Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

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Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

NOTE 1 — ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of the Business

Molecular Templates, Inc. (the “Company” or “Molecular”), is clinical stage a biopharmaceutical company formed in 2001, with a biologic therapeutic platform for the development of novel targeted therapeutics for cancer and other diseases, headquartered in Austin, Texas. The Company’s initial focus is on the research and development of therapeutic compounds for a variety of cancers. Molecular operates its business as a single segment, as defined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”).

On August 1, 2017, the Company, formerly known as Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: THLD) (“Threshold”), completed its business combination with the entity then known as Molecular Templates, Inc., a private Delaware Corporation (“Private Molecular”), in accordance with the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of March 16, 2017, by and among Threshold, Trojan Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Threshold (“Merger Sub”), and Private Molecular, pursuant to which Merger Sub merged with and into Private Molecular, with Private Molecular surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Threshold (the “Merger”). Also on August 1, 2017, in connection with, and prior to the completion of, the Merger, Threshold effected an 11-for-1 reverse stock split of its common stock (the “Reverse Stock Split”) and changed its name to “Molecular Templates, Inc.” Following the completion of the Merger, the business conducted by the Company became primarily the business conducted by Private Molecular as described in the paragraph above.

Basis of Presentation

These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the historical results of Private Molecular prior to the completion of the Merger, and do not include the historical results of the Company prior to the completion of the Merger. All share and per share disclosures have been adjusted to reflect the exchange of shares in the Merger, and the 11-for-1 reverse stock split of the common stock effected on August 1, 2017. Under U.S. GAAP, the Merger is treated as a “reverse merger” under the purchase method of accounting. For accounting purposes, Private Molecular is considered to have acquired Threshold. See Note 3, Merger with Private Molecular, for further details on the Merger and the U.S. GAAP accounting treatment.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of results for the periods presented, have been included. The results of operations of any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the full year or any other interim period.

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the recorded amounts reported therein. A change in facts or circumstances surrounding the estimate could result in a change to estimates and impact future operating results.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures have been prepared with the presumption that users of the interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have read or have access to the audited consolidated financial statements for the preceding fiscal year. Accordingly, these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2016 included in the Company’s Amended Registration Statement on Form S-4/A filed with the SEC on June 27, 2017.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, and reflect the elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions.

Prior Year’s Presentations

Certain amounts in the prior year’s presentations have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.  These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported net loss.

Revenue Recognition

The accounting guidance for revenue recognition requires that the following criteria must be met before revenue can be recognized: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered; (iii) the fee is fixed or determinable; and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured. Determination of whether persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists and whether delivery has occurred or services have been rendered are based on management’s judgments regarding the fixed nature of the fee charged for research performed and milestones met, and the collectability of those fees. Should changes in conditions cause management to determine these criteria are not met for certain future transactions, revenue recognized for any reporting period could be adversely affected.

Revenue under the Company’s license and collaboration arrangements is recognized based on the performance requirements of the contract. Collaboration agreements may include non-refundable license fees, research and development funding, cost reimbursements and contingent milestones and royalties. Under ASC 605-25, in multiple-element arrangement; fixed or determinable contract consideration is allocated to the deliverables with stand-alone value and revenue is recognized for each such deliverable according to the method appropriate for each deliverable. Revenue is allocated to each element using a selling price hierarchy, using the selling price for an element based on vendor specific objective evidence (“VSOE”); third-party evidence (“TPE”); or the best estimate of selling price, if neither VSOE nor TPE is available.

Upfront, non-refundable licensing payments are assessed to determine whether or not the licensee is able to obtain stand-alone value from the license. Where the license does not have stand-alone value, non-refundable license fees are recognized as revenue as the Company performs under the applicable agreement. Where the license has stand-alone value, the Company recognizes total license revenue at the time all revenue recognition criteria have been met.

The Company receives funds from a state financial assistance program, which is a conditional cost reimbursement grant and revenue is recognized as allowable costs are paid. The Company recognized approximately $0 million and $0.2 million in grant revenue under these awards during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $0 and $1.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. Amounts collected in excess of revenue recognized are recorded as deferred revenue.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable represent valid claims against customers. Management reviews accounts receivable regularly to determine if any receivable amounts are potentially uncollectible and then estimates the amount of allowance for doubtful accounts necessary to reduce the accounts receivable to estimate its net realizable value. As of September 30, 2017, management believes there were no receivable amounts requiring an allowance for doubtful accounts.

Concentration of Credit Risk and Other Risks and Uncertainties

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, investments, long term debt and accounts receivable.

The Company’s cash, cash equivalents and investments are invested in deposits with two major financial institutions in the United States. Deposits in these banks may exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits. The Company has not experienced any realized losses on its deposits of cash, cash equivalents or investments.

The Company performs an ongoing credit evaluation of its strategic partners’ financial conditions and generally does not require collateral to secure accounts receivable from its strategic partners. The Company’s exposure to credit risk associated with non-payment will be affected principally by conditions or occurrences within Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. (“Takeda”). Approximately 100% and 74% of total revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, were derived from Takeda. There were no accounts receivable due from Takeda at December 31, 2016. See also Note 4, Research and Development Collaboration Agreement, regarding the collaboration agreements with Takeda.

Drug candidates developed by the Company may require approvals or clearances from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) or international regulatory agencies prior to commercial sales. There can be no assurance that the Company’s drug candidates will receive any of the required approvals or clearances. If the Company were to be denied approval or clearance or any such approval or clearance were to be delayed, it would have a material adverse impact on the Company.

Intangible Assets (Patents)

Intangible assets consist of patents in application statuses which are not yet subject to amortization, and which management has deemed to have an alternative future use.

 

In-process Research & Development

 

In-process research and development, or IPR&D, represents the fair value assigned to research and development assets that were not fully developed as of the completion of the Merger. IPR&D acquired in a business combination is capitalized on the Company’s balance sheet at its acquisition-date fair value. Until the project is completed, the asset is accounted for as an indefinite-lived intangible asset subject to impairment testing. Upon completion of a project, the carrying value of the related IPR&D is reclassified to intangible assets and is amortized over the estimated useful life of the asset. The Company evaluates the potential impairment of its intangible assets if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be fully recoverable.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an accounting standard update for the presentation of deferred income taxes. Under this new guidance, deferred tax liabilities and assets should be classified as noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. The update is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2017 with early adoption permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. Additionally, this guidance may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively to all periods presented. We adopted the standard in the first quarter of 2017 and it did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), or ASU 2014-09, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASU 2014-09 will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. In March 2016, the FASB amended the principal-versus-agent implementation guidance and illustrations in the new standard. In April 2016, the FASB amended the guidance on identifying performance obligations and the implementation guidance on licensing in the new standard. In May 2016, the FASB amended the guidance on collectability, noncash consideration, presentation of sales tax and transition in the new standard. In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-20, “Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which amends certain narrow aspects of the guidance issued in ASU 2014-09. The new standard will become effective starting on January 1, 2018. Early application is permitted to the original effective date of January 1, 2017. The Company will adopt the standard on January 1, 2018. The standard permits the use of either the modified retrospective method or full retrospective approach for all periods presented. While the Company is continuing to assess all potential impacts of the standard, the Company believes the most significant accounting impact will relate to the timing of the recognition of our license, collaboration, and milestone revenues.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee – Share Based Payment Accounting,” or ASU 2016-09," which amends ASC Topic 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation.” ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted the standard effective January 1, 2017 and the adoption did not have a material effect on its condensed consolidated financial statement.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842).” ASU 2016-02 requires management to record right-to-use asset and lease liability on the statement of financial position for operating leases. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2018 and the modified retrospective approach is required. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard would have on its financial statements and disclosures.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718)": Scope of Modification Accounting” to clarify when to account for a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award as a modification. Under this new guidance, modification accounting is required if the fair value, vesting conditions, or classification of the award changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. ASU 2017-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within each annual reporting period. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its financial statements or disclosures.