Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2025

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Accounting estimates and management judgments reflected in the financial statements include: the accrual of research and development expenses, common stock, stock-based compensation, SAFEs and operating lease liabilities. Although these estimates are based on the Company’s knowledge of current events and actions it may undertake in the future, actual results may materially differ from these estimates and assumptions.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to significant concentration of credit risk consist of cash, cash equivalents, and investments. The Company maintains deposits in federally insured financial institutions in excess of federally insured limits. 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.

Allowance for Credit Losses

For investments in an unrealized loss position, the Company first assesses whether it intends to sell, or is more likely than not that it will be required to sell, the investment before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the investment’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through earnings. For investments that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, the Company considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes in interest rates, and any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security is compared to the amortized cost basis of the investment. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in other comprehensive loss.

Fair Vale of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The accounting guidance defines fair value, establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure for each major asset and liability category measured at fair value on either a recurring or nonrecurring basis. Fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, the accounting guidance establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3 – Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity).

Investments

The Company holds investments in commercial paper, government and government agency bonds, and corporate debt obligations. The Company has classified its investment securities as current assets in the balance sheets because these are considered highly liquid securities and are available for use in current operations. All investments are accounted for as available-for-sale because these investment securities are considered available for use in operations. The Company carries these securities at fair value and reports unrealized gains and losses as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income. The cost of debt securities is adjusted for amortization of purchase premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity. Such amortization and accretion are included in other income, net in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Realized gains and losses on sales of securities are determined using the specific identification method and recorded in other income, net in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, accrued interest receivables on investments were $0.7 million and $0.9 million, respectively, and are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Company’s balance sheets. The Company does not measure an allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivables. For the purposes of identifying and measuring an impairment, accrued interest is excluded from both the fair value and amortized cost basis of the investment. Uncollectible accrued interest receivables associated with an impaired debt security are reversed against interest income upon identification of the impairment. No accrued interest receivables were written off during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in readily available operating accounts, money market funds, and government bonds. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash is comprised of cash that is restricted as to withdrawal or use under the terms of certain contractual agreements. Restricted cash as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, was $0.5 million and $0.3 million, respectively, consisting of collateral for letters of credit related to the Company’s lease agreements and funds to support the Company’s cash secured credit card program, and is included in non-current assets in the balance sheets.

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment, net is stated at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets (generally two to five years). The Company capitalizes laboratory equipment used for research and development if it has alternative future use in research and development or otherwise. Upon retirement or sale, the cost of assets disposed and the related accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in loss from operations. Leasehold improvements are stated at cost and depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life or remaining lease term.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company accounts for the impairment of long-lived assets by reviewing these assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If circumstances require a long-lived asset or asset group to be tested for possible impairment, the Company first compares undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by that asset or asset group to its carrying value. If the carrying value of the long-lived asset or asset group is not recoverable on an undiscounted-cash-flow basis, an impairment is recognized to the extent that the carrying value exceeds its fair value. The Company did not recognize impairment losses for the years ended December 31, 2025 or 2024.

Research and Development Expenses and Accrued Research and Development Costs

Research and development expenses include costs to third-party contractors to perform research and development activities, internal related salaries, benefits, stock-based compensation charges for those individuals involved in research and development efforts, and associated overhead expenses. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

The Company is required to estimate its expenses resulting from its obligations under contracts with vendors, consultants, and contract research organizations, in connection with conducting research and development activities. The financial terms of these contracts are subject to negotiations, which vary from contract to contract and may result in payment flows that do not match the periods over which materials or services are provided under such contracts. The Company reflects research and development expenses in its financial statements by matching those expenses with the period in which services and efforts are expended, as measured by the timing of various aspects of the preclinical or clinical study or related activities. The Company determines accrual estimates through review of the underlying contracts along with preparation of financial models taking into account discussions with research and other key personnel as to the progress of studies, or other services being conducted. As of December 31, 2025, the Company has had no material differences between its estimates of such expenses and the amounts actually incurred. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods and services, including fees for process development or manufacturing and distribution of clinical supplies that will be used in future research and development activities, are deferred and recognized as expense in the period that the related goods are consumed, or services are performed, or when it is no longer expected that the goods will be delivered, or the services rendered.

Licenses

Upfront payments and other consideration under license agreements are expensed as research and development expense upon receipt of the license, and annual maintenance fees under license agreements are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.

Certain license agreements include milestone payments which are recognized when it becomes probable that the achievement of certain milestones will be met. The Company records this expense as research and development expense in its statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Patent Costs

The Company expenses all costs as incurred in connection with patent applications (including direct application fees, and the legal and consulting expenses related to making such applications) and such costs are included in general and administrative expenses in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Leases

At the inception of a contractual arrangement, the Company determines whether the contract contains a lease by assessing whether there is an identified asset and whether the contract conveys the right to control the use of the identified asset in exchange for consideration over a period of time. If both criteria are met, the Company records the associated lease liability and corresponding right-of-use (ROU) asset upon commencement of the lease using the implicit rate or a discount rate based on a credit-adjusted secured borrowing rate commensurate with the term of the lease. The Company additionally evaluates leases at their inception to determine if they are to be accounted for as an operating lease or a finance lease. A lease is accounted for as a finance lease if it meets one of the following five

criteria: the lease has a purchase option that is reasonably certain of being exercised, the present value of the future cash flows is substantially all of the fair market value of the underlying asset, the lease term is for a significant portion of the remaining economic life of the underlying asset, the title to the underlying asset transfers at the end of the lease term, or if the underlying asset is of such a specialized nature that it is expected to have no alternative uses to the lessor at the end of the term.

Leases that do not meet the finance lease criteria are accounted for as operating leases. Operating lease assets represent a right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and operating lease liabilities represent an obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease liabilities with a term greater than one year and their corresponding ROU assets are recognized in the balance sheets at the commencement date of the lease based on the present value of lease payments over the expected lease term. Certain adjustments to the ROU asset may be required for items such as initial direct costs paid or incentives received. As the Company’s leases do not typically provide an implicit rate, the Company utilizes the appropriate incremental borrowing rate, determined as the rate of interest that the Company would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term and in a similar economic environment. Lease cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and variable lease payments are recognized as operating expenses in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. Variable lease payments primarily include common area maintenance, utilities, real estate taxes, insurance, and other operating costs that are passed on from the lessor in proportion to the space leased by the Company. The Company has elected the practical expedient to not separate between lease and non-lease components.

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

Stock-based compensation expense represents the cost of the grant date fair value of employee, officer, director and non-employee stock option grants and restricted stock unit grants, estimated in accordance with the applicable accounting guidance, recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The vesting period generally approximates the expected service period of the awards. Additionally, the cost associated with the employee stock purchase plan is included within stock-based compensation expense. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur.

The fair value of stock options is estimated using a Black-Scholes valuation model on the date of grant. This method requires certain assumptions be used as inputs, such as the fair value of the underlying common stock, expected term of the option before exercise, expected volatility of the Company’s common stock, risk-free interest rate and expected dividend yield. Options granted have a maximum contractual term of 10 years. The Company has limited historical stock option activity and therefore estimates the expected term of stock options granted using the simplified method, which represents the arithmetic average of the original contractual term of the stock option and its weighted-average vesting term. The expected volatility of stock options is based upon the historical volatility of a number of publicly traded companies in similar stages of clinical development, as there is limited stock price data available of the Company’s common stock since the IPO. The Company will continue to apply this process until a sufficient amount of historical information regarding the volatility of its own stock price becomes available. The risk-free interest rates used are based on the U.S. Treasury yield in effect at the time of grant for zero-coupon U.S. treasury notes with maturities approximately equal to the expected term of the stock options. The Company has historically not declared or paid any dividends and does not currently expect to do so in the foreseeable future, and therefore has estimated the dividend yield to be zero.

The Company classifies stock-based compensation expense in its statements of operations and comprehensive loss in the same way the award recipient’s salary and related costs are classified or in which the award recipient’s service payments are classified.

Common Stock Valuation

Due to the absence of an active market for the Company’s common stock prior to the IPO, the Company utilized methodologies, approaches and assumptions consistent with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Audit and Accounting Practice Guide: Valuation of Privately-Held Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation to estimate the fair value of its common stock. In determining the exercise prices for options granted, the Company has considered the fair value of the common stock as of the grant date. The fair value of the common stock was determined based upon a variety of factors, including valuations the Company’s common stock

performed by independent third-party valuation specialists; the anticipated capital structure that will directly impact the value of the currently outstanding securities; the Company’s results of operations and financial position; the status of the Company’s research and development efforts; the composition of, and changes to, the Company’s management team and board of directors; the lack of liquidity of the Company’s common stock as a private company; the Company’s stage of development and business strategy and the material risks related to the Company’s business and industry; external market conditions affecting the life sciences and biotechnology industry sectors; U.S. and global economic conditions; the likelihood of achieving a liquidity event for the holders of the Company’s common stock, such as an IPO or a sale of the Company, given prevailing market conditions; and the market value and volatility of comparable companies.

Significant changes to the key assumptions underlying the factors used could result in different fair values of common stock at each valuation date.

Collaboration, License, and Development Support Revenue

The Company recognizes revenue from its collaboration, license and development support agreements, in a manner that depicts the transfer of control of a product or a service to a customer and reflects the amount of the consideration the Company is entitled to receive in exchange for such product or service. In doing so, the Company follows a five-step approach: (i) identify the contract 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; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the customer obtains control of the product or service. The Company considers the terms of a contract and all relevant facts and circumstances when applying the revenue recognition standard. The Company applies the revenue recognition standard, including the use of any practical expedients, consistently to contracts with similar characteristics and in similar circumstances.

A customer is a party that has entered into a contract with the Company, where the purpose of the contract is to obtain a product or a service that is an output of the Company’s ordinary activities in exchange for consideration. To be considered a contract: (i) the contract must be approved (in writing, orally, or in accordance with other customary business practices); (ii) each party’s rights regarding the product or the service to be transferred can be identified; (iii) the payment terms for the product or service to be transferred can be identified; (iv) the contract must have commercial substance (that is, the risk, timing or amount of future cash flows is expected to change as a result of the contract); and (v) it is probable that the Company will collect substantially all of the consideration to which it is entitled to receive in exchange for the transfer of the product or the service.

A performance obligation is defined as a promise to transfer a product or a service to a customer. The Company identifies each promise to transfer a product or a service (or a bundle of products or services, or a series of products and services that are substantially the same and have the same pattern of transfer) that is distinct. A product or a service is distinct if both (i) the customer can benefit from the product or the service either on its own or together with other resources that are readily available to the customer and (ii) the Company’s promise to transfer the product or the service to the customer is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. Each distinct promise to transfer a product or a service is a unit of accounting for revenue recognition. If a promise to transfer a product or a service is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contract, such promises should be combined into a single performance obligation.

The transaction price is the amount of consideration the Company is entitled to receive in exchange for the transfer of control of a product or a service to a customer. To determine the transaction price, the Company considers the existence of any significant financing component, the effects of any variable elements, noncash considerations and consideration payable to the customer. If a significant financing component exists, the transaction price is adjusted for the time value of money. If an element of variability exists, the Company must estimate the consideration it expects to receive and uses that amount as the basis for recognizing revenue as the product or the service is transferred to the customer. There are two methods for determining the amount of variable consideration: (i) the expected value method, which is the sum of probability-weighted amounts in a range of possible consideration amounts; and (ii) the most likely amount method, which identifies the single most likely amount in a range of possible consideration amounts. The amount of variable consideration is included in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved.

If a contract has multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the transaction price to each distinct performance obligation in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company is entitled to receive in exchange for satisfying each distinct performance obligation. For each distinct performance obligation, revenue is recognized when (or as) the Company transfers control of the product or the service applicable to such performance obligation.

Commitments and Contingencies

The Company recognizes a liability with regard to loss contingencies when it believes it is probable a liability has been incurred, and the amount can be reasonably estimated. If some amount within a range of loss appears at the time to be a better estimate than any other amount within the range, the Company accrues that amount. When no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount the Company accrues the minimum amount in the range. The Company has not recorded any such liabilities as of December 31, 2025 or 2024.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined on the basis of the differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets to the extent that the Company believes these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, management considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. If management determines that the Company would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of their recorded amount, management would make an adjustment to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which would reduce the provision for income taxes.

As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company maintained full valuation allowances against its deferred tax assets as the Company concluded it had not met the “more likely than not” to be realized threshold. Changes in the valuation allowance when they are recognized in the provision for income taxes may result in a change in the estimated annual effective tax rate.

The Company records uncertain tax positions on the basis of a two-step process whereby (i) management determines whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (ii) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, management recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the provision for income taxes in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Any accrued interest and penalties are included within the related tax liability in the balance sheets. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had no accrued interest or penalties.

Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive loss consists of net loss in excess of unrealized gains and losses on investments. The Company displays comprehensive loss and its components as part of the statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Net Loss Per Share

Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding for the period. Common stock equivalents are only included when their effect is dilutive. The Company’s potentially dilutive securities

include outstanding stock options and restricted stock units under the Company’s equity incentive plan and have been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share as they would be anti-dilutive to the net loss per share. For all periods presented, there is no difference in the number of shares used to calculate basic and diluted shares outstanding due to the Company’s net loss position.

The following table sets forth the outstanding potentially dilutive securities that have been excluded in the calculation of diluted net loss per share because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024:


	AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025		AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024
Unvested restricted stock units		2,641,007		529,359
Options to purchase common stock		943,092		2,216,215
Total		3,584,099		2,745,574

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (ASU 2020-06). ASU 2020-06 was issued to reduce the complexity associated with accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. ASU 2020-06 reduces the number of accounting models for convertible debt instruments and redeemable convertible preferred stock and improves the disclosures for convertible instruments and related earnings per share guidance. ASU 2020-06 also amends the guidance for the derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity and improves and amends the related earnings per share guidance. For public entities that qualify as a filer with the Securities and Exchange Commission, excluding entities eligible to be smaller reporting companies, ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. For nonpublic entities, ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. ASU 2020-06 must be adopted as of the beginning of a Company’s annual fiscal year. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2024, and the adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on its financial statements.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280)—Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (ASU 2023-07). The update requires entities to disclose their significant segment expense categories and amounts for each reportable segment. Significance is assessed using both quantitative and qualitative factors depending on the facts and circumstances. ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company adopted this standard for the fiscal year 2024 annual financial statements and interim financial statements thereafter and has applied this standard retrospectively for all prior periods presented in the financial statements (see Note 12).

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (ASU 2023-09). ASU 2023-09 requires disaggregated information about a reporting entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation as well as information on income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2025, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this standard for the fiscal year 2025 annual financial statements and has applied this standard retrospectively for all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The adoption impacted the disclosures but did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses (ASU 2024-03). The standard requires that public business entities disclose additional information about specific expense categories in the notes to financial statements for interim and annual reporting periods. The guidance is effective for

annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027. The guidance is applied on a prospective basis, with a retrospective option, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adoption of this standard on our financial statements and disclosures.