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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2025
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and as amended by Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU’s”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).

The consolidated financial statements are expressed in US dollars. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for items that are required to be accounted for at fair value.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in these consolidated financial statements include but are not limited to the accrual of research and development expenses, share-based payments and the recoverability of investment tax credits receivable. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, known trends and other market-specific or other relevant factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Company evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences may be material to the consolidated financial statements.

Segment Information

The Company considered the Company’s organizational structure and the information regularly reviewed and evaluated by the Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) when deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company has determined that its CODM is its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). The CODM reviews the financial information on a consolidated basis for purposes of evaluating financial performance and allocating resources. Based on this factor, the Company determined that it operates and manages its business as a single operating segment. As of October 31, 2025, the Company had $7.2 million and $3.0 million in long-lived assets held in the United States and in Canada, respectively. As of October 31, 2024, the Company had $0.4 million and $2.5 million in long-lived assets held in the United States and in Canada, respectively.

Risk of Concentrations of Credit and Off-Balance Sheet Risk

Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. The Company regularly maintains deposits in accredited financial institutions in excess of federally insured limits. Management believes that the Company is not currently exposed to significant credit risk as the Company’s deposits were held in custody at third-party financial institutions.

The Company's investment policy limits investments to certain types of securities issued by the U.S. Government and its agencies, as well as institutions with investment-grade credit ratings and places restrictions on maturities and concentration by type and issuer. The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of default by the financial institutions holding its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and issuers of marketable securities to the extent recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of October 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had no off-balance sheet concentrations of credit risk.

The Company is dependent on third-party CMOs and CRO with whom it does business. In particular, the Company relies and expects to continue to rely on a small number of manufacturers to supply it with its requirements of active pharmaceutical ingredients and formulated drugs in order to perform research and development activities in its programs. The Company also relies on a limited number of third-party CROs to perform research and development activities on its behalf. These programs could be adversely affected by significant interruption from these providers.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all short-term, highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents include bank balances, demand deposits and

other short-term, highly liquid investments. The fair value of cash and cash equivalents approximate the amortized cost. The Company had $50.2 million of cash and cash equivalents as of October 31, 2025 and $173.0 million of cash and cash equivalents as of October 31, 2024. See Note 17, Subsequent Events, for additional discussion on the Company’s cash position following the closing of an underwritten public offering in November 2025.

Marketable securities

The Company's marketable securities are maintained by investment managers and consist of money market funds, U.S. government agency securities and treasuries. If the remaining contractual maturity is within one year from the balance sheet date, the marketable securities are classified as current and otherwise, they are classified as non-current assets.

Investment in marketable securities is classified as available-for-sale and is reported at fair value using quoted prices in active markets for similar securities. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity in other comprehensive loss. Premium or discounts from par value are amortized to investment income over the life of the underlying investment.

The Company periodically evaluates the need for an allowance for credit losses. The evaluation includes consideration of several qualitative and quantitative factors, including whether it has plans to sell the security, whether it is more likely than not it will be required to sell any marketable securities before recovery of its amortized cost basis, and if the entity has the ability and intent to hold the security to maturity, and the portion of any unrealized loss that is the result of a credit loss. Factors considered in making these evaluations include quoted market prices, recent financial results and operating trends, implied values from any recent transactions or offers of investee securities, credit quality of debt instrument issuers, expected cash flows from securities, other publicly available information that may affect the value of the marketable security, duration and severity of the decline in value, and the Company's strategy and intentions for holding the marketable security.

When the fair value is below the amortized cost of the asset, an estimate of expected credit losses is made. The Company records credit losses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss as a credit loss expense within other income, net, which is limited to the difference between the fair value and the amortized cost of the security. To date, the Company has not recorded any credit losses on its available-for-sale securities.

Accrued interest receivable related to the Company's available-for-sale securities is presented within prepaids and other current assets on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The Company has elected the practical expedient available to exclude accrued interest receivable from both the fair value and the amortized cost basis of available-for-sale debt securities for the purposes of identifying and measuring any impairment. The Company writes off accrued interest receivable once it has determined that the asset is not realizable. Any write offs of accrued interest receivable are recorded by reversing interest income, recognizing credit loss expense, or a combination of both. To date, the Company has not written off any accrued interest receivable associated with its marketable securities.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are comprised mainly of research and development equipment, computer hardware and software, office furniture and equipment, and leasehold improvements. Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses, if applicable. Depreciation expense is recognized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of each asset, as follows:

 

 

 

Estimated Useful Life

Lab equipment

 

5 years

Computer equipment

 

3 years

Computer software

 

5 years

Office furniture

 

5 years

Leasehold improvements

 

Shorter of remaining lease term or useful life

 

Estimated useful lives are periodically assessed to determine if changes are appropriate. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost of these assets and related accumulated depreciation or amortization are eliminated from the consolidated balance sheet and any resulting gains or losses are included in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss in the period of disposal.

The Company reviews long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. If indicators of impairment are present, the assets are tested for recoverability by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to the related estimated future undiscounted cash flows that the assets are expected to generate. If the expected undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of the assets, then the assets are considered to be impaired and its carrying value is written down to fair value, based on the related estimated discounted future cash flows. To date, no such impairment losses have been recorded.

Leases

The Company determines whether an arrangement is or contains a lease at inception. A contract is or contains a lease if the contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. The Company classifies leases at the lease commencement date, when control of the underlying asset is transferred from the lessor to the lessee, as operating or finance leases and records a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and a lease liability on the consolidated balance sheet for all leases with an initial lease term of greater than 12 months. The Company has elected to not recognize leases with a lease term of 12 months or less on the balance sheet.

The Company enters into contracts that contain both lease and non-lease components. Non-lease components may include maintenance, utilities, and other operating costs. For leases of real estate, the Company combines the lease and associated non-lease components in its lease arrangements as a single lease component. Variable costs, such as utilities or maintenance costs, are not included in the measurement of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, but rather are expensed when the event determining the amount of variable consideration to be paid occurs.

Lease assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of the lease payments over the lease term using the discount rate implicit in the lease if readily determinable. If the rate implicit is not readily determinable, the Company utilizes an estimate of its incremental borrowing rate based upon the available information at the lease commencement date. ROU assets are further adjusted for initial direct costs, prepaid rent, or incentives received. Operating lease payments are expensed using the straight-line method as an operating expense over the lease term. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option.

Fair Value Measurements of Financial Instruments

Certain assets and liabilities of the Company are carried at fair value under U.S. GAAP. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three levels of the fair value hierarchy, of which the first two are considered observable and the last is considered unobservable:

o
Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
o
Level 2—Observable inputs (other than Level 1 quoted prices), such as quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets or liabilities, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
o
Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity that are significant to determining the fair value of the assets or liabilities, including pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques.

To the extent that the valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

At October 31, 2025, financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis include marketable securities (see Note 4, Marketable Securities, and Note 3, Fair Value Measurements). The carrying amounts of accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature.

Debt Issuance Costs

The Company capitalizes certain legal, accounting, and other third-party fees that are directly associated with the issuance of debt not accounted for using the fair value option as debt issuance costs. Debt issuance costs are recorded as a direct reduction of the carrying amount of the associated debt on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and amortized as interest expense on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss using the effective interest method.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses are comprised primarily of costs incurred for our drug discovery efforts and development of our product candidates. These expenses include salaries, employee benefits, and share-based compensation expense for our research and development personnel, materials, supplies, depreciation on and maintenance of research equipment, the cost of services provided by outside CROs and consultants to conduct research and development activities including costs of clinical trials and manufacturing, and the allocable portions of facility costs, such as rent, utilities, and general support services. All costs associated with research and development are expensed as incurred.

Management estimates the Company’s accrued research and development expenses as of each balance sheet date in the Company’s financial statements based on facts and circumstances known to the Company at that time. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the estimate, the Company will adjust the accrual accordingly. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods and services are deferred and recognized as expense in the period that the related goods are consumed or services are performed.

Patent Costs

All patent-related costs incurred in connection with filing and prosecuting patent applications such as direct application fees, and legal and consulting expenses are expensed as incurred due to the uncertainty about the recovery of the expenditure. Patent-related costs are classified as general and administrative expenses within the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company has an incentive equity plan (the “2023 Incentive Equity Plan” or the “2023 Plan”), whereby employees render services as consideration for equity instruments. The 2023 Plan was adopted on October 31, 2023 upon the completion of the Reverse Recapitalization and superseded enGene Inc.’s employee stock option plan (the “ESOP”) and equity incentive plan (the “EIP”) (collectively, the “Old Plans”). The 2023 Plan was amended and restated in May 2024 and is now the Company's Amended and Restated enGene Holdings Inc. 2023 Incentive Equity Plan (the "2023 Plan"), which supersedes all prior plans. The Company measures all share-based awards granted to employees, officers, directors and non-employees based on their fair value on the date of the grant and recognizes compensation expense for those awards over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective award. The Company accounts for forfeitures of its share-based awards as they occur. The Company issues share-based awards with service-based vesting conditions and awards with both performance and service-based vesting conditions. For share-based awards with service-based vesting conditions, the Company records the expense using the straight-line method including when such awards have graded vesting. For share-based awards with both performance and service-based vesting conditions, the Company records the expense using an accelerated attribution method, once the performance conditions are considered probable of being achieved, using management’s best estimate.

The fair value of each stock option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which requires inputs based on certain subjective assumptions, including the fair value of the Company’s common shares, expected share price volatility, the expected term of the award, the risk-free interest rate for a period that approximates the expected term of the option, and

the Company’s expected dividend yield. The Company determines the volatility for awards granted based on an analysis of reported data for a group of guideline companies with similar characteristics including market capitalization, stage of development, therapeutic focus and certain financial measures. The expected volatility has been determined using an average of the historical volatility measures of this group of guideline companies. The expected option term was calculated based on the simplified method for awards with only service based vesting conditions, which uses the midpoint between the vesting date and the contractual term, as the Company does not have sufficient historical data to develop an estimate based on participant behavior. For awards with both performance and service based vesting conditions, the expected term has been determined using management’s best estimate considering the characteristics of the award, contractual life, the timing of the expected achievement of the performance conditions, the remaining time-based vesting period, if any, and comparison to expected terms used by peers. The risk-free interest rate is determined by reference to the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant of the award for time periods approximately equal to the expected term of the award. The Company has not paid, and does not anticipate paying, cash dividends on its common shares; therefore, the expected dividend yield is assumed to be zero.

Prior to the consummation of the Reverse Recapitalization, because there was no public market for the Company’s common shares, the Board of Directors has determined the fair value of the Company’s common shares based on third-party valuations of the Company’s common shares. Initially, the estimated enterprise equity value of the Company was determined using a market approach and/or cost approach by considering the weighting of scenarios estimated using a back-solve method based on recent financing transactions of the Company. This value was then allocated towards the Company’s various securities of its capital structure using an option pricing method, or OPM, and a waterfall approach based on the order of the superiority of the rights and preferences of the various securities relative to one another.

Significant assumptions used in the OPM to determine the fair value of common shares include volatility, discount for lack of marketability, and the expected timing of a future liquidity event such as an initial public offering (“IPO”), or sale of the Company in light of prevailing market conditions. This valuation process creates a range of equity values both between and within scenarios. In addition, the Company’s Board of Directors considered various objective and subjective factors to determine the fair value of the Company’s common shares as of each grant date, including the prices at which enGene Inc. sold shares of redeemable convertible preferred shares and the superior rights and preferences of the redeemable convertible preferred shares relative to its common shares at the time of each grant, external market conditions, the progress of the Company’s research and development programs, the Company’s financial position, including cash on hand, and its historical and forecasted performance and operating results, and the lack of an active public market for the Company’s common shares and redeemable convertible preferred shares, among other factors.

The assumptions underlying these valuations represented management’s best estimate, which involved inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment and these valuations are sensitive to changes in the unobservable inputs. As a result, if the Company had used different assumptions or estimates or if there are changes to the unobservable inputs, the fair value of its common shares and share-based compensation expense could have been materially different.

Subsequent to becoming a publicly traded Company upon the consummation of the Reverse Recapitalization, the fair value of common shares underlying equity awards is based on the market price of the Company’s common stock at the date of the grant.

The Company’s share-based compensation expense is recorded in general and administrative and research and development expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

 

Income Taxes

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of the assets and liabilities using the enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance against deferred tax assets is recorded if, based on the weight of the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements by applying a two-step process to determine the amount of tax benefit to be recognized. First, the tax position must be evaluated to determine the likelihood that it will be sustained upon external examination by the taxing authorities. If the tax position is deemed more-likely-than-not to be sustained, the tax position is then assessed to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The amount of benefit that may be recognized is the largest amount that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The provision for income taxes includes the effects of any resulting tax reserves, or unrecognized tax benefits, that are considered appropriate as well as the related net interest and penalties.

Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive loss includes net loss as well as other changes in shareholders’ deficit that result from transactions and economic events other than those with shareholders.

Net Loss Per Share

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period and, if dilutive, the weighted-average number of potential shares of common shares. The weighted-average number of common shares included in the computation of diluted net loss gives effect to all potentially dilutive common equivalent shares, including outstanding stock options and warrants. Common stock equivalent shares are excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share if their effect is antidilutive. In periods in which the Company reports a net loss attributable to common shareholders, diluted net loss per share attributable to common shareholders is generally the same as basic net loss per share attributable to common shareholders because dilutive common shares are not assumed to have been issued if their effect is anti-dilutive. See Note 11, Net Loss per Share, for further detail.

Deferred Transaction Costs

The Company capitalizes certain legal, professional accounting and other third-party fees that were directly associated with PIPE or public financings as deferred transaction costs until such transaction was consummated. After the consummation of such transaction, these costs are recorded within equity as a reduction of the common share and warrants value within additional paid in capital. Costs are allocated to each equity instrument on a relative fair value basis for transactions that include both instruments.

Government Assistance Programs for Research and Development Expenditures

The Company was eligible to claim Canadian federal and provincial tax credits as a Canadian controlled private corporation (“CCPC”) on eligible scientific research and experimental development (“SR&ED”) expenditures through September 2023, at which time the Company lost its status as a CCPC. In addition, effective for fiscal 2023, the Company’s maximum refundable tax credits were reduced due to the Company’s taxable capital, as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada), which reduction in credits has been recorded in the fourth quarter. The Canadian federal government offers a tax incentive to companies performing research and development activities in Canada and this tax incentive can be refunded or used to reduce federal income taxes in Canada otherwise payable. Such credits, if not refunded or used in the year earned, can be carried forward for a period of twenty years. The Quebec provincial government offers a similar refundable incentive. The investment tax credits recorded are based on management’s estimates of amounts expected to be recovered and are subject to audit by the taxation authorities, the resulting adjustments of which could be significant. Following the loss of CCPC status, the Company’s SR&ED tax credits will be earned at a lower rate and some will no longer be refundable.

Amounts received or receivable resulting from government assistance programs, including investment tax credits for SR&ED, are recognized when there is reasonable assurance that the amount will be received, and all attached conditions will be complied with. Reimbursements of eligible SR&ED expenditures pursuant to government assistance programs are received in cash. The amounts

receivable are recorded as reductions of research and development costs when the related costs have been incurred and there is reasonable assurance regarding collection of the claim. During the years ended October 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company recorded $0.6 million and $0.4 million, respectively, as a reduction of research and development expense associated with SR&ED investment tax credits.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280: Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures) (“ASU 2023-07”), which requires public entities to disclose information about their reportable segments’ significant expenses on an interim and annual basis. All disclosure requirements under ASU 2023-07 are also required for public entities with a single reportable segment. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023 and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company adopted this accounting standard during the year ended October 31, 2025 and there was no impact on the Company’s reportable segments identified. Required disclosures have been included in Note 15 "Segment Reporting".

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements – Not Yet Adopted

 

In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal Use Software (Subtopic 350-40) Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software, which removes references to project stages and clarified when the Company is required to begin capitalizing eligible costs. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. ASU 2025-06 may be applied retrospectively or prospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this updated standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income- Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, as further clarified by ASU 2025-01, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income- Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Clarifying the Effective Date, issued in January, 2025, which requires entities to disclose additional information about specific expense categories in the notes to the financial statements. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. ASU 2024-03 may be applied retrospectively or prospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this updated standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which improves transparency of income tax disclosures by requiring (1) consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and (2) income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. ASU No 2023-09 is effective for the Company's annual financial statements for the year ending October 31, 2026. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the guidance on the financial statements and related disclosures.

In October 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-06, Disclosure Improvements: Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC's Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative, which amends GAAP to reflect updates and simplifications to certain disclosure and presentation requirements referred to FASB by the SEC. The targeted amendments incorporate 14 of the 27 disclosures referred by the SEC into codification. Each amendment in ASU 2023-06 is effective on the date on which the SEC's removal of the related disclosure requirement from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K becomes effective but will not be effective if the SEC has not removed the applicable disclosure requirements by June 30, 2027. Early adoption is prohibited. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the amendments on its financial statements and related disclosures.