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Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - shares	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 09, 2019
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Registrant Name	Galera Therapeutics, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001563577
Entity Current Reporting Status	No
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Entity Ex Transition Period	true
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
Trading Symbol	GRTX
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		24,807,789
Entity File Number	001-39114
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	46-1454898
Entity Address, Address Line One	2 W Liberty Blvd #100
Entity Address, City or Town	Malvern
Entity Address, State or Province	PA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	19355
City Area Code	610
Local Phone Number	725-1500
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 15,719	$ 14,811
Short-term investments	52,226	66,706
Tax incentive receivable		870
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,197	1,465
Total current assets	72,142	83,852
Property and equipment, net	970	568
Acquired intangible asset	2,258	2,258
Goodwill	881	881
Deferred offering costs	2,103
Right-of-use lease asset	876
Other assets	528	497
Total assets	79,758	88,056
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	5,218	3,867
Accrued expenses	3,574	2,577
Lease liability	291
Total current liabilities	9,083	6,444
Royalty purchase liability	42,313	20,220
Deferred rent		12
Lease liability, net of current portion	604
Deferred tax liability	298	298
Total liabilities	52,298	26,974
Redeemable convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value: 96,385,795 shares authorized, issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively (liquidation value of $174,746 at September 30, 2019)	172,080
Stockholders’ deficit:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value: 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding.
Accumulated other comprehensive income	55	3
Accumulated deficit	(144,675)	(104,823)
Total stockholders’ deficit	(144,620)	(104,820)
Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ deficit	79,758	88,056
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
Current liabilities:
Redeemable convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value: 96,385,795 shares authorized, issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively (liquidation value of $174,746 at September 30, 2019)	$ 172,080	$ 165,902

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]
Redeemable convertible preferred stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Redeemable convertible preferred stock, shares authorized (shares)	96,385,795	96,385,795
Redeemable convertible preferred stock, shares issued (shares)	96,385,795	96,385,795
Redeemable convertible preferred stock, shares outstanding (shares)	96,385,795	96,385,795
Redeemable convertible preferred stock, liquidation preference	$ 174,746
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized (shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (shares)	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized (shares)	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (shares)	300,597	300,597
Common stock, shares outstanding (shares)	300,597	300,597

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Operating expenses:
Research and development	$ 11,040	$ 4,162	$ 29,057	$ 11,551
General and administrative	1,816	1,245	5,466	3,846
Loss from operations	(12,856)	(5,407)	(34,523)	(15,397)
Other income (expenses):
Interest income	426	117	1,397	170
Interest expense	(918)		(2,094)
Foreign currency loss	(3)	(11)	(38)	(27)
Loss before income tax benefit	(13,351)	(5,301)	(35,258)	(15,254)
Income tax benefit		52		141
Net loss	(13,351)	(5,249)	(35,258)	(15,113)
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to redemption value	(2,108)	(1,468)	(6,178)	(3,879)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	$ (15,459)	$ (6,717)	$ (41,436)	$ (18,992)
Net loss per share of common stock, basic and diluted	$ (51.43)	$ (22.35)	$ (137.85)	$ (63.18)
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic and diluted	300,597	300,597	300,597	300,597

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net loss	$ (13,351)	$ (5,249)	$ (35,258)	$ (15,113)
Unrealized gain on short-term investments	(26)		52	3
Comprehensive loss	$ (13,377)	$ (5,249)	$ (35,206)	$ (15,110)

- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

+ References + Details

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Accumulated Deficit
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ (76,105)				$ (3)	$ (76,102)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		64,689,359
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017		$ 90,148
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017			300,597
Share-based compensation expense	208			$ 208
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to redemption value	(1,205)	$ 1,205		(208)		(997)
Unrealized gain on short-term investments	3				3
Net loss	(5,533)					(5,533)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	(82,632)					(82,632)
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018		64,689,359
Balance at Mar. 31, 2018		$ 91,353
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018			300,597
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	(76,105)				(3)	(76,102)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		64,689,359
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017		$ 90,148
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017			300,597
Unrealized gain on short-term investments	3
Net loss	(15,113)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	(94,440)					(94,440)
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		96,385,795
Balance at Sep. 30, 2018		$ 163,877
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018			300,597
Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	(82,632)					(82,632)
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018		64,689,359
Balance at Mar. 31, 2018		$ 91,353
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018			300,597
Share-based compensation expense	226			226
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to redemption value	(1,206)	$ 1,206		(226)		(980)
Net loss	(4,331)					(4,331)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	(87,943)					(87,943)
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018		64,689,359
Balance at Jun. 30, 2018		$ 92,559
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018			300,597
Sale of Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs		$ 69,850
Sale of Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock,net of issuance costs, shares		31,696,436
Share-based compensation expense	220			220
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to redemption value	(1,468)	$ 1,468		(220)		(1,248)
Net loss	(5,249)					(5,249)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	(94,440)					(94,440)
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		96,385,795
Balance at Sep. 30, 2018		$ 163,877
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018			300,597
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ (104,820)				3	(104,823)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	96,385,795	96,385,795
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 165,902
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	300,597		300,597
Share-based compensation expense	$ 499			499
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to redemption value	(2,011)	$ 2,011		(499)		(1,512)
Unrealized gain on short-term investments	10				10
Net loss	(9,901)					(9,901)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	(116,223)				13	(116,236)
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		96,385,795
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019		$ 167,913
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019			300,597
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ (104,820)				3	(104,823)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	96,385,795	96,385,795
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 165,902
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	300,597		300,597
Unrealized gain on short-term investments	$ 52
Net loss	(35,258)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ (144,620)				55	(144,675)
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019	96,385,795	96,385,795
Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 172,080	$ 172,080
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019	300,597		300,597
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ (116,223)				13	(116,236)
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		96,385,795
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019		$ 167,913
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019			300,597
Share-based compensation expense	565			565
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to redemption value	(2,060)	$ 2,060		(565)		(1,495)
Unrealized gain on short-term investments	68				68
Net loss	(12,006)					(12,006)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	(129,656)				81	(129,737)
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		96,385,795
Balance at Jun. 30, 2019		$ 169,973
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019			300,597
Share-based compensation expense	520			520
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to redemption value	(2,107)	$ 2,107		$ (520)		(1,587)
Unrealized gain on short-term investments	(26)				(26)
Net loss	(13,351)					(13,351)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ (144,620)				$ 55	$ (144,675)
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019	96,385,795	96,385,795
Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 172,080	$ 172,080
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019	300,597		300,597

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended		11 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019
Operating activities:
Net loss	$ (35,258)	$ (15,113)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation	188	86
Noncash interest expense	2,094
Share-based compensation expense	1,584	654
Reserve for tax incentive receivable	241
Deferred tax liability		(141)
Deferred rent	7	(1)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Tax incentive receivable	629	(149)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(2,732)	(168)
Other assets	(31)	(255)
Accounts payable	1,131	(308)
Accrued expense	762	(153)
Cash used in operating activities	(31,385)	(15,548)
Investing activities:
Purchases of short-term investments	(63,468)	(16,406)
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments	78,000	9,000
Purchase of property and equipment	(567)	(48)
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities	13,965	(7,454)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from royalty purchase agreement	20,000		$ 40,000
Proceeds from the sale of Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs		69,850
Payment of deferred offering costs	(1,672)
Cash provided by financing activities	18,328	69,850
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	908	46,848
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	14,811	6,169
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	15,719	53,017	$ 15,719
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to redemption value	6,178	3,879
Deferred offering costs included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	431
Purchase of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	24	$ 268
Initial recognition of operating lease right-of-use asset and operating lease liability	$ 1,084

Organization and Description of Business

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Organization and Description of Business

1.	Organization and description of business

Galera Therapeutics, Inc. was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on November 19, 2012 (inception) and together with its subsidiaries, (the Company, or Galera) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing a pipeline of novel, proprietary therapeutics that have the potential to transform radiotherapy in cancer. The Company’s lead product candidate, GC4419, is a potent and highly selective small molecule dismutase mimetic being developed for the reduction of severe oral mucositis (SOM). In February 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to GC4419 for the reduction of the duration, incidence and severity of SOM induced by radiotherapy with or without systemic therapy. The Company is currently evaluating GC4419 in a Phase 3 registrational trial. In addition to developing GC4419 for the reduction of normal tissue toxicity from radiotherapy, the Company is developing its dismutase mimetics to increase the anti-cancer efficacy of higher daily doses of radiotherapy, including stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). The Company’s second dismutase mimetic product candidate, GC4711, is being developed to increase the anti-cancer efficacy of SBRT and has successfully completed a Phase 1 trial of intravenous GC4711 in healthy volunteers. The Company plans to leverage its observations from the GC4419 SBRT pilot Phase 1b/2a trial in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) to prepare a GC4711 SBRT combination Phase 1b/2a trial in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Reverse Stock Split

The Company effected a one-for-5.056564 reverse stock split of its common stock on October 25, 2019. The reverse stock split combined each approximately five shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock into one share of common stock and correspondingly adjusted the conversion price of its redeemable convertible preferred stock. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split. Any fractional share resulting from the reverse stock split was rounded down to the nearest whole share, and in lieu of any fractional shares, the Company will pay in cash to the holders of such fractional shares an amount equal to the fair value, as determined by the board of directors, of such fractional shares. All common stock, per share and related information presented in the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split.

Liquidity

The Company has incurred recurring losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception and has an accumulated deficit of $144.7 million as of September 30, 2019. The Company anticipates incurring additional losses until such time, if ever, that it can generate significant sales of its product candidates currently in development.

On November 12, 2019, the Company completed an initial public offering (IPO) of its common stock, which resulted in the issuance and sale of 5,000,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $12.00 per share, generating net proceeds of $53.1 million after deducting underwriting discounts and other offering costs. On December 9, 2019, in connection with the partial exercise of the over-allotment option granted to the underwriters of the Company's IPO, 445,690 additional shares of common stock were sold at the IPO price of $12.00 per share, generating net proceeds of approximately $5.0 million after deducting underwriting discounts and other offering costs. Upon the closing of the IPO, all outstanding shares of the Company’s Series A, Series B and Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock were automatically converted into 19,061,502 shares of the Company’s common stock. In addition, upon the closing of the IPO, the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorized the Company to issue up to 200,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share, all of which shares of preferred stock will be undesignated.

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

2.	Basis of presentation and significant accounting policies

The summary of significant accounting policies disclosed in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 included in the Company’s final prospectus dated November 6, 2019 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on November 8, 2019 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) have not materially changed, except as set forth below.

Basis of presentation and consolidation

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) for interim financial information. Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to U.S. GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) and Accounting Standards Updates (ASU) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).

In the opinion of management, the accompanying interim consolidated financial statements include all normal and recurring adjustments (which consist primarily of accruals, estimates and assumptions that impact the financial statements) considered necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2019 and its results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, and statement of changes in redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholder’s deficit and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2019, or for any future period. The interim consolidated financial statements, presented herein, do not contain the required disclosures under U.S. GAAP for annual financial statements. Therefore, these interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual audited consolidated financial statements and related notes as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018, included in the Company’s final prospectus for its IPO dated as of November 6, 2019 and filed with the SEC on November 8, 2019 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Use of estimates

The preparation of unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Estimates and assumptions are periodically reviewed and the effects of revisions are reflected in the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in the period they are determined to be necessary. Significant areas that require management’s estimates include the fair value of common stock, share-based compensation assumptions, and accrued clinical trial expense.

Fair value of financial instruments

Management believes that the carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, including accounts payable and accrued expenses, approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of those instruments. Short-term investments are recorded at their estimated fair value. The royalty purchase liability is accounted for as debt and interest is accreted over the expected repayment period which approximates fair value.

Short-term investments

Short-term investments consist of debt securities with a maturity of greater than three months when acquired. The Company classifies its short-term investments at the time of purchase as available-for-sale securities. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a component of stockholders’ deficit, until realized. Short-term investments at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 consisted of U.S. Treasury obligations with fair values of $52.2 million and $66.7 million, respectively, and unrealized gains of $52,000 and $3,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Tax incentive receivable

The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Galera Therapeutics Australia Pty Ltd (Galera Australia), is eligible to participate in an Australian research and development tax incentive program under which the Company may receive a cash refund from the Australian Taxation Office for a percentage of the research and development costs expended by Galera Australia in Australia. The cash refund is available to companies with an annual aggregate revenue of less than $20.0 million (Australian) during the reimbursable period. The Company’s estimate of the amount of cash refund it expects to receive is included in tax incentive receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and such amounts are recorded as reduction of research and development expense in the statements of operations.

Since November 2018, the Company has received $40.0 million in proceeds from its royalty purchase agreement (Note 6). Proceeds from the royalty purchase agreement are recognized as revenue for income tax reporting purposes in the United States. While the Company believes proceeds from its royalty purchase agreement do not represent recurring revenue streams, the Company has recorded a reserve against the tax incentive receivable in its entirety, recognizing that the Australian tax authorities might take a different position. As of September 30, 2019, the Company had a tax incentive receivable and corresponding reserve of $0.6 million. The Company has requested a private ruling from the Australian Taxation Office regarding its eligibility to participate in the research and development program. Should such eligibility be confirmed, the related tax credit would result in a reduction to the Company’s future research and development expenses.

Property and equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives ranging from three to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their economic lives or the remaining lease term. The costs of maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Improvements and betterments that add new functionality or extend the useful life of the asset are capitalized.

Impairment of long-lived assets

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, then an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset. As of September 30, 2019, the Company believes that no revision of the remaining useful lives or write-down of long-lived assets is required.

Goodwill and acquired intangible asset

In November 2012, the Company completed a Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock (Series A) financing with venture capital investors and simultaneously acquired Galera Therapeutics, LLC (LLC), a limited liability company incorporated in Missouri in 2009. LLC was renamed Galera Labs, LLC in January 2013 and operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The Company applied the purchase method of accounting under which the consideration given to the LLC members and noteholders was allocated to the fair value of the net assets assumed from the LLC at the date of the acquisition. The sole intangible asset acquired represented the fair value of in-process research and development (IPR&D) which has been recorded on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as an indefinite life intangible asset. A deferred tax liability was recorded for the difference between the fair value of the acquired IPR&D and its tax basis of zero which was recognized as goodwill in applying the purchase method of accounting.

Intangible assets related to IPR&D are considered indefinite-lived intangible assets and, along with goodwill, are not amortized, but are assessed for impairment annually or more frequently if impairment indicators exist. For those compounds that reach commercialization, the IPR&D assets will be amortized over their estimated useful lives. If the associated research and development effort related to IPR&D is abandoned, the related assets will be written-off and the Company will record a noncash impairment loss on its consolidated statements of operations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company determined that there was no impairment to goodwill or IPR&D.

Leases

At lease commencement, the Company records a lease liability based on the present value of lease payments over the expected lease term including any options to extend the lease that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise. The Company calculates the present value of lease payments using an incremental borrowing rate as the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit interest rate. The Company’s incremental borrowing rate for a lease is the rate of interest it would have to pay on a collateralized basis to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments under similar terms. At the lease commencement date, the Company records a corresponding right-of-use lease asset based on the lease liability, adjusted for any lease incentives received and any initial direct costs paid to the lessor prior to the lease commencement date. The Company may enter into leases with an initial term of 12 months or less (Short-Term Leases). For Short-Term Leases, the Company records the rent expense on a straight-line basis and does not record the leases on the interim unaudited balance sheet. The Company had no Short-Term Leases as of September 30, 2019 or December 31, 2018.

After lease commencement, the Company measures its leases as follows: (i) the lease liability based on the present value of the remaining lease payments using the discount rate determined at lease commencement, and (ii) the right-of-use lease asset based on the remeasured lease liability, adjusted for any unamortized lease incentives received, any unamortized initial direct costs and the cumulative difference between rent expense and amounts paid under the lease agreement. Any lease incentives received and any initial direct costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term. Rent expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term.

Research and development expenses

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and consist primarily of funds paid to third parties for the provision of services for product candidate development, clinical and preclinical development and related supply and manufacturing costs, and regulatory compliance costs. The Company accrues and expenses preclinical studies and clinical trial activities performed by third parties based upon estimates of the proportion of work completed over the term of the individual trial and patient enrollment rates in accordance with agreements with clinical research organizations and clinical trial sites. The Company determines the estimates by reviewing contracts, vendor agreements and purchase orders, and through discussions with internal clinical personnel and external service providers as to the progress or stage of completion of trials or services and the agreed-upon fee to be paid for such services. However, actual costs and timing of clinical trials are highly uncertain, subject to risks and may change depending upon a number of factors, including the Company’s clinical development plan.

Management makes estimates of the Company’s accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date in the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on facts and circumstances known to the Company at that time. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the estimate, the Company will adjust the accrual accordingly. 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.

Share-based compensation

The Company measures share-based awards at their grant-date fair value and records compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the awards.

Estimating the fair value of share-based awards requires the input of subjective assumptions, including the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock, and, for stock options, the expected life of the options and stock price volatility. The Company accounts for forfeitures of stock option awards as they occur. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to value its stock option awards. The assumptions used in estimating the fair value of share-based awards represent management’s estimate and involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. As a result, if factors change and management uses different assumptions, share-based compensation expense could be materially different for future awards.

The expected life of the stock options is estimated using the “simplified method,” as the Company has no historical information from which to develop reasonable expectations about future exercise patterns and post-vesting employment termination behavior for its stock option grants. The simplified method is the midpoint between the vesting period and the contractual term of the option. For stock price volatility, the Company uses comparable public companies as a basis for its expected volatility to calculate the fair value of option grants. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve commensurate with the expected life of the option.

Income taxes

The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and operating loss and credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company recognizes the benefit of an uncertain tax position that it has taken or expects to take on its income tax return if such a position is more likely than not to be sustained.

Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock

The Company’s redeemable convertible preferred stock is classified as temporary equity in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The carrying values of the redeemable convertible preferred stock are being accreted to their respective redemption values by accruing dividends and issuance costs, using the effective interest method, from the date of issuance to the earliest date the holders can demand redemption. The redemption value is accreted through a charge to additional paid-in-capital, if available, or to accumulated deficit.

Net loss per share

Basic loss per share of common stock is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Diluted loss per share of common stock includes the effect, if any, from the potential exercise or conversion of securities, such as redeemable convertible preferred stock and stock options, which would result in the issuance of incremental shares of common stock. For diluted net loss per share, the weighted-average number of shares of common stock is the same for basic net loss per share due to the fact that when a net loss exists, dilutive securities are not included in the calculation as the impact is anti-dilutive.

The following potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, as they would be anti-dilutive:

	September 30,
	2019		2018
Stock options		3,099,089		2,071,616
Redeemable convertible preferred stock		19,061,502		19,061,502
		22,160,591		21,133,118

Amounts in the above table reflect the common stock equivalents for the redeemable convertible preferred stock.

Recent accounting pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which requires that lease arrangements longer than 12 months result in an entity recognizing an asset and liability on the balance sheet. Additionally, certain qualitative and quantitative disclosures will be required in the financial statements. The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2019 (Note 7) using the modified retrospective transition approach and elected to apply the package of practical expedients.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (Topic 230), which provides specific guidance related to eight cash flow classification issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice for certain cash receipts and cash payments. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2019 and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which removes and modifies some existing disclosure requirements and adds others. This ASU is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods therein. Early adoption is permitted for any eliminated or modified disclosures upon issuance of this ASU. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

3.	Fair value measurements

The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible. The Company determines fair value based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability in the principal or most advantageous market. When considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the following fair value hierarchy distinguishes between observable and unobservable inputs, which are categorized in one of the following levels:

•

Level 1 Inputs: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities accessible to the reporting entity at the measurement date.

•

Level 2 Inputs: Other than quoted prices included in Level 1 inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

•

Level 3 Inputs: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at measurement date.

The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (amounts in thousands):

	September 30, 2019
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Assets
Money market funds and U.S. Treasury obligations (included in cash equivalents)	$	13,844	$	—	$	—
Short-term investments	$	52,226	$	—	$	—

	December 31, 2018
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Assets
Money market funds and U.S. Treasury obligations (included in cash equivalents)	$	13,770	$	—	$	—
Short-term investments	$	66,706	$	—	$	—

There were no changes in valuation techniques during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2019. The Company’s short-term investment instruments are classified using Level 1 inputs within the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details

Property and Equipment

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]

Property and Equipment

4.	Property and equipment

Property and equipment consist of (amounts in thousands):

	September 30, 2019			December 31, 2018
Laboratory equipment	$	741		$	507
Computer hardware and software		217			109
Leasehold improvements		243			—
Furniture and fixtures		132			159
Property and equipment, gross		1,333			775
Less: Accumulated depreciation		(363	)		(207	)
Property and equipment, net	$	970		$	568

Depreciation expense was $0.2 million and $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Accrued Expenses

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Payables And Accruals [Abstract]

Accrued Expenses

5.	Accrued expenses

Accrued expenses consist of (amounts in thousands):

	September 30, 2019		December 31, 2018
Compensation and related benefits	$	806	$	776
Research and development expenses		2,318		1,665
Professional fees		450		136
	$	3,574	$	2,577

Royalty Purchase Liability

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Royalty Purchase Liability [Abstract]

Royalty Purchase Liability

6.	Royalty purchase liability

In November 2018, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Purchase and Sale Agreement (Royalty Agreement), with Clarus IV Galera Royalty AIV, L.P., Clarus IV-A, L.P., Clarus IV-B, L.P., Clarus IV-C, L.P. and Clarus IV-D, L.P. (collectively, Clarus). Pursuant to the Royalty Agreement, Clarus agreed to pay up to $80.0 million (the Royalty Purchase Price) in four tranches of $20.0 million each upon the achievement of specific Phase 3 clinical trial patient enrollment milestones. The Company received the first tranche of the Royalty Purchase Price in November 2018. In April 2019, the Company received $20.0 million in connection with the achievement of the second milestone under the Royalty Agreement.

The Company accounts for the Royalty Agreement as a debt instrument. The $40.0 million proceeds from the first and second tranche under the Royalty Agreement have been recorded as a liability on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Interest expense is imputed based on the estimated royalty repayment period described below which results in a corresponding increase in the liability balance. The Company recognized $2.1 million in noncash interest expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2019. As of September 30, 2019, the effective interest rate was 8.7%.

Clarus is entitled to a mid single-digit percentage royalty based on the worldwide net sales of the GC4419 and GC4711 (the Products). The royalty period will continue until the earlier of (i) the 12th anniversary of commercial launch of the Products, (ii) the expiration of the patents covering such Products, and (iii) the expiration of regulatory data protection or market exclusivity or similar regulatory protection afforded by the health authorities in such country, to the extent such protection or exclusivity effectively prevents generic versions of such Products from entering the market in such country.

If Clarus fails to fund the remaining $40.0 million Royalty Purchase Price within two days of the conditions to the payment of such tranche having been satisfied, the Company may terminate its obligation to accept such tranche and any additional remaining tranches. In such an event, the Company’s royalty obligations to Clarus shall be reduced to a low single-digit percentage.

The Royalty Agreement will remain in effect until the aggregate amount of the royalty payments paid to Clarus exceeds a fixed single-digit multiple of the actual amount of the Royalty Purchase Price received by the Company, unless earlier terminated pursuant to the mutual written agreement of the Company and Clarus.

Leases

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Leases [Abstract]

Leases

The Company has non-cancelable operating leases for office and laboratory space in Malvern, Pennsylvania and St. Louis, Missouri which, as of September 30, 2019, have remaining lease terms of approximately 3.4 and 1.3 years, respectively. The Company adopted ASC 842 on January 1, 2019 resulting in the recognition of a current operating lease liability of $0.3 million and a noncurrent operating lease liability of $0.8 million with a corresponding $1.1 million right-of-use (ROU) asset, which is based on the present value of the minimum rental payments of the lease. The discount rate used to account for the Company’s operating lease under ASC 842 is the Company’s estimated incremental borrowing rate of 5.3%.

Rent expense related to the Company’s operating leases was approximately $0.3 million during each of the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. Future minimum rental payments under the Company’s non-cancelable operating leases were as follows as of September 30, 2019 (amounts in thousands):

Remainder of 2019	$	84
2020		332
2021		264
2022		262
2023		45
Total		987
Less: imputed interest		(75	)
	$	912

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2018 were as follows (amounts in thousands):

2019	$	440
2020		460
2021		392
2022		391
2023		65
	$	1,748

Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Temporary Equity [Abstract]

Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock

8.	Redeemable convertible preferred stock

As of September 30, 2019, the authorized, issued and outstanding shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock and their principal terms were as disclosed below (in thousands except share amounts). All of the preferred shares were converted in common stock at the time of the IPO.

	Shares Authorized		Shares Issued and Outstanding		Carrying Value		Liquidation Value
Series A		22,280,087		22,280,087	$	29,652	$	30,298
Series B		29,682,000		29,682,000		45,264		46,001
Series B-1		3,636,363		3,636,363		5,988		6,107
Series B-2		9,090,909		9,090,909		17,274		17,586
Series C		31,696,436		31,696,436		73,902		74,754
		96,385,795		96,385,795	$	172,080	$	174,746

Share-based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]

Share-based Compensation

9.	Share-based compensation

In November 2012, the Company adopted the Equity Incentive Plan (the Prior Plan). The total number of shares authorized under the Prior Plan as of September 30. 2019 was 3,589,163. Of this amount, 490,074 shares were available for future grants as of September 30, 2019. Eligible participants include employees, directors and consultants. The Prior Plan permits the granting of incentive stock options, non-statutory stock options, stock awards and stock purchase rights. The terms of the agreements are determined by the Company’s board of directors. The Company’s awards vest based on the terms in the agreements and generally vest over 4 years and have a term of 10 years.

Share-based compensation expense was as follows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 (amounts in thousands):

	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Research and development	$	274	$	111	$	787	$	328
General and administrative		246		109		797		326
	$	520	$	220	$	1,584	$	654

The following table summarizes the activity related to stock option grants for the nine months ended September 30, 2019:

	Shares			Weighted average exercise price per share		Weighted- average remaining contractual life (years)
Outstanding at January 1, 2019		2,071,616		$	2.17
Granted		1,146,367			7.45
Forfeited		(118,894	)		5.36
Outstanding at September 30, 2019		3,099,089		$	4.00		7.1
Vested and exercisable at September 30, 2019		1,906,827		$	2.42		6.0
Vested and expected to vest at September 30, 2019		3,099,089		$	4.00		7.1

As of September 30, 2019, the unrecognized compensation cost was $5.6 million and will be recognized over an estimated weighted-average amortization period of 3.1 years. The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and options exercisable as of September 30, 2019 was $17.4 million and $13.7 million, respectively. Options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 had weighted-average grant-date fair values of $5.61 and $3.48 per share, respectively.

The fair value of options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which takes into account inputs such as the exercise price, the estimated fair value of the underlying common stock at the grant date, expected term, expected stock price volatility, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. The fair value of stock options during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 was determined using the methods and assumptions discussed below.

•

The expected term of employee stock options with service-based vesting is determined using the “simplified” method, as prescribed in SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 107, whereby the expected life equals the arithmetic average of the vesting term and the original contractual term of the option due to the Company’s lack of sufficient historical data. The expected term of nonemployee options is equal to the contractual term.

•

The expected stock price volatility is based on historical volatilities of comparable public entities within the Company’s industry which were commensurate with the expected term assumption as described in SAB No. 107.

•

The risk-free interest rate is based on the interest rate payable on U.S. Treasury securities in effect at the time of grant for a period that is commensurate with the expected term.

•

The expected dividend yield is 0% because the Company has not historically paid, and does not expect for the foreseeable future to pay, a dividend on its common stock.

•

As the Company’s common stock was not publicly traded prior to the IPO, its board of directors has periodically estimated the fair value of the Company’s common stock considering, among other things, contemporaneous valuations of its common stock prepared by an unrelated third-party valuation firm in accordance with the guidance provided by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants 2013 Practice Aid, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation.

The grant date fair value of each option grant was estimated throughout the year using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the following weighted-average assumptions:

	Nine months ended September 30,
	2019			2018
Expected term (in years)		6.2			7.8
Expected stock price volatility		90.0	%		88.0	%
Risk-free interest rate		2.51	%		2.79	%
Expected dividend yield		0	%		0	%
Fair value of common stock	$	7.45		$	4.38

Related Party Transactions

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Related Party Transactions

10.	Related party transactions

IntellectMap provides advisory services to the Company. The chief executive officer of IntellectMap is the brother of the Company’s chief executive officer. Fees incurred by us with respect to IntellectMap during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 were $0.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

Subsequent Events

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Subsequent Events [Abstract]

Subsequent Events

11.	Subsequent events

On November 12, 2019, the Company completed the IPO, which resulted in the issuance and sale of 5,000,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $12.00 per share, generating net proceeds of $53.1 million after deducting underwriting discounts and other offering costs. On December 9, 2019, in connection with the partial exercise of the over-allotment option granted to the underwriters of the Company's IPO, 445,690 additional shares of common stock were sold at the IPO price of $12.00 per share, generating net proceeds of approximately $5.0 million after deducting underwriting discounts and other offering costs. Upon the closing of the IPO, all outstanding shares of the Company’s Series A, Series B and Series C convertible preferred stock were automatically converted into 19,061,502 shares of the Company’s common stock. In addition, upon the closing of the IPO, the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorized the Company to issue up to 200,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share, all of which shares of preferred stock will be undesignated.

In November 2019, the Company’s board of directors adopted and the Company’s stockholders approved the Galera Therapeutics, Inc. 2019 Incentive Award Plan (the 2019 Plan), which became effective upon the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-1 for the IPO. Upon effectiveness of the 2019 Plan, the Company ceased granting new awards under the Prior Plan.

The 2019 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights and other stock-based awards. The number of shares of common stock initially available for issuance under the 2019 Plan is 1,948,970 shares of common stock plus the number of shares subject to awards outstanding under the Prior Plan that expire, terminate or are otherwise surrendered, cancelled, forfeited or repurchased by the Company on or after the effective date of the 2019 Plan. In addition, the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2019 Plan is subject to an annual increase on the first day of each calendar year beginning on January 1, 2020 and ending on and including January 1, 2029 equal to the lesser of (i) 4% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year, and (ii) such smaller number of shares of common stock as determined by the Company’s board of directors, provided that not more than 14,130,029 shares of common stock may be issued under the 2019 Plan upon the exercise of incentive stock options.

In November 2019, the Company’s board of directors adopted and the Company’s stockholders approved the Galera Therapeutics, Inc. 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the ESPP). The ESPP allows employees to buy Company stock through after-tax payroll deductions at a discount from market value. The number of shares of common stock initially available for issuance under the ESPP is 243,621 shares of common stock plus an annual increase on the first day of each calendar year beginning on January 1, 2020 and ending on and including January 1, 2029 equal to the lesser of (i) 1% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (ii) such smaller number of shares of common stock as determined by the Company’s board of directors, provided that not more than 3,288,886 shares of common stock may be issued under the ESPP.

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Liquidity

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

Basis of presentation and consolidation

Use of Estimates

Use of estimates

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value of financial instruments

Short-Term Investments

Short-term investments

Tax Incentive Receivable

Tax incentive receivable

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of long-lived assets

Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Asset

Goodwill and acquired intangible asset

Leases

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses

Share-Based Compensation

Share-based compensation

The Company measures share-based awards at their grant-date fair value and records compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the awards.

Income Taxes

Income taxes

Accretion of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock

Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock

Net Loss Per Share

Net loss per share

The following potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, as they would be anti-dilutive:

	September 30,
	2019		2018
Stock options		3,099,089		2,071,616
Redeemable convertible preferred stock		19,061,502		19,061,502
		22,160,591		21,133,118

Amounts in the above table reflect the common stock equivalents for the redeemable convertible preferred stock.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent accounting pronouncements

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Dilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Diluted Weighted Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding

The following potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, as they would be anti-dilutive:

	September 30,
	2019		2018
Stock options		3,099,089		2,071,616
Redeemable convertible preferred stock		19,061,502		19,061,502
		22,160,591		21,133,118

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Summary of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis

The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (amounts in thousands):

	September 30, 2019
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Assets
Money market funds and U.S. Treasury obligations (included in cash equivalents)	$	13,844	$	—	$	—
Short-term investments	$	52,226	$	—	$	—

	December 31, 2018
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Assets
Money market funds and U.S. Treasury obligations (included in cash equivalents)	$	13,770	$	—	$	—
Short-term investments	$	66,706	$	—	$	—

Property and Equipment (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]

Schedule of Property Plant and Equipment

Property and equipment consist of (amounts in thousands):

	September 30, 2019			December 31, 2018
Laboratory equipment	$	741		$	507
Computer hardware and software		217			109
Leasehold improvements		243			—
Furniture and fixtures		132			159
Property and equipment, gross		1,333			775
Less: Accumulated depreciation		(363	)		(207	)
Property and equipment, net	$	970		$	568

Accrued Expenses (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Payables And Accruals [Abstract]

Schedule of Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses consist of (amounts in thousands):

	September 30, 2019		December 31, 2018
Compensation and related benefits	$	806	$	776
Research and development expenses		2,318		1,665
Professional fees		450		136
	$	3,574	$	2,577

Leases (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Leases [Abstract]

Summary of Future Minimum Rental Payments Under Non Cancelable Operating Leases

Future minimum rental payments under the Company’s non-cancelable operating leases were as follows as of September 30, 2019 (amounts in thousands):

Remainder of 2019	$	84
2020		332
2021		264
2022		262
2023		45
Total		987
Less: imputed interest		(75	)
	$	912

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2018 were as follows (amounts in thousands):

2019	$	440
2020		460
2021		392
2022		391
2023		65
	$	1,748

Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Temporary Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock

	Shares Authorized		Shares Issued and Outstanding		Carrying Value		Liquidation Value
Series A		22,280,087		22,280,087	$	29,652	$	30,298
Series B		29,682,000		29,682,000		45,264		46,001
Series B-1		3,636,363		3,636,363		5,988		6,107
Series B-2		9,090,909		9,090,909		17,274		17,586
Series C		31,696,436		31,696,436		73,902		74,754
		96,385,795		96,385,795	$	172,080	$	174,746

Share-based Compensation (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]

Summary of Share-based Compensation Expense

Share-based compensation expense was as follows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 (amounts in thousands):

	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Research and development	$	274	$	111	$	787	$	328
General and administrative		246		109		797		326
	$	520	$	220	$	1,584	$	654

Summary of Activity Related to Stock Option Grants

The following table summarizes the activity related to stock option grants for the nine months ended September 30, 2019:

	Shares			Weighted average exercise price per share		Weighted- average remaining contractual life (years)
Outstanding at January 1, 2019		2,071,616		$	2.17
Granted		1,146,367			7.45
Forfeited		(118,894	)		5.36
Outstanding at September 30, 2019		3,099,089		$	4.00		7.1
Vested and exercisable at September 30, 2019		1,906,827		$	2.42		6.0
Vested and expected to vest at September 30, 2019		3,099,089		$	4.00		7.1

Summary of Fair Value of Each Option Grant Estimated Throughout Year Using Black-Scholes Option-pricing Model

The grant date fair value of each option grant was estimated throughout the year using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the following weighted-average assumptions:

	Nine months ended September 30,
	2019			2018
Expected term (in years)		6.2			7.8
Expected stock price volatility		90.0	%		88.0	%
Risk-free interest rate		2.51	%		2.79	%
Expected dividend yield		0	%		0	%
Fair value of common stock	$	7.45		$	4.38

Organization and description of business - Additional Information (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			9 Months Ended
	Dec. 09, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Nov. 12, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2018 $ / shares
Organization And Description Of Business [Line Items]
Date of incorporation			Nov. 19, 2012
Reverse stock split description			The Company effected a one-for-5.056564 reverse stock split of its common stock on October 25, 2019. The reverse stock split combined each approximately five shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock into one share of common stock and correspondingly adjusted the conversion price of its redeemable convertible preferred stock
Reverse stock split ratio			0.197762749566702
Accumulated deficit \| $			$ (144,675)	$ (104,823)
Common stock, shares issued (shares)			300,597	300,597
Public offering price \| $ / shares			$ 7.45		$ 4.38
Common stock, shares authorized (shares)			200,000,000	200,000,000
Common stock, par value \| $ / shares			$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized (shares)			10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, par value \| $ / shares			$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Subsequent Event
Organization And Description Of Business [Line Items]
Shares issued upon conversion		19,061,502
Subsequent Event \| Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
Organization And Description Of Business [Line Items]
Shares issued upon conversion		19,061,502
IPO \| Subsequent Event
Organization And Description Of Business [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued (shares)		5,000,000
Public offering price \| $ / shares		$ 12.00
Net proceeds from stock offering \| $		$ 53,100
Common stock, shares authorized (shares)		200,000,000
Common stock, par value \| $ / shares		$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized (shares)		10,000,000
Preferred stock, par value \| $ / shares		$ 0.001
Over-allotment option \| Subsequent Event
Organization And Description Of Business [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued (shares)	445,690
Public offering price \| $ / shares	$ 12.00
Net proceeds from stock offering \| $	$ 5,000

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 AUD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Proceeds from royalty purchase agreement		$ 20,000,000		$ 40,000,000
Tax incentive receivable reserve	$ 600,000	$ 600,000		600,000
Property, plant and equipment, depreciation methods		Straight-line method
Impairment to goodwill	0		$ 0
Minimum
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful lives		3 years
Maximum
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful lives		5 years
Research and Development Expense
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Maximum annual aggregate revenue for eligible to get refund					$ 20,000,000
US Treasury Securities
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Short-term investments fair value	$ 52,200,000	$ 52,200,000		$ 52,200,000		$ 66,700,000
Unrealized gain on short-term investments		$ 52,000,000	$ 3,000,000

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Dilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Diluted Weighted Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding (Details) - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	22,160,591	21,133,118
Stock Options
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	3,099,089	2,071,616
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	19,061,502	19,061,502

Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Level 1 \| Money Market Funds and U.S. Treasury Obligations
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash equivalents, at fair value	$ 13,844	$ 13,770
Level 1 \| Short- Term Investments
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	52,226	$ 66,706
Level 2 \| Money Market Funds and U.S. Treasury Obligations
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash equivalents, at fair value	0
Level 2 \| Short- Term Investments
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	0
Level 3 \| Money Market Funds and U.S. Treasury Obligations
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash equivalents, at fair value	0
Level 3 \| Short- Term Investments
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	$ 0

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Changes in valuation techniques	$ 0	$ 0

Property and Equipment - Schedule of Property and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 1,333	$ 775
Less: Accumulated depreciation	(363)	(207)
Property and equipment, net	970	568
Laboratory Equipment
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	741	507
Computer Hardware and Software
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	217	109
Leasehold Improvements
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	243
Furniture and Fixtures
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 132	$ 159

Property and Equipment - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]
Depreciation	$ 188	$ 86

Accrued Expenses - Schedule of Accrued Expenses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Payables And Accruals [Abstract]
Compensation and related benefits	$ 806	$ 776
Research and development expenses	2,318	1,665
Professional fees	450	136
Accrued expenses	$ 3,574	$ 2,577

Royalty Purchase Liability - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	11 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2019	Nov. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Royalty Purchase Liability [Line Items]
Total agreed amount of royalty purchase price			$ 42,313	$ 42,313	$ 20,220
Royalty purchase price			20,000	$ 40,000
Noncash interest expense			2,094
Royalty Agreements
Royalty Purchase Liability [Line Items]
Total agreed amount of royalty purchase price		$ 80,000
Royalty purchase price			40,000
Noncash interest expense			$ 2,100
Effective interest rate			8.70%	8.70%
Outstanding amount of royalty agreement			$ 40,000	$ 40,000
Period of notice for termination of royalty agreement			2 days
Royalty Agreements \| First Tranche
Royalty Purchase Liability [Line Items]
Royalty purchase price		$ 20,000
Royalty Agreements \| Second Tranche
Royalty Purchase Liability [Line Items]
Royalty purchase price	$ 20,000

Leases - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Lease liability, net of current portion	$ 604
Right-of-use lease asset	876
Operating leases, rent expense	300	$ 300
ASC 842
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Operating lease liability, current	300
Lease liability, net of current portion	800
Right-of-use lease asset	$ 1,100
Operating lease, discount rate	5.30%
ASC 842 \| Office
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Non-cancelable operating lease, term	3 years 4 months 24 days
ASC 842 \| Laboratory Space
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Non-cancelable operating lease, term	1 year 3 months 18 days

Leases - Summary of Future Minimum Rental Payments Under Non Cancelable Operating Leases (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Leases [Abstract]
Remainder of 2019	$ 84	$ 440
2020	332	460
2021	264	392
2022	262	391
2023	45	65
Total	987	$ 1,748
Less: imputed interest	(75)
Operating lease liabilities	$ 912

Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock - Schedule of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Shares Authorized	96,385,795	96,385,795
Shares Issued	96,385,795	96,385,795
Shares Outstanding	96,385,795	96,385,795
Carrying Value	$ 172,080
Liquidation Value	$ 174,746
Series A
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Shares Authorized	22,280,087
Shares Issued	22,280,087
Shares Outstanding	22,280,087
Carrying Value	$ 29,652
Liquidation Value	$ 30,298
Series B
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Shares Authorized	29,682,000
Shares Issued	29,682,000
Shares Outstanding	29,682,000
Carrying Value	$ 45,264
Liquidation Value	$ 46,001
Series B-1
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Shares Authorized	3,636,363
Shares Issued	3,636,363
Shares Outstanding	3,636,363
Carrying Value	$ 5,988
Liquidation Value	$ 6,107
Series B-2
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Shares Authorized	9,090,909
Shares Issued	9,090,909
Shares Outstanding	9,090,909
Carrying Value	$ 17,274
Liquidation Value	$ 17,586
Series C
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Shares Authorized	31,696,436
Shares Issued	31,696,436
Shares Outstanding	31,696,436
Carrying Value	$ 73,902
Liquidation Value	$ 74,754

Share-based Compensation - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 5.6
Estimated recognition weighted-average amortization period	3 years 1 month 6 days
Aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding	$ 17.4
Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercisable	$ 13.7
Weighted-average grant-date fair values of options granted	$ 5.61	$ 3.48
Expected dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%
Equity Incentive Plan
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized	3,589,163
Common stock available for future award grant	490,074
Vesting period	4 years
Term of award	10 years

Share-based Compensation - Summary of Share-based Compensation Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation expense	$ 520	$ 220	$ 1,584	$ 654
Research and Development Expense
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation expense	274	111	787	328
General and Administrative
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation expense	$ 246	$ 109	$ 797	$ 326

Share-based Compensation - Summary of Activity Related to Stock Option Grants (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 $ / shares shares
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]
Shares, Outstanding beginning balance \| shares	2,071,616
Shares, Granted \| shares	1,146,367
Shares, Forfeited \| shares	(118,894)
Shares, Outstanding ending balance \| shares	3,099,089
Shares, Vested and exercisable \| shares	1,906,827
Shares, Vested and expected to vest \| shares	3,099,089
Weighted average exercise price per share, Outstanding beginning balance \| $ / shares	$ 2.17
Weighted average exercise price per share, Granted \| $ / shares	7.45
Weighted average exercise price per share, Forfeited \| $ / shares	5.36
Weighted average exercise price per share, Outstanding ending balance \| $ / shares	4.00
Weighted average exercise price per share, Vested and exercisable \| $ / shares	2.42
Weighted average exercise price per share, Vested and expected to vest \| $ / shares	$ 4.00
Weighted average remaining contractual life, Outstanding	7 years 1 month 6 days
Weighted average remaining contractual life, Vested and exercisable	6 years
Weighted average remaining contractual life, Vested and expected to vest	7 years 1 month 6 days

Share-based Compensation - Summary of Fair Value of Each Option Grant Estimated Throughout Year Using Black-Scholes Option-pricing Model (Details) - $ / shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions And Methodology [Abstract]
Expected term (in years)	6 years 2 months 12 days	7 years 9 months 18 days
Expected stock price volatility	90.00%	88.00%
Risk-free interest rate	2.51%	2.79%
Expected dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%
Public offering price	$ 7.45	$ 4.38

Related Party Transactions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
IntellectMap
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Advisory services fees	$ 0.2	$ 0.2

Subsequent events - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions			1 Months Ended
	Dec. 09, 2019	Nov. 12, 2019	Nov. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued (shares)				300,597	300,597
Public offering price				$ 7.45		$ 4.38
Common stock, shares authorized (shares)				200,000,000	200,000,000
Common stock, par value				$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized (shares)				10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, par value				$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Shares issued upon conversion		19,061,502
Subsequent Event \| 2019 Incentive Award Plan
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of shares of common stock initially available for issuance			1,948,970
Subsequent Event \| 2019 Incentive Award Plan \| Maximum
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Percentage of shares of common stock outstanding			4.00%
Annual increase in number of shares of common stock available for issuance			14,130,029
Subsequent Event \| 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of shares of common stock initially available for issuance			243,621
Subsequent Event \| 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan \| Maximum
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Percentage of shares of common stock outstanding			1.00%
Annual increase in number of shares of common stock available for issuance			3,288,886
IPO \| Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued (shares)		5,000,000
Public offering price		$ 12.00
Net proceeds from stock offering		$ 53.1
Common stock, shares authorized (shares)		200,000,000
Common stock, par value		$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized (shares)		10,000,000
Preferred stock, par value		$ 0.001
Over-allotment option \| Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued (shares)	445,690
Public offering price	$ 12.00
Net proceeds from stock offering	$ 5.0