Note 8 — Income Taxes

The Company has accumulated net losses since inception and has not recorded an income tax provision or benefit during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

A reconciliation of the statutory U.S. federal rate to the Company’s effective tax rate is as follows:

The components of the net deferred tax asset as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 are the following (in thousands):

The Company has determined, based upon available evidence, that it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax asset will not be realized and, accordingly, has provided a full valuation allowance against it. A valuation allowance of approximately $26.9 million and $24.9 million was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $67.0 million and $125.5 million, respectively. Approximately $52.5 million of the federal net operating loss carryforwards can be carried forward indefinitely. The remaining $14.5 million of federal and all state net operating loss carryforwards will begin to expire, if not utilized, by 2035 and 2028, respectively. The Company has $2.6 million of research and development credit carryforwards, which will begin to expire, if not utilized, in 2035. Utilization of the net operating loss and credit carryforwards may be subject to an annual limitation due to the ownership change limitations provided by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Certain tax attributes are subject to an annual limitation as a result of the Company’s June 2017 initial public offering, which constitutes an ownership change under Section 382. Certain tax attributes may be subject to an annual limitation as a result of the SPMA with InvaGen, which could constitute an ownership change under Section 382.

There are no significant matters determined to be unrecognized tax benefits taken or expected to be taken in a tax return, in accordance with ASC 740, which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements, that have been recorded on the Company’s financial statements for the periods ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. The Company does not anticipate a material change to unrecognized tax benefits in the next twelve months.

Additionally, ASC 740 provides guidance on the recognition of interest and penalties related to income taxes. There were no interest or penalties related to income taxes that have been accrued or recognized as of and for the periods ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

The federal and state tax returns for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018, and 2019 are currently open for examination under the applicable federal and state income tax statues of limitations.  The Company is currently under examination by New York City Department of Finance for tax years between 2017 and 2019. At this time, the Company does not believe that the outcome of any examination will have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.