SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES A summary of the significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements follows: Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements represent the consolidation of the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP"). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Use of Estimates In preparing financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Due to inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results reported in future periods may be affected by changes in these estimates. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions include revenue recognition, forecasting probability-weighted cash flows based upon estimates of forecasted revenues, clinical and regulatory timelines and discount rates, valuing equity securities in share-based payments, estimating expenses of contracted research organizations, estimating the useful lives of depreciable and amortizable assets, goodwill impairment, estimating the fair value of contingent consideration, estimating of valuation allowances and uncertain tax positions, and estimates associated with the assessment of impairment for long-lived assets. Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASC 606"), the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the entity will collect substantially all the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. See Note 3 and Note 4 for further discussion. Payments received under collaboration and licensing agreements may include non-refundable fees at the inception of the arrangements, milestone payments for specific achievements and royalties on the sale of products. At the inception of arrangements that include milestone payments, the Company uses judgement to evaluate whether the milestones are probable of being achieved and estimates the amount to include in the transaction price utilizing the most likely amount method. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal will not occur, the estimated amount is included in the transaction price. Milestone payments that are not within the Company or the licensee’s control, such as regulatory approvals are not included in the transaction price until those approvals are received. At the end of each reporting period, the Company re-evaluates the probability of achievement of development milestones and any related constraint and adjusts the estimate of the overall transaction price, if necessary. The Company recognizes aggregate sales-based milestones and royalty payments from product sales at the later of when the related sales occur or when the performance obligation to which the sales-based milestone or royalty has been allocated has been satisfied. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal will not occur, the Company estimates the sales-based milestone and royalty payments using the most likely amount method. The Company utilizes significant judgement to develop estimates of the stand-alone selling price for each distinct performance obligation based upon the relative stand-alone selling price. Variable consideration that relates specifically to the Company’s efforts to satisfy specific performance obligations is allocated entirely to those performance obligations. The stand-alone selling price for license-related performance obligations requires judgement in developing assumptions to project probability-weighted cash flows based upon estimates of forecasted revenues, clinical and regulatory timelines and discount rates. The stand-alone selling price for clinical development performance obligations is based on forecasted expected costs of satisfying a performance obligation plus an appropriate margin. If the licenses to intellectual property are determined to be distinct from the other performance obligations identified in the arrangement and have stand-alone functionality, the Company recognizes revenues from non-refundable, upfront fees allocated to the license when the license is transferred to the licensee and the licensee is able to benefit from the license. For licenses that are not distinct from other promises, the Company applies judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenue from non-refundable, upfront fees. The Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the related revenue recognition accordingly. The selection of the method to measure progress towards completion requires judgment and is based on the nature of the products or services to be provided. Revenue is recorded proportionally as costs are incurred. The Company generally utilizes the cost-to-cost method of progress because it best measures the transfer of control to the customer which occurs as the Company incurs costs. Under the cost-to-cost measure of progress, the extent of progress towards completion is measured based on the ratio of costs incurred to date to the total estimated costs at completion of the performance obligation. The Company uses judgment to estimate the total costs expected to complete the clinical development performance obligations, which include subcontractor costs, labor, materials, other direct costs and an allocation of indirect costs. The Company evaluates these cost estimates and the progress each reporting period and adjusts the measure of progress, if necessary. Research and Development Costs Research and development includes expenses related to sparsentan, pegtibatinase, and the Company's other pipeline programs. The Company expenses all research and development costs as they are incurred. The Company's research and development costs are comprised of salaries and bonuses, benefits, share-based compensation, license fees, milestones under license agreements, costs paid to third-party contractors to perform research, conduct clinical trials, and develop drug materials and delivery devices, and associated overhead expenses and facilities costs. The Company charges direct internal and external program costs to the respective development programs. The Company also incurs indirect costs that are not allocated to specific programs because such costs benefit multiple development programs and allow us to increase our pharmaceutical development capabilities. These consist of internal shared resources related to the development and maintenance of systems and processes applicable to all of our programs. Clinical Trial Expenses The Company records expenses in connection with clinical trials under contracts with contract research organizations (CROs) that support conducting and managing clinical trials. The financial terms and activities of these agreements vary from contract to contract and may result in uneven expense levels. Generally, these agreements set forth activities that drive the recording of expenses such as start-up and initiation activities, enrollment and treatment of patients, or the completion of other clinical trial activities. Expenses related to clinical trials are accrued based on our estimates and/or representations from service providers regarding work performed, including actual level of patient enrollment, completion of patient studies and progress of the clinical trials. Other incidental costs related to patient enrollment or treatment are accrued when reasonably certain. If the amounts we are obligated to pay under our clinical trial agreements are modified (for instance, as a result of changes in the clinical trial protocol or scope of work to be performed), the Company adjusts its accruals accordingly on a prospective basis. Revisions to the Company's contractual payment obligations are charged to expense in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become reasonably certain. The Company currently has three Phase 3 clinical trials in process that are in varying stages of activity, with ongoing non-clinical support trials. As such, clinical trial expenses will vary depending on the all the factors set forth above and may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter. Share-Based Compensation The Company recognizes all employee share-based compensation as a cost in the financial statements. Equity-classified awards principally related to stock options, restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance stock units ("PSUs"), are measured at the grant date fair value of the award. The Company determines grant date fair value of stock option awards using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value of RSUs and PSUs are determined using the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. For service based vesting grants, expense is recognized over the requisite service period based on the number of options or shares expected to ultimately vest. For PSUs, expense is recognized over the implicit service period, assuming vesting is probable. No expense is recognized for PSUs if it is not probable the vesting criteria will be satisfied. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur. Expiration Term Vesting Term Stock Options 10 years 3 to 4 years Restricted Stock Units ---- 1 to 4 years Earnings (Loss) Per Share The Company calculates basic earnings per share by dividing net income/(loss) by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. The diluted earnings/(loss) per share computation includes the effect, if any, of shares that would be issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options, derivative warrant liability, convertible debt and RSUs, reduced by the number of shares which are assumed to be purchased by the Company from the resulting proceeds at the average market price during the year, when such amounts are dilutive to the earnings per share calculation. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid marketable securities with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Due to the short-term maturity of such investments, the carrying amounts are a reasonable estimate of fair value. Concentration of Credit Risk The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents at insured financial institutions, the balances of which may, at times, exceed federally insured limits. Generally, these deposits may be redeemed upon demand, and the Company believes there is minimal risk of losses on such balances. The Company monitors its investments with counterparties with the objective of minimizing concentrations of credit risk. The Company's investment policy is to invest only in institutions that meet high credit quality standards and established limits on the amount and time to maturity of investments with any individual counterparty. The policy also requires that investments are only entered into with corporate and financial institutions that meet high quality standards. Marketable Debt Securities The Company accounts for marketable debt securities held as “available-for-sale” in accordance with ASC 320, “Investments - Debt Securities” (“ASC 320”). The Company classifies these investments as current assets and carries them at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on marketable debt securities are recorded as a separate component of stockholders’ equity as accumulated other comprehensive loss, unless an impairment is determined to be the result of credit-related factors or the Company intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery. Realized gains or losses on debt security transactions and declines in value that are determined to be the result of credit losses, if any, are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. Marketable debt securities are maintained at one financial institution and are governed by the Company’s investment policy. See Note 6 for further discussion. Trade Receivables, Net Trade accounts receivable are recorded net of reserves for prompt pay discounts and expected credit losses. Estimates for allowances for credit losses are determined based on existing contractual obligations, historical payment patterns and individual customer circumstances. The allowance for credit losses was zero at both December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, bad debt expense recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss was immaterial. The Company's evaluation and application of ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses for the current period included an assessment of our aged trade receivables balances and their underlying credit risk characteristics. Our evaluation of past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future resulted in an expectation of immaterial credit losses. Inventory, Related Reserves and Cost of Goods Sold Inventory, which is recorded at the lower of cost or net realizable value, includes materials, labor, and other direct and indirect costs and is valued using the first-in, first-out method. The Company periodically analyzes its inventory levels to identify inventory that may expire prior to expected sale or has a cost basis in excess of its estimated realizable value, and writes down such inventory as appropriate. In addition, the Company's products are subject to strict quality control and monitoring which the Company’s manufacturers perform throughout their manufacturing process. The Company does not directly manufacture any product. The Company has single suppliers for products Chenodal and Thiola, and prospectively arranges for manufacture from contract service providers for its product Cholbam. The inventory reserve was $4.1 million and $3.6 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Inventory, net of reserve, consisted of the following at December 31, 2021 and 2020 ( in thousands ): December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 Raw material $ 5,205 $ 3,219 Finished goods 2,108 4,389 Total inventory $ 7,313 $ 7,608 Cost of goods sold includes the cost of inventory sold, third party manufacturing and supply chain costs, product shipping and handling costs, and provisions for excess and obsolete inventory. Segment Information The Company currently operates in one operating segment focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for people with serious and life-threatening rare diseases and medical conditions. The Company is not organized by market and is managed and operated as one business. A single management team reports to the chief operating decision maker who comprehensively manages the entire business. The Company does not operate any separate lines of business or separate business entities with respect to its products. Accordingly, the Company does not accumulate discrete financial information with respect to separate products, other than revenues, and does not have separately reportable segments. Property and Equipment, net Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the related estimated useful lives as presented in the table below. Significant additions and improvements are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. Property and equipment purchased for specific research and development projects with no alternative use is expensed as incurred. The major classifications of property and equipment, including their respective expected useful lives, consist of the following: Computers and equipment 3 years Furniture and fixtures 7 years Leasehold improvements Shorter of length of lease or life of the asset Leases The Company determines whether a contract is, or contains, a lease at inception. The Company classifies each of its leases as operating or financing considering factors such as the length of the lease term, the present value of the lease payments, the nature of the asset being leased, and the potential for ownership of the asset to transfer during the lease term. Leases with terms greater than one year are recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Right-of-use assets and Lease liabilities and are measured at the present value of the fixed payments due over the expected lease term minus the present value of any incentives, rebates or abatements expected to be received from the lessor. Options to extend a lease are typically excluded from the expected lease term as the exercise of the option is typically not reasonably certain. The interest rate implicit in lease contracts is typically not readily determinable. As such, the Company utilizes the appropriate incremental borrowing rate, which is the rate incurred to borrow on a collateralized basis an amount equal to the lease payments over a similar term and in a similar economic environment. The Company records expense to recognize fixed lease payments on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term. Costs determined to be variable and not based on an index or rate are not included in the measurement of the lease liability and are expensed as incurred. Intangible Assets, Net The Company's intangible assets consist of licenses and purchased technology. Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives and are reviewed periodically for impairment. Intangible assets related to in-process research and development (IPR&D) projects are considered to be indefinite-lived until the completion or abandonment of the associated research and development efforts. During the period the assets are considered indefinite-lived, they will not be amortized but will be tested for impairment. If and when development is complete, which generally occurs when regulatory approval to market a product is obtained, the associated assets are deemed finite-lived and are amortized over a period that best reflects the economic benefits provided by these assets. Intangible Assets with Cost Accumulation Model In 2014, the Company entered into a license agreement with Mission Pharmacal in which the Company obtained the exclusive right to license the trademark of Thiola. The acquisition of the Thiola license qualified as an asset acquisition under the principles of ASC 805, Business Combinations ("ASC 805") in effect at the time of acquisition. The license agreement requires the Company to make royalty payments based on net sales of Thiola. The liability for royalties in excess of the annual contractual minimum is recognized in the period in which the royalties become probable and estimable, which is typically in the period corresponding with the respective sales. The Company records an offsetting increase to the cost basis of the asset under the cost accumulation model. The additional cost basis is subsequently amortized over the remaining life of the license agreement. Consistent with all prior periods since Thiola was acquired, the Company has not accrued any liability for royalties in excess of the annual contractual minimum at December 31, 2021 as such royalties are not yet probable and estimable. Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired in a business combination and is not amortized. Goodwill is subject to impairment testing at least annually or when a triggering event occurs that could indicate a potential impairment. The Company has one segment and one reporting unit and as such reviews goodwill for impairment at the consolidated level. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 there were no impairments to goodwill. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets The Company's long-lived assets are primarily comprised of intangible assets, right-of-use assets, and property and equipment. The Company evaluates its finite-lived intangible assets, right-of-use assets, and property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset or group of assets may not be recoverable. If these circumstances exist, recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset group to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the use and eventual disposition of the asset group. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. In addition, indefinite-lived intangible assets, comprised of IPR&D, are reviewed for impairment annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the asset is impaired by comparing the fair value to the carrying value of the asset. To determine the fair value of the asset, the Company used the multi-period excess earnings method of the income approach. The more significant assumptions inherent in the application of this method include: the amount and timing of projected future cash flows (including revenue, cost of sales, research and development costs, and sales and marketing expenses), and the discount rate selected to measure the risks inherent in the future cash flows. There were no impairments related to finite-lived intangible assets in the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. Contingent Consideration The Company records contingent consideration resulting from a business combination at its fair value on the acquisition date. On a quarterly basis, the Company revalues these obligations and record increases or decreases from their fair value as an adjustment to the consolidated statement of operations. Changes to contingent consideration obligations can result from changes to discount rates, accretion of the liability due to the passage of time, changes in revenue forecasts and changes in our estimates of the likelihood or timing of achieving commercial revenue milestones. Income Taxes The Company follows ASC 740, Income Taxes, which requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are based on the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent management concludes it is more likely than not that the asset will not be realized. The standard addresses the determination of whether tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should be recorded in the financial statements. Under ASC 740, the Company may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the tax authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position should be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. ASC 740 also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties on income taxes, accounting in interim periods and requires increased disclosures. The Company’s policy is to record estimated interest and penalty related to the underpayment of income taxes or unrecognized tax benefits as a component of its income tax provision. Foreign Currency Translation Functional and presentation currency Items included in the financial statements of each entity comprising the Company are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (the functional currency). Transactions and balances Foreign currency transactions in each entity comprising the Company are remeasured into the functional currency of the entity using the exchange rates prevailing at the respective transaction dates. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the remeasurement at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognized within Other operating expense, net except for changes related to the liability related to the sale of future royalties which are recorded in Other non-operating (income) expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. The results and financial position of the Company that have a functional currency different from the US dollar are translated as follows: a. assets and liabilities presented are translated at the closing exchange rate as of December 31, 2021 and 2020; b. income and expenses for the statements of operations and comprehensive loss are translated at average exchange rates that are relevant for the respective periods for which the income and expenses occurred; and c. significant transactions use the exchange rate on the date of the transaction; All resulting exchange differences arising from such translations are recognized directly in comprehensive income and presented as a separate component of equity. Reclassifications Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year financial statements in order to conform to the current year’s presentation, including reclassifying operating lease right of use assets and operating lease liabilities from other assets and other liabilities, respectively on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These reclassifications did not have an impact on total assets or total liabilities of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Patents The Company expenses external costs, such as filing fees and associated attorney fees, incurred to obtain issued patents and patent applications pending. The Company also expenses costs associated with maintaining and defending patents subsequent to their issuance in the period incurred. Legal Contingencies The Company may, from time to time, be involved in various claims and legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company accrues for legal contingencies when it is determined probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. See Note 11 for further discussion. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") or other standard setting bodies. Unless otherwise discussed, the Company believes that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations upon adoption. In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity's Own Equity. The ASU includes amendments to the guidance on convertible instruments and the derivative scope exception for contracts in an entity's own equity and simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments which include beneficial conversion features or cash conversion features by removing certain separation models in Subtopic 470-20. Additionally, the ASU will require entities to use the "if-converted" method when calculating diluted earnings per share for convertible instruments. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The new standard will impact the Company's accounting for its Convertible Senior Notes Due 2025 (2025 Notes), discussed in Note 7, which are currently accounted for using the cash conversion model applied under ASC 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options ("ASC 470-20"). Under the new guidance, the Company intends to apply the modified retrospective method as the transition approach at adoption, which will result in adjustments to the January 1, 2022 opening balances of convertible debt, additional paid-in capital, and accumulated deficit. Additionally, from January 1, 2022, the Company will no longer incur non-cash interest expense for the amortization of debt discount resulting in lower interest expense for the 2025 Notes. |