TARA Protara Therapeutics Inc

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 June 30, 2024

or

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

For the transition period from            to         

Commission File Number: 001-36694

Protara Therapeutics, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

345 Park Avenue South

3^rd Floor

New York, NY

(Address of principal executive offices)

10010

(Zip Code)

(646) 844-0337

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the 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 ☒

As of August 1, 2024 there were 20,629,772 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements, which reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, our operations and financial performance. 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 these forward-looking statements by terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seek,” “approximately,” “predict,” “intend,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements.

These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

All forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other 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. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, the risk factors set forth below in Part II, Item 1A, Risk Factors, and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. 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 medical conditions, 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

PROTARA THERAPEUTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

PROTARA THERAPEUTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

PROTARA THERAPEUTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

PROTARA THERAPEUTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Protara Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

Protara Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

Protara Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

Protara Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

Protara Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

Protara Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

Protara Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

Protara Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

Protara Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

Protara Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

Protara Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

Protara Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

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

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Our actual results and timing of certain events may differ materially from the results discussed, projected, anticipated, or indicated in any forward-looking statements. We caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. In addition, even if our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, they may not be predictive of results or developments in future periods.

Overview

We are a New York City based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing transformative therapies for the treatment of cancer and rare diseases. We were founded on the principle of applying modern scientific, regulatory or manufacturing advancements to established mechanisms in order to create new development opportunities. We prioritize creativity, diverse perspectives, integrity and tenacity to expedite our goal of bringing life-changing therapies to people with limited treatment options.

Our portfolio includes two development programs utilizing TARA-002, an investigational cell therapy based on the broad immunopotentiator, OK-432, which was originally granted marketing approval by the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare as an immunopotentiating cancer therapeutic agent. This cell therapy is currently approved in Japan and Taiwan for lymphatic malformations, or LMs, and multiple oncologic indications. We have secured worldwide rights to the asset excluding Japan and Taiwan and are exploring its use in oncology and rare disease indications. TARA-002 was developed from the same master cell bank of genetically distinct group A Streptococcus pyogenes as OK-432 (marketed as Picibanil® in Japan and Taiwan by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., or Chugai Pharmaceutical). We are currently developing TARA-002 in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, or NMIBC, and in LMs.

Our lead oncology program is TARA-002 in NMIBC, which is cancer found in the tissue that lines the inner surface of the bladder that has not spread into the bladder muscle. Bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the United States, with NMIBC representing approximately 80% of bladder cancer diagnoses. Approximately 65,000 patients are diagnosed with NMIBC in the United States each year. Very few new therapeutics have been approved for NMIBC since the 1990s and the current standard of care for NMIBC includes intravesical Bacillus Calmette–Guérin, or BCG. The mechanism of action of TARA-002 is similar in some ways to that of BCG. TARA-002 and BCG are both intravesically administered, elicit a Th1 type immune response and produce a generally similar array of locally activated cytokines and immune cells.

We are conducting a Phase 1 open-label clinical trial to evaluate TARA-002 in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced NMIBC patients with carcinoma in situ, or CIS, and high-grade papillary tumors, or Ta, known as the ADVANCED-1 trial. In the initial dose escalation phase of the trial, patients received six weekly intravesical doses of TARA-002, evaluating the 10KE, 20KE and 40KE doses (Klinische Einheit, or KE, is a German term indicating a specified weight of dried cells in vial). The primary objective of the trial is to evaluate the safety, tolerability and preliminary signs of anti-tumor activity of TARA-002, with the goal of establishing a recommended Phase 2 dose. In April 2023, we announced positive preliminary data from the Phase 1a dose escalation component of the ongoing ADVANCED-1 trial through the 40KE dose, in which TARA-002 indicated favorable tolerability and anti-tumor activity in NMIBC patients. A maximum tolerated dose was not determined, and dose escalation at the 80KE dose remains ongoing in an exploratory cohort.

Preliminary data from the ADVANCED-1 trial suggested that intravesical TARA-002 was generally well tolerated at the three dose levels evaluated in the initial phase of the trial (10KE, 20KE, and 40KE), and no dose limiting toxicities were observed. The Company has selected the 40KE dose for use in subsequent clinical trials. The majority of reported adverse events were Grades 1 and 2 across all dose levels, and treatment emergent adverse events, or TEAEs, as assessed by study investigators, were in line with typical responses to bacterial immunopotentiation and included fatigue, headache, fever and chills. The most common urinary symptoms were urinary urgency, urinary frequency, urinary tract pain/burning, incomplete emptying, and bladder spasm. Most bladder irritations resolved soon after administration, or in a few hours to a few days. A total of nine patients were enrolled in the dose escalation portion of the study through the 40KE dose. Of those, three patients with CIS, one of whom was a heavily pre-treated BCG-unresponsive patient, achieved a complete response, or CR, at the 20KE dose, and tumor regression was observed in the other two patients. Results from six patients with high-grade, non-invasive papillary, or HGTa, tumors showed five of six patients with high-grade recurrence free survival, or HGRFS, at week 12. The patient who did not achieve HGRFS was dosed at 10KE, the lowest dose of TARA-002 offered in the trial.

The ongoing open-label expansion trial, or ADVANCED-1EXP, is evaluating intravesical TARA-002 at the 40KE dose in up to 12 CIS patients, including BCG-naïve, BCG-unresponsive, and BCG-inadequately treated patients. In April 2024, we announced positive data from three-month evaluable NMIBC patients with CIS pooled across our clinical studies, including ADVANCED-1 Phase 1a, ADVANCED-1 EXP Phase 1b and ADVANCED-2 Phase 2 trials of TARA-002 in patients with high-risk NMIBC, including BCG-Unresponsive, BCG-Experienced and BCG-Naïve patients. The overall three-month CR rate prior to reinduction for the 16 evaluable patients was 38%, with a CR rate of 63% in CIS-only patients and 13% in patients with CIS +Ta/T1 (T1 is defined as carcinoma invading the lamina propria). A 43% CR rate was observed in BCG-Unresponsive/Experienced patients. TARA-002 demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile. The majority of reported adverse events were Grades 1 and 2 across all dose levels, and there were no Grade 3 or higher TEAEs. TEAEs as assessed by study investigators, were in line with typical responses to bacterial immunopotentiation, and included fatigue, headache, fever, and chills. The most common urinary symptoms were urinary urgency, urinary frequency, urinary tract pain/burning, incomplete emptying, and bladder spasm. Most bladder irritations resolved in a few hours to a few days. Additional details regarding the data, which support the potential for TARA-002 in treating high risk patients can be found in the following table:

Data cutoff date: March 19, 2024

We expect to share preliminary results from a pre-planned risk-benefit analysis of the ongoing Phase 2 open-label ADVANCED-2 trial in the fourth quarter of 2024. The analysis is expected to include approximately 10 patients who are six-month evaluable. The ongoing ADVANCED-2 trial is assessing intravesical TARA-002 in NMIBC patients with CIS (± Ta/T1) who are BCG-Naïve (n=27) and BCG-Unresponsive (n≈100). The BCG-Unresponsive cohort has been designed to be registrational aligned with the United States Food and Drug Administration’s, or FDA’s, 2018 BCG-Unresponsive Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: Developing Drugs and Biologics for Treatment Guidance for Industry. Trial subjects will receive an induction course of six weekly intravesical instillations, and following mandatory biopsy at three months, will either receive a reinduction course of six weekly intravesical instillations of TARA-002, or the first maintenance course of three weekly installations every three months, for an additional 12 months.

In addition to the ADVANCED-2 trial, we will continue to explore higher dosing at an 80KE dose and systemic priming prior to initiation of intravesical administration, in each case to assess the anti-tumor activity of TARA-002. We continue to believe that combination therapy may play a meaningful role in the NMIBC treatment paradigm and intend to prioritize trials assessing TARA-002 in combination with other therapies. Given TARA-002’s mechanism of action and safety profile, we believe it has strong potential as a combination agent and we continue to evaluate the best potential combination therapy options for our clinical program.

In addition, we continue to conduct non-clinical studies on TARA-002 to better characterize the mechanism of action to help us understand how TARA-002 may perform in potential combinations with other agents used to treat NMIBC. We use non-clinical data to help us define other cancer targets for TARA-002, both within urothelial cancer and other types of cancer affecting different parts of the body.

We are also pursuing intravenous, or IV, Choline Chloride, an investigational phospholipid substrate replacement therapy, for patients receiving parenteral nutrition, or PN. Choline is a known important substrate for phospholipids that are critical for healthy liver function and also plays an important role in modulating gene expression, cell membrane signaling, brain development and neurotransmission, muscle function, and bone health. PN patients are unable to synthesize choline from enteral nutrition sources, and there are currently no available PN formulations containing choline. Approximately 80 percent of PN-dependent patients are choline-deficient and have some degree of liver damage, which can lead to hepatic failure. There are currently no available PN formulations containing choline. In the U.S. alone, there are approximately 40,000 patients on long-term PN who would benefit from an IV formulation of choline. IV Choline Chloride has the potential to become the first FDA approved IV choline formulation for PN patients.

Choline is recommended for patients on PN by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, or ASPEN, in their Recommendations for Changes in Commercially Available Parenteral Multivitamin and Multi–Trace Element Products, as well as by the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, or ESPEN, in their Guideline on Home Parenteral Nutrition. IV Choline Chloride has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for the prevention of choline deficiency in PN patients. We have been issued a U.S. patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office claiming a choline composition with a term expiring in 2041.

In April 2024, we announced alignment with the FDA on a registrational path forward for IV Choline Chloride in patients dependent on PN. Previously, we had been pursuing an indication in intestinal failure-associated liver disease, or IFALD, and following feedback from the FDA, are pursuing a broader indication in patients on PN who are or may become unable to synthesize choline from oral or enteral nutrition sources. Feedback from the FDA on our IV Choline Chloride program indicated that a single study with an endpoint of restoring choline levels in PN patients could serve as the basis for a regulatory filing for IV Choline Chloride. We plan to advance the development of IV Choline Chloride as a source of choline for adult and adolescent patients on long-term PN and intend to initiate a registrational Phase 3 trial in the first quarter of 2025.

We are also pursuing TARA-002 in LMs, which are rare, non-malignant cysts of the lymphatic vascular system that primarily form in the head and neck region of children before the age of two. In July 2020, the FDA granted Rare Pediatric Disease designation for TARA-002 for the treatment of LMs and in May 2022 the European Medicines Agency granted orphan drug designation to TARA-002 for the treatment of LMs. In addition to the clinical experience in Japan, we have secured the rights to a dataset from one of the largest ever conducted Phase 2 trials in LMs, in which OK-432 was administered via a compassionate use program led by the University of Iowa to over 500 pediatric and adult patients. We have an investigational new drug application for LMs with the Vaccines and Related Products Division of the FDA, or Vaccines Division.

In October 2023, we initiated STARBORN-1, which is a Phase 2 single-arm, open-label, prospective clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intracystic injection of TARA-002 for the treatment of macrocystic and mixed-cystic LMs (≥ 50% macrocystic disease) in participants six months to less than 18 years of age. Including an age de-escalation safety lead-in, the trial will enroll approximately 30 patients who will receive up to four injections of TARA-002 spaced approximately six weeks apart.

The primary endpoint of the trial is the proportion of participants with macrocystic LMs and mixed-cystic LMs who demonstrated clinical success, defined as having either a complete response (90% to 100% reduction from baseline in total LM volume) or substantial response (60% to less than 90% reduction in total LM volume) as measured by axial imaging. We have completed enrollment in the first 3-patient safety cohort and plan to begin enrolling the second safety cohort shortly.

We believe TARA-002 may also have the potential to be used to treat other maxillofacial cysts based on the historical literature from the TARA-002 predecessor, OK-432, as well as recent data in one pediatric patient with a maxillofacial cyst called a Ranula, which resolved nearly 100% after a single 1KE dose of TARA-002. While completing STARBORN-1 in LMs is our priority, we believe there may be an opportunity in the future to explore the potential of TARA-002 to treat different types of maxillofacial cysts.  

We have devoted substantial efforts to the development of these programs and do not have any approved products and have not generated any revenue from product sales. Neither TARA-002 nor IV Choline Chloride have been approved for use for any indications. We do not expect to generate revenues in the near-term, and it is possible we may never generate revenues in the future. To finance our current strategic plans, including the conduct of ongoing and future clinical trials and further research and development costs, we will need to raise additional capital. See “—Liquidity and Capital Resources” for additional information about our liquidity and capital resource needs.

Since inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. As of June 30, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $221.0 million. We expect to continue to incur significant and increasing expenses and operating losses for at least the next few years as we continue our development of, and seek marketing approvals for, our product candidates, prepare for and begin the commercialization of any approved products, and add infrastructure and personnel to support our product development efforts and operations as a public company in the United States.

As a clinical-stage company, our expenses and results of operations are likely to fluctuate significantly from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year. We believe that our period-to-period comparisons of our results of operations should not be relied upon as indicative of our future performance.

As of June 30, 2024, we had approximately $89.6 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable debt securities. On April 10, 2024, we completed a private placement, or the 2024 Private Placement, pursuant to which we sold 9,143,380 shares of our common stock, or the Shares, and, for certain purchasers, pre-funded warrants, or the Pre-Funded Warrants, to purchase an aggregate of 1,700,000 shares of our common stock. In each case, the Shares and Pre-Funded Warrants were accompanied by common warrants, or the Common Warrants, to purchase an aggregate of up to 10,843,380 shares of common stock at a price of $5.25. Each Share, along with its attached Common Warrant, has a purchase price of $4.15, and each Pre-Funded Warrant, along with its attached Common Warrant, has a purchase price of $4.149. We received gross proceeds of approximately $45.0 million and net proceeds of approximately $42.0 million, reflecting approximately $3.0 million of placement agent’s fees, legal costs and other expenses in connection with the transaction.

Financial Overview

Research and Development

Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for the development of TARA-002 and IV Choline Chloride, which include personnel-related expenses, including salaries, benefits, travel and stock-based compensation expense, expenses incurred under agreements with clinical research organizations, or CROs, contract development and manufacturing organizations, or CDMOs, the cost of acquiring, developing and manufacturing clinical trial materials, clinical and non-clinical related costs, costs associated with regulatory operations and facilities, depreciation and other expenses, which include expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities and other supplies.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses consist principally of personnel-related expenses, including salaries, benefits, travel and stock-based compensation expense, in executive and other administrative functions. Other general and administrative expenses also include professional fees for legal, intellectual property matters, consulting and accounting services, facility related costs, as well as expenses related to audit, legal, regulatory and tax-related services associated with maintaining compliance with our Nasdaq listing and SEC requirements, director and officer liability insurance premiums and investor relations costs associated with being a public company.

Other Income (Expense), net

Interest and investment income consists of interest and dividend income on our cash, cash equivalents and marketable debt securities and amortization of premiums and/or accretion of discounts.

Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates

Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial position and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. We base our estimates on historical experience and other market-specific or other relevant assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from those estimates or assumptions.

Our critical accounting policy is the accounting for accrued research and development expenses. We record accruals for estimated costs of research, preclinical, clinical and manufacturing development within accrued expenses which are significant components of research and development expenses. A substantial portion of our ongoing research and development activities are conducted by third-party service providers. We accrue costs incurred under these third-party arrangements based on estimates of actual work completed in accordance with the respective agreements. We determine the estimated costs to accrue through discussions with internal personnel and our external service providers as to the percentage of completion of the services and the agreed-upon fees to be paid for such services. Payments made to third parties under these arrangements in advance of performance of the related services are recorded as prepaid expenses until the services are rendered.

It is important that the discussion of our operating results that follow be read in conjunction with these critical accounting policies which have been disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 13, 2024.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the Three Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):

Research and development expenses. During the three months ended June 30, 2024, our research and development expenses were approximately $6.4 million, which represented a decrease of approximately $0.9 million as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023. This decrease was primarily due to an $0.8 million decrease in expenses related to TARA-002, inclusive of $0.6 million in non-clinical activities and $0.2 million in clinical trial activities.

General and administrative expenses. During the three months ended June 30, 2024, our general and administrative expenses were approximately $4.3 million, which represented a decrease of approximately $0.6 million as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023. This decrease was primarily due to a reduction of $0.4 million in personnel-related expenses associated with stock-based compensation as well as a decrease in market development activities of $0.4 million offset slightly by an increase in legal activities of $0.1 million.

Other income (expense), net. During the three months ended June 30, 2024, our other income (expense), net was approximately $1.1 million, which represented an increase of approximately $0.3 million as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023, due primarily to higher market interest rates obtained from money market funds on a higher invested balance. 

Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):

Research and development expenses. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, our research and development expenses were approximately $14.1 million, which represented an increase of approximately $1.7 million as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. This increase was primarily due to an increase in personnel-related expenses of $1.1 million and an $0.8 million increase in costs associated to the TARA-002 program, consisting of a $1.7 million increase in clinical trial activities offset by a $1.0 million reduction in non-clinical activities. This was partially offset by a reduction in expenses of $0.2 million in clinical trial activities associated with IV Choline due to the completion of the prevalence study.

General and administrative expenses. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, our general and administrative expenses were approximately $8.4 million, which represented a decrease of approximately $1.1 million as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. This decrease was primarily due to a reduction of $0.9 million in personnel-related expenses (inclusive of $0.7 million of stock-based compensation).

Other income (expense), net. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, our other income (expense), net was approximately $1.9 million, which represented an increase of approximately $0.4 million as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023, due primarily to higher market interest rates obtained from money market funds on a higher invested balance. 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, our cash, cash equivalents, and marketable debt securities were $89.6 million and $65.6 million, respectively. We have not generated revenues since our inception and have incurred net losses of $20.6 million and $20.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $9.5 million and $11.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 respectively. As of June 30, 2024, we had working capital of $86.6 million and stockholder’s equity of $92.0 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, net cash flows used in operating activities were $18.1 million, consisting primarily of a net loss of $20.6 million including non-cash expenses of $2.9 million, as well as working capital adjustments of $0.3 million. Since inception, we have met our liquidity requirements principally through the sale of our common stock and preferred stock in private placements. More recently, on April 10, 2024, we completed our 2024 Private Placement, pursuant to which we sold 9,143,380 Shares, and, for certain purchasers, Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,700,000 shares of common stock. In each case, the shares and Pre-Funded Warrants were accompanied by Common Warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to 10,843,380 shares of common stock at a price of $5.25. We received total net proceeds of approximately $42.0 million after deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses.

We are in the business of developing biopharmaceuticals and have no current or near-term revenues. We have incurred substantial clinical and other costs in our drug development efforts. We will need to raise additional capital in order to fully realize management’s plans. 

We believe that our current financial resources, as of the date of the issuance of our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, are sufficient to satisfy our estimated liquidity needs for at least twelve months from the date of filing this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

As a result of volatility in the capital markets, economic conditions, general global economic uncertainty, political change, global pandemics, and other factors, we do not know whether additional capital will be available when needed, or that, if available, we will be able to obtain additional capital on reasonable terms. If we are unable to raise additional capital due to the volatile global financial markets, general economic uncertainty or other factors, we may need to curtail planned development activities. Specifically, higher, and potentially increasing interest rates could impact our access to capital, and could in the future negatively affect our liquidity. A recession or market correction, continued supply chain disruptions and/or inflation could materially affect our business and the value of our common stock. Further, recent rises in interest rates have had, and may continue to have, a negative effect on market prices for common stock of public companies, especially those in the pharmaceutical industry and those that have no current or near-term revenue.

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):

Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023

Net cash used in operating activities was $18.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $22.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease of $4.2 million in cash used in operating activities was primarily driven by a $5.4 million decrease in working capital adjustments, primarily related to changes in prepaid expenses and other current assets, and accrued expenses resulting from the timing of payments to our service providers offset partially by an increase in net loss of $0.3 million which includes a $1.0 million decrease in non-cash items including stock-based compensation, operating lease right-of-use asset, depreciation, and amortization of premium on marketable debt securities.

Net cash provided by investing activities was $26.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $32.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease of $6.2 million resulted primarily from the maturation of marketable debt securities, the proceeds of which went into money market funds.

Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities was approximately $42.0 million and $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase of $40.1 million resulted primarily from the net proceeds of the 2024 Private Placement transaction, which took place in April 2024.

Contractual and Other Obligations

Operating lease obligations

Our operating lease obligations primarily consist of lease payments on our corporate headquarters in New York, New York, as well as lease payments for our development laboratory, a manufacturing facility and an additional manufacturing space, all located in North America which are described in further detail in Note 8 of our condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. 

Other obligations

From time to time, we enter into certain types of contracts that contingently require us to indemnify parties against third-party claims, supply agreements, and agreements with directors and officers. The terms of such obligations vary by contract and in most instances a maximum dollar amount is not explicitly stated therein. Generally, amounts under these contracts cannot be reasonably estimated until a specific claim is asserted, thus no liabilities have been recorded for these obligations on our condensed consolidated balance sheet for the periods presented.

We enter into contracts in the normal course of business with CROs, CDMOs, and clinical sites for the conduct of clinical trials, non-clinical research studies, professional consultants for expert advice and other vendors for clinical supply manufacturing or other services. These contracts generally provide for termination on notice, and therefore are cancelable contracts.

Certain of these agreements require us to pay milestones to such third parties upon achievement of certain development, regulatory or commercial milestones as further described in Note 9 of our condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Amounts related to contingent milestone payments are not considered contractual obligations as they are contingent on the successful achievement of certain development, regulatory approval and commercial milestones, which may not be achieved.

We also have obligations to make future payments to third parties that become due and payable on the achievement of certain milestones, including future payments to third parties with whom we have entered into research, development and commercialization agreements. We have not included these commitments on our condensed consolidated balance sheet for the periods presented because the achievement and timing of these milestones is not fixed and determinable.

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 the applicable regulations of the SEC.

Item 3. Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Not applicable.

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) or 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or 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 SEC’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

As of June 30, 2024, our management, with the participation of our principal executive and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. 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 management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Our principal executive and principal financial officer have concluded based upon the evaluation described above that, as of June 30, 2024, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

We continue to review and document our disclosure controls and procedures, including our internal controls and procedures for financial reporting, and may from time to time make changes aimed at enhancing their effectiveness and to ensure that our systems evolve with our business.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2024, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we may be subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our business activities. We are not currently a party to any legal proceedings that, in the opinion of our management, are likely to have a material adverse effect on our business. Regardless of outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There were no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in “Part II, Item 1A—Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 13, 2024 and “Part II, Item 1A —Risk Factors” of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 2, 2024.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

On April 5, 2024, the Company entered into a subscription agreement with certain purchasers, or the Purchasers, pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell and issue to the Purchasers, in a private placement, or the 2024 Private Placement, an aggregate of 9,143,380 shares of the Company’s common stock, or the Shares, held by certain selling stockholders, and, for certain purchasers, pre-funded warrants, or the Pre-Funded Warrants, to purchase an aggregate of 1,700,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. In each case, the Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants were issued with warrants or the Common Warrants, to purchase an aggregate of up to 10,843,380 shares of the Company’s common stock. Each Share, along with its attached Common Warrant, has a purchase price of $4.15, and each Pre-Funded Warrant, along with its attached Common Warrant, has a purchase price of $4.149. The closing date of the 2024 Private Placement was April 10, 2024. The 2024 Private Placement resulted in gross proceeds of approximately $45.0 million and net proceeds of approximately $42.0 million, reflecting approximately $3.0 million of placement agent’s fees, legal costs and other expenses connected with the transaction. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the 2024 Private Placement for general corporate and working capital purposes, including funding clinical trials. General corporate and working capital purposes may include clinical study expenditures such as the addition of an 80 KE (Klinische Einheit, or KE, is a German term indicating a specified weight of dried cells in vial) dose cohort and a systemic priming cohort to the ongoing ADVANCED-2 Phase 2 clinical trial of the Company’s product candidate intravesical TARA-002 in patients with high-risk Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (“NMIBC”)), manufacturing expenditures, commercialization expenditures and capital expenditures. Guggenheim Securities, LLC acted as lead placement agent and Oppenheimer & Co. acted as a placement agent in the transaction. The securities sold in the 2024 Private Placement were issued in reliance upon the exemption from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.

The Pre-Funded Warrants are exercisable at any time after April 10, 2024, at an exercise price of $0.001 per share. The Common Warrants are exercisable at any time after April 10, 2024 and on or prior to the earlier of (i) April 10, 2027 and (ii) 90 days after the public announcement that the Company has demonstrated a six-month complete response rate of minimum 42% from at least 25 Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-Unresponsive patients in the ADVANCED-2 (Cohort B) clinical trial, at an exercise price of $5.25 per share.

The Pre-Funded Warrants and the Common Warrants are exercisable so long as the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by the holder (together with its affiliates) would not exceed 4.99% of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of such Pre-Funded Warrant or Common Warrant, as applicable. Such percentage may be increased or decreased to any number not in excess of 19.99% at the holder’s election upon notice to the Company, any such increase not to take effect until the sixty-first day after notice to the Company.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

None.

Item 5. Other Information

During the three months ended June 30, 2024, no director or officer of the Company adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.

Item 6. Exhibits

The exhibits filed as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are set forth on the Exhibit Index, which Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.

EXHIBIT INDEX