MACK Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Inc

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

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 001-35409

 

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware	04-3210530
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
One Broadway, 14th Floor Cambridge, MA	02142
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 720-8606

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

 

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value	MACK	Nasdaq Global Market

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Preferred Stock Purchase Rights

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. ☐ Yes ☒ No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. ☐ Yes ☒ No

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.

 

Large accelerated filer	☐		Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☒		Smaller reporting company	☒
			Emerging growth company	☐

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 has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to § 240.10D-1(b). ☐

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

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the last sale price for such stock on June 30, 2023, was $129,723,131.

As of March 5, 2024, there were 14,516,170 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		PART I
Item 1.		Business	3
Item 1A.		Risk Factors	7
Item 1B.		Unresolved Staff Comments	17
Item 1C.		Cybersecurity	17
Item 2.		Properties	18
Item 3.		Legal Proceedings	18
Item 4.		Mine Safety Disclosures	18
		PART II
Item 5.		Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	19
Item 6.		Selected Financial Data	19
Item 7.		Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	20
Item 7A.		Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	26
Item 8.		Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	26
Item 9.		Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	26
Item 9A.		Controls and Procedures	26
Item 9B.		Other Information	27
		PART III
Item 10.		Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	28
Item 11.		Executive Compensation	28
Item 12.		Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	28
Item 13.		Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence	28
Item 14.		Principal Accountant Fees and Services	28
		PART IV
Item 15.		Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules	29
Item 16.		Form 10-K Summary	30

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward‑looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward‑looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward‑looking statements, although not all forward‑looking statements contain these identifying words.

The forward‑looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K 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 this Annual Report on Form 10-K, particularly in Part I, Item 1A. 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, joint ventures, collaborations or investments that we may make.

You should read this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the documents that we have filed as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

NOTE REGARDING TRADEMARKS

ONIVYDE® is a registered trademark of Ipsen S.A. Any other trademarks, trade names and service marks referred to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are the property of their respective owners.

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PART I

Item 1. Business

Overview

We are a biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts that is entitled to receive up to $450.0 million in contingent milestone payments related to our sale of ONIVYDE® to Ipsen S.A., or Ipsen, in April 2017 and up to $54.5 million in contingent milestone payments related to our sale of MM-121 and MM-111 to Elevation Oncology, Inc. (formerly known as 14ner Oncology, Inc.), or Elevation, in July 2019. We do not have any ongoing research or development activities and are seeking potential acquirers for our remaining preclinical and clinical assets. We do not have any employees and instead use external consultants for the operation of our company.

On April 3, 2017, we completed the sale of ONIVYDE and MM-436 (the “commercial business”) to Ipsen (the “Ipsen sale”). In connection with the Ipsen sale, we are eligible to receive up to $450.0 million in additional regulatory approval-based milestone payments.

On February 13, 2024, we announced that Ipsen S.A. announced it had received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, to market ONIVYDE as a first-line treatment of metastatic adenocarcinoma on the pancreas. As a result of this approval by the FDA, we are entitled to receive a $225 million milestone payment from Ipsen, which is expected to be received by the end of March 2024. We expect to ask stockholders to approve a plan of dissolution and liquidation and, upon receipt of such approval, to dissolve the Company and make a liquidating dividend payment to stockholders of record on the date that the plan of dissolution is approved by our stockholders. We expect that the meeting of stockholders will be held in the next 50-90 days.

In addition to the $225.0 million milestone that the Company expects to receive by the end of March 2024, based upon the approval announced by the FDA on February 13, 2024 of ONIVYDE® for the first-line treatment of metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (“mPDAC”), there are $225 million of additional contingent milestone payments which could result from the Ipsen Sale. The Company believes that the probability of receiving these additional milestones is very low based on publicly available information provided by Ipsen.

In August 2022, Ipsen announced that the Phase III RESILIENT trial did not meet its primary endpoint of overall survival compared to topotecan. The trial is evaluating Onivyde® (irinotecan liposomal injection) versus topotecan in patients with small cell lung cancer, who have progressed on or after platinum-based first-line therapy treatment. RESILIENT is a Phase III trial conducted in two parts; the first part read out in 2020 confirming the safety, dosing and efficacy of Onivyde; part two is evaluating the efficacy of Onivyde versus topotecan. The analysis concluded that the primary endpoint overall survival was not met in patients treated with Onivyde versus topotecan. However, a doubling of the secondary endpoint of objective response rate in favor of Onivyde was observed. The safety and tolerability of Onivyde was consistent with its already-known safety profile, and no new safety concerns emerged. The clinical study results will be communicated with the regulatory agency. Ipsen indicated that while the results from the analysis of the RESILIENT trial have not demonstrated an overall survival benefit with Onivyde in patients in second-line small cell lung cancer, Ipsen intends to analyze the data further before decisions regarding next steps are made. To date, there have been no further public announcements by Ipsen regarding these matters and it remains unclear as to whether Ipsen will continue to seek approval for the use of ONIVYDE in the small cell lung cancer application. If Ipsen elects not to proceed with seeking regulatory approval, or if regulatory approval is not obtained, we would not be entitled to the $150 million milestone payment tied to approval of Onivyde for treating small cell lung cancer.

Ipsen has not mentioned any other ONIVYDE clinical programs in recent communications regarding its development pipeline.

On May 30, 2019, we announced the completion of our review of strategic alternatives, following which our board of directors implemented a series of measures designed to extend our cash runway into 2027 and preserve our ability to capture the potential milestone payments resulting from the Ipsen sale. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could use our financial resources sooner than we currently expect. In connection with that announcement, we discontinued the discovery efforts on our remaining preclinical programs: MM-401, an agonistic antibody targeting a novel immuno-oncology target, TNFR2; and MM-201, a highly stabilized agonist-Fc fusion protein targeting death receptors 4 and 5. We are seeking potential acquirers for our remaining preclinical and clinical assets.

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The termination of our executive management team and all other employees was substantially completed by June 28, 2019 and fully completed by July 12, 2019. As of July 12, 2019, we did not have any employees. We have engaged external consultants to run our day-to-day operations. We have also entered into consulting agreements with certain former members of our executive management team who are supporting our relationship with current partners, assisting with the potential sale of remaining preclinical and clinical assets, and assisting with certain legal and regulatory matters and the continued wind-down of operations.

The non-commercial assets, including our clinical and preclinical development programs, which we owned in 2017 were not included in the Ipsen sale. We have completed several transactions to monetize these assets and at this time no further material assets remain.

On July 12, 2019, we completed the sale to Elevation, or the Elevation sale, of our anti-HER3 antibody programs, MM-121 (seribantumab) and MM-111. In connection with the Elevation sale, we received an upfront cash payment of $3.5 million and are eligible to receive up to $54.5 million in additional potential development, regulatory approval and commercial-based milestone payments, consisting of:

 

In January 2023, Elevation announced that it had paused further investment in the clinical development of seribantumab and intends to pursue further development only in collaboration with a partner. In January of 2024 Elevation announced that it is evaluating initiation of a development program utilizing a antibody drug conjugate (ADC) targeting HER3. Elevation has not disclosed if this preclinical program utilizes intellectual property licensed from Merrimack. Elevation has also not provided a timeline indicating when this program could reach clinical trials or regulatory approval, if successful.

On September 15, 2021, we entered into an Asset Purchase Option Agreement (the “Asset Purchase Option Agreement”) with a third party, pursuant to which the third party obtained an exclusive option, to purchase one of our preclinical programs with a consideration of $0.5 million. Under the terms of the Asset Purchase Option Agreement, the third party paid to us the option fee of $0.1 million. On March 1, 2022, the third party exercised the option and we received consideration of $0.5 million and a gain of $0.5 million was recognized in March 2022.

On January 23, 2023, we entered into an Asset Purchase Option Agreement (the “Option Agreement”) with a third party (the “Purchaser”), pursuant to which the Purchaser agreed to obtain an exclusive option (the “Option”) to purchase one of the Company’s preclinical programs with a consideration of $700 thousand. Under the terms of the Option Agreement, the Purchaser paid to us the Option fee of $150 thousand and we incurred transaction cost of $11 thousand. A net gain of $139 thousand was recognized in January 2023. In July 2023, the Purchaser decided not to exercise the Option.

We previously devoted substantially all of our resources to our drug discovery and development efforts, including conducting clinical trials for our product candidates, protecting our intellectual property and providing general and administrative support for these operations. We have financed our operations primarily through private placements of convertible preferred stock, collaborations, public offerings of our securities, secured debt financings, sales of ONIVYDE and the Ipsen sale.

As of December 31, 2023, we had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $18.9 million. We expect that our cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023 will be sufficient to continue our operations beyond 2027 should our stockholders not approve the plan of dissolution, which we estimate is beyond the latest date when the longest term potential milestones might be achieved. This does not include the anticipated receipt of the $225 million milestone payment from Ipsen which is due at the end of March 2024.

We have a history of losses from our operations. We do not expect to be profitable from our operations in the future unless we receive potential future milestone payments, if any. As of December 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $548.8 million. Our net loss was $1.2 million and $1.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We do not expect to incur any research and development expenses going forward.

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Intellectual Property

We own or control a very limited number of U.S. patents and patent applications and several corresponding foreign patents and patent applications. This intellectual property relates to several early stage programs that we are no longer advancing on our own, but that may be of value to one or more potential buyer or licensees. We will continue to evaluate the usefulness of maintaining the current patent portfolio to our business.

Government Regulation

Government authorities in the United States, at the federal, state and local level, and in other countries extensively regulate, among other things, the research, development, testing, manufacture, including any manufacturing changes, packaging, storage, record keeping, labeling, advertising, promotion, distribution, marketing, post-approval monitoring and reporting, import and export of pharmaceutical products, biological products and medical devices, which does not relate directly to us, however could have an impact on Ipsen and Elevation.

Data Protection

We are subject to data protection laws and regulations (i.e., laws and regulations that address privacy and data security). The legislative and regulatory landscape for data protection continues to evolve, and in recent years there has been an increasing focus on privacy and data security issues. In the United States, numerous federal and state laws and regulations, including state data breach notification laws, state health information privacy laws and federal and state consumer protection laws govern the collection, use, disclosure and protection of health-related and other personal information. Failure to comply with data protection laws and regulations could result in government enforcement actions (which could include civil or criminal penalties), private litigation and/or adverse publicity and could negatively affect our operating results and business. In addition, we may obtain health information from third parties (e.g., healthcare providers who prescribe our products) that are subject to privacy and security requirements under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act. We could be subject to criminal penalties if we knowingly obtain or disclose individually identifiable health information in a manner that is not authorized or permitted.

Employees

The termination of our executive management team and all other employees was substantially completed by June 28, 2019 and fully completed by July 12, 2019. Since July 12, 2019, we no longer have any employees. We have engaged external consultants to run our day-to-day operations.

Financial Information

Financial information is provided in our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Information about our dependence on limited amounts of customers is provided in Note 1, “Nature of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Concentration of Credit Risk” in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Our Corporate Information

We were originally incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1993 and reincorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in October 2010. Our principal executive offices are located at One Broadway, 14th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02142, and our telephone number is (617) 720-8606.

Information Available on the Internet

We maintain a website with the address www.merrimack.com. We are not including the information contained on our website as a part of, or incorporating it by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports, are available to you free of charge through the “SEC Filings” link in the “Investors” section of our website as soon as reasonably practicable after those materials have been electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. We also make available on our website our corporate governance guidelines, the charters for our audit committee, corporate governance and nominating committee, and organization and compensation committee, and our code of business conduct and ethics, which applies to our directors, officers

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and employees, and such information is available in print and free of charge to any of our stockholders who requests it. In addition, we intend to disclose on our website any amendments to, or waivers from, our code of business conduct and ethics that are required to be publicly disclosed pursuant to rules of the SEC.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

The following risk factors and other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K should be carefully considered. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we presently deem less significant may also impair our business operations. Please see page 2 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of some of the forward-looking statements that are qualified by these risk factors. If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and future growth prospects could be materially and adversely affected.

Risks Related to Our Business Strategy

We may not receive future contingent milestone payments.

Our business strategy historically has depended upon our ability to receive future milestone payments from Ipsen and Elevation. We expect to receive the $225 million mPDAC Milestone Payment from Ipsen in late March 2024. Assuming that the mPDAC Milestone Payment is received, we will ask our stockholders to approve a plan of dissolution this spring that would result in the distribution to our stockholders of this amount as well as other cash and cash equivalents, less taxes and interest, expenses, and contingency reserves to be held back.

On May 30, 2019, we announced the completion of our review of strategic alternatives. Following this review, our board of directors implemented a series of measures designed to extend our cash runway into 2027 and preserve our ability to capture the potential milestone payments resulting from the Ipsen sale. In addition to the mPDAC Milestone Payment, we are entitled to receive up to $225.0 million in contingent milestone payments related to our sale of ONIVYDE to Ipsen and up to $54.5 million in contingent milestone payments related to our sale of MM-121 and MM-111 to Elevation. We do not have any ongoing research or development activities. If any of these additional milestone payments are received following the planned dissolution, we would distribute these amounts (net of corporate taxes and expenses to our stockholders). Our common stock will no longer trade following the dissolution and any failure to achieve such milestones will reduce the amounts payable to our stockholders after the distribution of the mPDAC Milestone payment.

In August 2022, Ipsen announced that the Phase III RESILIENT trial did not meet its primary overall survival endpoint compared to topotecan. The trial is evaluating Onivyde® (irinotecan liposomal injection) versus topotecan in patients with small cell lung cancer, who have progressed on or after platinum-based first-line therapy treatment. The analysis concluded that the primary overall survival endpoint was not met in patients treated with Onivyde versus topotecan. However, a doubling of the secondary endpoint of objective response rate in favor of Onivyde was observed. The safety and tolerability of Onivyde was consistent with its already-known safety profile, and no new safety concerns emerged. In the August 2022 announcement, Ipsen reported that the clinical study results will be communicated with the regulatory agency. Ipsen indicated that while the results from the analysis of the RESILIENT trial have not demonstrated an overall survival benefit with Onivyde in patients in second-line small cell lung cancer, Ipsen indicated that it intends to analyze the data further before decisions regarding next steps are made. To date, there have been no further public announcement by Ipsen regarding these matters and it remains unclear as to whether Ipsen will continue to seek approval for the use of ONIVYDE in the small cell lung cancer application. If Ipsen elects not to proceed with seeking regulatory approval, or regulatory approval is not obtained, we would not be entitled to the $150 million milestone payment tied to approval of Onivyde for small cell lung cancer.

In January 2023, Elevation announced it is pausing further investment in the clinical development of seribantumab and intends to pursue further development only in collaboration with a partner. Elevation also announced that it intends to present additional interim data from its study of seribantumab in the first half of 2023. If Elevation elects not to proceed with further investment in serbantumab, it is possible that Elevation may not achieve any further milestones and we would receive no milestone payments. If Elevation elects not to proceed with seeking regulatory approval, or regulatory approval is not obtained, we would not be entitled to the $54.5 million milestone payments tied to approval of seribantumab for patients with solid tumors of any origin that have an NRG1 fusion.

 

Even if some or all of the remaining milestones set forth in the Ipsen sale agreement and Elevation agreement are achieved, it may take significantly longer than we anticipate.

Achievement of the remaining milestones set forth in the Ipsen sale agreement and the Elevation agreement are not guaranteed and there is significant risk that some or all of such milestones will not be achieved when anticipated, if at all.

Our stockholders may not approve the plan of dissolution and if our stockholders approve the plan of dissolution, the amounts distributed to our stockholders as liquidating distributions, if any, may be substantially less than the estimates set forth in this report on Form 10-K.

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There can be no assurance that our stockholders will approve the plan of dissolution. At present, the Board cannot determine with certainty the amount of any liquidating distribution to our stockholders if the stockholders approve the plan of dissolution. The amount of cash ultimately distributed to our stockholders in any liquidating distribution depends on, among other things, the amount of our liabilities, obligations and expenses and claims against us, and the amount of the reserves that we maintain during the liquidation process. Our estimates of these amounts may be inaccurate.

Factors that could impact our estimates include the following:

If any of the foregoing occurs, the amount distributed to our stockholders may be substantially less than the amount we currently estimate, if any.

In addition, under Delaware law, claims and demands may be asserted against us at any time during the three years following the effective date of the dissolution. Accordingly, the Board may obtain and maintain insurance coverage for such potential claims. The Board also expects to retain cash for unknown, contingent and/or conditional liabilities, and may also set aside additional amounts of cash or other assets as a reserve to satisfy claims against us and our obligations that may arise during the three-year period following the effective date of the dissolution. As a result, we may retain for distribution at a later date some or all of the estimated amounts that we expect to distribute to stockholders.

 

We may not be able to settle all of our obligations, which may delay or reduce liquidating distributions to our stockholders.

Our estimated remaining distributions to our stockholders take into account all of our known liabilities and certain possible contingent liabilities and the Board’s current best estimate of the amount reasonably required to satisfy such liabilities. As part of the wind-up process, we intend to discharge all of our obligations to third parties. We cannot assure you that unknown liabilities that have not been accounted for will not arise, that we will be able to settle all of our liabilities or that our liabilities can be settled for the amounts we have estimated for purposes of calculating the range of distribution to our stockholders. If we are unable to reach an agreement with a third party relating to a liability, that third party may bring a lawsuit against us. Amounts required to settle liabilities or to defend, resolve or settle lawsuits in excess of the amounts estimated may reduce the amount of net proceeds available for distribution to stockholders.

 

If we fail to maintain an adequate reserve for payment of our expenses and liabilities, each stockholder receiving liquidating distributions could be held liable for payment to our creditors of his, her or its pro rata share of amounts owed to creditors in excess of the reserve, up to the amount actually distributed to such stockholder in connection with the Dissolution.

If the plan of dissolution is approved by our stockholders, we expect to file a Certificate of Dissolution with the Delaware Secretary of State dissolving the Company. Pursuant to Delaware law, we will continue to exist for three years after our dissolution or for such longer period as the Delaware Court of Chancery may direct, or as may be required to resolve any pending litigation matters, for the purpose of prosecuting and defending suits against us and enabling us to gradually close our business, dispose of our property, discharge our liabilities and to distribute to our stockholders any remaining assets. In the event that we fail to maintain during this three-year period an adequate reserve for payment of our expenses and liabilities, our creditors may be able to pursue claims against our stockholders directly to the extent that they have claims co-extensive with such stockholders’ receipt of liquidating distributions. Although the liability of any stockholder is limited to the amounts previously received by such stockholder from us (and from any liquidating trust or trusts) pursuant to the plan of dissolution, this means that a stockholder could be required to return all liquidating distributions previously made to such stockholder and receive nothing from us under the plan of dissolution. Moreover, in the event a stockholder has paid taxes on amounts previously received, a repayment of all or a portion of such amount could result in a stockholder incurring a net tax cost if the stockholder’s repayment of an amount previously distributed does not cause a commensurate reduction in taxes payable. There can be no guarantee that the reserves maintained by us will be adequate to satisfy all such expenses and liabilities.

 

Interests of our stockholders in the Company after the adoption of the plan of dissolution, and interests of our stockholders in any liquidating trust we may establish pursuant to the plan of dissolution, may not be assignable or transferable.

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We intend to discontinue recording transfers of shares of our Common Stock on the date the stockholders approve the plan of dissolution, and thereafter certificates representing shares of our Common Stock will not be assignable or transferable on our books except by will, intestate succession or operation of law. In addition, if we were to establish a liquidating trust, the interests of our stockholders in such liquidating trust would similarly not be assignable or transferable except by will, intestate succession or operation of law, which could adversely affect our stockholders’ ability to realize the value of such interests. Furthermore, given that our stockholders will be deemed to have received a liquidating distribution equal to their pro rata share of the value of the net assets distributed to any entity which is treated as a liquidating trust for tax purposes, the distribution of non-transferable interests would result in tax liability to the stockholders without their being readily able to realize the value of such interest to pay such taxes or otherwise.

 

If our stockholders do not approve a plan of dissolution and if we do not receive the mPDAC Milestone Payment, we may be treated as a "public shell" company which could have negative consequences, including potential Nasdaq delisting of our common stock.

Our common stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq Global Market. We expect to delist our common stock upon approval of the plan of dissolution by our stockholders. If we do not receive the mPDAC Milestone payment, we would plan to continue to list our common stock from Nasdaq. However, if we do not receive the mPDAC Milestone Payment following our cessation of normal business operations, we may be treated as a “public shell” company under the Nasdaq rules and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act. Although Nasdaq evaluates whether a listed company is a public shell company based on a facts and circumstances determination, a Nasdaq-listed company with no or nominal operations and either no or nominal assets, assets consisting solely of cash and cash equivalents, or assets consisting of any amount of cash and cash equivalents and nominal other assets is generally considered to be a public shell company. Listed companies determined to be public shell companies by Nasdaq may be subject to delisting proceedings or additional and more stringent listing criteria.

Our securities will cease to trade upon approval by our stockholders of the plan of dissolution. If we do not obtain approval from our stockholders to adopt a plan of dissolution and our common stock is delisted from Nasdaq, or if in the future we determine to delist our common stock without having obtained approval for a plan of dissolution, we would expect that such securities would qualify for trading over-the-counter, or OTC, in the United States on a market colloquially referred to as the “Pink Sheets.” Securities quoted OTC are generally subject to lesser requirements than securities listed for trading on a U.S. national stock exchange, such as Nasdaq, including reduced corporate governance and public reporting standards.

If Nasdaq should delist our common stock from trading, or if in the future we determine to delist our common stock, a reduction in some or all of the following may occur, each of which could have a material adverse effect on holders of our common stock: the liquidity of our common stock; the market price of the common stock; the number of institutional and general investors that will consider investing in the common stock; the number of investors in general that will consider investing in the common stock; the number of market makers in our common stock; the availability of information concerning the trading prices and volume of the common stock; and the number of broker-dealers willing to execute trades in our common stock. In addition to the foregoing, there are certain consequences under the Securities Act of being a public shell company, including the unavailability of Rule 144 thereunder for the resale of restricted securities and the inability to utilize Form S-8 for the registration of employee benefit plan securities.

We have been, and in the future may be, subject to securities litigation, which is expensive and could divert our attention.

We have been, and may in the future be, subject to securities class action litigation. Securities litigation against us could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention, which could seriously harm our business.

Actions of activist stockholders against us could be disruptive and potentially costly and the possibility that activist stockholders may seek changes that contest, or conflict with, our strategic direction could cause uncertainty about the strategic direction of our business.

Activist stockholders may from time to time attempt to effect changes in our strategic direction and, in furtherance thereof, may seek changes in how we are governed. While our board of directors and management strive to maintain constructive, ongoing communications with all of our stockholders, including activist stockholders, and welcomes their views and opinions with the goal of working together constructively to enhance value for all stockholders, activist campaigns that contest, or conflict with, our strategic direction could have an adverse effect on us because:

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In connection with our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, an activist investor initially proposed its own slate of director candidates. That activist investor ultimately withdrew its slate of director candidates prior to the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and all of our director nominees were elected at the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In connection with our 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, an activist investor submitted a shareholder proposal requiring the board of directors to amend our company charter and/or bylaws, as necessary, to require the chair of our board of directors, whenever possible, to be a non-management, independent member of the board and if the board determined that a chair who was independent when selected is no longer independent, the board would be required to select a new chair who satisfies the requirements of the policy within a reasonable amount of time. The shareholder proposal was not approved by our shareholders. That activist investor continues to have a Schedule 13D filed with respect to us and it remains a possibility that such activist investor may still, from time to time, attempt to effect changes in our strategic direction and, in furtherance thereof, may seek changes in how we are governed.

Risks Related to the Sale and Divestiture of Assets

There can be no guarantee that Ipsen will comply with its obligation to use commercially reasonable efforts in connection with the development of ONIVYDE or that the milestones set forth in the Ipsen sale agreement will be achieved.

Ipsen has agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop ONIVYDE in connection with obtaining the regulatory approval by the FDA of ONIVYDE for certain indications in addition to the milestones for which we will receive the $225 million mPDAC Milestone Payment from Ipsen. There is no guarantee that Ipsen will undertake such additional development activities however, or that any of its efforts will lead to the successful approval of ONIVYDE for such additional indications or lead to achievement of the remaining milestones set forth in the Ipsen sale agreement. We also do not have any right to receive updates on the progress of Ipsen’s development of ONIVYDE beyond what Ipsen chooses to disclose publicly. The remaining milestones set forth in the Ipsen sale agreement may not be achieved and we may not receive any future contingent payments. As a result, material information about the progress, if any, on the milestones will not be made publicly available unless Ipsen publicly discloses such information.

There can be no guarantee that Elevation will comply with its obligation to use commercially reasonable efforts in connection with the development of MM-121 and MM-111 or that the milestones set forth in the asset purchase agreement with Elevation will be achieved.

Elevation has agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop MM-121 and MM-111. However, there is no guarantee that Elevation will take the steps set forth in the Elevation agreement or that any of its efforts will lead to the successful approval of MM-121 or MM-111 by the FDA or other regulatory bodies. The milestones set forth in the Elevation agreement may not be achieved and we may not receive any future contingent payments. Because our business strategy depends substantially upon our ability to receive future milestone payments, including from Elevation, any failure to achieve such milestones or a perception that the milestones may not be achieved will materially and adversely affect the company and the value of the common stock.

Ipsen did not assume any of the excluded liabilities under the Ipsen sale agreement.

Pursuant to the Ipsen sale agreement, Ipsen assumed only certain specified liabilities set forth in the Ipsen sale agreement and did not assume all of the liabilities associated with the commercial business. Certain liabilities remain with us post-closing. While we believe that we have adequately accrued for these liabilities or are adequately insured against certain of the risks associated with such excluded liabilities, we could incur additional expenditures in resolving any such liabilities. If we become subject to liability based upon such contractual obligations or otherwise and we are required to indemnify the counterparties, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial position.

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Elevation did not assume any of the excluded liabilities under the Elevation agreement.

Pursuant to the Elevation agreement, Elevation assumed only certain specified liabilities set forth in the Elevation agreement and did not assume all of the liabilities associated with MM-121 or MM-111. Certain liabilities remain with us post-closing. While we believe that we have adequately accrued for these liabilities or are adequately insured against certain of the risks associated with such excluded liabilities, we could incur additional expenditures in resolving any such liabilities. If we become subject to liability based upon such contractual obligations or otherwise and we are required to indemnify the counterparties, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial position.

The Ipsen sale agreement may expose us to contingent liabilities.

We have agreed to indemnify Ipsen for certain breaches of representations, warranties or covenants made by us in the Ipsen sale agreement and for certain specified existing litigation. We have agreed that if we cannot pay our indemnification obligations, Ipsen will have set-off rights against any future contingent payments. Indemnification claims by Ipsen could further materially and adversely affect our financial condition and/or significantly reduce any future contingent payments.

The Elevation agreement may expose us to contingent liabilities.

We have agreed to indemnify Elevation for certain breaches of representations, warranties or covenants made by us in the Elevation agreement. We have agreed that Elevation will have set-off rights against any future contingent payments. Indemnification claims by Elevation could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and/or significantly reduce any future contingent payments.

Risks Related to Our Financial Position and Need for Additional Capital

 

We have incurred significant losses since our inception. Should our stockholders not approve the proposed plan of liquidation and should we not receive the $225 million mPDAC Milestone payment from Ipsen, we would expect to incur operating losses for the foreseeable future and may never achieve or maintain profitability.

Since inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. Our net loss was $1.2 million and $1.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $548.8 million. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through private placements of convertible preferred stock, collaborations, public offerings of our securities, secured debt financings, sales of ONIVYDE and the Ipsen sale. We had devoted substantially all of our efforts to research and development, including clinical trials and to commercialization of our first product, ONIVYDE, which was sold to Ipsen. We have not completed development of or commercialized any other product candidates or diagnostics other than ONIVYDE.

Although we are not actively developing product candidates and do not have any current plans to do so, to become and remain profitable, and assuming that the mPDAC Milestone payment from Ipsen is not received and the plan of dissolution is not adopted, we would need to succeed in realizing milestone payments from either or both of the Ipsen and Elevation agreements. We are not developing and commercializing products. We expect to dividend out to our stockholders all or substantially all of any milestone payments and we do not anticipate seeking to develop any new products with any of our existing cash or any future milestone payments we may receive. Our failure to achieve these potential milestone payments would depress the value of our company. A decline in the value of our company could also cause our stockholders to lose all or part of their investment.

We might not be able to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards and research and development tax credit carryforwards.

As of December 31, 2023, we had net operating loss carryforwards for federal and state income tax purposes of $218.7 million and $305.0 million, respectively. Our existing federal and state net operating loss carryforwards begin to expire in 2033. We also had available research and development credits for federal and state income tax purposes of approximately $28.3 million and $20.3 million, respectively. The federal and state research and development credits will begin to expire in 2024 and 2025, respectively. We also had federal Orphan Drug Credits of approximately $122.7 million that begin to expire in 2031. These net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards could expire unused or could be unavailable to offset our future income tax liabilities. Under federal income tax law, federal net operating losses incurred in 2018 and in future years may be carried forward indefinitely, but the deductibility of such federal net operating losses is limited. It is uncertain how various states will respond to this change in federal tax laws. If our ability to use our historical net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards is materially limited, it would harm our future operating results by effectively increasing our future tax obligations. In addition, the Ipsen sale was an installment sale given the potential milestone payments that could be received by us in future years. If we receive milestone payments in future years pursuant to the Ipsen sale, we will be liable for interest to the federal government pursuant to Internal Revenue Code section 453A and state governments pursuant

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to similar state tax provisions because it was an installment sale. The interest is compounding and is calculated based on the number of years between 2017 and the year the milestone payment is received by us. Any interest charges cannot be offset by net operating loss carryforwards or tax credits. We currently estimate that these state and federal interest payments on the $225.0 million milestone payment that we expect to receive from Ipsen by the end of March 2024 based on approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, to market ONIVYDE as a first-line treatment of metastatic adenocarcinoma on the pancreas, will be approximately $23.1 million.

Our investments are subject to risks that could result in losses.

We have invested and plan to continue to invest our cash in a variety of financial instruments, principally securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies, investment grade corporate bonds, including commercial paper, and money market instruments. All of these investments are subject to credit, liquidity, market and interest rate risk. Such risks, including the failure or severe financial distress of the financial institutions that hold our cash, cash equivalents and investments, may result in a loss of liquidity, impairment to our investments, realization of substantial future losses, or a complete loss of the investments in the long-term, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, liquidity and financial condition. In order to manage the risk to our investments, we maintain an investment policy that, among other things, limits the amount that we may invest in any one issue or any single issuer and requires us to only invest in high credit quality securities, but there can be no guarantee that our investments will not result in losses.

Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property

We may become involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce our patents, which could be expensive, time-consuming and unsuccessful.

Competitors may infringe on our patents. To counter infringement or unauthorized use, we may be required to initiate infringement lawsuits, which can be expensive and time-consuming. In addition, in an infringement proceeding, a court may decide that a patent of ours is invalid or unenforceable, or may refuse to stop the other party from using the technology at issue on the grounds that our patents do not cover the technology in question. An adverse result in any litigation proceeding could put one or more of our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly. Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation.

Third parties may initiate legal proceedings alleging that we are infringing their intellectual property rights, the outcome of which would be uncertain and could have a material adverse effect on the success of our business.

Our commercial success depends upon our ability and the ability of our collaborators to develop, manufacture, market and sell our products and product candidates and use our proprietary technologies without infringing the enforceable proprietary rights of third parties. We may become party to, or threatened with, future adversarial proceedings or litigation regarding intellectual property rights with respect to our products and technology, including interference or derivation proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Third parties may assert infringement claims against us based on existing patents or patents that may be granted in the future. If we are found to infringe a third party’s intellectual property rights, we could be required to obtain a license from such third party to continue developing and marketing our products and technology. However, we may not be able to obtain any required license on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Even if we were able to obtain a license, it could be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors access to the same technologies licensed to us. We could be forced, including by court order, to cease commercializing the infringing technology or product. In addition, we could be found liable for monetary damages. A finding of infringement could prevent us from commercializing our product candidates, prevent us from divesting certain assets or force us to cease some of our business operations, which could materially harm our business. Claims that we have misappropriated the confidential information or trade secrets of third parties can have a similar negative impact on our business.

We may be subject to claims that our employees have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of their former employers.

Many of our former employees were previously employed at universities or other biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. Although we tried to ensure that our former employees do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or these employees have used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary information, of any such employee’s former employer. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management.

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Intellectual property litigation could cause us to spend substantial resources and distract our personnel from their normal responsibilities.

Even if resolved in our favor, litigation or other legal proceedings relating to intellectual property claims may cause us to incur significant expenses, and could distract our personnel from their normal responsibilities. In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments and if securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the price of our common stock. Such litigation or proceedings could substantially increase our operating losses and reduce our resources available for development or other activities. We may not have sufficient financial or other resources to adequately conduct such litigation or proceedings. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of such litigation or proceedings more effectively than we can because of their substantially greater financial resources. Uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent litigation or other proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our ability to compete in the marketplace and operate our business.

Risks Related to Data Protection and Cybersecurity

Significant disruptions of information technology systems or security breaches could adversely affect our business.

We are increasingly dependent upon information technology systems, infrastructure and data to operate our business. In the ordinary course of business, we collect, store and transmit large amounts of confidential information (including, among other things, trade secrets or other intellectual property, proprietary business information and personal information). It is critical that we do so in a secure manner to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of such confidential information. We also have outsourced significant elements of our operations to third parties, and as a result we manage a number of third-party vendors who have or could have access to our confidential information. Our information technology systems, and those of third-party vendors with whom we contract, and the large amounts of confidential information stored on those systems, make such systems vulnerable to service interruptions or to security breaches from inadvertent or intentional actions by our consultants, third-party vendors, and/or business partners, or from cyber-attacks by malicious third parties. Because we outsource our information technology systems, we are subject to risks that the activities of our third-party vendors may adversely affect our business even if an attack or breach does not directly target our systems. Cyber-attacks are increasing in their frequency, sophistication and intensity, and have become increasingly difficult to detect. Cyber-attacks could include the deployment of harmful malware, ransomware, denial-of-service attacks, social engineering and other means to affect service reliability and threaten the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information. Cyber-attacks could also include phishing attempts or e-mail fraud to cause payments or information to be transmitted to an unintended recipient.

Significant disruptions of our information technology systems, or those of our third-party vendors, or security breaches could adversely affect our business operations and/or result in the loss, misappropriation and/or unauthorized access, use or disclosure of, or the prevention of access to, confidential information, including, among other things, trade secrets or other intellectual property, proprietary business information and personal information, and could result in financial, legal, business and reputational harm to us. For example, any such event that leads to unauthorized access, use or disclosure of personal information, including personal information regarding our patients or employees, could harm our reputation, require us to comply with federal and/or state breach notification laws and foreign law equivalents, and otherwise subject us to liability under laws and regulations that protect the privacy and security of personal information. Security breaches and other inappropriate access can be difficult to detect, and any delay in identifying them may lead to increased harm of the type described above. While we have implemented security measures to protect our information technology systems and infrastructure, there can be no assurance that such measures will prevent service interruptions or security breaches that could adversely affect our business.

Risks Related to Personnel Matters

Assuming we do not adopt the plan of dissolution, our future success depends on our ability to retain qualified personnel.

We do not have any employees and instead use a limited number of external consultants for the operation of our company, any of whom may terminate their consultancy with us at any time. We may not be able to attract and retain consultants on acceptable terms given the competition among numerous pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for similar personnel. Our consultants and advisors may be employed by employers other than us and may have commitments under consulting or advisory contracts with other entities that may limit their availability to us. We do not maintain “key person” insurance.

Our corporate compliance efforts cannot guarantee that we are in compliance with all potentially applicable regulations.

We are subject to extensive regulation by federal, state and other authorities within the United States and numerous entities outside of the United States. We cannot provide any assurance that governmental authorities will find that our business practices comply with current or future administrative or judicial interpretations of potentially applicable laws and regulations. If we fail to comply with any of these laws and regulations, we could be subject to a range of regulatory actions, including suspension or termination of clinical trials, the failure to approve a product candidate, restrictions on our products or manufacturing processes,

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withdrawal of products from the market, significant fines, disqualification or debarment from participation in federally-funded healthcare programs or other sanctions or litigation, any of which events may have a significant adverse impact on our business.

Risks Related to Our Common Stock

Our directors and principal stockholders maintain the ability to significantly influence all matters submitted to stockholders for approval.

Our directors and stockholders who own more than 5% of our outstanding common stock, in the aggregate, own 36.7% of our capital stock as of February 29, 2024, which includes shares held through funds managed by two of our directors and shares held by an unaffiliated investment fund. As a result, if these stockholders were to choose to act together, they would be able to significantly influence all matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, as well as our management and affairs. For example, these persons, if they choose to act together, would significantly influence the election of directors and approval of any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets. This concentration of voting power could discourage, delay or prevent an acquisition of our company on terms that other stockholders may desire.

Provisions in our corporate charter documents and under Delaware law could make an acquisition of us, which may be beneficial to our stockholders, more difficult and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management.

Provisions in our corporate charter and our bylaws may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control of us that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which our stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares. These provisions could also limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock should our stockholders not adopt the plan of dissolution, thereby depressing the market price of our common stock. In addition, these provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management by making it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of our board of directors. Because our board of directors is responsible for appointing the members of our management team, these provisions could in turn affect any attempt by our stockholders to replace current members of our management team. Among others, these provisions:

Moreover, because we are incorporated in Delaware, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits a person who owns in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock from merging or combining with us for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person acquired in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock, unless the merger or combination is approved in a prescribed manner.

 

We have entered into a Section 382 Rights Agreement, and if the share purchase rights issued pursuant to such agreement are exercised, it could materially and adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

We entered into a Section 382 Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement"), on December 3, 2019, with Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company, as Rights Agent. The Rights Agreement was amended on December 2, 2022 to extend the term of the Rights Agreement through December 2, 2025. The Rights Agreement is intended to discourage acquisitions of our common stock which could result in a cumulative “ownership change” as defined under Section 382, thereby preserving our current ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards to offset future income tax obligations, which would become subject to limitations if we were to experience an “ownership change,” as defined under Section 382. While this Rights Agreement is intended to preserve our current ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards, it effectively deters current and future purchasers from accumulating 4.9% or more of our common stock, which could delay or discourage takeover attempts that our stockholders may

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consider favorable. In addition, if the share purchase rights issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement are exercised, it could materially and adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

Our stock price has been and may in the future be volatile, which could cause holders of our common stock to incur substantial losses.

We currently anticipate delisting our common stock and adopting a plan of dissolution. Our stock price has been and in the future may be subject to substantial price volatility until such time, if ever, as our stockholders adopt a plan of dissolution. The stock market in general and the market for biotechnology companies in particular have experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. As a result of this volatility, our stockholders could incur substantial losses. The market price for our common stock may be influenced by many factors, including:

Because we do not anticipate paying regular cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future, capital appreciation, if any, will be the sole source of gain for holders of our common stock.

We have not historically declared or paid regular cash dividends on our common stock. Although our board of directors declared special cash dividends of $6.7 million, $20.0 million and $140.0 million, which were payable on December 23, 2019, September 5, 2019 and May 26, 2017, respectively, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 16, 2019, August 28, 2019 and May 17, 2017, respectively. Upon receipt of the mPDAC Milestone Payment from Ipsen , we expect to distribute those sums, together with cash and cash equivalents, and less corporate taxes, interest, other expenses and contingency reserves, to our stockholders in a liquidating dividend distribution following adoption by our stockholders of a plan of dissolution. Following the adoption of the plan of dissolution, we do not currently intend to pay any regular cash dividends in the foreseeable future unless we receive additional milestone payments from Ipsen or Elevation. In addition, the terms of any future debt agreements may in the future preclude us from paying dividends. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock will be the sole source of gain for holders of our common stock for the foreseeable future.

 

Should the plan of dissolution not be adopted by our stockholders, future sales of shares of our common stock, including by us or our directors, or shares issued upon the exercise of currently outstanding options could cause the market price of our common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.

A substantial portion of our outstanding common stock can be traded without restriction at any time. In addition, a portion of our outstanding common stock is currently restricted as a result of federal securities laws, but can be sold at any time subject to applicable volume limitations. As such, sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could occur at any time. These sales, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell shares, by us or others, could reduce the market price of our common stock. In addition, we have a significant number of shares that are subject to outstanding options. The exercise of these options and the subsequent sale of the underlying common stock could cause a further decline in our stock price.

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Uncertainties in the interpretation and application of existing, new and proposed tax laws and regulations could materially affect our tax obligations and effective tax rate.

The tax regimes to which we are subject or under which we operate are unsettled and may be subject to significant change. The issuance of additional guidance related to existing or future tax laws, or changes to tax laws or regulations proposed or implemented by the current or a future U.S. presidential administration, Congress, or taxing authorities in other jurisdictions, including jurisdictions outside of the United States, could materially affect our tax obligations and effective tax rate. To the extent that such changes have a negative impact on us, including as a result of related uncertainty, these changes may adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

The amount of taxes we pay in different jurisdictions depends on the application of the tax laws of various jurisdictions, including the United States, to our international business activities, tax rates, new or revised tax laws, or interpretations of tax laws and policies, and our ability to operate our business in a manner consistent with our corporate structure and intercompany arrangements. The taxing authorities of the jurisdictions in which we operate may challenge our methodologies for pricing intercompany transactions pursuant to our intercompany arrangements or disagree with our determinations as to the income and expenses attributable to specific jurisdictions. If such a challenge or disagreement were to occur, and our position was not sustained, we could be required to pay additional taxes, interest, and penalties, which could result in one-time tax charges, higher effective tax rates, reduced cash flows, and lower overall profitability of our operations. Our financial statements could fail to reflect adequate reserves to cover such a contingency. Similarly, a taxing authority could assert that we are subject to tax in a jurisdiction where we believe we have not established a taxable connection, often referred to as a “permanent establishment” under international tax treaties, and such an assertion, if successful, could increase our expected tax liability in one or more jurisdictions.

Effective January 1, 2022, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 eliminated the option to deduct research and development expenses for tax purposes in the year incurred and requires taxpayers to capitalize and subsequently amortize such expenses over five years for research activities conducted in the United States and over 15 years of research activities conducted outside the United States. Unless the United States Department of the Treasury issues regulations that narrow the application of this provision to a smaller subset of our research and development expenses or the provision is deferred, modified, or repealed by Congress, in future years we may experience a material decrease in our cash flows from operations and an offsetting similarly sized increase in our net deferred tax assets over these amortization periods. The actual impact of this provision will depend on multiple factors, including the amount of research and development expenses we will incur and whether we conduct our research and development activities inside or outside the United States and our overall net operating loss position.

We maintain a significant portion of our cash at financial institutions, often in balances that exceed federally insured limits.

We maintain a significant portion of our cash and cash equivalents in accounts at banking institutions in the United States that we believe are of high quality. Cash held in these accounts often exceed the FDIC insurance limits. If such banking institutions were to fail, we could lose all or a portion of amounts held in excess of such insurance limitations. In the event of failure of any of the financial institutions where we maintain our cash and cash equivalents, there can be no assurance that we would be able to access uninsured funds in a timely manner or at all. Any inability to access or delay in accessing these funds could adversely affect our business and financial position.

 

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may delay or otherwise adversely impact our ability to realize potential milestone payments from the Ipsen sale and the Elevation sale and create other additional risks which could have material and adverse impacts on our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.

 

We are unable to accurately predict the full impact that the ongoing coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic will have on our financial condition due to numerous factors that are not within our control, including the duration and severity of the outbreak. Specifically, stay-at-home orders, business closures, travel restrictions, supply chain disruptions and employee and clinical trial participant illness or quarantines could result in disruptions to Ipsen and Elevation’s ability to conduct research, preclinical, clinical and/or regulatory activities that are required to trigger potential milestone payments to us. If these activities are significantly delayed, the attainment of any milestone payments we might receive would also likely be delayed. The COVID-19 pandemic may also significantly affect our ability to sell any remaining preclinical assets due to the inability of potential partners to obtain capital or otherwise complete a transaction. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in ongoing volatility in financial markets. If our access to capital is restricted or associated borrowing costs increase as a result of developments in financial markets relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, our financial condition could be adversely impacted if we seek to raise equity and/or debt financing. At this time, we do not believe that the COVID-19 pandemic will have a significant impact on our current day-to-day operations or our near-term financial condition.

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To the extent the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects our business and financial results, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in the “Risk Factors” sections.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

 

Item 1C. Cybersecurity

Risk Management and Strategy

We have implemented and maintain various information security processes designed to identify, assess and manage material risks from cybersecurity threats to our critical computer networks, third party hosted services, communications systems, hardware and software, and our critical data, including intellectual property, confidential information that is proprietary, strategic or competitive in nature, and data related to patients and clinical trials (“Information Systems and Data”).

Our officers and our IT vendors help identify, assess and manage our cybersecurity threats and risks. We manage, identify and assess risks from cybersecurity threats by monitoring and evaluating our threat environment and risk profile using various methods including, for example: through the use of automated tools, including but not limited to tools for monitoring, geolocation, remote wiping, threat detection, intrusion detection and prevention (including through the use of machine learning, a form of artificial intelligence), patch management, distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection and forensics; conducting (directly or through third parties) regular audits and threat assessments for internal and external threats; subscribing to reports and services that identify cybersecurity threats; analyzing reports of threats and actors; conducting vulnerability assessments to identify vulnerabilities; evaluating our and our industry’s risk profile; conducting tabletop incident response exercises; and evaluating threats reported to us.

We implement and maintain various technical, physical, and organizational measures, processes, standards and policies designed to manage and mitigate material risks from cybersecurity threats to our Information Systems and Data, including, for example: incident response plans and procedures, disaster recovery/business continuity plans, risk assessments, implementation of security standards and certifications, encryption of data, network security controls, data segregation, access controls, physical security, asset management, tracking and disposal, systems monitoring, vendor risk management program, employee training and penetration testing.

Our assessment and management of material risks from cybersecurity threats are integrated into our overall risk management processes. For example, cybersecurity risk is addressed as a component of our enterprise risk management program, and members of our management team and IT consultants work together to prioritize our risk management processes, mitigate cybersecurity threats that are more likely to lead to a material impact to our business, and report regularly to our board of directors on cybersecurity matters.

We use third-party service providers to assist us from time to time to identify, assess, and manage material risks from cybersecurity threats, including for example managed cybersecurity service providers, threat intelligence service providers, dark web monitoring services, and other cybersecurity software providers.

We use third-party service providers to perform a variety of functions throughout our business, including but not limited to application providers and hosting companies. We have a vendor management program to oversee, identify and manage cybersecurity risks associated with our use of these providers. The program includes a risk assessment for vendors that may include, depending on the vendor and nature of services being performed, security questionnaires, review of the vendor's written security program, review of security assessments, audits and reports, vulnerability scans related to the vendor, security assessment calls with the vendor's security personnel, and the imposition of certain contractual obligations on the vendor, among other elements, in accordance with the processes outlined in our internal vendor selection, management, and oversight process policy and other internal guidelines. More specifically, the level of assessment may depend on the following: the nature of the services provided and the data the vendors may collect, retain, and utilize, the sensitivity of the Information Systems and Data at issue, and the identity of the provider.

For a description of the risks from cybersecurity threats that may materially affect us and how they may do so, see our risk factors under Part 1. Item 1A. Risk Factors in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the risk factor captioned “Significant disruptions of information technology systems or security breaches could adversely affect our business.”

Governance

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Our board of directors addresses our cybersecurity risk management as part of its general oversight function.

Our cybersecurity risk assessment and management processes are implemented and maintained by various members of our management team and IT consultants, which includes individuals who have a diverse combination of relevant expertise, experience, education and training. Our team includes individuals with relevant experience in enterprise risk management and disclosure controls and procedures. Additionally, certain members of our team have experience managing cybersecurity programs and are specifically assigned cybersecurity oversight.

Certain members of our management team are responsible for hiring appropriate consultants, helping to integrate cybersecurity risk considerations into our overall risk management strategy, communicating key priorities to relevant personnel, approving budgets, helping prepare for cybersecurity incidents, approving cybersecurity processes, and reviewing security assessments and other security-related reports.

Our cybersecurity incident response processes are designed to escalate certain cybersecurity incidents to members of management. Our cybersecurity incident management team, and other individuals as needed, work to help us mitigate and remediate cybersecurity incidents of which we are notified. In addition, our incident response processes include a procedure for reporting certain cybersecurity incidents to the board of directors.

Commencing in 2024, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is taking the lead on behalf of the board of directors on oversight of our cybersecurity risk management program.

Item 2. Properties

We do not currently own or lease any facilities or property that are material to our business.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

We are not currently a party to any material legal proceedings.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

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PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Our common stock is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “MACK”.

 

Holders

As of February 29, 2024, there were approximately 66 holders of record of our common stock. This number does not include beneficial owners whose shares are held by nominees in street name. During 2023, officers, consultants and former employees and consultants exercised outstanding stock options to purchase 135,850 shares of our Class A common stock for net proceeds to us of $0.5 million.

Dividends

We do not currently intend to pay any regular cash dividends in the foreseeable future unless and until we receive any milestone payments from Ipsen or Elevation.

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

Not Applicable.

 

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the notes to those financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, such as those set forth in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which are incorporated herein by reference, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.

Overview

We are a biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts that is entitled to receive up to $450.0 million in contingent milestone payments related to our sale of ONIVYDE® to Ipsen S.A., or Ipsen, in April 2017 and up to $54.5 million in contingent milestone payments related to our sale of MM-121 and MM-111 to Elevation Oncology, Inc. (formerly known as 14ner Oncology, Inc.), or Elevation, in July 2019. We do not have any ongoing research or development activities and are seeking potential acquirers for our remaining preclinical and clinical assets. We do not have any employees and instead use external consultants for the operation of our company.

On April 3, 2017, we completed the sale of ONIVYDE and MM-436 (the “commercial business”) to Ipsen (the “Ipsen sale”). In connection with the Ipsen sale, we are eligible to receive up to $450.0 million in additional regulatory approval-based milestone payments.

On February 13, 2024, we announced that Ipsen S.A. announced it had received approval from the FDA to market ONIVYDE as a first-line treatment of metastatic adenocarcinoma on the pancreas. As a result of this approval by the FDA, we are entitled to receive a $225 million milestone payment from Ipsen, which is expected to be received by the end of March 2024. We expect to ask stockholders to approve a plan of dissolution and liquidation and, upon receipt of such approval, to dissolve the Company and make a liquidating dividend payment to stockholders of record on the date that the plan of dissolution is approved by our stockholders. We expect that the meeting of stockholders will be held in the next 50-90 days.

In addition to the $225 million milestone that the Company expects to receive by the end of March 2024, based upon the approval announced by the FDA on February 13, 2024 of ONIVYDE® for the first-line treatment of metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (“mPDAC”), there are $225 million of additional contingent milestone payments which could result from the Ipsen Sale. The Company believes that the probability of receiving these additional milestones is very low based on publicly available information provided by Ipsen.

In August 2022, Ipsen announced that the Phase III RESILIENT trial did not meet its primary endpoint of overall survival compared to topotecan. The trial is evaluating Onivyde® (irinotecan liposomal injection) versus topotecan in patients with small cell lung cancer, who have progressed on or after platinum-based first-line therapy treatment. RESILIENT is a Phase III trial conducted in two parts; the first part read out in 2020 confirming the safety, dosing and efficacy of Onivyde; part two is evaluating the efficacy of Onivyde versus topotecan. The analysis concluded that the primary endpoint overall survival was not met in patients treated with Onivyde versus topotecan. However, a doubling of the secondary endpoint of objective response rate in favor of Onivyde was observed. The safety and tolerability of Onivyde was consistent with its already-known safety profile, and no new safety concerns emerged. The clinical study results will be communicated with the regulatory agency. Ipsen indicated that while the results from the analysis of the RESILIENT trial have not demonstrated an overall survival benefit with Onivyde in patients in second-line small cell lung cancer, Ipsen intends to analyze the data further before decisions regarding next steps are made. To date, there have been no further public announcements by Ipsen regarding these matters and it remains unclear as to whether Ipsen will continue to seek approval for the use of ONIVYDE in the small cell lung cancer application. If Ipsen elects not to proceed with seeking regulatory approval, or if regulatory approval is not obtained, we would not be entitled to the $150 million milestone payment tied to approval of Onivyde for treating small cell lung cancer.

Ipsen has not mentioned any other ONIVYDE clinical programs in recent communications regarding its development pipeline.

On May 30, 2019, we announced the completion of our review of strategic alternatives, following which our board of directors implemented a series of measures designed to extend our cash runway into 2027 and preserve our ability to capture the potential milestone payments resulting from the Ipsen sale. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we

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could use our financial resources sooner than we currently expect. In connection with that announcement, we discontinued the discovery efforts on our remaining preclinical programs: MM-401, an agonistic antibody targeting a novel immuno-oncology target, TNFR2; and MM-201, a highly stabilized agonist-Fc fusion protein targeting death receptors 4 and 5. We are seeking potential acquirers for our remaining preclinical and clinical assets.

The termination of our executive management team and all other employees was substantially completed by June 28, 2019 and fully completed by July 12, 2019. As of July 12, 2019, we did not have any employees. We have engaged external consultants to run our day-to-day operations. We have also entered into consulting agreements with certain former members of our executive management team who are supporting our relationship with current partners, assisting with the potential sale of remaining preclinical and clinical assets, and assisting with certain legal and regulatory matters and the continued wind-down of operations.

On July 12, 2019, we completed the sale to Elevation, or the Elevation sale, of our anti-HER3 antibody programs, MM-121 (seribantumab) and MM-111. In connection with the Elevation sale, we received an upfront cash payment of $3.5 million and are eligible to receive up to $54.5 million in additional potential development, regulatory approval and commercial-based milestone payments, consisting of:

 

In January 2023, Elevation announced that it had paused further investment in the clinical development of seribantumab and intends to pursue further development only in collaboration with a partner. In January of 2024 Elevation announced that it is evaluating initiation of a development program utilizing a antibody drug conjugate (ADC) targeting HER3. Elevation has not disclosed if this preclinical program utilizes intellectual property licensed from Merrimack. Elevation has also not provided a timeline indicating when this program could reach clinical trials or regulatory approval, if successful.

On September 15, 2021, we entered into an Asset Purchase Option Agreement (the “Asset Purchase Option Agreement”) with a third party, pursuant to which the third party obtained an exclusive option, to purchase one of our preclinical programs with a consideration of $0.5 million. Under the terms of the Asset Purchase Option Agreement, the third party paid to us the option fee of $0.1 million. On March 1, 2022, the third party exercised the option and we received consideration of $0.5 million and a gain of $0.5 million was recognized in March 2022.

On January 23, 2023, we entered into an Asset Purchase Option Agreement (the “Option Agreement”) with a third party (the “Purchaser”), pursuant to which the Purchaser agreed to obtain an exclusive option (the “Option”) to purchase one of the Company’s preclinical programs with a consideration of $700 thousand. Under the terms of the Option Agreement, the Purchaser paid to us the Option fee of $150 thousand and we incurred transaction cost of $11 thousand. A net gain of $139 thousand was recognized in January 2023. In July 2023, the Purchaser decided not to exercise the Option.

We previously devoted substantially all of our resources to our drug discovery and development efforts, including conducting clinical trials for our product candidates, protecting our intellectual property and providing general and administrative support for these operations. We have financed our operations primarily through private placements of convertible preferred stock, collaborations, public offerings of our securities, secured debt financings, sales of ONIVYDE and the Ipsen sale.

As of December 31, 2023, we had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $18.9 million. We expect that our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments as of December 31, 2023 (excluding the anticipated $225 million mPDAC Milestone Payment) will be sufficient to continue our operations beyond 2027, which we estimate is beyond the latest date when the longest-term potential Ipsen milestone may be achieved.

We have a history of losses from our operations. We do not expect to be profitable from our operations in the future unless we receive potential future milestone payments, if any. As of December 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $548.8 million. Our net loss was $1.2 million and $1.5 million for years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We do not expect to incur any research and development expenses going forward.

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Financial Operations Overview

General and administrative expenses

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of stock-based compensation expenses, legal, intellectual property, business development, finance, information technology, corporate communications and investor relations. Other general and administrative expenses include costs for board of director’s costs, insurance expenses, legal and professional fees, and accounting and information technology services fees.

Interest income

Interest income consists primarily of interest income associated with our money market fund, U.S. Treasury Bills and U.S. Treasury Notes.

Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates

Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which we have prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported expenses during the reporting periods. We evaluate our estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

While our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1, “Nature of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements appearing at the end of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we believe that the following accounting policies and significant judgments and estimates are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our financial condition and results of operations.

Accrued expenses

As part of the process of preparing financial statements, we are required to estimate accrued expenses. This process involves identifying services that have been performed on our behalf and estimating the level of services performed and the associated costs incurred for such services where we have not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of actual cost. We record these estimates in our consolidated financial statements as of each balance sheet date.

In accruing service fees, we estimate the time period over which services will be provided and the level of effort in each period. If the actual timing of the provision of services or the level of effort varies from the estimate, we will adjust the accrual accordingly. In the event that we do not identify costs that have been incurred or we under or overestimate the level of services performed or the costs of such services, our actual expenses could differ from such estimates. The date on which some services commence, the level of services performed on or before a given date and the cost of such services are often subjective determinations. We make estimates based on the facts and circumstances known to us at the time and in accordance with GAAP. There have been no material changes in estimates for the periods presented.

Stock-based compensation expense

We account for our stock-based compensation awards in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. ASC 718 requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss based on their grant date fair values. For stock options granted to members of our board of directors for their service on the board of directors, we estimate the grant date fair value of each option award using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The use of the Black-Scholes option pricing model requires us to make assumptions with respect to the expected term of the option, the expected volatility of our common stock consistent with the expected term of the option, the risk-free interest rate consistent with the expected term of the option and the expected dividend yield of our common stock. Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options is measured using the fair value of the award at the grant date and is adjusted quarterly to reflect actual forfeitures. Stock-based compensation expense is then recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, which is also the requisite service period.

 

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Results of Operations

Comparison of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

 

		Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)		2023				2022
Operating expenses:
General and administrative expenses		$	2,176			$	2,174
Gain on sales of assets			(139	)			(445	)
Total operating expenses			2,037				1,729
Loss from operations			(2,037	)			(1,729	)
Interest income			868				188
Loss before income tax expense			(1,169	)			(1,541	)
Income tax expense			(12	)			(3	)
Net loss		$	(1,181	)		$	(1,544	)

General and administrative expenses

General and administrative expenses were $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Gain on sales of assets

Gain on sale of assets was $0.1 million and $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, attributable to the sale of certain of our preclinical programs to third parties.

Interest income

Interest income was $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily attributable to the increase of interest rate associated with our money market fund and interest income earned from U.S. Treasury Bills and U.S. Treasury Notes.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources of liquidity

We have financed our operations from inception through December 31, 2023 primarily through private placements of convertible preferred stock, collaborations, public offerings of our securities, secured debt financings, sales of ONIVYDE and the Ipsen sale. Through December 31, 2023, we have received $580.7 million from the Ipsen sale, $268.2 million from the sale of convertible preferred stock and warrants, $126.7 million of net proceeds from the sale of common stock in our initial public offering and a July 2013 follow-on underwritten public offering, $38.6 million of net proceeds from our 2015 “at the market offering” program, or the ATM offering, $39.6 million of net proceeds from a secured debt financing, $120.6 million of net proceeds from the issuance of the convertible notes in our July 2013 underwritten public offering, $168.5 million of net proceeds from the issuance of the 2022 notes, $492.5 million of upfront license fees, milestone payments, reimbursement of research and development costs and manufacturing services and other payments from our collaborations, $68.9 million of cash receipts related to ONIVYDE sales, $33.0 million in milestone payments related to the development and commercialization of ONIVYDE and $14.7 million in net borrowings pursuant to the loan agreement with Hercules. In 2022 and 2023, we also received cash proceeds of $6.5 million and $0.5 million from the exercise of stock options, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, we had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $18.9 million.

 

Cash flows

The following table provides information regarding our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:

 

		Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)		2023				2022
Net cash used in operating activities		$	(1,522	)		$	(1,742	)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities			(12,449	)			445
Net cash provided by financing activities			521				6,533
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		$	(13,450	)		$	5,236

 

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Operating activities

Cash used in operating activities was $1.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2023. The cash used in operating activities was primarily a result of our $1.2 million net loss from operations. The net loss was offset by stock-based compensation expense of $0.2 million, and also adjusted by $0.1 million gain on the sale of in-process research and development, $0.3 million of accretion on short-term investments and a decrease in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other of $0.1 million.

Cash used in operating activities was $1.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2022. The cash used in operating activities was primarily a result of our $1.5 million net loss and net decrease in assets and liabilities of $0.2 million. The net loss was adjusted by a net decrease in assets and liabilities of $0.2 million, which was primarily driven by decreases in prepaid expenses and other assets of $0.2 million. This decrease included non-cash adjustments of $0.4 million gain on the sale of in-process research and development assets, offset by $0.1 million of stock-based compensation expense.

Investing activities

Cash used in investing activities of $12.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, was due to purchases of short-term investments of $18.6 million, offset by proceeds from maturity of short-term investments of $6.0 million and $0.1 million net proceeds from the sale of in-process research and development.

Cash provided by investing activities of $0.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2022, was due to proceeds from the sale of in-process research and development.

Financing activities

Cash provided by financing activities of $0.5 million and $6.5 million during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, was due to proceeds from the exercise of stock options.

Funding requirements

We have incurred significant expenses and operating losses to date. On May 30, 2019, we announced the completion of our review of strategic alternatives, following which our board of directors implemented a series of measures designed to extend our cash runway into 2027 and preserve our ability to capture the potential milestone payments resulting from the Ipsen sale. In connection with that announcement, we discontinued the discovery efforts on our remaining preclinical programs and implemented a reduction in headcount resulting in the termination of all remaining employees as of July 12, 2019. Assuming our stockholders do not adopt the proposed plan of dissolution and we do not receive the $225 million mPDAC Milestone Payment from Ipsen, our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:

We do not believe that we will be able to raise a material amount of capital through the sale of our equity securities or debt financing. Rather, our goal is to judiciously expend our remaining cash until such time, if ever, as we receive additional milestone payments from Ipsen and Elevation. There can be no assurance as to the timing, terms or consummation of any financing or divestiture of our few remaining intellectual property assets. We do not have any committed external sources of funds. In the unlikely

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event 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 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 additional funds through arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our future revenue streams or product candidates.

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 SEC rules.

Tax Loss Carryforwards

At December 31, 2023, we had net operating loss carryforwards for federal and state income tax purposes of $218.7 million and $305.0 million, respectively. Our existing federal and state net operating loss carryforwards begin to expire in 2033. We also had available research and development credits for federal and state income tax purposes of approximately $28.3 million and $20.3 million, respectively. The federal and state research and development credits will begin to expire in 2024 and 2025, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, we also had available investment tax credits for state income tax purposes of less than $0.1 million which do not expire. We have orphan drug credits of $122.7 million, which begin to expire in 2031.

We have evaluated the positive and negative evidence bearing upon the realizability of our deferred tax assets, which are comprised principally of net operating loss carryforwards and research and development credits. Under the applicable accounting standards, we have considered our history of losses and concluded that it is more likely than not that we will not recognize the benefits of federal and state deferred tax assets. Accordingly, a full valuation allowance has been established against the deferred tax assets.

Utilization of the net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards may be subject to a substantial annual limitation under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code due to ownership change limitations that have occurred previously or that could occur in the future. These ownership changes may limit the amount of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income and tax. We completed an evaluation of ownership changes through November 16, 2022 to assess whether utilization of our net operating loss or tax credit carryforwards would be subject to an annual limitation under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. We believe we can utilize our tax attributes generated through November 16, 2022 as a result of the analysis. To the extent an ownership change has occurred after November 16, 2022 or occurs in the future, the net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards may be subject to limitation.

We have not, as of yet, conducted a study of our domestic research and development credit carryforwards and Orphan Drug Credits. This study may result in an increase or decrease to our credit carryforwards; however, until a study is completed and any adjustment is known, no amounts are being presented as an uncertain tax position. A full valuation allowance has been provided against our credits, and if an adjustment is required, this adjustment would be offset by an adjustment to the valuation allowance. As a result, there would be no impact to the statement of operations and comprehensive loss, balance sheet or cash flows if an adjustment were required.

382 Rights Agreement

On December 3, 2019, we entered into a Section 382 Rights Agreement, or the Rights Agreement, with Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company, as Rights Agent. Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, on December 13, 2019, we issued a dividend of one preferred share purchase right, or a Right, for each share of our common stock to the stockholders of record on that date. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from us one one-thousandth of a share of Series Z Junior Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, or the Preferred Shares, at a price of $18.00 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share represented by a Right, subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement. In December 2022, we extended the term of the Rights Plan through December 2, 2025.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1, “Nature of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements for a description of recent accounting pronouncements applicable to our business.

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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We invest in money market funds, U.S. Treasury Bills and U.S. Treasury Notes. The goals of our investment policy are preservation of capital, fulfillment of liquidity needs and fiduciary control of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments. We also seek to maximize income from our investments without assuming significant risk.

Our primary exposure to market risk is interest income sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of interest rates, particularly because our investments are in short-term marketable securities. Due to the short-term duration of our investment portfolio and the low risk profile of our investments, an immediate 10% change in interest rates would not have a material effect on the fair market value of our portfolio. We have the ability and intention 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 sudden change in market interest rates on our investment portfolio.

We do not currently have any auction rate or mortgage-backed securities. We do not believe our cash and cash equivalents have significant risk of default or illiquidity, however we cannot provide absolute assurance that in the future our investments will not be subject to adverse changes in market value.

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Our consolidated financial statements, together with the report of our independent registered public accounting firm, appear on pages F-1 through F-16 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our principal executive and financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2023. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. 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. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2023, our principal executive and financial officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

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Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the company. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by the company’s board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and includes those policies and procedures that:

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013). Based on its assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2023, our internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

This annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit us to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the year ended December 31, 2023 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B. Other Information

None.

Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions That Prevent Inspections

Not applicable.

 

 

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PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

The information required by this Item 10 will be filed on or before April 30, 2024 with the SEC and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

The information required by this Item 11 will be will be filed on or before April 30, 2024 with the SEC and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

The information required by this Item 12 will be filed on or before April 30, 2024 with the SEC and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

The information required by this Item 13 will be filed on or before April 30, 2024 with the SEC and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The information required by this Item 14 will be filed on or before April 30, 2024 with the SEC and is incorporated herein by reference.

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PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

Our consolidated financial statements are set forth on pages F-1 through F-16 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

Schedules have been omitted since they are either not required or not applicable or the information is otherwise included herein.

 

Exhibit Number		Description of Exhibit
2.1		Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of January 7, 2017, by and between the Registrant and Ipsen S.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 9, 2017)
3.1		Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2018)
3.2		Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, filed on January 13, 2012)
3.3		Certificate of Designation of Series Z Junior Preferred Stock of the Registrant, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 3, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 3, 2019)
4.1		Specimen certificate evidencing shares of common stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 12, 2018)
4.4		Section 382 Rights Agreement, dated as of December 3, 2019, between the Registrant and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 3, 2019)
4.5*		Description of the Registrant’s Securities Registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act
4.5(1)*		First Amendment to Section 382 Rights Agreement
10.1#		2008 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, filed on July 8, 2011)
10.2#		2011 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, filed on January 13, 2012)
10.3#		2021 Incentive Award Plan (as set forth on Annex A in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed on April 22, 2021)
10.4#		Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, filed on January 13, 2012)
10.5#		Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, filed on January 13, 2012)
10.12#		Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and each director and executive officer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, filed on August 19, 2011)
10.31†		Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 28, 2019, by and between the Registrant and 14ner Oncology, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 30, 2019)
10.32		Amendment No. 1 to Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2019, by and between the Registrant and 14ner Oncology, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 24, 2019)

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Exhibit Number		Description of Exhibit
10.33		Amendment No. 2 to Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2019, by and between the Registrant and 14ner Oncology, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 1, 2019)
10.39		Cooperation Agreement, dated as of September 18, 2019, by and among the Registrant, Newtyn Management, LLC, Newtyn Partners, LP, Newtyn TE Partners, LP, Noah G. Levy, Newtyn Capital Partners, LP, Ledo Capital, LLC, Western Standard, LLC, Western Standard Partners, LP, Western Standard Partners QP, LP and Eric D. Andersen (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 20, 2019)
10.40		Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2020, by and between the Registrant and Celator Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 30, 2020)
21.1*		Subsidiaries of the Registrant
23.1*		Consent of Marcum LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm
31.1*		Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*		Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1+		Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2+		Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
97.1*		Policy for the Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation adopted November 30, 2023
101.INS*		Inline XBRL Instance Document - The instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document.
101.SCH*		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

* Filed herewith.

+ Furnished herewith.

# Management contract or compensatory plan, contract or agreement.

† Confidential treatment granted as to portions of the exhibit. Confidential materials omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary

Not applicable.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

		MERRIMACK PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Date: March 7, 2024		By:	/s/ Gary L. Crocker
			Gary L. Crocker President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature		Title		Date
/s/ Gary L. Crocker		President and Chairman of the Board (Principal Executive, Financial and Accounting Officer)		March 7, 2024
Gary L. Crocker
/s/ Eric D. Andersen		Director		March 7, 2024
Eric D. Andersen
/s/ Noah G. Levy		Director		March 7, 2024
Noah G. Levy
/s/ Ulrik B. Nielsen, Ph.D.		Director		March 7, 2024
Ulrik B. Nielsen, Ph.D.
/s/ Ana Radeljevic		Director		March 7, 2024
Ana Radeljevic

 

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MERRIMACK PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 688)	F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets	F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss	F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity	F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	F-7

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

Critical audit matters are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. We determined that there are no critical audit matters.

/s/ Marcum llp

Marcum llp

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019.

Boston, MA

March 7, 2024

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Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

		December 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)		2023				2022
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	5,989			$	19,439
Short-term investments			12,886				—
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			309				389
Total current assets			19,184				19,828
Other assets			4				8
Total assets		$	19,188			$	19,836
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other		$	441			$	589
Total current liabilities			441				589
Total liabilities			441				589
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value: 10,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2023       and 2022; no shares issued or outstanding at December 31, 2023 or 2022			—				—
Common stock, $0.01 par value: 30,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2023       and 2022; 14,351 and 14,215 shares issued and outstanding at December 31,       2023 and 2022			1,343				1,342
Additional paid-in capital			566,221				565,541
Accumulated deficit			(548,817	)			(547,636	)
Total stockholders’ equity			18,747				19,247
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	19,188			$	19,836

 

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

 

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Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

 

		Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)		2023				2022
Operating expenses:
General and administrative expenses		$	2,176			$	2,174
Gain on sales of assets			(139	)			(445	)
Total operating expenses			2,037				1,729
Loss from operations			(2,037	)			(1,729	)
Other income and expenses:
Interest income			868				188
Total other income and expenses			868				188
Loss before income tax expense			(1,169	)			(1,541	)
Income tax expense			(12	)			(3	)
Net loss and comprehensive loss			(1,181	)			(1,544	)
Net loss per common share - basic and diluted		$	(0.08	)		$	(0.11	)
Weighted-average common shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per common share			14,299				13,524

 

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

 

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Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

 

		Common Stock
(in thousands)		Shares				Amount				Additional Paid-In Capital				Accumulated Deficit				Total Stockholders’ Equity
Balance at January 1, 2022			13,410			$	1,334			$	558,945			$	(546,092	)		$	14,187
Exercise of stock options			805				8				6,525				—				6,533
Stock-based compensation			—				—				71				—				71
Net loss			—				—				—				(1,544	)			(1,544	)
Balance at December 31, 2022			14,215			$	1,342			$	565,541			$	(547,636	)		$	19,247
Exercise of stock options			136				1				520				—				521
Stock-based compensation			—				—				160				—				160
Net loss			—				—				—				(1,181	)			(1,181	)
Balance at December 31, 2023			14,351			$	1,343			$	566,221			$	(548,817	)		$	18,747

 

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

 

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Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

		Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)		2023				2022
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss		$	(1,181	)		$	(1,544	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities
Gain on sales of in-process research and development			(139	)			(445	)
Accretion of interest income			(298	)			—
Stock-based compensation expense			160				71
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other assets			80				91
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other			(148	)			27
Other assets			4				58
Net cash used in operating activities			(1,522	)			(1,742	)
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from sale of in-process research and development assets			139				445
Proceeds from maturity of short-term investments			6,000				—
Purchases of short-term investments			(18,588	)			—
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities			(12,449	)			445
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from exercise of options			521				6,533
Net cash provided by financing activities			521				6,533
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents			(13,450	)			5,236
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year			19,439				14,203
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year		$	5,989			$	19,439

 

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

 

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Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES REGISTERED UNDER SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED

The following description of the securities of Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“us,” “our,” “we” or the “Company”) registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is intended as a summary only and therefore is not a complete description. This description is based upon, and is qualified by reference to, our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). You should read our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, which are incorporated by reference as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2, respectively, to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this Exhibit is a part, for the provisions that are important to you.

Authorized Capital Stock

Our authorized capital stock consists of 30,000,000 shares of common stock and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of which 30,000 shares are designated as series Z junior participating preferred stock. Our common stock is registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and we have preferred stock purchase rights registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act.

Common Stock

Voting Rights. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Each election of directors by our stockholders will be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote on the election. In general, except (1) for the election of directors, (2) as described below under “—Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and Delaware Law That May Have Anti-Takeover Effects—Super-Majority Voting,” (3) in the future to the extent that we have two or more classes or series of stock outstanding with separate voting rights and (4) as otherwise required by law, any matter to be voted on by our stockholders at any meeting is decided by the vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the votes cast by the holders of shares of our stock present or represented at the meeting and voting affirmatively or negatively on such matter.

Dividends. Holders of common stock are entitled to receive proportionately any dividends as may be declared by our board of directors, subject to any preferential dividend rights of outstanding preferred stock.

Liquidation and Dissolution. In the event of our liquidation or dissolution, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive proportionately all assets available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any of our outstanding preferred stock.

Other Rights. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of our common stock are subject to and may be adversely affected by the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.

Preferred Stock

Under the terms of our certificate of incorporation, our board of directors is authorized to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series without stockholder approval. Our board of directors has the discretion to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, of each series of preferred stock. The purpose of authorizing our board of directors to issue preferred stock and determine its rights and preferences is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions, future financings and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or could discourage a third party from seeking to acquire, a majority of our outstanding voting stock.

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Effects of Authorized but Unissued Stock

We have shares of common stock and preferred stock available for future issuance without stockholder approval, subject to any limitations imposed by the listing standards of The Nasdaq Global Market. We may utilize these additional shares for a variety of corporate purposes, including for future public offerings to raise additional capital or facilitate corporate acquisitions or for payment as a dividend on our capital stock. The existence of unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock may enable our board of directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management or to issue preferred stock with terms that could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or could discourage a third party from seeking to acquire, a controlling interest in our company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. In addition, if we issue preferred stock, the issuance could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock and the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation.

Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and Delaware Law That May Have Anti-Takeover Effects

Delaware Law. We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL. Subject to certain exceptions, Section 203 prevents a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with any “interested stockholder” for three years following the date that the person became an interested stockholder, unless the interested stockholder attained such status with the approval of our board of directors, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and stockholders in a prescribed manner, or the interested stockholder acquired at least 85% of our outstanding voting stock in the transaction in which it became an interested stockholder. A “business combination” includes, among other things, a merger or consolidation involving us and the “interested stockholder” and the sale of more than 10% of our assets. In general, an “interested stockholder” is any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.

Stockholder Action; Special Meeting of Stockholders; Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations. Our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws provide that any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders at an annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders may only be taken if it is properly brought before such meeting and may not be taken by written action in lieu of a meeting. Our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws also provide that, except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of the stockholders can only be called by our chairman of the board, our chief executive officer or our board of directors. In addition, our bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders, including proposed nominations of candidates for election to our board of directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting may only consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our board of directors, or by a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has delivered timely written notice in proper form to our secretary of the stockholder’s intention to bring such business before the meeting. These provisions could have the effect of delaying until the next stockholder meeting stockholder actions that are favored by the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities. These provisions also could discourage a third party from making a tender offer for our common stock, because even if it acquired a majority of our outstanding voting stock, it would be able to take action as a stockholder, such as electing new directors or approving a merger, only at a duly called stockholders meeting and not by written consent.

Super-Majority Voting. The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as the case may be, requires a greater percentage. Our bylaws may be amended or repealed by a majority vote of our board of directors or the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the votes that all our stockholders would be entitled to cast in any annual election of directors. In addition, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the votes that all our stockholders would be entitled to cast in any election of directors is required to amend or repeal or to adopt any provisions inconsistent with any of the provisions of our certificate of incorporation described above.

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Removal of Directors by Stockholders. Our bylaws provide that members of our board of directors may be removed, with or without cause, by a majority in voting power of the shares of capital stock of our company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote in any annual election of directors, subject to any rights of any series of preferred stock.

Preferred Stock Purchase Rights

Pursuant to a Section 382 Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement”), dated December 3, 2019, between us and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent, the Company issued a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each share of common stock, payable on December 13, 2019 (the “Record Date”) to the stockholders of record on that date. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series Z Junior Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Shares”) of the Company, at a price of $18.00 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share represented by a Right (the “Purchase Price”), subject to adjustment.

This description of the Rights is based upon, and qualified by reference to, the Rights Agreement. You should read the Rights Agreement which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this Exhibit is a part, for the provisions that are important to you. The Certificate of Designation of Series Z Junior Preferred Participating Stock is also incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this Exhibit is a part. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this section are defined in the Rights Agreement.

The Rights

The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Distribution Date will be the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth day following a public announcement that an Acquiring Person (as defined below) has become such (or, in the event an exchange is effected in accordance with Section 24 of the Rights Agreement and the board determines that a later date is advisable, then such later date) or (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the board prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer, the consummation of which would result in the Beneficial Ownership by a Person or group of 4.9% or more of the then outstanding common stock.

Until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferred with and only with the common stock, and (unless the Rights are redeemed or expire) the surrender or transfer of any common stock outstanding on or after the Record Date will constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such common stock. Upon the Distribution Date, the Rights may be transferred separately from the common stock, and each Right, other than Rights held by an Acquiring Person, will entitle its holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share in exchange for the Purchase Price.

The Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the common stock certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such common stock certificate with a copy of the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C to the Rights Agreement (unless such Rights are recorded in book entry).

Acquiring Person

An “Acquiring Person” is any Person or group of Affiliated or Associated Persons that has acquired Beneficial Ownership (as defined below) of 4.9% or more of the common stock then outstanding. However, a Person shall not be deemed to be an Acquiring Person if such Person, at the time of the first public announcement of the Rights Agreement, is a Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the common stock then outstanding (a “Grandfathered Stockholder”); provided, however, that if a Grandfathered Stockholder increases its Beneficial Ownership of the common stock of the Company as of any date on or after the date of the public announcement of this Agreement, then such Grandfathered Stockholder shall no longer be deemed to be a Grandfathered Stockholder unless, upon such acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of additional common stock of the Company, such Person is not then the Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the common stock of the Company then outstanding; provided, further, that upon the first decrease of a Grandfathered Stockholder’s Beneficial Ownership below 4.9% of the common stock of the Company then outstanding, such Grandfathered Stockholder shall no longer be deemed to be a Grandfathered Stockholder and this proviso shall have no further force or effect with respect to such Person.

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In general, “Beneficial Ownership” shall include any securities such Person, or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates (i) would be deemed to actually or constructively own for purposes of Section 382 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, (to the extent ownership of such securities would be attributed to such Persons under Section 382 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder), or (ii) which are directly or indirectly beneficially owned by any other Person with whom such Person has any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing, for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any securities of the Company or cooperating in obtaining, changing or influencing the control of the Company; provided, that the effect of such agreement, arrangement or understanding is to treat such Person as an “entity” under Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Department of Treasury regulations.

From and after the time any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, if the Rights evidenced by a Right Certificate are or were acquired or Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person, an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person or any Person with whom such Person is Acting in Concert, such Rights shall become void, and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights.

Flip-in Event

If any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Rights, other than Rights Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person, an Associate or Affiliate of the Acquiring Person or any Person with whom such Person is Acting in Concert (all of which will thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof, that number of shares of common stock having a market value equal to two times the Purchase Price of the Right. If the board so elects, the Company shall deliver, upon payment of the Purchase Price, an amount of cash or securities equivalent in value to the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of a Right.

Flip-over Event

If, at any time after a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold, proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a market value of two times the Purchase Price.

Exchange

At any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by any Person or group of a majority of the outstanding common stock, the board may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person, which shall have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of common stock per Right (subject to adjustment). The exchange of the Rights by the Board may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the board in its sole discretion may establish.

Preferred Shares

Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a quarterly dividend payment of 1,000 multiplied by the dividend declared per share of common stock. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to a payment per share equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate payment made per share of common stock. Each Preferred Share will have 1,000 votes, voting together with the common stock. In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which common stock is exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to receive 1,000 multiplied by the amount received per share of common stock. Because of the nature of the dividend, liquidation and voting rights of the Preferred Shares, the value of the one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one share of common stock.

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Purchase Price Adjustments

The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights is subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or a subdivision or combination of the Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a price, or securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price, less than the then current market price of the Preferred Shares, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or retained earnings or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above). The number of outstanding Rights and the number of Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the common stock or a stock dividend on the common stock payable in shares of common stock or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the common stock occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.

With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.

Expiration

The Rights will expire on the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on December 2, 2022, (ii) the close of business on the date that the board determines that (A) the Rights Agreement is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of the Tax Benefits or (B) the Tax Benefits have been fully utilized and may no longer be carried forward, (iii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed, (iv) the time at which the Rights are exchanged, and (v) if the Rights Agreement has not been approved by the stockholders prior to the conclusion of the Company’s 2020 annual meeting, the Close of Business on such date.

Redemption

At any time prior to the time any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, the board may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.0001 per Right (the “Redemption Price”). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the board in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.

Amendment

The terms of the Rights may be amended by the board without the consent of the holders of the Rights. However, from and after such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Rights Agreement shall not be amended or supplemented in any manner which would adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights (other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person, which shall have become void).

Rights of Holders

Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.

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Process to Seek Exemption

Any person who desires to effect any acquisition of securities that would, if consummated, result in such person becoming an Acquiring Person may, prior to such time and in accordance with Section 36 of the Rights Agreement, request that the board grant an exemption with respect to such acquisition under the Rights Agreement so that such Person would be deemed to be an “Exempt Person” under the Rights Agreement.

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FIRST AMENDMENT TO SECTION 382 RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This First Amendment to Section 382 Rights Agreement (the “First Amendment”) is made as of December 2, 2022 by and between MERRIMACK PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (the “Company” and COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A. as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agent”), amending the Section 382 Rights Agreement by and between the Company and the Rights Agent dated December 3, 2022 (the “Original Rights Agreement”). Except as set forth herein, any defined terms contained herein have the meaning set forth in the Original Rights Agreement.

 

WHEREAS (a) the Company and certain of its Subsidiaries have generated certain Tax Benefits for United States federal and state income tax purposes, (b) the Company desires to avoid an “ownership change” within the meaning of Section 382 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder and similar state tax laws, and thereby preserve its ability to utilize such Tax Benefits, and (c) in furtherance of such objective, the Company and the Rights Agent entered into the Original Rights Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS the Company and the Rights Agent wish to amend the Original Rights Agreement to extend the term of the Original Rights Agreement through December 2, 2025;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Rights Agent agree as follows:

	1.	The definition of “Final Expiration Date” is hereby amended to read as follows:

“(u) Final Expiration Date” means the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on December 2, 2025 or (ii) the Close of Business on the date that the Board determines that (A) this Agreement is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of the Tax Benefits or (B) the Tax Benefits have been fully utilized and may no longer be carried forward.

	2.	The definition of “Early Termination Date” is hereby amended to read as follows:

(o) “Early Expiration Date” means, if Stockholder Approval has not been obtained by the Close of Business on the date on which the Company’s 2023 annual meeting of stockholders is concluded (or, if later, the date on which the votes of the stockholders of the Company with respect to such meeting are certified), the Close of Business on such date. For the avoidance of doubt, if Stockholder Approval is obtained then there shall be no Early Expiration Date.

	3.	Except as modified herein, all other terms and conditions set forth in the Original Rights Agreement are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects.

 

---

Exhibit 21.1

SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT

 

Name	Jurisdiction of Incorporation
Merrimack Pharmaceuticals UK Limited* Merrimack Securities Corporation*	UK Massachusetts

 

* wholly owned

---

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement of Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. on Form S-3 (No. 333-222093) and Form S-8 (Nos. 333-180996, 333-186370, 333-194313, 333-202346, 333-209745, 333-223577, 333-230084, 333-237155 and 333- 268609) of our report dated March 7, 2024 with respect to our audits of the consolidated financial statements of Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for the years then ended, which report is included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

 

/s/ Marcum LLP

 

Marcum LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

March 7, 2024

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Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Gary L. Crocker, certify that:

 

Date: March 7, 2024	/s/ Gary L. Crocker
	Gary L. Crocker
	President
	(Principal Executive Officer)

 

---

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Gary L. Crocker, certify that:

 

Date: March 7, 2024	/s/ Gary L. Crocker
	Gary L. Crocker
	President
	(Principal Financial Officer)

 

---

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ended December 31, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, Gary L. Crocker, President of the Company, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that to his knowledge:

 

Date: March 7, 2024	/s/ Gary L. Crocker
	Gary L. Crocker
	President
	(Principal Executive Officer)

 

---

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ended December 31, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, Gary L. Crocker, President of the Company, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that to his knowledge:

 

Date: March 7, 2024	/s/ Gary L. Crocker
	Gary L. Crocker
	President
	(Principal Financial Officer)

 

---

Exhibit 97.1

MERRIMACK PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

POLICY FOR THE

RECOVERY OF ERRONEOUSLY AWARDED COMPENSATION

 

 

In accordance with the applicable rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market (the “Nasdaq Rules”), Section 10D and Rule 10D-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (“Rule 10D-1”), the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) has adopted this Policy (the “Policy”) to provide for the recovery of erroneously awarded Incentive-based Compensation from Executive Officers. All capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in Section 8, below.

 

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

 

The Company shall file all disclosures with respect to this Policy required by applicable U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings and rules.

 

 

The Company shall not be permitted to insure or indemnify any Executive Officer against (i) the loss of any Erroneously Awarded Compensation that is repaid, returned or recovered pursuant to the terms of this Policy, or (ii) any claims relating to the Company’s enforcement of its rights under this Policy. Further, the Company shall not enter into any agreement that exempts any Incentive-based Compensation that is granted, paid or awarded to an Executive Officer from the application of this Policy or that waives the Company’s right to recovery of any Erroneously Awarded Compensation, and this Policy shall supersede any such agreement (whether entered into before, on or after the Effective Date of this Policy).

 

 

This Policy shall be administered by the Committee, and any determinations made by the Committee shall be final and binding on all affected individuals.

 

The Committee is authorized to interpret and construe this Policy and to make all determinations necessary, appropriate, or advisable for the administration of this Policy and for the Company’s compliance with Nasdaq Rules, Section 10D, Rule 10D-1 and any other applicable law, regulation, rule or interpretation of the SEC or Nasdaq promulgated or issued in connection therewith.

 

 

The Committee may amend this Policy from time to time in its discretion and shall amend this Policy as it deems necessary. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 6 to the contrary, no amendment or termination of this Policy shall be effective if such amendment or termination would (after taking into account any actions taken by the Company contemporaneously with such amendment or termination) cause the Company to violate any federal securities laws, SEC rule or Nasdaq rule.

 

---

 

This Policy shall be binding and enforceable against all Executive Officers and, to the extent required by applicable law or guidance from the SEC or Nasdaq, their beneficiaries, heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives. The Committee intends that this Policy will be applied to the fullest extent required by applicable law. Any employment agreement, equity award agreement, compensatory plan or any other agreement or arrangement with an Executive Officer shall be deemed to include, as a condition to the grant of any benefit thereunder, an agreement by the Executive Officer to abide by the terms of this Policy. Any right of recovery under this Policy is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other remedies or rights of recovery that may be available to the Company under applicable law, regulation or rule or pursuant to the terms of any policy of the Company or any provision in any employment agreement, equity award agreement, compensatory plan, agreement or other arrangement.

 

 

For purposes of this Policy, the following capitalized terms shall have the meanings set forth below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

 

Effective as of October 2, 2023 (Board approved on November 8, 2023).

---

Exhibit A

 

ATTESTATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF POLICY FOR THE RECOVERY OF ERRONEOUSLY AWARDED COMPENSATION

 

By my signature below, I acknowledge and agree that:

 

 

Signature:

 

Name:

 

Date:

---

v3.24.0.1

Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Mar. 05, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2023
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	MACK
Entity Registrant Name	MERRIMACK PHARMACEUTICALS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001274792
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		14,516,170
Entity Public Float			$ 129,723,131
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity File Number	001-35409
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	04-3210530
Entity Address, Address Line One	One Broadway
Entity Address, Address Line Two	14th Floor
Entity Address, City or Town	Cambridge
Entity Address, State or Province	MA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	02142
City Area Code	(617)
Local Phone Number	720-8606
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Auditor Name	Marcum llp
Auditor Location	Boston, MA
Auditor Firm ID	688
Documents Incorporated by Reference [Text Block]	The registrant intends to file a definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A in connection with its 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Portions of such proxy statement are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Document Financial Statement Error Correction [Flag]	false

v3.24.0.1

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 5,989,000	$ 19,439,000
Short-term investments	12,886,000	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	309,000	389,000
Total current assets	19,184,000	19,828,000
Other assets	4,000	8,000
Total assets	19,188,000	19,836,000
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other	441,000	589,000
Total current liabilities	441,000	589,000
Total liabilities	441,000	589,000
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value: 10,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2023 and 2022 no shares issued or outstanding at December 31, 2023 or 2022
Common stock, $0.01 par value: 30,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2023 and 2022; 14,351 and 14,215 shares issued and outstanding at December 31,2023 and 2022	1,343,000	1,342,000
Additional paid-in capital	566,221,000	565,541,000
Accumulated deficit	(548,817,000)	(547,636,000)
Total stockholders’ equity	18,747,000	19,247,000
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 19,188,000	$ 19,836,000

v3.24.0.1

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	30,000,000	30,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	14,351,000	14,215,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	14,351,000	14,215,000

v3.24.0.1

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Operating expenses:
General and administrative expenses	$ 2,176	$ 2,174
Gain on sales of assets	(139)	(445)
Total operating expenses	2,037	1,729
Loss from operations	(2,037)	(1,729)
Other income and expenses:
Interest income	868	188
Total other income and expenses	868	188
Loss before income tax expense	(1,169)	(1,541)
Income tax expense	(12)	(3)
Net loss and comprehensive loss	$ (1,181)	$ (1,544)
Net loss per common share - basic	$ (0.08)	$ (0.11)
Net loss per common share - diluted	$ (0.08)	$ (0.11)
Weighted-average common shares used to compute basic net loss per common share	14,299	13,524
Weighted-average common shares used to compute diluted net loss per common share	14,299	13,524

v3.24.0.1

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 14,187	$ 1,334	$ 558,945	$ (546,092)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021		13,410
Exercise of stock options	6,533	$ 8	6,525
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		805
Stock-based compensation	71		71
Net loss	(1,544)			(1,544)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2022	19,247	$ 1,342	565,541	(547,636)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022		14,215
Exercise of stock options	$ 521	$ 1	520
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	136	136
Stock-based compensation	$ 160		160
Net loss	(1,181)			(1,181)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2023	$ 18,747	$ 1,343	$ 566,221	$ (548,817)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023		14,351

v3.24.0.1

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss	$ (1,181)	$ (1,544)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities
Gain on sales of in process research and development	(139)	(445)
Accretion on short-term investments	(298)
Stock-based compensation expense	160	71
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other assets	80	91
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other	(148)	27
Other assets	4	58
Net cash used in operating activities	(1,522)	(1,742)
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from sale of in-process research and development assets	139	445
Proceeds from maturity of short-term investments	6,000
Purchases of short-term investments	(18,588)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(12,449)	445
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from exercise of options	521	6,533
Net cash provided by financing activities	521	6,533
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(13,450)	5,236
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	19,439	14,203
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$ 5,989	$ 19,439

v3.24.0.1

Nature of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Nature of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	1. Nature of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Nature of the Business Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) is a biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts that is entitled to receive up to $450.0 million in contingent milestone payments related to its sale of ONIVYDE® and MM-436 (the “Commercial Business”) to Ipsen S.A. (“Ipsen”) in April 2017 (the “Ipsen Sale”). The Company does not have any ongoing research or development activities. The Company does not have any employees and instead uses external consultants for the operation of the Company. On February 13, 2024, the Company announced that Ipsen S.A. announced it had received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) to market ONIVYDE as a first-line treatment of metastatic adenocarcinoma on the pancreas. As a result of this approval by the FDA, the Company is entitled to receive a $225 million milestone payment from Ipsen under the terms of the Ipsen Sale, which is expected to be received by the end of March 2024. The Company expects to ask stockholders to approve a plan of dissolution and liquidation and, upon receipt of such approval, to dissolve the Company and make a liquidating dividend payment to stockholders of record on the date that the plan of dissolution is approved by its stockholders. The Company expects that the meeting of stockholders will be held in the next 50-90 days. In addition to the $225 million milestone that the Company expects to receive by the end of March 2024, based upon the approval announced by the FDA on February 13, 2024 of ONIVYDE® for the first-line treatment of metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (“mPDAC”), there are $225 million of additional contingent milestone payments which could result from the Ipsen Sale. The Company believes that the probability of receiving these additional milestones is remote based on publicly available information provided by Ipsen. • $150.0 million upon approval by the FDA of ONIVYDE® for the treatment of small-cell lung cancer after failure of first-line chemotherapy; and • $75.0 million upon approval by the FDA of ONIVYDE® for an additional indication unrelated to those described above. On May 30, 2019, the Company announced the completion of its review of strategic alternatives, following which the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) implemented a series of measures designed to extend the Company’s cash runway and preserve its ability to capture the potential milestone payments resulting from the Ipsen Sale. In connection with that announcement, the Company discontinued the discovery efforts on its remaining preclinical programs: MM-401, an agonistic antibody targeting a novel immuno-oncology target, TNFR2; and MM-201, a highly stabilized agonist-Fc fusion protein targeting death receptors 4 and 5. The Company’s termination of its executive management team and all other employees was substantially completed by June 28, 2019 and fully completed by July 12, 2019. As of July 12, 2019, the Company no longer had any employees. The Company has engaged external consultants to run the day-to-day operations of the Company. The Company has also entered into consulting agreements with certain former members of its executive management team who are supporting the Company’s relationship with current partners, assisting with the potential sale of remaining preclinical and clinical assets, and assisting with certain legal and regulatory matters and the continued wind-down of operations. On July 12, 2019, the Company completed the sale to Elevation Oncology, Inc. (formerly known as 14ner Oncology, Inc.) (“Elevation”) of its anti-HER3 antibody programs, MM-121 (seribantumab) and MM-111 (the “Elevation Sale”). In connection with the Elevation Sale, the Company received an upfront cash payment of $3.5 million. The Company is also eligible to receive up to $54.5 million in additional potential development, regulatory approval and commercial-based milestone payments, consisting of: • $3.0 million for achievement of the primary endpoint in the first registrational clinical study of either MM-121 or MM-111; • Up to $16.5 million in total payments for the achievement of various regulatory approval and reimbursement-based milestones in the United States, Europe and Japan; and • Up to $35.0 million in total payments for achieving various cumulative worldwide net sales targets between $100.0 million and $300.0 million for MM-121 and MM-111. In January 2023, Elevation announced that it had paused further investment in the clinical development of seribantumab and intends to pursue further development only in collaboration with a partner. In January of 2024 Elevation announced that it is evaluating initiation of a development program utilizing a antibody drug conjugate (ADC) targeting HER3. Elevation has not disclosed if this preclinical program utilizes intellectual property licensed from Merrimack. Elevation has also not provided a timeline indicating when this program could reach clinical trials or regulatory approval, if successful. On September 15, 2021, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Option Agreement (the "Asset Purchase Option Agreement") with a third party, pursuant to which the third party agreed to obtain an exclusive option, to purchase one of the Company’s preclinical programs with a consideration of $0.5 million. Under the terms of the Asset Purchase Option Agreement, the third party paid to the Company the option fee of $0.1 million. The third party had the right to exercise the option within 24 months from September 15, 2021. The Company recognized a gain of $0.1 million related to the option fee payment for the year ended December 31, 2021. On January 18, 2022, the third party provided written notice to the Company of its intent to exercise such option. On March 1, 2022 the Company and the third party entered into the Asset Purchase Agreement. The consideration of $0.5 million was paid to the Company and a net gain of $0.4 million was recognized in March 2022. On January 23, 2023, the Company entered into another Asset Purchase Option Agreement (the “Option Agreement”) with another third party (the “Purchaser”), pursuant to which the Purchaser agreed to obtain an exclusive option (the “Option”) to purchase one of the Company’s preclinical programs with a consideration of $0.7 million. Under the terms of the Option Agreement, the Purchaser paid to the Company the Option fee of $0.2 million and the Company incurred transaction costs less than $0.1 million. A net gain of $0.1 million was recognized in January 2023. The Purchaser decided not to exercise the Option in July 2023. The Company's remaining non-commercial assets, including its clinical and preclinical development programs, and all material other clinical and pre-clinical development programs have been sold with the exception of one program. The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties common to companies in the biopharmaceutical industry, including, among other things, its ability to secure additional capital to fund operations, development by competitors of new technological innovations, protection of proprietary technology and compliance with government regulations. None of the Company’s product candidates sold to others or retained by the Company are approved for any indication by the FDA or any other regulatory agency. The Company operates in an environment of rapid change in technology and substantial competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, among others. In addition, the Company is dependent upon the services of its external consultants for the operation of the Company. The Company’s business strategy depends substantially upon its ability to receive future milestone payments from Ipsen. Any failure to achieve such milestones or a perception that the milestones may not be achieved will materially and adversely affect the Company and the value of its common stock. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 205-40, Going Concern, the Company has evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the consolidated financial statements are issued. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $548.8 million. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company incurred a net loss of $1.2 million and used $1.5 million of cash in operating activities. The Company expects to continue to generate operating losses in the foreseeable future. Based on current projections, the Company expects that its cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $18.9 million at December 31, 2023 (excluding the anticipated $225 million mPDAC Milestone Payment) will allow the Company to continue its operations beyond 2027, which the Company estimates is beyond the latest date that the longest-term potential Ipsen milestone may be achieved. The continued viability of the Company beyond that point is dependent on its ability to raise additional capital to finance its operations or to reduce operating expenses. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain sufficient capital to cover its costs on acceptable terms, if at all. The Company expects that it would finance any future cash needs through a combination of divestitures of its product candidates or other assets, equity offerings and debt financings. There can be no assurance as to the timing, terms or consummation of any divestiture or financing, and the terms of any such financing may adversely affect the holdings or the rights of the Company’s stockholders or require the Company to relinquish rights to certain of its revenue streams or product candidates. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Segment Information Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise engaging in business activities for which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company views its operations and manages its business as one operating segment and the Company operates in only one geographic region (the United States). Basis of Presentation and Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, all intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Use of Estimates GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and judgments that may affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures. The Company bases estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. The most significant estimates in these consolidated financial statements include, but may not be limited to, accounting for stock-based compensation and the accrual of remaining clinical trial expenses and professional service expenses. The Company’s actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The Company evaluates its estimates on an ongoing basis. Changes in estimates are reflected in reported results in the period in which they become known by the Company’s management. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase. Investments qualifying as cash equivalents primarily consist of money market funds. Short-term Investments Short-term investments include U.S. Treasury Bills and U.S. Treasury Notes with original maturities at the time of purchase of one year or less, but greater than 90 days. These investments are classified as held to maturity. Securities classified as held to maturity are securities that the Company has the ability and intent to hold to maturity or redemption and are carried at amortized cost. Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received from the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value is determined based on observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect readily obtainable data from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect certain market assumptions. As a basis for considering such assumptions, GAAP establishes a three-tier value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to develop the assumptions and for measuring fair value as follows: (Level 1) observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets; (Level 2) inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly; and (Level 3) unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which requires the Company to develop its own assumptions. This hierarchy requires the Company to use observable market data, when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value. Accrued Expenses As part of the process of preparing financial statements, the Company is required to estimate accrued expenses. This process involves identifying services that have been performed on the Company’s behalf and estimating the level of services performed and the associated costs incurred for such services where the Company has not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of actual cost. The Company records these estimates in its consolidated financial statements as of each balance sheet date. Examples of estimated accrued expenses include: • fees due to contract research organizations in connection with preclinical and toxicology studies and clinical trials; • fees paid to investigative sites in connection with clinical trials; and • professional service fees. In accruing service fees, the Company estimates the time period over which services will be provided and the level of effort in each period. If the actual timing of the provision of services or the level of effort varies from the estimate, the Company adjusts the accrual accordingly. In the event that the Company does not identify costs that have been incurred or it under or overestimates the level of services performed or the costs of such services, its actual expenses could differ from such estimates. The date on which some services commence, the level of services performed on or before a given date and the cost of such services are often subjective determinations. The Company prepares its estimates based on the facts and circumstances known to it at the time and in accordance with GAAP. There have been no material changes in estimates for the periods presented. General and Administrative Expenses General and administrative expenses are comprised of consulting fees and other related costs for personnel, including stock-based compensation expenses and benefits, in the Company’s commercial, legal, intellectual property, business development, finance, information technology, corporate communications, investor relations and human resources departments. Other general and administrative expenses include costs for board of directors costs, depreciation, insurance expenses, facility-related costs, professional fees for legal services, including patent-related expenses, and accounting and information technology services. Stock-Based Compensation Expense The Company accounts for all stock-based payments to non-employees, including grants of stock options, to be recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss based on their grant date fair values. For stock options granted to members of the Board for their service on the Board, the Company estimates the grant date fair value of each option award using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The use of the Black-Scholes option pricing model requires the Company to make assumptions with respect to the expected term of the option, the expected volatility of the Company’s common stock consistent with the expected term of the option, the risk-free interest rate consistent with the expected term of the option and the expected dividend yield of the Company’s common stock. Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options is measured using the fair value of the award at the grant date and is adjusted quarterly to reflect actual forfeitures. Stock-based compensation expense is then recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, which is also the requisite service period. Net Loss Per Common Share Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss attributable to Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. by the weighted-average number of dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive shares outstanding is calculated by adding to the weighted shares outstanding any potential (unissued) shares of common stock from outstanding stock options based on the treasury stock method. In a period when a net loss is reported, all common stock equivalents are excluded from the calculation because they would have an anti-dilutive effect, meaning the loss per share would be reduced. Therefore, in periods where a loss is reported, there is no difference in basic and dilutive loss per share. The Company follows the two-class method when computing net loss per share, when it has issued shares that meet the definition of participating securities. The two-class method determines net loss per share for each class of common and participating securities according to dividends declared or accumulated and participating rights in undistributed earnings. The two-class method requires income available to common stockholders for the period to be allocated between common and participating securities based on their respective rights to receive dividends, as if all income for the period has been distributed, or losses to be allocated if they are contractually required to fund losses. There were no amounts allocated to participating securities for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, as the Company was in a loss position and had no shares that met the definition of participating securities outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted rates in effect for the year in which these temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Valuation allowances are provided if based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company provides reserves for potential payments of tax to various tax authorities related to uncertain tax positions and other issues. Reserves are based on a determination of whether and how much of a tax benefit taken by the Company in its tax filing is more likely than not to be realized following resolution of any potential contingencies present related to the tax benefit. Potential interest and penalties associated with such uncertain tax positions are recorded as components of income tax expense. To date, the Company has not taken any uncertain tax positions or recorded any reserves, interest or penalties. Concentration of Credit Risk Financial instruments that subject the Company to credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. The Company places its cash deposits in accredited financial institutions and, therefore, the Company’s management believes these funds are subject to minimal credit risk. The Company invests cash equivalents in money market funds. The Company has no significant off-balance sheet concentrations of credit risk such as foreign currency exchange contracts, option contracts or other hedging arrangements. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other standard setting bodies that the Company adopts as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed above, the Company does not believe that the adoption of recently issued standards has or may have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

v3.24.0.1

Net Loss Per Common Share	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Loss Per Common Share	2. Net Loss Per Common Share The stock options are excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share because the net loss for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 causes such securities to be anti-dilutive. Securities excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share are shown in the chart below:       Years Ended December 31,   (in thousands)   2023     2022   Outstanding options to purchase common stock     611       824

v3.24.0.1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	3. Fair Value of Financial Instruments The Company’s cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses, and other current assets, accounts payable, accrued expenses and variable interest rate note payable are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value due to their short-term nature. The following tables summarize assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the input categories associated with those assets:       December 31, 2023   (in thousands)   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3   Cash equivalents:                   Money market funds   $ 5,721     $ —     $ —     Totals   $ 5,721     $ —     $ —                       Short-term investments:                   Treasury bills and notes   $ —     $ 12,886     $ —   Totals   $ —     $ 12,886     $ —           December 31, 2022   (in thousands)   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3   Cash equivalents:                   Money market funds   $ 18,148     $ —     $ —     Totals   $ 18,148     $ —     $ —     There were no liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. The following table summarizes the carrying values and fair values of the Company's financial instruments:       December 31, 2023   (in thousands)   Amortized Cost     Allowance for Credit Losses     Net Carrying Amount     Gross Unrealized Gains     Gross Unrealized Losses     Fair Value   Short-term investments:                                     Treasury bills and notes   $ 12,886     $ —     $ 12,886     $ —     $ —     $ 12,886   Total short-term investments   $ 12,886     $ —     $ 12,886     $ —     $ —     $ 12,886     As of December 31, 2022, the Company did not hold any short-term investments. The Company has investments in U.S. Treasury Bills and U.S. Treasury Notes as of December 31, 2023, some of which mature over a period greater than 90 days but within one year and are classified as short-term investments. The U.S. Treasury Bills and U.S. Treasury Notes are carried at amortized cost and classified as held to maturity as the Company has the intent and the ability to hold them until they mature. The carrying value of the U.S. Treasury Bills and U.S. Treasury Notes are adjusted for accretion of discounts over the remaining life of the investment. Income related to the U.S. Treasury Bills and U.S. Treasury Notes is recognized in interest income in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations.

v3.24.0.1

Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other	4. Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 consisted of the following:       December 31,   (in thousands)   2023     2022   Accounts payable   $ 74     $ 188   Accrued goods and services     130       139   Accrued clinical trial costs     46       71   Others     191       191     Total accounts payable, accrued expenses and other   $ 441     $ 589

v3.24.0.1

Common Stock	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Equity [Abstract]
Common Stock	5. Common Stock   As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had 30.0 million shares of $0.01 par value common stock authorized. There were approximately 14.4 million and 14.2 million shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.   Stockholder Rights Agreement   On November 22, 2019, the Board created, as of and contingent with the Section 382 Rights Agreement with Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agreement”) being signed, a series of junior participating preferred stock of the Company to be designated “Series Z Junior Participating Preferred Stock” with a par value of $0.01 per share, and stated the designation and number of shares:   Designation and Amount. The shares of this series are designated as Series Z Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Series Z Junior Preferred Stock”), and the number of shares constituting the Series Z Junior Preferred Stock shall be 30,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board; provided, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series Z Junior Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Company convertible into Series Z Junior Preferred Stock. On December 3, 2019, the Company entered into the Rights Agreement in an effort to protect stockholder value by attempting to diminish the risk that the Company’s ability to use its net operating losses (“NOLs”) to reduce potential future federal income tax obligations may become substantially limited. The Company’s ability to utilize its NOLs may be substantially limited if the Company experiences an "ownership change" within the meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Internal Revenue Code"). The Rights Agreement is intended to act as a deterrent to any person acquiring beneficial ownership of 4.9% or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock without the approval of the Board. The Board authorized the issuance of one Right for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, payable to stockholders of record date of the close of business on December 13, 2019 (the “Record Date”). Subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, if the Rights become exercisable, each Right would initially represent the right to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series Z Junior Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Shares”) for a purchase price of $18.00 (the “Purchase Price”). Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends. The Rights will not be exercisable until the earlier of (i) ten business days after a public announcement that a person has become an “Acquiring Person” by acquiring beneficial ownership of 4.9% or more of outstanding common stock has become such (or, in the event an exchange is effected in accordance with Section 24 of the Rights Agreement and the Board determines that a later date is advisable, then such later date), and (ii) ten business days (or such later date as may be specified by the Board prior to such time as any person becomes an Acquiring Person) after the commencement of a tender or exchange offer by or on behalf of a person that, if completed, would result in such person becoming an Acquiring Person (the “Distribution Date”). Until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferred with and only with the common stock, and (unless the Rights are redeemed or expire) the surrender or transfer of any common stock outstanding on or after the Record Date will constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such common stock. Upon the Distribution Date, the Rights may be transferred separately from the common stock, and each Right, other than Rights held by an Acquiring Person, will entitle its holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share in exchange for the Purchase Price. The Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the common stock certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such common stock certificate with a copy of the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares. If any person becomes an Acquiring Person, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Rights, other than rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person, an associate or affiliate of the Acquiring Person or any person with whom such person is acting in concert (all of which will thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof, that number of common stock having a market value equal to two times the Purchase Price of the Right. If the Board so elects, the Company shall deliver, upon payment of the Purchase Price, an amount of cash or securities equivalent in value to the number of common stock issuable upon exercise of a Right. If, at any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold, proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a market value of two times the Purchase Price.   At any time prior to the time any person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.0001 per Right (the “Redemption Price”). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price. At any time after any person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by any person or group of a majority of the outstanding common stock, the Board may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person, which shall have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one common stock per Right (subject to adjustment). The exchange of the Rights by the Board may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish.   The Rights were due to expire on the earlier of (i) the close of business on December 2, 2022, (ii) the close of business on the date that the Board determines that (A) the Rights Agreement is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of the Tax Benefits or (B) the Tax Benefits have been fully utilized and may no longer be carried forward, (iii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed, (iv) the time at which the Rights are exchanged, and (v) if the Rights Agreement has not been approved by the stockholders prior to the conclusion of the Company’s 2020 annual meeting, the close of business on such date. On December 2, 2022, the Rights Agreement was extended and will expire on December 2, 2025. The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights is subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or a subdivision or combination of the Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a price, or securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price, less than the then current market price of the Preferred Shares, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or retained earnings or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above). The number of outstanding Rights and the number of Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.   With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.

v3.24.0.1

Stock-Based Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Stock-Based Compensation	6. Stock-Based Compensation On April 15, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the 2021 Incentive Award Plan (the “2021 Plan”) to replace the 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”). The 2021 Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on June 10, 2021. The 2021 Plan is administered by the Company’s Board of Directors and permits the Company to grant incentive and non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards. The Company initially reserved 275,000 of its common stock for the issuance of awards under the 2021 Plan. There were 22,000 options granted during each of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 under the 2021 Plan. The weighted-average grant date fair value per share of stock options granted during the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $8.69 and $3.11, respectively. At December 31, 2023, there were 209,000 shares remaining available for grant under the 2021 Plan. Stock options granted to non-employee directors in 2023 and 2022 vest over a one-year period, ending on the earlier of the one-year anniversary of the grant date or the day prior to the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders after the grant date. The fair value of stock options granted to employees during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was estimated at the date of grant using the following assumptions:       Years Ended December 31,     2023     2022 Risk-free interest rate     3.85 %   3.03% Expected dividend yield   0%     0% Expected term   5.2 years     5.2 years Expected volatility     84.05 %   68.02%   The Company uses the simplified method to calculate the expected term, as it does not have sufficient historical exercise data to provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate the expected term of its stock options. Under this approach, the expected term is calculated to be the average of the ten-year contractual term of the option and the weighted-average vesting term of the option, taking into consideration multiple vesting tranches. The computation of expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company. The risk-free interest rate is based on a treasury instrument whose term is consistent with the expected life of the stock options. Stock-based compensation expense related to employee stock options is measured using the fair value of the award at the grant date and is adjusted quarterly to reflect actual forfeitures. Stock-based compensation expense is then recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, which is also the requisite service period. The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $0.2 million and $0.1 million during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.   The following table summarizes stock option activity during the year ended December 31, 2023:   (in thousands, except per share amounts)   Options     Weighted- Average Exercise Price     Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)     Aggregate Intrinsic Value   Outstanding at December 31, 2022     824     $ 12.38       4.28     $ 2,498   Granted     22     $ 12.48               Exercised     (136 )   $ 3.84               Forfeited     (99 )   $ 23.61               Outstanding at December 31, 2023     611     $ 12.48       3.71     $ 2,293   Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2023     611     $ 12.48       3.71     $ 2,293   Exercisable at December 31, 2023     600     $ 12.48       3.61     $ 2,282     The aggregate intrinsic value was calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the stock options and the fair value of the underlying common stock. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $1.2 million and $3.0 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, there was less than $0.1 million of total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested stock options. The Company expects to recognize this expense over a weighted-average period of approximately 0.3 years.

v3.24.0.1

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	7. Income Taxes   For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized an income tax expense less than $0.1 million.   A reconciliation of the Company’s effective tax rate to the statutory federal income tax rate is as follows:       Years Ended December 31,       2023     2022   Federal income tax at statutory federal rate     21.0 %     21.0 % State taxes     15.7       6.1   Stock-based compensation     18.5       (2.8 ) Tax credits     (32.5 )     (6.5 ) Other     —       (0.1 ) Change in valuation allowance     (23.7 )     (17.9 )   Total     (1.0 )%     (0.2 )%   The reconciliation of the Company’s effective tax rate to the statutory tax rate includes a reduction to the deferred tax asset for stock options that have been forfeited. The Company will no longer receive a tax deduction for these options in the future and as such the deferred tax asset has been reversed into income tax expense. An offsetting reduction to the valuation allowance has also been recorded.   Temporary differences that give rise to significant net deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:       December 31,   (in thousands)   2023     2022   Deferred tax assets:                Net operating losses   $ 65,194     $ 64,135      Capitalized research and development expenses     —       141      Credit carryforwards     167,017       167,397      Deferred compensation     1,177       1,181      Election out of installment method     820       820      Accrued expenses     44       44      Other temporary differences     366       621      Installment sale tax basis     15,869       15,869         Total gross deferred tax assets     250,487       250,208   Valuation allowance     (250,487 )     (250,208 ) Net deferred tax assets   $ —     $ —     At December 31, 2023, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards for federal and state income tax purposes of $218.7 million and $305.0 million, respectively. The Company's existing federal and state net operating loss carryforwards begin to expire in 2033, respectively. The Company also had available research and development credits for federal and state income tax purposes of approximately $28.3 million and $20.3 million, respectively. The federal and state research and development credits will begin to expire in 2024 and 2025, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, the Company also had available investment tax credits for state income tax purposes of less than $0.1 million which do not expire. The Company has orphan drug credits of $122.7 million, which begin to expire in 2031. Utilization of the net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards may be subject to a substantial annual limitation under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code due to ownership change limitations that have occurred previously or that could occur in the future. These ownership changes may limit the amount of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income and tax. The Company completed an evaluation of ownership changes through November 16, 2022 to assess whether utilization of the Company’s net operating loss or tax credit carryforwards would be subject to an annual limitation under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Company believes it can utilize its tax attributes generated through November 16, 2022 as a result of the analysis. To the extent an ownership change has occurred after November 16, 2022 or occurs in the future, the net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards may be subject to limitation. The Company has not, as of yet, conducted a study of its domestic research and development credit carryforwards and orphan drug credits. This study may result in an increase or decrease to the Company's credit carryforwards; however, until a study is completed and any adjustment is known, no amounts are being presented as an uncertain tax position. A full valuation allowance has been provided against the Company's credits, and if an adjustment is required, this adjustment would be offset by an adjustment to the valuation allowance. As a result, there would be no impact to the statement of operations and comprehensive loss, balance sheet or cash flows if an adjustment were required. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has evaluated the positive and negative evidence bearing upon the realizability of its remaining deferred tax assets, which are comprised principally of net operating loss carryforwards and research and development credits. Under the applicable accounting standards, management has considered the Company's history of losses and concluded that it is more likely than not that the Company will not recognize the benefits of its deferred tax assets. Accordingly, a full valuation allowance has been established against the deferred tax assets. The change in the valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets in the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:   (in thousands)   Balance at Beginning of Period     Additions     Deductions     Balance at End of Period   December 31, 2022   $ 249,933     $ 275     $ —     $ 250,208   December 31, 2023     250,208       279       —       250,487       The change in the valuation allowance in the year ended December 31, 2023 primarily relates to the net operating loss deferred tax assets generated for the current year.

v3.24.0.1

Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	8. Subsequent Events On February 13, 2024, the Company announced that Ipsen S.A. announced it had received approval from the FDA to market ONIVYDE as a first-line treatment of metastatic adenocarcinoma on the pancreas. As a result of this approval by the FDA, the Company is entitled to receive a $225 million milestone payment from Ipsen, which is expected to be received by the end of March 2024. The Company expects to ask stockholders to approve a plan of dissolution and liquidation and, upon receipt of such approval, to dissolve the Company and make a liquidating dividend payment to stockholders of record on the date that the plan of dissolution is approved by its stockholders. The Company expects that the meeting of stockholders will be held in the next 50-90 days.

v3.24.0.1

Nature of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Segment Information	Segment Information Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise engaging in business activities for which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company views its operations and manages its business as one operating segment and the Company operates in only one geographic region (the United States).
Basis of Presentation and Consolidation	Basis of Presentation and Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, all intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and judgments that may affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures. The Company bases estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. The most significant estimates in these consolidated financial statements include, but may not be limited to, accounting for stock-based compensation and the accrual of remaining clinical trial expenses and professional service expenses. The Company’s actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The Company evaluates its estimates on an ongoing basis. Changes in estimates are reflected in reported results in the period in which they become known by the Company’s management.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase. Investments qualifying as cash equivalents primarily consist of money market funds.
Short-term Investments	Short-term Investments Short-term investments include U.S. Treasury Bills and U.S. Treasury Notes with original maturities at the time of purchase of one year or less, but greater than 90 days. These investments are classified as held to maturity. Securities classified as held to maturity are securities that the Company has the ability and intent to hold to maturity or redemption and are carried at amortized cost.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received from the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value is determined based on observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect readily obtainable data from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect certain market assumptions. As a basis for considering such assumptions, GAAP establishes a three-tier value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to develop the assumptions and for measuring fair value as follows: (Level 1) observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets; (Level 2) inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly; and (Level 3) unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which requires the Company to develop its own assumptions. This hierarchy requires the Company to use observable market data, when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value.
Accrued Expenses	Accrued Expenses As part of the process of preparing financial statements, the Company is required to estimate accrued expenses. This process involves identifying services that have been performed on the Company’s behalf and estimating the level of services performed and the associated costs incurred for such services where the Company has not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of actual cost. The Company records these estimates in its consolidated financial statements as of each balance sheet date. Examples of estimated accrued expenses include: • fees due to contract research organizations in connection with preclinical and toxicology studies and clinical trials; • fees paid to investigative sites in connection with clinical trials; and • professional service fees. In accruing service fees, the Company estimates the time period over which services will be provided and the level of effort in each period. If the actual timing of the provision of services or the level of effort varies from the estimate, the Company adjusts the accrual accordingly. In the event that the Company does not identify costs that have been incurred or it under or overestimates the level of services performed or the costs of such services, its actual expenses could differ from such estimates. The date on which some services commence, the level of services performed on or before a given date and the cost of such services are often subjective determinations. The Company prepares its estimates based on the facts and circumstances known to it at the time and in accordance with GAAP. There have been no material changes in estimates for the periods presented.
General and Administrative Expenses	General and Administrative Expenses General and administrative expenses are comprised of consulting fees and other related costs for personnel, including stock-based compensation expenses and benefits, in the Company’s commercial, legal, intellectual property, business development, finance, information technology, corporate communications, investor relations and human resources departments. Other general and administrative expenses include costs for board of directors costs, depreciation, insurance expenses, facility-related costs, professional fees for legal services, including patent-related expenses, and accounting and information technology services.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense	Stock-Based Compensation Expense The Company accounts for all stock-based payments to non-employees, including grants of stock options, to be recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss based on their grant date fair values. For stock options granted to members of the Board for their service on the Board, the Company estimates the grant date fair value of each option award using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The use of the Black-Scholes option pricing model requires the Company to make assumptions with respect to the expected term of the option, the expected volatility of the Company’s common stock consistent with the expected term of the option, the risk-free interest rate consistent with the expected term of the option and the expected dividend yield of the Company’s common stock. Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options is measured using the fair value of the award at the grant date and is adjusted quarterly to reflect actual forfeitures. Stock-based compensation expense is then recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, which is also the requisite service period.
Net Loss Per Common Share	Net Loss Per Common Share Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss attributable to Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. by the weighted-average number of dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive shares outstanding is calculated by adding to the weighted shares outstanding any potential (unissued) shares of common stock from outstanding stock options based on the treasury stock method. In a period when a net loss is reported, all common stock equivalents are excluded from the calculation because they would have an anti-dilutive effect, meaning the loss per share would be reduced. Therefore, in periods where a loss is reported, there is no difference in basic and dilutive loss per share. The Company follows the two-class method when computing net loss per share, when it has issued shares that meet the definition of participating securities. The two-class method determines net loss per share for each class of common and participating securities according to dividends declared or accumulated and participating rights in undistributed earnings. The two-class method requires income available to common stockholders for the period to be allocated between common and participating securities based on their respective rights to receive dividends, as if all income for the period has been distributed, or losses to be allocated if they are contractually required to fund losses. There were no amounts allocated to participating securities for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, as the Company was in a loss position and had no shares that met the definition of participating securities outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 2022
Income Taxes	Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted rates in effect for the year in which these temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Valuation allowances are provided if based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company provides reserves for potential payments of tax to various tax authorities related to uncertain tax positions and other issues. Reserves are based on a determination of whether and how much of a tax benefit taken by the Company in its tax filing is more likely than not to be realized following resolution of any potential contingencies present related to the tax benefit. Potential interest and penalties associated with such uncertain tax positions are recorded as components of income tax expense. To date, the Company has not taken any uncertain tax positions or recorded any reserves, interest or penalties.
Concentration of Credit Risk	Concentration of Credit Risk Financial instruments that subject the Company to credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. The Company places its cash deposits in accredited financial institutions and, therefore, the Company’s management believes these funds are subject to minimal credit risk. The Company invests cash equivalents in money market funds. The Company has no significant off-balance sheet concentrations of credit risk such as foreign currency exchange contracts, option contracts or other hedging arrangements.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other standard setting bodies that the Company adopts as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed above, the Company does not believe that the adoption of recently issued standards has or may have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

v3.24.0.1

Net Loss Per Common Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Securities Excluded from Computation of Diluted Loss Per Share	The stock options are excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share because the net loss for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 causes such securities to be anti-dilutive. Securities excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share are shown in the chart below:       Years Ended December 31,   (in thousands)   2023     2022   Outstanding options to purchase common stock     611       824

v3.24.0.1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Summary of Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis	The following tables summarize assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the input categories associated with those assets:       December 31, 2023   (in thousands)   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3   Cash equivalents:                   Money market funds   $ 5,721     $ —     $ —     Totals   $ 5,721     $ —     $ —                       Short-term investments:                   Treasury bills and notes   $ —     $ 12,886     $ —   Totals   $ —     $ 12,886     $ —           December 31, 2022   (in thousands)   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3   Cash equivalents:                   Money market funds   $ 18,148     $ —     $ —     Totals   $ 18,148     $ —     $ —
Summary of Carrying Values and Fair Values of Financial Instruments	The following table summarizes the carrying values and fair values of the Company's financial instruments:       December 31, 2023   (in thousands)   Amortized Cost     Allowance for Credit Losses     Net Carrying Amount     Gross Unrealized Gains     Gross Unrealized Losses     Fair Value   Short-term investments:                                     Treasury bills and notes   $ 12,886     $ —     $ 12,886     $ —     $ —     $ 12,886   Total short-term investments   $ 12,886     $ —     $ 12,886     $ —     $ —     $ 12,886

v3.24.0.1

Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Schedule of Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other	Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 consisted of the following:       December 31,   (in thousands)   2023     2022   Accounts payable   $ 74     $ 188   Accrued goods and services     130       139   Accrued clinical trial costs     46       71   Others     191       191     Total accounts payable, accrued expenses and other   $ 441     $ 589

v3.24.0.1

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Schedule of Assumptions Used to Calculate Fair Value of Options Granted to Employees	The fair value of stock options granted to employees during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was estimated at the date of grant using the following assumptions:       Years Ended December 31,     2023     2022 Risk-free interest rate     3.85 %   3.03% Expected dividend yield   0%     0% Expected term   5.2 years     5.2 years Expected volatility     84.05 %   68.02%
Summary of Stock Option Activity	The following table summarizes stock option activity during the year ended December 31, 2023:   (in thousands, except per share amounts)   Options     Weighted- Average Exercise Price     Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)     Aggregate Intrinsic Value   Outstanding at December 31, 2022     824     $ 12.38       4.28     $ 2,498   Granted     22     $ 12.48               Exercised     (136 )   $ 3.84               Forfeited     (99 )   $ 23.61               Outstanding at December 31, 2023     611     $ 12.48       3.71     $ 2,293   Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2023     611     $ 12.48       3.71     $ 2,293   Exercisable at December 31, 2023     600     $ 12.48       3.61     $ 2,282

v3.24.0.1

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Reconciliation of the Company's Effective Tax Rate to the Statutory Federal Income Tax Rate	A reconciliation of the Company’s effective tax rate to the statutory federal income tax rate is as follows:       Years Ended December 31,       2023     2022   Federal income tax at statutory federal rate     21.0 %     21.0 % State taxes     15.7       6.1   Stock-based compensation     18.5       (2.8 ) Tax credits     (32.5 )     (6.5 ) Other     —       (0.1 ) Change in valuation allowance     (23.7 )     (17.9 )   Total     (1.0 )%     (0.2 )%
Schedule of Temporary Differences That Give Rise to Significant Net Deferred Tax Assets	Temporary differences that give rise to significant net deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:       December 31,   (in thousands)   2023     2022   Deferred tax assets:                Net operating losses   $ 65,194     $ 64,135      Capitalized research and development expenses     —       141      Credit carryforwards     167,017       167,397      Deferred compensation     1,177       1,181      Election out of installment method     820       820      Accrued expenses     44       44      Other temporary differences     366       621      Installment sale tax basis     15,869       15,869         Total gross deferred tax assets     250,487       250,208   Valuation allowance     (250,487 )     (250,208 ) Net deferred tax assets   $ —     $ —
Schedule of Changes in the Valuation Allowance	The change in the valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets in the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:   (in thousands)   Balance at Beginning of Period     Additions     Deductions     Balance at End of Period   December 31, 2022   $ 249,933     $ 275     $ —     $ 250,208   December 31, 2023     250,208       279       —       250,487

v3.24.0.1

Nature of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)			1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 23, 2023 USD ($)	Sep. 15, 2021 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Jul. 12, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) Segment Region	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Feb. 13, 2024 USD ($)	Apr. 03, 2017 USD ($)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accumulated deficit					$ 548,817,000	$ 547,636,000
Net loss from continuing operations					1,181,000	1,544,000
Cash used in operating activities					1,522,000	$ 1,742,000
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities					$ 18,900,000
Number of operating segments | Segment					1
Number of geographic regions | Region					1
Original maturities					Three months or less
First Line Treatment Of Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Contingent milestone payments receivable					$ 225,000,000
Asset Purchase Option Agreement [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Terms of exercise option	The Purchaser decided not to exercise the Option in July 2023
Gain related to option fee payment	$ 100,000						$ 100,000
Asset Purchase Option Agreement [Member] | Pegascy SAS [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Consideration receivable	700,000	$ 500,000
Option fee	200,000	$ 100,000
Exercise period of option		24 months
Consideration received			$ 500,000
Gain related to payment of consideration			$ 400,000
Asset Purchase Option Agreement [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Transaction expenses	$ 100,000
Ipsen [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Additional contingent milestone payments								$ 225,000,000
Ipsen [Member] | First Line Treatment Of Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Contingent milestone payments receivable								225,000,000
Ipsen [Member] | First Line Treatment of Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of Pancreas [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Contingent milestone payments receivable								$ 225,000,000
Ipsen [Member] | After Failure of First Line Chemotherapy [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Contingent milestone payments receivable									$ 150,000,000
Ipsen [Member] | Additional Indication [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Contingent milestone payments receivable									75,000,000
Ipsen [Member] | Asset Sale Agreement [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Contingent milestone payments receivable									$ 450,000,000
14ner Sale [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Upfront cash payment received				$ 3,500,000
14ner Sale [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Additional payments receivable on achievement of certain milestone events				54,500,000
14ner Sale [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Achievement of the Primary Endpoint in the First Registrational Clinical Study of Either MM-121 or MM-111 [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Additional payments receivable on achievement of certain milestone events				3,000,000.0
14ner Sale [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Achievement of Various Regulatory Approval and Reimbursement-Based Milestones in the United States, Europe and Japan [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Additional payments receivable on achievement of certain milestone events				16,500,000
14ner Sale [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Achievement Various Cumulative Worldwide Net Sales Targets Between $100.0 million and $300.0 million for MM-121 and MM-111 [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Additional payments receivable on achievement of certain milestone events				35,000,000.0
Cumulative worldwide net sales target				$ 300,000,000.0

v3.24.0.1

Net Loss Per Common Share - Schedule of Securities Excluded from Computation of Diluted Loss Per Share (Detail) - shares shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Outstanding Options to Purchase Common Stock [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Outstanding options to purchase common stock	611	824

v3.24.0.1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Summary of Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis (Detail) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	$ 12,886,000	$ 0
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash equivalents	5,721,000	18,148,000
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash equivalents	5,721,000	$ 18,148,000
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	12,886,000
Recurring Basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Treasury Bills and Notes [Member]
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	$ 12,886,000

v3.24.0.1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Short-term investments	$ 12,886,000	$ 0
Recurring Basis [Member]
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Liabilities measured at fair value	$ 0	$ 0

v3.24.0.1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Summary of Carrying Values and Fair Values of Financial Instruments (Detail) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Schedule of Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Short-term investments, Amortized Cost	$ 12,886
Short-term investments, Net Carrying Amount	12,886
Short-term investments, Fair Value	12,886
Treasury Bills and Note [Member]
Schedule of Held-to-Maturity Securities [Line Items]
Short-term investments, Amortized Cost	12,886
Short-term investments, Net Carrying Amount	12,886
Short-term investments, Fair Value	$ 12,886

v3.24.0.1

Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other - Schedule of Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Accounts payable	$ 74	$ 188
Accrued goods and services	130	139
Accrued clinical trial costs	46	71
Others	191	191
Total accounts payable, accrued expenses and other	$ 441	$ 589

v3.24.0.1

Common Stock - Additional Information (Detail) - $ / shares		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 03, 2019	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2019	Nov. 22, 2019
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued		14,351,000	14,215,000
Common stock, shares authorized		30,000,000	30,000,000
Common stock, par value		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares outstanding		14,351,000	14,215,000
Preferred stock, par value		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Rights agreement expiration date		Dec. 02, 2025
Stockholder Rights Agreement [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, par value				$ 0.01
Preferred stock, redemption price per share				$ 0.0001
Purchase price description		no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
Percentage of minimum variance for upward purchase price adjustment				1.00%
Stockholder Rights Agreement [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Acquiring beneficial ownership percentage of common stock outstanding	4.90%	4.90%
Percentage transfer consolidated assets or earning power				50.00%
Series Z Junior Preferred Stock [Member] | Stockholder Rights Agreement [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, par value		$ 0.01
Preferred stock exercise features		Subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, if the Rights become exercisable, each Right would initially represent the right to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series Z Junior Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Shares”) for a purchase price of $18.00 (the “Purchase Price”).
Preferred stock purchase price		$ 18.00
Computershare Trust Company N.A [Member] | Stockholder Rights Agreement [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Number of shares constituting such series shares					30,000
Computershare Trust Company N.A [Member] | Series Z Junior Preferred Stock [Member] | Stockholder Rights Agreement [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, par value					$ 0.01

v3.24.0.1

Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Options, Granted	22,000	22,000
Weighted-average grant date fair value per share of stock options	$ 8.69	$ 3.11
Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense	$ 200,000	$ 100,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised	$ 1,200,000
Weighted average period over which unrecognized stock-based compensation expense is expected to be recognized	3 months 18 days
Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised		$ 3,000,000
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to nonvested stock options	$ 100,000
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Contractual term	10 years
Stock Incentive Plan 2021 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares of common stock available for grant (in shares)	209,000
common stock for the issuance			275,000
Stock Incentive Plan 2011 [Member] | Non-Employee Directors [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options vesting period	1 year	1 year

v3.24.0.1

Stock-Based Compensation - Schedule of Assumptions Used to Calculate Fair Value of Options Granted to Employees (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Risk-free interest rate	3.85%	3.03%
Expected dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%
Expected term	5 years 2 months 12 days	5 years 2 months 12 days
Expected volatility	84.05%	68.02%

v3.24.0.1

Stock-Based Compensation - Summary of Stock Option Activity (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Number of Options, Outstanding, Beginning balance	824,000
Number of Options, Granted	22,000	22,000
Number of Options, Exercised	(136,000)
Number of Options, Forfeited	(99,000)
Number of Options, Outstanding, Ending balance	611,000	824,000
Number of Options, Vested and expected to vest	611,000
Number of Options, Exercisable	600,000
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Outstanding, Beginning balance	$ 12.38
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Granted	12.48
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Exercised	3.84
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Forfeited	23.61
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Outstanding, Ending balance	12.48	$ 12.38
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Vested and expected to vest	12.48
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Exercisable	$ 12.48
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term	3 years 8 months 15 days	4 years 3 months 10 days
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term, Vested and expected to vest	3 years 8 months 15 days
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term, Exercisable	3 years 7 months 9 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Outstanding	$ 2,293	$ 2,498
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Vested and expected to vest	2,293
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Exercisable	$ 2,282

v3.24.0.1

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Income tax expense	$ (12,000)	$ (3,000)
Federal orphan drug credits	$ 122,700,000
Federal orphan drug credits begin to expire	2031
State [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	$ 305,000,000.0
Net operating loss carryforwards expire year begin	2033
Net operating loss carryforwards expire year end	2033
State [Member] | Research and Development [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Amount of tax credit carryforward	$ 20,300,000
Tax credit carryforwards expire year begin	2024
Tax credit carryforwards expire year through	2025
State [Member] | Investment [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Amount of tax credit carryforward	$ 100,000
Federal [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	$ 218,700,000
Net operating loss carryforwards expire year begin	2033
Net operating loss carryforwards expire year end	2033
Federal [Member] | Research and Development [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Amount of tax credit carryforward	$ 28,300,000
Tax credit carryforwards expire year begin	2024
Tax credit carryforwards expire year through	2025
Maximum [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Income tax expense	$ 100,000	$ 100,000

v3.24.0.1

Income Taxes - Schedule of Reconciliation of the Company's Effective Tax Rate to the Statutory Federal Income Tax Rate (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Federal income tax at statutory federal rate	21.00%	21.00%
State taxes	15.70%	6.10%
Stock-based compensation	18.50%	(2.80%)
Tax credits	(32.50%)	(6.50%)
Other		(0.10%)
Change in valuation allowance	(23.70%)	(17.90%)
Total	(1.00%)	(0.20%)

v3.24.0.1

Income Taxes - Schedule of Temporary Differences That Give Rise to Significant Net Deferred Tax Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Deferred tax assets
Net operating losses	$ 65,194	$ 64,135
Capitalized research and development expenses		141
Credit carryforwards	167,017	167,397
Deferred compensation	1,177	1,181
Election out of installment method	820	820
Accrued expenses	44	44
Other temporary differences	366	621
Installment sale tax basis	15,869	15,869
Total gross deferred tax assets	250,487	250,208
Valuation allowance	$ (250,487)	$ (250,208)	$ (249,933)

v3.24.0.1

Income Taxes - Schedule of Changes in the Valuation Allowance (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 250,208	$ 249,933
Additions	279	275
Balance at end of period	$ 250,487	$ 250,208

v3.24.0.1

Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	Feb. 13, 2024 USD ($)
Ipsen [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] | First Line Treatment of Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of Pancreas [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Contingent milestone payments receivable	$ 225

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