You should read the following discussion and analysis of financial condition and operating results together with our financial statements and the related notes appearing in this Form 10-K. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Form 10-K, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business and related financing, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many important factors, including those set forth in the section of this Form 10-K captioned "Item 1A. Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this Form 10-K, our actual results could differ materially from the results described in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis. For convenience of presentation some of the numbers have been rounded in the text below.

Overview

We are a vertically integrated, clinical stage gene therapy company with six programs in clinical development and a broad pipeline of preclinical and research programs. We have core capabilities in viral vector design and optimization, gene therapy manufacturing as well as a potentially transformative gene regulation technology. Led by an experienced management team, we have taken a portfolio approach by licensing, acquiring and developing technologies that give us depth across both product candidates and indications. Though initially focusing on ophthalmology, salivary



                                      109

Table of Contents

gland and neurodegenerative disease programs, we intend to expand our focus in the future to develop additional gene therapy treatments for patients suffering from a range of serious diseases.

We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands in 2018, and prior to that, we commenced operations as MeiraGTx Limited, a private limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales in 2015. Our discussion of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). Since our formation, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to developing our technology platform, establishing our viral vector manufacturing facilities and developing manufacturing processes, advancing the product candidates in our ophthalmology, salivary gland and neurodegenerative disease programs, building our intellectual property portfolio, organizing and staffing our company, developing our business plan, raising capital, and providing general and administrative support for these operations. In 2016, we completed the acquisition of assets held by BRI-Alzan, Inc., a Delaware corporation, including a worldwide license agreement to develop certain preclinical technology for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ("ALS"). In October 2018, we acquired Vector Neurosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation. In connection with that acquisition, we acquired its rights to the clinical stage gene therapy product candidate adeno-associated virus encoding glutamic acid decarboxylase ("AAV-GAD") gene therapy program which had completed a randomized, sham-controlled Phase 2 study for treatment of Parkinson's disease. In October 2019, we acquired Arthrogen B.V., a Netherlands corporation that was renamed MeiraGTx Netherlands B.V., a biopharmaceutical company developing gene therapy for different indications using viral mediated gene transfer and specializing in the development of viral gene therapy vectors, in particular adeno-associated virus (AAV-) based therapeutics. In April 2020, we acquired Emrys Bio Inc., a Delaware corporation that was renamed MeiraGTx Bio Inc., a pre-clinical biopharmaceutical company developing brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene therapy for treatment of genetic obesity disorders, as well as the development of gene therapy product candidates for other central nervous system diseases. To date, we have financed our operations primarily with cash on hand and proceeds from the sales of our Series A ordinary shares, Convertible Preferred C Shares and ordinary shares. Through December 31, 2020, we received gross proceeds of approximately $446.0 million from sales of our ordinary shares, Series A ordinary shares and convertible preferred C shares and $100.0 million from the collaboration, option and license agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Janssen"), one of the Janssen Pharmaceuticals Companies of Johnson & Johnson (the "Collaboration Agreement"). As of December 31, 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents of $209.5 million, as well as $38.5 million in receivables due from Janssen in the first quarter of 2021 in connection with the Collaboration Agreement.

We are a clinical stage company and have not generated any product revenues to date. We have six clinical programs and a pipeline of preclinical programs. Since inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. Our net losses for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were $58.0 million and $54.8 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, we had an accumulated deficit of $261.0 million. We do not expect to generate revenue from sales of any products for several years, if at all. In March 2019, we received an upfront payment in the amount of $100.0 million from the Collaboration Agreement. Additionally, pursuant to the Collaboration Agreement, we are eligible to receive research and development funding and potential milestone payments and royalties.

Our total operating expenses were $78.1 million and $71.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. While we expect our operating expenses to increase substantially in connection with our ongoing development activities related to our product candidates, including the planned advancement of AAV-RPGR into the Phase 3 Lumeos clinical trial for the treatment of patients with XLRP and the initiation of a Phase 3 clinical trial of AAV-RPE65 for the treatment of retinal dystrophy associated with mutations in the RPE65 gene, we believe that certain of these increases will be partially offset by the research funding in connection with the Collaboration Agreement. In addition to these planned Phase 3 trials, we anticipate that our expenses will also increase due to costs associated with our clinical development program targeting achromatopsia due to mutations in the CNGB3 or CNGA3 gene. In addition, we expect to continue incurring increasing costs associated with our clinical activities for AAV-AQP1 for the treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia and xerostomia associated with Sjogren's syndrome. We expect to file an IND application for AAV-GAD in the third quarter of 2021 following the release of the clinical material manufactured in our



                                      110

Table of Contents

London cGMP facility. We also incurred expenses during the year ended December 31, 2020 and expect to continue to incur expenses related to research activities in additional therapeutic areas to expand our pipeline, hiring additional personnel in manufacturing, research, clinical operations, quality and other functional areas, and associated cash and share-based compensation expense, as well as the further development of internal manufacturing capabilities and capacity and other associated costs including the management of our intellectual property portfolio.

As a result of these anticipated expenditures and the acquisition, development and startup of our new Shannon, Ireland manufacturing facilities, we raised net proceeds of $81.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2020 from an at-the market offering and a public offering of our ordinary shares. We will require additional capital in the future, which we may raise through equity offerings, debt financings, marketing and distribution arrangements and other collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements or other sources to enable us to complete the development and potential commercialization of our product candidates. Furthermore, we expect to continue incurring costs associated with being a public company. Adequate additional financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. Our failure to raise capital as and when needed would have a negative effect on our financial condition and our ability to pursue our business strategy. In addition, attempting to secure additional financing may divert the time and attention of our management from day-to-day activities and harm our product candidate development efforts. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on acceptable terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate certain of our research and development programs.

Based on our cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2020 and the research funding and milestone payments we expect to receive under the Collaboration Agreement, we estimate that such funds will be sufficient to enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the middle of 2023. We have based these estimates on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we may use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources." Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the development of our product candidates, any future product candidates, our platform and technology and because the extent to which we may enter into collaborations with third parties for development of any of our product candidates is unknown, we are unable to estimate the amounts of increased capital outlays and operating expenses associated with completing the research and development of our product candidates.

Adequate additional funds may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible securities, your ownership interest will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect your rights as a shareholder. Any future debt financing or preferred equity or other 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 and may require the issuance of warrants, which could potentially dilute your ownership interests.

If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances, or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce, or terminate our product development programs or any future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.

Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with drug development, we are unable to predict the timing or amount of increased expenses or when or if we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability. Even if we are able to generate revenue from product sales, we may not become profitable. If we fail to become profitable or are unable to sustain profitability on a continuing basis, then we may be unable to continue our operations at planned levels and be forced to reduce or terminate our operations.



                                      111

Table of Contents

Highlights and Recent Developments

Recent Clinical Development Highlights and Anticipated 2021 Milestones

AAV-AQP1 for the Treatment of Grade 2/3 Radiation-Induced Xerostomia:

? We reported preliminary data from the Phase 1 AQUAx clinical trial in December

2020.

Of the three patients treated in Cohort 1, one patient reached the 12-month

o assessment and two passed the six-month assessment. In all patients, the

investigational gene therapy AAV-hAQP1 has been well tolerated with no dose

limiting toxicity and no serious adverse events reported.

o Encouraging responses have been seen in patient-reported measures of xerostomia

symptoms and in salivary output in the patients treated in Cohort 1.

o Complete resolution of symptoms was observed in the patient who has reached the

12-month timepoint.

We continue to activate clinical trial sites in our Phase 1 AQUAx study, with

? two sites re-opened after shutdowns due to COVID-19, and all five sites are

anticipated to be open and enrolling patients in the first half of 2021.

The single center Phase 1 dose-finding study of AAV-AQP1 at the National

? Institutes of Health (NIH) also continues to enroll patients. Enrollment in the

fourth dose escalation cohort is now ongoing.

AAV-RPGR for the Treatment of X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa (XLRP):

? We and our development partner Janssen are preparing to initiate the Phase 3

Lumeos clinical trial.

? In 2020, we and Janssen were granted Priority Medicines (PRIME) and Advanced

Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) designations for AAV-RPGR.

In 2020, we and Janssen announced positive 6-, 9- and 12-month data from the

? Phase 1/2 clinical study (MGT009) of AAV-RPGR at the American Society of Retina

Specialists (ASRS) Annual Meeting, the European Society of Retina Specialists

(EURETINA), and the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting:

Data from each time point demonstrated that patients treated with low and

intermediate dose AAV-RPGR experienced statistically significant improvement in

o retinal sensitivity. Nine-month data also indicated significant improvement in

vision-guided mobility. At 12-months, six of seven patients continued to show

improved or stable vision in the treated eye.

AAV-GAD for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease:

We anticipate filing an Investigational New Drug application (IND) by the third

? quarter of 2021, with material that has been manufactured with our in-house

proprietary manufacturing process at our cGMP manufacturing facility in London.

AAV-RPE65 for the Treatment of RPE65-associated Retinal Dystrophy:

? We anticipate initiating a Phase 3 pivotal trial of AAV-RPE65 in the second


   half of 2021.



AAV-CNGB3 and AAV-CNGA3 for the Treatment of Achromatopsia (ACHM):

We and Janssen continue to advance our ongoing clinical development of

? AAV-CNGB3 and AAV-CNGA3 for the treatment of ACHM associated with mutations in

the CNGB3 and CNGA3 genes.

On January 26, 2021 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast

o Track designation to our AAV-CNGA3 gene therapy product candidate for the

treatment of ACHM caused by mutations in the CNGA3 gene.

We and Janssen have now completed dosing of both adults and pediatric patients

o in the Phase 1/2 dose escalation study of AAV-CNGA3 and expect to provide an

update on further clinical studies for both AAV-CNGB3 and AAV-CNGA3 later in


   2021.






                                      112

  Table of Contents

Riboswitch Gene Regulation Platform:

We expect to present in-vivo data from our proprietary riboswitch gene

? regulation platform in the second half of 2021, demonstrating regulation of

multiple therapeutic genes in multiple tissues.

Recent Corporate Development Highlights

Second Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility and Plasmid and DNA Production Facility

We expanded our industry-leading manufacturing capabilities by acquiring and

? building a second wholly owned cGMP viral vector manufacturing facility as well

as a cGMP plasmid and DNA production facility located in Shannon, Ireland.

The campus encompasses approximately 150,000 square feet serving numerous

functions: high capacity cGMP manufacturing hub, clinical supply storage, QC

? laboratories for global release, up to ten flexible and scalable viral vector

suites, fully scalable automated fill and finish, an extensive warehouse and a

separate internal cGMP plasmid and DNA manufacturing facility.

Construction of the cGMP plasmid and DNA manufacturing facility has been

? completed, with the cGMP viral vector manufacturing facility expected to be

completed by the end of 2021.

Expanding Clinical, Regulatory, Manufacturing, MSAT and Preclinical Development Teams

We continue to increase the number of personnel across key functional areas to

? support our broad pipeline of optimized investigational gene therapies. Our

team now includes more than 215 full-time employees.

Components of Our Results of Operations

License Revenue

Our license revenue consisted of the amortization of the upfront payment we received in connection with the Collaboration Agreement.

Operating Expenses

Our operating expenses since inception have consisted primarily of general and administrative costs and research and development costs.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and other related costs, including share-based compensation, for personnel in our executive, finance, legal, business development and administrative functions. General and administrative expenses also include legal fees relating to intellectual property and corporate matters; professional fees for accounting, auditing, tax and consulting services; insurance costs; travel expenses; and office facility-related expenses, which include direct depreciation costs.

We expect that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the future as we increase our personnel headcount to support increased research and development activities. We have also incurred and expect to continue to incur increased expenses associated with being a public company, including costs of accounting, audit, legal, regulatory and tax-related services associated with maintaining compliance with Nasdaq and SEC requirements; director and officer insurance costs; and investor and public relations costs.



                                      113

Table of Contents

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for our research activities, including our discovery efforts, and the development of our product candidates, and include:

? employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits and travel of our

research and development personnel;

expenses incurred in connection with third-party vendors that conduct clinical

? and preclinical studies and manufacture the drug product for the clinical

trials and preclinical activities;

? acquisition of in process research and development;

costs associated with clinical and preclinical activities including costs

? related to facilities, supplies, rent, insurance, certain legal fees,

share-based compensation, and depreciation; and

? expenses incurred with the development and operation of our manufacturing

facilities.

We expense research and development costs as incurred.

Research and development activities are central to our business model. We expect that our research and development expenses will continue to increase substantially for the foreseeable future as we initiate additional preclinical and clinical trials of our existing product candidates, including the planned advancement of AAV-RPGR into the Phase 3 Lumeos clinical trial for the treatment of patients with XLRP and the initiation of a Phase 3 clinical trial of AAV-RPE65 for the treatment of retinal dystrophy associated with mutations in the RPE65 gene, and continue to discover and develop additional product candidates. Certain of these increases in research and development costs will be partially offset by the research funding provided in connection with the Collaboration Agreement we entered into in January 2019.

We cannot determine with certainty the duration and costs of future clinical trials of our product candidates or any other product candidate we may develop or if, when, or to what extent we will generate revenue from the commercialization and sale of any product candidate for which we obtain marketing approval. We may never succeed in obtaining marketing approval for any product candidate. The duration, costs and timing of clinical trials and development of our existing product candidates or any other product candidate we may develop will depend on a variety of factors, including:

the scope, rate of progress, expense and results of clinical trials of our

? existing product candidates, as well as of any future clinical trials of other

product candidates and other research and development activities that we may

conduct;

? uncertainties in clinical trial design and patient enrollment rates;

the actual probability of success for our product candidates, including the

? safety and efficacy, early clinical data, competition, manufacturing capability

and commercial viability;

? significant and changing government regulation and regulatory guidance;

? the timing and receipt of any marketing approvals; and




                                      114

  Table of Contents

? the expense of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims

and other intellectual property rights.

A change in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development of a product candidate could mean a significant change in the costs and timing associated with the development of that product candidate. For example, if the FDA or another U.S. or foreign regulatory authority were to require us to conduct clinical trials beyond those that we anticipate will be required for the completion of clinical development of a product candidate, or if we experience significant delays in our clinical trials due to patient enrollment or other reasons, we would be required to expend significant additional financial resources and time on the completion of clinical development.

Other non-operating income (expense)

Other non-operating income (expense) includes the following:

Foreign currency (loss) gain

Our consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, which is our reporting currency. The financial position and results of operations of our subsidiaries MeiraGTx UK II Limited, MeiraGTx Ireland DAC, MeiraGTx Netherlands B.V. and MeiraGTx B.V. are measured using the foreign subsidiaries' local currency as the functional currency. These entities' cash accounts holding U.S. dollars and intercompany payables and receivables are remeasured based upon the exchange rate at the date of remeasurement with the resulting gain or loss included in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. Expenses of such subsidiaries have been translated into U.S. dollars at average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Assets and liabilities have been translated at the rates of exchange on the consolidated balance sheet date. The resulting translation gain and loss adjustments are recorded directly as a separate component of shareholders' equity and as other comprehensive loss on the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

Management's discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgements that affect the reporting amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our consolidated financial statements. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgements, including those related to license and collaboration revenue, share-based compensation and accrued expenses. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgements about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from our sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions.

While our significant accounting policies are described in more detail in the notes to our financial statements appearing in this Form 10-K, we believe that the following accounting policies are those most critical to the judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.

Collaboration Arrangements

We evaluate our collaborative arrangements pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 808, Collaborative Arrangements ("ASC 808") and ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASC 606"). We consider the nature and contractual terms of collaborative arrangements and assess whether the arrangement involves a joint operating activity pursuant to which we are an active participant and are exposed to significant risks and rewards with respect to the arrangement. If we are an active participant and exposed to significant risks and rewards with respect to the arrangement, we account for the arrangement as a collaboration under ASC 808. To date, we have entered into two



                                      115

Table of Contents

separate collaboration agreements, both of which are with Janssen, which were determined to be within the scope of ASC 808.

ASC 808 does not address recognition or measurement matters related to collaborative arrangements. Payments between participants pursuant to a collaborative arrangement that are within the scope of other authoritative accounting literature on income statement classification are accounted for using the relevant provisions of that literature. If the payments are not within the scope of other authoritative accounting literature, the income statement classification for the payments is based on an analogy to authoritative accounting literature or if there is no appropriate analogy, a reasonable, rational and consistently applied accounting policy election. Payments received from a collaboration partner to which this policy applies may include upfront payments in respect of a license of intellectual property, development and commercialization-based milestones, and royalties.

Revenue Recognition

Arrangements with collaborators may include licenses to intellectual property, research and development services, manufacturing services for clinical and commercial supply, and participation on joint steering committees. We evaluate the promised goods or services to determine which promises, or group of promises, represent performance obligations. In contemplation of whether a promised good or service meets the criteria required of a performance obligation, we consider the stage of development of the underlying intellectual property, the capabilities and expertise of the customer relative to the underlying intellectual property, and whether the promised goods or services are integral to or dependent on other promises in the contract. When accounting for an arrangement that contains multiple performance obligations, we must develop judgmental assumptions, which may include market conditions, reimbursement rates for personnel costs, development timelines and probabilities of regulatory success to determine the stand-alone selling price for each performance obligation identified in the contract.

When we conclude that a contract should be accounted for as a combined performance obligation and recognized over time, we must then determine the period over which revenue should be recognized and the method by which to measure revenue. We generally recognize revenue using a cost-based input method.

The Collaboration Agreement is accounted for under ASC 808, however, as ASC 808 does not address recognition or measurement matters such as determining the appropriate unit of accounting or when the recognition criteria are met, we account for the consideration received from Janssen in accordance with ASC 606. In accordance with ASC 606, we recognize revenue when the customer or collaborator obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that we determine are within the scope of ASC 606, we perform the following five steps:

i. identify the contract(s) with a customer;

ii. identify the performance obligations in the contract;

iii. determine the transaction price;

iv. allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations within the

contract; and

v. recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

We only apply the five-step model to contracts when we determine that it is probable we will collect the consideration we are entitled to in exchange for the goods or services we transfer to the customer.



                                      116

Table of Contents

At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be by analogy within the scope of ASC 606, we assess the goods or services promised within the contract to determine whether each promised good or service is a performance obligation. The promised goods or services for our arrangements typically consist of a license to our intellectual property and research, development and manufacturing services. We may provide options to additional items in such arrangements, which are accounted for as separate contracts when the customer elects to exercise such options, unless the option provides a material right to the customer. Performance obligations are promises in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer that (i) the customer can benefit from on its own or together with other readily available resources, and (ii) is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. Goods or services that are not individually distinct performance obligations are combined with other promised goods or services until such combined group of promises meet the requirements of a performance obligation.

We determine transaction prices based on the amount of consideration we expect to receive for transferring the promised goods or services in the contract. Consideration may be fixed, variable, or a combination of both. At contract inception for arrangements that include variable consideration, we estimate the probability and extent of consideration we expect to receive under the contract utilizing either the most likely amount method or expected amount method, whichever best estimates the amount expected to be received. We then consider any constraints on the variable consideration and include in the transaction price variable consideration to the extent it is deemed probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved.

We then allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation based on the relative standalone selling price and recognize as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) control is transferred to the customer and the performance obligation is satisfied. For performance obligations which consist of licenses and other promises, we utilize judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress. We evaluate the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjust the measure of performance and related revenue recognition.

We record amounts as accounts receivable when the right to consideration is deemed unconditional. When consideration is received, or such consideration is unconditionally due, from a customer prior to transferring goods or services to the customer under the terms of a contract, a contract liability is recorded as deferred revenue.

Amounts received prior to satisfying the revenue recognition criteria are recognized as deferred revenue in our consolidated balance sheet. Amounts expected to be recognized as revenue within the 12 months following the balance sheet date are classified as deferred revenue - related party, current. Amounts not expected to be recognized as revenue within the 12 months following the balance sheet date are classified as deferred revenue - related party.

Income Taxes

Since we have recurring losses and a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets, there was no tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

As of December 31, 2020, we had federal and state net operating losses ("NOLs") in the United States of approximately $34.7 million and $34.4 million, respectively, and carryforward tax losses in the UK of approximately $142.2 million and in the Netherlands of approximately $26.1 million, which are available to reduce future taxable income. The U.S. federal and state NOLs incurred prior to January 1, 2018 in the amount of approximately $6.8 million and $6.7 million, respectively, will begin to expire in 2036. The U.S. NOLs incurred after December 31, 2017 and the UK carryforward tax losses will be indefinitely carried forward. The Netherlands carryforward tax losses expire after nine years from the date incurred prior to 2019 and six years for tax losses incurred after 2018. As of December 31, 2020, we also had orphan drug and research and development credits in the U.S. in the amount of $5.1 million, which



                                      117

  Table of Contents

will begin to expire 2036 and research and development credits in the UK in the amount of $1.2 million, which can be carried forward indefinitely.

Leases

We account for leases in accordance with ASC 842. We determine if an arrangement is a lease at contract inception. A lease exists when a contract conveys the right to control the use of identified property, plant, or equipment for a period of time in exchange for consideration. The definition of a lease embodies two conditions: (1) there is an identified asset in the contract that is land or a depreciable asset (i.e., property, plant, and equipment), and (2) we have the right to control the use of the identified asset. We account for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component.

From time to time we enter into direct financing lease arrangements that include a lessee obligation to purchase the leased asset at the end of the lease term, a bargain purchase option, or provides for minimum lease payments with a present value of 90% or more of the fair value of the leased asset at the date of lease inception.

Operating leases where we are the lessee are included in right-of-use ("ROU") assets and lease obligations are included on our consolidated balance sheets. The lease obligations are initially and subsequently measured at the present value of the unpaid lease payments at the lease commencement date and subsequent reporting periods.

Finance leases where we are the lessee are included in ROU assets and lease obligations on our consolidated balance sheets. The lease obligations are initially measured in the same manner as for operating leases and are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method.

Key estimates and judgments include how we determined (1) the discount rate we use to discount the unpaid lease payments to present value, (2) lease term and (3) lease payments.

ASC 842 requires a lessee to discount its unpaid lease payments using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, its incremental borrowing rate. As most of our leases where we are the lessee do not provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. Our incremental borrowing rate for a lease is the rate of interest we would have to pay on a collateralized basis to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments under similar terms. We use the implicit rate when readily determinable.

The lease term for all of our leases includes the non-cancellable period of the lease plus any additional periods covered by either a lessee option to extend (or not to terminate) the lease that is reasonably certain to be exercised, or an option to extend (or not to terminate) the lease controlled by the lessor.

The ROU asset is initially measured at cost, which comprises the initial amount of the lease liability adjusted for lease payments made at or before the lease commencement date less any lease incentives received.

For operating leases, the ROU asset is subsequently measured throughout the lease term at the carrying amount of the lease liability, minus any accrued lease payments, less the unamortized balance of lease incentives received. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

For finance leases, the ROU asset is subsequently amortized using the straight-line method from the lease commencement date to the earlier of the end of its useful life or the end of the lease term unless the lease transfers ownership of the underlying asset to us, or we are reasonably certain to exercise an option to purchase the underlying asset. In those cases, the ROU asset is amortized over the useful life of the underlying asset. Amortization of the ROU asset is recognized and presented separately from interest expense on the lease liability.



                                      118

  Table of Contents

We have elected not to recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for all short-term leases that have a lease term of 12 months or less at lease commencement. We recognize the lease payments associated with our short-term leases as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Research and Development

Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred. These costs include, but are not limited to, employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits and travel of our research and development personnel; expenses incurred under agreements with contract research organizations and investigative sites that conduct clinical and preclinical studies and manufacture the drug product for the clinical studies and preclinical activities; acquisition of in-process research and development; facilities; supplies; rent, insurance, certain legal fees, stock-based compensation, depreciation and other costs associated with clinical and preclinical activities and regulatory operations. Research funding under collaboration agreements and refundable research and development credits / tax credits received are recorded as an offset to these costs.

Costs for certain development activities, such as outside research programs funded by us, are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks with respect to their actual costs incurred. Payments for these activities are based on the terms of the individual arrangements, which may differ from the pattern of costs incurred, and are reflected in the financial statements as prepaid or accrued research and development expense, as the case may be.

Share-Based Compensation

Options

We grant share options to employees, non-employee members of our board of directors and non-employee consultants as compensation for services performed. Employee and non-employee members of the board of directors' awards of share-based compensation are accounted for in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, or ASC 718. ASC 718 requires all share-based payments to employees and non-employee directors, including grants of share options, to be recognized in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss based on their grant date fair values. The grant date fair value of share options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option valuation model.

Using this model, fair value is calculated based on assumptions with respect to (i) the fair value of our ordinary shares on the grant date; (ii) expected volatility of our ordinary share price, (iii) the periods of time over which employees and members of our board of directors are expected to hold their options prior to exercise (expected term), (iv) expected dividend yield on our ordinary shares, and (v) risk-free interest rates.

Our ordinary shares were not traded on a public exchange prior to our IPO in June 2018. Therefore, we believe that our future volatility will differ materially during the expected term from the volatility that would be calculated from our historical share prices to date. Consequently, expected volatility is based on an analysis of guideline companies in accordance with ASC 718. The expected dividend yield is zero as we have never paid dividends and do not currently anticipate paying any in the foreseeable future. Risk-free interest rates are based on quoted U.S. Treasury rates for securities with maturities approximating the option's expected term.

Restricted Share Units

The Company grants restricted share units ("RSUs") to employees and non-employee consultants as compensation for services performed. Awards of RSUs are accounted for in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, or ASC 718. ASC 718 requires all share-based payments to employees and non-employee directors, including grants of RSUs, to be recognized in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss



                                      119

Table of Contents

based on their grant date fair values. The grant date fair value of RSUs is determined using the closing market price of the Company's ordinary shares on the date of grant.

Restricted Shares

In connection with certain employment, service and research agreements, we have granted restricted ordinary shares as compensation. The shares are recognized in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss based on their grant date fair values. Compensation cost relating to share grants with service-based graded vesting schedules is recognized based on the vesting schedule.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019




                                                 2020              2019            Change
License revenue - related party             $   15,562,985    $   13,291,956    $   2,271,029
Operating expenses:
General and administrative                      44,206,921        46,684,297      (2,477,376)
Research and development                        33,910,481        24,875,659        9,034,822
Total operating expenses                        78,117,402        71,559,956        6,557,446
Loss from operations                          (62,554,417)      (58,268,000)      (4,286,417)
Other non-operating income (expense)
Foreign currency gain                            3,426,152         3,199,774          226,378
Interest income                                  1,275,464           370,603          904,861
Interest expense                                 (139,203)          (48,612)         (90,591)
Net loss                                      (57,992,004)      (54,746,235)      (3,245,769)
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation for the
years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019,
respectively                                   (3,102,864)       (2,087,708)      (1,015,156)
Total comprehensive loss                    $ (61,094,868)    $ (56,833,943)    $ (4,260,925)




License Revenue

License revenue was $15.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $13.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. This increase represents the increased amortization of the $100.0 million upfront payment received in connection with the Collaboration Agreement.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses were $44.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $46.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease of $2.5 million was primarily due to a decrease in payroll and payroll related costs of $6.9 million and travel expenses of $1.0 million, which was partially offset by increases in insurance of $2.3 million, share-based compensation of $1.5 million, rent of $1.1 million, professional fees of $0.2 million and $0.3 in other general and administrative expenses.



                                      120

Table of Contents

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows (in millions):




                                             2020        2019       Change

Gross research and development expenses $ 96.6 $ 65.0 $ 31.6 Janssen reimbursements

                       (57.4)      (28.1)      (29.3)
Tax incentive reimbursement                   (5.3)      (12.0)         6.7

Research and development expenses $ 33.9 $ 24.9 $ 9.0

Gross research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 increased $31.6 million as compared to the prior year primarily due to an increase in manufacturing of our clinical trial materials of $12.2 million, payroll and payroll related costs of $8.3 million, acquired research and development of $7.7 million, depreciation of $1.4 million, rent and facility costs of $1.2 million and share-based compensation of $1.0 million, which was partially offset by a decrease in research and clinical trial costs related to our ophthalmology and salivary gland programs of $1.2 million.

Reimbursements under the Collaboration Agreement for the year ended December 31, 2020 increased $29.3 million as compared to the prior year primarily due to an increase in activity in the programs licensed under the Collaboration Agreement.

Tax incentive reimbursement for the year ended December 31, 2020 decreased $6.7 million as compared to the prior year primarily due to the 2018 and 2019 UK refundable research and development credit being recorded in 2019. In 2020, only the 2020 UK refundable research and development credit was recorded.

Foreign Currency Gain

Foreign currency gain was $3.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to a gain of $3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The change of $0.2 million was primarily due to a strengthening of the pound sterling and euro against the U.S. dollar in 2020.

Interest Income

Interest income was $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase was due to a higher average cash balance during 2020 and a reallocation of funds into an account earning a higher interest rate.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Since our inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. For the year ended December 31, 2020, we used $64.0 million in cash flows from operations. We did not generate positive cash flows from operations during the year and there are no assurances that we will generate positive cash flows in the future. Additionally, there are no assurances that we will be successful in obtaining an adequate level of financing for the development and commercialization of our product candidates. We expect to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future as we advance the preclinical and clinical development of our product candidates. We expect that our research and development and general and administrative costs will increase in connection with conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials for our product candidates, building out internal capacity to have products manufactured to support preclinical studies and clinical trials, expanding our intellectual property portfolio, and providing general and administrative support for our operations. In addition, on August 4, 2020 we entered into agreements to acquire our



                                      121

  Table of Contents

second cGMP viral vector manufacturing facility and our first cGMP plasmid and DNA production facility in Shannon, Ireland to expand our manufacturing and supply chain capabilities. We closed on the acquisition of the first building in August 2020 and closed on the second building in January 2021. As a result of these incurred and expected expenses, we raised additional funds during the year ended December 31, 2020 as further described below, and will need to raise additional capital in the future to fund our operations, which we may obtain from additional equity or debt financings, collaborations, licensing arrangements, or other sources.

We do not currently have any approved products and have never generated any revenue from product sales. We have historically financed our operations primarily through cash on hand and proceeds from the sale of our ordinary shares, series A ordinary shares and convertible preferred C shares. In March 2019, we received $100.0 million in connection with the Collaboration Agreement, which also provides us with research funding, and we are eligible to receive potential milestone payments and royalties.

Based on our current cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2020 and the research funding and milestone payments we expect to receive under the Collaboration Agreement, we estimate that we will be able to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the middle of 2023. We have based these estimates on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we expect.

Cash Flows

We had $209.5 million and $227.4 million of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.



The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for the period
presented:


                                                         For the years ended December 31,
                                                              2020                 2019

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities $ (63,967,799) $ 20,044,897 Net cash used in investing activities

                        (37,020,433)        (9,370,081)
Net cash provided by financing activities                      82,727,383        148,234,904
(Decrease) increase in cash                            $     (18,260,849)     $  158,909,720




Operating Activities

During the year ended December 31, 2020, our cash used in operating activities of $64.0 million was primarily due to our net loss of $58.0 million as we incurred expenses associated with research activities on our clinical programs, manufacturing of our clinical trial materials, preclinical research programs and general and administrative expenses. The net loss included non-cash charges of $26.7 million, which consisted of $7.7 million for acquired research and development, $18.4 million of share-based compensation, $3.4 million of a foreign currency gain and $4.1 million of depreciation and amortization. Additionally, operating assets, consisting of accounts receivable-related party, prepaid expenses, tax incentive receivable, security deposits and other current assets, increased by $20.8 million and operating liabilities, consisting of accounts payable, accrued expenses, and deferred revenue-related party, decreased by $11.9 million.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, our cash provided by operating activities of $20.0 million was primarily due to our receipt of a $100.0 million upfront payment received from the Collaboration Agreement, which was partially offset by a net loss of $54.8 million as we incurred expenses associated with research activities on our clinical programs and research activities for our other product candidates and incurred general and administrative expenses. The net loss included non-cash charges of $4.8 million, which consisted of $16.0 million of share-based compensation, $2.0 million for shares issued in connection with license agreements, depreciation of $2.2 million and lease obligations of $1.1 million, which was partially offset by a foreign currency gain of $3.2 million. Additionally, operating assets,



                                      122

Table of Contents

consisting of accounts receivable, prepaid expenses, tax incentive receivable, security deposits and other current assets, increased by $35.5 million and operating liabilities, consisting of accounts payable, accrued expenses, and deferred revenue, increased by $92.2 million.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 of $37.0 million consisted primarily of $14.0 million in payments for the acquisition of the first building and long-term lease for our manufacturing facilities in Ireland, $2.1 million for the purchase of an intangible asset and $20.9 million for purchases of property and equipment for our manufacturing, laboratory and process development facilities and buildout costs of our facilities in the UK and Ireland.

Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2019 of $9.4 million consisted primarily of purchases of property and equipment for our manufacturing, laboratory and process development facilities and buildout costs of our new facilities in the UK.

Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities was $82.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, which consisted primarily of gross proceeds of $87.0 million from an at-the market offering and a public offering of our ordinary shares, which was offset by $5.1 million in offering costs, as well as $0.8 million from the exercise of share options.

Net cash provided by financing activities was $148.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, which consisted primarily of gross proceeds of $155.2 million from a private placement and a public offering of our ordinary shares, which was offset by $7.5 million in offering costs.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have not entered into any off-balance sheet arrangements under applicable SEC rules and do not have any holdings in variable interest entities.

Emerging Growth Company Status

The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, (the "JOBS Act"), permits an "emerging growth company," which we are, to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to take advantage of this extended transition period.

© Edgar Online, source Glimpses