SEC Form 10-Q filed by Cerus Corporation

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include those of Cerus Corporation, its subsidiary, and its variable interest entity in which the Company is the primary beneficiary in accordance with the consolidation accounting guidance, after elimination of all intercompany accounts and transactions (together with Cerus Corporation, hereinafter “Cerus” or the “Company”). These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or U.S. (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring entries, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been made. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2024, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2024, or for any future periods.

These condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2023, which were included in the Company’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 5, 2024. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 has been derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of that date.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, the collectability of accounts receivable, inventory classification and related reserves, fair values of investments, the allowance for credit losses, stock-based compensation, goodwill, useful lives of property and equipment, income taxes, and incremental borrowing rate, among others. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, future projections, and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Revenue

Revenue is recognized by applying the following five steps: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

The Company’s main source of revenue is product revenue from sales of the INTERCEPT Blood System for platelets and plasma (“platelet and plasma systems” or “disposable kits”), UVA illumination devices (“illuminators”), INTERCEPT Fibrinogen Complex (“IFC”), spare parts and storage solutions, and maintenance services of illuminators. The Company sells its platelet and plasma systems directly to blood banks, hospitals, universities, government agencies, as well as to distributors in certain regions. The Company sells its IFC primarily to hospitals and blood banks. The Company uses a binding purchase order or signed sales contract as evidence of a contract and satisfaction of its policy. Generally, the Company’s sales contracts for disposable kits and illuminators with its customers do not provide for open return rights, except within a reasonable time after receipt of goods in the case of defective or non-conforming product. The contracts with customers can include various combinations of products and, to a lesser extent, services. The Company must determine whether products or services are capable of being distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations, or are accounted for as a combined performance obligation. The Company must allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation on a relative SSP basis and recognize the product revenue when the performance obligation is satisfied. The Company determines the SSP by using the historical selling price of the products and services. If the amount of consideration in a contract is variable, the Company estimates the amount of variable consideration that should be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method, to the extent it is probable that a significant future reversal of cumulative product revenue under the contract will not occur. Product revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of promised products or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to receive in exchange for those products or services. Product revenue from the sale of illuminators, disposable kits, IFC, spare parts and storage solutions are recognized upon the transfer of control of the products to the customer. Product revenue from maintenance services are recognized ratably on a straight-line basis over the term of maintenance as customers simultaneously consume and receive benefits. Freight costs charged to customers are recorded as a component of product revenue. Taxes that the Company invoices to its customers and remits to governments are recorded on a net basis, which excludes such tax from product revenue.

The Company receives reimbursement under its U.S. government contracts that support research and development of defined projects. The contracts generally provide for reimbursement of approved costs incurred under the terms of the contracts. Revenue related to the cost reimbursement provisions under the Company’s U.S. government contracts is recognized as the qualified direct and indirect costs on the projects are incurred. The Company invoices under its U.S. government contracts using the provisional rates in the government contracts and thus is subject to future audits at the discretion of the government. The Company believes that government contract revenue for periods not yet audited has been recorded in amounts that are expected to be realized upon final audit and settlement. However, these audits could result in an adjustment to government contract revenue previously reported, which adjustments could be potentially significant. Costs incurred related to services performed under the contracts are included as a component of research and development or selling, general and administrative expenses in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. The Company’s use of estimates in recording accrued liabilities for government contract activities (see “Use of Estimates” above) affects the revenue recorded from development funding and under the government contracts.

Disaggregation of Product Revenue

Contract Balances

The Company invoices its customers based upon the terms in the contracts, which generally require payment 30 to 60 days from the date of invoice. Accounts receivable are recorded when the Company’s right to the consideration is estimated to be unconditional. The Company's conditional rights to the consideration are recorded as contract assets. The Company had no contract assets as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

Contract liabilities mainly consist of deferred revenue related to maintenance services, unshipped products, and uninstalled illuminators, or receivables from customers that are not yet recognized as revenue. Maintenance services are generally billed upfront at the beginning of each annual service period and recognized ratably over the contractual service period. The Company applies an optional exemption to not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts that have an original expected duration of one year or less. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had $0.7 million and $1.5 million, respectively, of contract liabilities included in “Deferred revenue” on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets related to the Department of Defense (“DoD”).

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development (“R&D”) expenses are charged to expense when incurred, including cost incurred pursuant to the terms of the Company’s U.S. government contracts. R&D expenses include salaries and related expenses for scientific and regulatory personnel, non-cash stock-based compensation, payments to consultants, supplies and chemicals used in in-house laboratories, costs of R&D facilities, depreciation of equipment and external contract research expenses, including clinical trials, preclinical safety studies, other laboratory studies, process development and product manufacturing for research use.

The Company’s use of estimates in recording accrued liabilities for R&D activities (see “Use of Estimates” above) affects the amounts of R&D expenses recorded from development funding. Actual results may differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. These investments primarily consist of money market instruments and are classified as available-for-sale.

Deferred Compensation Plan

The Company’s deferred compensation plan, pursuant to which compensation deferrals began in 2020, is a nonqualified deferred compensation plan that allows highly compensated employees to defer up to 80 percent of their base salary and up to 100 percent of their variable compensation each plan year. The Company may make discretionary contributions to each participant in an amount determined each year. To fund the deferred compensation plan’s long-term liability, the Company purchases Company-owned life insurance contracts on certain employees. The insurance serves as an investment source for the funds being set aside. Participants in the deferred compensation plan select the mutual funds in which their compensation deferrals are deemed to be invested as a component of the insurance contracts. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $2.8 million and $2.6 million, respectively, were included in “Other assets” on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets, which represents the cash surrender value of the associated life insurance policies. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $2.9 million and $2.8 million, respectively, were included in “Other non-current liabilities” on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets, which represents the carrying value of the liability for deferred compensation. Gains and losses on the investments related to the nonqualified deferred compensation plan are included in “Other income, net”, on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations, and corresponding changes in their deferred compensation liability are included in operating expenses.

Restricted Cash

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company’s “Restricted cash” consisted primarily of a letter of credit relating to an office building lease. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company also had certain non-U.S. dollar denominated deposits recorded as “Restricted cash” in compliance with certain foreign contractual requirements.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash equivalents, available-for-sale securities and accounts receivable.

Pursuant to the Company’s investment policy, substantially all of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities are maintained at major financial institutions of high credit standing. The Company monitors the financial credit worthiness of the issuers of its investments and limits the concentration in individual securities and types of investments that exist within its investment portfolio. Generally, all of the Company’s investments carry high credit quality ratings, which is in accordance with its investment policy. At March 31, 2024, the Company does not believe there is significant financial risk from non-performance by the issuers of the Company’s cash equivalents and short-term investments.

On a regular basis, including at the time of sale, the Company performs credit evaluations of its significant customers that it expects to sell to on credit terms. Generally, the Company does not require collateral from its customers to secure accounts receivable. To the extent that the Company determines credit losses may occur, the Company maintains an allowance for estimated credit losses on its consolidated balance sheets and records a charge on its consolidated statements of operations as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses.

The Company had two and three customers that accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s outstanding accounts receivable at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. These customers cumulatively represented approximately 51% of the Company’s outstanding trade receivables at both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. To date, the Company has not experienced collection difficulties from these customers.

Inventories

At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, inventory consisted of raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods. Finished goods include INTERCEPT disposable kits, illuminators, and certain components for the illuminators. Platelet and plasma systems’ disposable kits generally expire no later than 24 months from the date of manufacture. In the U.S., until the Company is able to generate data satisfactory to the FDA regarding the stability of the disposable kits for the platelet system using a component manufactured with a new solvent, the shelf life for our platelet kits will be limited to 12 months. Illuminators and individual components do not have regulated expiration dates. Raw materials and work-in-process includes certain components that are manufactured over a protracted length of time before being ultimately incorporated and assembled by Fresenius, Inc. (with their affiliates, “Fresenius”) into the finished INTERCEPT disposable kits. It is not customary for the Company’s production cycle for inventory to exceed 12 months, however, in certain circumstances the Company purchases inventory components it expects to consume beyond 12 months. The Company uses its best judgment to factor in lead times for the production of its raw materials, work-in-process and finished units to meet the Company’s forecasted demands. Additionally, from time-to-time, the Company may engage in strategic longer-range inventory purchases due to concentration of supplier risk, obsolescence of materials or components, or simply as safety stock to mitigate disruption to supply. Based upon estimated production needs and current inventory levels, the Company determines the amount of inventory necessary for the next 12 months. Any amounts in excess of this 12 month rolling projection are classified as “Non-current inventories” in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Changes to those estimates could potentially impact amounts recorded as current or non-current assets.

Inventory is recorded at the lower of cost, determined on a first-in, first-out basis, or net realizable value. The Company uses judgment to analyze and determine if the composition of its inventory is obsolete, slow-moving or unsalable and frequently reviews such determinations. The Company writes down specifically identified unusable, obsolete, slow-moving, or known unsalable inventory that has no alternative use in the period that it is first recognized by using a number of factors including product expiration dates, open and unfulfilled orders, and sales forecasts. Any write-down of its inventory to net realizable value establishes a new cost basis and will be maintained even if certain circumstances suggest that the inventory is recoverable in subsequent periods. Costs associated with the write-down of inventory are recorded within “Cost of product revenue” on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had $1.1 million and $0.7 million, respectively, recorded for potential obsolete, expiring or unsalable product.

Property and Equipment, net

Property and equipment is comprised of furniture, equipment, leasehold improvements, construction-in-progress, information technology hardware and software and is recorded at cost. At the time the property and equipment is ready for its intended use, it is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets (generally three to five years). Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful lives of the improvements.

Goodwill

Goodwill is not amortized, but instead is subject to an impairment test performed on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill may be impaired. Such impairment analysis is performed on August 31 of each year, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. The test for goodwill impairment may be assessed using qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the carrying amount. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the carrying amount, the Company must then proceed with performing the quantitative goodwill impairment test. The Company may choose not to perform the qualitative assessment to test goodwill for impairment and proceed directly to the quantitative impairment test; however, the Company may revert to the qualitative assessment to test goodwill for impairment in any subsequent period. The quantitative goodwill impairment test compares the fair value of each reporting unit with its respective carrying amount, including goodwill. The Company has determined that it operates as one reporting unit and estimates the fair value of its one reporting unit using the enterprise approach under which it considers the quoted market capitalization of the Company as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market. The Company considers quoted market prices that are available in active markets to be the best evidence of fair value. The Company also considers other factors, which include future forecasted results, the economic environment and overall market conditions. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not impaired. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess, limited to the carrying amount of goodwill in the Company’s one reporting unit.

Long-lived Assets

The Company evaluates its long-lived assets for impairment by continually monitoring events and changes in circumstances that could indicate carrying amounts of its long-lived assets may not be recoverable. When such events or changes in circumstances occur, the Company assesses recoverability by determining whether the carrying value of such assets will be recovered through the undiscounted expected future cash flows. If the expected undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of these assets, the Company then measures the amount of the impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the assets.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense is measured at the grant-date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period, and is adjusted for estimated forfeitures. To the extent that stock options contain performance criteria for vesting, stock-based compensation is recognized once the performance criteria are probable of being achieved.

See Note 9, Stock-Based Compensation, for further information regarding the Company’s stock-based compensation assumptions and expenses.

Consolidated Variable Interest Entity

In February 2021, the Company entered into an Equity Joint Venture Contract with Shandong Zhongbaokang Medical Implements Co., Ltd. (“ZBK”), to establish Cerus Zhongbaokang (Shandong) Biomedical Co., LTD. (the “JV”) for the purpose of developing, obtaining regulatory approval for, and eventual manufacturing and commercialization of the INTERCEPT blood transfusion for platelets and red blood cells in the People’s Republic of China. The Company owns 51% of equity in the JV and consolidates the JV as it has determined that the investment is a variable interest entity, and that the Company is the primary beneficiary.

Operating expenses for the JV were de minimis for all periods presented.

Foreign Currency

The functional currency of the Company’s Cerus Europe B.V. subsidiary is the U.S. dollar. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are remeasured in U.S. dollars using the exchange rates at the balance sheet date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are remeasured in U.S. dollars using historical exchange rates. Product revenues and expenses are remeasured using average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Remeasurements are recorded in “Foreign exchange loss” on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The functional currency of the JV is the Chinese Renminbi. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are remeasured in Renminbi using the exchange rates at the balance sheet date. The financial statements of JV are translated into U.S. dollar for consolidation. The JV's balance sheet is translated using the month-end exchange rate, and the JV's income statement is translated using the monthly average exchange rate, the difference is recognized as cumulative translation adjustment.

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is accounted for using an asset and liability approach, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Company does not recognize tax positions that do not have a greater than 50% likelihood of being recognized upon review by a taxing authority having full knowledge of all relevant information. Use of a valuation allowance is not an appropriate substitute for derecognition of a tax position. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in its income tax expense. Although the Company believes it more likely than not that a taxing authority would agree with its current tax positions, there can be no assurance that the tax positions the Company has taken will be substantiated by a taxing authority if reviewed. The Company’s U.S. federal tax returns filed for years 2003 through 2022, and California tax returns filed for years through 2022, remain subject to examination by the taxing jurisdictions due to unutilized net operating losses and research credits. The Company continues to carry a valuation allowance on substantially all of its net deferred tax assets.

Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Cerus Corporation

Basic net loss per share attributable to Cerus Corporation is computed by dividing net loss attributable to Cerus Corporation by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net loss per share attributable to Cerus Corporation gives effect to all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding for the period. The potentially dilutive securities include stock options, employee stock purchase plan rights and restricted stock units, which are calculated using the treasury stock method. For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, all potentially dilutive securities outstanding have been excluded from the computation of dilutive weighted average shares outstanding because such securities have an antidilutive impact due to losses reported.

Leases

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company did not have finance leases.

ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The ROU asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives. The lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease, when the options are reasonably certain to be exercised. Operating leases are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Guarantee and Indemnification Arrangements

The Company recognizes the fair value for guarantee and indemnification arrangements issued or modified by the Company. In addition, the Company monitors the conditions that are subject to the guarantees and indemnifications in order to identify if a loss has occurred. If the Company determines it is probable that a loss has occurred, then any such estimable loss would be recognized under those guarantees and indemnifications. Some of the agreements that the Company is a party to contain provisions that indemnify the counter party from damages and costs resulting from claims that the Company’s technology infringes the intellectual property rights of a third-party or claims that the sale or use of the Company’s products have caused personal injury or other damage or loss. The Company has not received any such requests for indemnification under these provisions and has not been required to make material payments pursuant to these provisions.

The Company generally provides for a one-year warranty on certain of its disposable kits and illuminators covering defects in materials and workmanship. The Company accrues costs associated with warranty obligations when claims become known and are estimable. The Company has not experienced significant or systemic warranty claims nor is it aware of any existing current warranty claims. Accordingly, the Company had not accrued for any future warranty costs for its products at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company applies the provisions of fair value relating to its financial assets and liabilities. The carrying amounts of accounts receivables, accounts payable, and other accrued liabilities approximate their fair value due to the relative short-term maturities. Based on the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for loans with similar terms, the Company believes the fair value of its debt approximates their carrying amounts. The Company measures and records certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis, including its available-for-sale securities. The Company classifies instruments within Level 1 if quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets, which include the Company’s cash accounts and money market funds. The Company classifies instruments in Level 2 if the instruments are valued using observable inputs to quoted market prices, benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. These instruments include the Company’s corporate debt and U.S. government agency securities holdings. The available-for-sale securities are held by a custodian who obtains investment prices from a third-party pricing provider that uses standard inputs (observable in the market) to models which vary by asset class. The Company classifies instruments in Level 3 if one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. The Company assesses any transfers among fair value measurement levels at the end of each reporting period.

See Note 2, Available-for-sale Securities and Fair Value on Financial Instruments, for further information regarding the Company’s valuation of financial instruments.

The following is a summary of available-for-sale securities at March 31, 2024 (in thousands):