| Nature of Business | 1. Nature of Business
Overview
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) is a commercial biotechnology company leveraging its proven development and commercial capabilities as it seeks to bring multiple medicines to patients. The Company is advancing innovative product opportunities in areas of large unmet need, based upon the Company’s target-to-disease approach to development and leveraging the Company’s core areas of expertise in gastrointestinal (“GI”) and primary care, as well as in guanylate cyclase (“GC”) pathways.
The Company’s first commercial product, linaclotide, is available to adult men and women suffering from irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (“IBS-C”), or chronic idiopathic constipation (“CIC”), in certain countries around the world. Linaclotide is available under the trademarked name LINZESS ® to adult men and women suffering from IBS-C or CIC in the United States (the “U.S.”) and Mexico, and to adult men and women suffering from IBS-C in Japan. Linaclotide is available under the trademarked name CONSTELLA ® to adult men and women suffering from IBS-C or CIC in Canada, and to adult men and women suffering from IBS-C in certain European countries.
The Company and its partner Allergan plc (together with its affiliates, “Allergan”) began commercializing LINZESS in the U.S. in December 2012. Under the Company’s collaboration with Allergan for North America, total net sales of LINZESS in the U.S., as recorded by Allergan, are reduced by commercial costs incurred by each party, and the resulting amount is shared equally between the Company and Allergan. Allergan also has an exclusive license from the Company to develop and commercialize linaclotide in all countries other than China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan and the countries and territories of North America (the “Allergan License Territory”). On a country-by-country and product-by-product basis in the Allergan License Territory, Allergan pays the Company a royalty as a percentage of net sales of products containing linaclotide as an active ingredient. In addition, Allergan has exclusive rights to commercialize linaclotide in Canada as CONSTELLA and in Mexico as LINZESS.
Astellas Pharma Inc. (“Astellas”), the Company’s partner in Japan, has an exclusive license to develop and commercialize linaclotide in Japan. In March 2017, Astellas began commercializing LINZESS for the treatment of adults with IBS-C in Japan, and in September 2017, Astellas submitted a supplemental new drug application for approval of LINZESS for the treatment of adults with chronic constipation in Japan. The Company has a collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca AB (together with its affiliates, “AstraZeneca”), to co-develop and co-commercialize linaclotide in China, Hong Kong and Macau, with AstraZeneca having primary responsibility for the local operational execution. In December 2015, the Company and AstraZeneca filed for approval with the China Food and Drug Administration (“CFDA”) to market linaclotide in China.
The Company’s and Allergan’s linaclotide life cycle management strategy in the U.S. includes the objective of strengthening the clinical profile of linaclotide by obtaining additional abdominal symptom claims and expanding the clinical utility of linaclotide by demonstrating the pain-relieving effect of a delayed release formulation, through the advancement of linaclotide delayed release in all forms of IBS. The Company and Allergan are also continuing to explore ways to enhance the clinical profile of LINZESS by studying linaclotide in additional indications, populations and formulations to assess its potential to treat various conditions.
The Company is advancing another GI development program, IW-3718, a gastric retentive formulation of a bile acid sequestrant for the potential treatment of uncontrolled gastroesophageal reflux disease (“GERD”). The Company’s clinical research has demonstrated that reflux of bile from the intestine into the stomach and esophagus plays a key role in the ongoing symptoms of uncontrolled GERD. IW-3718 is a novel formulation of a bile acid sequestrant designed to release in the stomach over an extended period of time, bind to bile that refluxes into the stomach, and potentially provide symptomatic relief in patients with uncontrolled GERD.
In June 2016, the Company closed a transaction with AstraZeneca (the “Lesinurad Transaction”) pursuant to which the Company received an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize in the U.S. products containing lesinurad as an active ingredient (the “Lesinurad License”), including ZURAMPIC ® and DUZALLO ® . Lesinurad 200mg tablets were approved as ZURAMPIC by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) in December 2015 for use in combination with a xanthine oxidase inhibitor for the treatment of hyperuricemia associated with uncontrolled gout (“uncontrolled gout”). In October 2016, the Company began commercializing ZURAMPIC in the U.S. The FDA approved DUZALLO, a fixed-dose combination product of lesinurad and allopurinol in August 2017
The Company is also leveraging its pharmacological expertise in GC pathways gained through the discovery and development of linaclotide, a GC-C agonist, to develop and advance a pipeline of sGC stimulators, including praliciguat (IW-1973) and olinciguat (IW-1701). The Company is advancing praliciguat, its lead clinical sGC stimulator, for the potential treatment of diabetic nephropathy and the potential treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (“HFpEF”). The Company’s second clinical sGC stimulator, olinciguat, is being developed for the potential treatment of achalasia and sickle cell disease.
In May 2018, the Company announced its intent, as authorized by its Board of Directors, to separate its sGC business from its commercial and GI business, resulting in two independent, publicly traded companies, Ironwood and a new company (“R&D Co”). Following the separation, Ironwood is expected to focus on accelerating growth of its in-market products, including LINZESS, and advance development programs targeting treatments for GI diseases, uncontrolled gout, and abdominal pain. The separated R&D Co. is expected to focus on the sGC pipeline development programs for the treatment of serious and orphan diseases. The separation is expected to be completed in the first half of 2019 and is anticipated to be tax-free.
The Company has periodically entered into co-promotion agreements to maximize its salesforce productivity. As part of this strategy, in August 2015, the Company and Allergan entered into an agreement for the co-promotion of VIBERZI ® (eluxadoline) in the U.S., Allergan’s treatment for adults suffering from IBS with diarrhea (“IBS-D”). In January 2017, the Company and Allergan entered into a commercial agreement under which adjustments to the Company’s or Allergan’s share of the net profits under the share adjustment provision of the collaboration agreement for linaclotide in North America are eliminated, in full, in 2018 and all subsequent years. As part of this agreement, Allergan appointed the Company, on a non-exclusive basis, to promote CANASA ® (mesalamine), approved for the treatment of ulcerative proctitis, and DELZICOL ® (mesalamine), approved for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, in the U.S. for approximately two years. In December 2017, this agreement was amended to include and extend the promotion of VIBERZI through December 31, 2018 and discontinue the promotion of DELZICOL effective January 1, 2018.
These agreements are more fully described in Note 3, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, and Note 4, Collaboration, License, Co-Promotion and Other Commercial Agreements, to these condensed consolidated financial statements.
In September 2016, the Company closed a direct private placement, pursuant to which the Company issued $150.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.375% notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) on January 5, 2017 (the “Funding Date”). The Company received net proceeds of approximately $11.2 million from the 2026 Notes, after redemption of the PhaRMA Notes outstanding balance and accrued interest of approximately $135.1 million and deducting fees and expenses of approximately $3.7 million. The proceeds from the issuance of the 2026 Notes were used to redeem the outstanding principal balance of the 11% PhaRMA Notes due 2024 (the “PhaRMA Notes”) on the Funding Date. These transactions are more fully described in Note 9, Notes Payable , to these condensed consolidated financial statements.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and the related disclosures are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. Additionally, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Company’s annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted. Accordingly, these interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 22, 2018 (the “2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K”).
The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all normal recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position as of March 31, 2018, and the results of its operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, and its cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any other subsequent interim period.
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Securities Corporation and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals GmbH. All intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation.
Reclassifications and Revisions to Prior Period Financial Statements
Certain prior period financial statement items, such as Sale of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Restricted Cash, have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires the Company’s management to make estimates and judgments that may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, and the amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported periods. On an on-going basis, the Company’s management evaluates its estimates, judgments and methodologies. Significant estimates and assumptions in the condensed consolidated financial statements include those related to revenue recognition, including returns, rebates, and other pricing adjustments; available-for-sale securities; inventory valuation, and related reserves; impairment of long-lived assets, including its acquired intangible assets and goodwill; initial valuation procedures for the issuance of convertible notes; fair value of derivatives; balance sheet classification of notes payable and convertible notes; income taxes, including the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets; research and development expenses; contingent consideration; contingencies and share-based compensation. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Changes in estimates are reflected in reported results in the period in which they become known.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies , in the 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company adopted the following additional significant accounting policies:
Revenue Recognition
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) using the modified retrospective transition method. The adoption of ASC 606 represents a change in accounting principle that aims to more closely align revenue recognition with the delivery of the Company's services and will provide financial statement readers with enhanced disclosures. In accordance with ASC 606, the Company recognizes revenue when the customer obtains control of a promised good or service, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the Company expects to receive in exchange for the good or service. The reported results for the three months ended as of March 31, 2018 reflect the application of ASC 606 guidance, while the reported results for prior periods were prepared in accordance with ASC 605, Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”). Upon adoption of ASC 606, the Company concluded that no cumulative adjustment to the accumulative deficit as of January 1, 2018 was necessary. There were no remaining or ongoing deliverables or unrecognized consideration as of December 31, 2017 that required an adjustment to accumulated deficit. The adoption of ASC 606 had no impact on the Company’s statement of operations, balance sheets, or statement of cash flows.
As part of the ASC 606 adoption, the Company has utilized certain practical expedients outlined in the guidance. These practical expedients include:
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Expensing as incurred incremental costs of obtaining a contract, such as sales commissions, if the amortization period of the asset would be less than one year.
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Recognizing revenue in the amount that the Company has the right to invoice, when consideration from the customer corresponds directly with the value to the customer of the Company’s performance completed to date.
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For contracts that were modified before the beginning of the earliest reporting period presented in accordance with the pending content that links to this paragraph, an entity need not retrospectively restate the contract for those contract modifications in accordance with paragraphs ASC 606-10-25-12 through 25-13. Instead, an entity shall reflect the aggregate effect of all modifications that occur before the beginning of the earliest period presented in accordance with the pending content that links to this paragraph when: a. Identifying the satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligations b. Determining the transaction price c. Allocating the transaction price to the satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligations.
Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, the Company recognized revenue when there was persuasive evidence that an arrangement existed, services had been rendered or delivery had occurred, the price was fixed or determinable, and collection was reasonably assured.
The Company’s revenues are generated primarily through collaborative arrangements and license agreements related to the research and development and commercialization of linaclotide, as well as co-promotion arrangements in the U.S. and product revenue related to the commercial sale of ZURAMPIC and DUZALLO in the U.S. The terms of the collaborative research and development, license, co-promotion and other agreements contain multiple performance obligations which may include (i) licenses, (ii) research and development activities, including participation on joint steering committees, (iii) the manufacture of finished drug product, active pharmaceutical ingredient (“API”), or development materials for a partner, which are reimbursed at a contractually determined rate, and (iv) co-promotion activities by the Company’s clinical sales specialists. Non-refundable payments to the Company under these agreements may include (i) up-front license fees, (ii) payments for research and development activities, (iii) payments for the manufacture of finished drug product, API, or development materials, (iv) payments based upon the achievement of certain milestones, (v) payments for sales detailing, promotional support services and medical education initiatives, and (vi) royalties on product sales. Additionally, the Company may receive its share of the net profits or bear its share of the net losses from the sale of linaclotide in the U.S. and for China, Hong Kong and Macau through its collaborations with Allergan and AstraZeneca, respectively. The Company has adopted a policy to recognize revenue net of tax withholdings, as applicable.
Revenue recognition under ASC 606
Upon executing a revenue generating arrangement, the Company assesses whether it is probable the Company will collect consideration in exchange for the good or service it transfers to the customer. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that the Company determines are within the scope of ASC 606, it 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 Company satisfies the performance obligations. The Company must develop assumptions that require significant judgment to determine the stand-alone selling price for each performance obligation identified in the contract. The assumptions that are used to determine the stand-alone selling price may include forecasted revenues, development timelines, reimbursement rates for personnel costs, discount rates and probabilities of technical and regulatory success.
Collaboration, License, Co-Promotion and Other Commercial Agreements
Upon licensing intellectual property to a customer, the Company determines if the license is distinct from the other performance obligations identified in the arrangement. The Company recognizes revenues from the transaction price, including non-refundable, up-front fees allocated to the license when the license is transferred to the customer if the license has distinct benefit to the customer. For licenses that are combined with other promises, the Company assesses the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time. For performance obligations that are satisfied over time, the Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of performance and related revenue recognition.
The Company’s license and collaboration agreements include milestone payments, such as development and other milestones. The Company evaluates whether the milestones are considered probable of being reached and estimates the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method at the inception of the agreement. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur, the associated milestone value is included in the transaction price. Milestone payments that are not within the control of the Company, such as regulatory approvals, are not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received. The transaction price is then allocated to each performance obligation on a relative stand-alone selling price basis, for which the Company recognizes revenue as or when the performance obligations under the contract are satisfied. The Company re-evaluates the probability of achievement of such milestones and any related constraint at each reporting period, and any adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis.
Agreements that include the supply API or drug product for either clinical development or commercial supply at the customer’s discretion are generally considered as options. The Company assesses if these options provide a material right to its partner, and if so, they are accounted for as separate performance obligations. If the Company is entitled to additional payments when the customer exercises these options, any additional payments are recorded as revenue when the customer obtains control of the goods, which is typically upon shipment for sales of API and upon delivery for sales of drug product.
For agreements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on the level of sales, and the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate, the Company recognizes revenue when the related sales occur in accordance with the sales-based royalty exception under ASC 606-10-55-65.
Net Profit or Net Loss Sharing
In accordance with ASC 808 Topic, Collaborative Arrangements (“ASC 808”), the Company considered the nature and contractual terms of the arrangement and the nature of the Company’s business operations to determine the classification of payments under the Company’s collaboration agreements. While ASC 808 provides guidance on classification, the standard is silent on matters of separation, initial measurement, and recognition. Therefore, the Company, consistent with its accounting policies prior to the adoption of ASC 606, applies the separation, initial measurement, and recognition principles of ASC 606 to its collaboration agreements.
The Company’s collaborative arrangements revenues generated from sales of LINZESS in the U.S. are considered akin to sales-based royalties. In accordance with the sales-based royalty exception, the Company recognizes its share of the pre-tax commercial net profit or net loss generated from the sales of LINZESS in the U.S. in the period the product sales are earned, as reported by Allergan, and related cost of goods sold and selling, general and administrative expenses are incurred by the Company and its collaboration partner. These amounts are partially determined based on amounts provided by Allergan and involve the use of estimates and judgments, such as product sales allowances and accruals related to prompt payment discounts, chargebacks, governmental and contractual rebates, wholesaler fees, product returns, and co-payment assistance costs, which could be adjusted based on actual results in the future. The Company is highly dependent on Allergan for timely and accurate information regarding any net revenues realized from sales of LINZESS in the U.S. in accordance with both ASC 808 and ASC 606, and the costs incurred in selling it, in order to accurately report its results of operations. If the Company does not receive timely and accurate information or incorrectly estimates activity levels associated with the collaboration at a given point in time, the Company could be required to record adjustments in future periods.
In accordance with ASC 606-10-55, Principal Agent Considerations, the Company records revenue transactions as net product revenue in its condensed consolidated statements of operations if it is deemed the principal in the transaction, which includes being the primary obligor, retaining inventory risk, and control over pricing. Given that the Company is not the primary obligor and does not have the inventory risks in the collaboration agreement with Allergan for North America, it records its share of the net profits or net losses from the sales of LINZESS in the U.S. on a net basis and presents the settlement payments to and from Allergan as collaboration expense or collaborative arrangements revenue, as applicable. The Company and Allergan settle the cost sharing quarterly, such that the Company’s statement of operations reflects 50% of the pre-tax net profit or loss generated from sales of LINZESS in the U.S.
Product revenue, net
Net product revenue is derived from sales of ZURAMPIC and DUZALLO (“the Lesinurad Products”) in the U.S. The Company sells the Lesinurad Products principally to a limited number of national wholesalers and selected regional wholesalers (the “Distributors”). The Distributors resell the Lesinurad Products to retail pharmacies and healthcare providers, who then sell to patients.
Net product revenue is recognized when the Distributor obtains control of the Company’s product, which occurs at a point in time, typically upon shipment of Lesinurad Products to the Distributor. When the Company performs shipping and handling activities after the transfer of control to the Distributor (e.g., when control transfers prior to delivery), they are considered as fulfillment activities, and accordingly, the costs are accrued for when the related revenue is recognized. The Company expenses incremental costs of obtaining a contract as and when incurred if the expected amortization period of the asset that the Company would have recognized is one year or less.
The Company evaluates the creditworthiness of each of its Distributors to determine whether it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of the cumulative revenue recognized will not occur. The Company calculates its net product revenue based on the wholesale acquisition cost that the Company charges its Distributors for the Lesinurad Products less variable consideration. The product revenue variable consideration consists of estimates relating to (i) trade discounts and allowances, such as invoice discounts for prompt payment and distributor fees, (ii) estimated government and private payor rebates, chargebacks and discounts, such as Medicaid reimbursements, (iii) reserves for expected product returns and (iv) estimated costs of incentives offered to certain indirect customers including patients. These estimates could be adjusted based on actual results in the period such variances become known.
Trade Discounts and Allowances: The Company generally provides invoice discounts on sales of Lesinurad Products to its Distributors for prompt payment and pays fees for distribution services and for certain data that Distributors provide to the Company. Consistent with historical industry practice, the Company expects its Distributors to earn these discounts and fees, and accordingly deducts the full amount of these discounts and fees from its gross product revenues at the time such revenues are recognized.
Rebates, Chargebacks and Discounts: The Company contracts with Medicaid, other government agencies and various private organizations ("Third-party Payors") to allow for eligible purchases of the Lesinurad Products at partial or full reimbursement from such Third-party Payors. The Company estimates the rebates, chargebacks and discounts it will be obligated to provide to Third-party Payors and deducts these estimated amounts from its gross product revenue at the time the revenue is recognized. Based upon (i) the Company's contracts with these Third-party Payors, (ii) the government-mandated discounts applicable to government-funded programs, (iii) information obtained from the Company's Distributors and third-parties regarding the payor mix for Lesinurad Products and (iv) historical industry information regarding the payor mix for analog products, the Company estimates the rebates, chargebacks and discounts that it will be obligated to provide to Third-party Payors.
Product Returns: The Company estimates the amount of Lesinurad Products that will be returned and deducts these estimated amounts from its gross revenue at the time the revenue is recognized. The Company's Distributors have the right to return unopened, unprescribed Lesinurad Products beginning six months prior to the labeled expiration date and ending twelve months after the labeled expiration date. The expiration date for the Lesinurad Products is at least 24 months after it has been converted into tablet form, which is the last step in the manufacturing process for Lesinurad Products and generally occurs within a few months before Lesinurad Products are delivered to the Company. The Company currently estimates product returns based on data provided to the Company by its Distributors and by other third parties, historical industry information regarding rates for similar pharmaceutical products, the estimated remaining shelf life of the Lesinurad Products previously shipped and currently being shipped to Distributors, and contractual agreements with the Company's Distributors intended to limit the amount of inventory they maintain. Reporting from the Distributors includes Distributor sales and inventory held by Distributors, which provides the Company with visibility into the distribution channel in order to determine which products, if any, were eligible to be returned.
Other Incentives: Incentives that the Company offers include voluntary patient assistance programs, such as co-pay assistance programs which are intended to provide financial assistance to qualified commercially insured patients with prescription drug co-payments required by payors. The calculation of the accrual for co-pay assistance is based on an estimate of claims and the cost per claim that the Company expects to receive associated with product that has been recognized as revenue.
Product revenue is recorded net of the trade discounts, allowances, rebates, chargebacks, discounts, product returns, and other incentives. Certain of these adjustments are recorded as an accounts receivable reserve.
Other
The Company produces linaclotide finished drug product, API and development materials for certain of its partners.
The Company recognizes revenue on linaclotide finished drug product, API and development materials when control have transferred to the partner, which generally occurs upon shipment for sales of API and upon delivery for sales of drug product, after the material has passed all quality testing required for collaborator acceptance. As it relates to development materials and API produced for Astellas, the Company is reimbursed at a contracted rate. Such reimbursements are considered as part of revenue generated pursuant to the Astellas license agreement and are presented as collaborative arrangements revenue. Any linaclotide finished drug product, API and development materials currently produced for Allergan for the U.S. or AstraZeneca for China, Hong Kong and Macau are recognized in accordance with the cost-sharing provisions of the Allergan and AstraZeneca collaboration agreements, respectively.
Revenue recognition prior to the adoption of ASC 606
Agreements Entered into Prior to January 1, 2011
For arrangements that include multiple deliverables and were entered into prior to January 1, 2011, the Company followed the provisions of ASC Topic 605-25, Revenue Recognition—Multiple-Element Arrangements (‘‘ASC 605-25’’), in accounting for these agreements. Under ASC 605‑25, the Company was required to identify the deliverables included within the agreement and evaluate which deliverables represent separate units of accounting. Collaborative research and development and licensing agreements that contained multiple deliverables were divided into separate units of accounting when the following criteria were met:
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Delivered element(s) had value to the collaborator on a standalone basis,
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There was objective and reliable evidence of the fair value of the undelivered obligation(s), and
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If the arrangement included a general right of return relative to the delivered item(s), delivery or performance of the undelivered item(s) was considered probable and substantially within the Company’s control.
The Company allocated arrangement consideration among the separate units of accounting either on the basis of each unit’s respective fair value or using the residual method, and applied the applicable revenue recognition criteria to each of the separate units. If the separation criteria were not met, revenue of the combined unit of accounting was recorded based on the method appropriate for the last delivered item.
Agreements Entered into or Materially Modified on or after January 1, 2011 and prior to January 1, 2018
The Company evaluated revenue from multiple element agreements entered into on or after January 1, 2011 under ASU No. 2009‑13, Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements (“ASU 2009‑13”), or ASC 605, until the adoption of ASC 606. The Company also evaluated whether amendments to its mu |
