SEC Filing - Wave Life Sciences

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10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022

☐ 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: 001-37627

WAVE LIFE SCIENCES LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Singapore (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		Not applicable (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

7 Straits View #12-00, Marina One East Tower Singapore (Address of principal executive offices)		018936 (Zip Code)

+65 6236 3388

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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


Title of each class	Trading symbol	Name of each exchange on which registered
$0 Par Value Ordinary Shares	WVE	The Nasdaq Global Market

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 is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

The number of outstanding ordinary shares of the registrant as of May 9, 2022 was 61,249,222.

WAVE LIFE SCIENCES LTD.

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION		5
Item 1. Financial Statements		5
Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets		5
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss		6
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Series A Preferred Shares and Shareholders' Equity (Deficit)		7
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows		8
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements		9
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		16
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		27
Item 4. Controls and Procedures		27
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION		28
Item 1. Legal Proceedings		28
Item 1A. Risk Factors		28
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		28
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities		28
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures		28
Item 5. Other Information		28
Item 6. Exhibits		29

As used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise indicates, references to “Wave,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” “us” or similar terms refer to Wave Life Sciences Ltd. and our wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that relate to future events or to our future operations or financial performance. Any forward-looking statement involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements are identified by the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “goals,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “ongoing,” “objective,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “will” and “would” or the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology intended to identify statements about the future, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements include statements, other than statements of historical fact, about, among other things: our ability to fund our future operations; our financial position, revenues, costs, expenses, uses of cash and capital requirements; our need for additional financing or the period for which our existing cash resources will be sufficient to meet our operating requirements; the success, progress, number, scope, cost, duration, timing or results of our research and development activities, preclinical studies and clinical trials, including the timing for initiation or completion of or availability of results from any preclinical studies and clinical trials or for submission, review or approval of any regulatory filing; the timing of, and our ability to, obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for any of our product candidates; the potential benefits that may be derived from any of our product candidates; our strategies, prospects, plans, goals, expectations, forecasts or objectives; the success of our collaborations with third parties; any payment that our collaboration partners may make to us; our ability to identify and develop new product candidates; our intellectual property position; our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy; our ability to develop sales and marketing capabilities; our ability to identify, recruit and retain key personnel; our financial performance; developments and projections relating to our competitors in the industry; our liquidity and working capital requirements; the expected impact of new accounting standards; and our expectations regarding the impact of COVID-19, and variants thereof on our business, including on our research and development activities, preclinical studies and clinical trials, supply of drug product, and workforce.

Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this report, we caution you that these statements are based on our estimates or projections of the future that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement to differ. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among other things, our critical accounting policies; the ability of our preclinical studies to produce data sufficient to support the filing of global clinical trial applications and the timing thereof; our ability to continue to build and maintain the company infrastructure and personnel needed to achieve our goals; the clinical results and timing of our programs, which may not support further development of our product candidates; actions of regulatory agencies, which may affect the initiation, timing and progress of clinical trials; our effectiveness in managing current and future clinical trials and regulatory processes; the success of our platform in identifying viable candidates; the continued development and acceptance of nucleic acid therapeutics as a class of drugs; our ability to demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of our stereopure candidates in clinical trials, including our ability to develop candidates across multiple therapeutic modalities; our ability to obtain, maintain and protect intellectual property; our ability to enforce our patents against infringers and defend our patent portfolio against challenges from third parties; our ability to fund our operations and to raise additional capital as needed; competition from others developing therapies for similar uses; the severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic; the COVID-19 pandemic, and variants thereof, may negatively impact the conduct of, and the timing of enrollment, completion and reporting with respect to, our clinical trials; any other impacts on our business as a result of or related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other risks and uncertainties under the caption “Risk Factors” contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Each forward-looking statement contained in this report is based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our expectations of the future, about which we cannot be certain. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this report will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, these statements should not be regarded as representations or warranties by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified timeframe, or at all. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement.

In addition, any forward-looking statement in this report represents our views only as of the date of this report and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments may cause our views to change. Although we may elect to update these forward-looking statements publicly at some point in the future, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments we may make.

The Wave Life Sciences Ltd. and Wave Life Sciences Pte. Ltd. names, the Wave Life Sciences mark, PRISM and the other registered and pending trademarks, trade names and service marks of Wave Life Sciences Ltd. appearing in this Form 10-Q are the property of Wave Life Sciences Ltd. This Form 10-Q also contains additional trade names, trademarks and service marks belonging to Wave Life Sciences Ltd. and to other companies. We do not intend our use or display of other parties’ trademarks, trade names or service marks to imply, and such use or display should not be construed to imply, a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, these other parties. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this Form 10-Q are referred to without the ® and ™ symbols, but such reference should not be construed as any indicator that their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, their rights thereto.

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

WAVE LIFE SCIENCES LTD.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share amounts)


	March 31, 2022			December 31, 2021
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	61,713		$	150,564
Short-term investments		50,000			—
Prepaid expenses		6,940			6,584
Other current assets		5,730			5,416
Total current assets		124,383			162,564
Long-term assets:
Property and equipment, net		21,046			22,266
Operating lease right-of-use assets		17,594			18,378
Restricted cash		3,651			3,651
Other assets		685			148
Total long-term assets		42,976			44,443
Total assets	$	167,359		$	207,007
Liabilities, Series A preferred shares and shareholders’ equity (deficit)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	9,853		$	7,281
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		7,087			14,861
Current portion of deferred revenue		36,426			37,098
Current portion of operating lease liability		5,120			4,961
Total current liabilities		58,486			64,201
Long-term liabilities:
Deferred revenue, net of current portion		76,567			77,479
Operating lease liability, net of current portion		23,617			24,955
Other liabilities		868			—
Total long-term liabilities	$	101,052		$	102,434
Total liabilities	$	159,538		$	166,635
Series A preferred shares, no par value; 3,901,348 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021	$	7,874		$	7,874
Shareholders’ equity (deficit):
Ordinary shares, no par value; 60,859,968 and 59,841,116 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively	$	751,229		$	749,851
Additional paid-in capital		91,951			87,980
Accumulated other comprehensive income		95			181
Accumulated deficit		(843,328	)		(805,514	)
Total shareholders’ equity (deficit)	$	(53	)	$	32,498
Total liabilities, Series A preferred shares and shareholders’ equity (deficit)	$	167,359		$	207,007

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

WAVE LIFE SCIENCES LTD.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2022			2021
Revenue	$	1,750		$	—
Operating expenses:
Research and development		27,470			33,393
General and administrative		12,374			10,078
Total operating expenses		39,844			43,471
Loss from operations		(38,094	)		(43,471	)
Other income, net:
Dividend income and interest income, net		26			11
Other income, net		254			996
Total other income, net		280			1,007
Loss before income taxes		(37,814	)		(42,464	)
Income tax provision		—			—
Net loss	$	(37,814	)	$	(42,464	)
Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders—basic and diluted	$	(0.62	)	$	(0.86	)
Weighted-average ordinary shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders—basic and diluted		60,516,616			49,101,606

Other comprehensive loss:
Net loss	$	(37,814	)	$	(42,464	)
Foreign currency translation		(86	)		(120	)
Comprehensive loss	$	(37,900	)	$	(42,584	)

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

WAVE LIFE SCIENCES LTD.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SERIES A PREFERRED SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(In thousands, except share amounts)


	Series A Preferred Shares				Ordinary Shares				Additional Paid-In-		Accumulated Other Comprehensive			Accumulated			Total Shareholders’
	Shares		Amount		Shares		Amount		Capital		Income			Deficit			Equity
Balance at December 31, 2020		3,901,348	$	7,874		48,778,678	$	694,085	$	71,573	$	389		$	(683,269	)	$	82,778
Issuance of ordinary shares pursuant to the at-the-market equity program, net		—		—		844,796		8,028		—		—			—			8,028
Share-based compensation		—		—		—		—		4,063		—			—			4,063
Vesting of RSUs		—		—		155,184		—		—		—			—			—
Option exercises		—		—		31,957		200		—		—			—			200
Issuance of ordinary shares under the ESPP		—		—		44,036		336		—		—			—			336
Other comprehensive loss		—		—		—		—		—		(120	)		—			(120	)
Net loss		—		—		—		—		—		—			(42,464	)		(42,464	)
Balance at March 31, 2021		3,901,348	$	7,874		49,854,651	$	702,649	$	75,636	$	269		$	(725,733	)	$	52,821


	Series A Preferred Shares				Ordinary Shares				Additional Paid-In-		Accumulated Other Comprehensive			Accumulated			Total Shareholders’
	Shares		Amount		Shares		Amount		Capital		Income			Deficit			Equity (Deficit)
Balance at December 31, 2021		3,901,348	$	7,874		59,841,116	$	749,851	$	87,980	$	181		$	(805,514	)	$	32,498
Issuance of ordinary shares pursuant to the at-the-market equity program, net		—		—		458,092		1,167		—		—			—			1,167
Share-based compensation		—		—		—		—		3,971		—			—			3,971
Vesting of RSUs		—		—		468,226		—		—		—			—			—
Option exercises		—		—		15,000		37		—		—			—			37
Issuance of ordinary shares under the ESPP		—		—		77,534		174		—		—			—			174
Other comprehensive loss		—		—		—		—		—		(86	)		—			(86	)
Net loss		—		—		—		—		—		—			(37,814	)		(37,814	)
Balance at March 31, 2022		3,901,348	$	7,874		60,859,968	$	751,229	$	91,951	$	95		$	(843,328	)	$	(53	)

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

WAVE LIFE SCIENCES LTD.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2022			2021
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss	$	(37,814	)	$	(42,464	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Amortization of right-of-use assets		784			512
Depreciation of property and equipment		1,730			1,948
Share-based compensation expense		3,971			4,063
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses		(356	)		4
Other assets		(851	)		(1,715	)
Accounts payable		2,490			(466	)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(7,932	)		(5,310	)
Deferred revenue		(1,584	)		—
Operating lease liabilities		(1,179	)		(880	)
Other non-current liabilities		868			(67	)
Net cash used in operating activities		(39,873	)		(44,375	)
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment		(208	)		(108	)
Purchase of short-term investments		(50,000	)		—
Net cash used in investing activities		(50,208	)		(108	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares pursuant to the at-the-market equity program, net		1,105			8,105
Proceeds from the exercise of share options		37			200
Proceeds from the ESPP		174			336
Net cash provided by financing activities		1,316			8,641
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(86	)		(120	)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(88,851	)		(35,962	)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period		154,215			188,148
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$	65,364		$	152,186
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
At-the-market offering costs in accounts payable at period end	$	—		$	77

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

Wave Life Sciences Ltd.

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

1. THE COMPANY

Organization

Wave Life Sciences Ltd. (together with its subsidiaries, “Wave” or the “Company”) is a clinical-stage genetic medicines company committed to delivering life-changing treatments for people battling devastating diseases. PRISM, Wave’s proprietary discovery and drug development platform, enables the precise design, optimization and production of novel stereopure oligonucleotides. Wave has built a genetic toolkit comprised of multiple therapeutic modalities, including RNase-H mediated silencing, RNAi, splicing, and RNA base editing, all of which leverage learnings and optimizations from the PRISM platform and allow Wave to design built-for-purpose molecules to optimally address disease biology.

The Company was incorporated in Singapore on July 23, 2012 and has its principal U.S. office in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Company was incorporated with the purpose of combining two commonly held companies, Wave Life Sciences USA, Inc. (“Wave USA”), a Delaware corporation (formerly Ontorii, Inc.), and Wave Life Sciences Japan, Inc. (“Wave Japan”), a company organized under the laws of Japan (formerly Chiralgen., Ltd.), which occurred on September 13, 2012. On May 31, 2016, Wave Life Sciences Ireland Limited (“Wave Ireland”) was formed as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wave Life Sciences Ltd. On April 3, 2017, Wave Life Sciences UK Limited (“Wave UK”) was formed as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wave Life Sciences Ltd.

The Company’s primary activities since inception have been developing and evolving PRISM to design, develop and commercialize oligonucleotide therapeutics, advancing the Company’s differentiated neurology portfolio, as well as exploring other therapeutic areas of interest, building the Company’s research, development and manufacturing capabilities, advancing programs into the clinic, furthering clinical development of such clinical-stage programs, building the Company’s intellectual property, and assuring adequate capital to support these activities.

Liquidity

Since its inception, the Company has not generated any product revenue and has incurred recurring net losses. To date, the Company has primarily funded its operations through private placements of debt and equity securities, public offerings of its ordinary shares and collaborations with third parties. Until the Company can generate significant revenue from product sales, if ever, the Company expects to continue to finance operations through a combination of public or private equity or debt financings or other sources, which may include collaborations with third parties. Adequate additional financing may not be available to the Company on acceptable terms, or at all. The inability to raise capital as and when needed would have a negative impact on the Company’s financial condition and ability to pursue its business strategy.

As of March 31, 2022, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $111.7 million. The Company expects that its existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund its operations for at least the next twelve months. The Company has based this expectation on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, and the Company may use its available capital resources sooner than it currently expects. If the Company’s anticipated operating results are not achieved in future periods, planned expenditures may need to be further reduced in order to extend the time period over which the then-available resources would be able to fund the Company’s operations. In addition, the Company may elect to raise additional funds before it needs them if the conditions for raising capital are favorable due to market conditions or strategic considerations, even if the Company expects it has sufficient funds for its current or future operating plans.

Risks and Uncertainties

The Company is subject to risks common to companies in the biotechnology industry including, but not limited to, new technological innovations, protection of proprietary technology, maintaining internal manufacturing capabilities, dependence on key personnel, compliance with government regulations and the need to obtain additional financing. The Company’s therapeutic programs will require significant additional research and development efforts, including extensive preclinical and clinical testing and regulatory approval, prior to commercialization of any product candidates. These efforts require significant amounts of additional capital, adequate personnel infrastructure and extensive compliance-reporting capabilities. There can be no assurance that the Company’s research and development efforts will be successful, that adequate protection for the Company’s intellectual property will be obtained, that any products developed will obtain necessary government regulatory approval or that any approved products will be commercially viable. Even if the Company’s product development efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, the Company will generate significant revenue from product sales. The Company operates in an environment of rapid change in technology and substantial competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Basis of Presentation

The Company has prepared the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and in U.S. dollars.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The significant accounting policies described in the Company’s audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, and the notes thereto, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 3, 2022, as amended (the “2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K”), have had no material changes during the three months ended March 31, 2022, except as described below.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company is required to disclose information on all assets and liabilities reported at fair value that enables an assessment of the inputs used in determining the reported fair values. The fair value hierarchy is a hierarchy of inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the financial instrument based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing the financial instrument and are developed based on the information available in the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy applies only to the valuation inputs used in determining the reported fair value of the investments and is not a measure of the investment credit quality. The hierarchy defines three levels of valuation inputs:

Level 1—Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date of identical, unrestricted assets.

Level 2—Quoted prices for similar assets, or inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term through corroboration with observable market data. Level 2 includes investments valued at quoted prices adjusted for legal or contractual restrictions specific to the security.

Level 3—Pricing inputs are unobservable for the asset, that is, inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset. Level 3 includes private investments that are supported by little or no market activity.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid securities with original final maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are comprised of funds in cash and money market accounts.

Short-Term Investments

The Company considers all time deposits with original maturities of more than three months from the date of purchase to be short-term investments.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments are financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk. The Company uses several financial institutions to maintain its cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments, all of which are high quality, accredited financial institutions and, accordingly, such funds are subject to minimal credit risk. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and management believes that the Company is not exposed to significant credit risk due to the financial position of the depository institutions in which those deposits are held. The Company has no financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk of loss.

Unaudited Interim Financial Data

The accompanying interim consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2022, the related interim consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the consolidated statements of Series A preferred shares and shareholders’ equity (deficit) for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, and the related interim information contained within the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and the notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The financial data and other information disclosed in these notes related to the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal and recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position and results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2022 or any other interim period or future year or period.

3. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The following table sets forth the Company’s financial assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:


	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(in thousands)
March 31, 2022
Cash and cash equivalents	$	61,713	$	61,713	$	—	$	—
Short-term investments		50,000		—		50,000		—
Restricted cash		3,651		3,651		—		—
Total	$	115,364	$	65,364	$	50,000	$	—
December 31, 2021
Cash and cash equivalents	$	150,564	$	150,564	$	—	$	—
Short-term investments		—		—		—		—
Restricted cash		3,651		3,651		—		—
Total	$	154,215	$	154,215	$	—	$	—

There have been no transfers between fair value levels during the three months ended March 31, 2022.

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash are Level 1 assets which are comprised of funds held in checking and money market accounts. Short-term investments are Level 2 assets which are comprised of time deposits with original maturities of more than three months. The Company determined that the fair value of its short-term investments is $50.0 million as of March 31, 2022, which approximates the carrying value of the term deposits. There were no short-term investments as of December 31, 2021, as the term deposits that constitute the Company’s short-term investments were purchased during the three months ended March 31, 2022. The carrying amounts of accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair values due to their short-term maturities.

4. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

The Wave Life Sciences Ltd. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) was approved by the Company’s shareholders and went into effect on August 10, 2021. The 2021 Plan serves as the successor to the Wave Life Sciences Ltd. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2014 Plan”), such that outstanding awards granted under the 2014 Plan continue to be governed by the terms of the 2014 Plan, but no awards may be made under the 2014 Plan after August 10, 2021. The aggregate number of ordinary shares authorized for issuance of awards under the 2021 Plan is 5,450,000 ordinary shares, plus the number of ordinary shares underlying any awards under the 2014 Plan that are forfeited, cancelled or otherwise terminated (other than by exercise or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation) on or after August 10, 2021.

The 2021 Plan authorizes (and the 2014 Plan previously authorized) the Company’s board of directors or a committee of the board of directors to, among other things, grant non-qualified share options, restricted awards, which include restricted shares and restricted share units (“RSUs”), and performance awards to eligible employees and directors of the Company.

Options generally vest over periods of one to four years, and any options that are forfeited or cancelled are available to be granted again. The contractual life of options is generally five or ten years from the grant date. RSUs can be time-based or performance-based. Time-based RSUs generally vest over a period of one to four years. The vesting of performance-based RSUs is contingent on the achievement of certain performance milestones. Any RSUs that are forfeited are available to be granted again.

In March 2021, the compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors approved an amendment and restatement of the Company’s outstanding 2019 performance-based RSUs to add an additional milestone to the existing milestones. In 2021, the Company also granted performance-based RSUs with the same terms to certain employees who did not receive the 2019

performance-based RSUs. This modification did not result in any incremental expense. The Company did not recognize any expense related to the performance-based RSUs during the three months ended March 31, 2022, as the related milestones were not considered probable of achievement as of March 31, 2022.

During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company granted 1,989,025 options and 24,025 time-based RSUs to employees.

As of March 31, 2022, 1,286,637 ordinary shares remained available for future grant under the 2021 Plan.

The Wave Life Sciences Ltd. 2019 Employee Share Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) allows all full-time and certain part-time employees to purchase the Company’s ordinary shares at a discount to fair market value. Eligible employees may enroll in a six-month offering period beginning on or about January 15th and July 15th every year. Shares are purchased at a price equal to 85% of the lower of the fair market value of the Company’s ordinary shares on the first business day or the last business day of an offering period. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, 77,534 ordinary shares were issued under the ESPP. As of March 31, 2022, there were 804,940 ordinary shares available for issuance under the ESPP.

Subsequent to March 31, 2022, the Company determined that a performance-based RSU milestone was achieved and consequently 50% of the outstanding performance-based RSUs vested, which resulted in the issuance of 384,646 ordinary shares. During the three months ending June 30, 2022, the Company plans to record share-based compensation expense of approximately $3.8 million, which represents all of the expense related to the achievement of this performance-based RSU milestone.

5. COLLABORATION AGREEMENTS

Takeda Collaboration and Equity Agreements

In February 2018, Wave USA and Wave UK entered into a global strategic collaboration (the “Takeda Collaboration”) with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Takeda”), pursuant to which Wave USA, Wave UK and Takeda agreed to collaborate on the research, development and commercialization of oligonucleotide therapeutics for disorders of the Central Nervous System (“CNS”). The Takeda Collaboration provides the Company with at least $230.0 million in committed cash and Takeda with the option to co-develop and co-commercialize the Company’s CNS development programs in (1) Huntington’s disease (“HD”); (2) amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (“ALS”) and frontotemporal dementia (“FTD”); and (3) the Company’s discovery-stage program targeting ATXN3 for the treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (“SCA3”) (collectively, “Category 1 Programs”). In addition, the Takeda Collaboration provided Takeda the right to exclusively license multiple preclinical programs for CNS disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease (collectively, “Category 2 Programs”). In April 2018, the Takeda Collaboration became effective and Takeda paid the Company $110.0 million as an upfront payment. Takeda also agreed to fund the Company’s research and preclinical activities in the amount of $60.0 million during the four-year research term and to reimburse the Company for any collaboration-budgeted research and preclinical expenses incurred by the Company that exceed that amount.

Simultaneously with Wave USA and Wave UK’s entry into the collaboration and license agreement with Takeda (the “Takeda Collaboration Agreement”), the Company entered into a share purchase agreement with Takeda (the “Takeda Equity Agreement,” and together with the Takeda Collaboration Agreement, the “Takeda Agreements”) pursuant to which it agreed to sell to Takeda 1,096,892 of its ordinary shares at a purchase price of $54.70 per share. In April 2018, the Company closed the Takeda Equity Agreement and received aggregate cash proceeds of $60.0 million. The Company did not incur any material costs in connection with the issuance of shares.

With respect to Category 1 Programs, the Company will be responsible for researching and developing products and companion diagnostics for Category 1 Programs through completion of the first proof of mechanism study for such products. Takeda will have an exclusive option for each target and all associated products and companion diagnostics for such target, which it may exercise at any time through completion of the proof of mechanism study. If Takeda exercises this option, the Company will receive an opt-in payment and will lead manufacturing and joint clinical co-development activities and Takeda will lead joint co-commercial activities in the United States and all commercial activities outside of the United States. Global costs and potential profits will be shared 50:50 and the Company will be eligible to receive development and commercial milestone payments. In addition to its 50% profit share, the Company is eligible to receive option exercise fees and development and commercial milestone payments for each of the Category 1 Programs.

With respect to Category 2 Programs, the Company granted Takeda the right to exclusively license multiple preclinical programs during a four-year research term (subject to limited extension for programs that were initiated prior to the expiration of the research term, in accordance with the Takeda Collaboration Agreement) (“Category 2 Research Term”). During that term, the Takeda Collaboration provided that the parties may collaborate on preclinical programs for up to six targets at any one time. The Company was responsible for researching and preclinically developing products and companion diagnostics directed to the agreed upon targets through completion of Investigational New Drug application (“IND”)-enabling studies in the first major market country. Thereafter, Takeda would have an exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize products and companion diagnostics directed to such targets, subject to the Company’s retained rights to lead manufacturing activities for products directed to such targets. Takeda agreed to fund the Company’s research and preclinical activities in the amount of $60.0 million during the research term and

reimburse the Company for any collaboration-budgeted research and preclinical expenses incurred by the Company that exceeded that amount. The Company was also eligible to receive tiered high single-digit to mid-teen royalties on Takeda’s global commercial sales of products from each Category 2 Program.

Under the Takeda Collaboration Agreement, each party granted to the other party specific intellectual property licenses to enable the other party to perform its obligations and exercise its rights under the Takeda Collaboration Agreement, including license grants to enable each party to conduct research, development and commercialization activities pursuant to the terms of the Takeda Collaboration Agreement.

The term of the Takeda Collaboration Agreement commenced on April 2, 2018 and, unless terminated earlier, will continue until the date on which: (i) with respect to each Category 1 Program target for which Takeda does not exercise its option, the expiration or termination of the development program with respect to such target; (ii) with respect to each Category 1 Program target for which Takeda exercises its option, the date on which neither party is researching, developing or manufacturing any products or companion diagnostics directed to such target; or (iii) with respect to each Category 2 Program target, the date on which royalties are no longer payable with respect to products directed to such target.

Takeda may terminate the Takeda Collaboration Agreement for convenience on 180 days’ notice, in its entirety or on a target-by-target basis. Subject to certain exceptions, each party has the right to terminate the Takeda Collaboration Agreement on a target-by-target basis if the other party, or a third party related to such party, challenges the patentability, enforceability or validity of any patents within the licensed technology that cover any product or companion diagnostic that is subject to the Takeda Collaboration Agreement. In the event of any material breach of the Takeda Collaboration Agreement by a party, subject to cure rights, the other party may terminate the Takeda Collaboration Agreement in its entirety if the breach relates to all targets or on a target-by-target basis if the breach relates to a specific target. In the event that Takeda and its affiliates cease development, manufacturing and commercialization activities with respect to compounds or products subject to the Takeda Collaboration Agreement and directed to a particular target, the Company may terminate the Takeda Collaboration Agreement with respect to such target. Either party may terminate the Takeda Collaboration Agreement for the other party’s insolvency. In certain termination circumstances, the Company would receive a license from Takeda to continue researching, developing and manufacturing certain products, and companion diagnostics.

The Takeda Collaboration is managed by a joint steering committee (“JSC”) in which both parties are represented equally. The JSC is tasked with overseeing the scientific progression of each Category 1 Program and, prior to the Amendment (discussed below), the Category 2 Programs.

The Company assessed this arrangement in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) and concluded that the contract counterparty, Takeda, is a customer for Category 1 Programs prior to Takeda exercising its option, and for Category 2 Programs during the Category 2 Research Term. The Company identified the following material promises under the arrangement: (1) the non-exclusive, royalty-free research and development license for each Category 1 Program; (2) the research and development services for each Category 1 Program through completion of the first proof of mechanism study; (3) the exclusive option to license, co-develop and co-commercialize each Category 1 Program; (4) the right to exclusively license the Category 2 Programs; and (5) the research and preclinical development services of the Category 2 Programs through completion of IND-enabling studies. The research and development services for each Category 1 Program were determined to not be distinct from the research and development license and should therefore be combined into a single performance obligation for each Category 1 Program. The research and preclinical development services for the Category 2 Programs were determined to not be distinct from the exclusive licenses for the Category 2 Programs and should therefore be combined into a single performance obligation.

Additionally, the Company determined that the exclusive option for each Category 1 Program was priced at a discount, and, as such, provide material rights to Takeda, representing three separate performance obligations. Based on these assessments, the Company identified seven performance obligations in the Takeda Collaboration Agreement: (1) research and development services through completion of the first proof of mechanism and non-exclusive research and development license for HD; (2) research and development services through completion of the first proof of mechanism and non-exclusive research and development license for ALS and FTD; (3) research and development services through completion of the first proof of mechanism and non-exclusive research and development license for SCA3; (4) the material right provided for the exclusive option to license, co-develop and co-commercialize HD; (5) the material right provided for the exclusive option to license, co-develop and co-commercialize ALS and FTD; (6) the material right provided for the exclusive option to license, co-develop and co-commercialize SCA3; and (7) the research and preclinical development services and right to exclusively license the Category 2 Programs.

At the outset of the arrangement, the transaction price included the $110.0 million upfront consideration received and the $60.0 million of committed research and preclinical funding for the Category 2 Programs. The Company determined that the Takeda Collaboration Agreement did not contain a significant financing component. The option exercise fees to license, co-develop and co-commercialize each Category 1 Program that may be received are excluded from the transaction price until each customer option is exercised. The potential milestone payments were excluded from the transaction price, as all milestone amounts were fully constrained at the inception of the Takeda Collaboration Agreement. The Company will reevaluate the transaction price at the end of each reporting period and as uncertain events are resolved or other changes in circumstances occur, if necessary, will adjust its estimate of the transaction price.

The Company allocated the transaction price to the performance obligations on a relative standalone selling price basis. For the performance obligations associated with the research and development services through completion of the first proof of mechanism and non-exclusive research and development license for HD; the research and development services through completion of the first proof of mechanism and non-exclusive research and development license for ALS and FTD; the research and development services through completion of the first proof of mechanism and non-exclusive research and development license for SCA3; and the research and preclinical development services and right to exclusively license the Category 2 Programs, the Company determined the standalone selling price using estimates of the costs to perform the research and development services, including expected internal and external costs for services and supplies, adjusted to reflect a profit margin. The total estimated cost of the research and development services reflected the nature of the services to be performed and the Company’s best estimate of the length of time required to perform the services. For the performance obligations associated with the material right provided for the exclusive option to license, co-develop and co-commercialize HD; the material right provided for the exclusive option to license, co-develop and co-commercialize ALS and FTD; and the material right provided for the exclusive option to license, co-develop and co-commercialize SCA3, the Company estimated the standalone fair value of the option to license each Category 1 Program utilizing an adjusted market assessment approach, and determined that any standalone fair value in excess of the amounts to be paid by Takeda associated with each option represented a material right.

Revenue associated with the research and development services for each Category 1 Program performance obligation is being recognized as the research and development services are provided using an input method, according to the costs incurred on each Category 1 Program and the total costs expected to be incurred to satisfy each Category 1 Program performance obligation. Revenue associated with the research and preclinical development services for the Category 2 Programs performance obligation is being recognized as the research and preclinical development services are provided using an input method, according to the costs incurred on Category 2 Programs and the total costs expected to be incurred to satisfy the performance obligation. The transfer of control for these performance obligations occurs over time and, in management’s judgment, this input method is the best measure of progress towards satisfying the performance obligations. The amount allocated to the material right for each Category 1 Program option will be recognized on the date that Takeda exercises each respective option, or immediately as each option expires unexercised. The amounts received that have not yet been recognized as revenue are recorded in deferred revenue on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.

On October 15, 2021, Wave USA, Wave UK and Takeda entered into the Second Amendment to the Takeda Collaboration Agreement (the “Amendment”), which discontinued the Category 2 component of the Takeda Collaboration. Pursuant to the Amendment, Takeda agreed to pay the Company an additional $22.5 million as full payment for reimbursable Category 2 Program collaboration-budgeted research and preclinical expenses. The Category 1 Programs under the Takeda Collaboration Agreement remain in effect and are unchanged by the Amendment.

Through March 31, 2022, the Company had recognized revenue of approximately $79.5 million as collaboration revenue under the Takeda Collaboration Agreement. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company recognized revenue of $1.6 million under the Takeda Collaboration Agreement. No revenue was recognized under the Takeda Collaboration Agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2021 based on the revenue recognition standard.

The aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to the Company’s unsatisfied and partially unsatisfied performance obligations and recorded in deferred revenue as of December 31, 2021 was $114.6 million, of which $37.1 million was included in current liabilities. The aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to the Company’s unsatisfied and partially unsatisfied performance obligations and recorded in deferred revenue at March 31, 2022 is $113.0 million, of which $36.4 million is included in current liabilities. The Company expects to recognize revenue for the portion of the deferred revenue that relates to the research and development services for each Category 1 Program as costs are incurred, over the remaining research term. The Company expects to recognize revenue for the portion of the deferred revenue that relates to the material right for each Category 1 Program option upon Takeda’s exercise of such option, or immediately as each option expires unexercised.

6. NET LOSS PER ORDINARY SHARE

The Company applies the two-class method to calculate its basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, as its Series A preferred shares are participating securities. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that treats a participating security as having rights to earnings that otherwise would have been available to ordinary shareholders.

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding.

The Company’s potentially dilutive shares, which include outstanding share options to purchase ordinary shares, RSUs, and Series A preferred shares, are considered to be ordinary share equivalents and are only included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share when their effect is dilutive.

The following ordinary share equivalents, presented based on amounts outstanding at each period end, were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders for the periods indicated because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:


	As of March 31,
	2022		2021
Options to purchase ordinary shares		8,760,336		4,588,951
RSUs		1,420,568		2,022,268
Series A preferred shares		3,901,348		3,901,348

Additionally, for the periods presented, the two-class method does not impact the net loss per ordinary share as the Company was in a net loss position for each of the periods presented and holders of Series A preferred shares do not participate in losses.

7. INCOME TAXES

During the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company recorded no income tax provision. The Company maintained a full valuation allowance for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 in all jurisdictions due to uncertainty regarding future taxable income.

8. GEOGRAPHIC DATA

Substantially all of the Company’s long-lived assets were located in the United States as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

9. RELATED PARTIES

The Company had the following related party transaction for the periods presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements:

•

In 2012, the Company entered into a consulting agreement for scientific advisory services with Dr. Gregory L. Verdine, one of the Company’s founders and a member of the Company’s board of directors. The consulting agreement does not have a specific term and may be terminated by either party upon 14 days’ prior written notice. Pursuant to the consulting agreement, the Company pays Dr. Verdine approximately $13 thousand per month, plus reimbursement for certain expenses.

10. ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following: