Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

In accordance with Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40), the Company has evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date of issue of these quarterly condensed consolidated financial statements.

The Company has funded its operations to date primarily with proceeds from the sale of preferred shares and ordinary shares, debt raised under its financing arrangement with SVB, payments received under the CARB-X program and the proceeds of the Private Placement. The Company has incurred operating losses since inception, including net losses of $16,100 and $20,580 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and a net loss of $103,130 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The Company had an accumulated deficit of $251,023 as of March 31, 2020 and expects to continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future. The Company’s future cash flows are dependent on key variables such as its ability to secure additional sources of funding in the form of public or private financing of debt or equity or collaboration agreements.

The Company may not be able to obtain financing on acceptable terms, or at all. The terms of any financing may adversely affect the holdings or the rights of the Company's shareholders. If the Company is unable to obtain funding, it could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate some or all of its research and development programs or commercialization efforts, which could adversely affect its business prospects, or the Company may be unable to continue operations. Although management continues to pursue these plans, and the Company has successfully raised capital in the past, there is no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining sufficient funding on terms acceptable to the Company to fund continuing operations, if at all.

Based on the Company’s operating losses since inception, the expectation of continued operating losses for the foreseeable future and the need to raise additional capital to finance its future operations, management have concluded there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the date this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is issued. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. Accordingly, the condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a basis that assumes the Company will continue as a going concern and which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the ordinary course of business.

COVID-19 Global Pandemic

In December 2019, an outbreak of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan, China. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and on March 13, 2020, President Donald J. Trump declared the virus a national emergency. This highly contagious disease has spread to most of the countries in the world and throughout the United States, creating a serious impact on customers, workforces, and suppliers, disrupting economies and financial markets and leading to a world-wide economic downturn. It has caused a disruption of the normal operations of many businesses, including the temporary closure or scale-back of business operations and/or the imposition of either quarantine or remote work or meeting requirements for employees, either by government order or on a voluntary basis. The pandemic may impact the ability of the Company’s strategic partners to operate and fulfill their contractual obligations, and result in an increase in their costs and cause delays in performance. These effects, and the direct effect of the virus and any potential disruption on the Company’s operations, may negatively impact the Company’s ability to meet the Company’s strategic targets. The Company’s employees, in most cases, are working remotely due to safety concerns and using various technologies to perform their functions. Additionally, the disruption and volatility in the global and domestic capital markets may increase the cost of capital and limit the Company’s ability to access capital. Both the health and economic aspects of COVID-19 are highly fluid and the future course of each is uncertain. For these reasons and other reasons that may come to light if the coronavirus pandemic and associated protective or preventative measures expand, the Company may experience a material adverse effect on its business operations and financial condition; however, its ultimate impact is highly uncertain and subject to change.

The Company cannot foresee if and when the outbreak of COVID-19 will be effectively contained, nor can the Company predict the severity and duration of its impact. Management is actively monitoring the global situation on its financial condition, liquidity, operations, suppliers, industry, and workforce. Given the daily evolution of the COVID-19 outbreak and the global responses to curb its spread, the Company is not able to estimate the adverse effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on its results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity.

Interim Financial Information

The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2019 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2020, and for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for interim financial statements. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2019, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 12, 2020. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial position as of March 31, 2020, and results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 have been made. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in these condensed consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, the accrual for research and development expenses, the valuation of restricted ordinary shares, the valuation of share-based compensation awards and the valuation of the RLNs and derivative liabilities. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, known trends and other market-specific or other relevant factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates as there are changes in circumstances, facts and experience. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. The Company has contemplated the impact of COVID-19 within its financial statements and is not aware of any specific event or circumstance that would require the Company to update estimates, judgments or revise the carrying value of any assets or liabilities.

Specifically, management has estimated variables used to calculate the discounted cash flow analysis (DCF) and assumptions used in the Black-Scholes and binomial lattice models to value derivative instruments (See Note 3 - Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities).

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents consist of cash balances and highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase. Accounts held at U.S. financial institutions are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to $250, while accounts held at Irish financial institutions are insured under the Deposit Guarantee Scheme up to $110 (€100).

Cash accounts with any type of restriction are classified as restricted cash. If restrictions are expected to be lifted in the next twelve months, the restricted cash account is classified as current. Included within restricted cash on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet is a certificate of deposit for $90 which is being held by a third party bank as collateral for the irrevocable letter of credit issued in March 2018 to secure an office lease (see Note 6 - Leases).

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. The Company has most of its cash and cash equivalents at two accredited financial institutions in the United States and Ireland, in amounts that exceed federally insured limits. The Company did not hold any short-term investments as of March 31, 2020. The Company does not believe that it is subject to unusual credit risk beyond the normal credit risk associated with commercial banking relationships.

Net Loss Per Ordinary Share

Basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share is determined by dividing net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted-average ordinary shares outstanding during the period; in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification (ASC) 260, Earnings per Share. For the periods presented, the following ordinary shares underlying the options, unvested restricted ordinary shares, unvested restricted share units, unvested performance restricted share units and the warrants have been excluded from the calculation because they would be anti-dilutive.

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2020		March 31, 2019
Options to purchase ordinary shares		1,133,208		1,091,238
Unvested restricted ordinary shares		-		60,250
Unvested restricted share units		25,664		36,924
Unvested performance restricted share units		1,127,000		50,000
Warrants		19,890		19,890
Total		2,305,762		1,258,302

Segment and Other Information

The Company determines and presents operating segments based on the information that is internally provided to the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Financial Officer, who together are considered the Company’s chief operating decision maker, in accordance with ASC 280, Segment Reporting. The Company has determined that it operates as a single business segment, which is the development and commercialization of innovative treatments for drug resistant bacterial infections.

The distribution of total operating expenses by geographical area was as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
Operating expenses	2020		2019
Ireland	$	9,431	$	17,436
U.S.		3,463		3,067
Total	$	12,894	$	20,503

The distribution of long-lived assets by geographical area was as follows:

Long-lived assets	March 31, 2020		December 31, 2019
Ireland	$	10,865	$	10,936
U.S.		2,970		3,037
Total	$	13,835	$	13,973

Exchangeable Notes

The Company evaluates its debt and equity issuances to determine if those contracts, or embedded components of those contracts, qualify as derivatives under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. Where embedded exchange features are determined to be derivatives, under ASC 815-15, which requires bifurcation, these contracts are recorded at fair value and deducted from the book value of the debt host as a debt discount. The debt host is subsequently measured at amortized cost. Debt discounts are recognized to interest expense over the term of the debt using the effective interest method.

Derivative Liability

The Company accounts for derivative instruments in accordance with ASC 815 which establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other financial instruments or contracts, which require bifurcation and measurement at fair value for accounting purposes on the balance sheet date. Any liabilities recorded at fair value are revalued each reporting period with the resulting change in fair value reflected in other (expense) / income, net.

In determining the appropriate fair values, the Company uses variety of valuation techniques applying Black-Scholes and binomial lattice models, which are discussed in Note 3 - Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities. The Company’s derivative financial instrument consists of embedded options in the Exchangeable Notes. The embedded derivative includes provisions that provide the noteholder with certain exchange rights and protections on a change of control. The effects of interactions between embedded derivatives are calculated and accounted for in arriving at the overall fair value of the financial instruments.

Royalty-Linked Notes

The RLNs qualify as debt instruments under ASC 470, Debt, and are initially recorded at fair value, applying a DCF model, and then subsequently measured at amortized cost. Amortization is recognized as interest expense over the term of the debt instrument using the effective interest method.

Income Taxes

The CARES Act lifts certain deduction limitations originally imposed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (2017 Tax Act). Corporate taxpayers may carryback net operating losses (NOLs) originating during 2018 through 2020 for up to five years, which was not previously allowed under the 2017 Tax Act. The CARES Act also eliminates the 80% of taxable income limitations by allowing corporate entities to fully utilize NOL carryforwards to offset taxable income in 2018, 2019 or 2020. Taxpayers may generally deduct interest up to the sum of 50% of adjusted taxable income plus business interest income (30% limit under the 2017 Tax Act) for tax years beginning January 1, 2019 and 2020. The CARES Act allows taxpayers with alternative minimum tax credits to claim a refund in 2020 for the entire amount of the credits instead of recovering the credits through refunds over a period of years, as originally enacted by the 2017 Tax Act. The enactment of the CARES Act did not result in any material adjustments to the Company’s income tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2020, or to the Company’s net deferred tax assets as of March 31, 2020.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The new guidance within ASU 2016-13, along with related updates (collectively ASC 326) introduces an approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments by using all practical and relevant information. The new guidance became effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods. Further clarification on disclosures relating to the standard were released in March 2020, in ASU 2020-03, Codification Improvements to Financial Instruments, which outlined seven areas of improvements relating to financial instrument guidance. The new standards were effective January 1, 2020 and adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. This standard modifies certain disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. This standard became effective for us on January 1, 2020, and did not have a material impact on the Company’s disclosures.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The new guidance is intended to simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions and by updating accounting requirements around franchise taxes, goodwill recognized for tax purposes, the allocation of current and deferred tax expense among legal entities, among other minor changes. ASU 2019-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is assessing what impact ASU 2019-12 will have on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-01, Investments-Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Clarifying the Interactions between Topic 321, Topic 323, and Topic 815. The amendments in ASU 2020-01 clarify the interaction of the accounting for equity securities under Topic 321 and investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting. ASU 2020-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is assessing what impact ASU 2020-01 will have on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This ASU provides temporary optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contract modifications, hedging relationships and other transactions if certain criteria are met in order to ease the potential accounting and financial reporting burden associated with the expected market transition away from the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. ASU 2020-04 is effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company is currently assessing what impact ASU 2020-04 will have on the condensed consolidated financial statements.