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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”), the Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”), of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), and the rules and regulations of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Forte Subsidiary, Inc. and Forte Biosciences Australia Proprietary Limited. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. Use of Estimates The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that impact the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant management estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses include stock-based compensation expense and accruals for clinical trials and drug manufacturing. Although these estimates are based on the Company’s knowledge of current events and actions it may undertake in the future, actual results may ultimately materially differ from these estimates and assumptions. Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash in readily available operating accounts, U.S. treasury bills, money market funds and deposits with commercial banks. Cash equivalents are defined as short-term, highly liquid investments with maturities of 90 days or less from the date of purchase. Available-for-Sale Securities The Company’s available-for-sale securities consist of U.S. treasury bills. Securities with maturities from the date of purchase of 90 days or less are included in cash equivalents. The Company classifies its marketable securities as available-for-sale and records such assets at estimated fair value in the consolidated balance sheets, with unrealized gains and losses, if any, reported as a component of other comprehensive loss within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss and as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Realized gains and losses are calculated on the specific identification method and recorded as interest income (loss). Any premium arising at purchase is amortized to the earliest call date and any discount arising at purchase is accreted to maturity. Accretion of discounts are recorded in interest income in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. There is a three-level hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used in determining fair value by their reliability and preferred use as follows: • Level 1 - Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. • Level 2 – Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data. • Level 3 – Valuations based on inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurements and are unobservable. To the extent that a 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 within 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. There have been no significant changes to the valuation methods utilized by the Company during the periods presented. There have been no transfers between Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 in any periods presented. The carrying amounts of financial instruments consisting of cash and cash equivalents, accounts payable and accrued liabilities included in the Company’s financial statements are reasonable estimates of fair value, primarily due to their short maturities. Short-term investments are recorded at fair value, with any unrealized gains or losses reported as accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. Property and Equipment, Net Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation, subject to review for impairment. Property and equipment, net are depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally three to five years, using the straight-line method. Impairment of Property and Equipment The Company reviews its property and equipment for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparing the book values of the assets to future net undiscounted cash flows that the assets or the asset groups are expected to generate. If such assets are considered impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount the book value of the assets exceed their fair value, which is measured based on the estimated discounted future net cash flows arising from the assets or asset groups. No impairment losses on property and equipment have been recorded for the years ended December 31, 2024 or 2023. Pre-Funded Warrants Pre-funded warrants are accounted for as either derivative liabilities or as equity instruments depending on the specific terms of the agreement. The pre-funded warrants are equity-classified instruments that were recorded in additional paid-in capital at issuance and are not subject to remeasurement. The Company periodically evaluates changes in facts and circumstances that could impact the classification of warrants. Research and Development Costs Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs consist primarily of salaries and benefits of research and development personnel, costs related to research activities, preclinical studies, clinical trials and drug manufacturing. Non-refundable advance payments for goods or services that will be used in future research and development activities are deferred and capitalized and are only expensed when the goods have been received or when the service has been performed rather than when the payment is made. Drug manufacturing and clinical trial costs are a component of research and development expenses. The Company expenses costs for its drug manufacturing activities performed by Contract Manufacturing Organizations (“CMOs”), preclinical and clinical trial costs performed by Contract Research Organizations (“CROs”) and other service providers, as they are incurred, based upon estimates of the work completed over the life of the individual task in accordance with associated agreements. The Company uses information it receives from internal personnel and outside service providers to estimate the percentage of completion and therefore the expense to be recognized. Research and Development Tax Incentive The Company is eligible to receive a cash refund from the Australian Taxation Office for eligible research and development (“R&D”) expenditures under the Australian R&D Tax Incentive Program (the “Australian Tax Incentive”). The Australian Tax Incentive is recognized as a reduction to R&D expense when the relevant expenditure has been incurred, the amount can be reliably measured and it is probable that the Australian Tax Incentive will be received. The Company has not recorded any reductions to R&D expense under the Australian tax incentive as it is not reasonably assured that the criteria have been met. The Company has not received any cash refunds under this program. Patent Costs Costs related to filing and pursuing patent applications, including direct application fees and the legal and consulting expenses related to making such applications, are expensed as incurred, as recoverability of such expenditures is uncertain. These costs are included in general and administrative expenses within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Comprehensive Loss Comprehensive loss is defined as the change in equity during a period from transactions from non-owner sources. Other comprehensive loss includes unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, which was the only difference between net loss and comprehensive loss for the applicable periods. Net Loss Per Share The Company’s net loss is equivalent to net loss attributable to common stockholders for all periods presented. Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares, without consideration for common stock equivalents. The weighted average number of shares of common stock used in the basic and diluted net loss per share calculation include the pre-funded warrants outstanding during the period as they are exercisable at any time and their exercise requires only nominal consideration for the delivery of shares. As of December 31, 2024, no pre-funded warrants have been exercised and pre-funded warrants to purchase an aggregate of 5,003,121 shares of common stock were outstanding. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding during the period in accordance with the treasury stock method. The following number of unexercised stock options, restricted stock units, warrants, and shares expected to be purchased under the ESPP, which are common stock equivalents, have been excluded from the diluted net loss calculation as their effect would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented.
|  |  | Year Ended December 31, |
|  |  | 2024 |  |  | 2023 |
Options |  |  |  | 212,501 |  |  |  | 105,791 |
Restricted stock units |  |  |  | 28,537 |  |  |  | 42,237 |
Warrants |  |  |  | 176 |  |  |  | 176 |
ESPP |  |  |  | 66 |  |  |  | 73 |
Total |  |  |  | 241,280 |  |  |  | 148,277 |
Stock-Based Compensation The Company issues stock-based awards to employees, directors and non-employees, generally in the form of stock options, restricted stock units or rights granted to employees under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). The Company accounts for stock-based compensation awards in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation. The Company measures compensation cost for all equity awards for employees, directors and non-employees at their grant-date fair value and recognizes compensation expense for service-based awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. The grant-date fair value of stock options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The grant-date fair value of restricted stock units is determined using the Company’s closing stock price on the date of grant. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur. Stock-based compensation expense for an award with a performance condition is recognized when the achievement of the performance condition has been determined to be probable. If the outcome of such performance condition has not been determined to be probable, or has not been met, no compensation expense is recognized and any previously recognized compensation expense is reversed. For rights granted under the ESPP, the fair value of each purchase is estimated at the beginning of the offering period using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company classifies stock-based compensation expense in its statement of operations in the same manner in which the award recipient’s salary and related costs are classified in the case of employees, or in which the award recipient’s service payments are classified in the case of directors and non-employees. Foreign Currency Transactions Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in currencies other than the US dollar are recorded to other expenses, net in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss and were not material for the periods presented. The Company's subsidiaries use the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. Income Taxes The Company uses an asset and liability approach to account for income taxes. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. These differences are measured using the enacted statutory tax rates that are expected to be in effect for the years in which differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided when the expected realization of deferred tax assets does not meet a “more likely than not” criterion. The Company makes estimates and judgments about its future taxable income that are based on assumptions that are consistent with its plans and estimates. Should the actual amounts differ from those estimates, the amount of the valuation allowance could be materially impacted. Changes in these estimates may result in significant increases or decreases to the Company’s tax provision in a period in which such estimates are changed, which in turn would affect net income or loss. The Company recognizes tax benefits from uncertain tax positions if it believes the position is more likely than not to be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. The Company makes adjustments to these reserves when facts and circumstances change, such as the closing of a tax audit or the refinement of an estimate. The provision for income taxes includes the effects of any reserves for tax positions that are not more likely than not to be sustained, as well as the related net interest and penalties. Recently Adopted Accounting Standards In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The new standard is intended to improve annual and interim reportable segment disclosure requirements regardless of number of reporting units, primarily through enhanced disclosures of significant expenses. The amendment requires public entities to disclose significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the CODM and included within each reported measure of segment profit and loss. The Company adopted this new standard for the annual period ended December 31, 2024 on a retrospective basis, and the adoption did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. See Note 12, Segment Information, for the updated segment disclosures as a result of adopting this ASU. In August 2020, the FASB issued ​ASU 2020-06​, ​Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40)​. ​ASU 2020-06 eliminates the beneficial conversion and cash conversion accounting models for convertible instruments. It also amends the accounting for certain contracts in an entity’s own equity that are currently accounted for as derivatives because of specific settlement provisions. In addition, ASU 2020-06 modifies how particular convertible instruments and certain contracts that may be settled in cash or shares impact the diluted earnings per share computation. The amendments in ASU 2020-06 are effective for smaller reporting companies as defined by the SEC for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted ASU 2020-06 as of January 1, 2024, which did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASB or other standard-setting bodies and adopted by us as of a specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, the Company believes that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09 Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosure. This ASU includes amendments that further enhance income tax disclosures, primarily through standardization and disaggregation of rate reconciliation categories and income taxes paid by jurisdiction. The ASU is effective for years beginning after December 15, 2024, but early adoption is permitted. This ASU should be applied on a prospective basis, although retrospective application is permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact of the changes required by the new standard on the Company's consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures, which requires disclosure of additional information about specific expense categories in the notes to the financial statements on an interim and annual basis. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the disclosure requirements related to this new standard.

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