Commitments and Contingencies
Operating Lease
In October 2023, the Company executed a noncancelable operating lease for new premises to be used for office, research and development and laboratory purposes (“General Atomics Court Lease”), with the same landlord as the Science Center Drive Lease. The General Atomics Court Lease commenced for accounting purposes in October 2024 when the Company took control of the premises. The General Atomics Court Lease has a five-year term with an option to extend for another three-year period subject to certain conditions, which the Company is not reasonably certain to exercise and therefore was not considered in determining the ROU assets and lease liabilities balance.
As a result of the new lease, the Company received rent abatement from January to October 2024 on the Science Center Drive Lease. This resulted in a modification of the Science Center Drive Lease and a remeasurement of the existing lease liability and the associated right-of-use asset in October 2023. As a result, $0.6 million from the payments of the new lease were allocated to the Science Center Drive Lease, based on a relative standalone selling price analysis.
The Company’s operating lease ROU asset and the related lease liabilities are initially measured at the present value of future lease payments over the lease term. Upon commencement of the new lease, in October 2024, the Company recorded an ROU asset and lease liability of approximately $5.6 million. This includes the $0.6 million allocation, which led to a corresponding decrease in the ROU asset value for the new lease. The lease agreement includes variable payments which are not included in the measurement of the ROU assets and lease liability.
In August 2025, the Company signed an amendment to the General Atomics Court Lease for additional space ("General Atomics Court Lease Expansion"). The General Atomics Court Lease Expansion commenced for accounting purposes in October 2025. The General Atomics Court Lease Expansion expires in December 2027 with an option to extend through October 2029, which the Company is not reasonably certain to exercise and therefore was not considered in determining the ROU assets and lease liabilities balance. Upon commencement of the General Atomics Court Lease Expansion, the Company recorded an additional ROU asset and lease liability of approximately $1.4 million.
In November 2025, the Company leased certain equipment used in connection with its on-going Phase 2 clinical trial of PIPE-791 for the treatment of IPF. The leases are accounted for as operating leases and have lease terms expiring in 2028. The Company recorded an ROU asset and lease liability of approximately $1.9 million.
Below is a summary of the Company’s operating lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 (in thousands, except for years and %):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Years Ended December 31, |
| 2025 | | 2024 |
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | $ | 7,639 | | | $ | 5,467 | |
| | | |
| Operating lease liability obligations, current | $ | 2,341 | | | $ | 1,452 | |
| Operating lease liability obligations, less current portion | 5,909 | | | 4,807 | |
| Total lease liability obligations | $ | 8,250 | | | $ | 6,259 | |
| | | |
| Weighted-average remaining lease term | 3.4 | | 4.4 |
| Weighted-average discount rate | 8.9 | % | | 9.0 | % |
During the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company recognized $1.7 million and $1.1 million, respectively, in operating lease expenses, which are included in operating expenses in the Company's statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Supplemental cash flow information related to operating leases as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Years Ended December 31, |
| 2025 | | 2024 |
| Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities | $ | 1,987 | | | $ | 126 | |
Future minimum lease payments for the Company’s operating lease liabilities as of December 31, 2025 were as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | |
| 2026 | $ | 2,401 | |
| 2027 | 3,517 | |
| 2028 | 2,000 | |
| 2029 | 1,556 | |
| Total minimum lease payments | 9,474 | |
| Less: Amount representing interest | 1,224 | |
| Total lease liability obligations | 8,250 | |
| Less: Current portion of operating lease liabilities | 2,341 | |
| Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion | $ | 5,909 | |
Litigation
From time to time, the Company may become involved in various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our business activities. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company was not a party to any material legal proceedings.
Other Commitments
The Company has various manufacturing, clinical, research and other contracts with vendors in the conduct of the normal course of its business. Such contracts are generally terminable with advanced written notice and payment for any products or services received by the Company through the effective time of termination and any non-cancelable and non-refundable obligations incurred by the vendor at the effective time of the termination. In the case of terminating a clinical trial agreement at a particular site, the Company would also be obligated to provide continued support for appropriate medical procedures at that site until completion or termination.