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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010
or
¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number 000-51329
XenoPort, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 94-3330837 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (IRS employer identification no.) | |
3410 Central Expressway, Santa Clara, California | 95051 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) |
(408) 616-7200
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. x Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). x Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | x | Accelerated filer | ¨ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company | ¨ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ¨ Yes x No
Total number of shares of common stock outstanding as of October 15, 2010: 30,576,614.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
XenoPort and Transported Prodrug are trademarks of XenoPort, Inc.
Horizant, Requip and Requip XL are trademarks of GlaxoSmithKline.
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Item 1. | Unaudited Financial Statements |
BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
September 30, 2010 | December 31, 2009 | |||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||
Current assets: | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 14,512 | $ | 36,255 | ||||
Short-term investments | 76,503 | 107,413 | ||||||
Prepaids and other current assets | 2,678 | 3,719 | ||||||
Total current assets | 93,693 | 147,387 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net | 8,091 | 10,726 | ||||||
Restricted investments and other assets | 3,022 | 2,099 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 104,806 | $ | 160,212 | ||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 748 | $ | 2,031 | ||||
Accrued compensation | 2,701 | 5,653 | ||||||
Accrued preclinical and clinical costs | 6,092 | 3,109 | ||||||
Accrued unconsolidated joint operating activities | 206 | 1,095 | ||||||
Other accrued liabilities | 818 | 911 | ||||||
Deferred rent | 1,186 | 1,055 | ||||||
Deferred revenue | 1,623 | 1,784 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 13,374 | 15,638 | ||||||
Accrued unconsolidated joint operating activities | 1,214 | 0 | ||||||
Deferred revenue | 16,162 | 17,298 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
Stockholders’ equity: | ||||||||
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 60,000 shares authorized; 30,576 and 30,403 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively | 30 | 30 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 446,593 | 432,157 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 16 | 26 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit | (372,583 | ) | (304,937 | ) | ||||
Total stockholders’ equity | 74,056 | 127,276 | ||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 104,806 | $ | 160,212 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim financial statements.
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STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
(In thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||
Net revenue from unconsolidated joint operating activities | $ | 10 | $ | 24 | $ | (164 | ) | $ | 24,374 | |||||||
Collaboration revenue | 379 | 379 | 1,137 | 4,137 | ||||||||||||
Total revenues | 389 | 403 | 973 | 28,511 | ||||||||||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
Research and development | 13,763 | 17,000 | 41,709 | 54,017 | ||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 6,597 | 8,140 | 21,877 | 23,693 | ||||||||||||
Restructuring charges | 0 | 0 | 5,275 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 20,360 | 25,140 | 68,861 | 77,710 | ||||||||||||
Loss from operations | (19,971 | ) | (24,737 | ) | (67,888 | ) | (49,199 | ) | ||||||||
Interest income | 72 | 226 | 242 | 1,080 | ||||||||||||
Interest and other expense | 0 | 0 | 0 | (4 | ) | |||||||||||
Loss before income taxes | (19,899 | ) | (24,511 | ) | (67,646 | ) | (48,123 | ) | ||||||||
Income tax benefit | 0 | (137 | ) | 0 | (137 | ) | ||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (19,899 | ) | $ | (24,374 | ) | $ | (67,646 | ) | $ | (47,986 | ) | ||||
Basic and diluted net loss per share | $ | (0.65 | ) | $ | (0.81 | ) | $ | (2.22 | ) | $ | (1.70 | ) | ||||
Shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share | 30,565 | 30,048 | 30,506 | 28,230 | ||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim financial statements.
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STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||
Operating activities | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | (67,646 | ) | $ | (47,986 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 3,237 | 2,713 | ||||||
Accretion of investment discounts and amortization of investment premiums, net | 937 | 705 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | 14,178 | 13,970 | ||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
Prepaids and other current and noncurrent assets | 1,040 | (1,153 | ) | |||||
Accounts payable | (1,283 | ) | 577 | |||||
Accrued compensation | (2,952 | ) | 351 | |||||
Accrued preclinical and clinical costs | 2,983 | (7,063 | ) | |||||
Accrued unconsolidated joint operating activities | 325 | 937 | ||||||
Other accrued liabilities | (93 | ) | (1,259 | ) | ||||
Deferred revenue | (1,297 | ) | (6,447 | ) | ||||
Deferred rent | (780 | ) | (651 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in operating activities | (51,351 | ) | (45,306 | ) | ||||
Investing activities | ||||||||
Purchases of investments | (109,009 | ) | (168,175 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from maturities of investments | 138,972 | 115,979 | ||||||
Change in restricted investments | (13 | ) | (104 | ) | ||||
Purchases of property and equipment | (601 | ) | (2,454 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 29,349 | (54,754 | ) | |||||
Financing activities | ||||||||
Net proceeds provided by issuance of common stock and exercise of stock options | 259 | 52,808 | ||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 259 | 52,808 | ||||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | (21,743 | ) | (47,252 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 36,255 | 66,050 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 14,512 | $ | 18,798 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim financial statements.
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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Operations
XenoPort, Inc., or the Company, was incorporated in the state of Delaware on May 19, 1999. The Company is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing a portfolio of internally discovered product candidates that utilize the body’s natural nutrient transport mechanisms to improve the therapeutic benefits of existing drugs. The Company intends to focus its development and commercialization efforts on potential treatments of diseases with significant unmet medical needs, with an emphasis on central nervous system disorders. Its facilities are located in Santa Clara, California.
Basis of Preparation
The accompanying financial statements as of September 30, 2010 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are unaudited. These unaudited financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2010 and results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. The Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or the Codification, is the single source of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2010 or for any other interim period or any other future year. For more complete financial information, these financial statements, and the notes hereto, should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on February 26, 2010.
As a result of the Company’s exercise in April 2009 of the co-promotion option under its development and commercialization agreement with Glaxo Group Limited, or GSK, starting in the second quarter of 2009, this agreement falls within the scope of theCollaborative Arrangementstopic of the Codification. As such, the Company’s revenue from the GSK collaboration agreement has been reclassified within the statements of operations starting in the second quarter of 2009. The statements of operations include the line item “Net revenue from unconsolidated joint operating activities,” which includes all revenue and profit and loss sharing resulting from the Company’s GSK collaboration agreement. Revenue that resulted from the Company’s collaboration agreement with Astellas Pharma Inc. continues to be presented within the “Collaboration revenue” line item. This presentation has no impact on net loss or net loss per share.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue arrangements are accounted for in accordance with the provisions of theRevenue Recognition-Multiple-Element ArrangementandCollaborative Arrangementstopics of the Codification. A variety of factors are considered in determining the appropriate method of revenue recognition under these arrangements, such as whether the various elements can be considered separate units of accounting, whether there is objective and reliable evidence of fair value for these elements and whether there is a separate earnings process associated with a particular element of an agreement.
Where there are multiple deliverables combined as a single unit of accounting, revenues are deferred and recognized over the period during which the Company remains obligated to perform services or deliver product. The specific methodology for the recognition of the revenue (e.g., straight-line or according to specific performance criteria) is determined on a case-by-case basis according to the facts and circumstances applicable to a given agreement. For contracts with specific performance criteria, the Company utilizes the performance-based expected revenue method of revenue recognition, which requires that the Company estimate the total amount of costs to be expended for a given unit of accounting and then recognize revenue equal to the portion of costs expended to date. The estimated total costs to be expended are subject to revision from time-to-time as the underlying facts and circumstances change.
Payments received in excess of revenues recognized are recorded as deferred revenue until such time as the revenue recognition criteria have been met.
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XENOPORT, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
(Unaudited)
Collaboration revenue includes revenue from the Company’s current collaboration agreement with Astellas. Net revenue from unconsolidated joint operating activities includes all revenue and profit and loss sharing that result solely from the Company’s current collaboration agreement with GSK. The Company accounts for the revenue activities of these collaboration agreements as follows:
• | Up-front, licensing-type fees. Up-front, licensing-type payments are assessed to determine whether or not the licensee is able to obtain any stand-alone value from the license. Where this is not the case, the Company does not consider the license deliverable to be a separate unit of accounting, and the revenue is deferred with revenue recognition for the license fee being assessed in conjunction with the other deliverables that constitute the combined unit of accounting. |
• | Milestones. Milestones are assessed on an individual basis, and revenue is recognized from these milestones when earned, as evidenced by acknowledgment from collaborators, provided that (i) the milestone event is substantive and its achievability was not reasonably assured at the inception of the agreement, (ii) the milestone represents the culmination, or progress towards the culmination, of an earnings process and (iii) the milestone payment is non-refundable. Where separate milestones do not meet these criteria, the Company uses a performance-based model, with revenue recognition following delivery of effort as compared to an estimate of total expected effort. Milestones that are received after all substantive deliverables have occurred are considered to be bonus payments and are recognized when earned, assuming all of the other revenue recognition criteria are met. |
• | Profit and loss sharing. This represents the Company’s share of the profits and losses from the co-promotion of XP13512, known in the United States by the trade nameHorizant (gabapentin enacarbil), with GSK. Amounts are recognized in the period in which the related activities occur, and their financial statement classification is based on the Company’s assessment that these activities constitute part of the Company’s ongoing central operations. |
The Company’s current collaboration agreements also include potential payments for product royalties and detail reimbursements. To date, the Company has not received any revenue from these activities.
Clinical Trials
The Company accrues and expenses the costs for clinical trial activities performed by third parties based upon estimates of the percentage of work completed over the life of the individual study in accordance with agreements established with contract research organizations and clinical trial sites. The Company determines the estimates through discussions with internal clinical personnel and external service providers as to progress or stage of completion of trials or services and the agreed upon fee to be paid for such services. Costs of setting up clinical trial sites for participation in the trials are expensed immediately as research and development expenses. Clinical trial site costs related to patient enrollment are accrued as patients are entered into the trial and reduced by any initial payment made to the clinical trial site when the first patient is enrolled. Nonrefundable advance payments for research and development goods or services are recognized as an expense as the related goods are delivered or the related services are provided in accordance with the provisions of theResearch and Development Arrangements topic of the Codification.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts of certain of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash equivalents and short-term investments, approximate fair value due to their short maturities. The Company accounts for the fair value of its financial instruments in accordance with the provisions of theFair Value Measurements and Disclosurestopic of the Codification.
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company utilizes market data or assumptions that the Company believes market participants would use in pricing assets or liabilities, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated or generally unobservable. The Company applies the market approach valuation technique for fair value measurements on a recurring basis and attempts to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. All of the Company’s cash equivalents and short-term investments are valued using quoted prices in active markets and are valued at Level 1 or Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2009, the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force, or EITF, reached a consensus on Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2009-13 (Topic 605),Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements,or ASU 2009-13. ASU 2009-13 applies to multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements that are currently within the scope of theRevenue Recognition — Multiple-Element Arrangements topic of the Codification. ASU 2009-13 provides principles and application guidance on whether multiple deliverables exist and how the arrangement should be separated and the consideration allocated. ASU 2009-13 requires an entity to allocate revenue in an arrangement using estimated selling prices of deliverables if a vendor does not have vendor-specific objective evidence or third-party evidence of selling price. ASU 2009-13 eliminates the use of the residual method and requires an entity to allocate revenue using the relative selling price method and also significantly expands the disclosure requirements for multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements. ASU 2009-13 will be effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into, or materially modified, in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, with earlier application permitted. As a result, ASU 2009-13 will be applied by the Company on a prospective basis for revenue arrangements entered into, or materially modified, beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2011.
��
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XENOPORT, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
(Unaudited)
In April 2010, the FASB EITF reached a consensus on ASU 2010-17 (Topic 605),Milestone Method of Revenue Recognition,or ASU 2010-17. ASU 2010-17 provides guidance on defining a milestone and determining whether the milestone method of revenue recognition is appropriate. ASU 2010-17 will be effective for milestones achieved in fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after June 15, 2010, with earlier adoption permitted. As a result, ASU 2010-17 will be applied by the Company on a prospective basis for milestones achieved starting in the first quarter of fiscal 2011. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of ASU 2010-17 on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.
2. Collaboration Agreements
Astellas Pharma Inc.
In December 2005, the Company entered into an agreement in which it licensed to Astellas exclusive rights to develop and commercialize the Company’s most advanced product candidate, XP13512, in Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Taiwan. The Company received an initial license payment of $25,000,000 in December 2005, which has been deferred and is being recognized on a straight-line basis over the period that the Company expects to remain obligated to provide services. In addition, the Company is eligible to receive potential total payments of $60,000,000 upon the achievement of additional clinical and regulatory milestones, of which $23,000,000 has been received to date. The Company is also entitled to receive percentage-based royalties on any net sales of XP13512 in the Astellas territory. In each of the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized revenue of $379,000, representing amortization of the up-front license payment under this agreement. In the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized revenue of $1,137,000 and $4,137,000, respectively, representing amortization of the up-front license payment under this agreement and, for the 2009 period, recognition of the milestone payment in connection with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s, or FDA’s, acceptance for review of the new drug application, or NDA, filed by GSK forHorizant/XP13512 in the United States. As of September 30, 2010, the Company had recognized an aggregate of $30,323,000 of revenue pursuant to this agreement. At September 30, 2010, $17,677,000 of revenue was deferred under this agreement, of which $1,515,000 was classified within current liabilities and the remaining $16,162,000 was recorded as a noncurrent liability. In addition, the agreement allows Astellas to request that the Company conduct development activities and required Astellas to source all drug product and both clinical and commercial supplies of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, or API, form of XP13512 from the Company under a specified supply agreement. In October 2009, all of the Company’s remaining manufacturing or supply obligations to Astellas for XP13512 API or finished drug product ceased. The Company remains obligated to provide certain services as originally specified in the December 2005 arrangement. Under the supply arrangement and requested development activities, the Company recorded no net offset to research and development expenses in the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, and $168,000 and $601,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Glaxo Group Limited
In February 2007, the Company entered into an exclusive collaboration with GSK to develop and commercialize XP13512, known in the United States by the trade nameHorizant(gabapentin enacarbil) Extended-Release Tablets, for the treatment of moderate-to-severe primary restless legs syndrome, or RLS, in all countries of the world excluding the Astellas territory. In March 2007, GSK made an up-front, non-refundable license payment of $75,000,000. In addition, GSK has agreed to make additional payments of: (i) up to $275,000,000 upon the achievement of additional clinical and regulatory milestones, of which $85,000,000 has been received to date; and (ii) up to $290,000,000 upon the achievement of specifiedHorizant sales levels. Under the terms of the agreement, GSK is responsible for all future development costs and leading the development and registration ofHorizant/XP13512 for all other indications. GSK is solely responsible for the manufacture ofHorizant/XP13512 to support the development and commercialization ofHorizant/XP13512 within the GSK territory. The Company has concluded that the up-front license payment does not have value to GSK on a stand-alone basis without the benefit of the specified development activities that the Company is performing in connection withHorizant/XP13512 and that $85,000,000 of milestones payable for clinical trial and pre-clinical activities were either not sufficiently substantive or not sufficiently at risk to be accounted for using the “when-earned” model. Accordingly, these milestones and the up-front payment were combined into one unit of accounting that is being recognized over the best estimate of the development period to commercialization of the product during which time delivery of substantially all of the efforts required for the completion of the Company’s contractual responsibilities under the GSK agreement is expected to occur. In February 2010, GSK received a Complete Response letter from the FDA regarding the NDA forHorizant for RLS. A Complete Response letter is issued by the FDA’s Center of Drug Evaluation and Research when the review of a file is completed and questions remain that preclude the approval of the NDA in its current form. As a result of the Complete Response letter, the Company revised its estimated period of performance. As of September 30, 2010, the Company had recognized an aggregate of $159,892,000 of up-front license and milestone revenues pursuant to this agreement. At September 30, 2010, $108,000 of revenue was deferred under this agreement, all of which was classified within current liabilities.
Coincident with the Company’s exercise of the U.S. co-promotion option in April 2009, all allowable expenses under the agreement and any potential future sales ofHorizant are accounted for using a joint profit and loss, or P&L, statement, in which the Company and GSK share in the resulting operating pre-tax profits and losses. Prior to the launch ofHorizant, cash payments to GSK representing the Company’s share of the losses are deferred and will be payable without interest over a period of time following the launch. Pending FDA approval ofHorizant, the Company would co-promoteHorizant with GSK and share profits and losses from the potential future sales ofHorizant in the United States. IfHorizant is approved by the FDA, GSK is responsible for: establishing
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XENOPORT, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
(Unaudited)
pricing and reimbursement; creating promotional and advertising materials; managed care contracting; receiving, accepting and filling orders; distributing; controlling invoicing, order processing and collecting accounts receivable; and recording sales ofHorizant in the United States. Expenses that can be charged to the joint P&L statement are the cost of goods and certain costs directly related toHorizant marketing and sales. Sales and marketing expenses ofHorizantthat the Company incurs that are not charged to the joint P&L statement are classified as selling, general and administrative operating expenses within the Company’s statements of operations. The Company may terminate its co-promotion right and participation in the profit share arrangement at any time upon notice to GSK with no penalty to the Company, in which case the original royalty-based compensation structure under the agreement would apply for net sales ofHorizant in the United States. Under the terms of the agreement, as amended in February 2009, the Company has the right to commence the detailing of Requip XL, GSK’s product for Parkinson’s disease, around the time of theHorizant launch, and the Company would be entitled to continue these detailing activities until the earlier of the launch of a generic form of Requip XL or July 1, 2011. The Company would be compensated by GSK for each detail of Requip XL completed by the Company’s sales representatives through a fee that is separate from theHorizant joint P&L statement. The Company has concluded that the potential details ofHorizant and Requip XL and the amount from the joint P&L statement together constitute one unit of accounting separate from the previously established milestone and up-front payment unit of accounting. The Company also has determined the commercialization of its portfolio of product candidates to be part of its core operations, and accordingly concluded that all revenue and profit and loss sharing resulting from the Company’s GSK collaboration agreement are presented in the net revenue from unconsolidated joint operating activities line item in the revenues section of the statements of operations in the period the related activities occur. The Company began recording its share of pre-launch operating losses from the joint P&L statement ofHorizant in the second quarter of 2009. No detailing activities occurred and no detail reimbursements were recognized in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.
The Company’s net revenue from unconsolidated joint operating activities from the collaboration agreement with GSK is comprised of the following:
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Up-front license and development milestone revenue | $ | 54 | $ | 635 | $ | 161 | $ | 25,311 | ||||||||
XenoPort’s share of pre-launch operating losses | (44 | ) | (611 | ) | (325 | ) | (937 | ) | ||||||||
Net revenue from unconsolidated joint operating activities | $ | 10 | $ | 24 | $ | (164 | ) | $ | 24,374 | |||||||
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XENOPORT, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
(Unaudited)
3. Net Loss per Share
Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period without consideration for potential common shares. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period plus any dilutive potential common shares for the period determined using the treasury-stock method. For purposes of this calculation, restricted stock units, options to purchase stock and warrants are considered to be potential common shares and are only included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share when their effect is dilutive.
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
(In thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||||||||||||||
Numerator: | ||||||||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (19,899 | ) | $ | (24,374 | ) | $ | (67,646 | ) | $ | (47,986 | ) | ||||
Denominator: | ||||||||||||||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding | 30,565 | 30,048 | 30,506 | 28,230 | ||||||||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per share | $ | (0.65 | ) | $ | (0.81 | ) | $ | (2.22 | ) | $ | (1.70 | ) | ||||
Outstanding securities not included in the computation of diluted net loss per share as they had an antidilutive effect: | ||||||||||||||||
Restricted stock units and options to purchase common stock | 5,258 | 4,185 | 5,258 | 4,185 | ||||||||||||
Warrants outstanding | 305 | 305 | 305 | 305 | ||||||||||||
5,563 | 4,490 | 5,563 | 4,490 | |||||||||||||
4. Comprehensive Loss
The Company displays comprehensive loss and its components as part of the annual statement of stockholders’ equity. Comprehensive loss is comprised of net loss and unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities. Total comprehensive loss was as follows:
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (19,899 | ) | $ | (24,374 | ) | $ | (67,646 | ) | $ | (47,986 | ) | ||||
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities | 2 | (72 | ) | (10 | ) | (440 | ) | |||||||||
$ | (19,897 | ) | $ | (24,446 | ) | $ | (67,656 | ) | $ | (48,426 | ) | |||||
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XENOPORT, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
(Unaudited)
5. Cash and Cash Equivalents, Short-Term Investments and Restricted Investments
The following are summaries of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted investments (in thousands):
Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Estimated Fair Value | |||||||||||||
As of September 30, 2010: | ||||||||||||||||
Cash | $ | 902 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 902 | ||||||||
Money market funds | 10,329 | — | — | 10,329 | ||||||||||||
U.S. treasury securities | 5,523 | 1 | — | 5,524 | ||||||||||||
U.S. government-sponsored agencies | 46,627 | 8 | — | 46,635 | ||||||||||||
Corporate debt securities | 27,618 | 18 | (11 | ) | 27,625 | |||||||||||
Certificates of deposit | 1,946 | — | — | 1,946 | ||||||||||||
$ | 92,945 | $ | 27 | $ | (11 | ) | $ | 92,961 | ||||||||
Reported as: | ||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 14,512 | ||||||||||||||
Short-term investments | 76,503 | |||||||||||||||
Restricted investments | 1,946 | |||||||||||||||
$ | 92,961 | |||||||||||||||
Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Estimated Fair Value | |||||||||||||
As of December 31, 2009: | ||||||||||||||||
Cash | $ | 4,115 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4,115 | ||||||||
Money market funds | 18,260 | — | — | 18,260 | ||||||||||||
U.S. treasury securities | 22,024 | — | (7 | ) | 22,017 | |||||||||||
U.S. government-sponsored agencies | 99,243 | 40 | (7 | ) | 99,276 | |||||||||||
Certificates of deposit | 1,933 | — | — | 1,933 | ||||||||||||
$ | 145,575 | $ | 40 | $ | (14 | ) | $ | 145,601 | ||||||||
Reported as: | ||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 36,255 | ||||||||||||||
Short-term investments | 107,413 | |||||||||||||||
Restricted investments | 1,933 | |||||||||||||||
$ | 145,601 | |||||||||||||||
At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the contractual maturities of all investments held were less than one year.
No gross realized gains or losses were recognized in the three or nine months ended September 30, 2010 or in the same periods in 2009.
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XENOPORT, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
(Unaudited)
The Company’s available-for-sale investments, which include cash equivalents and short-term investments, are measured at fair value using the following inputs (in thousands):
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using | ||||||||||||||||
Description | Total as of September 30, 2010 | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | ||||||||||||
Money market funds | $ | 10,329 | $ | 10,329 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
U.S. treasury securities | 5,524 | — | 5,524 | — | ||||||||||||
U.S. government-sponsored agencies | 46,635 | — | 46,635 | — | ||||||||||||
Corporate debt securities | 27,625 | — | 27,625 | — | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 90,113 | $ | 10,329 | $ | 79,784 | $ | — | ||||||||
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using | ||||||||||||||||
Description | Total as of December 31, 2009 | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | ||||||||||||
Money market funds | $ | 18,260 | $ | 18,260 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
U.S. treasury securities | 22,017 | — | 22,017 | — | ||||||||||||
U.S. government-sponsored agencies | 99,276 | — | 99,276 | — | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 139,553 | $ | 18,260 | $ | 121,293 | $ | — | ||||||||
6. Stock-Based Compensation
Details of the Company’s employee non-cash stock-based compensation, excluding non-cash stock-based compensation resulting from the Company’s restructuring plan, were as follows:
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Research and development | $ | 1,891 | $ | 2,589 | $ | 6,228 | $ | 7,722 | ||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 2,338 | 2,130 | 7,097 | 6,248 | ||||||||||||
$ | 4,229 | $ | 4,719 | $ | 13,325 | $ | 13,970 | |||||||||
7. Restructuring
On March 5, 2010, as a result of the Complete Response letter from the FDA stating that the FDA did not approve theNDA forHorizantfor RLS in its form at the time, the Company implemented a restructuring plan to reduce expenses, focus the Company’s resources on advancement of its later-stage product candidates and eliminate the Company’s discovery research efforts. The restructuring plan resulted in a reduction in force of 107 employees, or approximately 50% of the Company’s workforce. The Company provided affected employees with up to 60 days of leave of absence pay in accordance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, and provided 60 days of employee benefits and continued vesting of stock options and awards. Qualified affected employees were also eligible to receive severance payments, transition pay, continuation of medical insurance under COBRA, a two-year extension of exercisability of stock options vested as of May 4, 2010 and outplacement services.
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XENOPORT, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
(Unaudited)
As a result of this restructuring, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $5,275,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2010, which were included on a separate line in the Company’s statements of operations, in accordance with theExit or Disposal Cost Obligations topic of the Codification. The Company does not expect to incur additional charges in relation to the March 2010 restructuring plan. The restructuring components are summarized in the following table (in thousands):
Paid Leave, Severance and Other Benefits | Non-Cash Stock-Based Compensation | Property and Equipment | Legal and Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Net restructuring charges | $ | 3,910 | $ | 853 | $ | 437 | $ | 75 | $ | 5,275 | ||||||||||
Cash payments | (966 | ) | — | — | (16 | ) | (982 | ) | ||||||||||||
Non-cash charges | — | (853 | ) | (437 | ) | (19 | ) | (1,309 | ) | |||||||||||
Ending liability balance at March 31, 2010 | 2,944 | — | — | 40 | 2,984 | |||||||||||||||
Cash payments | (2,692 | ) | — | — | (40 | ) | (2,732 | ) | ||||||||||||
Ending liability balance at June 30, 2010 | 252 | — | — | — | 252 | |||||||||||||||
Cash payments | (252 | ) | — | — | — | (252 | ) | |||||||||||||
Ending liability balance at September 30, 2010 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
8. Commitments and Contingencies
In July 2010, a purported securities class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, naming the Company and certain of its officers and directors as defendants. The lawsuit alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in connection with allegedly false, misleading and incomplete statements issued by the defendants related toHorizant as a potential treatment of moderate-to-severe primary RLS, which allegedly made it impossible for investors to meaningfully understand the drug’s potential for FDA approval. The plaintiff seeks damages, an award of its costs and injunctive and/or equitable relief on behalf of a purported class of stockholders who purchased the Company’s common stock during the period between May 5, 2009 and February 17, 2010. Another lawsuit was filed in September 2010 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California making substantially similar allegations, on behalf of a purported class of stockholders who purchased the Company’s common stock during the period between March 16, 2009 and May 5, 2010. A motion to consolidate the complaints and appoint a lead plaintiff has been granted. The Company will not respond until after a consolidated complaint is filed.
The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses and intends to defend the lawsuits vigorously. The Company is not currently able to estimate the possible cost to the Company from this matter, as these lawsuits are currently at an early stage and the Company cannot be certain how long it may take to resolve this matter or the possible amount of any damages that the Company may be required to pay. Therefore, the Company has not established any reserves for any potential liability relating to these lawsuits.
9. Subsequent Event
In November 2010, the Company entered into an amended and restated development and commercialization agreement with GSK. GSK remains responsible for seeking approval of the NDA for RLS in the United States and for further development and regulatory matters with respect toHorizant for the potential treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia, or PHN. Subject to the terms and conditions of the amended agreement, the Company has reacquired all rights to XP13512 outside of the United States previously granted to GSK (which excludes the Astellas territory) and the Company has the right to pursue development ofHorizant for: (i) the potential treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, or DPN; (ii) the potential treatment of PHN, to the extent that a product label would reflect a superiority claim over a currently approved drug; and (iii) any additional indications in the United States. GSK remains responsible for commercialization ofHorizant in the United States for all indications. The aggregate clinical and regulatory milestone payments that the Company is eligible to receive have been increased by $37,500,000, from up to $275,000,000 to up to $312,500,000, of which $85,000,000 has been received to date. The Company also remains eligible to receive up to $290,000,000 upon the achievement of specifiedHorizant sales levels, with a reduction in the sales levels entitling the Company to specific payment amounts compared to the original agreement. The Company’s participation in the co-promotion and joint P&L arrangements remain unchanged, except that the Company can delay the deployment of its sales force for up to three years following the potential approval ofHorizant in the United States and its share of losses from the joint P&L will be forgiven up to a maximum of $10,000,000. Therefore, the total accrued unconsolidated joint operating activities of $1,420,000 recorded as of September 30, 2010 will be forgiven. The Company’s payment of additional losses, if any, would be deferred and payable without interest over a period of time following the first quarter in which the joint P&L is profitable. In addition, the Company no longer has the right to detail Requip XL. This right would have terminated upon the earlier of the launch of a generic form of Requip XL or July 1, 2011 under the original agreement. The Company would share any profits on sales ofHorizant in the United States at tiered rates that escalate as a function of annual net sales levels, from a low of 20% to a maximum of 50%. The Company may terminate its co-promotion right and participation in the profit share arrangement at any time upon notice to GSK with no penalty to it, resulting in a royalty-based compensation structure whereby the Company would receive a royalty on annual net sales in the United States at tiered rates that escalate as a function of net sales levels, from a low of 15% to a maximum of 30%. GSK may terminate the collaboration agreement in its entirety for any reason and at any time. In such event, certainHorizant/XP13512 product rights would revert to the Company, and the Company would be entitled to specified transition assistance from GSK. The Company cannot estimate the financial effect of this amended and restated development and commercialization agreement with GSK on the Company’s financial position and results of operations at this time.
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Item 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. All statements other than statements of historical facts are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of these provisions, including any projections and statements related to future development activities, the timing and results thereof and regulatory matters. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause our actual results, performance, time frames or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, time frames or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We discuss many of these risks, uncertainties and other factors in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q in greater detail under the heading “Risk Factors.” Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Also, these forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this filing. You should read this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We hereby qualify our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
Overview
We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing a portfolio of internally discovered product candidates that utilize the body’s natural nutrient transport mechanisms to improve the therapeutic benefits of existing drugs. Our innovative product candidates, which we refer to as Transported Prodrugs, are created by modifying the chemical structure of currently marketed drugs, referred to as parent drugs, and are designed to correct limitations in the oral absorption, distribution and/or metabolism of the parent drug. We intend to focus our development and commercialization efforts on potential treatments of diseases with significant unmet medical needs, with an emphasis on central nervous system disorders.
Our lead product candidate, XP13512 (gabapentin enacarbil), is licensed to Astellas Pharma Inc. in Japan and five Asian countries and to Glaxo Group Limited, or GSK, in the United States. Astellas has filed a new drug application, or NDA, with the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Device Agency, or PMDA, for approval of XP13512 as a treatment for restless legs syndrome in Japan. Restless legs syndrome is a neurological condition that causes an irresistible urge to move the legs. In January 2009, GSK submitted an NDA to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, for U.S. approval to market XP13512, known in the United States by the trade nameHorizant(gabapentin enacarbil) Extended-Release Tablets, for the treatment of moderate-to-severe primary restless legs syndrome, or RLS.
In February 2010, GSK received a Complete Response letter from the FDA regarding the NDA forHorizantfor RLS. A Complete Response letter is issued by the FDA’s Center of Drug Evaluation and Research when the review of a file is completed and questions remain that preclude the approval of the NDA in its current form. In November 2010, the FDA accepted for review GSK’s resubmission of the NDA in response to the FDA’s Complete Response letter. The FDA has designated theHorizant NDA resubmission as a Class 2 response and set a new Prescription Drug User Fee Act, or PDUFA, date of April 6, 2011. TheHorizant NDA resubmission included new data from nonclinical studies ofHorizant and two epidemiology studies conducted by GSK exploring gabapentin use and cancer based on the UK General Practice Research Database. TheHorizant NDA resubmission also included a final safety update that provided updated or new safety information on patients in clinical studies who have been treated withHorizant. In order for the FDA to be able to consider published gabapentin nonclinical data in their assessment ofHorizant, GSK amended theHorizant NDA from a Section 505(b)(1) to a Section 505(b)(2) application. Because theHorizant NDA resubmission was filed under Section 505(b)(2) of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the patent certification and related provisions of the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, or the Hatch-Waxman Act, apply to theHorizant NDA resubmission. In accordance with the Hatch-Waxman Act, concurrent with GSK’s filing of theHorizant NDA resubmission with the FDA, GSK provided “paragraph IV” notices to Pfizer Inc as the NDA holder for Neurontin (gabapentin) Oral Capsules and to the owner of U.S. Patent 6,054,482 (a patent for Neurontin (gabapentin) Oral Capsules listed in the FDA’s publication,Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, commonly known as the Orange Book), providing, among other things, a detailed statement of the factual and legal basis of GSK’s opinion that U.S. Patent No. 6,054,482 is invalid, unenforceable or will not be infringed byHorizant. Following receipt of the notice, the owner of U.S. Patent No. 6,054,482 is permitted to file an action for patent infringement. If an infringement lawsuit is filed within 45 days of receiving the paragraph IV notice, theHorizant NDA may not normally be approved before the expiration of a 30-month period starting from the date of receipt of the paragraph IV notice.
In July 2010, GSK announced top-line results from a Phase 2b dose-ranging clinical trial evaluating the efficacy, safety and tolerability ofHorizant in adults diagnosed with migraine headache (with or without aura) according to the International Headache Society criteria.Horizant did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement compared to placebo as a prophylactic treatment for migraine headaches.
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Horizant has successfully completed several Phase 2 clinical trials for the management of post-herpetic neuralgia, or PHN, in the United States. In addition, GSK evaluatedHorizant for the potential treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, or DPN, butHorizant did not show statistically significant separation from placebo in the primary endpoint of the trial.
In November 2010, we entered into an amended and restated development and commercialization agreement with GSK. GSK remains responsible for seeking approval of the NDA for RLS in the United States and for further development and regulatory matters with respect toHorizant for the potential treatment of PHN. Subject to the terms and conditions of the amended agreement, we have reacquired all rights to XP13512 outside of the United States previously granted to GSK (which excludes the Astellas territory) and we have the right to pursue development ofHorizant for: (i) the potential treatment of DPN; (ii) the potential treatment of PHN, to the extent that a product label would reflect a superiority claim over a currently approved drug; and (iii) any additional indications in the United States. GSK remains responsible for commercialization ofHorizant in the United States for all indications. The aggregate clinical and regulatory milestone payments that we are eligible to receive have been increased by $37.5 million, from up to $275.0 million to up to $312.5 million, of which $85.0 million has been received to date. We also remain eligible to receive up to $290.0 million upon the achievement of specified sales levels, with a reduction in the sales levels entitling us to specific payment amounts compared to our original agreement. Our participation in the co-promotion and joint profit and loss, or P&L, arrangements remain unchanged, except that we can delay the deployment of our sales force for up to three years following the potential approval ofHorizant in the United States and our share of losses from the joint P&L will be forgiven up to a maximum of $10.0 million. Our payment of additional losses, if any, would be deferred and payable without interest over a period of time following the first quarter in which the joint P&L is profitable. In addition, we no longer have the right to detail Requip XL, GSK’s product for Parkinson’s disease. This right would have terminated upon the earlier of the launch of a generic form of Requip XL or July 1, 2011 under our original agreement. We would share any profits on sales ofHorizant in the United States at tiered rates that escalate as a function of annual net sales levels, from a low of 20% to a maximum of 50%. For example (and for illustrative purposes only), if the annual net sales ofHorizant reach $250.0 million, $500.0 million and $1.0 billion, we would be entitled to blended profit share rates of 25%, 34% and 42%, respectively. We may terminate our co-promotion right and participation in the profit share arrangement at any time upon notice to GSK with no penalty to us, resulting in a royalty-based compensation structure whereby we would receive a royalty on annual net sales in the United States at tiered rates that escalate as a function of net sales levels, from a low of 15% to a maximum of 30%. For example (and for illustrative purposes only), if the annual net sales ofHorizant reach $250.0 million, $500.0 million and $1.0 billion, we would be entitled to blended royalty rates of 17%, 21% and 25%, respectively. GSK may terminate our co-promotion right for our not meeting a minimum sales requirement, for our uncured material breach in conducting co-promotional activities or upon our change of control in certain circumstances. GSK may terminate our collaboration agreement in its entirety for any reason and at any time. In such event, certainHorizant/XP13512 product rights would revert to us, and we would be entitled to specified transition assistance from GSK.
We are evaluating our second product candidate, arbaclofen placarbil, or AP (also known as XP19986), for the potential treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, in patients who do not experience complete relief of GERD symptoms while being treated with proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs. We are also evaluating AP as a potential treatment for patients with spasticity. In September 2010, we announced our plans to move AP into Phase 3 development as a potential treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis, or MS, patients. Based on discussions with the FDA, we intend to conduct a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to assess the efficacy and safety of AP as a treatment for spasticity in MS patients. Patients who complete this study would have the option to enter a long-term study to evaluate the safety of AP in MS patients. Favorable results from these studies could lead to the filing of an NDA with the FDA under Section 505(b)(2) seeking approval of AP for the treatment of spasticity. The Section 505(b)(2) application would enable us to reference published literature and the FDA’s previous finding of safety and effectiveness for baclofen, a drug that has been approved by the FDA for the alleviation of signs and symptoms of spasticity resulting from MS. We intend to initiate this Phase 3 clinical program in the first half of 2011.
We are evaluating our third product candidate, XP21279, for the potential treatment of patients with Parkinson’s disease. We are conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial of XP21279 in Parkinson’s disease patients with motor fluctuations. The randomized cross-over trial is designed to compare the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of individual patient-optimized doses of a new bi-layer tablet of XP21279/carbidopa to similarly patient-optimized doses of Sinemet (L-Dopa/carbidopa).
We were incorporated in May 1999 and commenced active operations in August 1999. To date, we have not generated any product revenues. Prior to the three months ended June 30, 2007, we had incurred net losses since our inception. However, due to the recognition of revenues from up-front and milestone payments from our collaborations with GSK, Astellas and Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc., we were profitable in the three-month periods ended June 30, September 30 and December 31, 2007, and for the year ended December 31, 2007. However, while recognition of these revenues resulted in a profitable year for 2007, we incurred net losses in 2008 and 2009, and we expect to incur net losses in 2010 as we continue our development activities and seek to advance our product candidates into later stages of development. As of September 30, 2010, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $372.6 million.
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments including those related to revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, income taxes and clinical development costs. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Our critical accounting policies and significant judgments and estimates are detailed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
Results of Operations
Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009
Revenues
Our collaboration revenue consisted of the recognition of revenue from up-front and milestone payments from our collaboration with Astellas. Our net revenue from unconsolidated joint operating activities consisted of the recognition of revenue from up-front and milestone payments and the recognition of our share of pre-launch operating losses resulting from our co-promotion rights forHorizant in the United States with GSK.
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As a result of our exercise in April 2009 of the co-promotion option under our development and commercialization agreement with GSK, starting in the second quarter of 2009, this agreement falls within the scope of theCollaborative Agreements topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or the Codification. As such, our revenue from the GSK collaboration agreement has been reclassified within the statements of operations starting in the second quarter of 2009. The statements of operations now include the line item “Net revenue from unconsolidated joint operating activities,” which includes all revenue and profit and loss sharing resulting from our GSK collaboration agreement. Revenue that resulted from our collaboration agreement with Astellas continues to be presented within the “Collaboration revenue” line item. This presentation has no impact on net loss or net loss per share.
Three Months Ended September 30, | Change | Nine Months Ended September 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | $ | % | 2010 | 2009 | $ | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(In thousands, except percentages) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net revenue from unconsolidated joint operating activities | $ | 10 | $ | 24 | $ | (14 | ) | (58 | )% | $ | (164 | ) | $ | 24,374 | $ | (24,538 | ) | (101 | )% | |||||||||||||
Collaboration revenue | 379 | 379 | — | 0 | % | 1,137 | 4,137 | (3,000 | ) | (73 | )% | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | $ | 389 | $ | 403 | $ | (14 | ) | (3 | )% | $ | 973 | $ | 28,511 | $ | (27,538 | ) | (97 | )% | ||||||||||||||
The decrease in net revenue from unconsolidated joint operating activities for the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009 was primarily due to a decrease in revenue recognized from up-front license and milestone payments, partially offset by a decrease in the recognition of our share of pre-launch operating losses resulting from our co-promotion ofHorizant in the United States with GSK under our GSK agreement.
The decrease in net revenue from unconsolidated joint operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009 was primarily due to the receipt and recognition of a significant portion of the $20.0 million milestone payment from GSK related to the FDA’s acceptance for review of theHorizant NDA in the nine months ended September 30, 2009. As a result of the Complete Response letter, we revised the estimated period of performance over which we recognize milestones paid for clinical trial and pre-clinical activities and the up-front payment.
Our collaboration revenue remained constant in the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009.
The decrease in collaboration revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009 was the result of a $3.0 million decrease in revenue recognized under our Astellas agreement from a milestone payment related to the FDA’s acceptance for review of the NDA forHorizant in the United States in 2009.
We expect revenues to fluctuate in the future primarily depending upon the potential further development and commercialization ofHorizant/XP13512, the timing of milestone-related activities under our Astellas and GSK collaborations and the extent to which we enter into new, or modify existing, collaborative agreements.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consisted of costs associated with our research activities and drug discovery efforts, as well as costs associated with conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials, manufacturing development efforts and activities related to regulatory filings. Of the total research and development expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the allocation of costs associated with research and preclinical and clinical development activities approximated the following:
Three Months Ended September 30, | Change | Nine Months Ended September 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | $ | % | 2010 | 2009 | $ | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(In thousands, except percentages) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Research | $ | 1,629 | $ | 5,166 | $ | (3,537 | ) | (68 | )% | $ | 7,984 | $ | 15,599 | $ | (7,615 | ) | (49 | )% | ||||||||||||||
Preclinical and clinical development | 12,134 | 11,834 | 300 | 3 | % | 33,725 | 38,418 | (4,693 | ) | (12 | )% | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total research and development | $ | 13,763 | $ | 17,000 | $ | (3,237 | ) | (19 | )% | $ | 41,709 | $ | 54,017 | $ | (12,308 | ) | (23 | )% | ||||||||||||||
The decrease in research and development expenses in the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009 was principally due to the following:
• | decreased personnel costs of $3.9 million primarily due to decreased headcount, including decreased non-cash stock-based compensation of $0.7 million; partially offset by |
• | increased net costs for AP of $1.2 million primarily due to increased clinical costs. |
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The decrease in research and development expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009 was principally due to the following:
• | decreased net costs forHorizant/XP13512 of $2.3 million primarily due to decreased manufacturing and clinical costs; |
• | decreased net costs for XP21279 of $1.4 million primarily due to decreased toxicology and clinical costs; and |
• | decreased personnel costs of $8.9 million primarily due to decreased headcount, including decreased non-cash stock-based compensation of $1.5 million; partially offset by |
• | a credit in 2009 of $1.9 million from Astellas for manufacturing costs under the supply arrangement. |
We expect our research and development expenses to decrease in 2010 as compared to 2009 as a result of our March 2010 restructuring plan. The timing and amount of expenses incurred will primarily depend upon the extent of current or future clinical trials for AP and XP21279, as well as the related expenses associated with our development organization, regulatory requirements, advancement of our preclinical programs and product candidate manufacturing costs.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consisted principally of salaries and other related costs for personnel in executive, finance, accounting, business development, information technology, legal, sales, marketing and human resources functions. Other selling, general and administrative expenses include facility costs not otherwise included in research and development expenses, patent-related costs and professional fees for legal, consulting and accounting services.
Three Months Ended September 30, | Change | Nine Months Ended September 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | $ | % | 2010 | 2009 | $ | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(In thousands, except percentages) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | $ | 6,597 | $ | 8,140 | $ | (1,543 | ) | (19 | )% | $ | 21,877 | $ | 23,693 | $(1,816) | (8 | )% |
Our selling, general and administrative expenses decreased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the same periods in 2009 primarily due to decreased personnel costs as a result of decreased headcount.
We expect selling, general and administrative expenses in 2010 to remain relatively constant with 2009 levels. In 2011, the timing and amount of selling, general and administrative expenses incurred will primarily depend upon the NDA approval process for theHorizant NDA and, assuming such approval, the timing and costs associated with establishing our sales force in support of the potential commercialization ofHorizant for RLS.
Restructuring Charges
As a result of the implementation of our March 2010 restructuring plan that resulted in a reduction in force of 107 employees, or approximately 50% of our workforce, we recorded restructuring charges of $5.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010. The recorded restructuring charges consisted primarily of $3.9 million of leave of absence pay, severance and healthcare benefits, $0.9 million of non-cash stock-based compensation and $0.4 million of property and equipment write-offs. We do not expect to incur additional charges in relation to the March 2010 restructuring plan.
Interest Income and Interest and Other Expense
Interest income consisted primarily of interest earned on our cash equivalents and short-term investments.
Three Months Ended September 30, | Change | Nine Months Ended September 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | $ | % | 2010 | 2009 | $ | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(In thousands, except percentages) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest income | $ | 72 | $ | 226 | $ | (154 | ) | (68 | )% | $ | 242 | $ | 1,080 | $ | (838 | ) | (78 | )% | ||||||||||||||
Interest and other expense | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | 0 | % | $ | — | $ | 4 | $ | (4 | ) | (100 | )% |
The decrease in interest income in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the same periods in 2009 was primarily due to lower interest rates and lower average cash and cash equivalents and short-term investment balances.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of September 30, 2010 | As of December 31, 2009 | |||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments | $ | 91,015 | $ | 143,668 | ||||
Working capital | 80,319 | 131,749 | ||||||
Restricted investments | 1,946 | 1,933 | ||||||
Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||
Cash provided by (used in): | ||||||||
Operating activities | $ | (51,351 | ) | $ | (45,306 | ) | ||
Investing activities | 29,349 | (54,754 | ) | |||||
Financing activities | 259 | 52,808 | ||||||
Capital expenditures (included in investing activities above) | (601 | ) | (2,454 | ) |
Due to our significant research and development expenditures and the lack of regulatory agency approvals to sell products, we have generated cumulative operating losses since we incorporated in 1999. As such, we have funded our research and development operations primarily through sales of our equity securities, non-equity payments from our collaborators and interest earned on investments. At September 30, 2010, we had available cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $91.0 million. Our cash and investment balances are held in a variety of interest-bearing instruments, including investments backed by U.S. government-sponsored agencies, U.S. treasury securities, corporate debt securities and money market accounts. Cash in excess of immediate requirements is invested with regard to liquidity and capital preservation, and we seek to minimize the potential effects of concentration and degrees of risk.
Net cash used in operating activities was $51.4 million and $45.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The net cash used in operating activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 primarily reflected our net loss, partially offset by non-cash stock-based compensation. We recorded restructuring charges of $5.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010, which included approximately $4.0 million of cash expenditures primarily associated with one-time termination benefits, which were paid in the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The net cash used in operating activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 primarily reflected our net loss and, to a lesser extent, the non-cash changes in operating assets and liabilities, partially offset by non-cash stock-based compensation.
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities was $29.3 million and $(54.8) million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The net cash provided by investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was primarily related to proceeds from maturities of investments, partially offset by the purchases of investments. The net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was primarily related to the purchases of investments, partially offset by proceeds from maturities of investments.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $0.3 million and $52.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 primarily reflected net proceeds provided by the issuance of common stock and exercise of stock options.
We believe that our existing capital resources, together with interest thereon, will be sufficient to meet our projected operating requirements into the first quarter of 2012. We have based our estimate of cash sufficiency on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. Further, our operating plan may change, and we may need additional funds to meet operational needs and capital requirements for product development and commercialization sooner than planned. We currently have no credit facility or committed sources of capital other than potential milestones receivable under our collaborations. Our forecast of the period of time through which our financial resources will be adequate to support our operations is a forward-looking statement and involves risks and uncertainties, and actual results could vary as a result of a number of factors, including the factors discussed in “Risk Factors.” Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the development and commercialization of our product candidates, and the extent to which we enter into additional collaborations with third parties to participate in their development and commercialization, we are unable to estimate the amounts of increased capital outlays and operating expenditures associated with our current and anticipated clinical trials. Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including:
• | the scope, rate of progress, results and cost of our preclinical testing, clinical trials and other research and development activities; |
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• | the receipt of FDA approval forHorizant and the timing and success of further studies and trials necessary to secure this approval, if any; |
• | the extent of product development funding under our current collaborative arrangements; |
• | the cost of manufacturing clinical, and establishing commercial, supplies of our product candidates and any products that we may develop; |
• | the timing of any milestone payments under our collaborative arrangements; |
• | the number and characteristics of product candidates that we pursue, including rights related toHorizant that we obtained pursuant to our amended and restated collaboration agreement with GSK; |
• | the cost, timing and outcomes of regulatory approvals, if any; |
• | the terms and timing of any collaborative, licensing and other arrangements that we may establish or modify; |
• | the timing and amount of our share of operating losses from our GSK collaboration; |
• | the timing, receipt and amount of sales, profit sharing or royalties, if any, from our potential products; |
• | the cost of preparing, filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights; and |
• | the extent to which we acquire or invest in businesses, products or technologies, although we currently have no commitments or agreements relating to any of these types of transactions. |
If we need to raise additional money to fund our operations, funding may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are, or anticipate that we may be, unable to raise additional funds when needed, we may terminate or delay clinical trials for one or more of our product candidates, we may delay our establishment of sales and marketing capabilities or other activities that may be necessary to commercialize our product candidates or we may curtail significant drug development programs that are designed to advance our product candidates. In addition, at any time upon advance notice to GSK, we may exercise the right to revert to a net sales royalty-based compensation structure and forego the right to co-promoteHorizant in the United States. We may seek to raise any necessary additional funds through equity or debt financings, collaborative arrangements with corporate partners or other sources. To the extent that we raise additional capital through licensing arrangements or arrangements with collaborative partners, we may be required to relinquish, on terms that are not favorable to us, rights to some of our technologies or product candidates that we would otherwise seek to develop or commercialize ourselves. To the extent that we raise additional capital through equity financings, dilution to our stockholders would result. Any debt financing or additional equity that we raise may contain terms that are not favorable to our stockholders or us.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We currently have no material off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Regulation S-K Item 303(a)(4)(ii).
Contractual Obligations
Our future contractual obligations at September 30, 2010 were as follows (in thousands):
Payments Due by Period | ||||||||||||||||||||
Contractual Obligations | Total | Less Than 1 Year | 1-3 Years | 3-5 Years | Greater Than 5 Years | |||||||||||||||
Operating lease obligations | $ | 13,297 | $ | 5,629 | $ | 7,668 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2009, the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force, or EITF, reached a consensus on Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2009-13 (Topic 605),Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements,or ASU 2009-13. ASU 2009-13 applies to multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements that are currently within the scope of theRevenue Arrangements — Multiple-Element Arrangementstopic of the Codification. ASU 2009-13 provides principles and application guidance on whether multiple deliverables exist and how the arrangement should be separated and the consideration allocated. ASU 2009-13 requires an entity to allocate revenue in an arrangement using estimated selling prices of deliverables if a vendor does not have vendor-specific objective evidence or third-party evidence of selling price. ASU 2009-13 eliminates the use of the residual method and requires an entity to allocate revenue using the relative selling price method and also significantly expands the disclosure requirements for multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements. ASU 2009-13 will be effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into, or materially modified in, fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, with earlier application permitted. As a result, ASU 2009-13 will be applied by us on a prospective basis for revenue arrangements entered into, or materially modified, beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2011.
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In April 2010, the FASB EITF reached a consensus on ASU 2010-17 (Topic 605),Milestone Method of Revenue Recognition,or ASU 2010-17. ASU 2010-17 provides guidance on defining a milestone and determining whether the milestone method of revenue recognition is appropriate. ASU 2010-17 will be effective for milestones achieved in fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after June 15, 2010, with earlier adoption permitted. As a result, ASU 2010-17 will be applied by us on a prospective basis for milestones achieved starting in the first quarter of fiscal 2011. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of ASU 2010-17 on our financial position and results of operations.
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve our capital to fund operations. We also seek to maximize income from our investments without assuming significant risk. To achieve our objectives, we maintain a portfolio of cash equivalents and investments in a variety of securities of high credit quality. As of September 30, 2010, we had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $91.0 million consisting of cash and highly liquid investments deposited in highly rated financial institutions in the United States. A portion of our investments may be subject to interest rate risk and could fall in value if market interest rates increase. However, because our investments are short-term in duration, we believe that our exposure to interest rate risk is not significant and a 1% movement in market interest rates would not have a significant impact on the total value of our portfolio. We actively monitor changes in interest rates.
We contract for the conduct of certain manufacturing activities with a contract manufacturer in Europe. We made payments in the aggregate amounts of $1.1 million and $3.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, to this European contract manufacturer. We are subject to exposure to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates in connection with agreements with this European contract manufacturer. To date, the effect of the exposure to these fluctuations in foreign exchange rates has not been material, and we do not expect it to be material in the foreseeable future. We do not hedge our foreign currency exposures. We have not used derivative financial instruments for speculation or trading purposes.
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures |
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
Based on their evaluation as required by paragraph (b) of Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as of September 30, 2010, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) were effective.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
There were no significant changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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Item 1. | Legal Proceedings |
In July 2010, a purported securities class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, naming us and certain of our officers and directors as defendants. The lawsuit alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in connection with allegedly false, misleading and incomplete statements issued by the defendants related to our product candidate,Horizant(gabapentin enacarbil) Extended-Release Tablets, as a potential treatment of moderate-to-severe primary restless legs syndrome, which allegedly made it impossible for investors to meaningfully understand the drug’s potential for U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. The plaintiff seeks damages, an award of its costs and injunctive and/or equitable relief on behalf of a purported class of stockholders who purchased our common stock during the period between May 5, 2009 and February 17, 2010. Another lawsuit was filed in September 2010 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California making substantially similar allegations, on behalf of a purported class of stockholders who purchased our common stock during the period between March 16, 2009 and May 5, 2010. A motion to consolidate the complaints and appoint a lead plaintiff has been granted. We will not respond until after a consolidated complaint is filed.
We believe that we have meritorious defenses and intend to defend the lawsuits vigorously. These lawsuits and any other related lawsuits are subject to inherent uncertainties, and the actual cost will depend upon many unknown factors. The outcome of the litigation is necessarily uncertain, we could be forced to expend significant resources in the defense of the lawsuits, and we may not prevail.
Item 1A. | Risk Factors. |
The following risks and uncertainties may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Investors should carefully consider the risks described below before making an investment decision. The risks described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations. Our business could be harmed by any of these risks. The trading price of our common stock could decline due to any of these risks, and investors may lose all or part of their investment.
We have marked with an asterisk (*) those risk factors below that reflect substantive changes from the risk factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26, 2010.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
We have incurred cumulative operating losses since inception, we expect to continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future and we may never sustain profitability.*
We have a limited operating history and have incurred cumulative losses of $372.6 million since our inception in May 1999. In the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, we incurred net losses of $19.9 million and $24.4 million, respectively. In the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, we incurred net losses of $67.6 million and $48.0 million, respectively. Due to the recognition of revenues from up-front and milestone payments from our collaborations with Glaxo Group Limited, or GSK, Astellas Pharma Inc. and Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc., we were profitable in the three-month periods ended June 30, September 30 and December 31, 2007, and for the year ended December 31, 2007. However, while recognition of these revenues resulted in a profitable year for 2007, we incurred net losses in 2008 and 2009, and we expect to incur net losses in 2010. Subject to regulatory approval of any of our product candidates, we may incur significant expenses associated with the establishment of a North American specialty sales force. Annual losses have had, and will continue to have, an adverse effect on our stockholders’ equity.
Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with drug development, we are unable to predict the timing or amount of increased expenses or when, or if, we will be able to achieve or sustain profitability. Currently, we have no products approved for commercial sale and, to date, we have not generated any product revenues. We have financed our operations primarily through the sale of equity securities, non-equity payments from collaborative partners and interest earned on investments. We have devoted substantially all of our efforts to research and development, including clinical trials. If we or our collaborative partners are unable to develop and commercialize our product candidates, if development is delayed or if sales revenue from a product candidate that receives marketing approval is insufficient, we may never become profitable. Even if we do become profitable, we may not be able to sustain or increase our profitability on a quarterly or annual basis.
Our success depends substantially on our most advanced product candidates, which are still under development. If we or our collaborative partners are unable to bring any or all of these product candidates to market, or experience significant delays in doing so, our ability to generate product revenue and our likelihood of success will be reduced.*
Our ability to generate product revenue in the future will depend heavily on the successful development and commercialization of our product candidates. In February 2010, we and our partner, GSK, announced that GSK received a Complete Response letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, regarding the new drug application, or NDA, submitted by GSK seeking
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approval ofHorizant (gabapentin enacarbil) Extended-Release Tablets for the treatment of moderate-to-severe primary restless legs syndrome, or RLS. A Complete Response letter is issued by the FDA’s Center of Drug Evaluation and Research when the review of a file is completed and questions remain that preclude the approval of the NDA in its current form. In the Complete Response letter, the FDA indicated that a preclinical finding of pancreatic acinar cell tumors in rats was of sufficient concern to preclude approval of theHorizant NDA for RLS at that time. In October 2010, GSK responded to the Complete Response letter with an NDA resubmission, which included additional nonclinical data ofHorizant and epidemiological data related to gabapentin use and cancer. In order for the FDA to be able to consider published gabapentin nonclinical data in their assessment ofHorizant, GSK amended theHorizant NDA from a Section 505(b)(1) to a Section 505(b)(2) application. The Complete Response letter and NDA resubmission process has delayed, and may prevent, the approval ofHorizant for RLS. We believe the Complete Response letter has also delayed the development by GSK ofHorizant in neuropathic pain. In addition, in July 2010, GSK announced top-line results from a Phase 2b clinical trial in whichHorizant did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement compared to placebo as a prophylactic treatment for migraine headaches.
In November 2009, our partner, Astellas, submitted an NDA for XP13512 for the treatment of restless legs syndrome in Japan. Our other product candidates are either in Phase 1 or Phase 2 clinical development or in various stages of preclinical development. Any of our product candidates could be unsuccessful if it:
• | does not demonstrate acceptable safety and efficacy in preclinical studies or clinical trials or otherwise does not meet applicable regulatory standards for approval; |
• | does not offer therapeutic or other improvements over existing or future drugs used to treat the same conditions; |
• | is not capable of being produced in commercial quantities at acceptable costs; or |
• | is not accepted in the medical community and by third-party payors. |
For example, in September 2009, we announced that we would no longer be pursuing further development of arbaclofen placarbil, or AP, also known as XP19986, for acute back spasms following the completion of a Phase 2 clinical trial of AP in patients with acute moderate to severe muscle spasms in the lumbar region that did not demonstrate AP efficacy over placebo. If we or our collaborative partners are unable to make additional product candidates commercially available, we may not be able to generate substantial product revenues, which would adversely affect our business and financial condition. The results of our clinical trials to date do not provide assurance that acceptable efficacy or safety will be shown upon completion of future clinical trials.
If we or our partners are not able to obtain required regulatory approvals, we or our partners will not be able to commercialize our product candidates, our ability to generate revenue will be materially impaired and our business will not be successful.*
Our product candidates and the activities associated with their development and commercialization are subject to comprehensive regulation by the FDA and other agencies in the United States and by comparable authorities in other countries. The inability to obtain FDA approval or approval from comparable authorities in other countries would prevent us and our collaborative partners from commercializing our product candidates in the United States or other countries. We or our collaborative partners may never receive regulatory approval for the commercial sale of our product candidates. For example, in February 2010, GSK received a Complete Response letter from the FDA in which a preclinical finding of pancreatic acinar cell tumors in rats precluded approval of theHorizant NDA for the treatment of RLS at that time. In October 2010, GSK responded to questions raised by the FDA in the Complete Response letter with an NDA resubmission, which included new data from nonclinical studies ofHorizant and two epidemiology studies conducted by GSK exploring gabapentin use and cancer based on the UK General Practice Research Database, as well as a final safety update that provided updated or new safety information on patients in clinical studies who have been treated withHorizant. In order for the FDA to be able to consider published gabapentin nonclinical data in their assessment ofHorizant, GSK amended theHorizant NDA from a Section 505(b)(1) to a Section 505(b)(2) application. However, it is unknown when, or if, we and GSK will obtain FDA approval forHorizant for RLS or any indication. If we are unable to obtain regulatory approval ofHorizant, we may not achieve profitability and our business will be severely harmed. Moreover, if the FDA requires that any of our products or product candidates be scheduled by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, or DEA, we or our collaborative partners will be unable to begin commercial sale of that product until the DEA completes scheduling proceedings. If any of our products or product candidates is classified as a controlled substance by the DEA, we or our collaborative partners would have to register annually with the DEA and those product candidates would be subject to additional regulation.
We have only limited experience in preparing and filing the applications necessary to gain regulatory approvals. The process of applying for regulatory approval is expensive, often takes many years and can vary substantially based upon the type, complexity and novelty of the product candidates involved. The application process begins with the submission of an NDA that the FDA initially reviews and either accepts or rejects for filing. NDA submissions are complex electronic filings, which include vast compilations of data sets, integrated documents and data calculations. The FDA has substantial discretion in the submission process and may refuse to accept an NDA submission if there are errors or omissions relating to the electronic transmittal process, data entry, data compilation or formatting. For example, in November 2008, GSK withdrew a previously submitted NDA forHorizant for the treatment of RLS in
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connection with the FDA’s request that the data from a single study be reformatted. The Section 505(b)(1) NDA forHorizant was resubmitted in January 2009 and the FDA accepted the Section 505(b)(1) NDA for review in March 2009.
Changes in the regulatory approval policy during the development period, changes in, or the enactment of additional, regulations or statutes or changes in regulatory review for each submitted product application may cause delays in the approval or rejection of an NDA. If the FDA were to miss a Prescription Drug User Fee Act, or PDUFA, timing goal for one of our product candidates, the development and commercialization of the product candidate could be delayed or impaired. For example, in November 2009, the FDA notified GSK that it was extending the PDUFA timing goal forHorizant for the treatment of RLS to February 2010. Similarly, in connection with theHorizant NDA resubmission, the FDA has set a new PDUFA timing goal of April 6, 2011. However, the FDA has the discretion to exercise its one-time option to extend the PDUFA timing goal an additional three months. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007, or FDAAA, mandates FDA advisory committee reviews of all new molecular entities as part of the NDA approval process, although the FDA maintains discretion under FDAAA to approve NDAs for new molecular entities without advisory committee reviews in certain instances. Although the FDA did not convene an advisory committee during its review of the initialHorizant NDA filing, the FDA may convene an advisory committee at any time during the review process, including following an NDA resubmission. The advisory committee review process can be a lengthy and uncertain process that could delay the FDA’s NDA approval and delay or impair the development and commercialization of our product candidates.
The FDA has substantial discretion in the approval process and may refuse to approve any application or decide that our or our collaborative partners’ data is insufficient for approval and require additional preclinical, clinical or other studies. For example, varying interpretations of the data obtained from preclinical and clinical testing or epidemiology studies could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval of any of our product candidates. The FDA could also require additional studies or trials to satisfy particular safety concerns noted in our preclinical or clinical testing or epidemiological studies. In particular, to satisfy a preclinical safety concern expressed in the Complete Response letter with respect toHorizant, the FDA may require us to undertake additional preclinical studies or trials or epidemiological studies prior to approvingHorizant. Even if we were to undertake additional studies or trials, there are no assurances that it would be sufficient to obtain approval ofHorizant for RLS. In addition, given the FDA’s substantial discretion in the approval process, the FDA may raise new or unexpected issues at any time in the review process. For example, in October 2010, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that they received a second Complete Response letter from the FDA regarding Amylin’s NDA seeking approval of BYDUREON (exenatide extended-release for injectable suspension). Amylin indicated that although the issue was not raised in the FDA’s initial Complete Response letter, the FDA requested a thorough QT study with exposures of exenatide higher than typical therapeutic levels of BYDUREON in a second Complete Response letter. If the FDA were to raise new issues in a subsequent Complete Response letter with respect toHorizant, its approval, if at all, would be delayed and our business would be harmed.
Even if the FDA or other regulatory agency approves a product candidate, the approval may impose significant restrictions on the indicated uses, conditions for use, labeling, advertising, promotion, marketing and/or production of such product and may impose ongoing commitments or requirements for post-approval studies, including additional research and development and clinical trials. The FDA and other agencies also may impose various civil or criminal sanctions for failure to comply with regulatory requirements, including withdrawal of product approval.
We and our collaborative partners will need to obtain regulatory approval from authorities in foreign countries to market our product candidates in those countries. Approval by one regulatory authority does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions. If we or our collaborative partners fail to obtain approvals from foreign jurisdictions, the geographic market for our product candidates would be limited.
We depend on collaborations to complete the development and commercialization of some of our product candidates. These collaborations may place the development of our product candidates outside our control, may require us to relinquish important rights or may otherwise be on terms unfavorable to us.*
In December 2005, we entered into a collaboration with Astellas for the development and commercialization of XP13512, also known as ASP8825, in Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Taiwan. In February 2007, we entered into an exclusive collaboration with GSK to develop and commercialize XP13512, also known as GSK1838262 and by the trade nameHorizant(gabapentin enacarbil) Extended-Release Tablets in the United States, worldwide, excluding the Astellas territory. In November 2010, we amended and restated our collaboration agreement with GSK, pursuant to which we reacquired all rights to XP13512 outside of the United States previously granted to GSK and obtained the right to pursue development ofHorizant for: (i) the potential treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, or DPN; (ii) the potential treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia, or PHN, to the extent that a product label would reflect a superiority claim over a currently approved drug; and (iii) any additional indications in the United States.
We may enter into additional collaborations with third parties to develop and commercialize some of our product candidates. Our dependence on Astellas and GSK for the development and commercialization ofHorizant/XP13512 subjects us to, and our dependence on future collaborators for development and commercialization of our product candidates will subject us to, a number of risks, including:
• | we are not able to control the amount and timing of resources that GSK and Astellas devote to the development or commercialization of our product candidate or to its marketing and distribution; |
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• | we may not be able to control the amount and timing of resources that our potential future collaborators may devote to the development or commercialization of product candidates or to their marketing and distribution; |
• | collaborators may delay clinical trials, provide insufficient funding for a clinical trial program, stop a clinical trial or abandon a product candidate, repeat or conduct new clinical trials or require a new formulation of a product candidate for clinical testing; |
• | disputes may arise between us and our collaborators that result in the delay or termination of the research, development or commercialization of our product candidates or that result in costly litigation or arbitration that diverts management’s attention and resources; |
• | collaborators may experience financial difficulties; |
• | collaborators may not be successful in their efforts to obtain regulatory approvals in a timely manner, or at all; |
• | collaborators may receive regulatory sanctions relating to other aspects of their business that could adversely affect the approval of our product candidates; |
• | collaborators may not properly maintain or defend our intellectual property rights or may use our proprietary information in such a way as to invite litigation that could jeopardize or invalidate our proprietary information or expose us to potential litigation; |
• | business combinations or significant changes in a collaborator’s business strategy may also adversely affect a collaborator’s willingness or ability to complete its obligations under any arrangement; |
• | a collaborator could independently move forward with a competing product candidate developed either independently or in collaboration with others, including our competitors; |
• | where we co-promote a product with a collaborator, if we do not receive timely and accurate information from our collaborator regarding sales activities, expenses and resulting operating profits and losses, our estimates at a given point of time could be incorrect and we could be required to record adjustments in future periods or restate our financial results for prior periods; and |
• | the collaborations may be terminated or allowed to expire, which would delay the development and may increase the cost of developing our product candidates. |
For example, in October 2007, we entered into a collaboration with Xanodyne for the development and commercialization of XP21510 in the United States. Effective July 2009, Xanodyne terminated the collaboration agreement.
As a further example, we cannot control the process for securing FDA approval ofHorizant for the potential treatment of RLS. GSK is responsible for all interactions with the FDA. If the FDA requires additional studies or trials evaluating the safety or efficacy ofHorizant for RLS, or imposes conditions on any approval ofHorizant for the treatment of RLS, GSK would be responsible for performing such studies or trials and would control decisions with respect to the acceptance and implementation of any conditions to approval. We cannot control the amount and timing of resources that GSK or Astellas may devote to the development or commercialization ofHorizant/XP13512 or its marketing and distribution. In February 2010, GSK announced that it proposed to cease discovery research in certain neuroscience areas, including depression and pain. IfHorizant is not approved for RLS in the United States, GSK may not developHorizantfor PHN. GSK or Astellas may abandon further development or the pursuit of regulatory approval ofHorizant or XP13512, and may terminate their respective collaboration agreements with us at any time, which could delay or impair the development and commercialization ofHorizant/XP13512 and harm our business.
If we do not establish collaborations for our product candidates, we will have to alter our development and commercialization plans.
Our strategy includes selectively collaborating with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to assist us in furthering development and potential commercialization of some of our product candidates. We intend to do so especially for
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indications that involve a large, primary care market that must be served by large sales and marketing organizations. We face significant competition in seeking appropriate collaborators, and these collaborations are complex and time consuming to negotiate and document. We may not be able to negotiate additional collaborations on acceptable terms, or at all. We are unable to predict when, if ever, we will enter into any additional collaborations because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with establishing additional collaborations. If we are unable to negotiate additional collaborations, we may have to curtail the development of a particular product candidate, reduce or delay its development program or one or more of our other development programs, delay its potential commercialization or reduce the scope of our sales or marketing activities or increase our expenditures and undertake development or commercialization activities at our own expense. If we elect to increase our expenditures to fund development or commercialization activities on our own, we may need to obtain additional capital, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we do not have sufficient funds, we will not be able to bring our product candidates to market and generate product revenues.
We will need additional funding and may be unable to raise capital when needed, which would force us to delay, reduce or eliminate our product development programs or commercialization efforts.*
We will need to raise additional capital to fund our operations and complete the development of our product candidates. If any product candidates receive regulatory approval for commercial sale, we may need to raise additional capital to fund our commercialization efforts. Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including:
• | the scope, rate of progress, results and cost of our preclinical testing, clinical trials and other research and development activities; |
• | the receipt of FDA approval forHorizant and the timing and success of further studies and trials necessary to secure this approval, if any; |
• | the extent of product development funding under our current collaborative arrangements; |
• | the cost of manufacturing clinical, and establishing commercial, supplies of our product candidates and any products that we may develop; |
• | the timing of any milestone payments under our collaborative arrangements; |
• | the number and characteristics of product candidates that we pursue, including rights related toHorizant that we obtained pursuant to our amended and restated collaboration agreement with GSK; |
• | the cost, timing and outcomes of regulatory approvals, if any; |
• | the terms and timing of any collaborative, licensing and other arrangements that we may establish or modify; |
• | the timing and amount of our share of operating losses from our GSK collaboration; |
• | the timing, receipt and amount of sales, profit sharing or royalties, if any, from our potential products; |
• | the cost of preparing, filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights; and |
• | the extent to which we acquire or invest in businesses, products or technologies, although we currently have no commitments or agreements relating to any of these types of transactions. |
Until we can generate a sufficient amount of product revenues, if ever, we expect to finance future cash needs through public or private equity offerings, debt financings or corporate collaboration and licensing arrangements, as well as through interest income earned on cash balances. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, our stockholders may experience dilution. Any debt financing or additional equity that we raise may contain terms that are not favorable to our stockholders or us. To the extent that we raise additional capital through licensing arrangements or arrangements with collaborative partners, we may be required to relinquish, on terms that are not favorable to us, rights to some of our technologies or product candidates that we would otherwise seek to develop or commercialize ourselves.
We believe that our existing capital resources, together with interest thereon, will be sufficient to meet our projected operating requirements into the first quarter of 2012. We have based our cash sufficiency estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. Further, our operating plan may change, and we may need additional funds to meet operational needs and capital requirements for product development and commercialization sooner than planned. We currently have no credit facility or committed sources of capital other than potential milestones receivable under our current collaborations.
Additional funds may not be available when we need them on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all. If adequate funds are not, or we anticipate that they may not be, available on a timely basis, we may:
• | terminate or delay clinical trials for one or more of our product candidates; |
• | curtail significant drug development programs that are designed to identify new product candidates; |
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• | delay our establishment of sales and marketing capabilities or other activities that may be necessary to commercialize our product candidates; or |
• | exercise the right to revert to a net sales royalty-based compensation structure and forego the right to co-promoteHorizant in the United States. |
For example, in January 2009, we suspended preclinical development activities for XP20925, our Transported Prodrug of propofol, to focus our resources on development of later-stage product candidates. In addition, in March 2010, as a result of the Complete Response letter that precluded approval of theHorizant NDA for RLS in its form at that time, we implemented a restructuring plan to reduce expenses, focus our resources on advancement of our later-stage product candidates and eliminate our discovery research efforts. In connection with this restructuring, we have chosen to postpone the commencement of additional clinical trials of AP as a potential treatment for spasticity until 2011 to focus our clinical development resources on the completion of our current Phase 2b clinical trial of AP as a potential treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.
However, we may not realize all of the anticipated benefits of our expense reduction strategies. Our restructuring in March 2010 resulted in a reduction in force of 107 employees, or approximately 50% of our workforce. If we experience excessive unanticipated inefficiencies or incremental costs in connection with restructuring activities, such as unanticipated inefficiencies caused by reducing headcount, we may be unable to meaningfully realize cost savings and we may incur expenses in excess of what we anticipate. Either of these outcomes could prevent us from meeting our strategic objectives, could cause a delay in clinical development programs and could adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.
If our preclinical studies do not produce successful results or our clinical trials do not demonstrate safety and efficacy in humans, we will not be able to commercialize our product candidates.*
To obtain the requisite regulatory approvals to market and sell any of our product candidates, we must demonstrate, through extensive preclinical studies and clinical trials, that the product candidate is safe and effective in humans. Preclinical and clinical testing is expensive, can take many years and has an uncertain outcome. A failure of one or more of our clinical trials could occur at any stage of testing. For example, in July 2010, GSK announced top-line results from a 30-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 2b clinical trial ofHorizant as a potential prophylactic treatment for migraine headaches in whichHorizant did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement on the primary endpoint when compared to placebo. Long-term safety concerns may also prevent the approval of any of our product candidates by a regulatory authority. For example, in February 2010, safety concerns related to a preclinical finding of pancreatic acinar cell tumors in rats precluded FDA approval of theHorizant NDA for RLS in its form at that time. In addition, success in preclinical testing and early clinical trials does not ensure that later clinical trials will be successful, and interim results of a clinical trial do not necessarily predict final results. We may experience numerous unforeseen events during, or as a result of, preclinical testing and the clinical trial process, which could delay or prevent our or our collaborative partners’ ability to commercialize our product candidates, including:
• | regulators or institutional review boards may not authorize us to commence a clinical trial at a prospective trial site; |
• | our preclinical testing or clinical trials may produce negative or inconclusive results, which may require us to conduct additional preclinical or clinical testing or to abandon projects that we expect to be promising; |
• | we may suspend or terminate our clinical trials if the participating patients are being exposed to unacceptable health risks; |
• | risks associated with clinical trial design may result in a failure of the clinical trial to show statistically significant results even if the product candidate is effective; |
• | regulators or institutional review boards may suspend or terminate clinical research for various reasons, including noncompliance with regulatory requirements; and |
• | the effects of our product candidates may not be the desired effects or may include undesirable side effects. |
As an example of an unforeseen event, after having been discharged from a Phase 1 clinical trial in which a single dose ofHorizant was administered almost two days earlier, a volunteer died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a domestic dispute. We do not believe that this incident was related toHorizant. However, any unforeseen event could cause us to experience significant delays in, or the termination of, clinical trials. Any such events would increase our costs and could delay or prevent our ability to commercialize our product candidates, which would adversely impact our financial results.
Any failure or delay in commencing or completing clinical trials for our product candidates could severely harm our business.*
The commencement and completion of clinical trials for our product candidates may be delayed or terminated as a result of many factors, including:
• | delays in patient enrollment, which we have experienced in the past, and variability in the number and types of patients available for clinical trials; |
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• | our inability or the inability of our collaborators or licensees to manufacture or obtain from third parties materials sufficient for use in preclinical studies and clinical trials; |
• | difficulty in maintaining contact with patients after treatment, resulting in incomplete data; |
• | poor effectiveness of product candidates during clinical trials; |
• | unforeseen safety issues or side effects; and |
• | governmental or regulatory delays and changes in regulatory requirements, policy and guidelines. |
For example, based on the results of a planned interim analysis of the clinical data, although no safety concerns were noted, Astellas terminated its Phase 2 clinical trial of XP13512 as a potential treatment for DPN due to difficulty in demonstrating a statistically significant advantage of XP13512 over placebo. As a result, Astellas does not intend to continue the development of XP13512 in Japan as a potential treatment for DPN at this time. Any delay in commencing or completing clinical trials for our product candidates would delay commercialization of our product candidates and severely harm our business and financial condition. In addition, unforeseen safety issues or side effects could result from our collaborators’ current or future clinical trials, which could delay or negatively impact commercialization of our product candidates. It is also possible that none of our product candidates will complete clinical trials in any of the markets in which we or our collaborators intend to sell those product candidates. Accordingly, we or our collaborators would not receive the regulatory approvals needed to market our product candidates, which would severely harm our business and financial condition.
We rely on third parties to conduct our clinical trials. If these third parties do not perform as contractually required or expected, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for, or commercialize, our product candidates.
We do not have the ability to independently conduct clinical trials for our product candidates, and we must rely on third parties, such as contract research organizations, medical institutions, clinical investigators, collaborative partners and contract laboratories, to conduct our clinical trials. We have, in the ordinary course of business, entered into agreements with these third parties. Nonetheless, with the exception ofHorizant for the potential treatment of PHN, we are responsible for confirming that each of our clinical trials is conducted in accordance with its general investigational plan and protocol. Moreover, the FDA requires us to comply with regulations and standards, commonly referred to as good clinical practices, for conducting and recording and reporting the results of clinical trials to assure that data and reported results are credible and accurate and that the trial participants are adequately protected. Our reliance on third parties that we do not control does not relieve us of these responsibilities and requirements. For example, we need to prepare, and ensure our compliance with, various procedures required under good clinical practices, even though third-party contract research organizations have prepared and are complying with their own, comparable procedures. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or regulatory obligations or meet expected deadlines, if the third parties need to be replaced or if the quality or accuracy of the data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical protocols or regulatory requirements or for other reasons, our preclinical development activities or clinical trials may be extended, delayed, suspended or terminated, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for, or successfully commercialize, our product candidates.
An NDA submitted under Section 505(b)(2) of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act subjects us to a risk that the holder of a previous NDA may challenge us for patent infringement and delay or prevent the review and approval of our product candidate.*
Certain product candidates that we develop may be submitted to the FDA for approval under Section 505(b)(2) of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, or FDCA, which was enacted as part of the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, also known as the Hatch-Waxman Act. Section 505(b)(2) permits the submission of an NDA where at least some of the information required for approval comes from studies not conducted by, or for, the applicant and for which the applicant has not obtained a right of reference. In connection with the October 2010Horizant NDA resubmission, GSK amended theHorizant NDA from a Section 505(b)(1) to a Section 505(b)(2) application in order for the FDA to be able to consider published gabapentin nonclinical data in their assessment ofHorizant. In addition, if we receive positive results in planned Phase 3 clinical trials of AP as a potential treatment for spasticity in multiple sclerosis, or MS, patients, we intend to file an NDA with the FDA under Section 505(b)(2) seeking approval of AP in this indication. The Section 505(b)(2) application would enable us to reference published literature and the FDA’s previous finding of safety and effectiveness for baclofen, a drug that has been approved by the FDA for the alleviation of signs and symptoms of spasticity resulting from MS.
For NDAs submitted under Section 505(b)(2) of the FDCA, the patent certification and related provisions of the Hatch-Waxman Act apply. In accordance with the Hatch-Waxman Act, such NDAs may be required to include certifications, known as Paragraph IV certifications, that certify that any patents listed in the Patent and Exclusivity Information Addendum of the FDA’s publication,Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, commonly known as the Orange Book, with respect to any product referenced in the Section 505(b)(2) application, are invalid, unenforceable or will not be infringed by the manufacture, use or sale of the product that is the subject of the Section 505(b)(2) application. Under the Hatch-Waxman Act, the holder of the NDA that the Section 505(b)(2) application references may file a patent infringement lawsuit after receiving notice of the Paragraph IV certification. Filing of a patent infringement lawsuit triggers a one-time, automatic, 30-month stay of the FDA’s ability to approve the 505(b)(2) application. Accordingly, we may invest a significant amount of time and expense in the development of one or more products only to be subject to significant delay and patent litigation before such products may be commercialized, if at all. A
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Section 505(b)(2) application may also not be approved until any non-patent exclusivity, such as exclusivity for obtaining approval of a new chemical entity, listed in the Orange Book for the referenced product has expired. The FDA may also require us to perform one or more additional clinical studies or measurements to support the change from the approved product. The FDA may also reject our future Section 505(b)(2) submissions and require us to file such submissions under Section 501(b)(1) of the FDCA, which could cause delay and be considerably more expensive and time consuming. These factors, among others, may limit our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates.
In connection with theHorizant NDA resubmission, GSK has included a Paragraph IV certification that an Orange Book listed patent for Neurontin (gabapentin) Oral Capsules, U.S. Patent No. 6,054,482, is invalid, unenforceable or will not be infringed by the manufacture, use or sale ofHorizant (gabapentin enacarbil) Extended-Release 600 mg Tablets. Concurrent with GSK’s filing of theHorizant NDA resubmission with the FDA on October 6, 2010, GSK provided notice, a Paragraph IV Notice, to Pfizer Inc as the NDA holder for Neurontin (gabapentin) Oral Capsules and the owner of U.S. Patent No. 6,054,482, stating (among other things) that the application has been amended to include a Paragraph IV certification and providing a detailed statement of the factual and legal basis of the applicant’s opinion that U.S. Patent No. 6,054,482 is invalid, unenforceable or will not be infringed. Following receipt of the Paragraph IV Notice, the owner of U.S. Patent No. 6,054,482 may file an action for patent infringement. If an infringement lawsuit is filed within 45 days of receiving the Paragraph IV Notice, theHorizant NDA may not normally be approved before the expiration of the 30-month period starting from the date of receipt of the Paragraph IV Notice.
U.S. Patent No. 6,054,482 claims a specified composition of gabapentin. More than 25 million prescriptions for generic gabapentin are dispensed annually in the United States. In 2000, Pfizer Inc initiated lawsuits against numerous companies marketing generic gabapentin. Pfizer claimed that the defendants’ generic gabapentin products infringed U.S. Patent No. 6,054,482. The litigation was consolidated in the U.S. District Court in the District of New Jersey, referred to as theIn re Gabapentin Patent Litigation. After the cases were filed, several defendants launched sales of generic gabapentin “at risk” before conclusion of the patent litigation. Since that time, several complaints have been dismissed, but certain cases appear to continue against certain of the companies that launched at risk. If Pfizer prevails in the ongoingIn re Gabapentin Patent Litigationand/or Pfizer were to sue GSK and prevail, or if the approval ofHorizant by the FDA is significantly delayed, our business, revenues and capital resources would be adversely affected.
If some or all of our patents expire, are invalidated or are unenforceable, or if some or all of our patent applications do not yield issued patents or yield patents with narrow claims, competitors may develop competing products using our intellectual property and our business will suffer.*
Our success will depend in part on our ability to obtain and maintain patent and trade secret protection for our technologies and product candidates both in the United States and other countries. We have a number of U.S. and foreign patents, patent applications and rights to patents related to our compounds, product candidates and technology, but we cannot guarantee that issued patents will be enforceable or that pending or future patent applications will result in issued patents. Alternatively, a third party may successfully circumvent our patents. Our rights under any issued patents may not provide us with sufficient protection against competitive products or otherwise cover commercially valuable products or processes.
The degree of future protection for our proprietary technologies and our product candidates is uncertain because legal means afford only limited protection and may not adequately protect our rights or permit us to gain or keep our competitive advantage. For example:
• | we might not have been the first to make the inventions covered by each of our pending patent applications and issued patents; |
• | we might not have been the first to file patent applications for these inventions; |
• | others may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies; |
• | it is possible that none of our pending patent applications will result in issued patents; |
• | any patents issued to us or our collaborators may not provide a basis for commercially viable products or may be challenged by third parties; or |
• | the patents of others may have an adverse effect on our ability to do business. |
Even if valid and enforceable patents cover our product candidates and technologies, the patents will provide protection only for a limited amount of time.
Our and our collaborators’ ability to obtain patents is highly uncertain because, to date, some legal principles remain unresolved, there has not been a consistent policy regarding the breadth or interpretation of claims allowed in patents in the United States and the specific content of patents and patent applications that are necessary to support and interpret patent claims is highly uncertain due to the complex nature of the relevant legal, scientific and factual issues. Furthermore, the policies governing biotechnology patents outside the United States are even more uncertain. Changes in either patent laws or interpretations of patent laws in the United States and other countries may diminish the value of our intellectual property or narrow the scope of our patent protection.
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Even if patents are issued regarding our product candidates or methods of using them, those patents can be challenged by our competitors who can argue such patents are invalid and/or unenforceable. For example, in September 2008, a law firm on behalf of an undisclosed client filed an opposition against the patent grant of one of our European patent applications covering XP13512. The European patent office, at an opposition hearing in April 2010, undertook a full review of the grant of the European patent, and ruled that our European patent covering the composition of matter of XP13512 is valid. The law firm that filed the opposition has now appealed the ruling on behalf of the undisclosed client. Patents also may not protect our product candidates if competitors devise ways of making these or similar product candidates without legally infringing our patents. The FDCA and FDA regulations and policies provide incentives to manufacturers to challenge patent validity and these same types of incentives encourage manufacturers to submit NDAs that rely on literature and clinical data not prepared for or by the drug sponsor.
Subject to possible patent term extension, the entitlement for which and the term of which we cannot predict, patent protection in the United States coveringHorizant will expire no earlier than 2022. We believe that in all countries in which we hold or have licensed rights to patents or patent applications related toHorizant/XP13512, the composition-of-matter patents relating to gabapentin have expired. For AP, U.S. composition-of-matter patents have issued that will expire no earlier than 2025. For XP21279, a U.S. composition-of-matter patent has issued that will expire no earlier than 2025. For XP21510, our product candidate that is a Transported Prodrug of tranexamic acid, a U.S. composition-of-matter patent has issued that will expire no earlier than 2026. Although third parties may challenge our rights to, or the scope or validity of, our patents, to date, other than the European opposition described above, we have not received any communications from third parties challenging our patents or patent applications covering our product candidates.
We may obtain patents for certain product candidates many years before marketing approval is obtained for those products. Because patents have a limited life, which may begin to run prior to the commercial sale of the related product, the commercial value of the patent may be limited. However, we may be able to apply for patent term extensions.
As part of the approval process of our product candidates in the United States, the FDA may determine that the product candidates be granted an exclusivity period during which other manufacturers’ applications for approval of generic versions of our products will not be granted. Generic manufacturers often wait to challenge the patents protecting products that have been granted exclusivity until one year prior to the end of the exclusivity period. While the FDA has historically granted a five-year new chemical entity exclusivity to prodrugs such asHorizant and AP, a lawsuit was filed by a generic drug company against the FDA challenging the grant of the five-year exclusivity to another company’s prodrug. Following a review of applicable statutes and regulations and a period for public comment, the FDA reaffirmed its decision to grant the five-year exclusivity to the prodrug. In March 2010, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted summary judgment to the FDA confirming the grant of five-year exclusivity to the prodrug. However, the generic drug company has filed an appeal. If the decision is overturned on appeal, it could mean thatHorizant and AP receive shorter or no exclusivity periods. It is also possible that generic manufacturers are considering attempts to seek FDA approval for a similar or identical drug as our product candidate through an abbreviated NDA, which is the application form typically used by manufacturers seeking approval of a generic drug. If our patents are subject to challenges, we may need to spend significant resources to defend such challenges and we may not be able to defend our patents successfully.
We also rely on trade secrets to protect our technology, especially where we do not believe that patent protection is appropriate or obtainable. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect. Our employees, consultants, contractors, outside scientific collaborators and other advisors may unintentionally or willfully disclose our confidential information to competitors. Enforcing a claim that a third party illegally obtained and is using our trade secrets is expensive and time-consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. Failure to obtain or maintain trade secret protection could adversely affect our competitive business position.
Our research and development collaborators may have rights to publish data and other information in which we have rights. In addition, we sometimes engage individuals or entities to conduct research that may be relevant to our business. The ability of these individuals or entities to publish or otherwise publicly disclose data and other information generated during the course of their research is subject to certain contractual limitations. In most cases, these individuals or entities are, at the least, precluded from publicly disclosing our confidential information and are only allowed to disclose other data or information generated during the course of the research after we have been afforded an opportunity to consider whether patent and/or other proprietary protection should be sought. If we do not apply for patent protection prior to such publication or if we cannot otherwise maintain the confidentiality of our technology and other confidential information, then our ability to receive patent protection or protect our proprietary information may be jeopardized.
Third-party claims of intellectual property infringement would require us to spend significant time and money and could prevent us from developing or commercializing our products.
Our commercial success depends in part on not infringing the patents and proprietary rights of other parties and not breaching any licenses that we have entered into with regard to our technologies and products. Because others may have filed, and in the future are likely to file, patent applications covering products or other technologies of interest to us that are similar or identical to ours, patent applications or issued patents of others may have priority over our patent applications or issued patents. For example, we are aware of a family of third-party patent applications relating to prodrugs of gabapentin. We believe the applications have been abandoned in the
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United States, the European Patent Office, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Additionally, we are aware of third-party patents relating to the use of baclofen in the treatment of GERD. If the patents are determined to be valid and construed to cover AP, the development and commercialization of AP could be affected. With respect to the claims contained in these patent applications and patents, we believe that our activities do not infringe the patents at issue and/or that the third-party patent or patent applications are invalid. However, it is possible that a judge or jury will disagree with our conclusions regarding non-infringement and/or invalidity, and we could incur substantial costs in litigation if we are required to defend against patent suits brought by third parties or if we initiate these suits. Any legal action against our collaborators or us claiming damages and seeking to enjoin commercial activities relating to the affected products and processes could, in addition to subjecting us to potential liability for damages, require our collaborators or us to obtain a license to continue to manufacture or market the affected products and processes. Licenses required under any of these patents may not be available on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. Failure to obtain such licenses could materially and adversely affect our ability to develop, commercialize and sell our product candidates. We believe that there may continue to be significant litigation in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry regarding patent and other intellectual property rights. If we become involved in litigation, it could consume a substantial portion of our management and financial resources and we may not prevail in any such litigation.
Furthermore, our commercial success will depend, in part, on our ability to continue to conduct research to identify additional product candidates in current indications of interest or opportunities in other indications. Some of these activities may involve the use of genes, gene products, screening technologies and other research tools that are covered by third-party patents. Court decisions have indicated that the exemption from patent infringement afforded by 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(1) does not encompass all research and development activities associated with product development. In some instances, we may be required to obtain licenses to such third-party patents to conduct our research and development activities, including activities that may have already occurred. It is not known whether any license required under any of these patents would be made available on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. Failure to obtain such licenses could materially and adversely affect our ability to maintain a pipeline of potential product candidates and to bring new products to market. If we are required to defend against patent suits brought by third parties relating to third-party patents that may be relevant to our research activities, or if we initiate such suits, we could incur substantial costs in litigation. Moreover, an adverse result from any legal action in which we are involved could subject us to damages and/or prevent us from conducting some of our research and development activities.
If third parties do not manufacture our product candidates in sufficient quantities or at an acceptable cost, clinical development and commercialization of our product candidates would be delayed.*
We do not currently own or operate manufacturing facilities for the production of clinical or commercial quantities of any of our products or product candidates. To date, we have relied on, and we expect to continue to rely on, a limited number of third-party compound manufacturers and active pharmaceutical ingredient, or API, formulators for the production of preclinical, clinical and commercial quantities of our product candidates. We do not have commercial supply agreements with any of these third parties, and our agreements with these parties are generally terminable at will by either party at any time. If, for any reason, these third parties are unable or unwilling to perform under our agreements or enter into new agreements, we may not be able to locate alternative manufacturers or formulators or enter into favorable agreements with them. Any inability to acquire sufficient quantities of our product candidates in a timely manner from these third parties could delay clinical trials and prevent us or our partners from developing and commercializing our product candidates in a cost-effective manner or on a timely basis.
Under the terms of our collaboration with GSK, GSK is solely responsible for the manufacture ofHorizant to support its development and commercialization within the United States. GSK is currently relying on a single source supplier for clinical supplies ofHorizant. If GSK fails to qualify alternative manufacturers ofHorizant, the current contract manufacturer terminates their agreement with GSK and GSK is otherwise unable to manufacture or contract to manufacture sufficient quantities ofHorizant, the development and commercialization ofHorizant could be impaired or delayed. Under the terms of our collaboration with Astellas, Astellas is solely responsible for the manufacture of XP13512 to support its development and commercialization within the Astellas territory. To our knowledge, Astellas is currently relying on a single source supplier for clinical supplies of XP13512. As a result, if Astellas fails to manufacture or contract to manufacture sufficient quantities of XP13512, development and commercialization of XP13512 could be impaired or delayed in the Astellas territory. If we pursue development with respect to the rights we maintain onHorizant/XP13512, we will need to obtain clinical supplies from GSK or another supplier. As a result, if we are unable to obtain sufficient quantities ofHorizant/XP13512 from GSK at prices that are commercially attractive, and if we are unable to qualify an alternative supplier, it could delay the development of, and impair our ability to commercialize, this product candidate.
We currently rely on Excella GmbH and Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Company Ltd as our suppliers of R-baclofen, the active agent used to make AP, under purchase orders issued from time to time. In the event that Excella or Sumitomo determines to not sell R-baclofen to us at a price that is commercially attractive, and if we were unable to qualify an alternative supplier of R-baclofen, this could delay the development of, and impair our ability to commercialize, this product candidate.
We currently rely on Lonza Ltd. as the single source supplier of our current worldwide requirements of AP in API form under a manufacturing services and product supply agreement. Our current agreement with Lonza does not provide for the entire supply of the API necessary for our Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials or for full-scale commercialization. In the event that the parties cannot agree to the terms and conditions for Lonza to provide some or all of our API clinical and commercial supply needs, we would not be able to
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manufacture API until a qualified alternative supplier is identified, which could also delay the development of, and impair our ability to commercialize, this product candidate.
We currently rely on DSM Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as our single source supplier of AP formulated in sustained-release tablets for future clinical trials at specified transfer prices under quotations agreed upon by the parties as a part of a master services agreement. In the event that DSM terminates the agreement under specified circumstances, we would not be able to commercialize AP sustained-release tablets until an alternative supplier is qualified. This could delay the development of, and impair our ability to commercialize, AP.
We currently rely on Ajinomoto Company as our single source supplier of L-Dopa, which is used to make XP21279, under purchase orders issued from time to time. We are aware of several alternative suppliers of L-Dopa, and we believe at least one alternative manufacturer could potentially supply L-Dopa in the event that Ajinomoto determines to not sell L-Dopa to us at a price that is commercially attractive. If we were unable to qualify an alternative supplier of L-Dopa, this could delay the development of, and impair our ability to commercialize, XP21279.
We currently rely on Piramal Healthcare as our single source supplier of XP21279 in API form under a manufacturing services and product supply agreement. In the event that Piramal terminates the agreement under specified circumstances, we would not be able to manufacture API until a qualified alternative supplier is identified, which could also delay the development of, and impair our ability to commercialize, this product candidate.
We have purchased from Metrics, Inc., our single source supplier of XP21279 formulated in sustained-release tablets, XP21279 at specified transfer prices under quotations agreed upon by the parties as a part of a master services agreement. We have recently qualified Patheon Inc. as a supplier for the manufacture of XP21279 with carbidopa bi-layer tablets to be supplied under quotations agreed upon by the parties as part of a master services agreement. In the event that Metrics terminates the agreement under specified circumstances for the manufacture of XP21279 sustained-release tablets or Patheon terminates the agreement under specified circumstances for the manufacture of XP21279 with carbidopa bi-layer tablets, we would not be able to manufacture XP21279 until an alternative supplier is qualified. This could delay the development of, and impair our ability to commercialize, XP21279.
If we are required to obtain alternate third-party manufacturers, it could delay or prevent the clinical development and commercialization of our product candidates.
We may not be able to maintain or renew our existing or any other third-party manufacturing arrangements on acceptable terms, if at all. If we are unable to continue relationships with GSK forHorizant/XP13512, Excella, Sumitomo, Lonza or DSM for AP or Ajinomoto, Piramal, Metrics or Patheon for XP21279 or to continue relationships at an acceptable cost or if these suppliers fail to meet our requirements for these product candidates for any reason, we would be required to obtain alternative suppliers. Any inability to obtain qualified alternative suppliers, including an inability to obtain, or delay in obtaining, approval of an alternative supplier from the FDA, would delay or prevent the clinical development and commercialization of these product candidates.
Use of third-party manufacturers may increase the risk that we or our partners will not have adequate supplies of our product candidates.
Our current reliance, and our and our partners’ anticipated future reliance, on third-party manufacturers will expose us and our partners to risks that could result in higher costs or lost product revenues or delay or prevent:
• | the initiation or completion of clinical trials by us or our partners; |
• | the submission of applications for regulatory approvals; and |
• | the approval of our products by the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities or the commercialization of our products. |
In particular, our or our partner’s contract manufacturers:
• | could encounter difficulties in achieving volume production, quality control and quality assurance or suffer shortages of qualified personnel, which could result in their inability to manufacture sufficient quantities of drugs to meet clinical schedules or to commercialize our product candidates; |
• | could terminate or choose not to renew manufacturing agreements, based on their own business priorities, at a time that is costly or inconvenient for us or our partners; |
• | could fail to establish and follow FDA-mandated current good manufacturing practices, or cGMPs, which are required for FDA approval of our product candidates, or fail to document their adherence to cGMPs, either of which could lead to significant delays in the availability of material for clinical study, delay or prevent marketing approval for our product candidates or require costly recalls of products already having received approval; |
• | could encounter financial difficulties that would interfere with their obligations to supply our product candidates; and |
• | could breach, or fail to perform as agreed under, manufacturing agreements. |
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If we or our partners are not able to obtain adequate supplies of our product candidates, it will be more difficult to develop our product candidates and compete effectively. Our product candidates and any products that we may develop may compete with other product candidates and products for access to manufacturing facilities.
In addition, the manufacturing facilities of GSK, Excella, Sumitomo, Lonza, Ajinomoto, Piramal and Patheon are located outside of the United States. This may give rise to difficulties in importing our product candidates or their components into the United States or other countries as a result of, among other things, regulatory agency import inspections, incomplete or inaccurate import documentation or defective packaging.
Safety issues with the parent drugs or other components of our product candidates, or with approved products of third parties that are similar to our product candidates, could give rise to delays in the regulatory approval process, restrictions on labeling or product withdrawal.*
Discovery of previously unknown problems, or increased focus on a known problem, with an approved product may result in restrictions on its permissible uses, including withdrawal of the medicine from the market. Although gabapentin, baclofen (which includes the R-isomer of baclofen) and L-Dopa, the parent drugs ofHorizant/XP13512, AP and XP21279, respectively, have been used successfully in patients for many years, newly observed toxicities, or worsening of known toxicities, in preclinical studies of, or patients receiving, gabapentin, baclofen and L-Dopa could result in increased regulatory scrutiny ofHorizant/XP13512, AP and XP21279, respectively. For example, in February 2010, safety concerns related to a preclinical finding of pancreatic acinar cell tumors in rats precluded FDA approval of theHorizant NDA in RLS in its form at that time. Although there were similar findings of rat pancreatic acinar cell tumors following treatment with gabapentin, the FDA has to date not prevented the use of gabapentin.
Our product candidates are engineered to be broken down by the body’s natural metabolic processes and to release the parent drug and other substances. While these breakdown products are generally regarded as safe, it is possible that there could be unexpected toxicity associated with these breakdown products that will cause any or all ofHorizant/XP13512, AP, XP21279 and XP21510 to be poorly tolerated by, or toxic to, humans. Any unexpected toxicity of, or suboptimal tolerance to, our Transported Prodrugs would delay or prevent commercialization of these product candidates.
Additionally, problems with approved products marketed by third parties that utilize the same therapeutic target or that belong to the same therapeutic class as the parent drug of our product candidates could adversely affect the development of our product candidates. For example, the product withdrawals of Vioxx from Merck & Co., Inc. and Bextra from Pfizer in 2005 due to safety issues have caused other drugs that have the same therapeutic target, such as Celebrex from Pfizer, to receive additional scrutiny from regulatory authorities. If either gabapentin or pregabalin, drugs from Pfizer that are marketed as Neurontin and Lyrica, respectively, encounters unexpected toxicity problems in humans, the FDA may delay or prevent the regulatory approval ofHorizant since it is believed to share the same therapeutic target as gabapentin and pregabalin. In 2005, the FDA requested that all makers of epilepsy drugs analyze their clinical trial data to determine whether these drugs increase the risk of suicide in patients. In December 2008, the FDA added warnings to 11 antiepileptic drugs, including gabapentin, regarding an increased risk of suicide or suicidal thoughts. In April 2009, the FDA approved safety label changes for all approved antiepileptic drugs, except those indicated only for short-term use, to include a warning about an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or actions.Horizant, as a compound that is believed to share the same therapeutic target as gabapentin and pregabalin, would, if approved by the FDA, require a similar warning in its label. In September 2010, the FDA released draft guidance recommending that prospective suicidality assessments be performed in clinical trials of any drug with central nervous system activity. We expect that the FDA will follow this guidance, and we will be required to perform suicidality assessments in all of our clinical trials, including Phase 1 trials, of any of our product candidates with central nervous system activity. Finally, if the FDA determines that a drug may present a risk of substance abuse, it can recommend to the DEA that the drug be scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act. While gabapentin is not a scheduled drug at the present time, pregabalin has been scheduled as a controlled substance. Since pregabalin is a scheduled drug, it is possible that the FDA may require additional testing ofHorizant, the results of which could lead the FDA to conclude thatHorizantshould be scheduled as well. Scheduled substances are subject to DEA regulations relating to manufacturing, storage, distribution and physician prescription procedures, and the DEA regulates the amount of a scheduled substance that is available for clinical trials and commercial distribution. Accordingly, any scheduling action that the FDA or DEA may take with respect toHorizant may delay its clinical trial and approval process. Any failure or delay in commencing or completing clinical trials or obtaining regulatory approvals for our product candidates would delay commercialization of our product candidates, and severely harm our business and financial condition.
We may not be successful in our efforts to develop additional Transported Prodrug candidates.*
An important element of our strategy is to develop and commercialize Transported Prodrugs that improve upon the absorption, distribution and/or metabolism of drugs that have already received regulatory approval. Programs to develop and commercialize new product candidates require substantial technical, financial and human resources. These programs may initially show promise with respect to potential product candidates, yet fail to yield product candidates for clinical development for a number of reasons, including:
• | the methodology used may not be successful in identifying potential product candidates for development; or |
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• | potential product candidates may, on further study, be shown to have inadequate efficacy, harmful side effects, suboptimal pharmaceutical profile or other characteristics suggesting that they are unlikely to be effective products. |
As part of our restructuring in March 2010, we eliminated our discovery research department, which will prevent our ability to discover additional product candidates at this time. If we are unable to develop suitable product candidates from our current preclinical pipeline, we may pursue additional product candidates through in-licensing. Any growth through in-licensing would depend upon the availability of suitable product candidates at favorable prices and upon advantageous terms and conditions. To obtain additional product candidates, we may also reconstitute our discovery research department, which would require the expenditure of significant resources and the identification and hiring of a number of highly-skilled employees. Such efforts could divert the time and resources from the later-stage development or commercialization of our product candidates.
If we are unable to develop or obtain suitable product candidates, we will not be able to increase our revenues in future periods, which could result in significant harm to our financial position and adversely impact our stock price.
Our product candidates, even if they receive marketing approval, will remain subject to ongoing regulatory review. If we or our collaborative partners fail to comply with continuing regulations, these approvals could be rescinded and the sale of our products could be suspended.
Even if we or our collaborative partners receive regulatory approval to market another product candidate, the approval could be conditioned on conducting additional, costly, post-approval studies, implementing a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy or could limit the indicated uses included in the labeling. Moreover, the product may later cause adverse effects that limit or prevent its widespread use, force us or our collaborative partners to withdraw it from the market or impede or delay our or our collaborative partners’ ability to obtain regulatory approvals in additional countries or indications. In addition, the manufacturer of the product and its facilities will continue to be subject to FDA review and periodic inspections to ensure adherence to applicable regulations. After receiving marketing approval, the manufacturing, labeling, packaging, adverse event reporting, storage, advertising, promotion and record keeping related to the product will remain subject to extensive regulatory requirements.
If we or our collaborative partners fail to comply with the regulatory requirements of the FDA and other applicable U.S. and foreign regulatory authorities or previously unknown problems with our products, manufacturers or manufacturing processes are discovered, we and our partners could be subject to administrative or judicially imposed sanctions, including:
• | restrictions on the products, manufacturers or manufacturing processes; |
• | warning letters; |
• | civil or criminal penalties or fines; |
• | injunctions; |
• | product seizures, detentions or import bans; |
• | voluntary or mandatory product recalls and publicity requirements; |
• | suspension or withdrawal of regulatory approvals; |
• | total or partial suspension of production; and |
• | refusal to approve pending applications for marketing approval of new drugs or supplements to approved applications. |
Because we have a number of product candidates and are considering a variety of target indications, we may expend our limited resources to pursue a particular candidate or indication and fail to capitalize on candidates or indications that may be more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of success.*
Because we have limited financial and managerial resources, we must focus on product candidates for the specific indications that we believe are the most promising. As a result, we may forego or delay pursuit of opportunities with other product candidates or other indications that later prove to have greater commercial potential. Our resource allocation decisions may cause us to fail to capitalize on viable commercial products or profitable market opportunities. In addition, we may spend valuable time and managerial and financial resources on product candidates for specific indications that ultimately do not yield any commercially viable products. If we do not accurately evaluate the commercial potential or target market for a particular product candidate, we may relinquish valuable rights to that product candidate through collaboration, licensing or other royalty arrangements in situations where it would have been more advantageous for us to retain sole rights to development and commercialization.
The commercial success of any products that we or our partners may develop will depend upon the degree of market acceptance among physicians, patients, healthcare payors and the medical community.
Any products that result from our product candidates may not gain market acceptance among physicians, patients, healthcare payors and the medical community. If these products do not achieve an adequate level of acceptance, we may not generate material product revenues and we may not become profitable. The degree of market acceptance of any products resulting from our product candidates will depend on a number of factors, including:
• | demonstration of efficacy and safety in clinical trials; |
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• | the prevalence and severity of any side effects; |
• | potential or perceived advantages over alternative treatments; |
• | perceptions about the relationship or similarity between our product candidates and the parent drug upon which each Transported Prodrug candidate is based; |
• | the timing of market entry relative to competitive treatments; |
• | the ability to offer product candidates for sale at competitive prices; |
• | relative convenience and ease of administration; |
• | the strength of marketing and distribution support; |
• | sufficient third-party coverage or reimbursement; and |
• | the product labeling or product insert required by the FDA or regulatory authorities in other countries. |
If we are unable to establish sales and marketing capabilities or enter into additional agreements with third parties to market and sell our product candidates, we may be unable to generate product revenues. *
We have a limited sales and marketing organization and have limited experience in the sales, marketing and distribution of pharmaceutical products. There are risks involved with establishing our own sales and marketing capabilities, as well as entering into arrangements with third parties to perform these services. Developing an internal sales force is expensive and time-consuming. On the other hand, if we enter into arrangements with third parties to perform sales, marketing and distribution services, as we have forHorizant/XP13512, our product revenues will be lower than if we market and sell any products that we develop ourselves.
In the United States, if we receive approval from the FDA of an NDA forHorizant, until such time, if any, as we exercise the right to revert to a net sales royalty, we will share marketing and commercialization costs that exceed $10.0 million and share operating profits from net sales ofHorizant, if any. IfHorizant is approved, we may establish our own specialty sales force to sell and market our products.
Factors that may inhibit our efforts to commercialize our products after approval include:
• | our inability to recruit and retain adequate numbers of effective sales and marketing personnel; |
• | the inability of sales personnel to obtain access to adequate numbers of physicians to provide information on the advantages and risks of prescribing our products; |
• | the lack of complementary products to be offered by sales personnel, which may put us at a competitive disadvantage compared to companies with more extensive product lines; and |
• | unforeseen costs and expenses associated with creating an independent sales and marketing organization. |
Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties involved with establishing our own sales and marketing capabilities, we are unable to predict when, or if, we will establish our own sales and marketing capabilities. If we are not successful in recruiting sales and marketing personnel or in building a sales and marketing infrastructure, we will have difficulty commercializing our product candidates, which would adversely affect our business and financial condition.
Our ability to generate revenue from any products that we may develop will depend on reimbursement and drug pricing policies and regulations.*
Many patients may be unable to pay for any products that we or our collaborative partners may develop. In the United States, many patients will rely on Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurers and other third-party payors to pay for their medical needs. Our and our partners’ ability to achieve acceptable levels of reimbursement for drug treatments by governmental authorities, private health insurers and other organizations will have an effect on our and our partners’ ability to successfully commercialize, and attract additional collaborators to invest in the development of, our product candidates. We cannot be sure that reimbursement in the United States, Europe or elsewhere will be available for any products that we or our partners may develop, and any reimbursement that may become available may be decreased or eliminated in the future. Third-party payors increasingly are challenging prices charged for medical products and services, and many third-party payors may refuse to provide reimbursement for particular drugs when an equivalent generic drug is available. Although we believe any products that may result from our product candidates represent an
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improvement over the parent drugs upon which they are based and should be considered unique and not subject to substitution by a generic parent drug, it is possible that a third-party payor may consider our product candidate and the generic parent drug as equivalents and only offer to reimburse patients for the generic drug. Even if we show improved efficacy or improved convenience of administration with our product candidate, pricing of the existing parent drug may limit the amount we will be able to charge for our product candidate. If reimbursement is not available or is available only at limited levels, we or our partners may not be able to successfully commercialize our product candidates, and may not be able to obtain a satisfactory financial return on such products.
The trend toward managed healthcare in the United States and the changes in health insurance programs, as well as the recently enacted healthcare reform bill, may result in lower prices for pharmaceutical products, including any products that may result from our product candidates. In addition, any future regulatory changes regarding the healthcare industry or third-party coverage and reimbursement may affect demand for any products that we may develop and could harm our sales and profitability.
Pursuant to the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, or the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act, Medicare beneficiaries are eligible to obtain subsidized prescription drug coverage from a choice of private sector plans. Approximately 90 percent of Medicare beneficiaries now have coverage for prescription medicines. The use of pharmaceuticals has increased slightly among some patients as the result of the expanded access to medicines afforded by coverage under Medicare. However, such expanded utilization has been largely offset by increased pricing pressure and competition due to the enhanced purchasing power of the private sector plans that negotiate on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries and by an increase in the use of generic medicines in this population. In addition, legislative changes have been proposed to mandate government rebates in Medicare and to allow the federal government to directly negotiate prices with pharmaceutical manufacturers. If legislation were enacted to mandate rebates or provide for direct government negotiation in Medicare prescription drug benefits, access and reimbursement for our product candidates upon commercialization could be restricted.
In March 2010, the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 were signed into law. Such laws are anticipated to have a wide range of effects on the management of healthcare in the Untied States, including potentially on the pricing and availability of government reimbursement for pharmaceutical products. The full effect of the healthcare reform acts are still unknown, and we are currently evaluating the impact such laws could have on our business.
If our competitors are able to develop and market products that are more effective, safer or less costly than any products that we may develop, our commercial opportunity will be reduced or eliminated.*
We face competition from established pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as from academic institutions, government agencies and private and public research institutions. Our commercial opportunity will be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop and commercialize products that are safer, more effective, have fewer side effects or are less expensive than any products that we may develop. In addition, significant delays in the development of our product candidates could allow our competitors to bring products to market before us and impair our ability to effectively commercialize our product candidates.
Products that we believe could compete withHorizant include the following drugs approved for the treatment of RLS: Mirapex (pramipexole) from Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH; generic pramipexole that is marketed by, among others, Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries, Ltd.; Requip (ropinirole) from GSK; and generic ropinirole that is marketed by, among others, CorePharma, LLC, Roxane Laboratories, Inc., Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., Wockhardt USA LLC and Teva. In addition, we could experience competition from Neupro (the rotigotine transdermal system), a dopamine agonist patch from UCB, which filed its NDA for the treatment of RLS with the FDA in 2007 and has received a Complete Response letter from the FDA. Products that we believe could compete withHorizant for the treatment of neuropathic pain include drugs that act on the same target asHorizant, such as Lyrica (pregabalin), Neurontin (gabapentin) from Pfizer and generic gabapentin that is marketed by Alpharma Inc., IVAX Corp, Pfizer and Teva, among others. Competition forHorizant could also include Cymbalta (duloxetine) from Eli Lilly and Company, which is approved for the management of DPN. In addition, Depomed, Inc. has filed an NDA seeking approval of DM-1796 (gabapentin GR), an extended-release formulation of gabapentin, for the management of PHN. We believe that AP, our product candidate that is a Transported Prodrug of R-baclofen, could experience competition from several generic drugs approved for the treatment of spasticity, including racemic baclofen, diazepam, dantrolene sodium and tizanidine. In addition, the FDA has approved Botox (onabotulinumtoxin A) from Allergan Inc. to treat spasticity in the flexor muscles of the elbow, wrist and fingers in adults. A therapy in development for the treatment of spasticity is IPX056, an extended-release formulation of baclofen, from Impax Laboratories, Inc. Products that could compete with AP in the GERD therapeutic area include: Protonix (pantoprazole sodium) from Pfizer; Prevacid (lansoprazole) from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited; Nexium (esomeprazole) and Prilosec (omeprazole) from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP; Aciphex (rabeprazole) from Eisai/Johnson & Johnson; and generic H2 receptor antagonists such as cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine and nizatidine. Products that could compete with XP21279, our product candidate that is a Transported Prodrug of L-Dopa, include: generic L-Dopa/carbidopa drugs and other drugs approved for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, including Stalevo, a combination therapy of L-Dopa/carbidopa/entacapone that is marketed in the United States by Novartis; dopamine agonists such as Mirapex, Requip and Neupro, which are marketed by Boehringer-Ingelheim, GSK and UCB, respectively; as well as generic ropinirole that is marketed by, among others, Roxane, Teva and Mylan. In addition, IPX066 from Impax, an extended-release formulation of L-Dopa/carbidopa, is in Phase 3 clinical development. There may be other compounds of which we are not aware that are at an earlier
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stage of development and may compete with our product candidates. If any of those compounds are successfully developed and approved, they could compete directly with our product candidates.
Many of our competitors have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical testing, conducting clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and marketing approved products than we do. Established pharmaceutical companies may invest heavily to quickly discover and develop novel compounds that could make our product candidates obsolete. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. In addition, these third parties compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel, establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies and technology licenses complementary to our programs or advantageous to our business. Accordingly, our competitors may succeed in obtaining patent protection, receiving FDA approval or discovering, developing and commercializing medicines before we do. We are also aware of other companies that may currently be engaged in the discovery of medicines that will compete with the product candidates that we are developing. In addition, in the markets that we are targeting, we expect to compete against current market-leading medicines. If we are not able to compete effectively against our current and future competitors, our business will not grow and our financial condition will suffer.
Off-label sale or use of generic gabapentin products could decrease sales of Horizant/XP13512 and could lead to pricing pressure if such products become available at competitive prices and in dosages that are appropriate for the indications for which we or our collaborative partners are developing Horizant/XP13512.
Physicians are permitted to prescribe legally available drugs for uses that are not described in the drug’s labeling and that differ from those uses tested and approved by the FDA. The occurrence of such off-label uses could significantly reduce our or our partners’ ability to market and sell any other products that we or our partners may develop.
We believe that in all countries in which we hold or have licensed rights to patents or patent applications related toHorizant/XP13512, the composition-of-matter patents relating to gabapentin have expired. Off-label prescriptions written for gabapentin for indications for which we or our partners are developingHorizant/XP13512 could adversely affect our ability to generate revenue from the sale ofHorizant/XP13512, if approved for commercial sale in such indications. This could result in reduced sales and increased pricing pressure onHorizant/XP13512, if approved in such indications, which in turn would reduce our ability to generate revenue and have a negative impact on our results of operations.
If we fail to attract and keep senior management and key scientific personnel, we may be unable to successfully develop or commercialize our product candidates.*
Our success depends on our continued ability to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified management, clinical and scientific personnel and on our ability to develop and maintain important relationships with leading clinicians. If we are not able to retain Drs. Ronald Barrett, Kenneth Cundy, David Savello and David Stamler, we may not be able to successfully develop or commercialize our product candidates. Competition for experienced scientists and development staff may limit our ability to hire and retain highly qualified personnel on acceptable terms. In addition, none of our employees have employment commitments for any fixed period of time and could leave our employment at will. We do not carry “key person” insurance covering members of senior management or key scientific personnel. If we fail to identify, attract and retain qualified personnel, we may be unable to continue our development and commercialization activities.
We will need to hire additional employees in order to commercialize our product candidates. Any inability to manage future growth could harm our ability to commercialize our product candidates, increase our costs and adversely impact our ability to compete effectively.
In order to commercialize our product candidates, we will need to expand the number of our managerial, operational, financial and other employees. Because the projected timeframe of hiring these additional employees depends on the development status of our product candidates and because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with drug development, we are unable to project when we will hire these additional employees. The competition for qualified personnel in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology field is intense, and we may experience difficulties in recruiting, hiring and retaining qualified individuals.
Future growth will impose significant added responsibilities on members of management, including the need to identify, recruit, maintain and integrate additional employees. Our future financial performance and our ability to commercialize our product candidates and compete effectively will depend, in part, on our ability to manage any future growth effectively.
If product liability lawsuits are brought against us, we will incur substantial liabilities and may be required to limit commercialization of any products that we may develop.
We face an inherent risk of product liability exposure related to the testing of our product candidates in human clinical trials and will face an even greater risk if we commercially sell any products that we may develop. If we cannot successfully defend ourselves against claims that our product candidates or products that we successfully develop caused injuries, we will incur substantial liabilities.
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Regardless of merit or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in:
• | decreased demand for any product candidates or products that we may develop; |
• | injury to our reputation; |
• | withdrawal of clinical trial participants; |
• | costs to defend the related litigation; |
• | substantial monetary awards to clinical trial participants or patients; |
• | loss of revenue; and |
• | the inability to commercialize any products that we may develop. |
We have product liability insurance that covers our clinical trials up to a $10.0 million annual aggregate limit. We intend to expand our insurance coverage to include the sale of commercial products if marketing approval is obtained for any products that we may develop. Insurance coverage is increasingly expensive, and we may not be able to maintain insurance coverage at a reasonable cost and we may not be able to obtain insurance coverage that will be adequate to satisfy any liability that may arise.
If we use biological and hazardous materials in a manner that causes contamination or injury or violates laws, we may be liable for damages.
Our development activities involve the use of potentially harmful biological materials as well as hazardous materials, chemicals and various radioactive compounds. We cannot completely eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or injury from the use, storage, handling or disposal of these materials. In the event of contamination or injury, we could be held liable for damages that result, and any liability could exceed our resources. We, the third parties that conduct clinical trials on our behalf and the third parties that manufacture our product candidates are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the use, storage, handling and disposal of these materials and waste products. The cost of compliance with these laws and regulations could be significant. The failure to comply with these laws and regulations could result in significant fines and work stoppages and may harm our business.
Our facility is located in California’s Silicon Valley, in an area with a long history of industrial activity and use of hazardous substances, including chlorinated solvents. Environmental studies conducted prior to our leasing of the site found levels of metals and volatile organic compounds in the soils and groundwater at our site. While these constituents of concern predated our occupancy, certain environmental laws, including the U.S. Comprehensive, Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, impose strict, joint and several liability on current operators of real property for the cost of removal or remediation of hazardous substances. These laws often impose liability even if the owner or operator did not know of, or was not responsible for, the release of such hazardous substances. As a result, while we have not been, we cannot rule out the possibility that we could in the future be held liable for costs to address contamination at the property beneath our facility, which costs could be material.
Our facility is located near known earthquake fault zones, and the occurrence of an earthquake, extremist attack or other catastrophic disaster could cause damage to our facilities and equipment, which could require us to cease or curtail operations.*
Our facility is located near known earthquake fault zones and, therefore, is vulnerable to damage from earthquakes. In October 1989, a major earthquake struck this area and caused significant property damage and a number of fatalities. We are also vulnerable to damage from other types of disasters, including power loss, attacks from extremist organizations, fire, floods and similar events. If any disaster were to occur, our ability to operate our business could be seriously impaired. We currently may not have adequate insurance to cover our losses resulting from disasters or other similar significant business interruptions, and we do not plan to purchase additional insurance to cover such losses due to the cost of obtaining such coverage. Any significant losses that are not recoverable under our insurance policies could seriously impair our business and financial condition.
Risks Related to Ownership of our Common Stock
Our stock price is volatile, and purchasers of our common stock could incur substantial losses.*
The market prices for securities of biopharmaceutical companies in general have been highly volatile. The market price of our common stock may be influenced by many factors, including:
• | announcement of FDA approvability, approval or non-approval of our product candidates and the timing of the FDA review process; |
• | adverse results or delays in our or our collaborative partners’ clinical trials; |
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• | the timing of achievement of our clinical, regulatory, partnering and other milestones, such as the commencement of clinical development, the completion of a clinical trial, the filing for regulatory approval or the establishment of commercial partnerships for one or more of our product candidates; |
• | actions taken by regulatory agencies with respect to our product candidates, our clinical trials or our sales and marketing activities; |
• | actions taken by regulatory agencies with respect to products or drug classes related to our product candidates; |
• | initiation of an action for patent infringement by Pfizer in connection with the Paragraph IV Notice related to theHorizant NDA and the potentially resulting imposition of a thirty-month stay on approval of theHorizant NDA; |
• | the commercial success of any of our products approved by the FDA or its foreign counterparts; |
• | developments in our relationships with GSK or Astellas, including the termination or modification of our respective agreements; |
• | changes in our collaborators’ business strategies; |
• | regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; |
• | changes in the structure of healthcare payment systems; |
• | any intellectual property matter involving us, including infringement lawsuits; |
• | actions taken by regulatory agencies with respect to our or our partners’ compliance with regulatory requirements; |
• | announcements of technological innovations or new products by us or our competitors; |
• | market conditions for equity investments in general, or the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries in particular; |
• | changes in financial estimates or recommendations by securities analysts; |
• | sales of large blocks of our common stock; |
• | sales of our common stock by our executive officers, directors and significant stockholders; |
• | restatements of our financial results and/or material weaknesses in our internal controls; and |
• | the loss of any of our key scientific or management personnel. |
The stock markets in general and the markets for biotechnology stocks in particular, have experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock. In the past, class action litigation has often been instituted against companies whose securities have experienced periods of volatility in market price. Any such litigation brought against us could result in substantial costs, which would hurt our financial condition and results of operations, divert management’s attention and resources and possibly delay our clinical trials or commercialization efforts.
We have been named a defendant in a purported securities class action lawsuit. This, and potential similar or related litigation, could result in substantial damages and may divert management’s time and attention from our business.*
In July 2010, a purported securities class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, naming us and certain of our officers and directors as defendants. The lawsuit alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in connection with allegedly false, misleading and incomplete statements issued by us related toHorizant as a potential treatment of RLS, which allegedly made it impossible for investors to meaningfully understand the drug’s potential for FDA approval. The plaintiff alleges that we failed to disclose information regarding previous results in lab rats treated with gabapentin showing an increased risk of pancreatic acinar cell tumors, which plaintiff alleges presented a risk that the FDA would not approveHorizant/XP13512 for the treatment of RLS. The plaintiff seeks damages, an award of its costs and injunctive and/or equitable relief on behalf of a purported class of stockholders who purchased our common stock during the period between May 5, 2009 and February 17, 2010. Another lawsuit was filed in September 2010 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California making substantially similar allegations, on behalf of a purported class of stockholders who purchased our common stock during the period between March 16, 2009 and May 5, 2010. A motion to consolidate the complaints and appoint a lead plaintiff has been granted. We will not respond until after a consolidated complaint is filed. It is possible that additional suits will be filed, or allegations received from stockholders, with respect to these same matters and also naming us and/or our officers and directors as defendants.
We believe that we have meritorious defenses and intend to defend the lawsuits vigorously. These lawsuits and any other related lawsuits are subject to inherent uncertainties, and the actual cost will depend upon many unknown factors. The outcome of the litigation is necessarily uncertain, we could be forced to expend significant resources in the defense of the lawsuits and we may not prevail. Monitoring and defending against legal actions is time-consuming for our management and detracts from our ability to fully focus our internal resources on our business activities. In addition, we may incur substantial legal fees and costs in connection with the litigation. We are not currently able to estimate the possible cost to us from these matters, as these lawsuits are currently at early
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stages and we cannot be certain how long it may take to resolve these matters or the possible amount of any damages that we may be required to pay. We have not established any reserves for any potential liability relating to these lawsuits. It is possible that we could, in the future, incur judgments or enter into settlements of claims for monetary damages. A decision adverse to our interests on these actions could result in the payment of substantial damages, or possibly fines, and could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow, results of operations and financial position. In addition, the uncertainty of the currently pending litigation could lead to more volatility in our stock price.
Failure to maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 could have a material adverse effect on our stock price.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related rules and regulations of the SEC require annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and a report by our independent registered public accounting firm attesting to, and reporting on, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting, as such standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related rules and regulations of the SEC. If we cannot favorably assess, or our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to provide an unqualified attestation report on, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, investor confidence in the reliability of our financial reports may be adversely affected, which could have a material adverse effect on our stock price.
Fluctuations in our operating results could cause our stock price to decline.*
The following factors are likely to result in fluctuations of our operating results from quarter to quarter and year to year:
• | announcement of FDA approvability, approval or non-approval of our product candidates and the timing of the FDA review process; |
• | adverse results or delays in our or our collaborative partners’ clinical trials; |
• | the timing and achievement of our clinical, regulatory, partnering and other milestones, such as the commencement of clinical development, the completion of a clinical trial, the filing for regulatory approval or the establishment of a commercial partnership for one or more of our product candidates; |
• | actions taken by regulatory agencies with respect to our product candidates, our clinical trials or our sales and marketing activities; |
• | actions taken by regulatory agencies with respect to products or drug classes related to our product candidates; |
• | initiation of an action for patent infringement by Pfizer in connection with the Paragraph IV Notice related to theHorizant NDA and the potentially resulting imposition of a thirty-month stay on approval of theHorizant NDA; |
• | the commercial success of any of our products approved by the FDA or its foreign counterparts; |
• | developments in our relationships with GSK or Astellas, including the termination or modification of our respective agreements; |
• | changes in our collaborators’ business strategies; |
• | actions taken by regulatory agencies with respect to our or our partners’ compliance with regulatory requirements; |
• | regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; |
• | changes in the structure of healthcare payment systems; |
• | any intellectual property matter involving us, including infringement lawsuits; and |
• | announcements of technological innovations or new products by us or our competitors. |
Due to these fluctuations in our operating results, a period-to-period comparison of our results of operations may not be a good predictor of our future performance. For example, due to the recognition of revenues from up-front and milestone payments from our collaborations with Astellas, GSK and Xanodyne, we were profitable in the three-month periods ended June 30, September 30 and December 31, 2007, and for the year ended December 31, 2007. However, while recognition of these revenues resulted in a profitable year for 2007, we incurred net losses in 2008 and 2009, and we expect to incur net losses in 2010. In any particular financial period, the actual or anticipated fluctuations could be below the expectations of securities analysts or investors and our stock price could decline.
Because a small number of existing stockholders own a large percentage of our voting stock, they may be able to exercise significant influence over our affairs, acting in their best interests and not necessarily those of other stockholders.*
As of October 15, 2010, our executive officers, directors and holders of 5% or more of our outstanding common stock, based upon information known to us from Schedules 13G filed with the SEC, beneficially owned approximately 65.5% of our common
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stock. The interests of this group of stockholders may not always coincide with our interests or the interests of other stockholders. This concentration of ownership could also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in our control or otherwise discouraging a potential acquiror from attempting to obtain control of us, which in turn could reduce the price of our common stock.
Our stockholder rights plan and anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and under Delaware law could make an acquisition of us, which may be beneficial to our stockholders, more difficult and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management.
Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws may delay or prevent an acquisition of us, a change in our management or other changes that stockholders may consider favorable. These provisions include:
• | a classified board of directors; |
• | a prohibition on actions by our stockholders by written consent; |
• | the ability of our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval, which could be used to make it difficult for a third party to acquire us; |
• | notice requirements for nominations for election to the board of directors; and |
• | limitations on the removal of directors. |
Moreover, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits a person who owns in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock from merging or combining with us for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person acquired in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock, unless the merger or combination is approved in a prescribed manner.
We have adopted a rights agreement under which certain stockholders have the right to purchase shares of a new series of preferred stock, at an exercise price of $140.00 per one one-hundredth of a share, if a person acquires more than 15% of our common stock. The rights plan could make it more difficult for a person to acquire a majority of our outstanding voting stock. The rights plan could also reduce the price that investors might be willing to pay for shares of our common stock and result in the market price being lower than it would be without the rights plan. In addition, the existence of the rights plan itself may deter a potential acquiror from acquiring us. As a result, either by operation of the rights plan or by its potential deterrent effect, mergers and acquisitions of us that our stockholders may consider in their best interests may not occur.
If there are large sales of our common stock, the market price of our common stock could drop substantially.*
If our existing stockholders sell a large number of shares of our common stock or the public market perceives that existing stockholders might sell shares of our common stock, the market price of our common stock could decline significantly. As of October 15, 2010, we had 30,576,614 outstanding shares of common stock. Of these shares, up to 14,692,760 shares of common stock are tradable under Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, subject to the volume limitations and manner of sale requirements under Rule 144, and the remainder of the shares outstanding as of October 15, 2010, have been registered under the Securities Act and are freely tradable.
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
None.
Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities |
None.
Item 4. | (Removed and Reserved) |
Item 5. | Other Information |
None.
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Item 6. | Exhibits |
Exhibit Number | Description of Document | |
3.1 | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation(1) | |
3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws(1) | |
3.3 | Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock(2) | |
4.1 | Specimen Common Stock Certificate(3) | |
4.2 | Form of Right Certificate(4) | |
4.3 | Form of Registered Direct Common Warrant(5) | |
10.43 | Consulting Letter Agreement, dated August 26, 2010, between the Company and William J. Rieflin | |
10.44 | Change of Control Agreement between the Company and Gianna M. Bosko, dated September 3, 2010 | |
31.1 | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
31.2 | Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
32.1 | Certification required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. §1350)(6) | |
101.INS | XBRL Instance Document (7) | |
101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (7) | |
101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (7) | |
101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (7) | |
101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document (7) | |
101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (7) |
(1) | Incorporated herein by reference to the same numbered exhibit of our quarterly report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-51329) for the period ended June 30, 2005, as filed with the SEC on August 11, 2005. |
(2) | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on December 16, 2005. |
(3) | Incorporated herein by reference to the same numbered exhibit of our registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-122156), as filed with the SEC on April 13, 2005. |
(4) | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on December 16, 2005. |
(5) | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on December 30, 2008. |
(6) | This certification accompanies the quarterly report on Form 10-Q to which it relates, is not deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of ours under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (whether made before or after the date of the Form 10-Q), irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing. |
(7) | Pursuant to applicable securities laws and regulations, we are deemed to have complied with the reporting obligation relating to the submission of interactive data files in such exhibits and are not subject to liability under any anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws as long as we have made a good faith attempt to comply with the submission requirements and promptly amend the interactive data files after becoming aware that the interactive data files fail to comply with the submission requirements. In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the information in these exhibits is furnished and deemed not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing. |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
XenoPort, Inc. (Registrant) | ||
November 9, 2010 | /S/ RONALD W. BARRETT | |
Ronald W. Barrett | ||
Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||
(principal executive officer) | ||
November 9, 2010 | /S/ WILLIAM G. HARRIS | |
William G. Harris | ||
Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer | ||
(principal financial and accounting officer) | ||
November 9, 2010 | /S/ MARTYN J. WEBSTER | |
Martyn J. Webster | ||
Vice President of Finance |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number | Description of Document | |
3.1 | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation(1) | |
3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws(1) | |
3.3 | Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock(2) | |
4.1 | Specimen Common Stock Certificate(3) | |
4.2 | Form of Right Certificate(4) | |
4.3 | Form of Registered Direct Common Warrant(5) | |
10.43 | Consulting Letter Agreement, dated August 26, 2010, between the Company and William J. Rieflin | |
10.44 | Change of Control Agreement between the Company and Gianna M. Bosko, dated September 3, 2010 | |
31.1 | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
31.2 | Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
32.1 | Certification required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. §1350)(6) | |
101.INS | XBRL Instance Document (7) | |
101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (7) | |
101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (7) | |
101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (7) | |
101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document (7) | |
101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (7) |
(1) | Incorporated herein by reference to the same numbered exhibit of our quarterly report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-51329) for the period ended June 30, 2005, as filed with the SEC on August 11, 2005. |
(2) | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on December 16, 2005. |
(3) | Incorporated herein by reference to the same numbered exhibit of our registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-122156), as filed with the SEC on April 13, 2005. |
(4) | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on December 16, 2005. |
(5) | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on December 30, 2008. |
(6) | This certification accompanies the quarterly report on Form 10-Q to which it relates, is not deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of ours under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (whether made before or after the date of the Form 10-Q), irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing. |
(7) | Pursuant to applicable securities laws and regulations, we are deemed to have complied with the reporting obligation relating to the submission of interactive data files in such exhibits and are not subject to liability under any anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws as long as we have made a good faith attempt to comply with the submission requirements and promptly amend the interactive data files after becoming aware that the interactive data files fail to comply with the submission requirements. In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the information in these exhibits is furnished and deemed not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing. |
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