the offering. Property and Equipment, Net Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets:
Laboratory equipment |  | 5 years
Computer equipment and purchased software |  | 3 years
Leasehold improvements |  | Shorter of asset's useful life or remaining term of lease
Maintenance and repairs that do not extend the life or improve the asset are expensed when incurred. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the balance sheet and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in operations. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets The Company regularly reviews the carrying value and estimated lives of all of its long-lived assets, including property and equipment, to determine whether indicators of impairment may exist which warrant adjustments to carrying values or estimated useful lives. The determinants used for this evaluation include management's estimate of the asset's ability to generate positive income from operations and positive cash flow in future periods as well as the strategic significance of the assets to the Company's business objectives. Should impairment exist, the impairment loss to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the projected discounted future net cash flows arising from the asset. All long-lived assets are maintained in the United States of America. Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation Convertible Preferred Stock Liability The Company determined that the Company's obligation to issue additional shares of the Company's convertible preferred stock represented a freestanding financial instrument, which was accounted for as a liability. The freestanding convertible preferred stock liability was initially recorded at fair value, with fair value changes recognized in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The Company estimated the fair value of this liability using an option-pricing model that included assumptions for future financings, expected volatility, expected life and risk-free interest rate. At the time of the exercise of the option (June 2015), the remaining value of the convertible preferred stock liability was reclassified to convertible preferred stock with no further remeasurement required. Research and Development Expenses The Company records research and development expenses as incurred. The Company accounts for nonrefundable advance payments for goods and services that will be used in future research and development activities as expenses when the goods have been received or when the service has been performed rather than when the payment is made. Research and development expenses consist of costs incurred by the Company for the discovery and development of the Company's product candidates and include:
| • | employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits, travel and non-cash stock-based compensation expense;
| • | external research and development expenses incurred under arrangements with third parties, such as contract research organizations, contract manufacturing organizations, academic and non-profit institutions and consultants;
| • | costs to acquire technologies to be used in research and development that have not reached technological feasibility and have no alternative future use;
| • | license fees; and
| • | other expenses, which include direct and allocated expenses for laboratory, facilities and other costs.
Clinical Trial Accruals Costs for preclinical studies and clinical trial activities are recognized based on an evaluation of the vendors' progress towards completion of specific tasks, using data such as clinical site activations, patient enrollment or information provided to the Company by its vendors regarding their actual costs incurred. Payments for these activities are based on the terms of individual contracts and payment timing may differ significantly from the period in which the services are performed. The Company determines accrual estimates through reports from and discussions with applicable personnel and outside service providers as to the progress or state of completion, or the services completed. The Company's estimates of accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date are based on the facts and circumstances known at the time. Stock-Based Compensation The Company maintains incentive plans under which incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options may be granted to employees and non-employee service providers. The Company accounts for stock-based employee compensation arrangements in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718, "Compensation—Stock Compensation." For stock options granted to employees, the Company recognizes compensation expense for all stock-based awards based on the grant-date estimated fair values. The value of the award is recognized as an expense ratably over the requisite service period. The fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Forfeitures are accounted for when they occur. Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options granted to non-employees is recognized based on the fair value of the stock options, determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The expense for options granted to non-employees is periodically re-measured as the underlying options vest. The awards generally vest over the time period the Company expects to receive service from the non-employee. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method. The Company estimates actual current tax exposure together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differences in accounting for reporting purposes and tax purposes for certain items, such as accruals and allowances not currently deductible for tax purposes. These temporary differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in the Company's balance sheets. In general, deferred tax assets represent future tax benefits to be received when certain expenses previously recognized in the Company's statements of operations and comprehensive loss become deductible expenses, under applicable income tax laws or when net operating loss or credit carryforwards are utilized. Accordingly, realization of the Company's deferred tax assets is dependent on future taxable income against which these deductions, losses and credits can be utilized. The Company must assess the likelihood that the Company's deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and a valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be recovered. The Company applies judgment in the determination of the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Based on the available evidence, the Company is unable, at this time, to support the determination that it is more likely than not that its deferred tax assets will be utilized in the future. Accordingly, the Company recorded a full valuation allowance for all periods presented. The Company intends to maintain a valuation allowance until sufficient evidence exists to support its reversal. The Company recognizes any material interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. The Company recognizes benefits of uncertain tax positions if it is more likely than not such positions will be sustained upon examination based solely on their technical merits as the largest amount of benefit that is more likely than not to be realized upon the ultimate settlement. The Company is required to file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction. The Company currently is not under examination by the Internal Revenue Service or other jurisdictions for any tax years. Comprehensive Loss Comprehensive loss includes net loss as well as other changes in stockholders' equity (deficit) that result from transactions and economic events other than those with stockholders. The Company's only element of other comprehensive loss in any period presented was unrealized gains and losses on available for sale marketable securities. Net Loss per Share Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, without consideration of potentially dilutive securities. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of common shares and potentially dilutive securities outstanding for the period. For purposes of the diluted net loss per share calculation, the convertible preferred stock, common stock subject to repurchase, and stock options are considered to be potentially dilutive securities. Because the Company has reported a net loss for all periods presented, diluted net loss per common share is the same as basic net loss per common share for those periods. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which required an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASU No. 2014-09 will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective January 1, 2018 for public companies. Early application is permitted as of January 1, 2017. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), which clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations in ASU No. 2014-09. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, which clarifies certain aspects of identifying performance obligations and licensing implementation guidance. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, which relates to disclosures of remaining performance obligations, as well as other amendments to guidance on collectability, non-cash consideration and the presentation of sales and other similar taxes collected from customers. These standards have the same effective date and transition date of January 1, 2018. The Company does not believe adopting this guidance will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements as the Company is not yet generating revenues. In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties About an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. This standard update provides guidance around management's responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. The new guidance is effective for all annual and interim periods ending after December 15, 2016. The Company has adopted ASU 2014-15 as of the year ended December 31, 2016. In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. This standard amends the accounting for income taxes and requires all deferred tax assets and liabilities to be classified as non-current on the balance sheet. The new standard is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The standard may be adopted either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company has adopted ASU 2015-17 as of the year ended December 31, 2016. There was no impact on the consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) that replaces existing lease guidance. The new standard requires lessees to record right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities on the balance sheet. The new guidance will continue to classify leases as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the statement of income. The standard is effective for the Company beginning June 1, 2019, with early application permitted. The new standard is required to be applied with a modified retrospective approach to each prior reporting period presented with various optional practical expedients. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The updated guidance changes how companies account for certain aspects of share-based payment awards to employees, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification in the statement of cash flows. The update to the standard is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2017, with early application permitted. The Company has adopted the provisions of this standard on January 1, 2016, the impact of which on its consolidated financial statements was not significant.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the basis of presentation and significant accounting policies concepts. Basis of presentation describes the underlying basis used to prepare the financial statements (for example, US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Other Comprehensive Basis of Accounting, IFRS). Accounting policies describe all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. + References No definition available. + Details
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