UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
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. ☐
Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On May 3, 2023, Fate Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.
The information in this Item 2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, regardless of the general incorporation language of such filing, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. |
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Description |
99.1 |
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104 |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
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.
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FATE THERAPEUTICS, INC. |
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Date: |
May 3, 2023 |
By: |
/s/ J. Scott Wolchko |
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J. Scott Wolchko |
Exhibit 99.1
Fate Therapeutics Reports First Quarter 2023 Financial Results and Business Updates
Dose Escalation Ongoing in Landmark Phase 1 Study of FT819 CD19-targeted 1XX CAR T-cell Program; Interim Clinical Data Demonstrated Favorable Safety Profile and Complete Responses in Aggressive Large B-cell Lymphoma
FT576 BCMA-targeted CAR NK Cell Program Accruing Patients in Multi-dose Escalation Cohorts for Multiple Myeloma; Initial Translational Data Support Potential of Combination Regimen to Induce Differentiated Immune Reconstitution Profile and Extend FT576 Functional Persistence
Clinical Initiation of FT522 ADR-armed, CD19-targeted CAR NK Cell Program for B-cell Lymphoma Anticipated in 2H23; Preclinical Studies Ongoing to Extend Clinical Reach to Autoimmune Diseases
Completed Corporate Restructuring and Strategic Assessment of Pipeline Assets; Ended 1Q23 with $426 Million in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Receivables Supporting Runway into 2H25
San Diego, CA –May 3, 2023 – Fate Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: FATE), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing a first-in-class pipeline of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cellular immunotherapies to patients with cancer and autoimmune disorders, today reported business highlights and financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.
“Over the first months of 2023, we have sharpened our clinical focus and significantly reduced our operating expenses, creating the necessary cash runway to achieve key milestones across our multiplexed-engineered CAR NK and CAR T-cell pipeline. We sincerely thank our employees whose patience and perseverance have allowed us to emerge through this transition period with a renewed sense of energy, commitment, and drive to bring first-in-class, iPSC-derived cellular immunotherapies to patients with cancer and autoimmune disorders,” said Scott Wolchko, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fate Therapeutics. “We are now well-positioned to clinically assess higher therapeutic exposures for our FT576 BCMA-targeted CAR NK cell program in multiple myeloma and our FT819 CD19-targeted CAR T-cell program in B-cell malignancies. In addition, we aim to bring our FT522 CD19-targeted CAR NK cell program, which incorporates our proprietary ADR technology designed to enhance NK cell potency, extend functional persistence, and resist host immune cell rejection, into clinical development in the second half of 2023 for B-cell lymphoma, and intend to expand its clinical reach to include severe autoimmune disorders. Finally, we are excited to be jointly developing our clinical strategy with ONO Pharmaceutical for FT825/ONO-8250, our HER2-targeted CAR T-cell collaboration program for solid tumors for which we plan to submit an IND application in the second half of 2023.”
NK Cell Programs
T-cell Programs
Strategic Pipeline Prioritization & Corporate Restructuring
During the first quarter of 2023, in connection with the termination of its collaboration with Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen), the Company discontinued all collaboration activities, including withdrawing an IND application previously allowed by the FDA for a first collaboration product for the treatment of B-cell lymphoma. In addition, following a strategic review of its wholly-owned iPSC-derived NK cell and T-cell programs, the Company focused its operations on advancing its most innovative and differentiated programs and initiated the discontinuation of its FT516, FT596, FT538, and FT536 NK cell product candidates. As part of its corporate restructuring, the Company reduced its workforce to approximately 220 employees.
First Quarter 2023 Financial Results & 2023 Guidance
Today's Conference Call and Webcast
The Company will conduct a conference call today, Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. ET to review financial and operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. In order to participate in the conference call,
please register using the conference link here. The live webcast can be accessed under "Events & Presentations" in the Investors section of the Company's website at www.fatetherapeutics.com. The archived webcast will be available on the Company's website beginning approximately two hours after the event.
About Fate Therapeutics’ iPSC Product Platform
The Company’s proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) product platform enables mass production of off-the-shelf, multiplexed-engineered cell products that are selectively designed, incorporate novel synthetic controls of cell function, and are intended to deliver multiple mechanisms of therapeutic importance to patients. Human iPSCs possess the unique dual properties of unlimited self-renewal and differentiation potential into all cell types of the body. The Company’s platform combines multiplexed engineering and single-cell selection of human iPSCs to create clonal master iPSC lines. Analogous to master cell lines used to mass produce biopharmaceutical drug products such as monoclonal antibodies, the Company utilizes its clonal master iPSC lines as a renewable cell source to manufacture multiplexed-engineered cell products which are well-defined and uniform in composition, can be stored in inventory for off-the-shelf availability, can be combined and administered with other therapies, and can potentially reach a broad patient population. As a result, the Company’s platform is uniquely designed to overcome numerous limitations associated with the manufacture of cell therapies using patient- or donor-sourced cells. Fate Therapeutics’ iPSC product platform is supported by an intellectual property portfolio of over 400 issued patents and 450 pending patent applications.
About FT576
FT576 is an investigational, universal, off-the-shelf natural killer (NK) cell cancer immunotherapy derived from a clonal master induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line engineered with four functional components: a proprietary chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) optimized for NK cell biology that targets B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA); a novel high-affinity 158V, non-cleavable CD16 (hnCD16) Fc receptor, which has been modified to prevent its down-regulation and to enhance its binding to tumor-targeting antibodies; an IL-15 receptor fusion (IL-15RF) that augments NK cell activity; and the deletion of the CD38 gene (CD38KO), which promotes persistence and function in high oxidative stress environments. In preclinical studies, FT576 has demonstrated that the high-avidity binding of the BCMA-targeted CAR construct enables sustained tumor control against various multiple myeloma cell lines, including in long-term in vivo xenograft mouse models. Additionally, in combination with daratumumab, FT576 has shown complete tumor clearance and improved survival compared to primary BCMA-targeted CAR T cells in a disseminated xenograft model of multiple myeloma. FT576 is being investigated in a multicenter Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of relapsed / refractory multiple myeloma as a monotherapy and in combination with daratumumab (NCT05182073).
About FT819
FT819 is an investigational, universal, off-the-shelf, T-cell receptor (TCR)-less CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell cancer immunotherapy derived from a clonal master induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line, which is engineered with the following features designed to improve the safety and efficacy of CAR19 T-cell therapy: a novel 1XX CAR signaling domain, which has been shown to extend T‑cell effector function without eliciting exhaustion; integration of the CAR19 transgene directly into the T‑cell receptor alpha constant (TRAC) locus, which has been shown to promote uniform CAR19 expression and enhanced T‑cell potency; and complete bi-allelic disruption of TCR expression for the prevention of graft-versus-host disease. FT819
demonstrated antigen-specific cytolytic activity in vitro against CD19-expressing leukemia and lymphoma cell lines comparable to that of primary CAR T cells, and persisted and maintained tumor clearance in the bone marrow in an in vivo disseminated xenograft model of lymphoblastic leukemia. FT819 is being investigated in a multicenter Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of relapsed / refractory B-cell malignancies, including B-cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (NCT04629729).
About Fate Therapeutics, Inc.
Fate Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing a first-in-class pipeline of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cellular immunotherapies to patients with cancer and autoimmune disorders. Using its proprietary iPSC product platform, the Company has established a leadership position in creating multiplexed-engineered iPSC lines and in the manufacture and clinical development of off-the-shelf, iPSC-derived cell products. The Company’s effector cell pipeline includes multiplexed-engineered, iPSC-derived natural killer (NK) cell and T-cell product candidates, which incorporate novel synthetic controls of cell function, such as chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to target tumor-associated antigens, and are intended to deliver multiple mechanisms of therapeutic importance to patients including in combination with well-established cancer therapies. Fate Therapeutics is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information, please visit www.fatetherapeutics.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including statements regarding the progress of and plans related to the Company's product candidates, clinical studies and preclinical research and development programs, the therapeutic and market potential of the Company’s product candidates, the Company’s clinical and product development strategy, the Company’s plans to submit IND applications for its FT522 CD19-targeted CAR NK cell program and its FT825/ONO-8250 HER2-targeted CAR T-cell solid tumor program under its collaboration with ONO, the Company's expectations regarding its receipt of future payments for milestones achieved under its collaboration agreement with Janssen prior to the termination of the agreement, the anticipated effects of the Company’s workforce reduction and reprioritization of preclinical and clinical development activities, including its projected cash runway, and the timing of such events. These and any other forward-looking statements in this release are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that the Company’s product candidates may not demonstrate the requisite safety or efficacy to warrant further development or to achieve regulatory approval, the risk that results observed in prior studies of the Company’s product candidates, including preclinical studies and clinical trials, will not be observed in ongoing or future studies involving these product candidates, the risk of a delay or difficulties in the manufacturing of the Company’s product candidates or in the initiation and conduct of, or enrollment of patients in, any clinical trials, the risk that the Company may cease or delay preclinical or clinical development of any of its product candidates for a variety of reasons (including requirements that may be imposed by regulatory authorities on the initiation or conduct of clinical trials, changes in the therapeutic, regulatory, or competitive landscape for which the Company’s product candidates are being developed, the amount and type of data to be generated or otherwise to support regulatory approval, difficulties or delays in patient enrollment and continuation in the Company’s ongoing and planned clinical trials, difficulties in manufacturing
or supplying the Company’s product candidates for clinical testing, and any adverse events or other negative results that may be observed during preclinical or clinical development), the risk that results observed in preclinical studies of its product candidates may not be replicated in ongoing or future clinical trials, the risk that its product candidates may not produce therapeutic benefits or may cause other unanticipated adverse effects, the risk that the Company may not comply with its obligations under and otherwise maintain its collaboration agreement with ONO Pharmaceutical, Ltd. or other parties with which the Company may enter into future collaborations on the agreed upon terms, the risk that research funding and milestone payments received by the Company under its collaborations may be less than expected, and the risk that the Company may incur operating expenses in amounts greater than anticipated. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause the Company’s actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the Company’s most recently filed periodic report, and from time to time in the Company’s press releases and other investor communications. Fate Therapeutics is providing the information in this release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)
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Three Months Ended |
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March 31, |
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2023 |
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2022 |
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Collaboration revenue |
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$ |
58,980 |
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$ |
18,414 |
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Operating expenses: |
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Research and development |
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65,629 |
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72,139 |
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General and administrative |
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21,943 |
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20,742 |
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Total operating expenses |
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87,572 |
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92,881 |
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Loss from operations |
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(28,592 |
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(74,467 |
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Other income (expense): |
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Interest income |
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3,694 |
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418 |
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Change in fair value of stock price appreciation milestones |
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1,718 |
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8,359 |
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Other Income |
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4,299 |
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— |
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Total other income (expense), net |
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9,711 |
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8,777 |
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Net loss |
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$ |
(18,881 |
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$ |
(65,690 |
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Other comprehensive income (loss): |
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Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net |
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1,208 |
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(2,088 |
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Comprehensive loss |
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$ |
(17,673 |
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$ |
(67,778 |
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Net loss per common share, basic and diluted |
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$ |
(0.19 |
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$ |
(0.68 |
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Weighted–average common shares used to |
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98,054,687 |
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96,343,529 |
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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
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March 31, |
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December 31, |
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2023 |
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2022 |
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Assets |
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Current assets: |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
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$ |
42,020 |
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$ |
61,333 |
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Accounts receivable |
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13,500 |
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38,480 |
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Short-term investments |
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366,878 |
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374,894 |
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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15,490 |
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27,367 |
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Total current assets |
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437,888 |
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502,074 |
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Long-term investments |
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3,912 |
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4,942 |
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Operating lease right-of-use asset |
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64,682 |
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66,069 |
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Other long-term assets |
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123,854 |
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132,476 |
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Total assets |
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$ |
630,336 |
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$ |
705,561 |
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Liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
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Current liabilities: |
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Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
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$ |
41,368 |
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$ |
62,197 |
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Deferred revenue, current portion |
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1,738 |
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42,226 |
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CIRM award liability, current portion |
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— |
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4,000 |
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Operating lease liability, current portion |
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5,545 |
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5,628 |
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Total current liabilities |
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48,651 |
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114,051 |
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Operating lease liability, net of current portion |
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102,070 |
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103,710 |
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Stock price appreciation milestones, net of current portion |
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2,143 |
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3,861 |
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Stockholders’ equity |
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477,472 |
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483,939 |
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Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
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$ |
630,336 |
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$ |
705,561 |
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Contact:
Matthew Guido
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
212.362.1200
matthew.guido@sternir.com