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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S.”) (“U.S. GAAP” or “GAAP”).

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Synlogic and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. On an on-going basis, the Company’s management evaluates its estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, income taxes including the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, research and development accruals and prepaids, accrued expenses, investments, contingencies and equity-based compensation. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in estimates are reflected in reported results in the period in which they become known.

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investment instruments with a remaining maturity when purchased of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Investments qualifying as cash equivalents primarily consist of money market funds, corporate debt securities and commercial paper. Cash equivalents are stated at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value. The amount of cash equivalents included in cash and cash equivalents was approximately $13.5 million and $0.3 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk include amounts held as cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted cash. The Company uses high quality, accredited financial institutions to maintain its balances, and accordingly, such funds are subject to minimal credit risk. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and management believes that the Company is not exposed to significant credit risk due to the financial position of the depository institutions in which those deposits are held. The Company has no financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk of loss.

Restricted Cash

The Company held cash of approximately $1.0 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018 in a letter of credit to secure its lease at the 301 Binney Street facility. In addition, the Company held cash of $50,000 at December 31, 2019 and 2018 in a separate restricted bank account as collateral for the Company’s credit cards. The Company has classified these deposits as long-term restricted cash on its balance sheet.

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the statement of financial position that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the statement of cash flows (in thousands).

	December 31,		December 31,
	2019		2018
Cash and cash equivalents	$	26,184	$	11,252
Restricted cash included in other long-term assets		1,097		1,097
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows	$	27,281	$	12,349

Fair Value

The Company is required to disclose information on all assets and liabilities reported at fair value that enables an assessment of the inputs used in determining the reported fair values. Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, establishes a fair value hierarchy for those instruments measured at fair value that distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company’s own assumptions (unobservable inputs). The hierarchy consists of three levels:

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Level 1 – Utilize observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

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Level 2 – Utilize data points that are either directly or indirectly observable, such as quoted prices, interest rates and yield curves;

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Level 3 – Utilize unobservable data points in which there is little or no market data, which require the Company to develop its own assumptions for the asset or liability.

The Company evaluates transfers between levels at the end of each reporting period. There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Available-for-Sale Securities

The Company classifies all short-term investments with an original maturity when purchased of greater than three months as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income (loss). The amortized cost of debt securities in this category is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity. Such amortization is included in interest and investment income. Realized gains and losses, and declines in value judged to be other than temporary on available-for-sale securities, are included in interest and investment income.

The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. Interest and dividends on securities classified as available-for-sale are included in interest and investment income. To determine whether an other-than-temporary impairment exists, the Company considers whether it has the ability and intent to hold the investment until a market price recovery, and whether evidence indicating the recoverability of the cost of the investment outweighs evidence to the contrary.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment, including leasehold improvements, are recorded at cost and depreciated over their estimated useful lives using the straight‑line method. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred, whereas major improvements are capitalized as additions to property and equipment.

Depreciation begins at the time the asset is placed in service. Depreciation is provided over the following estimated useful lives:

Asset classification		Useful life
Computer and office equipment		3 years
Furniture and fixtures		5 years
Laboratory equipment		5 years
Leasehold improvements		Lesser of useful life or remaining lease term

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long‑Lived Assets

Long‑lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. When such events occur, the Company compares the carrying amounts of the assets to their undiscounted expected future cash flows. If this comparison indicates that there is impairment, the amount of impairment is calculated as the difference between the carrying value and fair value of the asset. To date, no such impairments have been recognized.

Research and Development Costs

Costs incurred in the research and development of the Company’s product candidates are expensed as incurred. The Company defers and capitalizes nonrefundable advance payments made by the Company for research and development activities until the related goods are received or the related services are performed.

Research and development expenses are comprised of costs incurred in performing research and development activities, including salary and benefits, equity-based compensation expense, laboratory supplies and other direct expenses, facilities expenses, overhead expenses, contractual services and other outside expenses.

When third-party service providers’ billing terms do not coincide with the Company’s period-end, the Company is required to make estimates of its obligations to those third parties, including clinical trial costs, contractual services costs and costs for supply of its drug candidates, incurred in a given accounting period and record accruals at the end of the period. The Company bases its estimates on its knowledge of the research and development programs, services performed for the period and the expected duration of the third-party service contract, where applicable.

Revenue recognition

The Company generates revenue through a collaboration and license arrangement with a strategic partner for the development and commercialization of product candidates.

The Company evaluates collaboration agreements with respect to FASB ASC Topic 808, Collaborative Arrangements, considering the nature and contractual terms of the arrangement and the nature of its business operations to determine the classification of the transactions. When the Company is an active participant in the activity and exposed to significant risks and rewards dependent on the commercial success of the collaboration, it will record its transactions on a gross basis in the consolidated financial statements and describe the rights and obligations under the collaborative arrangement in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Under ASC 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the entity performs the following five-step analysis: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Company only applies the five-step analysis to contracts when it is probable that the entity will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.

The Company may enter into collaboration agreements for research and development services, under which the Company may license certain rights to its product candidates to third parties. The terms of these arrangements typically include payment to the Company of one or more of the following: non-refundable, upfront license fees; reimbursement of certain costs; customer option exercise fees; development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments; and royalties on net sales of licensed products. Variable consideration is constrained until it is deemed not be at significant risk of reversal.

In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as it fulfills its obligations under each of its agreements for which the collaboration partner is also a customer, the Company performs the following steps: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligation. As part of the accounting for these arrangements, the Company must use significant judgment to determine: a) the number of performance obligations based on the determination under step (ii) above; b) the transaction price under step (iii) above; and c) the contract term and pattern of satisfaction of the performance obligations under step (v) above. The Company uses significant judgment to determine whether milestones or other variable consideration, except for royalties, should be included in the transaction price as described further below. The transaction price is allocated to the goods and services the Company expects to provide. The Company uses estimates to determine the timing of satisfaction of performance obligations, which may include the use of full time equivalent time as a measure of satisfaction of performance obligations.

Amounts received prior to satisfying the revenue recognition criteria are recorded as deferred revenue in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Amounts expected to be recognized as revenue within the 12 months following the balance sheet date are classified as current deferred revenue. Amounts not expected to be recognized as revenue within the 12 months following the balance sheet date are classified as deferred revenue, net of current portion.

Licenses of Intellectual Property

In assessing whether a promise or performance obligation is distinct from the other promises, the Company considers factors such as the research, manufacturing and commercialization capabilities of the customer and the availability of the associated expertise in the general marketplace. In addition, the Company considers whether the customer can benefit from a promise for its intended purpose without the receipt of the remaining promises, whether the value of the promise is dependent on the unsatisfied promise, whether there are other vendors that could provide the remaining promise, and whether it is separately identifiable from the remaining promise. For licenses that are combined with other promises, the Company utilizes judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenue. The Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of performance and related revenue recognition.

Research and Development Services

If an arrangement is determined to contain a promise or obligation for the Company to perform research and development services, the Company must determine whether these services are distinct from the other promises in the arrangement. In assessing whether the services are distinct from the other promises, the Company considers the capabilities of the customer to perform these same services. In addition, the Company considers whether the customer can benefit from a promise for its intended purpose without the receipt of the remaining promise, whether the value of the promise is dependent on the unsatisfied promise, whether there are other vendors that could provide the remaining promise, and whether it is separately identifiable from the remaining promise. For research and development services that are combined with other promises, the Company utilizes judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenue. The Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of performance and related revenue recognition.

Customer Options

If an arrangement is determined to contain customer options that allow the customer to acquire additional goods or services, the goods and services underlying the customer options are not considered to be performance obligations at the outset of the arrangement, as they are contingent upon option exercise. The Company evaluates the customer options for material rights, that is, the option to acquire additional goods or services for free or at a discount. If the customer options are determined to represent a material right, the material right is recognized as a separate performance obligation at the outset of the arrangement. The Company allocates the transaction price to material rights based on an alternative approach when the goods or services are both (i) similar to the original goods and services in the contract and (ii) provided in accordance with the terms of the original contract. Under this alternative, the Company allocates the total amount of consideration expected to be received from the customer to the total goods or services expected to be provided to the customer. Amounts allocated to a material right are not recognized as revenue until the option is exercised and the performance obligation is satisfied.

Milestone Payments

At the inception of each arrangement that includes milestone payments, the Company evaluates whether a significant reversal of cumulative revenue provided in conjunction with achieving the milestones is probable and estimates the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. If it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue would not occur, the associated milestone value is included in the transaction price. Milestone payments that are not within the control of the Company or the licensee, such as regulatory approvals, are not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received. For other milestones, the Company evaluates factors such as the scientific, clinical, regulatory, commercial, and other risks that must be overcome to achieve the particular milestone in making this assessment. There is considerable judgment involved in determining whether it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue would not occur. At the end of each subsequent reporting period, the Company reevaluates the probability of achievement of all milestones subject to constraint and, if necessary, adjusts its estimate of the overall transaction price. Any such adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which would affect revenues and earnings in the period of adjustment.

Royalties

For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on a level of sales, and the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate, the Company recognizes revenue at the later of (i) when the related sales occur, or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied (or partially satisfied). To date, the Company has not recognized any royalty revenue resulting from any of its licensing arrangements.

Contract Costs

The Company recognizes as an asset the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if the costs are expected to be recovered. As a practical expedient, the Company recognizes the incremental costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset that we otherwise would have recognized is one year or less. To date, the Company has not incurred any incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer.

Equity-Based Compensation

Equity‑Based Compensation

The Company measures equity-based compensation to employees, nonemployees and directors based on the grant date fair value of the awards and recognizes the associated expense in the financial statements over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the vesting period. The fair value of each option was estimated on the date of grant or remeasurement using the Black‑Scholes option‑pricing model. Expected volatility for the Company’s common stock was determined based on an average of the historical volatility of the Company and the historical volatility of a peer‑group of similar public companies. The expected term of options granted for employees was calculated using the simplified method, which represented the average of the contractual term of the option and the weighted-average vesting period of the option. The assumed dividend yield is based upon the Company’s expectation of not paying dividends in the foreseeable future. The risk‑free interest rate is based upon the U.S. Treasury yield curve commensurate with the expected term at the time of grant or remeasurement. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur.

The Company records the expense for equity grants subject to performance-based milestone vesting over the remaining service period when management determines that achievement of the milestone is probable. Management evaluates when the achievement of a performance-based milestone is probable based on the relative satisfaction of the performance conditions as of the reporting date.

The Company classifies equity-based compensation expense in its consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss in the same manner in which the award recipient’s payroll costs are classified or in which the award recipients’ service payments are classified.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the financial statements or in the Company’s tax returns. Deferred taxes are determined based on the difference between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. Changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded in the provision for income taxes. The Company assesses the likelihood that its deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and, to the extent it believes based upon the weight of available evidence, that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance is established through a charge to income tax expense. Potential for recovery of deferred tax assets is evaluated by estimating the future taxable profits expected and considering prudent and feasible tax planning strategies.

Uncertain tax positions represent tax positions for which reserves have been established. The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the consolidated 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 be recognized in the financial statements. The amount of the 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.

Net Loss Per Share

Basic net loss per share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed using the sum of the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period and if dilutive, the weighted-average number of potential shares of common stock, including unvested restricted common stock and outstanding stock options.

Segment Information

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company operates in one operating segment: discovery and development of synthetic biology therapeutics for the treatment of rare, infectious and other diseases. The Company’s chief executive officer, as chief operating decision maker, manages and allocates resources to the operations of the Company on a total company basis. All of the Company’s equipment, leasehold improvements and other fixed assets are physically located within the United States, and all agreements with its partners are denominated in U.S. dollars, except where noted.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 – Leases (Topic 842), which replaces the existing accounting guidance for leases. This standard requires entities that lease assets to recognize the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases on the balance sheet. The standard is effective for fiscal years and the interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The guidance is required to be applied by the modified retrospective transition approach and early adoption is permitted. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11 Leases – Targeted Improvements, intended to ease the implementation of the new lease standard for financial statement preparers by, among other things, allowing for an additional transition method. In lieu of presenting transition requirements to comparative periods, as previously required, an entity may now elect to show a cumulative effect adjustment on the date of adoption without the requirement to recast prior period financial statements or disclosures presented in accordance with Topic 842. The Company adopted the new standard using the cumulative effect adjustment transition option effective January 1, 2019, which is the initial date of application per ASU 2018-11.

The Company elected the available package of practical expedients which allows the Company to not reassess previous accounting conclusions around whether arrangements are or contain leases, the classification of our leases, and the treatment of initial direct costs. The Company made an accounting policy election to keep leases with an initial term of 12 months or less off of the balance sheet.

The Company adopted Topic 842 as of January 1, 2019. The Company uses judgement to assess if an arrangement is a lease at contract inception. An arrangement is a lease if the contract involves the use of a distinct identified asset, the lessor does not have substantive substitution rights and the Company obtains control of the asset throughout the period by obtaining substantially all of the economic benefit of the asset and the right to direct the use of the asset. Leases classified as operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, current operating lease liabilities and noncurrent operating lease liabilities in our consolidated balance sheet. Finance leases are included in property and equipment and finance lease obligations, in our consolidated balance sheet.

ROU assets represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the estimated present value of lease payments over the lease term. The Company utilizes its incremental borrowing rate to determine the present value of lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is the rate incurred to borrow similar funds, on a collateralized basis, over a comparable term in a similar economic environment.

For new and amended leases beginning in 2019 and after, the Company has elected to account for the lease and non-lease components for leases as a single component for classes of all underlying assets and allocate all of the contract consideration to the lease component only. Lease cost for operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is included in operating expenses on the statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Variable lease payments are included in lease operating expenses.

The lease term includes options to extend the lease when it is reasonably certain that option will be exercised. Leases with a term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.

The adoption had a material impact on the consolidated balance sheet related to the recognition of a transition adjustment on January 1, 2019 of a right-of-use asset of $15.9 million and lease liability of $24.0 million for an operating lease and the derecognition of deferred rent originally accounted for under legacy guidance. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated statement of operations. Refer to Note 13, “Leases” for further information on the adoption of this standard and the Company’s accounting for leases.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 - Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Statements. The new standard requires that expected credit losses relating to financial assets measured on an amortized cost basis and available-for-sale debt securities be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. It also limits the amount of credit losses to be recognized for available-for-sale debt securities to the amount by which carrying value exceeds fair value and also requires the reversal of previously recognized credit losses if fair value increases. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10 – Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates, which amended the effective date for certain companies. The standard is effective for public companies eligible to be smaller reporting companies for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2022. Early adoption is available. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact ASU 2016-13, and related updates, will have on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13 - Fair Value Measurement - Disclosure Framework (Topic 820). The standard modifies the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. The standard is effective for public companies for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for any removed or modified disclosures. Management is currently assessing the impact adoption will have on the Company, but it is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statement disclosures.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15 - Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract. The standard requires implementation costs incurred by customers in cloud computing arrangements to be deferred over the noncancelable term of the cloud computing arrangements plus any optional renewal periods (1) that are reasonably certain to be exercised by the customer or (2) for which exercise of the renewal option is controlled by the cloud service provider. The effective date of this pronouncement is for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years, and early adoption is permitted. The standard can be adopted either using the prospective or retrospective transition approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this pronouncement on the Company's consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-18 - Collaborative Arrangements (Topic 808): Clarifying the Interaction Between Topic 808 and Topic 606, which, among other things, provides guidance on how to assess whether certain collaborative arrangement transactions should be accounted for under Topic 606. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact the standard will have on its financial statements.