Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Business, Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

v3.24.2.u1
Business, Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2024
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Business, Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements Business, Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Overview
Kiora Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Kiora” or the “Company”) was formed as a Delaware corporation on December 28, 2004. Kiora is a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company developing and commercializing therapies for the treatment of ophthalmic diseases.
Since its inception, Kiora has devoted substantially all its efforts to business planning, research and development, and raising capital.
Unaudited Interim Financial Information
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 8-03 of Regulation S-X. Pursuant to these rules and regulations, they do not include all information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations have been included. Operating results for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. We believe that the disclosures provided herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading when these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements are read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes previously distributed in the Company’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 25, 2024. The balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 was derived from audited consolidated financial statements of the Company but does not include all the disclosures required by U.S. GAAP.
Reverse Stock Split
On June 6, 2024, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to its Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amendment”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect a one-for-nine ("1-for-9") reverse stock split of its outstanding common stock. The Amendment was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 1, 2024, and by the Company’s board of directors. The amendment became effective on June 11, 2024, the effective date of the reverse stock split.
The reverse stock split proportionally adjusted all shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding and shares of common stock underlying outstanding options and warrants immediately prior to the effective date of the Amendment. As a result of the reverse stock split, proportionate adjustments were made to the per share exercise price and/or the number of shares issuable upon the exercise or vesting of all warrants, stock options, and restricted stock awards issued by the Company and outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the Amendment, which resulted in a proportionate decrease in the number of shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise or vesting of such warrants, stock options, and restricted stock awards, and, in the case of warrants and stock options, a proportionate increase in the exercise price of all such warrants and stock options. In addition, the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Company’s equity compensation plans immediately prior to the effective date of the Amendment was reduced proportionately. The reverse stock split did not affect the number of shares or par value of common stock authorized for issuance under the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which remained at 150,000,000 shares.
No fractional shares were issued as a result of the reverse stock split. Stockholders of record who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fractional share received a cash payment in lieu thereof. The reverse stock split affected all stockholders proportionately and did not affect any stockholder’s percentage ownership of the Company’s common stock (except to the extent that the reverse stock split results in stockholders owning fractional shares). As a result of the reverse stock split, the number of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock as of June 11, 2024 decreased from 26,735,116 (pre-split) shares to 2,970,545 (post-split) shares.
All share and per share amounts in the accompanying financial statements and related footnotes have been adjusted retroactively to reflect the reverse stock split as if it had occurred at the beginning of the earliest period presented. While the number of warrants outstanding did not change, the underlying shares did and are presented reflecting the split. The Company’s common stock began trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market on a split-adjusted basis when the market opened on June 11, 2024.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
At June 30, 2024, the Company had unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents of $6.6 million and Short-term Investments of $21.2 million, and an Accumulated Deficit of $135.7 million. Kiora has incurred annual losses and negative cash flows since inception, and future losses are anticipated. However, Management believes that its capital resources as of June 30, 2024 will be sufficient to fund the Company's planned operations for at least 12 months after the date that these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are issued.
Significant Accounting Policies
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include cash in readily available checking accounts, savings accounts, money market funds, marketable securities with maturities of 3 months or less when acquired. The carrying amounts reported in the unaudited condensed balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost, which approximates fair value.
Short-Term Investments
Short-term investments primarily consist of treasuries, corporate debt securities, and government and agency securities. The Company has classified these investments as available-for-sale securities, as the sale of such investments may be required prior to maturity to implement management strategies, and therefore has classified all investments with maturity dates beyond three months at the date of purchase as current assets in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Any premium or discount arising at purchase is amortized and/or accreted to interest income as an adjustment to yield using the straight-line method over the life of the instrument. Investments are reported at their estimated fair value. Unrealized gains and losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as a component of stockholders' equity until realized.
Allowance for Credit Losses
For available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company first assesses whether it intends to sell, or if it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell, the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through earnings. For available-for-sale securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, the Company considers the severity of the impairment, any changes in interest rates, market conditions, changes to the underlying credit ratings and forecasted recovery, among other factors. The credit-related portion of unrealized losses, and any subsequent improvements, are recorded in interest income through an allowance account. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is included in other comprehensive income (loss) on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
The Company excludes the applicable accrued interest from both the fair value and amortized cost basis of available-for-sale securities for purposes of identifying and measuring an impairment. Accrued interest receivable on available-for-sale securities is recorded within prepaid expenses and other current assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s accounting policy is to not measure an allowance for credit loss for accrued interest receivable and to write-off any uncollectible accrued interest receivable as a reversal of interest income in a timely manner, which is considered to be in the period in which it is determined the accrued interest will not be collected.
Revenue Recognition
In accordance with FASB’s ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, or ASC 606, the Company recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that the Company determines are within the scope of ASC 606, it performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.
The Company applies the five-step model to contracts when it determines that it is probable it will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations, and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.
In a contract with multiple performance obligations, we must develop estimates and assumptions that require judgment to determine the underlying stand-alone selling price for each performance obligation which determines how the transaction price is allocated among the performance obligation. The estimation of the stand-alone selling price(s) may include estimates regarding forecasted revenues or costs, development timelines, discount rates, and probabilities of technical and regulatory success. We evaluate each performance obligation to determine if it can be satisfied at a point in time or over time. Any change made to estimated progress towards completion of a performance obligation and, therefore, revenue recognized will be recorded as a change in estimate. In addition, variable consideration must be evaluated to determine if it is constrained and, therefore, excluded from the transaction price.
Amounts received prior to satisfying the revenue recognition criteria are recognized as deferred revenue in the Company’s balance sheet. Amounts expected to be recognized as revenue within the twelve months following the balance sheet date are classified as the current portion of deferred revenue. Amounts not expected to be recognized as revenue within the twelve months following the balance sheet date are classified as deferred revenue, net of current portion. As of June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company did not have a deferred revenue balance.
Collaboration Revenue
If a license to our intellectual property is determined to be distinct from the other performance obligations identified in a contract, we recognize revenues from the transaction price allocated to the license when the license is transferred to the licensee and the licensee is able to use and benefit from the license. For licenses that are bundled with other promises, we utilize judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenue from the allocated transaction price. We evaluate the measure of progress at each reporting period and, if necessary, adjust the measure of performance and related revenue or expense recognition as a change in estimate.
At the inception of each arrangement that includes milestone payments, we evaluate whether the milestones are considered probable of being reached. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur, the associated milestone value is included in the transaction price. Milestone payments that are not within our or a collaboration partner’s control, such as regulatory approvals, are generally not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received. At the end of each reporting period, we re-evaluate the probability of achievement of milestones that are within our or a collaboration partner’s control, such as operational development milestones and any related constraint, and, if necessary, adjust our estimate of the overall transaction price. Any such adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which will affect collaboration revenues and earnings in the period of adjustment. Revisions to our estimate of the transaction price may also result in negative collaboration revenues and earnings in the period of adjustment.
For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including commercial milestone payments based on the level of sales, and a license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate, we will recognize revenue at the later of (i) when the related sales occur, or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied, or partially satisfied.
In January 2024, we entered into a strategic development and commercialization agreement ("License Agreement") with Théa Open Innovation ("TOI"), a sister company of the global ophthalmic specialty company Laboratoires Théa ("Théa"). Under the agreement, Kiora granted TOI exclusive worldwide development and commercialization rights, excluding certain countries in Asia, to KIO-301 for the treatment of degenerative retinal diseases (the "License"). We concluded that the Licensing Agreement contains one material performance obligation, the License. The transaction price includes the upfront, non-refundable payment of $16.0 million (the "License Access Fee"). The Company did not include any development or regulatory milestones in the transaction price because it is probable that changes in the estimate of receiving those milestones would result in significant reversals of cumulative revenue in future periods, due to the inherent risks and uncertainties in the drug development process. The sales-based milestones and royalties are not included in the transaction price per ASC 606-10-32-11 and ASC 606-10-55-65. There is no financing component in the License Agreement.

The initial transaction price will be allocated to the one performance obligation identified (i.e., the License), which was transferred to TOI at the execution of the License Agreement and the entire $16.0 million transaction price was recognized in the first quarter of 2024 upon the satisfaction of the license performance obligations. The variable consideration for development and regulatory milestones, commercial milestones, and royalties will be allocated to each development license performance obligation, if and when it is included in the transaction price. When it is probable that including milestones in the transaction price will not result in significant reversals of cumulative revenue in future periods, the Company will recognize the revenue for the milestones immediately since the license performance obligation to which the milestones relate has already been fully satisfied when the change in estimate of the variable consideration occurs. Since the reimbursement for the development activities clearly relates to those activities and are accounted for under ASC 808, the Company will recognize those amounts that are due from TOI as contra-R&D expense.

The License Access Fee was earned at a point in time (first quarter of 2024) and, as a result, the associated contract costs specifically, sublicense fees, were expensed at the same point in time (first quarter of 2024). All further revenue sources that may lead to sublicense fee payments will not be recognized until earned. As such, sublicense fees will be expensed in the same period as the revenue of the respective milestone or royalties are earned.
See Note 8 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Collaboration Agreements
The Company has entered into a research agreement that falls under the scope of ASC 808, Collaborative Arrangements. Reimbursements from a collaboration partner are recorded as a reduction to research and development expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Similarly, amounts that are owed to a collaboration partner are recognized as research and development expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
Refunds for Research and Development
Kiora, through its Kiora Pharmaceuticals GmbH and Kiora Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd subsidiaries, is entitled to receive certain refundable tax incentives associated with its research and development expenses in Austria and Australia, respectively. These refunds are realized in the form of a cash payment in the year following the incurred research and development expenses and the filing of required documents within the appropriate regulatory authorities. The Company records estimates of the refundable payment as a tax receivable and a reduction in expense in the period in which the research and development expenses are incurred.