Editas Medicine, Inc.: Form 10-Q for the period ended Mar 31, 2025
Filed with the SEC on May 12, 2025 and accepted by EDGAR at May 12, 2025, 17:05 ET.
Management's discussion and analysis
As filed, 45,798 characters, with its headings, lists and tables. Extracted from the main document; charts and exhibits are in the original on sec.gov.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 5, 2025 (the “Annual Report”).
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. All statements addressing our future operating performance and development timelines that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, as well as expectations for cash runway, are forward-looking statements. There are a number of important risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements, including uncertainties inherent in the initiation and completion of pre-clinical studies and clinical development of our product candidates; availability and timing of results from pre-clinical studies; expectations for regulatory approvals to conduct trials or to market products and availability of funding sufficient for our foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements. These and other risks are described in greater detail in the Annual Report under the captions “Risk Factor Summary” and Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” as updated by our subsequent filings with the SEC. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments that we may make.
You should read this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the documents that we have filed as exhibits to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. The forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are made as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
Overview
We are a pioneering gene editing company dedicated to developing potentially transformative genomic medicines to treat a broad range of serious diseases. We have developed a proprietary gene editing platform based on CRISPR technology and we continue to expand its capabilities. Our product development strategy is to target diseases where gene editing can be used to enable or enhance therapeutic outcomes for patients, while maximizing probability of technical, regulatory and commercial success. We are focused on the development of in vivo gene editing medicines utilizing functional upregulation, which aims to increase the expression and function of a normal gene copy and its normal protein function to treat diseases caused by genetic mutations that eliminate or disrupt normal function. We believe the ability to provide in vivo gene editing, in which the medicine is injected or infused into the patient to edit the cells inside their body, and functionally upregulates normal gene expression and normal protein function in the target tissues holds the potential to significantly expand the addressable therapeutic possibilities of CRISPR-based gene editing. To that end, our preclinical efforts are also focused on the creation of a “plug ‘n play” lipid nanoparticle (“LNP”) platform that enables delivery of the gene editing cargo to multiple cells and tissues, including hematopoietic stem cells (“HSCs”), the liver and other cells and tissues.
We previously demonstrated proof of concept of our functional upregulation strategy in our clinical trials of renizgamglogene autogedtemcel (“reni-cel”), an experimental ex vivo gene-edited medicine to treat sickle cell disease (“SCD”) and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (“TDT”). Despite the robust and clinically meaningful improvements observed in these trials, we determined in December 2024 not to pursue commercialization for reni-cel in order to optimize our cost structure and accelerate our intent to achieve in vivo human proof of concept in approximately two years. However, leveraging our differentiated approach and the insights gained from these trials, we are initially focused on pursuing next generation in vivo gene editing medicines targeting HSCs. In October 2024, we shared our achievement of in vivo preclinical proof of concept of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell editing and fetal hemoglobin induction in humanized mice engrafted with human HSCs and lacking their own hematopoietic cells using a novel and proprietary targeted LNP (“tLNP”) formulation for non-liver, or extrahepatic, tissue delivery. Building on this achievement, in January 2025, we announced in vivo preclinical proof of concept of editing HSCs in non-human primates, a key step in developing a treatment for SCD and TDT. We are on track to declare an in vivo development candidate via gene upregulation in HSCs in mid-2025.
Beyond hemoglobinopathies, our discovery and development efforts are focused on in vivo gene editing medicines in liver cells and other cells and tissues. In preclinical studies for an undisclosed liver target, we have achieved an editing level of approximately 65% in non-human primates, near the theoretical maximum liver editing level of 70%, with minimal non-target tissue editing using AsCas12a and a liver tLNP. This editing resulted in robust serum biomarker reduction from the baseline of approximately 80%. We further announced in vivo delivery to two additional cell types in humanized mice using our proprietary LNP targeting platform. We are on track to declare an in vivo development candidate via gene upregulation in liver cells for an undisclosed indication in mid-2025 and to establish and disclose an extrahepatic, non-HSC target cell type or tissue by the end of 2025. We expect to present further in vivo preclinical HSC data and in vivo preclinical data in one liver indication at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy annual meeting in May 2025.
We are pursuing the right combination of gene editing and targeted delivery tools through internal development and the in-licensing of complementary technologies to build our preclinical pipeline and accelerate the achievement of our goal of delivering lifesaving medicines to patients with previously untreatable diseases. Through in-licensing of complementary technologies, we can expand our existing gene editing platform and further drive the development of our in vivo pipeline. This was recently demonstrated with our entry in 2024 into a collaboration and license agreement to access LNPs targeting the liver, which we used in our achievement of in vivo editing of liver cells in non-human primates. We also actively seek opportunities to out-license and partner our robust intellectual property portfolio to drive the development of CRISPR-based medicines in therapeutic areas outside of our core focus and to provide non-dilutive capital. For example, in cellular therapy medicines, we are leveraging partnerships to progress engineered cell medicines to treat various cancers, including in our collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb Company (“BMS”) through its wholly owned subsidiary, Juno Therapeutics, Inc. (“Juno Therapeutics”). This collaboration, which leverages our Cas9 and AsCas12a platform technologies, seeks to advance alpha-beta T-cell experimental medicines for the treatment of solid and liquid tumors, and has resulted in 14 total programs to date.
In addition, in December 2023, we and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (“Vertex”) entered into a license agreement, under which Vertex obtained a non-exclusive license for our Cas9 gene editing technology for ex vivo gene editing medicines targeting the BCL11A gene in the fields of SCD and TDT, including Vertex’s CASGEVYTM (exagamglogene autotemcel). We received a $50.0 million upfront cash payment in the fourth quarter of 2023 and the 2024 annual license fee of $10.0 million in the first quarter of 2024. The license agreement further provides for the payment by Vertex of a potential additional $50.0 million contingent upfront payment and further future fixed and sales-based annual license fees, ranging from $10.0 million to $40.0 million annually, inclusive of certain sales-based annual license fee increases, through 2034. We are required to pay The Broad Institute, Inc. (“Broad”) and the President and Fellows of Harvard College (“Harvard”) a mid-double-digit percentage of amounts payable to us from Vertex under the license agreement as it relates to Cas9 technology licensed by us from Broad and Harvard. In October 2024, we entered into an agreement (the “DRI Agreement”) with a wholly owned subsidiary of DRI Healthcare Trust (“DRI”) providing for an upfront cash payment by DRI to us of $57.0 million in exchange for the acquisition by DRI of up to 100% of certain of the annual license fees owed to us under the Vertex license agreement, which fees range from $5.0 million to $40.0 million per year (inclusive of certain sales-based annual license fees that may become due), and a mid-double-digit percentage of the $50.0 million contingent upfront payment, in each case after subtracting amounts owed by us to Broad and Harvard. We have retained rights to our portions of certain other sales-based annual license fees and the contingent upfront payment that may become due under the license agreement with Vertex, and the amounts that correspond to our licensor obligations.
Since our inception in September 2013, our operations have focused on organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, establishing our intellectual property portfolio, assembling our core capabilities in gene editing, seeking to identify potential product candidates, and undertaking preclinical studies and clinical trials. All of our ongoing research programs are still in the preclinical or research stage of development and the risk of failure of all of our research programs is high. We have not generated any revenue from product sales. We have primarily financed our operations through various equity financings, payments received under our research collaboration with BMS through its wholly owned subsidiary Juno Therapeutics, our former strategic alliance with Allergan Pharmaceuticals International Limited (together with its affiliates, “Allergan”), which was terminated in August 2020, payments received under the DRI Agreement in connection with our license agreement with Vertex, and payments under the Vertex license agreement.
Since inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. Our net losses were $76.1 million and $62.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. As of March 31, 2025, we had an accumulated deficit of $1.5 billion. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future.
Our net losses may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter and from year to year. We anticipate that our expenses will increase as we continue our current research programs and our preclinical development activities; nominate development candidates and initiate clinical trials for our current preclinical programs; seek to identify additional research programs and additional product candidates; initiate preclinical testing for other product candidates we identify and develop; maintain, expand, and protect our intellectual property portfolio, including reimbursing our licensors for such expenses related to the intellectual property that we in-license from such licensors; further develop our gene editing platform; hire additional personnel; and incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company. We do not expect to be profitable for the year ending December 31, 2025 or the foreseeable future.
Financial Operations Overview
Revenue
To date, we have not generated any revenue from product sales, and we do not expect to generate any revenue from product sales for the foreseeable future. In connection with our collaboration with BMS, we have received an aggregate of $146.5 million in payments, which have primarily consisted of the initial upfront and amendment payments, development milestone payments, research funding support and certain opt-in fees. We no longer receive research funding support. During the three months ended March 31, 2025 we did not recognize revenue related to our collaboration with BMS. As of March 31, 2025, we had $50.2 million of deferred revenue in relation to our collaboration with BMS, all of which was classified as long-term deferred revenue on our consolidated balance sheet. Under this collaboration, we will recognize revenue upon delivery of option packages to BMS or upon receipt of development milestone payments. We expect that our revenue will fluctuate from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year as a result of the timing of when we deliver such option packages or receive such milestone payments.
Pursuant to the license agreement with Vertex, we received a $50.0 million upfront cash payment in the fourth quarter of 2023 upon execution of the agreement and the 2024 and 2025 annual license fees of $10.0 million in each of the first quarters of 2024 and 2025. The license agreement further provides for the payment by Vertex of a potential additional $50.0 million contingent upfront payment and further annual license fees, ranging from $10.0 million to $40.0 million annually, inclusive of certain sales-based annual license fee increases, through 2034.
For additional information about our revenue recognition policy related to the Vertex license agreement and BMS collaboration, see Part II, “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Revenue Recognition” included in the Annual Report.
For the foreseeable future we expect substantially all of our revenue will be generated from our license agreement with Vertex, collaboration with BMS, and any other collaborations or license agreements we may enter into.
Operating Expenses
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for our research, preclinical development, process and scale-up development, manufacture and clinical development of our product candidates, and the performance of development activities under our collaboration agreements. These costs are expensed as incurred and include:
- employee-related expenses including salaries, benefits, and stock-based compensation expense;
- costs incurred under clinical trial agreements with investigative sites for our former reni-cel program;
- costs associated with conducting our preclinical, process and scale-up development, manufacturing, quality, clinical and regulatory activities, including fees paid to third-party professional consultants, service providers and suppliers;
- costs of purchasing lab supplies and non-capital equipment used in our preclinical activities and in manufacturing preclinical and clinical study materials;
- costs incurred for the research and development activities under our collaboration agreements;
- facility costs including rent, depreciation, and maintenance expenses; and
- fees for acquiring and maintaining licenses under our third-party licensing agreements, including any sublicensing or success payments made to our licensors.
At this time, we cannot reasonably estimate or know the nature, timing, and estimated costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the development of any product candidates we may identify and develop. This is due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with developing such product candidates, including the uncertainty of:
- successful completion of preclinical studies, investigational new drug application-enabling studies and natural history studies;
- successful initiation of, enrollment in, and completion of, clinical trials;
- receipt of marketing approvals from applicable regulatory authorities;
- establishing commercial manufacturing capabilities or making arrangements with third-party manufacturers;
- obtaining and maintaining patent and trade secret protection and non-patent exclusivity;
- launching commercial sales of a product, if and when approved, whether alone or in collaboration with others;
- acceptance of a product, if and when approved, by patients, the medical community, and third-party payors;
- effectively competing with other therapies and treatment options;
- a continued acceptable safety profile following approval;
- enforcing and defending intellectual property and proprietary rights and claims; and
- achieving desirable medicinal properties for the intended indications.
A change in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development of any product candidates we develop would significantly change the costs, timing, and viability associated with the development of that product candidate.
Research and development activities are central to our business model. We expect research and development costs to increase for the foreseeable future as our development programs progress, including as we continue to support preclinical studies and prepare for the clinical development of our research programs.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and other related costs, including stock-based compensation for personnel in executive, finance, investor relations, business development, legal, corporate affairs, information technology, facilities and human resource functions. Other significant costs include corporate facility costs not otherwise included in research and development expenses, legal fees related to intellectual property and corporate matters, and fees for accounting and consulting services.
We anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will decrease or remain flat in the near future to support continued research and development activities. We anticipate that expenses associated with operating as a public company, including costs for audit, legal, regulatory, and tax-related services, director and officer insurance premiums, and investor relation costs will remain flat or decrease in the near future. With respect to reimbursement of third-party intellectual property-related expenses specifically, given the ongoing nature of the opposition and interference proceedings involving the patents licensed to us under our license agreement with Broad and Harvard, we anticipate general and administrative expenses associated with reimbursement of third-party intellectual property-related expense will continue to fluctuate as the interference proceedings continue.
Restructuring and Impairment Charges
In December 2024, our board of directors approved the discontinuation of the clinical development of our ex vivo reni-cel program (the “Discontinuation”). As part of the Discontinuation, our board approved a reduction in our employee workforce by approximately 180 positions, or by approximately 65% (the “Reduction”). Restructuring charges consist primarily of expenses in connection with the wind-down of various activities related to clinical development of reni-cel, including contract termination costs, impairment charges and non-cash charges, and expenses related to the Reduction, primarily consisting of severance payments and employee benefit costs. We may also incur additional costs not currently contemplated due to events that may occur as a result of or that are associated with the Discontinuation and Reduction. We expect restructuring charges to be substantially incurred through the end of 2025, when the related activities are expected to be substantially complete.
Other Income, Net
For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and March 31, 2024, other income, net consisted primarily of interest income and the amortization of premiums or discounts on marketable securities and interest accretion related to the liability for the sale of future revenues.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements requires us to make judgments and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our condensed consolidated financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events, and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our judgments and estimates in light of changes in circumstances, facts, and experience. The effects of material revisions in estimates, if any, will be reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements prospectively from the date of change in estimates.
During the three months ended March 31, 2025, we had the following material change to our critical accounting estimates as described in Part II, “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in the Annual Report:
Restructuring
We record liabilities for costs associated with restructuring activities in the period in which the liability is incurred. Typical costs associated with restructuring activities include, employee termination benefits, contract termination costs and on-going contract costs for which there is no economic benefit. For costs associated with employee terminations in which the employee is subject to an existing benefit arrangement, the post employment benefits are recognized when probable and estimable. Other employee termination costs are measured and recognized on the communication date, unless there is a required future service period, in which case, the expense is recognized over the service period. Contract termination costs are recognized upon termination of the contract and costs for on-going contracts for which there is no future benefit, are recognized at fair value on the cease-use date.
We have made estimates and judgments regarding the amount and timing of our restructuring expense and liability, including current and future period termination benefits and other exit costs to be incurred when related actions take place. Restructuring charges are reflected in our consolidated statements of income. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the Three Months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, together with the changes in those items in dollars (in thousands) and the respective percentages of change:
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 | 2024 | Dollar Change | Percentage Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collaboration and other research and development revenues | $4,658 | $1,135 | $3,523 | n/m |
| Operating expenses: | ||||
| Research and development | 26,593 | 48,787 | (22,194) | (45)% |
| General and administrative | 13,375 | 19,339 | (5,964) | (31)% |
| Restructuring and impairment charges | 40,853 | — | 40,853 | 100% |
| Total operating expenses | 80,821 | 68,126 | 12,695 | 19% |
| Other income, net | ||||
| Other expense, net | (425) | 6 | (431) | n/m |
| Interest related to sale of future revenues | (2,216) | — | (2,216) | 100% |
| Interest income, net | 2,716 | 5,035 | (2,319) | (46)% |
| Total other income, net | 75 | 5,041 | (4,966) | (99)% |
| Net loss | $(76,088) | $(61,950) | $(14,138) | 23% |
For our results of operations, we have included the respective percentage of changes, unless greater than 100% or less than (100)%, in which case we have denoted such changes as not meaningful (n/m).
Collaboration and Other Research and Development Revenues
Collaboration and other research and development revenues were $4.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $1.1 million for the same period in 2024. The increase from the three months ended March 31, 2024 is primarily attributable to the recognition of the remaining deferred revenue upon the closing out of a collaboration agreement with a strategic partner.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses decreased by $22.2 million to $26.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $48.8 million for the same period in 2024. The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, together with the changes in those items in dollars (in thousands) and the respective percentages of change:
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 | 2024 | Dollar Change | Percentage Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employee related expenses | $11,322 | $13,683 | $(2,361) | (17)% |
| External research and development | 7,470 | 17,588 | (10,118) | (58)% |
| Facility expenses | 5,366 | 5,219 | 147 | 3% |
| Stock-based compensation expenses | 907 | 2,908 | (2,001) | (69)% |
| Sublicense and license fees | 17 | 5,896 | (5,879) | (100)% |
| Other expenses | 1,511 | 3,493 | (1,982) | (57)% |
| Total research and development expenses | $26,593 | $48,787 | $(22,194) | (45)% |
25
The decrease in research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024 was primarily attributable to:
- approximately $10.1 million in decreased external research and development expenses primarily related to clinical and manufacturing costs related to our reni-cel program due to the Discontinuation, partially offset by costs attributable to in vivo research and discovery;
- approximately $5.9 million in decreased sublicense and license fees related to the achievement of certain milestones in the first quarter of 2024 for which there was no equivalent achievement in the first quarter of 2025;
- approximately $2.4 million in decreased employee-related expenses related to reduced headcount associated with the Reduction;
- approximately $2.0 million in decreased other expenses related to professional services to support our reni-cel program due to the Discontinuation; and
- approximately $2.0 million in decreased stock-based compensation expense related to expense in connection with the achievement of certain performance-based vesting of restricted stock units recognized in the first quarter of 2024 for which there was no equivalent expense in the first quarter of 2025.
These decreases were partially offset by approximately $0.1 million in increased facility expenses.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses decreased by $6.0 million to $13.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $19.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The following table summarizes our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, together with the changes in those items in dollars (in thousands) and the respective percentages of change:
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 | 2024 | Dollar Change | Percentage Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employee related expenses | $4,441 | $4,889 | $(448) | (9)% |
| Professional service expenses | 2,351 | 2,915 | (564) | (19)% |
| Intellectual property and patent related fees | 2,546 | 3,946 | (1,400) | (35)% |
| Stock-based compensation expenses | 2,072 | 4,677 | (2,605) | (56)% |
| Facility and other expenses | 1,965 | 2,912 | (947) | (33)% |
| Total general and administrative expenses | $13,375 | $19,339 | $(5,964) | (31)% |
The decrease in general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024 was primarily attributable to:
- approximately $2.6 million in decreased stock-based compensation expenses related to expense in connection with the achievement of certain performance-based vesting of restricted stock units recognized in the first quarter of 2024 for which there was no equivalent expense in the first quarter of 2025;
- approximately $1.4 million in decreased intellectual property and patent related legal fees;
- approximately $0.9 million in decreased facility and other expenses related to the expiration of a lease;
- approximately $0.6 million in decreased professional service expenses related to reduced licensing and strategic business activities in 2025 relative to 2024; and
- approximately $0.4 million in decreased employee related expenses related to reduced headcount associated with the Reduction.
Restructuring and Impairment Charges
Restructuring charges were $40.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, with no equivalent charges for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The following table summarizes our restructuring charges for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, together with the changes in those items in dollars (in thousands) and the respective percentages of change:
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 | 2024 | Dollar Change | Percentage Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employee termination benefits | $3,509 | $— | $3,509 | 100 % |
| Costs for ongoing contracts and terminated contracts | 28,875 | — | 28,875 | 100 % |
| Acceleration of expense for change in useful life estimate | 4,745 | — | 4,745 | 100 % |
| Impairment charges | 3,724 | — | 3,724 | 100 % |
| Total restructuring and impairment charges | $40,853 | $— | $40,853 | 100 % |
During the three months ended March 31, 2025, we recorded $3.5 million, $28.9 million, $4.7 million and $3.7 million related to employee termination benefits, program-related ongoing contract and terminated contract costs, acceleration in expense due to changes in useful life estimates for leasehold improvements, software and a right of use asset, and impairment charges respectively, due to the Discontinuation and the Reduction.
Other Income, Net
For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and March 31, 2024 other income, net was $0.1 million and $5.0 million, respectively, which primarily relates to interest income and accretion of discounts and premiums associated with marketable securities and interest accretion related to the liability for the sale of future revenues. The decrease is attributable to interest accretion related to the DRI Purchase and Sale Agreement off-setting our investment income along with a reduction in our investments for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
As of March 31, 2025, we have raised an aggregate of $1.0 billion in net proceeds through the sale of shares of our common stock in public offerings and at-the-market offerings. We also have funded our business from our research collaboration with BMS through its wholly owned subsidiary Juno Therapeutics, our former strategic alliance with Allergan (which was terminated in August 2020), payments received under the DRI Agreement in connection with our license agreement with Vertex, and payments under the Vertex license agreement. As of March 31, 2025, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $221.0 million.
In May 2021, we entered into a common stock sales agreement with TD Securities (USA) LLC (as successor to Cowen and Company, LLC) (“TD Cowen”), under which we from time to time can issue and sell shares of our common stock through TD Cowen in at-the-market offerings for aggregate gross sale proceeds of up to $300.0 million. We amended the common stock sales agreement with TD Cowen in February 2024 in connection with filing a new registration statement. In March 2025, we further amended our common stock sales agreement with TD Cowen in connection with amending our existing shelf registration statement following the loss of our status as a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), reducing the amount of shares of common stock we may issue and sell through TD Cowen to aggregate gross sale proceeds of up to $150.0 million (the “ATM Facility”). As of March 31, 2025, we have sold 706,236 shares of our common stock under the ATM Facility at a weighted average price of $2.03 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $1.4 million and have $148.6 million of shares of our common stock remaining available for issuance and sale under the ATM Facility.
In addition to our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, we are eligible to earn milestone and other payments under our collaboration agreement with BMS and our other collaboration and license agreements. Our ability to earn applicable milestone and other payments and the timing of earning these amounts are dependent upon the timing and outcome of development, regulatory and commercial activities and, as such, are uncertain at this time. As of
March 31, 2025, our right to contingent payments under our collaboration agreement with BMS, as well as the retained portions of the contingent upfront payment and other amounts under our license agreement with Vertex, are our only significant committed potential external source of funds.
Cash Flows
The following table provides information regarding our cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (in thousands):
| Net cash (used in) provided by: | Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | $(47,799) | $(49,872) |
| Investing activities | 56,387 | (4,745) |
| Financing activities | (1,437) | 192 |
| Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | $7,151 | $(54,425) |
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities
The use of cash in all periods resulted primarily from our net losses adjusted for non-cash charges and changes in components of working capital.
Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $47.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, which primarily consisted of operating expenses that related to increasing our research efforts, the progression of clinical and manufacturing activities in support of our former reni-cel program and supporting business operations.
Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $49.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, which primarily consisted of operating expenses that related to increasing our research efforts, the focused progression of clinical and manufacturing activities in support of our former reni-cel program, and supporting business operations.
Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities
Net cash provided by investing activities was approximately $56.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, primarily related to the proceeds from the maturities of marketable securities of $56.5 million.
Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $4.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily related to the purchases of marketable securities of $86.2 million, partially offset by the proceeds from the maturities of marketable securities of $83.4 million.
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities was approximately $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, primarily related to the repayment of our liability for the sale of future revenues with DRI of $2.9 million. This was offset by the proceeds from the issuance of common stock from our ATM Facility of $1.4 million.
Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, related to the proceeds received from exercises of options for our common stock.
Funding Requirements
We expect our expenses to increase for the foreseeable future as our development programs progress, including as we continue to support preclinical studies and prepare for the clinical development of our research programs; seek to identify product candidates and additional research programs; initiate preclinical testing and clinical trials for other product candidates we identify and develop; maintain, expand, and project our intellectual property portfolio, including reimbursing our licensors for expenses related to the intellectual property that we in-license from such licensors; and incur costs associated with operating as a public company. In addition, if we obtain marketing approval for any product candidate that we identify and develop, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses related to product sales, marketing, manufacturing, and distribution to the extent that such sales, marketing, and distribution are not the responsibility of a collaborator. We do not expect to generate significant recurring revenue unless and until we obtain regulatory approval for and commercialize a product candidate. Accordingly, we will need to obtain substantial additional funding in connection with our continuing operations. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce, or eliminate our research and development programs or future commercialization efforts.
We expect that our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities on March 31, 2025, and the retained portions of the payments payable under our license agreement with Vertex, will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second quarter of 2027. Our forecast of the period of time through which our existing cash and cash equivalents and investments will be adequate to support our operations is a forward-looking statement and involves significant risks and uncertainties. We have based this forecast on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and actual results could vary materially from our expectations, which may adversely affect our capital resources and liquidity. We could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. The amount and timing of future funding requirements, both near- and long-term, will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to:
- the restructuring costs associated with the Discontinuation and Reduction;
- the scope, progress, results, and costs of drug discovery, preclinical development, laboratory testing, and any clinical or natural history study trials for product candidates we develop;
- the costs of preparing, filing, and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and enforcing our intellectual property and proprietary rights, and defending intellectual property-related claims;
- the costs, timing, and outcome of regulatory review of the product candidates we develop;
- the costs of establishing and maintaining a supply chain for the development and manufacture of our product candidates;
- the costs of future activities, including product sales, medical affairs, marketing, manufacturing, and distribution, for any product candidates for which we receive regulatory approval;
- the success of our collaboration with BMS, including whether BMS exercises any of its options to extend the research program term and/or to additional research programs under our collaboration;
- our ability to establish and maintain additional collaborations on favorable terms, if at all;
- the extent to which we acquire or in-license other medicines and technologies;
- the costs of reimbursing our licensors for the prosecution and maintenance of the patent rights in-licensed by us; and
- our ability to establish and maintain healthcare coverage and adequate reimbursement for any product candidates for which we receive regulatory approval.
Identifying potential product candidates and conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials is a time-consuming, expensive, and uncertain process that takes many years to complete, and we may never generate the necessary data or results required to obtain marketing approval and achieve product sales. In addition, even if we successfully identify and develop product candidates that are approved, we will require significant additional amounts in order to launch and commercialize our product candidates and may not achieve commercial success. Our commercial revenues, if any, will be derived from sales of genomic medicines that we do not expect to be commercially available for many years, if at all. Accordingly, we will need to continue to rely on additional financing to achieve our business objectives. Adequate additional financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all.
Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenues, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances, and licensing arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, our stockholders’ ownership interests will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our stockholders. Debt financing, if available, would result in increased fixed payment obligations and 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 funds through additional collaborations, strategic alliances, or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs, or product candidates or to 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 product development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.
Contractual Obligations
As of March 31, 2025, we had operating leases with future minimum lease payments for a total of $30.0 million, of which $9.6 million will be payable in 2025. These minimum lease payments exclude our share of the facility operating expenses, real-estate taxes and other costs that are reimbursable to the landlord under the leases.
In 2023, we entered into a license and service agreement pursuant to which we leased manufacturing space for our continued research and development activities. The lease commenced April 1, 2024. In September 2024, we modified the lease, and as a result of the modification the lease payments decreased and the notification period for the termination of the license and service agreement increased from 12 months’ prior written notice to 18 months’ prior written notice. In January 2025, we gave our termination notice on the license and service agreement, which resulted in the end of the term of the agreement being July 2026, and $8.9 million of remaining payments owed. In April 2025, we modified the lease to terminate on April 30, 2025 with a final fixed payment of $3.7 million.
Our agreements with certain institutions to license intellectual property include potential milestone payments and success fees, sublicense fees, royalty fees, licensing maintenance fees, and reimbursement of patent maintenance costs that we may be required to pay. Our agreements to license intellectual property include potential milestone payments that are dependent upon the development of products using the intellectual property licensed under the agreements and contingent upon the achievement of development or regulatory approval milestones, as well as commercial milestones. These potential obligations are contingent upon future events and the timing and likelihood of such potential obligations are not known with certainty. For further information regarding these agreements, please see Part I, “Item 1. Business—Our Collaborations and Licensing Strategy” in the Annual Report.
We also enter into contracts in the normal course of business with contract research organizations, contract manufacturing organizations and other vendors to assist in the performance of our research and development activities and other services and products for operating purposes. These contracts generally provide for termination at any time upon prior notice.
Market risk
As filed, 1,201 characters, with its headings, lists and tables. Extracted from the main document; charts and exhibits are in the original on sec.gov.
We are exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates. As of March 31, 2025, we had cash and cash equivalents of $138.7 million, primarily held in money market mutual funds, and marketable securities of $82.3 million, primarily consisting of U.S. government-backed securities, commercial paper and corporate debt securities. Our primary exposure to market risk is interest rate sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of U.S. interest rates, particularly because our investments, including cash equivalents, are in the form, or may be in the form of, money market funds or marketable securities and are or may be invested in U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agency obligations. Due to the short-term maturities and low risk profiles of our investments, an immediate 100 basis point change in interest rates would not have a material effect on the fair market value of our investments.
While we contract with certain vendors and institutions internationally, substantially all of our total liabilities as of March 31, 2025 were denominated in the United States dollar and we believe that we do not have any material exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk.
Controls and procedures
As filed, 2,086 characters, with its headings, lists and tables. Extracted from the main document; charts and exhibits are in the original on sec.gov.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2025. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and our management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2025, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Risk factors
As filed, 13,173 characters, with its headings, lists and tables. Extracted from the main document; charts and exhibits are in the original on sec.gov.
Information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including below, and in the sections entitled “Summary of Risk Factors” and Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Annual Report, includes risks which could materially affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, or prospects. These risks, as well as other risks and uncertainties, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, which in turn could materially and adversely affect the trading price of shares of our common stock. Additional risks not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also harm our business.
Some of our in-licensed patents are subject to priority and validity disputes. In addition, our owned and in-licensed patents, patent applications and other intellectual property may be subject to further priority and validity disputes, and other similar intellectual property proceedings including inventorship disputes. If we or our licensors are unsuccessful in any of these proceedings, we may be required to obtain licenses from third parties, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all, or to cease the development, manufacture, and commercialization of one or more of the product candidates we develop, which could have a material adverse impact on our business.
Certain U.S. patents and a U.S. patent application directed to CRISPR/Cas9 that are co-owned by the Broad Institute and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (“MIT”), and in some cases Harvard (collectively referred to as “Broad”), and in-licensed by us were involved in a first interference with a U.S. patent application that is co-owned by the University of California, the University of Vienna, and Emmanuelle Charpentier (collectively referred to “CVC”). An interference is a proceeding in USPTO before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board of the USPTO (“PTAB”) to determine priority of invention of the subject matter of patent claims filed by different parties. In this first interference, the PTAB made a judgment of no interference-in-fact in favor of the Broad, which was upheld on appeal. This decision was final and bars any further interference between the same parties for claims to the same invention that was considered in the interference. As a result of this decision, the U.S. patents and application that we in-license from the Broad and others were not modified or revoked.
On June 24, 2019, the PTAB declared a second interference between certain pending U.S. patent applications that are co-owned by CVC and certain U.S. patents and a U.S. patent application that are co-owned by Broad and in-licensed by us. Most of the Broad U.S. patents and the patent application that are involved in the second interference were also part of the first interference. The invention that was considered in the first interference related to a method involving contacting a target DNA in a eukaryotic cell with certain defined CRISPR/Cas9 components for the purpose of cleaving or editing that target DNA molecule or modulating transcription of at least one gene encoded thereon. The second interference is directed to a different invention, namely a eukaryotic cell comprising a target DNA and certain defined CRISPR/Cas9 components including a single molecule guide RNA that are capable of cleaving or editing the target DNA molecule.
On September 10, 2020, the PTAB granted Broad’s motion for priority benefit while denying CVC priority benefit to their two earliest provisional patent applications. As a result, Broad entered the priority phase of the interference as “Senior Party” while CVC remained the “Junior Party” for purposes of determining which entity was the first to invent the inventions at issue. On February 28, 2022, the PTAB issued a decision regarding the priority phase of the interference determining that Broad was the first entity to invent the claims at issue. This decision was appealed by CVC and the Broad cross-appealed. On May 12, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (“CAFC”) affirmed-in-part and vacated-in-part the PTAB’s previous decision and remanded it back to the PTAB for further review. This decision does not impact our ability to grant licenses or change existing licenses we have issued to certain U.S. patents and a U.S. patent application that are co-owned by Broad and in-licensed by us. It is uncertain when or in what manner the PTAB will ultimately render a decision.
On December 14, 2020, the PTAB, declared two new interferences involving a pending U.S. patent application that is owned by ToolGen, Inc. (the “ToolGen application”). One of the two interferences is between the ToolGen application and certain U.S. patents and U.S. patent applications that are co-owned by Broad and in-licensed by us. Most of the Broad U.S. patents and patent applications that are involved in the interference with ToolGen are also part of the second interference with CVC. The other ToolGen interference is between the same ToolGen application and the U.S. patent applications that are co-owned by CVC and involved in the second interference with Broad. The claims in ToolGen’s patent application relate to a mammalian cell with a CRISPR/Cas system comprising a codon optimized nucleic acid encoding a Cas9 polypeptide with a nuclear localization signal and a single-molecule guide RNA that, together, are capable of forming a Cas9/RNA complex that mediates double stranded cleavage of a target nucleic acid sequence. On September 28, 2022, the PTAB suspended both of these interferences until the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issues a mandate in the pending appeals related to the second interference between Broad and CVC.
On June 21, 2021, the PTAB declared two new interferences involving a pending U.S. patent application owned by Sigma-Aldrich (the “Sigma-Aldrich application”). One of the two new interferences is between the Sigma-Aldrich application and certain U.S. patents and U.S. patent applications that are co-owned by Broad and in-licensed by us. The other Sigma interference is between the same Sigma-Aldrich application and the U.S. patent applications that are co-owned by CVC. Most of the Broad U.S. patents and patent applications that are involved in the interference with Sigma-Aldrich are also part of the concurrent interferences with CVC and ToolGen. The claims in Sigma-Aldrich’s application relate to a method for modifying a chromosomal sequence in a eukaryotic cell by integrating a donor sequence into that chromosomal sequence. These methods use a CRISPR/Cas9 system comprising a Cas9 polypeptide with a nuclear localization signal, a guide RNA, and a donor sequence that, together, are capable of mediating double stranded cleavage and repair of a target nucleic acid sequence leading to integration of the donor sequence into the chromosomal sequence. On December 14, 2022, the PTAB suspended both of these interferences until the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issues a mandate in the pending appeals related to the second interference between Broad and CVC.
As a result of these declarations of interference, five parallel adversarial proceedings in the USPTO before the PTAB have been initiated – the patent interferences between Broad and CVC, Broad and ToolGen, CVC and ToolGen, Broad and Sigma-Aldrich, and CVC and Sigma-Aldrich. We cannot predict with any certainty how long each interference proceeding will take. It is also possible that other third parties may seek to become a party to these interferences.
Our owned and in-licensed patents and patent applications are, or may in the future become, subject to validity disputes in the USPTO and other foreign patent offices. For example, a request for ex parte re-examination was filed with the USPTO on February 16, 2016 against a U.S. patent that we have in-licensed from Broad, which is involved in certain of the interferences. The request for ex parte re-examination was granted on May 9, 2016 thereby initiating a re-examination procedure between the USPTO and Broad, acting on behalf of itself and MIT. The PTAB has suspended the re-examination noting that it has jurisdiction over any file that involves a patent involved in an interference. It is uncertain when the PTAB will lift the suspension. If Broad is unsuccessful during the re-examination, the patent in question may be revoked or narrowed, which could have a material adverse effect on the scope of our rights under such patent.
We or our licensors may also be subject to claims that former employees, collaborators, or other third parties have an interest in our owned or in-licensed patents or patent applications, or other intellectual property rights as an inventor or co-inventor. If we are unable to obtain an exclusive license to any such third-party co-owners’ interest in such patents, patent applications or other intellectual property rights, such co-owners may be able to license their rights to other third parties, including our competitors. In addition, we may need the cooperation of any such co-owners to enforce any patents, including any patents that issue from patent applications, against third parties, and such cooperation may not be provided to us. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on the conduct of our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.
We or our licensors are subject to and may in the future become a party to similar proceedings or priority disputes in Europe or other foreign jurisdictions. For example, certain European patents that we have in-licensed from Broad have been revoked in their entirety by the European Patent Office Opposition Division (the “Opposition Division”). Certain other European patents that we have in-licensed from Broad were maintained with amended patent claims. Certain of these decisions have been appealed by both Broad and the opposing party(s), and it is uncertain when or in what manner the Boards of Appeal will act on these appeals. The Opposition Division has also initiated opposition proceedings against certain other European patents that we have in-licensed from Broad. The European Patent Office opposition proceedings may involve issues including, but not limited to, procedural formalities related to filing the European patent application, priority, and the patentability of the involved claims. In view of certain arguments made by the third parties against the revoked patents and similar arguments made by the third parties against other in-licensed European patents under opposition, the opposition proceedings may lead to the revocation of certain additional in-licensed European patents. The loss of priority for, or the loss of, these European patents could have a material adverse effect on the conduct of our business. One or more of the third parties that have filed oppositions against these European patents or other third parties may file future oppositions against other European patents that we in-license or own. There may be other oppositions against these European patents that have not yet been filed or that have not yet been made available to the public.
If we or our licensors are unsuccessful in any patent related disputes, including interference proceedings, patent oppositions, re-examinations, or other priority, inventorship, or validity disputes to which we or they are subject (including any of the proceedings discussed above), we may lose valuable intellectual property rights through the loss of one or more patents owned or licensed or our owned or licensed patent claims may be narrowed, invalidated, or held unenforceable. In addition, if we or our licensors are unsuccessful in any inventorship disputes to which we or they are subject, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights, such as exclusive ownership of, or the exclusive right to use, our owned or in-licensed patents and patent applications. If we or our licensors are unsuccessful in any interference proceeding or other priority or inventorship dispute, we may be required to obtain and maintain licenses from third parties, including parties involved in any such interference proceedings or other priority or inventorship disputes. Such licenses may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or may be non-exclusive or may not be available at all. If we are unable to obtain and maintain such licenses, we may need to cease the development, manufacture, and commercialization of one or more of the product candidates we develop. The loss of exclusivity or the narrowing of our owned and in-licensed patent claims could limit our ability to stop others from using or commercializing similar or identical technology and products. Any of the foregoing could result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or prospects. Even if we are successful in any interference proceeding or other priority, inventorship, or validity disputes, it could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to our management and other employees.
Figures reported in this filing
Standardized line items from the XBRL in this filing, for the period ended 2025-03-31. Comparative periods it repeats are left out.
| Line item | Period | Value | XBRL concept |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 3 months2025-01-01 to 2025-03-31 | $4.7m | us-gaap:RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax |
| Research and development | 3 months2025-01-01 to 2025-03-31 | $26.6m | us-gaap:ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense |
| Operating income | 3 months2025-01-01 to 2025-03-31 | −$76.2m | us-gaap:OperatingIncomeLoss |
| Net income | 3 months2025-01-01 to 2025-03-31 | −$76.1m | us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss |
| Diluted EPS | 3 months2025-01-01 to 2025-03-31 | −$0.92 | us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted |
| Basic EPS | 3 months2025-01-01 to 2025-03-31 | −$0.92 | us-gaap:EarningsPerShareBasic |
| Diluted shares (weighted) | 3 months2025-01-01 to 2025-03-31 | 83,055,066 shares | us-gaap:WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding |
| Operating cash flow | 3 months2025-01-01 to 2025-03-31 | −$47.8m | us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities |
| Capital expenditure | 3 months2025-01-01 to 2025-03-31 | $114.0k | us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment |
| Cash and equivalents | At period end2025-03-31 | $138.7m | us-gaap:CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue |
| Current assets | At period end2025-03-31 | $224.8m | us-gaap:AssetsCurrent |
| Total assets | At period end2025-03-31 | $263.7m | us-gaap:Assets |
| Current liabilities | At period end2025-03-31 | $73.1m | us-gaap:LiabilitiesCurrent |
| Total liabilities | At period end2025-03-31 | $201.2m | us-gaap:Liabilities |
| Long-term debt | At period end2025-03-31 | $49.6m | us-gaap:LongTermDebtNoncurrent |
| Current portion of debt | At period end2025-03-31 | $5.0m | us-gaap:LongTermDebtCurrent |
| Shareholders' equity | At period end2025-03-31 | $62.4m | us-gaap:StockholdersEquity |
Source: SEC EDGAR, the filing index for accession 0001650664-25-000073. Last ingested by Listed: Nov 6, 2026, 17:42 ET. Listed shows no prices and gives no investment advice.