Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Basis of consolidation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities and expenses of DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc., and our wholly-owned subsidiaries, DiaMedica USA, Inc. and DiaMedica Australia Pty Ltd. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

 

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Functional Currency [Policy Text Block]

Functional currency

 

The United States dollar is our functional currency as it represents the economic effects of the underlying transactions, events and conditions and various other factors including the currency of historical and future expenditures and the currency in which funds from financing activities are mostly generated by the Company. A change in the functional currency occurs only when there is a material change in the underlying transactions, events and condition. A change in functional currency could result in material differences in the amounts recorded in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for foreign exchange gains and losses. All amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and cash equivalents

 

The Company considers all bank deposits, including money market funds, and other investments, purchased with an original maturity to the Company of three months or less, to be cash and cash equivalents. The carrying amount of our cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short maturity of the investments.

 

Marketable Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Marketable securities

 

The Company’s marketable securities typically consist of obligations of the United States government and its agencies, bank certificates of deposit and investment grade corporate obligations, which are classified as available-for-sale and included in current assets. All marketable securities mature within twelve months from their date of purchase and generally are intended to fund current operations. Securities are valued based on market prices for similar assets using third party certified pricing sources. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported as a component of shareholders’ equity in accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss). The amortized cost of debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity. Such amortization or accretion is included in interest income. Realized gains and losses, if any, are calculated on the specific identification method and are included in other income in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

Available-for-sale securities are reviewed for possible impairment at least quarterly, or more frequently if circumstances arise that may indicate impairment. When the fair value of the securities declines below the amortized cost basis and impairment is indicated, it must be determined whether the impairment is other than temporary. Impairment is considered to be other than temporary if the Company: (i) intends to sell the security, (ii) will more likely than not be forced to sell the security before recovering its cost, or (iii) does not expect to recover the security’s amortized cost basis. If the decline in fair value is considered other than temporary, the cost basis of the security is adjusted to its fair market value and the realized loss is reported in earnings. Subsequent increases or decreases in fair value are reported as a component of shareholders’ equity in accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss). There were no other-than-temporary unrealized losses as of December 31, 2021.

 

Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair value measurements

 

Under the authoritative guidance for fair value measurements, fair value is defined as the exit price, or the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date. The authoritative guidance also establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the factors market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability developed based upon the best information available in the circumstances. The categorization of financial assets and financial liabilities within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

The hierarchy is broken down into three levels defined as follows:

 

Level 1 Inputs — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities

Level 2 Inputs — observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities

Level 3 Inputs — unobservable inputs

 

As of December 31, 2021, the Company believes that the carrying amounts of its other financial instruments, including amounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, approximate their fair value due to the short-term maturities of these instruments. See Note 4, titled “Marketable Securities” for additional information.

Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Concentration of credit risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. The Company maintains its cash balances primarily with two financial institutions. These balances generally exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk in cash and cash equivalents. The Company believes that the credit risk related to marketable securities is limited due to the adherence to an investment policy focused on the preservation of principal.

 

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Long-lived assets

 

Property and equipment are stated at purchased cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives of three to ten years for office equipment and four years for computer equipment. Upon retirement or sale, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the consolidated balance sheets and the resulting gain or loss is reflected in the consolidated statements of operations. Repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.

 

Long-lived assets are evaluated for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset or related group of assets may not be recoverable. If the expected future undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is recognized at that time. Measurement of impairment may be based upon appraisal, market value of similar assets or discounted cash flows.

Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Research and development costs

 

Research and development costs include expenses incurred in the conduct of human clinical trials, for third-party service providers performing various treatment, testing, data accumulation and analysis related to clinical studies; sponsored non-clinical research; developing the manufacturing process necessary to produce sufficient amounts of the DM199 compound for use in our clinical studies; consulting resources with specialized expertise related to execution of our development plan for our DM199 or other product candidates; and personnel costs, including salaries, benefits and share-based compensation.

 

We charge research and development costs, including clinical trial costs, to expense when incurred. Our human clinical trials are performed at clinical trial sites and are administered jointly by us with assistance from various contract research organizations. Costs of setting up clinical trial sites are accrued upon execution of the study agreement. Expenses related to the performance of clinical trials are recorded or accrued based on actual invoices received and estimates of work completed to date by contract research organizations, outside contractors and clinical trial sites that assist with management and performance of the trials, and those that manufacture the investigational product. We obtain initial estimates of accrued costs based on the trial protocol, actual enrollment of subjects, trial duration, project and data management costs, patient treatment costs and other activities as required by the trial protocol. Additionally, actual costs may be charged to us and are recognized as the tasks are completed by the clinical trial site. Accrued clinical trial costs may be subject to revisions as clinical trials progress and any revisions are recorded in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revisions become known.

Patent Costs [Policy Text Block]

Patent costs

 

Costs associated with applying for, prosecuting and maintaining patents are expensed as incurred given the uncertainty of patent approval and, if approved, the resulting probable future economic benefit to the Company. Patent-related costs, consisting primarily of legal expenses and filing/maintenance fees, are included in general and administrative costs and were $96,000 and $105,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

Compensation Related Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Share-based compensation

 

The cost of employee and non-employee services received in exchange for awards of equity instruments is measured and recognized based on the estimated grant date fair value of those awards. Compensation cost is recognized ratably using the straight-line attribution method over the vesting period, which is considered to be the requisite service period. We record forfeitures in the periods in which they occur.

 

The fair value of option awards is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The determination of the fair value of share-based awards is affected by our share price, as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. Risk free interest rates are based upon United States Government bond rates appropriate for the expected term of each award. Expected volatility rates are based on the historical volatility over a term equal to the expected life of the option. The assumed dividend yield is zero, as we do not expect to declare any dividends in the foreseeable future. The expected term of options is estimated considering the vesting period at the grant date, the life of the option and the average length of time similar grants have remained outstanding in the past.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income taxes

 

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted rates, for each of the jurisdictions in which the Company operates, expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in operations in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company has provided a full valuation allowance against the gross deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. See Note 14, “Income Taxes” for additional information. The Company’s policy is to classify interest and penalties related to income taxes as income tax expense.

 

Government Assistance [Policy Text Block]

Government assistance

 

Government assistance relating to research and development performed by DiaMedica Australia Pty Ltd. is recorded as a component of other (income) expense. Government assistance is recognized when the related expenditures are incurred. No study activities were undertaken by DiaMedica Australia during 2021. We recognized $205,000 of other income related to research activities performed in 2020.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Net loss per share

 

We compute net loss per share by dividing our net loss (the numerator) by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding (the denominator) during the period. Shares issued during the period and shares reacquired during the period, if any, are weighted for the portion of the period that they were outstanding. The computation of diluted earnings per share, or EPS, is similar to the computation of basic EPS except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the dilutive potential common shares had been issued. Our diluted EPS is the same as basic EPS due to the exclusion of common share equivalents as their effect would be anti-dilutive.

 

The following table summarizes our calculation of net loss per common share for the periods presented (in thousands, except share and per share data):

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

2021

   

2020

 

Net loss

  $ (13,592 )   $ (12,292 )

Weighted average shares outstanding—basic and diluted

    20,773,399       15,680,320  

Basic and diluted net loss per share

  $ (0.65 )   $ (0.78 )

 

The following outstanding potential common shares were not included in the diluted net loss per share calculations as their effects were not dilutive:

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

2021

   

2020

 

Employee and non-employee stock options

    1,896,600       1,389,564  

Common shares issuable under common share purchase warrants

    265,000       265,000  

Common shares issuable upon settlement of deferred stock units

    67,659       47,237  
      2,229,259       1,701,801