UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from _____________ to ______________
Commission File Number:
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
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Trading Symbol(s) |
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Name of each exchange on which registered |
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer |
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Accelerated filer |
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Smaller reporting company |
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Emerging growth company |
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No
As of August 5, 2024, the registrant had
Table of Contents
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Page |
PART I. |
FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
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Item 1. |
1 |
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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 |
1 |
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2 |
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3 |
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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 |
4 |
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5 |
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Item 2. |
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
23 |
Item 3. |
36 |
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Item 4. |
36 |
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PART II. |
OTHER INFORMATION |
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Item 1. |
38 |
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Item 1A. |
38 |
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Item 2. |
38 |
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Item 3. |
38 |
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Item 4. |
38 |
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Item 5. |
38 |
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Item 6. |
39 |
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40 |
i
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
Erasca, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and par value amounts)
(Unaudited)
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June 30, |
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December 31, |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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Assets |
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Current assets: |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
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$ |
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$ |
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Short-term marketable securities |
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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Total current assets |
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Long-term marketable securities |
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Property and equipment, net |
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Operating lease assets |
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Restricted cash |
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Other assets |
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Total assets |
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$ |
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$ |
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Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity |
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Current liabilities: |
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Accounts payable |
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$ |
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$ |
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Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
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Operating lease liabilities |
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Total current liabilities |
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Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion |
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Other liabilities |
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Total liabilities |
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Stockholders' equity: |
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Preferred stock, $ |
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Common stock, $ |
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Additional paid-in capital |
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Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income |
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( |
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Accumulated deficit |
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( |
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( |
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Total stockholders' equity |
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Total liabilities and stockholders' equity |
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$ |
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$ |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
1
Erasca, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended June 30, |
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Six Months Ended June 30, |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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Operating expenses: |
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Research and development |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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In-process research and development |
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— |
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— |
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General and administrative |
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Total operating expenses |
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Loss from operations |
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( |
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( |
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( |
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( |
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Other income (expense) |
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Interest income |
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Other expense, net |
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( |
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( |
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( |
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Total other income (expense), net |
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Net loss |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
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Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
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Weighted-average shares of common stock used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted |
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Other comprehensive income (loss): |
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Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities, net |
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( |
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( |
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Comprehensive loss |
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$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
2
Erasca, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
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Accumulated |
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Additional |
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Other |
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Total |
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Common Stock |
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Paid-in |
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Comprehensive |
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Accumulated |
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Stockholders' |
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Shares |
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Amount |
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Capital |
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(Loss) Income |
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Deficit |
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Equity |
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Balance at December 31, 2023 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
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Exercise of stock options |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Vesting of early exercised stock options |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Stock-based compensation expense |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Net loss |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
) |
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( |
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Unrealized loss on marketable securities, net |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
) |
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— |
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( |
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Balance at March 31, 2024 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
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Issuance of common stock in private placement, net of $ |
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— |
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— |
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Issuance of common stock in underwritten offering, net of $ |
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— |
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— |
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Exercise of stock options |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Issuance of common stock under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Vesting of early exercised stock options |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Stock-based compensation expense |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Net loss |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
) |
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( |
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Unrealized gain on marketable securities, net |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Balance at June 30, 2024 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
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Accumulated |
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Additional |
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Other |
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Total |
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Common Stock |
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Paid-in |
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Comprehensive |
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Accumulated |
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Stockholders' |
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Shares |
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Amount |
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Capital |
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(Loss) Income |
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Deficit |
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Equity |
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Balance at December 31, 2022 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
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Exercise of stock options |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Vesting of early exercised stock options |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Stock-based compensation expense |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Net loss |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
) |
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( |
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Unrealized gain on marketable securities, net |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Balance at March 31, 2023 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
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Exercise of stock options |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Issuance of common stock under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Vesting of early exercised stock options |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Stock-based compensation expense |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Net loss |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
) |
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( |
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Unrealized loss on marketable securities, net |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
) |
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— |
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( |
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Balance at June 30, 2023 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
Erasca, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
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Six Months Ended June 30, |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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Cash flows from operating activities: |
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Net loss |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
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Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
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Depreciation and amortization |
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Stock-based compensation expense |
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In-process research and development expenses |
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— |
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Accretion on marketable securities, net |
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( |
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( |
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Impairment charge on operating lease assets and property and equipment |
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— |
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Impairment charge on investment in equity securities |
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— |
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Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
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Prepaid expenses and other current and long-term assets |
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( |
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Accounts payable |
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( |
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( |
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Accrued expenses and other current and long-term liabilities |
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( |
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( |
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Operating lease assets and liabilities, net |
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Net cash used in operating activities |
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( |
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( |
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Cash flows from investing activities: |
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Purchases of marketable securities |
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( |
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( |
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Maturities of marketable securities |
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In-process research and development |
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( |
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( |
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Purchases of property and equipment |
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( |
) |
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( |
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Net cash used in investing activities |
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( |
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( |
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Cash flows from financing activities: |
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Proceeds from issuance of common stock in private placement, net of fees and expenses |
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— |
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Proceeds from issuance of common stock in underwritten offering, net of discounts and offering costs |
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— |
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Proceeds from the exercise of stock options |
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Proceeds from issuance of common stock under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan |
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Net cash provided by financing activities |
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Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
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( |
) |
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Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of the period |
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Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of the period |
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$ |
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$ |
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Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities: |
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Amounts accrued for purchases of property and equipment |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
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Vesting of early exercised options |
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$ |
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$ |
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Amounts accrued for offering costs |
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$ |
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$ |
— |
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Amounts accrued for deferred offering costs |
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$ |
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$ |
— |
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Obligation accrued for investment in equity securities |
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$ |
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$ |
— |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
Erasca, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Note 1. Organization and basis of presentation
Organization and nature of operations
Erasca, Inc. (Erasca or the Company) is a clinical-stage precision oncology company singularly focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing therapies for RAS/MAPK pathway-driven cancers. The Company has assembled a wholly-owned or controlled RAS/MAPK pathway-focused pipeline comprising modality-agnostic programs aligned with its three therapeutic strategies of: (1) targeting key upstream and downstream signaling nodes in the RAS/MAPK pathway; (2) targeting RAS directly; and (3) targeting escape routes that emerge in response to treatment. The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on July 2, 2018, as Erasca, Inc., and is headquartered in San Diego, California. In September 2020, the Company established a wholly-owned Australian subsidiary, Erasca Australia Pty Ltd (Erasca Australia), in order to conduct clinical activities in Australia for its development candidates. In November 2020, the Company entered into an agreement and plan of merger with Asana BioSciences, LLC (Asana) and ASN Product Development, Inc. (ASN) (the Asana Merger Agreement), pursuant to which ASN became the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary. In March 2021, the Company established a wholly-owned subsidiary, Erasca Ventures, LLC (Erasca Ventures), to make equity investments in early-stage biotechnology companies that are aligned with the Company’s mission and strategy.
Since inception, the Company has devoted substantially all of its efforts and resources to organizing and staffing the Company, business planning, raising capital, identifying, acquiring and in-licensing the Company’s product candidates, establishing its intellectual property portfolio, conducting research, preclinical studies, and clinical trials, establishing arrangements with third parties for the manufacture of its product candidates and related raw materials, and providing general and administrative support for these operations. As of June 30, 2024, the Company had $
The Company expects to use its cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities to fund research and development, working capital, and other general corporate purposes. The Company does not expect to generate any revenues from product sales unless and until the Company successfully completes development and obtains regulatory approval for any of its product candidates, which will not be for at least the next several years, if ever. Accordingly, until such time as the Company can generate significant revenue from sales of its product candidates, if ever, the Company expects to finance its cash needs through equity offerings, debt financings, or other capital sources, including potential collaborations, licenses or other similar arrangements. However, the Company may not be able to secure additional financing or enter into such other arrangements in a timely manner or on favorable terms, if at all. The Company’s failure to raise capital or enter into such other arrangements when needed would have a negative impact on the Company’s financial condition and could force the Company to delay, limit, reduce or terminate its research and development programs or other operations, or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that the Company would otherwise prefer to develop and market itself. The Company believes its cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of June 30, 2024 will be sufficient for the Company to fund operations for at least one year from the issuance date of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
2024 underwritten offering
In May 2024, the Company completed the sale and issuance of
5
2024 private placement
In March 2024, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement with the purchasers named therein for the private placement of
Basis of presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with US generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP) for interim financial information and pursuant to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by US GAAP for complete financial statements. Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to US GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) and Accounting Standards Updates (ASU) promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Erasca Australia, ASN, and Erasca Ventures. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Note 2. Summary of significant accounting policies
Use of estimates
The preparation of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that impact the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Accounting estimates and management judgments reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, the accrual of research and development expenses, stock-based compensation expense, the fair value of long-lived assets, the fair value of equity investments and the incremental borrowing rate for determining the operating lease asset and liability. Management evaluates its estimates on an ongoing basis. Although estimates are based on the Company’s historical experience, knowledge of current events, and actions it may undertake in the future, actual results may ultimately materially differ from these estimates and assumptions.
Unaudited interim financial information
The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2024, the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the condensed consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 are unaudited. The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited annual consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair statement of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial position as of June 30, 2024 and the condensed consolidated results of its operations and cash flows for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023. The condensed consolidated financial data and other information disclosed in these notes related to the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 are unaudited. The condensed consolidated results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2024, any other interim periods, or any future year or period. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on March 27, 2024.
6
Concentration of credit risk and off-balance sheet risk
Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to significant concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities. The Company maintains deposits in federally insured financial institutions in excess of federally insured limits. 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’s investment policy includes guidelines for the quality of the related institutions and financial instruments and defines allowable investments that the Company may invest in, which the Company believes minimizes the exposure to concentration of credit risk.
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in readily available checking and savings accounts and money market funds. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.
The Company had deposited cash of $
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same amounts shown in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows (in thousands):
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June 30, |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
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$ |
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||
Restricted cash |
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Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
$ |
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$ |
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Marketable securities and investments
The Company classifies all marketable securities as available-for-sale, as the sale of such securities may be required prior to maturity. Management determines the appropriate classification of its marketable securities at the time of purchase. Marketable securities with original maturities beyond three months at the date of purchase and which mature at, or less than 12 months from, the balance sheet date are classified as short-term marketable securities. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses reported as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until realized. The amortized cost of available-for-sale debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity. Such amortization and accretion are included in interest income. The Company regularly reviews all of its marketable securities for declines in fair value. The review includes the consideration of the cause of the impairment, including the creditworthiness of the security issuers, the number of securities in an unrealized loss position, the severity of the unrealized loss(es), whether the Company has the intent to sell the securities and whether it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the securities before the recovery of their amortized cost basis. If the decline in fair value is due to credit-related factors, a loss is recognized in net income; whereas, if the decline in fair value is not due to credit-related factors, the loss is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss). Realized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are included in other income or expense. 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 income.
Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Erasca Ventures, the Company has also invested in equity securities of a company whose securities are not publicly traded and whose fair value is not readily available (see Notes 3 and 14). This investment is recorded using cost minus impairment, plus or minus changes in its estimated fair value resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. Investments in equity securities without readily determinable fair values are assessed for potential impairment on a quarterly basis based on qualitative factors. This investment is included in other assets in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets.
7
Fair value measurements
Certain assets and liabilities are carried at fair value under US GAAP. Fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are 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:
Level 1—Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.
Level 2—Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
Level 3—Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity).
Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted
From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASB or other standard setting bodies that the Company adopts as of the specified effective date. The Company qualifies as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (JOBS Act) and has elected not to “opt out” of the extended transition related to complying with new or revised accounting standards, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public and nonpublic companies, the Company can adopt the new or revised standard at the time nonpublic companies adopt the new or revised standard and can do so until such time that the Company either (i) irrevocably elects to “opt out” of such extended transition period or (ii) no longer qualifies as an emerging growth company.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which is intended to provide enhancements to segment disclosures, even for entities with only one reportable segment. In particular, the standard will require disclosures of significant segment expenses regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker and included within each reported measure of segment profit and loss. The standard will also require disclosure of all other segment items by reportable segment and a description of its composition. Finally, the standard will require disclosure of the title and position of the chief operating decision maker and an explanation of how the chief operating decision maker uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. Retrospective application to all prior periods presented in the financial statements is required. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the standard on the presentation of 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 is intended to provide enhancements to annual income tax disclosures. In particular, the standard will require more detailed information in the income tax rate reconciliation, as well as the disclosure of income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction, among other enhancements. The standard is effective for the Company in its annual period beginning after December 15, 2025 and early adoption is permitted. The standard allows for adoption on a prospective basis, with a retrospective option. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the standard on the presentation of its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
8
Note 3. Fair value measurements
The following tables summarize the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and their respective input levels based on the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):
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Fair value measurements as of June 30, 2024 using |
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Quoted prices in |
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Significant |
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Significant |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
active markets |
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other |
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unobservable |
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||||
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June 30, |
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for identical |
|
|
observable |
|
|
inputs |
|
||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
assets (level 1) |
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inputs (level 2) |
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(level 3) |
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Assets: |
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Money market funds(1) |
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$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
||
US treasury securities(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
||
US government agency securities(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
||
Corporate debt securities(2) |
|
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|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
||
Commercial paper(2) |
|
|
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|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
||
US treasury securities(3) |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
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|
— |
|
||
US government agency securities(3) |
|
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|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
||
Total fair value of assets |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value measurements as of December 31, 2023 using |
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||||||||||
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Quoted prices in |
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Significant |
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Significant |
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||||
|
|
|
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|
active markets |
|
|
other |
|
|
unobservable |
|
||||
|
|
December 31, |
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for identical |
|
|
observable |
|
|
inputs |
|
||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
assets (level 1) |
|
|
inputs (level 2) |
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(level 3) |
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Assets: |
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|
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|
||||
Money market funds(1) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
||
US treasury securities(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
||
US government agency securities(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
||
Corporate debt securities(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
||
Commercial paper(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
||
US treasury securities(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
||
Total fair value of assets |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities, approximate fair value due to their short maturities. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company held $
9
Cash equivalents consist of money market funds, short-term marketable securities consist of US treasury securities, US government agency securities, corporate debt securities and commercial paper, and long-term marketable securities consist of US treasury securities and US government agency securities. The Company obtains pricing information from its investment manager and generally determines the fair value of marketable securities using standard observable inputs, including benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, and bid and/or offers.
Note 4. Marketable securities
The following tables summarize the Company’s marketable securities accounted for as available-for-sale securities (in thousands, except years):
|
|
June 30, 2024 |
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
Maturity |
|
Amortized |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Estimated |
|
||||
|
|
(in years) |
|
cost |
|
|
gains |
|
|
losses |
|
|
fair value |
|
||||
US treasury securities |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|||
US government agency securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|||
Corporate debt securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|||
Commercial paper |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
||||
US treasury securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
||||
US government agency securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
||||
Total |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
December 31, 2023 |
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
Maturity |
|
Amortized |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Estimated |
|
||||
|
|
(in years) |
|
cost |
|
|
gains |
|
|
losses |
|
|
fair value |
|
||||
US treasury securities |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
||||
US government agency securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
||||
Corporate debt securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||||
Commercial paper |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
||||
US treasury securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||||
Total |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
The following tables present fair values and gross unrealized losses for those available-for-sale securities that were in an unrealized loss position as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, aggregated by category and the length of time that the securities have been in a continuous loss position (in thousands):
|
|
June 30, 2024 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Unrealized losses less than 12 months |
|
|
Unrealized losses 12 months or greater |
|
|
Total |
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
Fair value |
|
|
Unrealized losses |
|
|
Fair value |
|
|
Unrealized losses |
|
|
Fair value |
|
|
Unrealized losses |
|
||||||
US treasury securities |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|||
US government agency securities |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
||
Corporate debt securities |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
||
Commercial paper |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
10
|
|
December 31, 2023 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Unrealized losses less than 12 months |
|
|
Unrealized losses 12 months or greater |
|
|
Total |
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
Fair value |
|
|
Unrealized losses |
|
|
Fair value |
|
|
Unrealized losses |
|
|
Fair value |
|
|
Unrealized losses |
|
||||||
US treasury securities |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
||
US government agency securities |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
||
Corporate debt securities |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
||
Commercial paper |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
As of June 30, 2024, there were
As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities are not attributed to credit risk. The Company believes that an allowance for credit losses is unnecessary because the unrealized losses on certain of the Company’s available-for-sale securities are due to market factors and changes in interest rates. Additionally, the Company does not intend to sell the securities nor is it more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the securities before recovery of their amortized cost basis.
Accrued interest on the Company’s available-for-sale securities was $
Note 5. Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Laboratory equipment |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Furniture and fixtures |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Leasehold improvements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Computer equipment and software |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Property and equipment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Property and equipment, net |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Depreciation and amortization expense related to property and equipment was $
11
Note 6. Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Accrued research and development expenses |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Accrued compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Unvested early exercised stock option liability |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Accrued professional services |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Accrued property and equipment |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued offering and deferred offering costs |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Other accruals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Note 7. Asset acquisitions
The following purchased assets were accounted for as asset acquisitions as substantially all of the fair value of the assets acquired were concentrated in a group of similar assets, and the acquired assets did not have outputs or employees. Because the assets had not yet received regulatory approval, the fair value attributable to these assets was recorded as in-process research and development expenses in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Asana BioSciences, LLC
In November 2020, the Company entered into the Asana Merger Agreement, pursuant to which ASN became its wholly-owned subsidiary. Asana and ASN had previously entered into a license agreement, which was amended and restated prior to the closing of the merger transaction (the Asana License Agreement, and collectively with the Asana Merger Agreement, the Asana Agreements), pursuant to which ASN acquired an exclusive, worldwide license to certain intellectual property rights relating to inhibitors of ERK1 and ERK2 owned or controlled by Asana to develop and commercialize ERAS-007 and certain other related compounds for all applications.
Under the Asana Merger Agreement, in 2020, the Company made an upfront payment of $
Note 8. License agreements
Novartis Pharma AG
In December 2022, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement (as amended, the Novartis Agreement) with Novartis Pharma AG (Novartis) under which the Company was granted an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing license to certain patent and other intellectual property rights owned or controlled by Novartis to develop, manufacture, use, and commercialize naporafenib in all fields of use. The Company has the right to sublicense (through multiple tiers) its rights under the Novartis Agreement, subject to certain limitations and conditions, and is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to commercialize licensed products in certain geographical markets.
12
The license granted under the Novartis Agreement is subject to Novartis’ reserved right to: (i) develop, manufacture, use, and commercialize compounds unrelated to naporafenib under the licensed patent rights and know-how, (ii) use the licensed patent rights and know-how for non-clinical research purposes, and (iii) use the licensed patent rights and know-how to the extent necessary to perform ongoing clinical trials and perform its obligations under existing contracts and under the Novartis Agreement.
Under the Novartis Agreement, the Company made an upfront cash payment to Novartis of $
Guangzhou Joyo Pharmatech Co., Ltd
In May 2024, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement (the Joyo License Agreement) with Guangzhou Joyo Pharmatech Co., Ltd. (Joyo) under which the Company was granted an exclusive, worldwide (except mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau), royalty-bearing license to certain patent and other intellectual property rights owned or controlled by Joyo to develop, manufacture, and commercialize certain pan-RAS inhibitors in all fields of use. The Company has an option to expand the territory of the license to include mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau by making a $
The license granted under the Joyo License Agreement is subject to Joyo’ reserved right to develop, manufacture, use, and commercialize licensed products in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, unless the Company exercises its option to expand the license to include mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
Under the Joyo License Agreement, the Company made an upfront cash payment to Joyo of $
The Joyo License Agreement will expire upon the last to expire royalty term, which is determined on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis, and is the later of: (i) ten years from the date of first commercial sale for the licensed product in such country, (ii) the last to expire valid claim within the licensed patent rights covering such licensed product, or (iii) the expiration of all regulatory exclusivity for the licensed product in such country. Upon expiration of the Joyo License Agreement, on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis, the license granted to the Company with respect to such product in such countries shall be deemed to be fully paid-up, royalty-free, non-terminable, irrevocable and perpetual.
The Joyo License Agreement may be terminated in its entirety by either party in the event of an uncured material breach by the other party or in the event the other party becomes subject to specified bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar circumstances. Joyo may terminate the Joyo License Agreement in the event that the Company or its affiliates or any of its or their sublicensees institutes, prosecutes or otherwise participates in any challenge to the licensed patents. The Company may terminate the Joyo License Agreement in its entirety at any time upon the provision of prior written notice to Joyo.
13
Upon termination of the Joyo License Agreement for any reason, all rights and licenses granted to the Company will terminate. In addition, the licenses granted to Joyo under certain patent and other intellectual property rights owned or controlled by the Company to develop, manufacture, use, and commercialize the licensed products in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau will survive the termination of the Joyo License Agreement for any reason, unless the Company exercises its option to expand the license to include mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, in which case such licenses to Joyo will terminate automatically; and Joyo has an option to negotiate a license under any patent rights, know-how, or other intellectual property rights relating to the licensed products that are owned or controlled by the Company for the purpose of developing, manufacturing and commercializing the licensed products in the Company’s territory on terms to be negotiated between the parties.
Medshine Discovery Inc.
In May 2024, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement (the Medshine License Agreement) with Medshine Discovery Inc. (Medshine) under which the Company was granted an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing license to certain patent and other intellectual property rights owned or controlled by Medshine to develop, manufacture, and commercialize certain pan-KRAS inhibitors in all fields of use. The Company has the right to sublicense (through multiple tiers) its rights under the Medshine License Agreement, subject to certain limitations and conditions, and is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to commercialize licensed products in certain geographical markets.
Under the Medshine License Agreement, the Company made an upfront cash payment to Medshine of $
The Medshine License Agreement will expire upon the last to expire royalty term, which is determined on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis, and is the later of: (i) ten years from the date of first commercial sale for the licensed product in such country, (ii) the last to expire valid claim within the licensed patent rights covering such licensed product, or (iii) the expiration of all regulatory exclusivity for the licensed product in such country. Upon expiration of the Medshine License Agreement, on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis, the license granted to the Company with respect to such product in such countries shall be deemed to be fully paid-up, royalty-free, non-terminable, irrevocable and perpetual.
The Medshine License Agreement may be terminated in its entirety by either party in the event of an uncured material breach by the other party or in the event the other party becomes subject to specified bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar circumstances. Medshine may terminate the Medshine License Agreement in the event that the Company or its affiliates or any of its or their sublicensees commences or actively and voluntarily participates in any challenge to the licensed patents. The Company may terminate the Medshine License Agreement in its entirety at any time upon the provision of prior written notice to Medshine.
Upon termination of the Medshine License Agreement for any reason, all rights and licenses granted to the Company will terminate. In addition, upon termination of the Medshine License Agreement by Medshine for cause, Medshine has an option to negotiate a license under any patent rights, know-how, or other intellectual property rights relating to the licensed products that are owned or controlled by the Company for the purpose of developing, manufacturing and commercializing the licensed products on terms to be negotiated between the parties.
Katmai Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
In March 2020, the Company entered into a license agreement (the Katmai Agreement) with Katmai Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Katmai) under which the Company was granted an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing license to certain patent rights and know-how controlled by Katmai related to the development of small molecule therapeutic and diagnostic products that modulate EGFR and enable the identification, diagnosis, selection, treatment, and/or monitoring of patients for neuro-oncological applications to develop, manufacture, use, and commercialize ERAS-801 and certain other related compounds in all fields of use.
14
Under the Katmai Agreement, the Company made an upfront payment of $
NiKang Therapeutics, Inc.
In February 2020, the Company entered into a license agreement (the NiKang Agreement) with NiKang Therapeutics, Inc. (NiKang) under which the Company was granted an exclusive, worldwide license to certain intellectual property rights owned or controlled by NiKang related to certain SHP2 inhibitors to develop and commercialize ERAS-601 and certain other related compounds for all applications.
Under the NiKang Agreement, in 2020, the Company made an upfront payment of $
As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, no milestones are accrued for any license agreements as the underlying contingencies are not probable or estimable.
Note 9. Stock-based compensation
In July 2021, the Company’s board of directors adopted and the Company’s stockholders approved the Company’s 2021 Incentive Award Plan (the 2021 Plan), which became effective in connection with the IPO. Upon the adoption of the 2021 Plan, the Company ceased making equity grants under its 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2018 Plan). Under the 2021 Plan, the Company may grant stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, and other stock or cash-based awards to individuals who are then employees, officers, directors or non-entity consultants of the Company. A total of
Subsequent to July 2021,
15
Options granted are exercisable at various dates as determined upon grant and will expire no more than
Stock options
A summary of the Company’s stock option activity under the 2021 Plan and 2018 Plan is as follows (in thousands, except share and per share data and years):
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average remaining |
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average |
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contractual |
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intrinsic |
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Shares |
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exercise price |
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term (years) |
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value |
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Outstanding at December 31, 2023 |
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$ |
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$ |
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Granted |
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Exercised |
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Canceled |
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Outstanding at June 30, 2024 |
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$ |
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$ |
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Options exercisable at June 30, 2024 |
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$ |
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$ |
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The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 was $
Prior to the Company's IPO, certain individuals were granted the ability to early exercise their stock options. The shares of common stock issued from the early exercise of unvested stock options are restricted and continue to vest in accordance with the original vesting schedule. The Company has the option to repurchase any unvested shares at the original purchase price upon any voluntary or involuntary termination. The shares purchased by the employees and non-employees pursuant to the early exercise of stock options are not deemed, for accounting purposes, to be outstanding until those shares vest. The cash received in exchange for exercised and unvested shares related to stock options granted is recorded as a liability for the early exercise of stock options on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets and will be transferred into common stock and additional paid-in capital as the shares vest. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were
The assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of the employee and nonemployee stock option grants were as follows:
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Three Months Ended June 30, |
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Six Months Ended June 30, |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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Expected volatility |
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Expected term (in years) |
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Expected dividend yield |
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16
Effective May 21, 2024, and in accordance with the terms of the 2021 Plan, the Company's board of directors approved a stock option repricing (the Option Repricing) whereby the exercise price of each Repriced Option (as defined below) was reduced to $
To the extent a Repriced Option is exercised prior to the Premium End Date (as defined below), the eligible employee will be required to pay the original exercise price per share of the Repriced Options in connection with any exercise of the Repriced Option. The “Premium End Date” means the earliest of (i) May 21, 2026; (ii) the date of a change in control of the Company; (iii) the date of the eligible employee’s death or disability; or (iv) the date of the eligible employee’s termination without cause, provided that such termination without cause occurs after May 21, 2025. Except for the reduction in the exercise prices of the Repriced Options as described above, the Repriced Options will retain their existing terms and conditions as set forth in the 2021 Plan and the applicable award agreements. All repriced options will retain their original vesting schedule.
The Option Repricing resulted in $
Employee stock purchase plan
In July 2021, the Company’s board of directors adopted and the Company’s stockholders approved the Company's 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the ESPP), which became effective in connection with the IPO. The ESPP permits participants to contribute up to a specified percentage of their eligible compensation during a series of offering periods of
The assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of the stock to be purchased under the ESPP were as follows:
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Three Months Ended June 30, |
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2023 |
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2024 |
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Risk-free interest rate |
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Expected term (in years) |
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Expected dividend yield |
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17
Stock-based compensation expense
The allocation of stock-based compensation for all stock awards was as follows (in thousands):
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Three Months Ended June 30, |
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Six Months Ended June 30, |
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2023 |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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Research and development |
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$ |
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$ |
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General and administrative |
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Total |
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$ |
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$ |
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Common stock reserved for future issuance
Common stock reserved for future issuance consisted of the following as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
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June 30, |
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December 31, |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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Stock options issued and outstanding |
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Awards available for future grant |
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Shares available for purchase under the ESPP |
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Total |
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Note 10. Leases
Operating leases
The Company has facility leases for office space under non-cancellable and cancellable operating leases with various expiration dates through
The weighted-average remaining lease term and the weighted-average discount rate of the Company’s operating leases were
The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.
18
Facility leases
In September 2020, the Company entered into a lease agreement for
In December 2021, the Company entered into a lease agreement for
In January 2024, the Company entered into an agreement to sublease the second floor of its corporate headquarters in San Diego, California. Pursuant to the agreement, the subleased space is approximately
In June 2024, the Company committed to a plan to sublease the first floor of its corporate headquarters in San Diego, California and in July 2024, the Company executed an agreement to sublease such space. Pursuant to the agreement, the subleased space is approximately
19
In connection with the sublease plan of the first floor, the Company reassessed its asset groups for testing long-lived assets for impairment and determined the first floor operating lease assets and related property and equipment represented an asset group separate from the entity wide asset group. The Company concluded that the carrying value of the first floor asset group was not recoverable as it exceeded the future net undiscounted cash flows that are expected to be generated from the use and eventual disposition of the assets within the asset group. The Company determined the fair value of the first floor asset group based on the income approach using a discounted cash flow model. The cash flows used in the model were discounted using a rate of
Future minimum lease payments under operating leases as of June 30, 2024 are as follows (in thousands):
Year ending December 31, |
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2024 (remaining six months) |
$ |
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2025 |
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2026 |
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2027 |
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2028 |
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Thereafter |
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Total lease payments |
$ |
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Less: Amount representing interest |
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( |
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Operating lease liabilities |
$ |
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Note 11. Commitments and contingencies
Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, penalties and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. There are no matters currently outstanding for which any such liabilities have been accrued.
Strategic reprioritization
In May 2024, in connection with the execution of the Joyo License Agreement and the Medshine License Agreement, the Company approved a strategic reprioritization to focus the Company’s resources on its naporafenib program, its ERAS-0015 product candidate, which is the lead candidate from the Joyo License Agreement, and its ERAS-4001 product candidate, which is the lead candidate from the Medshine License Agreement. The Company deprioritized its HERKULES-3 clinical trial evaluating ERAS-007 in combination with encorafenib and cetuximab (EC) in patients with EC-naïve BRAFm colorectal cancer, its THUNDERBBOLT-1 clinical trial evaluating ERAS-801 in patients with recurrent glioblastoma, and its ERAS-4 pan-KRAS program. The Company will explore further advancement of the ERAS-801 program, including via select investigator-sponsored trials, and certain of the existing ERAS-4 molecules may serve as backup compounds for ERAS-4001. In connection with this strategic reprioritization, the Company also approved a reduction in the Company’s workforce by approximately 18%, primarily affecting employees working in certain drug discovery functions or on the deprioritized programs and trials. As a result, the Company recognized $
20
Note 12. Income taxes
Note 13. Net loss per share
The following table summarizes the computation of basic and diluted net loss per share of the Company (in thousands, except share and per share data):
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Three Months Ended June 30, |
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Six Months Ended June 30, |
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2023 |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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Net loss |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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Weighted-average shares of common stock used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted |
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Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
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$ |
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$ |
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The Company’s potentially dilutive securities, which include options to purchase common stock, shares purchasable under the ESPP and common stock subject to repurchase related to options early exercised, have been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share as the effect would be to reduce the net loss per share. Therefore, the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate both basic and diluted net loss per share is the same. The Company excluded the following potential common shares, presented as amounts outstanding at each period end, from the computation of diluted net loss per share for the periods indicated because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:
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June 30, |
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June 30, |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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Options to purchase common stock |
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Options early exercised subject to future vesting |
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Estimated shares purchasable under the ESPP |
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Total potentially dilutive shares |
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Note 14. Related party transactions
Erasca Foundation
In May 2021, the Company established the Erasca Foundation to provide support such as funding research, patient advocacy, patient support and education in underserved populations, and funding for other initiatives to positively impact society that align with the Company’s mission. The Company's chief executive officer and certain board members serve as directors of the Erasca Foundation and the Company's chief executive officer, chief financial officer and chief business officer, and general counsel are also officers of the Erasca Foundation. In April 2023, the Company loaned the Erasca Foundation $
Affini-T Therapeutics, Inc.
As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company held a $
21
Note 15. Subsequent event
July 2024 ATM Offering
From July 1, 2024 through the date of this filing, the Company sold
22
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on March 27, 2024.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this Quarterly Report, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy, research and development plans, the anticipated timing, costs, design and conduct of our ongoing and planned preclinical studies and planned clinical trials for our product candidates, the timing and likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals for our product candidates, our ability to commercialize our product candidates, if approved, the impact of global geopolitical and economic events and war on our business, the pricing and reimbursement of our product candidates, if approved, the potential to develop future product candidates, the potential benefits of current and future licenses, acquisitions, and strategic arrangements with third parties, and our intent to enter into any future strategic arrangements, the timing and likelihood of success, plans and objectives of management for future operations and future results of anticipated product development efforts, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” "target," “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are only predictions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described in Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur, and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage precision oncology company singularly focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing therapies for patients with RAS/MAPK pathway-driven cancers. Molecular alterations in RAS, the most frequently mutated oncogene, and the MAPK pathway, one of the most frequently altered signaling pathways in cancer, account for approximately 5.4 million new patients diagnosed with cancer globally each year. Our company was co-founded by leading pioneers in precision oncology and RAS targeting to create novel therapies and combination regimens designed to comprehensively shut down the RAS/MAPK pathway for the treatment of patients with cancer. We have assembled one of the deepest, wholly-owned or controlled RAS/MAPK pathway-focused pipelines in the industry, which comprises modality-agnostic programs aligned with our three therapeutic strategies of: (1) targeting key upstream and downstream signaling nodes in the RAS/MAPK pathway; (2) targeting RAS directly; and (3) targeting escape routes that emerge in response to treatment.
23
The following figure shows the RAS/MAPK pathway and how the three therapeutic strategies listed above attempt to comprehensively and synergistically shut down the RAS/MAPK pathway.
The target breadth and molecular diversity represented in our pipeline enable us to pursue a systematic, data-driven, portfolio-wide clinical development effort to identify single agent and combination approaches with the goal of prolonging survival in numerous patient populations with high unmet medical needs. Our modality-agnostic approach aims to allow us to selectively and potently target critical signaling nodes with the most appropriate modality, including small molecule therapeutics and large molecule therapeutics. Our purpose-built pipeline consists of several molecules targeting key oncogenic drivers, including: one clinical-stage program (a pan-RAF inhibitor), two IND-enabling stage programs (a pan-RAS molecular glue and a pan-KRAS inhibitor), and an additional discovery-stage program. We believe our world-class team’s capabilities and experience, further guided by our scientific advisory board, which includes the world’s leading experts in the RAS/MAPK pathway, uniquely position us to achieve our bold mission of erasing cancer.
Our lead product candidate is naporafenib, a pan-RAF inhibitor with first-in-class and best-in-class potential for patients with NRASm melanoma, RAS Q61X solid tumors, and other RAS/MAPK pathway-driven tumors. RAF proteins are ubiquitously expressed serine-threonine kinases that constitute a key node of the RAS/MAPK pathway downstream of RAS and upstream of MEK. The RAF protein family consists of ARAF, BRAF, and CRAF (RAF1) that are activated through dimerization. Mutations in RAF proteins have been observed in many cancers, such as melanoma, colorectal cancer (CRC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and thyroid cancer. We in-licensed naporafenib from Novartis Pharma AG (Novartis) in December 2022. Naporafenib has been dosed in over 500 patients to date, whereby safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics have been established in both monotherapy and select combinations, with clinical proof-of-concept (PoC) data in combination with trametinib (MEKINIST) for patients with NRASm melanoma, which includes NRAS Q61X melanoma, and preliminary clinical PoC
24
data in combination with trametinib for patients with RAS Q61X NSCLC. In December 2023, we announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast Track Designation (FTD) to naporafenib in combination with trametinib for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma who have progressed on, or are intolerant to, an anti‑programmed death-1 (ligand 1) (PD‑(L)1)-based regimen, and whose tumors contain an NRAS mutation (NRASm). Programs that receive FTD may benefit from early and frequent interactions with the FDA during the clinical development process and, if relevant criteria are met, the FDA may consider reviewing portions of a marketing application before the sponsor submits the complete application.
We are pursuing a broad development strategy for naporafenib, which includes our SEACRAFT trials designed to evaluate naporafenib’s development opportunities in combination with other targeted therapies. We are prioritizing rapid development for naporafenib plus trametinib in the Phase 1b SEACRAFT-1 trial for patients with RAS Q61X solid tumors, which we initiated in the third quarter of 2023, and in the Phase 3 SEACRAFT-2 trial for patients with NRASm melanoma, which we initiated in the second quarter of 2024. SEACRAFT-1 is supported by clinical PoC data in patients with NRAS Q61X melanoma and preliminary clinical PoC data in patients with KRAS Q61X NSCLC. SEACRAFT-2 is supported by clinical PoC data in patients with NRASm melanoma, as presented by Novartis at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2022 medical conference and as published in March 2023 by de Braud et al. in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. In connection with our SEACRAFT-1 and -2 trials, we have entered into clinical trial collaboration and supply agreements (CTCSAs) with Novartis for its MEK inhibitor, trametinib. Pursuant to the CTCSAs, we are sponsoring and funding the clinical trials and Novartis is providing its drug to us free of charge. In addition, we are evaluating additional combinations of naporafenib with our other RAS/MAPK pathway targeting agents and/or external agents in preclinical models.
We anticipate reporting Phase 1b combination data from SEACRAFT-1 in the fourth quarter of 2024. We expect to readout randomized dose optimization data of naporafenib plus trametinib against a single agent MEK inhibitor (trametinib) from Stage 1 of the SEACRAFT-2 trial in 2025. Stage 2 of the SEACRAFT-2 trial is expected to compare naporafenib plus trametinib against physician's choice of chemotherapy or trametinib using dual primary endpoints of progression free survival and overall survival for regulatory approval.
Our next two programs are part of our RAS-targeting franchise, which we in-licensed in May 2024, as described below. These two programs fit within our second approach of targeting RAS directly, both in its active GTP and inactive GDP states. The RAS targeting landscape can be divided into pan-RAS, pan-KRAS, and mutant-selective approaches. Pan-RAS and pan-KRAS targeting molecules can address a broad population of patients with G12X, G13X, and possibly Q61X mutations, and also have the potential to address or prevent resistance by blocking wildtype RAS activation.
ERAS-0015 is a potential best-in-class pan-RAS molecular glue for treating patients with RAS-altered solid tumors. ERAS-0015 has demonstrated approximately 5-10 times greater potency as well as favorable absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) and PK properties in multiple animal species versus the leading pan-RAS molecular glue in development. More specifically, ERAS-0015 has stronger binding to cyclophilin A relative to the leading pan-RAS molecular glue in development, which enables more potent RAS inhibition. ERAS-0015 also showed sub-nanomolar to nanomolar preclinical IC50 in vitro potency against KRAS G12X, KRAS G13D, and RAS wildtype. In vivo, ERAS-0015 showed approximately 10 times higher potency than the leading pan-RAS molecular glue in development and good tumor regression in multiple models. It also showed superior clearance, half-life, oral bioavailability, and kinetic solubility in preclinical evaluations. The initial clinical trial for ERAS-0015 will be named AURORAS-1, for which we plan to file an investigational new drug application (IND) in the first half of 2025, with an anticipated Phase 1 monotherapy data readout in 2026.
ERAS-4001 is a potential first-in-class pan-KRAS inhibitor for treating patients with KRAS-altered solid tumors. The preclinical in vitro potency of ERAS-4001 showed good activity against KRAS G12X and G13D mutations, as well as KRAS wildtype amplifications, with no activity against HRAS or NRAS wildtype proteins. Sparing wild-type HRAS and NRAS has the potential to provide a greater therapeutic window. In vivo, ERAS-4001 showed good tumor regression in multiple models. In combination with anti-PD-1, ERAS-4001 was able to achieve complete disappearance of tumors in mice on day 31. The initial clinical trial for ERAS-4001 will be named BOREALIS-1, for which we plan to file an IND in the first quarter of 2025, with an anticipated Phase 1 monotherapy data readout in 2026.
ERAS-0015 and ERAS-4001 have the potential to address unmet needs in approximately 2.7 million patients who are diagnosed annually globally with RAS-mutant tumors, of which over 2.2 million patients are diagnosed with KRAS-mutant tumors.
In May 2024, in connection with entering into the Joyo License Agreement and Medshine License Agreement, a review of our strategic priorities, and our decision to deemphasize certain drug discovery activities, we approved a strategic reprioritization to focus our resources on our naporafenib program, ERAS-0015, and ERAS-4001. We deprioritized our HERKULES-3 clinical trial evaluating ERAS-007 in combination with encorafenib and cetuximab (EC) in patients with EC-naïve BRAFm colorectal cancer
25
as we believe the clinical efficacy data do not support continued evaluation. We also deprioritized our THUNDERBBOLT-1 clinical trial evaluating ERAS-801 in patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GBM), although we plan to explore further advancement of ERAS-801, including via select investigator-sponsored trials. Finally, we deprioritized our preclinical ERAS-4 program; however, certain of our existing ERAS-4 molecules may serve as backup compounds for ERAS-4001.
We are also advancing additional programs targeting key oncogenic drivers in the RAS/MAPK pathway, which we will need to successfully progress through appropriate preclinical activities (e.g., discovery and IND-enabling activities) prior to advancing these programs into clinical development, if at all.
We do not own or operate, and currently have no plans to establish, any manufacturing facilities. We rely, and expect to continue to rely, on third parties for the manufacture of our product candidates for preclinical and clinical testing, as well as for commercial manufacture if any of our product candidates obtain marketing approval. We are working with our current manufacturers to ensure that we will be able to scale up our manufacturing capabilities to support our clinical plans. We are also in the process of locating and qualifying additional manufacturers to build redundancies into our supply chain. In addition, we rely on third parties to package, label, store, and distribute our product candidates, and we intend to continue to rely on third parties with respect to our commercial products if marketing approval is obtained. We believe that this strategy allows us to maintain a more efficient infrastructure by eliminating the need for us to invest in our own manufacturing facilities, equipment, and personnel while also enabling us to focus our expertise and resources on the design and development of our product candidates.
In December 2022, we completed the sale and issuance of 15,384,616 shares of our common stock at a price to the public of $6.50 per share (the 2022 Offering). Proceeds from the 2022 Offering were $94.9 million, net of underwriting discounts and commissions and offering costs of $5.1 million.
In March 2024, we entered into a stock purchase agreement with the purchasers named therein for the private placement of 21,844,660 shares of our common stock at a price of $2.06 per share, which closed on April 2, 2024 (the 2024 Private Placement). Proceeds from the 2024 Private Placement were $43.6 million, after deducting placement agent fees and expenses of approximately $1.4 million.
In May 2024, we completed the sale and issuance of 99,459,458 shares of our common stock, including the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase 12,972,972 shares of our common stock, at a price to the public of $1.85 per share (the 2024 Offering). Proceeds from the 2024 Offering were $174.4 million, net of underwriting discounts and commissions and offering costs of $9.6 million.
In August 2022, we entered into an Open Market Sale Agreement (the Sale Agreement) with Jefferies LLC (the Agent), pursuant to which we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $200 million from time to time, in an “at-the-market offering” (ATM Offering) through the Agent. Sales of the shares of common stock, if any, will be made at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, or as otherwise agreed with the Agent. Pursuant to the Sale Agreement, the Agent will receive a commission from us of up to 3.0% of the gross proceeds of any shares of common stock sold under the Sale Agreement. As of June 30, 2024, we had not sold any shares of our common stock under the Sale Agreement. In July 2024, we sold 9,231,114 shares of common stock under the Sale Agreement at a price of $2.37 per share. Proceeds from the ATM Offering in July 2024 were $21.1 million, net of commissions and expenses of $0.8 million.
Since our inception in 2018, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, identifying, acquiring, and in-licensing our product candidates, establishing our intellectual property portfolio, conducting research, preclinical studies and clinical trials, establishing arrangements with third parties for the manufacture of our product candidates and related raw materials, and providing general and administrative support for these operations. We do not have any products approved for sale and have not generated any revenue. As of June 30, 2024, we have raised a total of $994.4 million to fund our operations, comprised primarily of gross proceeds from our IPO, 2022 Offering, 2024 Private Placement, and 2024 Offering and the sale and issuance of convertible preferred stock. As of June 30, 2024, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $460.2 million.
We have incurred significant operating losses since inception. Our net losses were $63.2 million and $31.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $98.2 million and $65.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of June 30, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $704.2 million. We expect our expenses and operating losses will increase substantially for the foreseeable future, particularly if and as we conduct our ongoing and planned clinical trials and preclinical studies; continue our research and development activities; utilize third parties to manufacture our product candidates and related raw materials; hire additional personnel; acquire, in-license, or develop additional product candidates; expand and protect our intellectual property; and incur additional costs associated with being a public company. If we
26
obtain regulatory approval for any of our product candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses related to product sales, marketing, manufacturing, and distribution. In addition, as our product candidates progress through development and toward commercialization, we will need to make milestone payments to the licensors and other third parties from whom we have in-licensed or acquired our product candidates. Our net losses may fluctuate significantly from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year, depending on the timing of our clinical trials and preclinical studies and our expenditures on other research and development activities.
Based upon our current operating plans, we believe that our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of June 30, 2024 will be sufficient to fund our operations into the first half of 2027. We do not expect to generate any revenues from product sales until we successfully complete development and obtain regulatory approval for one or more of our product candidates, which we expect will take a number of years and may never occur. Accordingly, until such time as we can generate significant revenue from sales of our product candidates, if ever, we expect to finance our cash needs through equity offerings, debt financings or other capital sources, including potential collaborations, licenses, and other similar arrangements. However, we may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other arrangements when needed on favorable terms or at all. Our failure to raise capital or enter into such other arrangements when needed would have a negative impact on our financial condition and could force us to delay, limit, reduce, or terminate our research and development programs or other operations, or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.
Our financial condition and results of operations may also be impacted by other factors we may not be able to control, such as geopolitical and economic events. We do not believe that such factors had a material adverse impact on our results of operations during the three months ended June 30, 2024.
Our acquisition and license agreements
Guangzhou Joyo license agreement
In May 2024, we entered into an exclusive license agreement (the Joyo License Agreement) with Guangzhou Joyo Pharmatech Co., Ltd. (Joyo) under which we were granted an exclusive, worldwide (except mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau), royalty-bearing license to certain patent and other intellectual property rights owned or controlled by Joyo to develop, manufacture, and commercialize certain pan-RAS inhibitors in all fields of use. We have an option to expand the territory of the license to include mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau by making a $50.0 million payment to Joyo on or prior to the first dosing of the first patient in a Phase 2 clinical trial by either us or Joyo, or a payment of $150.0 million after the first dosing of the first patient in a Phase 2 clinical trial by either us or Joyo, and before filing a new drug application (or the foreign equivalent) by either us or Joyo. We have the right to sublicense (through multiple tiers) our rights under the Joyo License Agreement, subject to certain limitations and conditions, and are required to use commercially reasonable efforts to commercialize licensed products in the United States.
The license granted under the Joyo License Agreement is subject to Joyo’ reserved right to develop, manufacture, use, and commercialize licensed products in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, unless we exercise our option to expand the license to include mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
Under the Joyo License Agreement, we made an upfront cash payment to Joyo of $12.5 million. In addition, we are obligated to make development and regulatory milestone payments of up to $51.5 million (or up to $57.5 million if our territory is expanded to include mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau) and commercial milestone payments of up to $125.0 million upon the achievement of the corresponding milestones. We are also obligated to pay tiered royalties on net sales of all licensed products, in the low- to mid-single digit percentages, subject to certain reductions.
The Joyo License Agreement will expire upon the last to expire royalty term, which is determined on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis, and is the later of: (i) ten years from the date of first commercial sale for the licensed product in such country, (ii) the last to expire valid claim within the licensed patent rights covering such licensed product, or (iii) the expiration of all regulatory exclusivity for the licensed product in such country. Upon expiration of the Joyo License Agreement, on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis, the license granted to us with respect to such product in such countries shall be deemed to be fully paid-up, royalty-free, non-terminable, irrevocable and perpetual.
27
The Joyo License Agreement may be terminated in its entirety by either party in the event of an uncured material breach by the other party or in the event the other party becomes subject to specified bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar circumstances. Joyo may terminate the Joyo License Agreement in the event that we or our affiliates or any of our or their sublicensees institutes, prosecutes or otherwise participates in any challenge to the licensed patents. We may terminate the Joyo License Agreement in its entirety at any time upon the provision of prior written notice to Joyo.
Upon termination of the Joyo License Agreement for any reason, all rights and licenses granted to us will terminate. In addition, the licenses granted to Joyo under certain patent and other intellectual property rights owned or controlled by us to develop, manufacture, use, and commercialize the licensed products in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau will survive the termination of the Joyo License Agreement for any reason, unless we exercise our option to expand the license to include mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, in which case such licenses to Joyo will terminate automatically; and Joyo has an option to negotiate a license under any patent rights, know-how, or other intellectual property rights relating to the licensed products that are owned or controlled by us for the purpose of developing, manufacturing and commercializing the licensed products in our territory on terms to be negotiated between the parties.
Medshine license agreement
In May 2024, we entered into an exclusive license agreement (the Medshine License Agreement) with Medshine Discovery Inc. (Medshine) under which we were granted an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing license to certain patent and other intellectual property rights owned or controlled by Medshine to develop, manufacture and commercialize certain pan-KRAS inhibitors in all fields of use. We have the right to sublicense (through multiple tiers) our rights under the Medshine License Agreement, subject to certain limitations and conditions, and are required to use commercially reasonable efforts to commercialize licensed products in certain geographical markets.
Under the Medshine License Agreement, we made an upfront cash payment to Medshine of $10.0 million. In addition, we are obligated to make development and regulatory milestone payments of up to $30.0 million and commercial milestone payments of up to $130.0 million upon the achievement of the corresponding milestones. We are also obligated to pay a low-single digit percentage royalty on net sales of all licensed products, subject to certain reductions.
The Medshine License Agreement will expire upon the last to expire royalty term, which is determined on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis, and is the later of: (i) ten years from the date of first commercial sale for the licensed product in such country, (ii) the last to expire valid claim within the licensed patent rights covering such licensed product, or (iii) the expiration of all regulatory exclusivity for the licensed product in such country. Upon expiration of the Medshine License Agreement, on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis, the license granted to us with respect to such product in such countries shall be deemed to be fully paid-up, royalty-free, non-terminable, irrevocable and perpetual.
The Medshine License Agreement may be terminated in its entirety by either party in the event of an uncured material breach by the other party or in the event the other party becomes subject to specified bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar circumstances. Medshine may terminate the Medshine License Agreement in the event that we or our affiliates or any of our or their sublicensees commences or actively and voluntarily participates in any challenge to the licensed patents. We may terminate the Medshine License Agreement in its entirety at any time upon the provision of prior written notice to Medshine.
Upon termination of the Medshine License Agreement for any reason, all rights and licenses granted to us will terminate. In addition, upon termination of the Medshine License Agreement by Medshine for cause, Medshine has an option to negotiate a license under any patent rights, know-how, or other intellectual property rights relating to the licensed products that are owned or controlled by us for the purpose of developing, manufacturing and commercializing the licensed products on terms to be negotiated between the parties.
In addition to the Joyo License Agreement and the Medshine License Agreement, we have entered into in-license and acquisition agreements pursuant to which we in-licensed or acquired certain intellectual property rights related to our product candidates and development programs. For additional information regarding these agreements, see the section titled “Business—Our acquisition and license agreements” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on March 27, 2024.
28
Components of results of operations
Revenue
We do not expect to generate any revenue from the sale of products unless and until such time that our product candidates have advanced through clinical development and obtained regulatory approval, if ever. If we fail to complete preclinical and clinical development of product candidates or obtain regulatory approval for them, our ability to generate future revenues, and our results of operations and financial position would be adversely affected.
Operating expenses
Research and development
Research and development expenses consist of external and internal costs associated with our research and development activities, including our discovery and research efforts and the preclinical and clinical development of our product candidates. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Our research and development expenses include:
external costs, including expenses incurred under arrangements with third parties, such as contract research organizations (CROs), contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs), consultants and our scientific advisors; and
internal costs, including:
employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits, and stock-based compensation for those individuals involved in research and development efforts;
the costs of laboratory supplies and acquiring, developing and manufacturing preclinical study materials; and
facilities and depreciation, which include direct and allocated expenses for rent of facilities and depreciation.
The following table summarizes our research and development expenses incurred for the following periods (in thousands):
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||||||||
Naporafenib |
|
|
$ |
13,538 |
|
|
|
$ |
7,092 |
|
|
|
$ |
26,507 |
|
|
|
$ |
11,291 |
|
Other clinical programs |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
13,022 |
|
|
|
|
7,047 |
|
|
|
|
28,043 |
|
Other discovery and preclinical programs |
|
|
|
19,494 |
|
|
|
|
6,104 |
|
|
|
|
28,052 |
|
|
|
|
14,469 |
|
Total research and development expenses |
|
|
$ |
33,032 |
|
|
|
$ |
26,218 |
|
|
|
$ |
61,606 |
|
|
|
$ |
53,803 |
|
We expect our research and development expenses to increase substantially for the foreseeable future as we continue to conduct our ongoing research and development activities, conduct clinical trials and advance our preclinical research programs toward clinical development, particularly as more of our product candidates move into later stages of development, which typically cost more. The process of conducting clinical trials and preclinical studies necessary to obtain regulatory approval is costly and time-consuming. We may never succeed in achieving marketing approval for any of our product candidates.
The timelines and costs with research and development activities are uncertain, can vary significantly for each product candidate and program and are difficult to predict. We anticipate we will make determinations as to which product candidates and programs to pursue and how much funding to direct to each product candidate and program on an ongoing basis in response to preclinical and clinical results, regulatory developments, ongoing assessments as to each product candidate’s and program’s commercial potential, and our ability to enter into collaborations, licenses, or other similar agreements to the extent we determine the resources or expertise of a third-party would be beneficial for a given product candidate or program. We will need to raise substantial additional capital in the future. In addition, we cannot forecast which product candidates and programs may be subject to future collaborations, licenses, or other agreements, when such arrangements will be secured, if at all, and to what degree such arrangements would affect our development plans and capital requirements.
29
Our development costs may vary significantly based on factors such as:
the number and scope of preclinical and IND-enabling studies and clinical trials;
per patient trial costs;
the number of trials required for approval;
the number of sites included in the trials;
the countries in which the trials are conducted;
the length of time required to enroll eligible patients;
the number of patients that participate in the trials;
the number of doses that patients receive;
the drop-out or discontinuation rates of patients;
potential additional safety monitoring requested by regulatory agencies;
the duration of patient participation in the trials and follow-up;
the cost and timing of manufacturing our product candidates;
the phase of development of our product candidates;
the efficacy and safety profile of our product candidates;
the timing, receipt and terms of any approvals from applicable regulatory authorities;
maintaining a continued acceptable safety profile of our products following approval, if any;
significant and changing government regulation and regulatory guidance;
the impact of any interruptions to our operations or to those of third parties with whom we work due to geopolitical and economic events; and
the extent to which we establish additional collaboration, license or other arrangements.
In-process research and development
In-process research and development expenses include rights acquired as part of asset acquisitions or in-licenses to develop and commercialize product candidates. Upfront payments that relate to the acquisition of a new product candidate, as well as pre-commercial milestone payments, are immediately expensed as in-process research and development in the period in which they are incurred, provided that the new product candidate did not also include processes or activities that would constitute a “business” as defined under US generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP), the product candidate has not achieved regulatory approval for marketing and, absent obtaining such approval, has no established alternative future use.
In-process research and development expenses consist primarily of our upfront payments, milestone payments, and our stock issuances in connection with our acquisition and in-license agreements.
30
General and administrative
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation, for employees in our finance, accounting, legal, information technology, business development and support functions. Other general and administrative expenses include allocated facility and depreciation related costs not otherwise included in research and development expenses and professional fees for auditing, tax, intellectual property and legal services. Costs related to filing and pursuing patent applications are recognized as general and administrative expenses as incurred since recoverability of such expenditures is uncertain.
We expect our general and administrative expenses will increase substantially for the foreseeable future as we continue to increase our general and administrative headcount to support our continued research and development activities and, if any product candidates receive marketing approval, commercialization activities, as well as to support our operations generally.
Other income (expense), net
Interest income
Interest income consists primarily of interest earned on our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.
Results of operations
Comparison of the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Research and development |
|
$ |
33,032 |
|
|
$ |
26,218 |
|
|
$ |
6,814 |
|
In-process research and development |
|
|
22,500 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
22,500 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
12,250 |
|
|
|
9,752 |
|
|
|
2,498 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
67,782 |
|
|
|
35,970 |
|
|
|
31,812 |
|
Loss from operations |
|
|
(67,782 |
) |
|
|
(35,970 |
) |
|
|
(31,812 |
) |
Total other income (expense), net |
|
|
4,581 |
|
|
|
4,189 |
|
|
|
392 |
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(63,201 |
) |
|
$ |
(31,781 |
) |
|
$ |
(31,420 |
) |
Research and development expenses
Research and development expenses were $33.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $26.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The increase of $6.8 million was primarily driven by an impairment charge of $3.0 million on operating lease assets, leasehold improvements, and furniture related to the sublease plan of the first floor of our San Diego facility during the three months ended June 30, 2024, and increases of $1.2 million in expenses incurred in connection with clinical trials, preclinical studies and discovery activities, $1.0 million in personnel costs primarily due to termination benefits in connection with the reduction in force, $0.7 million in facilities-related expenses and depreciation, and $0.7 million in outsourced services and consulting fees.
In-process research and development expenses
In-process research and development expenses were $22.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $0 for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The increase was driven by upfront payments of $22.5 million in connection with our license agreements with Joyo and Medshine.
31
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses were $12.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $9.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The increase of $2.5 million was primarily driven by an impairment charge of $1.7 million on operating lease assets, leasehold improvements, and furniture related to the sublease plan of the first floor of our San Diego facility during the three months ended June 30, 2024, and an increase of $0.7 million in legal fees.
Other income (expense), net
Other income (expense), net was $4.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $4.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The increase of $0.4 million was primarily related to an increase in interest earned on our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $0.8 million, partially offset by a $0.4 million impairment charge on our investment in equity securities during the three months ended June 30, 2024.
Comparison of the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Research and development |
|
$ |
61,606 |
|
|
$ |
53,803 |
|
|
$ |
7,803 |
|
In-process research and development |
|
|
22,500 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
22,500 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
22,527 |
|
|
|
19,192 |
|
|
|
3,335 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
106,633 |
|
|
|
72,995 |
|
|
|
33,638 |
|
Loss from operations |
|
|
(106,633 |
) |
|
|
(72,995 |
) |
|
|
(33,638 |
) |
Total other income (expense), net |
|
|
8,415 |
|
|
|
8,015 |
|
|
|
400 |
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(98,218 |
) |
|
$ |
(64,980 |
) |
|
$ |
(33,238 |
) |
Research and development expenses
Research and development expenses were $61.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $53.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase of $7.8 million was primarily driven by a $3.7 million increase in expenses incurred in connection with clinical trials, preclinical studies and discovery activities, an impairment charge of $3.0 million on operating lease assets, leasehold improvements, and furniture related to the sublease plan of the first floor of our San Diego facility during the three months ended June 30, 2024, and a $1.1 million increase in personnel costs primarily due to termination benefits in connection with the reduction in force.
In-process research and development expenses
In-process research and development expenses were $22.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $0 for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase was driven by upfront payments of $22.5 million in connection with our license agreements with Joyo and Medshine.
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses were $22.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $19.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase of $3.3 million was primarily driven by an impairment charge of $1.7 million on operating lease assets, leasehold improvements, and furniture related to the sublease plan of the first floor of our San Diego facility during the three months ended June 30, 2024, increases of $1.4 million in legal fees and $1.0 million in personnel related costs, including stock-based compensation, partially offset by a decrease of $0.6 million in insurance costs.
32
Other income (expense), net
Other income (expense), net was $8.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $8.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase of $0.4 million was primarily related to an increase in interest earned on our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $0.8 million, partially offset by a $0.4 million impairment charge on our investment in equity securities during the six months ended June 30, 2024.
Liquidity and capital resources
Sources of liquidity
In July 2021, we completed our IPO and issued 21,562,500 shares of our common stock, including the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase 2,812,500 shares of our common stock, at a price to the public of $16.00 per share. Our aggregate net proceeds from the offering were $317.0 million, net of underwriting discounts and commissions of $24.2 million and offering costs of $3.8 million. Prior to the IPO, we received aggregate gross proceeds of $320.4 million from the sale of shares of our convertible preferred stock.
In August 2022, we entered into the Sale Agreement with the Agent, pursuant to which we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $200 million from time to time, in ATM Offerings through the Agent. Sales of the shares of common stock, if any, will be made at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, or as otherwise agreed with the Agent. Pursuant to the Sale Agreement, the Agent will receive a commission from us of up to 3.0% of the gross proceeds of any shares of common stock sold under the Sale Agreement. There have been no shares of our common stock sold under the Sale Agreement as of June 30, 2024. In July 2024, we sold 9,231,114 shares of common stock under the Sale Agreement at a price of $2.37 per share. Proceeds from the ATM Offering in July 2024 were $21.1 million, net of commissions and expenses of $0.8 million.
In December 2022, we completed the 2022 Offering and issued 15,384,616 shares of our common stock at a price to the public of $6.50 per share. Proceeds from the 2022 Offering were $94.9 million, net of underwriting discounts and commissions and offering costs of $5.1 million.
In March 2024, in connection with the 2024 Private Placement, we entered into a stock purchase agreement with the purchasers named therein for the private placement of 21,844,660 shares of our common stock at a price of $2.06 per share, which closed on April 2, 2024. Proceeds from the 2024 Private Placement were $43.6 million, net of placement agent fees and expenses of approximately $1.4 million.
In May 2024, we completed the 2024 Offering and issued 99,459,458 shares of our common stock, including the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase 12,972,972 shares of our common stock, at a price to the public of $1.85 per share. Proceeds from the 2024 Offering were $174.4 million, net of underwriting discounts and commissions and offering costs of $9.6 million.
Future capital requirements
As of June 30, 2024, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $460.2 million. Based upon our current operating plans, we believe that our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund our operations into the first half of 2027. However, our forecast of the period of time through which our financial resources will be adequate to support our operations is a forward-looking statement that involves risks and uncertainties, and actual results could vary materially. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could deplete our capital resources sooner than we expect. Additionally, the process of conducting preclinical studies and testing product candidates in clinical trials is costly, and the timing of progress and expenses in these studies and trials is uncertain.
Our future capital requirements are difficult to forecast and will depend on many factors, including but not limited to:
the type, number, scope, progress, expansions, results, costs and timing of discovery, preclinical studies and clinical trials of our product candidates that we are pursuing or may choose to pursue in the future, including the costs of any third-party products used in our combination clinical trials that are not covered by such third party or other sources;
33
the costs and timing of manufacturing for our product candidates with CMOs, including commercial manufacturing, if any product candidate is approved;
the costs, timing and outcome of regulatory review of our product candidates;
the costs of obtaining, maintaining and enforcing our patents and other intellectual property rights;
our efforts to enhance operational systems and hire additional personnel to satisfy our obligations as a public company, including enhanced internal controls over financial reporting;
the costs associated with hiring additional personnel, consultants, and CROs as our preclinical and clinical activities increase;
the timing and amount of the milestone or other payments we must make to the licensors and other third parties from whom we have in-licensed or acquired our product candidates or technologies;
the costs and timing of establishing or securing sales and marketing capabilities if any product candidate is approved;
our ability to achieve sufficient market acceptance, coverage and adequate reimbursement from third-party payors and adequate market share and revenue for any approved products;
patients’ willingness to pay out-of-pocket for any approved products in the absence of coverage and/or adequate reimbursement from third-party payors;
the terms and timing of establishing and maintaining collaborations, licenses and other similar arrangements;
any delays and cost increases that result from geopolitical and economic events; and
costs associated with any products or technologies that we may in-license or acquire.
We have no other committed sources of capital. Until we can generate a sufficient amount of product revenue to finance our cash requirements, if ever, we expect to finance our future cash needs primarily through equity offerings (including through the Sale Agreement), debt financings or other capital sources, including potential collaborations, licenses and other similar arrangements. However, we may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other arrangements when needed on favorable terms or at all. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of our stockholders will be or could be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we raise additional funds through collaborations, licensing, or other similar arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our research and development programs or other operations, or grant rights to develop and market product candidates to third parties that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.
Cash flows
The following table shows a summary of our cash flows for the periods presented (in thousands):
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, |
|
|||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Net cash (used in) provided by: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Operating activities |
|
$ |
(62,434 |
) |
|
$ |
(52,309 |
) |
Investing activities |
|
|
(76,638 |
) |
|
|
(93,953 |
) |
Financing activities |
|
|
218,799 |
|
|
|
832 |
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
$ |
79,727 |
|
|
$ |
(145,430 |
) |
34
Operating activities
Cash used in operating activities was $62.4 million during the six months ended June 30, 2024, primarily resulting from a net loss of $98.2 million, accretion on marketable securities of $4.7 million and changes in operating assets and liabilities of $3.2 million, partially reduced by in-process research and development expenses of $22.5 million in connection with our license agreements with Joyo and Medshine, which are reflected in investing activities, stock-based compensation expense of $14.0 million, an impairment charge of $4.7 million on operating lease assets, leasehold improvements and furniture and depreciation and amortization expense of $2.1 million. Net cash used from changes in operating assets and liabilities consisted primarily of a decrease in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current and long-term liabilities of $2.4 million and an increase in prepaid expenses and other current and long-term assets of $0.8 million.
Cash used in operating activities was $52.3 million during the six months ended June 30, 2023, primarily resulting from a net loss of $65.0 million, accretion on marketable securities of $2.4 million, and changes in operating assets and liabilities of $0.6 million, partially reduced by stock-based compensation expense of $13.9 million and depreciation and amortization expense of $1.8 million. Net cash used from changes in operating assets and liabilities consisted primarily of a decrease in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current and long-term liabilities of $5.9 million, partially offset by an increase in operating lease assets and liabilities, net of $3.5 million primarily due to the receipt of $2.3 million in reimbursement from our landlord for tenant improvements, and a decrease in prepaid expenses and other current and long-term assets of $1.8 million.
Investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $76.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2024 as compared to $94.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease in cash used in investing activities of $17.3 million was primarily the result of decreases in purchases of marketable securities of $55.1 million and property and equipment of $1.4 million, partially offset by a decrease in maturities of marketable securities of $36.7 million and an increase in in-process research and development of $2.5 million.
Financing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $218.8 million during the six months ended June 30, 2024 as compared to $0.8 million during the six months ended June 30, 2023. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, we received $174.6 million of net proceeds for the issuance of common stock from the 2024 Offering, $43.6 million in net proceeds for the issuance of common stock from the 2024 Private Placement, $0.4 million from the issuance of common stock under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) and $0.1 million from the exercise of stock options. During the six months ended June 30, 2023, we received $0.5 million from the issuance of common stock under our ESPP and $0.3 million from the exercise of stock options.
Contractual obligations and commitments
As of June 30, 2024, there have been no material changes outside the ordinary course of our business to the contractual obligations we reported in “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations – Cash requirements due to contractual obligations and other commitments,” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on March 27, 2024.
Critical accounting policies and estimates
This management discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with US GAAP. The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate these estimates and judgments. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. These estimates and assumptions form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the recording of revenue and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates. As of June 30, 2024, there have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates from those disclosed in “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations – Critical accounting policies and estimates,” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on March 27, 2024.
35
Recently issued and adopted accounting pronouncements
See Note 2 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for recently issued and adopted accounting pronouncements.
Emerging growth company and smaller reporting company status
As an emerging growth company under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the JOBS Act), we can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This allows an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to avail ourselves of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards and, therefore, our condensed consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates. We also intend to rely on other exemptions provided by the JOBS Act, including without limitation, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Sarbanes-Oxley).
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the consummation of our IPO; (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion; (iii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700.0 million as of the last business day of the second fiscal quarter of such year; or (iv) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in nonconvertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.
We are also a smaller reporting company as defined in the Exchange Act. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company even after we are no longer an emerging growth company. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies and will be able to take advantage of these scaled disclosures for so long as our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenue is less than $100.0 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
As of June 30, 2024, there have been no material changes surrounding our market risk, including interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange risk, and inflation risk, from the discussion provided in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on March 27, 2024.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our periodic and current reports that we file with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable and not absolute assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In reaching a reasonable level of assurance, management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. In addition, the design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
36
Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, evaluated, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based on that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, as of June 30, 2024, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
We are not currently a party to any material proceedings. From time to time, we may become involved in legal proceedings or be subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of our business. Regardless of outcome, such proceedings or claims can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of resources and other factors, and there can be no assurances that favorable outcomes will be obtained.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There have been no material changes to the risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on March 27, 2024.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information.
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Item 6. Exhibits.
Exhibit Number |
|
Exhibit Description |
|
Incorporated by Reference |
|
Filed Herewith |
||||
|
|
|
|
Form |
|
Date |
|
Number |
|
|
3.1 |
|
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Erasca, Inc. |
|
8-K |
|
7/20/2021 |
|
3.1 |
|
|
3.2 |
|
|
8-K |
|
7/20/2021 |
|
3.2 |
|
|
|
4.1 |
|
Specimen stock certificate evidencing the shares of common stock |
|
S-1 |
|
6/25/2021 |
|
4.1 |
|
|
4.2 |
|
|
S-1 |
|
6/25/2021 |
|
4.2 |
|
|
|
10.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X |
|
10.2 |
|
License Agreement, dated May 14, 2024, by and between Medshine Discovery Inc., and Erasca, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X |
31.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X |
|
31.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X |
|
32.1* |
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X |
32.2* |
|
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X |
101.INS |
|
Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X |
101.SCH |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X |
104 |
|
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X |
Portions of this exhibit have been omitted for confidentiality purposes.
* This certification is deemed not filed for purpose of section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
39
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
|
|
Erasca, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
Date: August 12, 2024 |
|
By: |
/s/ Jonathan E. Lim, M.D. |
|
|
|
Jonathan E. Lim, M.D. |
|
|
|
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder |
|
|
|
(Principal Executive Officer) |
|
|
|
|
Date: August 12, 2024 |
|
By: |
/s/ David M. Chacko, M.D. |
|
|
|
David M. Chacko, M.D. |
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer |
|
|
|
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
40