UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

_____________________________

FORM 10-Q

 

_____________________________

(Mark One)

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018

OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 001-37359

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BLUEPRINT MEDICINES CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

_____________________________

 

(617) 374-7580

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

 

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

_____________________________

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☑     No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ☑     No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes       No  ☑

Number of shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.001 par value, outstanding on April 30, 2018: 43,837,337

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Unless otherwise stated, all references to “us,” “our,” “Blueprint,” “Blueprint Medicines,” “we,” the “Company” and similar designations in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q refer to Blueprint Medicines Corporation and its consolidated subsidiary, Blueprint Medicines Security Corporation.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” or the negative of these words or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

The forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q include, but are not limited to, statements about:

Any forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q reflect our current views with respect to future events or to our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We have included important factors in the cautionary statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, particularly in the “Risk Factors” section, that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments we may make or enter into.

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, performance or achievements may be materially different from what we expect. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future.

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q also contains estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry, our business and the markets for certain diseases, including data regarding the estimated size of those markets, and the incidence and prevalence of certain medical conditions. Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections, market research or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances reflected in this information. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained this industry, business, market and other data from reports, research surveys, studies and similar data prepared by market research firms and other third parties, industry, medical and general publications, government data and similar sources.

 

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements

Blueprint Medicines Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Blueprint Medicines Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Blueprint Medicines Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

 

Blueprint Medicines Corporation

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

1. Nature of Business

Blueprint Medicines Corporation (the Company), a Delaware corporation incorporated on October 14, 2008, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing potentially transformational medicines to improve the lives of patients with genomically defined cancers and rare diseases. The Company’s approach is to leverage its novel target discovery engine to systematically and reproducibly identify kinases that are drivers of diseases in genomically defined patient populations and to craft highly selective and potent drug candidates that may provide significant and durable clinical responses for patients without adequate treatment options.

The Company is devoting substantially all of its efforts to research and development, conducting pre-clinical and clinical development, commencing pre-commercial activities and raising capital. The Company is subject to a number of risks similar to those of other early stage companies, including dependence on key individuals; establishing safety and efficacy in clinical trials for its drug candidates; the need to develop commercially viable drug candidates; competition from other companies, many of which are larger and better capitalized; and the need to obtain adequate additional financing to fund the development of its drug candidates. If the Company is unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, it would be forced to delay, reduce, eliminate or out‑license certain of its research and development programs or future commercialization efforts.

On May 5, 2015, the Company completed an initial public offering (IPO) of its common stock, which resulted in the sale of 9,367,708 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $18.00 per share, including 1,221,874 shares of common stock sold by the Company pursuant to the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares in connection with the offering. The Company received net proceeds of $154.8 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses paid by the Company.

On December 13, 2016, the Company closed a follow-on public offering of 5,750,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $25.00 per share, including 750,000 shares of common stock sold by the Company pursuant to the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares in connection with the offering. The Company received net proceeds of $134.5 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by the Company.

On April 4, 2017, the Company closed a follow-on public offering of 5,750,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $40.00 per share, including 750,000 shares of common stock sold by the Company pursuant to the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares in connection with the offering (the April 2017 follow-on public offering). The Company received net proceeds of $215.6 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by the Company.

On December 15, 2017, the Company closed its underwritten public offering of 4,259,259 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $81.00 per share, including 555,555 shares of common stock sold by the Company pursuant to the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares in connection with the offering. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $325.7 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by the Company.

As of March 31, 2018, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $621.1 million. Based on the Company’s current plans, the Company believes its existing cash, cash equivalents and investments, excluding any potential option fees and milestone payments under its existing collaboration with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (collectively, Roche), will be sufficient to enable it to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the middle of 2020.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Basis of Presentation

The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company included herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC), Accounting Standards Update (ASU) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted from this report, as is permitted by such rules and regulations. Accordingly, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on February 21, 2018.

The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements, except as noted below with respect to the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606), and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Blueprint Medicines Security Corporation, which is a Massachusetts subsidiary created to buy, sell, and hold securities. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. In the opinion of the Company’s management, the accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments which are necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of March 31, 2018 and the results of its operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. Such adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. The results for the three months ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2018, or for any future period.

Due to the underwritten public offerings completed on April 4, 2017, and December 15, 2017, there was a significant increase in shares outstanding in the year ended December 31, 2017, which impacts the period-over-period comparability of the Company’s net loss per share calculations.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Management considers many factors in selecting appropriate financial accounting policies and in developing the estimates and assumptions that are used in the preparation of the financial statements. Management must apply significant judgment in this process. Management’s estimation process often may yield a range of potentially reasonable estimates and management must select an amount that falls within that range of reasonable estimates. Estimates are used in the following areas, among others: stock‑based compensation expense; revenue recognition; accrued expenses; and income taxes.

Significant Accounting Policies

The Company’s critical accounting policies are those policies that require the most significant judgments and estimates in the preparation of our financial statements. Management has determined that the Company’s most critical accounting policies are those relating to revenue recognition, accrued research and development expenses, available-for-sale investments and stock-based compensation.

Revenue Recognition

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606, using the modified retrospective transition method. Under this method, results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018 are presented under ASC 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition (ASC 605). The Company only applied the modified retrospective transition method to contracts that were not completed as of January 1, 2018, the effective date of adoption for ASC 606. This standard applies to all contracts with customers, except for contracts that are within the scope of other standards, such as leases, insurance, collaboration arrangements and financial instruments. Under ASC 606, an entity 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 an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the entity 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 only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the entity 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.

The Company enters into licensing agreements that are within the scope of ASC 606, under which it may exclusively license rights to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize its product candidates to third parties. The terms of these arrangements typically include payment to the Company of one or more of the following: non-refundable, upfront license fees; reimbursement of certain costs; customer option exercise fees; development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments; and royalties on net sales of licensed products.

In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as it fulfills its obligations under its agreements, the Company performs the following steps: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligation. As part of the accounting for these arrangements, the Company must use significant judgment to determine: (a) the number of performance obligations based on the determination under step (ii) above; (b) the transaction price under step (iii) above; and (c) the stand-alone selling price for each performance obligation identified in the contract for the allocation of transaction price in step (iv) above. The Company uses judgment to determine whether milestones or other variable consideration, except for royalties, should be included in the transaction price as described further below. The transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation on a relative stand-alone selling price basis, for which the Company recognizes revenue as or when the performance obligations under the contract are satisfied.

Amounts received prior to revenue recognition are recorded as deferred revenue. Amounts expected to be recognized as revenue within the 12 months following the balance sheet date are classified as current portion of deferred revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Amounts not expected to be recognized as revenue within the 12 months following the balance sheet date are classified as deferred revenue, net of current portion.

Exclusive Licenses. If the license to the Company’s intellectual property is determined to be distinct from the other promises or performance obligations identified in the arrangement, the Company recognizes revenue from non-refundable, upfront fees allocated to the license when the license is transferred to the customer and the customer is able to use and benefit from the license. In assessing whether a promise or performance obligation is distinct from the other promises, the Company considers factors such as the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization capabilities of the collaboration partner and the availability of the associated expertise in the general marketplace. In addition, the Company considers whether the collaboration partner can benefit from a promise for its intended purpose without the receipt of the remaining promise, whether the value of the promise is dependent on the unsatisfied promise, whether there are other vendors that could provide the remaining promise, and whether it is separately identifiable from the remaining promise. For licenses that are combined with other promises, the Company utilizes 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. The Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of performance and related revenue recognition. The measure of progress, and thereby periods over which revenue should be recognized, are subject to estimates by management and may change over the course of the research and development and licensing agreement. Such a change could have a material impact on the amount of revenue the Company records in future periods.

Research and Development Services. The promises under the Company’s collaboration agreements may include research and development services to be performed by the Company on behalf of the partner. Payments or reimbursements resulting from the Company’s research and development efforts are recognized as the services are performed and presented on a gross basis because the Company is the principal for such efforts. Reimbursements from and payments to the partner that are the result of a collaborative relationship with the partner, instead of a customer relationship, such as co-development activities, are recorded as a reduction to research and development expense.

Customer Options. If an arrangement is determined to contain customer options that allow the customer to acquire additional goods or services, the goods and services underlying the customer options that are not determined to be material rights are not considered to be performance obligations at the outset of the arrangement, as they are contingent upon option exercise. The Company evaluates the customer options for material rights, or options to acquire additional goods or services for free or at a discount. If the customer options are determined to represent a material right, the material right is recognized as a separate performance obligation at the outset of the arrangement. The Company allocates the transaction price to material rights based on the relative standalone selling price, which is determined based on the identified discount and the probability that the customer will exercise the option. Amounts allocated to a material right are not recognized as revenue until, at the earliest, the option is exercised.

Milestone Payments. At the inception of each arrangement that includes development milestone payments, the Company evaluates whether the milestones are considered probable of being achieved and estimates the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. 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 the control of the Company or the licensee, such as regulatory approvals, are not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received. The Company evaluates factors such as the scientific, clinical, regulatory, commercial, and other risks that must be overcome to achieve the particular milestone in making this assessment. There is considerable judgment involved in determining whether it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur. At the end of each subsequent reporting period, the Company reevaluates the probability of achievement of all milestones subject to constraint and, if necessary, adjusts its estimate of the overall transaction price. Any such adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which would affect revenues and earnings in the period of adjustment.

Royalties. For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on a level of sales, which are the result of a customer-vendor relationship and for which the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate, the Company recognizes 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. To date, the Company has not recognized any royalty revenue resulting from any of its licensing arrangements.

For a complete discussion of accounting for collaboration revenues, see Note 6, “Collaborations.”

There have been no other significant changes to the Company’s critical accounting policies discussed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 related to accrued research and development expenses, available-for-sale investments and stock-based compensation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, which amends the guidance for accounting for revenue from contracts with customers. ASU No. 2014-09 superseded the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605 and created ASC 606 described above. In 2015 and 2016, the FASB issued additional ASUs related to ASC 606 that delayed the effective date of the guidance and clarified various aspects of the new revenue guidance, including principal versus agent considerations, identifying performance obligations, and licensing, and they include other improvements and practical expedients. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606 using the modified retrospective transition method.

As a result of adopting ASC 606, the Company has recorded a cumulative-effect increase to opening accumulated deficit of $5.3 million as of January 1, 2018 and a corresponding increase to deferred revenue. Total revenue recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2018 under ASC 606 was $0.9 million, as compared to $1.3 million that would have been recorded under ASC 605. Total deferred revenue as of March 31, 2018 was $39.7 million under ASC 606, as compared to $34.0 million that would have been recorded under ASC 605.

The most significant change to the Company’s accounting for revenue as a result of the adoption of ASC 606 relates to its revenue recognition pattern under step (v) above for the Company’s collaboration and license agreement with Roche (as amended, Roche Agreement). Under ASC 605, the Company was recognizing the revenue allocated to each unit of accounting on straight‑line basis over the period the Company expected to complete its obligations. Under ASC 606, the Company is recognizing the revenue allocated to each performance obligation measuring progress using an input method over the period the Company expects to complete each performance obligation. ASC 606 also requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. For further discussion of the adoption of this standard, see Note 6, “Collaborations.”

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Restricted Cash (ASU No. 2016-18). The amendments in ASU No. 2016-18 require an entity to reconcile and explain the period-over-period change in total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash within its statements of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-18 was effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-18 using a full retrospective approach and it did not have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) (ASU No. 2016-15), which simplifies certain elements of cash flow classification. The new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-15 was effective for the Company on January 1, 2018, and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01 Financial Instruments (ASU No. 2016-01) related to the recording of financial assets and financial liabilities. Under the amended guidance, equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee) are to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income (loss). However, an entity has the option to either measure equity investments without readily determinable fair values either (i) at fair value or (ii) at cost adjusted for changes in observable prices minus impairment. Changes in measurement under either alternative will be recognized in net income (loss). The amended guidance became effective January 1, 2018. As the Company does not currently hold equity securities, there was no impact on the financial statements at the adoption date. The Company may hold equity securities in the future, at which time the Company will apply the provisions of ASU No. 2016-01 and record changes in the fair value of the equity securities in net income (loss).

Not Yet Adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (ASU No. 2016-02), which will change the way the Company recognizes its leased assets. ASU No. 2016-02 will require organizations that lease assets—referred to as “lessees”—to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities representing the rights and obligations created by those leases. ASU No. 2016-02 will also require disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The standard is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim reporting periods within those years) beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the methods of adoption allowed by the new standard and the effect that adoption of the standard is expected to have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

3. Cash Equivalents and Investments

Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into cash with original maturities of three months or less when purchased. Investments consist of securities with original maturities greater than 90 days when purchased. The Company classifies these investments as available-for-sale and records them at fair value in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. Unrealized gains or losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Premiums or discounts from par value are amortized to investment income over the life of the underlying investment.

Cash equivalents and investments, available-for-sale, consisted of the following at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands):

 

 

Although available to be sold to meet operating needs or otherwise, securities are generally held through maturity. The cost of securities sold is determined based on the specific identification method for purposes of recording realized gains and losses. During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, there were no realized gains or losses on sales of investments, and no investments were adjusted for other than temporary declines in fair value.

At March 31, 2018, the Company held 58 securities that were in an unrealized loss position. The aggregate fair value of securities held by the Company in an unrealized loss position for less than twelve months as of March 31, 2018 was $456.3 million. As of March 31, 2018, there were $29.9 million securities held by the Company in an unrealized loss position for more than twelve months. The Company has the intent and ability to hold such securities until recovery. The Company determined that there was no material change in the credit risk of the above investments. As a result, the Company determined it did not hold any investments with an other-than-temporary impairment as of March 31, 2018.

 

4. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels as follows:

Financial instruments measured at fair value as of March 31, 2018 are classified below based on the fair value hierarchy described above:

 

Financial instruments measured at fair value as of December 31, 2017 are classified below based on the fair value hierarchy described above:

The fair value of the Company’s term loan payable is determined using current applicable rates for similar instruments as of the balance sheet date. The carrying value of the Company’s term loan payable approximates fair value because the Company’s interest rate yield approximates current market rates. The Company’s term loan payable is a Level 3 liability within the fair value hierarchy.

5. Restricted Cash

At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, $4.6 million and $4.8 million, respectively, of the Company’s cash is restricted by a bank. As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, $4.6 million of the restricted cash was included in long-term assets on the Company’s balance sheet related to security deposits for the lease agreements for the Company’s current and former corporate headquarters.

6. Collaborations

Roche

In March 2016, the Company and Roche entered into the Roche agreement, which provides for the discovery, development and commercialization of up to five small molecule therapeutics targeting kinases believed to be important in cancer immunotherapy, as single products or possibly in combination with other therapeutics. The parties are currently conducting activities for up to five programs under the collaboration, including up to two collaboration programs leveraging the Company’s novel target discovery engine and proprietary compound library to select potential targets.

Under the Roche agreement, Roche is granted up to five option rights to obtain an exclusive license to exploit products derived from the collaboration programs in the field of cancer immunotherapy. Such option rights are triggered upon the achievement of Phase 1 proof-of-concept. For up to three of the five collaboration programs, if Roche exercises its option, Roche will receive worldwide, exclusive commercialization rights for the licensed products. For up to two of the five collaboration programs, if Roche exercises its option, the Company will retain commercialization rights in the United States for the licensed products, and Roche will receive commercialization rights outside of the United States for the licensed products. The Company will also retain worldwide rights to any products for which Roche elects not to exercise its applicable option.

Prior to Roche’s exercise of an option, the Company will have the lead responsibility for drug discovery and pre-clinical development of all collaboration programs. In addition, the Company will have the lead responsibility for the conduct of all Phase 1 clinical trials other than those Phase 1 clinical trials for any product in combination with Roche’s portfolio of therapeutics, for which Roche will have the right to lead the conduct of such Phase 1 clinical trials. Pursuant to the Roche agreement, the parties will share the costs of Phase 1 development for each collaboration program. In addition, Roche will be responsible for post-Phase 1 development costs for each licensed product for which it retains global commercialization rights, and the Company and Roche will share post-Phase 1 development costs for each licensed product for which the Company retains commercialization rights in the United States.

Subject to the terms of the Roche agreement, the Company received an upfront cash payment of $45.0 million and will be eligible to receive up to approximately $965.0 million in contingent option fees and milestone payments related to specified research, pre-clinical, clinical, regulatory and sales-based milestones. Of the total contingent payments, up to approximately $215.0 million are for option fees and milestone payments for research, pre-clinical and clinical development events prior to licensing across all five potential collaboration programs, including contingent milestone payments for initiation of each of the collaboration programs for which the parties will work together to select targets (pre-option exercise milestones). In addition, for any licensed product for which Roche retains worldwide commercialization rights, the Company will be eligible to receive tiered royalties ranging from low double-digits to high-teens on future net sales of the licensed product. For any licensed product for which the Company retains commercialization rights in the United States, the Company and Roche will be eligible to receive tiered royalties ranging from mid-single-digits to low double-digits on future net sales in the other party’s respective territories in which it commercializes the licensed product. The upfront cash payment and any payments for milestones, option fees and royalties are non-refundable, non-creditable and not subject to set-off.

The Roche agreement will continue until the date when no royalty or other payment obligations are or will become due, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the terms of the Roche agreement. Prior to its exercise of its first option, Roche may terminate the Roche agreement at will, in whole or on a collaboration target-by-collaboration target basis, upon 120 days’ prior written notice to the Company. Following its exercise of an option, Roche may terminate the Roche agreement at will, in whole, on a collaboration target-by-collaboration target basis, on a collaboration program-by-collaboration program basis or, if a licensed product has been commercially sold, on a country-by-country basis, (i) upon 120 days’ prior written notice if a licensed product has not been commercially sold or (ii) upon 180 days’ prior written notice if a licensed product has been commercially sold. Either party may terminate the Roche agreement for the other party’s uncured material breach or insolvency and in certain other circumstances agreed to by the parties. In certain termination circumstances, the Company is entitled to retain specified licenses to be able to continue to exploit the licensed products.

The Company assessed this arrangement in accordance with ASC 606 and concluded that the contract counterparty, Roche, is a customer prior to the exercise, if any, of an option by Roche. The Company identified the following material promises under the arrangement: (1) a non-transferable, sub-licensable and non-exclusive license to use the Company’s intellectual property and collaboration compounds to conduct research activities; (2) research and development activities through Phase 1 clinical trials under the research plan; (3) five option rights for licenses to develop, manufacture, and commercialize the collaboration targets; (4) participation on a joint research committee (JRC) and joint development committee (JDC); and (5) regulatory responsibilities under Phase 1 clinical trials. The Company determined that the license and research and development activities were not distinct from another, as the license has limited value without the performance of the research and development activities. Participation on the JRC and JDC to oversee the research and development activities was determined to be quantitatively and qualitatively immaterial and therefore is excluded from performance obligations. The regulatory responsibilities related to filings and obtaining approvals related to the products that may result from each program do not represent separate performance obligations based on their dependence on the research and development efforts. As such, the Company determined that these promises should be combined into a single performance obligation.

The Company evaluated the option rights for licenses to develop, manufacture, and commercialize the collaboration targets to determine whether it provides Roche with any material rights. The Company concluded that the options were not issued at a significant and incremental discount, and therefore do not provide material rights. As such, they are excluded as performance obligations at the outset of the arrangement.

Based on these assessments, the Company identified one performance obligation at the outset of the Roche Agreement, which consists of: (1) the non-exclusive license; (2) the research and development activities through Phase 1; and (3) regulatory responsibilities under Phase 1 clinical trials.

Under the Roche Agreement, in order to evaluate the appropriate transaction price, the Company determined that the upfront amount of $45.0 million constituted the entirety of the consideration to be included in the transaction price as of the outset of the arrangement, which was allocated to the single performance obligation. The option exercise payments that may be received are excluded from the transaction price until each customer option is exercised as it was determined that the options are not material rights. The potential milestone payments that the Company is eligible to receive prior to the exercise of the options were excluded from the transaction price, as all milestone amounts were fully constrained based on the probability of achievement. The Company will reevaluate the transaction price at the end of each reporting period and as uncertain events are resolved or other changes in circumstances occur, and, if necessary, adjust its estimate of the transaction price.

Revenue associated with the performance obligation is being recognized as revenue as the research and development services are provided using an input method, according to the costs incurred as related to the research and development activities on each program and the costs expected to be incurred in the future to satisfy the performance obligation. The transfer of control occurs over this time period and, in management’s judgment, is the best measure of progress towards satisfying the performance obligation. The research and development services related to this performance obligation are expected to be performed over a period of approximately eight years. The revenue recognized during the first quarter of 2018 represents revenue that was previously deferred. The amounts received that have not yet been recognized as revenue are recorded in deferred revenue on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Through March 31, 2018, the Company had recognized revenue of $5.3 million as collaboration revenue in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss under the Roche Agreement. Deferred revenue related to the Roche Agreement amounted to $39.7 million as of March 31, 2018, of which $4.8 million is included in current liabilities.

Alexion

In March 2015, the Company entered into a research, development and commercialization agreement (Alexion agreement) with Alexion to research, develop and commercialize one or more drug candidates targeting the ALK2 kinase for the treatment of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). On July 26, 2017, the Company received written notice from Alexion of its election to terminate the Alexion agreement for convenience, and the termination became effective on October 24, 2017. Since the Alexion agreement terminated prior to January 1, 2018, the Company recognized revenue from the Alexion collaboration in accordance with ASC 605.

Pursuant to the Alexion agreement, the Company was responsible for research and pre-clinical development activities related to any drug candidates, and Alexion was responsible for all clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization activities related to any drug candidates. In addition, Alexion was responsible for funding 100% of the Company’s research and development costs incurred under the research plan, including pass through costs and a negotiated yearly rate per full time equivalent for its employees’ time and their associated overhead expenses. As a result of the termination of the Alexion agreement, the Company will not be entitled to receive payment from Alexion for any research and development expenses incurred after the effective date of termination.

Prior to termination, the Company had received an aggregate amount of $18.8 million in upfront and milestone payments. The Company received a $15.0 million non-refundable upfront payment in March 2015 upon execution of the Alexion agreement and an aggregate amount of $3.8 million in pre-clinical milestone payments prior to the termination of the Alexion agreement. As a result of the termination, the Company was not entitled to receive payment from Alexion for any additional milestones.

The Company determined that there were three deliverables under the former Alexion collaboration: (i) an exclusive license to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize the licensed products and the compounds in the field in the territory, (ii) conducting research and development activities under the research plan and (iii) participation on a joint steering committee (JSC) and joint project team (JPT).

The Company determined that the license did not have value to Alexion on a stand-alone basis due to the specialized nature of the research services to be provided by the Company that are not available in the marketplace. Therefore, the deliverables were not separable and, accordingly, the license, undelivered research and development activities and JSC and JPT participation were a single unit of accounting. When multiple deliverables are accounted for as a single unit of accounting, the Company bases its revenue recognition model on the final deliverable. Under the Alexion agreement, the last deliverable to be completed is its research and development activities and participation on the JSC and JPT, which were expected to be delivered over the same performance period. The Company recognized the remaining deferred revenue balance related to the upfront payment and non-substantive milestone payment previously received under the former collaboration with Alexion, utilizing the proportional performance model over the remaining period of performance, which ended October 24, 2017.

The Company evaluated whether the milestones that it was eligible to receive in connection with the Alexion agreement were substantive or non-substantive milestones. The Company concluded that the first pre-clinical milestone payment under the former Alexion collaboration was non-substantive due to the certainty at the date the arrangement was entered into that the event will be achieved. In the second quarter of 2015, the Company achieved the first pre-clinical milestone under the former Alexion collaboration and received a $1.8 million payment from Alexion. The Company recognized revenues from the related milestone payment over the remaining period of performance.

The remaining non-refundable pre-clinical milestones that the Company was eligible to achieve as a result of the Company’s efforts prior to the termination were considered substantive. The Company has recognized and received an aggregate of $2.0 million in substantive milestones through December 31, 2017.

As a result of the termination, the Company did not recognize revenue under the Alexion agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2018. During the three months ended March 31, 2017 the Company recognized revenue under the Alexion agreement of $4.4 million, which represents $2.8 million of reimbursable research and development costs, as well as a portion of the $15.0 million upfront payment and the $1.8 million non-substantive milestone payment previously received under the collaboration.

7. Term Loan

In May 2013, the Company entered into a loan and security agreement with Silicon Valley Bank, which provided for up to $5.0 million in funding, to be made available in three tranches. Loan advances accrue interest at a fixed rate of 2% above the prime rate. In November 2014, the Company amended the loan to allow the Company to borrow an additional $5.0 million. The Company accounted for the amendment as a modification to the existing 2013 loan. The Company immediately drew the additional $5.0 million and was required to make interest‑only payments until December 1, 2015, and consecutive monthly payments of principal, plus accrued interest, over the remaining term through November 1, 2018. The Company is required to pay a fee of 4% of the total loan advances at the end of the term of the loan. The fee is being accreted to interest expense over the term of the loan. In the event of prepayment, the Company is obligated to pay 1% to 2% of the amount of the outstanding principal depending upon the timing of the prepayment.

The term loan is collateralized by a blanket lien on all corporate assets, excluding intellectual property, and by a negative pledge of the Company’s intellectual property. The term loan contains customary default provisions that include material adverse events, as defined therein. The Company has determined that the risk of subjective acceleration under the material adverse events clause is remote and therefore has classified the outstanding principal in current and long‑term liabilities based on scheduled principal payments.

The Company assessed all terms and features of the term loan in order to identify any potential embedded features that would require bifurcation. As part of this analysis, the Company assessed the economic characteristics and risks of the term loan, including put and call features. The Company determined that all features of each of the term loan are clearly and closely associated with a debt host and do not require bifurcation as a derivative liability, or the fair value of the feature is immaterial to the Company’s financial statements. The Company will continue to reassess the features on a quarterly basis to determine if they require separate accounting.

Future minimum payments, which include principal and interest due under the term loan, are $1.1 million, in the aggregate, for the remainder of 2018.

8. Stock Awards

2015 Stock Option and Incentive Plan

In 2015, the Company’s board of directors and stockholders approved the 2015 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the 2015 Plan), which replaced the Company’s 2011 Stock Option and Grant Plan, as amended (the 2011 Plan). The 2015 Plan includes incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, unrestricted stock, performance share awards and cash-based awards. The Company initially reserved a total of 1,460,084 shares of common stock for the issuance of awards under the 2015 Plan. The 2015 Plan provides that the number of shares reserved and available for issuance under the 2015 Plan will be cumulatively increased on January 1 of each calendar year by 4% of the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31 or such lesser amount as specified by the compensation committee of the board of directors. For the calendar year beginning January 1, 2018, the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2015 Plan was increased by 1,743,101 shares. In addition, the total number of shares reserved for issuance is subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend or other change in our capitalization. At March 31, 2018, there were 2,452,704 shares available for future grant under the 2015 Plan.

Awards

Options and restricted stock awards granted by the Company generally vest ratably over four years, with a one‑year cliff for new employee awards, and are exercisable from the date of grant for a period of ten years.

The Company did not have any unvested restricted stock as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. There were no restricted stock awards that vested during the three months ended March 31, 2018.  The total fair value of restricted stock that vested during the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $0.1 million.

A summary of the Company’s stock option activity and related information follows:

The fair value of stock options is estimated on the grant date using the Black‑Scholes option‑pricing model based on the following weighted average assumptions:

 

The weighted‑average grant date fair value of options granted in the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $52.20 and $23.98, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised in the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $17.5 million and $3.5 million, respectively.

Total stock‑based compensation expense recognized for all stock‑based compensation awards in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss is as follows (in thousands):

 

At March 31, 2018, the Company had $85.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted‑average period of 2.89 years. Due to an operating loss, the Company does not record tax benefits associated with stock‑based compensation or option exercises. Tax benefit will be recorded when realized.

2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

In 2015, the Company’s board of directors and stockholders approved the 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the 2015 ESPP), which became effective upon the closing of the IPO in May 2015. The Company initially reserved a total of 243,347 shares of common stock for issuance under the 2015 ESPP. The 2015 ESPP provides that the number of shares reserved and available for issuance under the 2015 ESPP will be cumulatively increased on January 1 of each calendar year by 1% of the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31 or such lesser amount as specified by the compensation committee of the board of directors. For the calendar year beginning January 1, 2018, the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2015 ESPP was increased by 435,775 shares. The Company issued no shares under the ESPP during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

9. Net Loss per Share

Basic net loss per share applicable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing net loss applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average shares outstanding during the period, without consideration for common stock equivalents. Diluted net loss per share applicable to common stockholders is calculated by adjusting weighted average shares outstanding for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents outstanding for the period. For purposes of the dilutive net loss per share applicable to common stockholders calculation, stock options, and unvested restricted stock are considered to be common stock equivalents but are excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share applicable to common stockholders, as their effect would be anti‑dilutive; therefore, basic and diluted net loss per share applicable to common stockholders were the same for all periods presented as a result of the Company’s net loss. The following common stock equivalents were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share applicable to common stockholders for the periods indicated because including them would have had an anti‑dilutive effect.

The weighted average number of common shares used in net loss per share applicable to common stockholders on a basic and diluted basis were 43,700,226 and 33,189,759 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

10. Commitments

On February 12, 2015, the Company entered into a lease for approximately 38,500 rentable square feet of office and laboratory space in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which the Company gained control over on June 15, 2015, and

occupancy commenced in October 2015. The lease ends on October 31, 2022. The Company has an option to extend the lease for five additional years. The lease has a total commitment of $17.8 million over the seven-year term. The Company has agreed to pay an initial annual base rent of approximately $2.3 million, which rises periodically until it reaches approximately $2.8 million. The Company is recording rent expense on a straight-line basis through the end of the lease term. The Company has recorded deferred rent on the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2017, accordingly. The lease provides the Company with an allowance for leasehold improvements of $4.3 million. The Company accounts for leasehold improvement incentives as a reduction to rent expense ratably over the lease term. The balance from the leasehold improvement incentives is included in lease incentive obligations on the balance sheet. The lease agreement required the Company to pay a security deposit of $1.3 million, which is recorded in restricted cash on the Company’s balance sheet.

In the first quarter of 2018, the Company subleased its former corporate headquarters at 38 Sidney Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts through October 31, 2020. Subject to the terms of the sublease agreement and the master lease agreement, including a right of recapture by the Company, the sublessee has the option to extend the sublease through October 31, 2022. The sublease includes a total commitment by the sublessee of $8.2 million over the 32 month term of the sublease agreement. During the 32 month term, the Company will be responsible for total rental payments of $6.9 million and an additional $0.7 million in total payments related to the Company’s profit on the sublease income which are payable by the Company to the landlord.

On April 28, 2017, the Company entered into a lease agreement for approximately 99,833 rentable square feet of office and laboratory space located at 45 Sidney Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The initial term of the lease agreement commenced on October 1, 2017 and will expire on November 30, 2029. The lease agreement also provides the Company with an option to extend the lease agreement for two consecutive five-year periods at the then fair market annual rent, as defined in the lease agreement, as well as a right of first offer with respect to leasing additional space adjacent to the existing leased premises. During the initial term of the lease agreement, the Company has agreed to pay an initial annual base rent of approximately $7.7 million, which rises periodically until it reaches approximately $10.6 million in the last year of the initial term. The Company is recording rent expense on a straight-line basis through the end of the lease term. The Company has recorded deferred rent on the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2017 accordingly. The landlord has also agreed to provide the Company with a tenant improvement allowance of approximately $14.2 million for improvements to be made to the premises. The Company accounts for leasehold improvement incentives as a reduction to rent expense ratably over the lease term. The lease agreements required the Company to pay a security deposit of $3.5 million, which is recorded in restricted cash on the Company’s balance sheet.

For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, rent expense was $2.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively.

 

 

Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, on February 21, 2018. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, including those factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our actual results or timing of certain events could differ materially from the results or timing described in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.

Overview

We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing potentially transformational medicines to improve the lives of patients with genomically defined cancers and rare diseases. Our approach is to leverage our novel target discovery engine to systematically and reproducibly identify kinases that are drivers of diseases in genomically defined patient populations and to craft highly selective and potent drug candidates that may provide significant and durable clinical responses for patients without adequate treatment options. This integrated biology and chemistry approach enables us to identify, characterize and design drug candidates to inhibit novel kinase targets that have been difficult to selectively inhibit. By focusing on diseases in genomically defined patient populations, we believe that we will have a more efficient development path with a greater likelihood of success.

Our most advanced drug candidates are avapritinib, BLU-554 and BLU-667. Our lead drug candidate, avapritinib, is an orally available, potent and highly selective inhibitor that targets KIT and PDGFRα mutations. These mutations abnormally activate receptor tyrosine kinases that are drivers of cancer and proliferative disorders, including gastrointestinal stromal tumors, or GIST, and systemic mastocytosis, or SM. GIST is a rare disease that is a sarcoma, or tumor of bone or connective tissue, of the gastrointestinal tract, or GI tract, and SM is a rare disorder that causes an overproduction of mast cells and the accumulation of mast cells in the bone marrow and other organs, which can lead to a wide range of debilitating symptoms and organ dysfunction and failure. We are currently evaluating avapritinib in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial for defined subsets of patients with GIST, which we refer to as our NAVIGATOR trial, and an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial for advanced SM, which we refer to as our EXPLORER trial. We plan to initiate a global, randomized Phase 3 clinical trial for avapritinib compared to regorafenib in third-line GIST in the second quarter of 2018, which we refer to as our VOYAGER trial. In addition, we anticipate initiating a registration‑enabling Phase 2 clinical trial of avapritinib in patients with advanced SM by the middle of 2018, which we refer to as our PATHFINDER trial, and a registration‑enabling Phase 2 clinical trial of avapritinib in patients with indolent SM and smoldering SM by the end of 2018, which we refer to as our PIONEER trial.

BLU-554 is an orally available, potent and highly selective inhibitor that targets FGFR4, a kinase that is aberrantly activated in a defined subset of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, or HCC, the most common type of liver cancer. We are currently evaluating BLU-554 in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with advanced HCC.

BLU-667 targets RET, a receptor tyrosine kinase that is abnormally activated by mutations or translocations, and RET resistance mutations that we predict will arise from treatment with first generation therapies. RET drives disease in subsets of patients with non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC, and cancers of the thyroid, including medullary thyroid carcinoma, or MTC, and papillary thyroid cancer, and our research suggests that RET may drive disease in subsets of patients with colon cancer, breast cancer and other cancers. We are currently evaluating BLU-667 in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with RET altered NSCLC, MTC and other advanced solid tumors, which we refer to as our ARROW trial.

In addition, in the fourth quarter of 2017, we nominated a development candidate, BLU-782, for our discovery program targeting the kinase ALK2 for the treatment of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, or FOP, a rare genetic disease caused by mutations in the ALK2 gene, ACVR1. We initiated Investigational New Drug, or IND, application enabling studies for BLU-782 in the first quarter of 2018.

We plan to continue to leverage our discovery platform to systematically and reproducibly identify kinases that are drivers of diseases in genomically defined patient populations and craft drug candidates that potently and selectively target these kinases. We recently nominated an additional wholly-owned discovery program and currently have three wholly-owned discovery programs for undisclosed kinase targets. We anticipate nominating at least one additional discovery program in 2018.

In addition to our wholly-owned clinical and pre-clinical programs, in March 2016, we entered into an agreement with F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd and Hoffmann La Roche Inc. to discover, develop and commercialize up to five small molecule therapeutics targeting kinases believed to be important in cancer immunotherapy, as single products or possibly in combination with other therapeutics. We will continue to evaluate additional collaborations that could maximize the value for our programs and allow us to leverage the expertise of strategic collaborators. We are also focused on engaging in collaborations to capitalize on our discovery platform outside of our primary strategic focus area of cancer.

We currently have worldwide development and commercialization rights to avapritinib, BLU-554, BLU-667 and BLU-782 and all of our discovery programs other than the pre-clinical programs under the Roche collaboration. In September 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, granted orphan drug designation to BLU-554 for the treatment of HCC, and in January 2016, the FDA granted orphan drug designation to avapritinib for the treatment of GIST and mastocytosis. In October 2016, the FDA granted fast track designation to avapritinib for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic GIST that progressed following treatment with imatinib and a second tyrosine kinase, or TKI, inhibitor and for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic GIST with the PDGFRα D842V mutation regardless of prior therapy. In addition, in June 2017, the FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation to avapritinib for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic GIST harboring the PDGFRα D842V mutation, and in July 2017, the European Commission granted orphan drug designation to avapritinib for the treatment of GIST. In April 2018, the FDA granted orphan drug designation to BLU-667 for the treatment of RET-rearranged NSCLC, JAK1/2-positive NSCLC or TRKC-positive NSCLC.

Since inception, our operations have focused on organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, establishing our intellectual property, building our discovery platform, including our proprietary compound library and new target discovery engine, identifying kinase drug targets and potential drug candidates, producing drug substance and drug product material for use in pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, conducting pre-clinical studies and commencing clinical development and pre-commercial activities. We do not have any drugs approved for sale and have not generated any revenue from drug sales.

To date, we have financed our operations primarily through public offerings of our common stock, private placements of our convertible preferred stock, collaborations and a debt financing. Through March 31, 2018, we have received an aggregate of $1.1 billion from such transactions, including $887.4 million in aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of common stock in our May 2015 initial public offering, or IPO, and December 2016, April 2017 and December 2017 follow-on public offerings, $115.1 million in gross proceeds from the issuance of convertible preferred stock, $18.8 million of upfront and milestone payments under our former collaboration with Alexion Pharma Holding, or Alexion, a $45.0 million upfront payment under our existing collaboration with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., which we refer to collectively as Roche, and $10.0 million in gross proceeds from the debt financing.

Since inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. Our net losses were $56.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and $148.1 million, $72.5 million and $52.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. As of March 31, 2018, we had an accumulated deficit of $417.5 million. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses over the next several years. We anticipate that our expenses will increase significantly in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we:

Financial Operations Overview

Revenues

To date, we have not generated any revenue from drug sales and do not expect to generate any revenue from the sale of drugs in the near future. Our revenue consists of collaboration revenue under our former collaboration with Alexion, which was terminated in October 2017, and our existing collaboration with Roche, including amounts that are recognized related to upfront payments, milestone payments and amounts due to us for research and development services. In the future, revenue may include additional milestone payments and royalties on any net product sales under our collaboration with Roche. As a result of the termination of our Alexion collaboration, we will not be entitled to receive any future payments from Alexion for any research and development expenses or milestones. We expect that any revenue we generate will fluctuate from quarter to quarter as a result of the timing and amount of license fees, research and development services and related reimbursements, payments for manufacturing services, and milestone and other payments.

In the future, we will seek to generate revenue from a combination of drug sales and additional strategic relationships we may enter into.

Expenses

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for our research and development activities, including our drug discovery efforts, and the development of our drug candidates, which include:

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Costs for certain activities are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research and development activities are capitalized. The capitalized amounts are expensed as the related goods are delivered or the services are performed.

The successful development of our drug candidates is highly uncertain. As such, 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 remainder of the development of these drug candidates. We are also unable to predict when, if ever, material net cash inflows will commence from our drug candidates. This is due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with developing drugs, including the uncertainty of:

A change in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development of any of our drug candidates would significantly change the costs and timing associated with the development of that drug candidate.

Research and development activities are central to our business model. Drug candidates in later stages of clinical development generally have higher development costs than those in earlier stages of clinical development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of later‑stage clinical trials. We expect research and development costs to increase significantly for the foreseeable future as our drug candidate development programs progress. However, we do not believe that it is possible at this time to accurately project total program‑specific expenses through commercialization. There are numerous factors associated with the successful commercialization of any of our drug candidates, including future trial design and various regulatory requirements, many of which cannot be determined with accuracy at this time based on our stage of development. In addition, future commercial and regulatory factors beyond our control will impact our clinical development programs and plans.

A significant portion of our research and development expenses have been external expenses, which we track on a program‑by‑program basis following nomination as a development candidate. Our internal research and development expenses are primarily personnel‑related expenses, including stock-based compensation expense. Except

for internal research and development expenses related to a collaboration agreement, we do not track our internal research and development expenses on a program‑by‑program basis as they are deployed across multiple projects under development.

The following table summarizes our external research and development expenses by program for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. Other development and pre‑development candidate expenses, unallocated expenses and internal research and development expenses have been classified separately. 

 

We expect that our research and development expenses will increase in future periods as we expand our operations and incur additional costs in connection with our clinical trials. These increases will likely include the costs related to the implementation and expansion of clinical trial sites and related patient enrollment, monitoring, program management and drug product and drug substance manufacturing expenses for current and future clinical trials. In addition, we expect that our research and development expenses will increase in future periods as we incur additional costs in connection with research and development activities under our collaboration with Roche and development activities for companion diagnostic tests, including our companion diagnostic tests for avapritinib in order to identify GIST patients with the PDGFRα D842V mutation, BLU‑554 in order to identify HCC patients with FGFR4 pathway activation and BLU-667 in order to identify NSCLC patients with RET fusions.

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, accounting, commercial, business development, information technology, legal and human resources functions. Other significant costs include facility costs not otherwise included in research and development expenses, pre-commercial development activities, legal fees relating to intellectual property and corporate matters and fees for accounting and consulting services.

We expect that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the future to support continued research and development activities, including as we continue our existing clinical trials and initiate additional clinical trials, as well as pre-commercial development activities and establishing a sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any medicines for which we may obtain marketing approval. These increases will likely include increased costs related to the hiring of additional personnel, legal, auditing and filing fees and general compliance and consulting expenses, among other expenses. We have incurred and will continue to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company.

Other Income (Expense), net

Other income (expense), net consists primarily of income earned on cash equivalents and investments.

Interest Expense

Interest expense consists primarily of interest expense on amounts outstanding under a loan and security agreement that we entered into with Silicon Valley Bank in May 2013 and amortization of debt discount.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our critical accounting policies are those policies that require the most significant judgments and estimates in the preparation of our financial statements. Management has determined that our most critical accounting policies are those relating to revenue recognition, accrued research and development expenses, available-for-sale investments and stock-based compensation.

For a description of our critical accounting policies, please see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Financial Operations Overview—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Other than as described below, there have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies since December 31, 2017. 

Revenue Recognition

 Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which we refer to as ASC 606, using the modified retrospective transition method. Under this method, results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018 are presented under ASC 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition.  We only applied the modified retrospective transition method to contracts that were not completed as January 1, 2018, the effective date of adoption for ASC 606. This standard applies to all contracts with customers, except for contracts that are within the scope of other standards, such as leases, insurance, collaboration arrangements and financial instruments. Under ASC 606, an entity 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 an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the entity 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. We only apply the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the entity 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, we assess the goods or services promised within each contract and determine those that are performance obligations, and assess whether each promised good or service is distinct. We then recognize as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.

We enter into licensing agreements that are within the scope of ASC 606, under which we may exclusively license rights to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize our product candidates to third parties. The terms of these arrangements typically include payment of one or more of the following: non-refundable, upfront license fees; reimbursement of certain costs; customer option exercise fees; development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments; and royalties on net sales of licensed products.

In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as we fulfill our obligations under our agreements, we perform the following steps: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) we satisfy each performance obligation. As part of the accounting for these arrangements, we must use significant judgment to determine: (a) the number of performance obligations based on the determination under step (ii) above; (b) the transaction price under step (iii) above; and (c) the stand-alone selling price for each performance obligation identified in the contract for the allocation of transaction price in step (iv) above. We use judgment to determine whether milestones or other variable consideration, except for royalties, should be included in the transaction price as described further below. The transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation on a relative stand-alone selling price basis, for which we recognize revenue as or when the performance obligations under the contract are satisfied.

Amounts received prior to revenue recognition are recorded as deferred revenue. Amounts expected to be recognized as revenue within the 12 months following the balance sheet date are classified as current portion of deferred

revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Amounts not expected to be recognized as revenue within the 12 months following the balance sheet date are classified as deferred revenue, net of current portion.

Exclusive Licenses. If the license to our intellectual property is determined to be distinct from the other promises or performance obligations identified in the arrangement, we recognize revenue from non-refundable, upfront fees allocated to the license when the license is transferred to the customer and the customer is able to use and benefit from the license. In assessing whether a promise or performance obligation is distinct from the other promises, we consider factors such as the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization capabilities of the collaboration partner and the availability of the associated expertise in the general marketplace. In addition, we consider whether the collaboration partner can benefit from a promise for its intended purpose without the receipt of the remaining promise, whether the value of the promise is dependent on the unsatisfied promise, whether there are other vendors that could provide the remaining promise, and whether it is separately identifiable from the remaining promise. For licenses that are combined 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. We evaluate the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of performance and related revenue recognition. The measure of progress, and thereby periods over which revenue should be recognized, are subject to estimates by management and may change over the course of the research and development and licensing agreement. Such a change could have a material impact on the amount of revenue we record in future periods.

Research and Development Services. The promises under our collaboration agreements may include research and development services to be performed by our employees on behalf of the partner. Payments or reimbursements resulting from our research and development efforts are recognized as the services are performed and presented on a gross basis because we are the principal for such efforts. Reimbursements from and payments to the partner that are the result of a collaborative relationship with the partner, instead of a customer relationship, such as co-development activities, are recorded as a reduction to research and development expense.

Customer Options. If an arrangement is determined to contain customer options that allow the customer to acquire additional goods or services, the goods and services underlying the customer options that are not determined to be material rights are not considered to be performance obligations at the outset of the arrangement, as they are contingent upon option exercise. We evaluate the customer options for material rights, or options to acquire additional goods or services for free or at a discount. If the customer options are determined to represent a material right, the material right is recognized as a separate performance obligation at the outset of the arrangement. We allocate the transaction price to material rights based on the relative standalone selling price, which is determined based on the identified discount and the probability that the customer will exercise the option. Amounts allocated to a material right are not recognized as revenue until, at the earliest, the option is exercised.

Milestone Payments. At the inception of each arrangement that includes development milestone payments, we evaluate whether the milestones are considered probable of being achieved and estimates the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. 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 control or the licensee, such as regulatory approvals, are not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received. We evaluate factors such as the scientific, clinical, regulatory, commercial, and other risks that must be overcome to achieve the particular milestone in making this assessment. There is considerable judgment involved in determining whether it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur. At the end of each subsequent reporting period, we reevaluate the probability of achievement of all milestones subject to constraint and, if necessary, adjusts its estimate of the overall transaction price. Any such adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which would affect revenues and earnings in the period of adjustment.

Royalties. For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on a level of sales, which are the result of a customer-vendor relationship and for which the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate, we 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. To date, we have not recognized any royalty revenue resulting from any of our licensing arrangements. 

Results of Operations

Comparison of Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, together with the changes in those items in dollars and as a percentage:

Collaboration Revenue

Collaboration revenue decreased by $4.9 million from $5.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Collaboration revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was related to the Alexion and Roche agreements. We recorded collaboration revenue of $4.4 million under the Alexion agreement for the three months ended March 31, 2017. As a result of the termination of the Alexion agreement during 2017, we did not recognize any revenue under the Alexion agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2018. We recorded collaboration revenue of $0.9 million and $1.4 million under the Roche agreement for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, respectively. We adopted ASC 606 effective January 1, 2018 under the modified retrospective transition method, which impacts the year-over-year comparability of our collaboration revenue.

Research and Development Expense

Research and development expense increased by $21.5 million from $28.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $50.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The increase in research and development expense was primarily related to the following:

General and Administrative Expense

General and administrative expense increased by $4.2 million from $5.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $9.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The increase in general and administrative expense was primarily related to the following:

Other Income, Net

Other income (expense), net, increased by $2.0 million from $0.4 million of income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $2.4 million of income for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The increase in other income (expense), net, was primarily related to an increase in investment income due to higher average investment balances and a higher rate of return on investments during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased by less than $0.1 million from $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to less than $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The decrease was primarily related to a decrease in the average outstanding principle balance under the loan and security agreement with Silicon Valley Bank for the three months ended March 31, 2018. We expect that interest expense will continue to decrease in subsequent periods as the principal amount under the loan decreases.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources of Liquidity

To date, we have financed our operations primarily through public offerings of our common stock, private placements of our convertible preferred stock, collaborations and a debt financing.

Through March 31, 2018, we have received an aggregate of $1.1 billion from such transactions, including $887.4 million in aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of common stock in our May 2015 IPO and December 2016, April 2017 and December 2017 follow-on public offerings, $115.1 million in gross proceeds from the issuance of convertible preferred stock, $18.8 million of upfront and milestone payments from Alexion, a $45.0 million upfront payment from Roche and $10.0 million in gross proceeds from the debt financing. As a result of the termination of the Alexion agreement, which was effective in October 2017, we will not be entitled to receive payment from Alexion for any additional milestones.

As of March 31, 2018, we had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $621.1 million.

Cash Flows

The following table provides information regarding our cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

Net Cash Used in Operating Activities. Net cash used in operating activities was $49.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to net cash used in operating activities of $31.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017. The increase in net cash used in operating activities was primarily due to an increase in net loss of $28.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities was $219.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to net cash provided by investing activities of $35.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017. Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2018 consisted primarily of purchases of investments, offset by maturities. We classify these investments as available-for-sale and record them at fair value in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Net cash used in investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2018 also consisted of purchases of property and equipment, mainly related to the relocation of our headquarters. Net cash provided by investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2017 consisted primarily of maturities of investments offset by purchases of investments.

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities was $3.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to net cash used in financing activities of $0.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017. Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was primarily due to $3.6 million in in proceeds from the issuance of common stock, partially offset by $0.4 million of principal payments on the term loan payable. Net cash used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was primarily due to principal payments on the term loan payable offset by net proceeds from the issuance of common stock.

Borrowings

In May 2013, we entered into the loan and security agreement with Silicon Valley Bank. Under the terms of the loan and security agreement, we borrowed $5.0 million. Loan advances under the loan and security agreement accrue interest at a fixed rate of 2.0% above the prime rate. In November 2014, we amended the loan and security agreement and borrowed an additional $5.0 million. Each loan advance included an interest-only payment period. Through March 31, 2018, we have made principal payments of $8.9 million on the $10.0 million of advances. We are required to pay a fee of 4% of the total loan advances at the end of the term of the loan. There are no financial covenants associated with the loan and security agreement. As of March 31, 2018, we had $1.1 million in outstanding principal under the loan and security agreement.

The term loan is collateralized by a blanket lien on all corporate assets, excluding intellectual property, and by a negative pledge of our intellectual property. The term loan contains covenants, including restrictions on dividends and default provisions. We have determined that the risk of subjective acceleration under the material adverse events clause is remote and therefore have classified the outstanding principal in current and long-term liabilities based on scheduled principal payments.

See Note 7, “Term Loan,” in the accompanying notes to our unaudited consolidated financial statements for additional information.

Funding Requirements

We expect our expenses to increase in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we continue the research and development of, continue and initiate clinical trials of, and seek marketing approval for, our drug candidates. In addition, if we obtain marketing approval for any of our drug candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses related to drug sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution to the extent that such sales, marketing and distribution are not the responsibility of potential collaborators. Furthermore, we expect to continue to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company. 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.

As of March 31, 2018, we had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $621.1 million. Based on our current plans, we believe our existing cash, cash equivalents and investments, excluding any potential option fees and milestone payments under our existing collaboration with Roche, will be sufficient to enable us to fund our operating expenses and

capital expenditure requirements into the middle of 2020. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:

Identifying potential drug candidates and conducting pre-clinical 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 drug sales. In addition, our drug candidates, if approved, may not achieve commercial success. Our commercial revenues, if any, will be derived from sales of drugs 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 drug revenues, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements. At this time, we do not have any committed external source of funds outside potential funds to be earned under our collaboration with Roche. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of our stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends.

If we raise 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 drug 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 drug development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market drug candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.

Contractual Obligations

As of March 31, 2018, there have been no material changes to our contractual obligations and commitments from those described under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Off‑Balance Sheet Arrangements

We did not have, during the periods presented, and we do not currently have, any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined under applicable SEC rules.

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

As of March 31, 2018, we had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $621.1 million, consisting primarily of money market funds and investments in U.S. treasury obligations and U.S government agency 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 are in marketable securities. Due to the short-term duration of our investment portfolio and the low risk profile of our investments, we believe an immediate 10% change in interest rates would not have a material effect on the fair market value of our investment portfolio. We have the ability to hold our investments until maturity, and therefore, we would not expect our operating results or cash flows to be affected to any significant degree by the effect of a change in market interest rates on our investment portfolio.

We are also exposed to market risk related to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. From time to time, we contract with vendors that are located in Asia and Europe, which are denominated in foreign currencies. We are subject to fluctuations in foreign currency rates in connection with these agreements. We do not currently hedge our foreign currency exchange rate risk. As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had minimal liabilities denominated in foreign currencies.

Inflation generally affects us by increasing our cost of labor and clinical trial costs. We do not believe that inflation had a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

Management’s Evaluation of our Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officer, 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. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives.