v3.25.1
Organization and Description of the Business
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2025
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Organization and Description of the Business

1. ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS

Description of Business

 

Tempest Therapeutics, Inc. (“Tempest” or the “Company”) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company moving into late-stage development with a diverse portfolio of targeted and immune-mediated product candidates with the potential to be first-in-class treatments for a wide range of cancers. Tempest’s novel programs range from early research to the lead program, amezalpat (previously known as TPST-1120), that is poised to begin a pivotal study in first-line liver cancer. Tempest is also developing other potential product candidates in its Discovery Research group. The Company is headquartered in Brisbane, California.

 

Reverse Stock Split

On December 3, 2024, the Company held a special meeting of stockholders at which its stockholders approved a proposal to effect an amendment to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation to implement a reverse stock split. On April 4, 2025, the Company’s board of directors approved the filing of a certificate of amendment to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to affect the one-for-thirteen (1:13) reverse stock split of its outstanding common stock (the "Reverse Stock Split").

On April 8, 2025, the Company effected the Reverse Stock Split. Pursuant to their terms, a proportionate adjustment was made to the per share exercise price and number of shares issuable under all of the Company’s outstanding options and warrants, and the number of shares authorized for issuance pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans have been reduced proportionately. The Reverse Stock Split did not reduce the number of authorized shares of common stock and did not alter the par value.

No fractional shares were issued as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. Stockholders of record who would have otherwise been entitled to receive a fractional share received a cash payment in lieu thereof. The Reverse Stock Split affected all stockholders proportionately and did not affect any stockholder’s percentage ownership of the Company’s common stock (except to the extent that the Reverse Stock Split resulted in any stockholder owning only a fractional share).

Liquidity and Going Concern

 

The Company has incurred operating losses since inception. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had $21.5 million of cash and cash equivalents. While the Company has begun to implement cost reductions in 2025, the Company has finite cash resources available to fund its operations. In April 2025, the Company announced plans to explore a full range of strategic alternatives to advance its promising clinical stage programs and maximize stockholder value. Strategic alternatives under consideration may include, but are not limited to, mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, licensing arrangements or other strategic transactions. The Company has retained MTS Health Partners, L.P., an internationally recognized financial advisor with substantial experience in the biotechnology industry, to support it with the strategic evaluation process. If a strategic alternative is not available, the Company will be required to take additional actions to fund the Company’s operations, or it may be forced to wind down its operations. As part of the cost reductions, the Company reduced its workforce by 21 of 26 full-time employees, which became effective April 30, 2025.

 

The Company expects that its existing cash and cash equivalents plus the net proceeds of $1.2 million from the Company’s ATM Program (as described below) will fund the Company’s projected operating expense requirements through less than 12 months from the date our consolidated financial statements were available to be issued. Accordingly, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue to operate as a going concern for a period of 12 months from the date of issuance of these condensed financial statements. The accompanying financial statements were prepared on a going concern basis, which

contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. These financial statements do not include any separate adjustments relating to the recovery of recorded assets or the classification of liabilities; however, such adjustments may be necessary in the future when the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

ATM Program

On July 23, 2021, the Company entered into a sales agreement with Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”), pursuant to which the Company may sell, from time to time at its sole discretion through Jefferies, as its sales agent, shares of its common stock having, up to an aggregate sales price of $100.0 million of its common stock through Jefferies (the “Prior ATM Program”). As of June 20, 2024, the Company had sold an aggregate 9,017,110 shares of its common stock for gross proceeds of $42.7 million ($41.5 million net of commissions and estimated expenses) under the Prior ATM Program. On June 20, 2024, the Company and Jefferies terminated the Prior ATM Program and entered a new Open Market Sale Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) to sell shares of common stock from time to time through Jefferies acting as sales agent (the “ATM Program”). The Company will pay Jefferies a commission up to 3.0% of the gross sales proceeds of any shares of its common stock sold through Jefferies under the ATM Program and also has provided Jefferies with indemnification and contribution rights. Pursuant to the prospectus supplement dated June 20, 2024 filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Company was able to offer and sell up to $205,000,000 of its shares of common stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement. As of March 31, 2025, the Company has sold an aggregate of 133,521 shares of its common stock for proceeds of $1.5 million, pursuant to the ATM Program. As of March 31, 2025, $13.0 million remained available for sale under the ATM Program. Between March 31, 2025 and April 30, 2025, the Company sold 156,028 shares of its common stock for proceeds of $1.2 million, pursuant to the ATM Program. As of April 30, 2025, $11.8 million remained available for sale under the ATM Program.

Under current SEC regulations, if at any time the Company's public float is less than $75.0 million, and for so long as the Company’s public float remains less than $75.0 million, the amount the Company can raise through primary public offerings of securities in any 12-month period using shelf registration statements is limited to an aggregate of one-third of the Company's public float, which is referred to as the baby shelf rules. On February 6, 2025, the Company filed a prospectus supplement with the SEC limiting the availability under the ATM Program to $14.5 million.