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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

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FORM 10-Q

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(Mark One)

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

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For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2022

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OR

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(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

100 High Street, Floor 28

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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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 ☐

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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 ☐

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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:

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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 accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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

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As of July 29, 2022, there were 13,016,955 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding.

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INDUSTRY DATA

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, strategy, future financial condition and clinical development programs. Such 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. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, clinical development programs, regulatory filings and expected market growth are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements about:

We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. We have included important factors in the cautionary statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, particularly in the sections entitled “Summary of the Material Risks Associated with Our Business” and “Risk Factors”, that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, collaborations, joint ventures or investments that we may make or enter into.

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

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

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

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

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Astria Therapeutics, Inc.

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Stock Purchase Agreement and Series X Preferred Stock

Concurrent with the Quellis Acquisition, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with certain institutional and accredited investors. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company sold an aggregate of 35,573 shares of Series X Preferred Stock for gross proceeds of approximately $110.0 million, and net proceeds of $104.3 million (the “February 2021 Financing”). Each share of Series X Preferred Stock is convertible into 166.67 shares of common stock. In accounting for the Purchase Agreement, the Company recorded a beneficial conversion feature of $19.6 million and issuance costs of $5.7 million. The combined total was treated as a discount to the value of Series X Preferred Stock, see Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” for further discussion.

As a result of the Quellis Acquisition and the February 2021 Financing, the Company issued the following Series X Preferred Stock and assumed the following warrant:

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At its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 2, 2021, the Company’s stockholders approved the conversion of the Company’s Series X Preferred Stock into shares of the Company’s common stock in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(a) (the “Conversion Proposal”). Following stockholder approval of the Conversion Proposal, each share of Series X Preferred Stock then outstanding automatically converted into 166.67 shares of the Company’s common stock, subject to certain beneficial ownership limitations, including that a holder of Series X Preferred Stock is prohibited from converting shares of Series X Preferred Stock into shares of the Company’s common stock if, as a result of such conversion, such holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own more than a specified percentage (as of June 30, 2022, these percentages are set at 4.99% to 9.99% and can be adjusted by the holder to a number between 4.99% and 19.99)% of the total number of shares of the Company’s common stock issued and outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion. As of June 30, 2022, 54,622 shares of Series X Preferred Stock have been converted into 9,103,664 shares of common stock and 31,455 shares of Series X Preferred Stock remained outstanding. Each share of Series X Preferred Stock is convertible into 166.67 shares of common stock. At June 30, 2022, the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the remaining outstanding shares of Series X Preferred Stock is 5,242,501. Outstanding shares of Series X Preferred Stock are subject to conversion at the option of the holder.

Holders of Series X Preferred Stock are entitled to receive dividends, subject to certain beneficial ownership limitations, on shares of Series X Preferred Stock equal, on an as-if-converted-to-common-stock basis, and in the same form as dividends actually paid on shares of the Company’s common stock. Except as otherwise required by law, the Series X Preferred Stock does not have voting rights. However, as long as any shares of Series X Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Company may not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of the Series X Preferred Stock, (i) alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Series X Preferred Stock or alter or amend the Certificate of Designation that authorized the Series X Preferred Stock, amend or repeal any provision of, or add any provision to, the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws, or file any articles of amendment, certificate of designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights of any series of preferred stock, if such action would adversely alter or change the preferences, rights, privileges or powers of, or restrictions provided for the benefit of the Series X Preferred Stock, (ii) issue further shares of Series X Preferred Stock or increase or decrease (other than by conversion) the number of authorized shares of Series X Preferred Stock, or (iii) enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing.

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Liquidity

The Company had entered into various sales agreements with Cowen and Company LLC (“Cowen”) pursuant to which the Company could issue and sell shares of common stock under at-the-market offering programs. On May 20, 2021, the Company terminated its sales agreement with Cowen. On June 30, 2021, the Company entered into an Open Market Sale Agreement^SM with Jefferies LLC (the “Jefferies Sale Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company can issue and sell shares of common stock of up to $25.0 million under at-the-market offering programs (collectively, with the Cowen at-the-market offering program, the “ATM Programs”). The Company pays the sales agent commissions of 3% of the gross proceeds from any common stock sold through the ATM Programs. As of June 30, 2022, the Company has not sold any shares of common stock pursuant to the Jefferies Sale Agreement. There was also no activity from the ATM Programs during the six months ended June 30, 2021.

The Company is subject to a number of risks similar to other life science companies, including, but not limited to, successful discovery and development of its drug candidates, raising additional capital, development by its competitors of new technological innovations, protection of proprietary technology and regulatory approval and market acceptance of the Company’s products. The Company has been primarily involved with research and development activities and has incurred operating losses and negative cash flows from operations since its inception. The Company anticipates that it will continue to incur significant operating losses and negative cash flows for the next several years as it continues to develop its product candidates.

As of June 30, 2022, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $482.4 million and had available cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $102.5 million. The Company has determined that its existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to meet its projected operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements for at least 12 months from the date of issuance of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. The Company has not generated any product revenues and has financed its operations primarily through public offerings and private placements of its equity securities. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain additional debt, equity or other financing or generate product revenues or revenues from collaborative partners on terms acceptable to the Company, on a timely basis or at all. Management’s conclusion with respect to its ability to fund its operations is based on estimates that are subject to risks and uncertainties that may prove to be incorrect. If actual results differ from management’s estimates, the Company may be required to seek additional funding or curtail planned activities to reduce operating expenses, which may have an adverse impact on the Company’s ability to achieve its business objectives.

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Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying financial statements and the related disclosures are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). Additionally, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Company’s annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted from this report. Accordingly, these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021 and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the “2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K”).

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements. In the opinion of the Company’s management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, including those adjustments that are of a normal and recurring nature, which are necessary to fairly present the Company’s results for the interim periods presented. The results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2022 or for any future period.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Astria Securities Corporation and Quellis Biosciences, LLC, successor in interest to Quellis. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from such estimates.

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The Company utilizes certain estimates to record expenses relating to research and development contracts. These contract estimates, which are primarily related to the length of service of each contract and the amount of service provided as of each measurement date, are determined by the Company based on input from internal project management, as well as from the Company’s service providers.

Net Loss Per Share

Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss attributable by the weighted average shares outstanding during the period, without consideration for common stock equivalents. Diluted net loss per share is calculated by adjusting weighted average shares outstanding for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents outstanding for the period, determined using the treasury-stock method. For purposes of the Company’s dilutive net loss per share calculation, preferred stock, stock options and warrants to purchase common stock and preferred stock were considered to be common stock equivalents but were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share as their effect would be anti-dilutive; therefore, basic and diluted net loss per share were the same for all periods presented.

The following common stock equivalents, including Series X Preferred Stock shown as common stock equivalents, were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share for the periods indicated because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:

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Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into cash, with original maturities of three months or less. Cash equivalents are mainly comprised of money market accounts invested in U.S. Treasury securities, corporate debt securities, commercial paper and reverse repurchase agreements.

Restricted cash is comprised of deposits with a financial institution used to collateralize letters of credit related to the Company’s lease arrangements. Restricted cash is presented as a component of prepaid expenses and other current assets and other long-term assets at June 30, 2022 and other long-term assets at June 30, 2021.

The reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the applicable condensed consolidated balance sheet that sum to the total of the same such amount shown in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows is as follows (in thousands):

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Acquired In-Process Research and Development

The Company measures and recognizes asset acquisitions that are not deemed to be business combinations based on the cost to acquire the assets, which includes transaction costs. Goodwill is not recognized in asset acquisitions. In an asset acquisition, the cost allocated to acquire in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) with no alternative future use is charged to expense at the acquisition date. Refer to Note 3, “Acquisition of Quellis” for a more detailed description of the accounting policy utilized for the recent asset acquisition.

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Preferred Stock Discount

As discussed above, in February 2021, the Company issued Series X Preferred Stock in a private placement transaction. It was determined that this transaction resulted in recognition of a beneficial conversion feature, which was valued based on the difference between the price of the shares of common stock on the date of commitment and the conversion price on the closing date, resulting in a total value of $19.6 million. Additionally, the Company incurred total issuance costs of $5.7 million related to the private placement. Both of these features were recorded as a discount on Series X Preferred Stock recognized at the close of the transaction. These features are analogous to preferred dividends and are recorded as a non-cash return to holders of Series X Preferred Stock through additional paid in capital. The discount related to the beneficial conversion feature is recognized through the earliest possible date of conversion, which occurred upon stockholder approval of the Conversion Proposal in June 2021. The issuance costs are recognized as a dividend at the time of conversion to common shares. As of June 30, 2022, $24.4 million of the above amounts were accounted for as a non-cash dividend related to shares of Series X Preferred Stock, and $0.9 million remained to be recognized upon future conversion.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Not Yet Adopted

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) or other standard setting bodies and adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date.

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326). This standard requires a financial asset to be presented at amortized cost basis at the net amount expected to be collected. It also requires that credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities should be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. In November 2019, the FASB issued an amendment making this standard effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022 for smaller reporting companies. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements as well as the timing of when this standard will be adopted.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and there were no significant changes to such policies in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 that had a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.  

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3.Acquisition of Quellis

On January 28, 2021, the Company completed the Quellis Acquisition in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement as discussed in Note 1, “Organization and Operations”. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Company issued 555,444 shares of common stock and 50,504 shares of Series X Preferred Stock. Each share of Series X Preferred Stock is convertible into 166.67 shares of common stock, subject to certain conditions.

The Company concluded that the Quellis Acquisition was not the acquisition of a business, as substantially all of the fair value of the non-monetary assets acquired was concentrated in a single identifiable asset, STAR-0215.

The Company determined that the cost to acquire the Quellis assets was $170.7 million, based on the fair value of the equity consideration issued and including direct costs of the acquisition of $1.8 million. The net assets acquired in connection with the Quellis Acquisition were recorded at their estimated fair values as of January 28, 2021, which is the date the Quellis Acquisition was completed. The following table summarizes the net assets acquired based on their estimated fair values as of January 28, 2021 (in thousands):

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In the estimation of fair value of the asset purchase consideration, the Company used the carrying value of the cash and cash equivalents, prepaid expenses and other assets, accounts payable and accrued liabilities as the most reliable indicator of fair value based on the associated short-term nature of the balances. The remaining fair value was attributable to the acquired IPR&D. As STAR-0215 had not, at the time of the Quellis Acquisition, received regulatory approval in any territory, the cost attributable to the IPR&D was expensed in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as the acquired IPR&D had no alternative future use, as determined by the Company in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

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4.Financial Instruments

The tables below present information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, and indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques the Company utilized to determine such fair value. In general, fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs utilize data points that are either directly or indirectly observable, such as quoted prices, interest rates and yield curves. Fair values determined by Level 3 inputs utilize unobservable data points for which there is little or no market data, which require the Company to develop its own assumptions for the asset or liability. There were no transfers between fair value measurement levels during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021.

The Company’s investment portfolio may include fixed income securities that do not always trade on a daily basis. As a result, the pricing services used by the Company apply other available information as applicable through processes such as benchmark yields, benchmarking of like securities, sector groupings and matrix pricing to prepare valuations. The Company validates the prices provided by its third party pricing services by obtaining market values from other pricing sources and analyzing pricing data in certain instances. The Company also invests in certain reverse repurchase agreements which are collateralized by deposits in the form of U.S. Government Securities and Obligations for an amount no less than 102% of their value. The Company does not record an asset or liability for the collateral as the Company is not permitted to sell or re-pledge the collateral. The collateral has at least the prevailing credit rating of U.S. Government Treasuries and Agencies. The Company utilized a third-party custodian to manage the exchange of funds and ensure that collateral received is maintained at 102% of the value of the reverse repurchase agreements on a daily basis.

The Company accounted for warrants to purchase its stock pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 470, Debt, and ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, and classifies warrants for common stock and preferred stock as liabilities or equity. The warrants classified as liabilities are reported at their estimated fair value and any changes in fair value are reflected in research and development expense. The warrants classified as equity are reported at their estimated fair value with no subsequent remeasurement.

Below is a summary of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):

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