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ARDX US Equity

Ardelyx, Inc.Health Care · Pharmaceutical Preparations · CIK 1437402 · FY ends Dec 31
$4.03
+0.11 (+2.81%)
USD · as of 2026-08-19 · marketstack

ARDX · 10-K · period ended 2021-12-31

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filed 2022-02-28 · EDGAR original ↗

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report. This discussion and other parts of this report contain forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties, such as statements of our plans, objectives, expectationsand intentions. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the section of this report entitled “Risk Factors. ” These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason. Unless the context requires otherwise, the terms “Ardelyx”, “Company”, “we”, “us”, and “our” refer to Ardelyx, Inc.

OVERVIEW

We are a biopharmaceutical company founded with a mission to discover, develop and commercialize innovative first-in-class medicines that meet significant unmet medical needs. This includes adult patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (“IBS-C”), adult patients with chronic kidney disease (“CKD”) on dialysis suffering from elevated serum phosphorus, or hyperphosphatemia; and adult patients with CKD and/or heart failure with elevated serum potassium, or hyperkalemia.

Since commencing operations in October 2007, substantially all our efforts have been dedicated to our research and development (“R&D”) activities, including developing tenapanor and developing our proprietary drug discovery and design

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platform. We have not generated any revenues from product sales. As of December 31, 2021, we had an accumulated deficit of $712.9 million.

We expect to continue to incur substantial operating losses for the foreseeable future as we prepare for commercialization of IBSRELA®(tenapanor) in April of this year, seek to gain approval for XPHOZAH® (tenapanor) for the control of serum phosphorus in adult patients with CKD on dialysis; prepare for the potential commercialization of XPHOZAH, if approved; incur manufacturing and development cost for, tenapanor; and incur development costs for RDX013. To date, we have funded our operations from the sale and issuance of common stock and convertible preferred stock, funds from our collaboration partnerships, which includes license fees, milestones and product supply revenue, as well as funds from our loan agreements with our lenders.

On February 28, 2022, we received a letter from Nasdaq indicating that we have failed to comply with the minimum bid price requirement of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) requires that companies listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market maintain a minimum closing bid price of at least $1.00 per share. Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), we have a 180 calendar day grace period to regain compliance by meeting the continued listing standard. To regain compliance, the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock must meet or exceed $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days during this grace period. We are monitoring the bid price of our common stock and will consider options available to us to achieve compliance. There can be no assurances that we will be successful in restoring our compliance with the Nasdaq listing requirements.

OUR PRODUCT PIPELINE

IBSRELA for IBS-C

Our unique discovery platform and deep understanding of the primary mechanism of sodium transport in the intestine resulted in our discovery and development of IBSRELA, a first-in-class, FDA approved, sodium hydrogen exchanger 3 ("NHE3") inhibitor for the treatment of IBS-C in adults. IBSRELA acts locally in the gut and is minimally absorbed. By inhibiting NHE3, IBSRELA exerts a triple action mechanism. First, it blocks dietary sodium absorption, leading to increased intestinal transit time and softer stool to address constipation. Second, it decreases intestinal permeability to reduce abdominal pain, and, third, it decreases visceral hypersensitivity to reduce abdominal pain. The triple action mechanism of IBSRELA is differentiated from existing therapies and has been shown to provide significant improvement in abdominal pain, bloating, and constipation – with a quick onset of action and sustained efficacy. Treatment with IBSRELA has been demonstrated to result in improved quality of life versus placebo and patient treatment satisfaction.

We plan to launch IBSRELA in the U.S. in April 2022.

IBS-C is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by both abdominal pain and altered bowel movements, estimated to affect 11 million people in the U.S. IBS-C is associated with significantly impaired quality of life, reduced productivity, and substantial economic burden. The introduction of new agents over the last decade has led to an established prescription ("RX") treated market with 9,000 writers accounting for 50% of the RXs. Despite the active use of GCC agonist therapies, 83% of Health Care Providers ("HCPs") report a significant unmet need for new therapies, and report that approximately 35% of the patients currently under their care do not adequately respond to the available treatments. When presented with the IBSRELA product profile, 75% of HCPs respond favorably, with the efficacy profile and novel method of action rated as the most compelling aspects of the product profile.

In preparation for our commercial launch of IBSRELA, we have built a commercial organization highly experienced in launching novel therapies into specialty areas. The established nature of the market, limited number of players, concentration of prescribers, recognized unmet need, and favorable response to the novel mechanism IBSRELA product profile enable a targeted promotional effort centered on the 9,000 health care providers that account for 50% of IBS-C prescriptions. Central to the go to market strategy is a highly experienced specialty sales force, many with existing relationships across their GI target base, full company engagement, and innovative peer-to-peer and digital initiatives leveraging the rapidly evolving market dynamics in how HCPs receive information and interact with industry.

With a concentrated promotional focus on patients currently being managed for IBS-C by high writing HCPs - in contrast to the DTC centered, market building approach taken by the existing GCC agonists - competition for IBSRELA will come largely from the four prescription products indicated for IBS-C: Linzess (linaclotide); Amitiza (lubiprostone); Trulance (plecanatide) and Zelnorm (tegaserod). Additionally, over the counter products are commonly used to treat the constipation component of IBS-C, both alone, and in combination with the IBS-C indicated RX therapies.

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We have established commercial agreements with Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Industrial Development Co. Ltd. (“Fosun Pharma”) in China and Knight Therapuetics, Inc. (“Knight”) in Canada for IBSRELA for IBS-C. Knight is currently marketing IBSRELA in Canada.

Development Candidate XPHOZAH: A New Approach for The Control of Serum Phosphorus in Adult Patients with CKD on Dialysis

XPHOZAH is a first-in-class medicine being developed for the control of serum phosphorus in adult patients with CKD on dialysis. XPHOZAH has a unique mechanism of action and acts locally in the gut to inhibit NHE3. This results in the tightening of the epithelial cell junctions, thereby significantly reducing paracellular uptake of phosphate, the primary pathway of phosphate absorption. If approved, XPHOZAH would be the first therapy for phosphate management that blocks phosphorus absorption at the primary site of uptake. It is not a phosphate binder.

In June 2020, we submitted a new drug application ("NDA") to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for tenapanor the control of serum phosphorus in adult patients with CKD on dialysis. The NDA was supported by three Phase 3 trials involving over 1,000 adult patients that evaluated the use of tenapanor for the control of serum phosphorus in adult patients with CKD on dialysis, with two trials evaluating tenapanor as monotherapy and one trial evaluating tenapanor as part of a dual mechanism approach with phosphate binders. All three Phase 3 trials met their primary and key secondary endpoints.

On July 28, 2021, we received a Complete Response Letter ("CRL") from the FDA regarding our NDA for tenapanor for the control of serum phosphorus in adult patients with CKD on dialysis. According to the CRL, while the FDA agrees “that the submitted data provide substantial evidence that tenapanor is effective in reducing serum phosphorus in adult patients with CKD on dialysis,” the FDA characterizes the magnitude of the treatment effect as “small and of unclear clinical significance.” Following an End-of-Review Type A meeting (“End of Review Meeting”) in October 2021, with the FDA’s Division of Cardiology and Nephrology (the “Division”), we submitted a Formal Dispute Resolution Request (“FDRR”) in December 2021. The FDRR was focused on demonstrating that the data submitted in the NDA supported the clinical significance of the treatment effect of tenapanor.

On February 4, 2022, we received an Appeal Denied Letter (“ADL”) from the FDA’s Office of Cardiology, Hematology, Endocrinology and Nephrology (“OCHEN”). On February 18, 2022, we submitted an appeal of the ADL to the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Office of New Drugs (“OND”). If accepted, we expect a decision on the appeal to the OND in April 2022. While the CRL noted that in order for the NDA to be approved, we need to conduct an additional adequate and well-controlled trial demonstrating a clinically relevant treatment effect on serum phosphorus or an effect on the clinical outcome thought to be caused by hyperphosphatemia in adult patients with CKD on dialysis, the ADL provided a potential additional path forward involving the resubmission of the NDA (without conducting an additional trial) with a number of new analyses of each of our Phase 3 clinical trials; an assessment of tenapanor’s benefits and risks; and a proposal of how to label tenapanor for prescribers. There can be no assurances that the Formal Dispute Resolution (“FDR”) process will result in approval of our NDA, or in a clear path to resubmission of our NDA that is achievable in terms of clinical endpoints, time and cost.

RDX013 Program: Small Molecule for Treating Hyperkalemia

We are also advancing a small molecule potassium secretagogue program, RDX013, for the potential treatment of hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia is a common problem in patients with heart and kidney disease, particularly in patients taking customary blood pressure medications known as renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (“RAAS”) inhibitors. RDX013 is a novel mechanism agent designed to target the underlying biological mechanisms of potassium secretion to lower elevated potassium. While currently available therapies are all ion exchange agents, RDX013 is a first in class secretagogue with demonstrated proof of concept in a Phase 2 dose ranging study evaluating the safety and pharmacodynamics of RDX013 in adult patients with hyperkalemia. The next steps for RDX013 will be determined based on final analyses of the Phase 2 results, continued formulation development, and sufficient financial resources.

RDX020 Program: Small molecule for Treating Metabolic Acidosis

We have an ongoing discovery program targeting the inhibition of bicarbonate exchange inhibitor for the treatment of metabolic acidosis, a highly prevalent comorbidity in CKD patients that is strongly correlated with disease progression and adverse outcomes. We have identified lead compounds that are potent, selective and proprietary inhibitors of bicarbonate secretion. Our research organization was eliminated as part of our October 2021 restructuring, and therefore, we currently expect to continue to advance this discovery program utilizing third-party resources managed by internal non-clinical expertise.

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FINANCIAL OPERATIONS OVERVIEW

Revenue

Our revenue to date has been generated primarily through license, research and development collaborative agreements with various collaboration partners. We have not generated any revenue from commercial product sales. We currently expect to commence commercialization of IBSRELA in April 2022. In the future, we may generate revenue from a combination of our own product sales and payments in connection with our current or future collaborative partnerships, including license fees, other upfront payments, milestone payments, royalties and payments for drug product and/or drug substance. We expect that any revenue we generate will fluctuate in future periods as a result of, among other factors: the extent to which we are successful in our efforts to commercialize IBSRELA; whether we receive regulatory approval for tenapanor for the control of serum phosphorous in adult patients with CKD on dialysis (the “Hyperphosphatemia Indication”), and if such approval is received, the timing of such approval and the extent to which we are successful in our efforts to commercialize XPHOZAH for such indication; the timing and progress of goods and services provided pursuant to our current or future collaborative partnerships; our or our collaborators’ achievement of preclinical, clinical, regulatory or commercialization milestones, to the extent achieved; the timing and amount of any payments to us relating to the aforementioned milestones; and the extent to which any of our product candidates are approved and successfully commercialized by a collaboration partner. If we are not able to obtain market acceptance for IBSRELA; if we are not successful in our efforts to obtain and sustain an adequate level of coverage and reimbursement for IBSRELA by third-party payors; if we fail to obtain regulatory approval for tenapanor for the Hyperphosphatemia indication and/or our current collaboration partners or any future collaboration partners fail to obtain regulatory approval for tenapanor in their respective territories, our ability to generate future revenue from our product sales or from our collaborative arrangements, and our results of operations and financial position, would be materially and adversely affected. Our past revenue performance is not necessarily indicative of results to be expected in future periods. See Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the notes to our financial statements, included in Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for further details.

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue represents payments due to AstraZeneca AB (“AstraZeneca”), which under the terms of a termination agreement entered into in 2015 (the “AZ Termination Agreement”) is entitled to (i) future royalties at a rate of 10% of net sales of tenapanor or other NHE3 products by us or our licensees, and (ii) 20% of non-royalty revenue received from our collaboration partners as a result of the development and commercialization of tenapanor or certain other NHE3 inhibitors. We have agreed to pay AstraZeneca up to a maximum of $75.0 million in the aggregate for (i) and (ii). We recognize these expenses as cost of revenue when we recognize the corresponding revenue that gives rise to payments due to AstraZeneca. To date, we recognized an aggregate of $11.6 million as cost of revenue under the AZ Termination Agreement since 2017. See details in Note 5, Collaboration and Licensing Agreements, under AstraZeneca, in the notes to our financial statements, included in Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Research and Development

Pursuant to the October 2021 restructuring plan, we have eliminated our internal research organization and expect to continue our discovery efforts with respect to RDX020 through the use of third-parties managed internally by non-clinical expertise. We recognized all research and development expenses as they were incurred to support the discovery, research, development and manufacturing of our product candidates. Research and development expenses include, but are not limited to, the following:

•external research and development expenses incurred under agreements with consultants, third-party contract research organizations (“CROs”) and investigative sites where a substantial portion of our clinical studies are conducted, and with contract manufacturing organizations where our clinical supplies are produced;

•expenses associated with supplies and materials consumed in connection with our research operations;

•expenses associated with producing tenapanor for the control of serum phosphorus in adult patients with CKD on dialysis prior to FDA approval;

•other costs associated with research, clinical development and regulatory activities;

•employee-related expenses, which include salaries, bonuses, benefits, travel and stock-based compensation; and

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•facilities and other allocated expenses, which include direct and allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities, depreciation and amortization expense, information technology expense and other supplies.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and related benefits, including stock-based compensation, for certain of our executives, our board members, and our finance, legal, business development, market development, commercial and support staff. Other general and administrative expenses include facility related costs and professional fees for legal, accounting and audit, investor relations, other consulting services and allocated facility related costs not otherwise included in research and development expenses.

Interest Expense

Interest expense represents the interest paid on our loan payable.

Other Income, net

Other income, net consists of interest income earned on our cash and cash equivalents and held-to-maturity investments, the periodic revaluation of the exit fee related to our loan and currency exchange gains and losses.

Provision for Income Taxes

Our provision for income taxes includes current and deferred tax, including foreign withholding taxes paid on payments received from certain collaboration partners. Deferred income taxes reflect the tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Our deferred tax assets continue to be fully offset by a valuation allowance, including deferred tax assets related to our net operating loss carryforwards, which may be subject to annual limitations as a result of ownership changes that may have occurred or could occur in the future.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICES AND ESTIMATES

A detailed discussion of our significant accounting policies can be found in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the notes to our financial statements, included in Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Critical accounting policies are those that require significant judgment and/or estimates by management at the time that financial statements are prepared such that materially different results might have been reported if other assumptions had been made. These estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.

We consider certain accounting policies related to revenue recognition, accrued research and development expenses and stock-based compensation to be critical policies to understanding the judgments and estimates applied in our reported financial results.

Revenue Recognition

We generate revenue primarily from research and collaboration and license agreements with customers. Goods and services in the agreements may include the grant of licenses for the use of our technology, the provision of services associated with the research and development of product candidates, manufacturing services, and participation in joint steering committees. The terms of these arrangements typically include payment to us of one or more of the following: non-refundable, up-front license fees; research, development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments; reimbursement of research and development services; option payments; reimbursement of certain costs; payments for manufacturing supply services; and future royalties on net sales of licensed products.

When two or more contracts are entered into with the same customer at or near the same time, we evaluate the contracts to determine whether the contracts should be accounted for as a single arrangement. Contracts are combined and accounted for as a single arrangement if one or more of the following criteria are met: (i) the contracts are negotiated as a package with a single commercial objective; (ii) the amount of consideration to be paid in one contract depends on the price or performance of the other contract; or (iii) the goods or services promised in the contracts (or some goods or services promised in each of the contracts) are a single performance obligation.

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In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as we fulfill our obligations under each of our agreements, management performs the following steps: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including any constraints on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) we satisfy each performance obligation. As part of the accounting for contracts with customers, we develop assumptions that require judgment to determine whether promised goods and services represent distinct performance obligations and the standalone selling price for each performance obligation identified in the contract. This evaluation is subjective and requires us to make judgments about the promised goods and services and whether those goods and services are separable from other aspects of the contract. Further, determining the standalone selling price for performance obligations requires significant judgment, and when an observable price of a promised good or service is not readily available, we consider relevant assumptions to estimate the standalone selling price, including, as applicable, market conditions, development timelines, probabilities of technical and regulatory success, reimbursement rates for personnel costs, forecasted revenues, potential limitations to the selling price of the product and discount rates.

We apply judgment in determining whether a combined performance obligation is satisfied at a point in time or over time, and, if over time, concluding upon the appropriate method of measuring progress to be applied for purposes of recognizing revenue. We evaluate the measure of progress each reporting period and, as estimates related to the measure of progress change, related revenue recognition is adjusted accordingly. Changes in our estimated measure of progress are accounted for prospectively as a change in accounting estimate. We recognize collaboration revenue by measuring the progress toward complete satisfaction of the performance obligation using an input measure. In order to recognize revenue over the research and development period, we measure actual costs incurred to date compared to the overall total expected costs to satisfy the performance obligation. Revenues are recognized as the program costs are incurred. We will re-evaluate the estimate of expected costs to satisfy the performance obligation each reporting period and make adjustments for any significant changes. Amounts received prior to satisfying the revenue recognition criteria are recorded as contract liabilities in our balance sheets. If the related performance obligation is expected to be satisfied within the next twelve months, this will be classified in current liabilities. Amounts recognized as revenue prior to receipt are recorded as contract assets in our balance sheets. If we expect to have an unconditional right to receive the consideration in the next twelve months, this will be classified in current assets. A net contract asset or liability is presented for each contract with a customer.

Milestone Payments: At the inception of each arrangement that includes research and development milestone payments, we evaluate whether the milestones are considered probable of being reached and estimate the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. Amounts of variable consideration are included in the transaction price to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur and when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. Milestone payments that are not within the control of us or the licensee, 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 standalone selling price basis, for which we recognize revenue as or when the performance obligations under the contract are satisfied. At the end of each subsequent reporting period, we re-evaluate the probability of achievement of such development milestones and any related constraints, and if necessary, adjust our estimate of the overall transaction price. Any such adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which would affect earnings in the period of adjustment.

Manufacturing supply services: Arrangements that include a promise for the future supply of drug substance or drug product for either clinical development or commercial supply at the customer’s discretion are generally considered as options. We assess if these options provide a material right to the licensee and if so, they are accounted for as separate performance obligations. If we are entitled to additional payments when the customer exercises these options, any payments are recorded in product supply revenues when the customer obtains control of the goods, which is upon delivery.

Royalties: For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on the level of sales, and where the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate, we recognize revenue at the later of (i) when the related sales occur, or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied (or partially satisfied). To date, we have not recognized any royalty revenue resulting from any of our licensing arrangements.

Licenses of intellectual property: If a license granted to a customer to use our intellectual property is determined to be distinct from the other performance obligations identified in the arrangement, we recognize revenue from consideration allocated to the license when the license is transferred to the licensee and the licensee is able to use and benefit from the license. For licenses that are bundled with other promises, we apply judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over

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time, to conclude upon the appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenue related to consideration allocated to the performance obligation.

Options: Customer options, such as options granted to allow a licensee to choose to research, develop and commercialize licensed compounds are evaluated at contract inception in order to determine whether those options provide a material right (i. e., an optional good or service offered for free or at a discount) to the customer. If the customer options represent a material right, the material right is treated as a separate performance obligation at the outset of the arrangement. We allocate the transaction price to material rights based on the standalone selling price, and revenue is recognized when or as the future goods or services are transferred or when the option expires. Customer options that are not material rights do not give rise to a separate performance obligation, and as such, the additional consideration that would result from a customer exercising an option in the future is not included in the transaction price for the current contract. Instead, the option is deemed a marketing offer, and additional option fee payments are recognized or being recognized as revenue when the licensee exercises the option. The exercise of an option that does not represent a material right is treated as a separate contract for accounting purposes.

Contract modifications: Contract modifications, defined as changes in the scope or price (or both) of a contract that are approved by the parties to the contract, such as a contract amendment, exist when the parties to a contract approve a modification that either creates new or changes existing enforceable rights and obligations of the parties to the contract. Depending on facts and circumstances, we account for a contract modification as one of the following: (i) a separate contract; (ii) a termination of the existing contract and a creation of a new contract; or (iii) a combination of the preceding treatments. A contract modification is accounted for as a separate contract if the scope of the contract increases because of the addition of promised goods or services that are distinct and the price of the contract increases by an amount of consideration that reflects our standalone selling prices of the additional promised goods or services. When a contract modification is not considered a separate contract and the remaining goods or services are distinct from the goods or services transferred on or before the date of the contract modification, we account for the contract modification as a termination of the existing contract and a creation of a new contract. When a contract modification is not considered a separate contract and the remaining goods or services are not distinct, we account for the contract modification as an add-on to the existing contract and as an adjustment to revenue on a cumulative catch-up basis.

We receive payments from our licensees as established in each contract. Upfront payments and fees are recorded as deferred revenue upon receipt or when due and may require deferral of revenue recognition to a future period until we perform our obligations under these arrangements. Where applicable, amounts are recorded as unbilled revenue when our right to consideration is unconditional. We do not assess whether a contract with a customer has a significant financing component if the expectation at contract inception is such that the period between payment by the licensees and the transfer of the promised goods or services to the licensees will be one year or less.

Accrued Research and Development Expenses

As part of the process of preparing our financial statements, we are required to estimate our accrued expenses. This process involves reviewing open contracts and purchase orders, communicating with our personnel to identify services that have been performed on our behalf and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for the service when we have not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of the actual cost. The majority of our service providers invoice us monthly in arrears for services performed or when contractual milestones are met. We make estimates of our accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date in our financial statements based on facts and circumstances known to us at that time. We periodically confirm the accuracy of our estimates with the service providers and make adjustments if necessary. Examples of estimated accrued research and development expenses include fees paid to:

•CROs in connection with clinical studies;

•investigative sites in connection with clinical studies;

•vendors related to contract manufacturing, development and distribution of clinical supplies;

•collaborator entities in connection with our collaboration agreements; and

•vendors in connection with preclinical development activities.

We record expenses related to clinical studies and manufacturing development activities based on our estimates of the services received and efforts expended pursuant to contracts with our CROs and manufacturing vendors that conduct and manage these activities on our behalf. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation, vary from contract to

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contract, and may result in uneven payment flows. There may be instances in which payments made to our vendors will exceed the level of services provided and result in a prepayment of the expense. Payments under some of these contracts depend on factors such as the successful enrollment of subjects and the completion of clinical trial milestones. In accruing service fees, we estimate the time period over which each component of a service will be performed, and estimate, with vendor input if appropriate, the resulting level of completion of each component of the service, with such estimates often involving drivers that provide a surrogate measurement of completion such as number of enrolled subjects and/or number of sites activated in the calculation of clinical trial fee accruals. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from our estimate, we adjust the accrued or prepaid expense balance accordingly. Although we do not expect our estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, if our estimates of the status and timing of services performed differ from the actual status and timing of services performed, we may report amounts that are too high or too low in any particular period.

Stock-Based Compensation

We estimate the fair value of stock options and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“the ESPP”) shares using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The Black-Scholes model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions which determine the fair value of stock-based awards. These assumptions include:

Expected Term—We have limited historical information to develop reasonable expectations about future exercise patterns and post-vesting employment termination behavior for our stock-option grants. As such, the expected term is estimated using the simplified method whereby the expected term equals the arithmetic average of the vesting term and the original contractual term of the option. Beginning in 2021, we estimate the expected term of our options based upon historical exercises and post-vesting termination behavior, which has not resulted in a material difference as compared to using the simplified method.

Expected Volatility— We use the historic volatility of our own stock over the retrospective period corresponding to the expected remaining term of the options, or the period since our shares were first quoted on The Nasdaq Global Market, if that is shorter, to compute our expected stock price volatility.

Risk-Free Interest Rate—The risk-free interest rate assumption is based on zero-coupon U.S. Treasury instruments on the date of grant with a maturity date consistent with the expected term of our stock option grants.

Expected Dividend— To date, we have not declared or paid any cash dividends and do not have any plans to do so in the future. Therefore, we use an expected dividend yield of zero.

As required, we review our valuation assumptions at each grant date and, as a result, we are likely to change our valuation assumptions used to value employee stock-based awards granted in future periods. Employee and director stock-based compensation costs are to be recognized over the vesting period of the award, and we have elected to use the straight-line attribution method. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. We estimate forfeitures based on historical experience.

Restricted stock units ("RSUs") are measured at the fair value of our common stock on the date of grant and expensed over the period of vesting using the straight-line attribution approach.

Performance-based RSUs ("PRSUs") are valued at grant-date fair market value. The vesting of the PRSUs is based on performance conditions. Performance conditions include: (i) a specific performance criteria and (ii) the employee’s continuous employment by the company for a stated period of time in order to earn the right to the related PRSUs to vest. The Company recognizes compensation cost with respect to the vesting of the PRSUs on a ratable basis over the requisite service period, upon the performance conditions being deemed probable of achievement.

Restructuring

We recognize restructuring charges related to reorganization plans that have been committed to by management and when liabilities have been incurred. In connection with these activities, we record restructuring charges at fair value for, (a) contractual employee termination benefits when obligations are associated to services already rendered, rights to such benefits have vested, and payment of benefits is probable and can be reasonably estimated, (b) one-time employee termination benefits when management has committed to a plan of termination, the plan identifies the employees and their expected termination dates, the details of termination benefits are complete, it is unlikely changes to the plan will be made or the plan will be withdrawn and communication to such employees has occurred, and (c) contract termination costs when a contract is terminated before the end of its term.

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One-time employee termination benefits are recognized in their entirety when communication has occurred and future services are not required. If future services are required, the costs are recorded ratably over the remaining period of service. Contract termination costs to be incurred over the remaining contract term without economic benefit are recorded in their entirety when the contract is canceled.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019

Revenue

Below is a summary of our total revenue (dollars in thousands):

Fiscal 2021 compared to 2020: The increase to total revenues is primarily attributable to a $5.0 million development milestone which we earned and recognized as licensing revenue during the current year upon the initiation by KKC of phase 3 clinical studies in Japan to evaluate tenapanor for hyperphosphatemia. The increase was partially offset by lower collaborative development revenue and product supply revenue from KKC during the current year.

Fiscal 2020 compared to 2019: The increase in our revenue was primarily attributable to $4.9 million higher collaborative development revenue recognized in connection with the KKC Agreement, which was entered into in November 2019, a $0.7 million licensing revenue recognized upon Knight’s achievement of a development milestone pursuant to the Knight Agreement and a $1.4 million increase in manufacturing supply of tenapanor and other materials sold to KKC in accordance with the 2017 KKC Agreement, partially offset by $3.0 million revenue related to achievement of a milestone pursuant to the Fosun agreement during the year ended December 31, 2019.

Operating Expenses

Below is a summary of our operating expenses (dollars in thousands):

Cost of Revenue

Fiscal 2021 compared to 2020: The increase in cost of revenue was for payment due to AstraZeneca under the AZ Termination Agreement related to the development milestone we earned upon the initiation by KKC of phase 3 clinical studies in Japan to evaluate tenapanor for hyperphosphatemia.

Fiscal 2020 compared to 2019: Cost of revenue was $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, a decrease of $0.5 million, or 75.8%, compared to $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Cost of revenue in both periods is the portion of tenapanor-related upfront and milestone payment from our collaboration partners that we are required to make to AstraZeneca under the AstraZeneca Termination Agreement.

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Research and Development

Below is a summary of our research and development expenses (dollars in thousands):

Fiscal 2021 compared to 2020: The increase in our external R&D expenses is the result of tenapanor manufacturing costs as well as clinical study costs from the advancement of our OPTIMIZE study which were partially offset by lower costs for the PHREEDOM clinical study. The increase in our employee-related expenses is related to compensation and benefits expenses for our research and development workforce. Employee-related expenses for twelve months ended December 31, 2021 include $2.7 million severance payments and other employee-related costs as discussed in Note 11 - Restructuring to the financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.

Fiscal 2020 compared to 2019: The decrease in our external R&D expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily includes a $9.7 million decrease in our tenapanor-related expenses, partially offset by $3.0 million of higher expenses attributable to KKC Research Agreement-related research and general R&D expenses. Of the overall tenapanor-related decrease, approximately $11.0 million relates to lower clinical study costs due to the winding down of expenses associated with our Phase 3 clinical program for tenapanor for the control of hyperphosphatemia, offset by an out-of-period adjustment recorded during 2019 that reduced clinical trial expenses by $3.6 million related to our tenapanor clinical trials for the nine months ended September 30, 2019; and approximately $2.9 million related to lower manufacturing expenses due to reduced validation related expenses for tenapanor in 2020 as compared to 2019; offset by an increase of $3.1 million related to regulatory expenses that includes $2.9 million paid to the FDA for the filing of a NDA for tenapanor for the control of serum phosphorus in adult patients with CKD on dialysis in June 2020.

General and Administrative

Fiscal 2021 compared to 2020: The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to increased costs associated with building and staffing our commercial infrastructure and teams as we prepared for a potential U.S. launch of tenapanor. The increase consisted of headcount and related personnel costs and an increase in external spending for disease awareness initiatives, commercial infrastructure and strategy. General and administrative expenses for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 include $3.5 million severance payments and other employee-related costs as discussed in Note 11 - Restructuring to the financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.

Fiscal 2020 compared to 2019: The increase in general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 was primarily due to an increase in costs associated with building and staffing our commercial infrastructure and teams as we prepare for the anticipated U.S. launch of tenapanor for the control of serum phosphorus in adult patients with CKD on dialysis. The increase consisted of headcount and related personnel costs and an increase in external spending for disease awareness initiatives, commercial infrastructure and strategy.

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Other Income, net

Below is a summary of our other income (expense), net (dollars in thousands):

Fiscal 2021 compared to 2020: The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to lower interest rates on our variable-rate term loan. The changes in other income, net were primarily due to lower income earned on our investments, which was largely offset by the revaluation of our derivative liability related to our term loan agreement following receipt of the FDA CRL on July 28, 2021.

Fiscal 2020 compared to 2019: The decrease in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2020 was primarily due to lower interest rates on our variable-rate term loan. The decrease in other income, net for the year ended December 31, 2020 was primarily due to a decrease in investment income, a lower exit fee revaluation adjustment related to our loan agreement and a decrease in currency exchange losses.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Below is a summary of our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities (in thousands):

As of December 31, 2021, we had cash and investments of approximately $116.7 million. We have incurred operating losses since inception and our accumulated deficit as of December 31, 2021 is $712.9 million. Our current level of cash and investments alone is not sufficient to meet our plans for the next twelve months following the filing of these financial statements on February 28, 2022. These factors raise substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern for a period of one year from the issuance of these financial statements. We plan to address our operating cash flow requirements with our current cash and investments, cash generated from the product launch of IBSRELA, our potential receipt of anticipated milestone payments from our collaboration partners, our ability to access the capital markets, as well as through the implementation of cash preservation activities to reduce or defer discretionary spending.

There are no assurances that our efforts to meet our operating cash flow requirements will be successful. If our current cash and investments as well as our plans to meet our operating cash flow requirements are not sufficient to fund necessary expenditures and meet our obligations for at least the next twelve months following the issuance of these financial statements, our liquidity, financial condition and business prospects will be materially affected. These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis and do not include any adjustments to the amounts and classification of assets and liabilities that may be necessary in the event that we can no longer continue as a going concern.

In July 2020, we filed a Form S-3 registration statement, which became effective in August 2020, containing (i) a base prospectus for the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $250.0 million of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and/or units, from time to time in one or more offerings; and (ii) a prospectus supplement for the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $100.0 million of its common stock that may be issued and sold, from time to time, under an Open Market Sales Agreement with Jefferies LLC, as sales agent, deemed to be “at the market offerings” (the "2020 Open Market Sales Agreement"). Pursuant to the 2020 Open Market Sales Agreement, Jefferies, as sales agent, received a commission of up to 3.0% of the gross sales price for shares

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of common stock sold under the 2020 Open Market Sales Agreement. We sold a cumulative total of 23.3 million shares and received gross proceeds of $100.0 million at a weighted average sales price of approximately $4.30 per share under the 2020 Open Market Sales Agreement.

In August 2021, we filed an additional prospectus supplement under the Registration Statement for the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $150.0 million of our common stock that may be issued and sold, from time to time, under an additional sales agreement we entered into with Jefferies (the "2021 Open Market Sales Agreement"), pursuant to which we may, from time to time, sell up to $150.0 million in shares of our common stock through Jefferies. We are not required to sell shares under the 2021 Open Market Sales Agreement. Pursuant to the 2021 Open Market Sales Agreement, Jefferies, as our sales agent, receives a commission of up to 3.0% of the gross sales price for shares of common stock sold under the 2021 Open Market Sales Agreement. As of December 31, 2021 we have sold 15.7 million shares and received gross proceeds of $25.0 million at a weighted average sales price of approximately $1.60 per share under the 2021 Open Market Sales Agreement.

On May 16, 2018, we entered into a loan and security agreement (the "2018 Loan Agreement") with Solar Capital Ltd. and Western Alliance Bank (“the Lenders”). The 2018 Loan Agreement provides for a $50.0 million term loan facility with a maturity date of November 1, 2022 (”the 2018 Term Loan”). The full amount of the 2018 Term Loan was funded on May 16, 2018. We received net proceeds from the loan of approximately $49.3 million, after deducting the closing fee, legal expenses and issuance costs. On October 9, 2020, we and the Lenders entered into an amendment to the 2018 Loan Agreement (“the 2020 Amendment”), as defined and discussed in Note 6, Borrowing, to extend the date through which we were permitted to make interest-only payments on the 2018 Term Loan by twelve months to December 1, 2021. In May and July 2021, we and the Lenders entered into additional amendments to the 2018 Loan Agreement (“the 2021 Amendments”) which together extended the period of time that we were permitted to make interest-only payments on the loan to December 1, 2021; provided that if we had not received FDA approval for our NDA for tenapanor for the control of serum phosphorus in adult patients with CDK on dialysis on or before October 25, 2021, the interest-only period would expire and principal repayments would be required to begin on November 1, 2021. If principal repayments were required to begin prior to December 1, 2021 under the 2021 Amendments, then the first such repayment was required to include all payments that would have been due if monthly principal repayment had begun on June 1, 2021. During November 2021, in compliance with the terms of our 2018 Loan Agreement, we paid the first principal repayment on the loan in the amount of $16.7 million. See Note 6, Borrowings, in the notes to our financial statements, included in Part II, Item 8, for details on our 2018 Loan Agreement.

As discussed in Note 18 - Subsequent Events, on February 23, 2022 (the “Closing Date”), we entered into a loan and security agreement (the “2022 Loan Agreement”) with SLR Investment Corp. as collateral agent (the “Agent”), and the lenders listed in the 2022 Loan Agreement (collectively the “2022 Lenders”). The 2022 Loan Agreement provides for a senior secured term loan facility, with $27.5 million (the “Term A Loan”) funded on the Closing Date and an additional $22.5 million that we may borrow on or prior to July 25, 2023; provided that (i) we have received approval by the FDA for our NDA for tenapanor for the control of serum phosphorus in chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis by December 31, 2022, and (ii) we have achieved certain product revenue milestone targets described in the 2022 Loan Agreement (the “Term B Loan”, and collectively, the Term A Loan and the Term B Loan, the “2022 Term Loan”). The Term A Loan funds are being used to repay the 2018 Term Loan with the Lenders as discussed in Note 6 - Borrowings and to fund our ongoing operations. We had $25.0 million principal from the 2018 Term Loan outstanding as of the Closing Date.

Our primary sources of cash have been from the sale and issuance of common stock (in both public offerings and private placements) and private placements of convertible preferred stock, funds from our collaboration partnerships and funds from our 2018 Loan Agreement. Our primary uses of cash have been to fund operating expenses, primarily research and development expenditures and pre-commercial expenses. Cash used to fund operating expenses is impacted by the timing of when we pay these expenses, as reflected in the change in our outstanding accounts payable and accrued expenses.

Our future funding requirements are difficult to forecast and will depend on many factors, including:

•the extent to which we are able to generate product revenue from sales of IBSRELA;

•whether we are successful in our efforts under the FDR process to secure approval for our NDA for tenapanor for the Hyperphosphatemia Indication, or to reach resolution with the FDA regarding a path to address the deficiencies in the NDA noted in the CRL, and the time and cost associated with such path;

•the sales price and the availability of adequate third-party reimbursement for IBSRELA and XPHOZAH, if approved;

•the manufacturing costs of IBSRELA and XPHOZAH;

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•the selling and marketing costs associated with IBSRELA and XPHOZAH, if approved;

•our ability to maintain our existing collaboration partnerships and to establish additional collaboration partnerships, in-license/out-license, joint ventures or other similar arrangements and the financial terms of such agreements;

•the timing, receipt, and amount of sales of, or royalties on, tenapanor, if any;

•the cash requirements of any future acquisitions or discovery of product candidates;

•any clinical trials we are required to or decide to pursue for tenapanor or RDX013;

•the time and cost necessary to respond to technological and market developments;

•the costs of filing, prosecuting, maintaining, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights, including litigation costs and the outcome of such litigation, including costs of defending any claims of infringement brought by others in connection with the development, manufacture or commercialization of tenapanor or any of our product candidates; and

•the payment of interest and principal related to our loan and security agreement entered into with SLR Investment Corp. in February 2022.

CASH FLOW ACTIVITIES

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Fiscal 2021 compared to 2020: Net cash used in operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $71.1 million as a result of our increased net loss for the period. The increased net loss was primarily driven by costs associated with building and staffing our commercial infrastructure and teams as we prepared for the anticipated U.S. launch of tenapanor for the control of serum phosphorus in adult patients with CKD on dialysis. In addition to the increased net loss, cash flows related to our operating assets and liabilities increased in the amount of $8.7 million.

Fiscal 2020 compared to 2019: Net cash used in operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2020 increased $5.0 million as compared to the prior year. The most significant factors that contributed to the increase was primarily a $6.2 million decrease to changes in operating assets and liabilities, primarily driven by cash received in 2019 and reported as deferred revenue for the KKC Research Agreement that was recognized as revenue in 2020, offset by a $0.6 million increase in non-cash charges and $0.6 million decrease to the net loss.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Fiscal 2021 compared to 2020: Net cash provided by investing activities increased by $82.4 million as our investment maturities increased to exceed the cost to purchase investments.

Fiscal 2020 compared to 2019: Net cash provided by investing activities decreased by $54.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019. This decrease was attributable to a $48.2 million

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increase in purchases of available-for-sale investments and a decrease in proceeds from maturities and redemptions of short-term investments of $6.6 million.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Fiscal 2021 compared to 2020: Net cash provided by financing activities increased by $60.2 million due to net proceeds from issuance of our common stock pursuant to our at-the-market offerings, which were partially offset by principal repayments for our loan payable.

Fiscal 2020 compared to 2019: Net cash provided by financing activities decreased by $132.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019. This decrease was predominantly attributable to $134.9 million in net proceeds received in connection with underwritten public offering initiatives that was received in 2019 but did not recur in 2020. This decrease was partially offset by $2.4 million net additional proceeds received in 2020 as compared to 2019 from sales of our common stock pursuant to our at-the-market sales agreement with Jefferies LLC, employee stock plan purchases and option exercises, and the 2019 sale of common stock in the Private Placement with KKC.

SMALLER REPORTING COMPANY AND NON-ACCELERATED FILER STATUS

On June 28, 2018, the SEC adopted amendments that raise the thresholds in the smaller reporting company ("SRC") definition, whereby we were determined to qualify as an SRC. We elected to reflect that determination and avail ourselves with most of the SRC scaled disclosure accommodations in our filings subsequent to the adoption. On March 12, 2020, the SEC amended its rules to allow SRCs that have less than $100.0 million in annual revenue and a public float of less than $700.0 million to qualify as a non-accelerated filer. As a non-accelerated filer, we were not required to obtain an opinion of our independent auditors with respect to our internal controls over financial reporting for the periods through December 31, 2020.

On June 30, 2021, our public float exceeded $700.0 million and therefore, as of December 31, 2021, we no longer qualify as an SRC and are considered a large accelerated filer. The disclosures contained within this Annual Report on Form 10-K have been expanded accordingly.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk

We are subject to market risks, including interest rate fluctuation exposure through our investments, in the ordinary course of our business. However, the goals of our investment policy are the preservation of capital, fulfillment of liquidity needs and fiduciary control of cash. To achieve our goal of maximizing income without assuming significant market risk, we maintain our excess cash and cash equivalents in money market funds and short-term debt securities. Because of the short-term maturities of our cash equivalents, we do not believe that a decrease in interest rates would have any material negative impact on the fair value of our cash equivalents.

As of December 31, 2021, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $116.7 million, which consist of bank deposits and money market funds, as well as high quality fixed income instruments including corporate bonds, commercial paper, and asset-backed securities collateralized by non-mortgage consumer receivables. The credit rating of our short-term investments must be rated A-1/P-1, or better by Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service. Asset-backed securities must be rated AAA/Aaa. Money Market funds must be rated AAAm/Aaa. Such interest-earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. However, because our investments are high quality and short-term in duration, we believe that our exposure to interest rate risk is not significant and that a 10% movement in market interest rates would not have a significant impact on the total value of our portfolio, as noted above. We do not enter into investments for trading or speculative purposes.

We are subject to interest rate fluctuation exposure through our borrowings under the 2018 Loan Agreement and our investment in money market accounts which bear a variable interest rate. Borrowings under the 2018 Loan Agreement bear interest at a rate equal to one-month London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, plus 7.45% per annum. A hypothetical increase in one-month LIBOR of 100 basis points above the current one-month LIBOR rates would have increased our interest expense by approximately $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021 we had an aggregate principal amount of $32.3 million outstanding pursuant to our 2018 Loan Agreement.

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Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

The majority of our transactions are denominated in U.S. dollars. However, we do have certain transactions that are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily Swiss francs and the euro, and we therefore are subject to foreign exchange risk. The fluctuation in the value of the U.S. dollar against other currencies affects the reported amounts of expenses, assets and liabilities associated with a limited number of manufacturing activities.

We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative trading purposes, nor do we hedge foreign currency exchange rate exposure in a manner that entirely offsets the earnings effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The counterparties to our forward foreign currency exchange contracts are creditworthy commercial banks, which minimizes the risk of counterparty nonperformance.

As of December 31, 2021, we had no open forward foreign currency exchange contracts.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

ARDELYX, INC.

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 42) 70

Balance Sheets 72

Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss 73

Statements of Stockholders’ Equity 74

Statements of Cash Flows 75

Notes to Financial Statements 76

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Ardelyx, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Ardelyx, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 Framework) and our report dated February 28, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

The Company’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has stated that substantial doubt exists about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management's evaluation of the events and conditions and management’s plans regarding these matters are also described in Note 2. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

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Accounting for Restructuring activities

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2009.

Redwood City, California

February 28, 2022

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ARDELYX, INC.

BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

December 31,

Assets

Current assets:

Accounts receivable 502 —

Prepaid expenses and other current assets 16,458 8,202

Long-term investments — 2,114

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity

Current liabilities:

Accrued compensation and benefits 5,422 5,672

Current portion of operating lease liability 3,492 2,117

Deferred revenue — 4,177

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 7,366 6,657

Operating lease liability, net of current portion 9,748 413

Loan payable, net of current portion — 46,621

Deferred revenue, non-current 4,727 —

Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)

Stockholders’ equity:

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (6) (4)

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 149,913 $ 201,562

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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ARDELYX, INC.

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Year Ended December 31,

Revenues:

Operating expenses:

Provision for income taxes 4 2 303

Net loss per common share, basic and diluted $ (1.52) $ (1.05) $ (1.47)

Comprehensive loss:

Unrealized (losses) gains on available-for-sale securities (2) (24) 58

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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ARDELYX, INC.

STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(in thousands, except share amounts)

Shares Amount

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of options 68,062 — 178 — — 178

Issuance of common stock upon vesting of restricted stock units 85,609 — — — — —

Stock-based compensation — — 9,936 — — 9,936

Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities — — — — 58 58

Issuance of common stock for services 42,403 — 310 — — 310

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of options 445,942 — 1,020 — — 1,020

Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities — — — — (24) (24)

Issuance of common stock for services 25,989 — 190 — — 190

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of options 331,310 — 584 — — 584

Taxes paid for net share settlement of equity awards — — (106) — — (106)

Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities — — — — (2) (2)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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ARDELYX, INC.

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

Operating activities

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

Amortization of deferred financing costs 638 496 670

Amortization of deferred compensation for services 240 313 309

Amortization of (discount) premium on investment securities 488 (92) (698)

Change in derivative liabilities (678) 407 436

Non-cash interest associated with debt discount accretion 283 413 478

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable (502) — 85

Prepaid expenses and other assets (8,904) (4,653) 93

Investing activities

Purchases of property and equipment (1,867) (324) (325)

Financing activities

Proceeds from underwritten public offering, net of issuance costs — — 134,927

Principal repayments for loan payable (19,444) — —

Payments for loan payable, net of issuance costs — (125) —

Payments for taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards (106) — —

Supplementary disclosure of cash flow information:

Cash paid for income taxes $ 4 $ 1 $ 2

Supplementary disclosure of non-cash activities:

Issuance of common stock for services $ 190 $ 310 $ 312

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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ARDELYX, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Ardelyx, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) is a biopharmaceutical company founded with a mission to discover, develop and commercialize innovative first-in-class medicines that meet significant unmet medical needs. This includes adult patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (“IBS-C”), adult patients with chronic kidney disease (“CKD”) on dialysis suffering from elevated serum phosphorus, or hyperphosphatemia; and adult CKD patients and/or heart failure patients with elevated serum potassium, or hyperkalemia.

We operate in one business segment, which is the development and planned commercialization of biopharmaceutical products.

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

Prior Period Errors

In connection with our review of our financial statements as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2019, we corrected errors related to the accounting for clinical trial accruals that had resulted in an overstatement of research and development expenses during the year ended December 31, 2018. Specifically, management concluded that our research and development expenses recorded during the year ended December 31, 2018 had been overstated by $3.6 million and that our accrued expenses and other current liabilities as of December 31, 2018 had been overstated by the same amount. We analyzed the potential impact of these errors in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements, and concluded that while the errors were significant to our financial statements as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2019, a correction of the errors would not have been material to the full year results for 2019 and 2018 nor affect the trend of financial results. Accordingly, we reduced accrued and other liabilities by $3.6 million and recorded a cumulative adjustment of $3.6 million in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss to reduce research and development expenses in 2019.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, including those related to recognition of revenue, clinical trial accruals, contract manufacturing accruals, fair value of assets and liabilities, income taxes and stock-based compensation. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other market-specific and relevant assumptions that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

Liquidity

As of December 31, 2021, we had cash and investments of approximately $116.7 million. We have incurred operating losses since inception and our accumulated deficit as of December 31, 2021 is $712.9 million. Our current level of cash and investments alone is not sufficient to meet our plans for the next twelve months following the issuance of these financial statements. These factors raise substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern for a period of one year from the issuance of these financial statements. We plan to address our operating cash flow requirements with our current cash and investments, cash generated from the product launch of IBSRELA, our potential receipt of anticipated milestones from our collaboration partners, our ability to access the capital markets, as well as through the implementation of cash preservation activities to reduce or defer discretionary spending.

There are no assurances that our efforts to meet our operating cash flow requirements will be successful. If our current cash and investments as well as our plans to meet our operating cash flow requirements are not sufficient to fund necessary expenditures and meet our obligations for at least the next twelve months following the issuance of these financial statements,

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our liquidity, financial condition and business prospects will be materially affected. These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis and do not include any adjustments to the amounts and classification of assets and liabilities that may be necessary in the event that we can no longer continue as a going concern.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity date of 90 days or less on the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Short-Term Investments

Short-term investments consist of debt securities classified as available-for-sale and have maturities greater than 90 days, but less than one year, from the date of acquisition. Short-term investments are carried at fair value based upon quoted market prices. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are included in earnings and are reported as an allowance for credit losses on our Balance Sheets. The cost of available-for-sale securities sold is based on the specific-identification method.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and accounts receivable. We are exposed to credit risks in the event of default by the counterparties to the extent of the amount recorded in its balance sheet. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments are invested through banks and other financial institutions in the U.S.

Foreign Currency

We manage our foreign currency exposures with the use of foreign currency purchases. We primarily conduct business in U.S. dollars; however, a portion of our expense and capital activities are transacted in foreign currencies which are subject to exchange rate fluctuations that can affect cash or earnings. We have been in a loss position and therefore our primary objective is to conserve and manage cash. There are generally two methods by which we may manage the cash flow risk of foreign exchange fluctuations when a contract is signed (i) we can purchase the foreign funds, in full or in part, upon the execution of the contract, or (ii) we can obtain the right to purchase such funds, in full or in part, at the execution of the contract, i.e., obtain a forward contract from an appropriate bank, that can be exercised to obtain the currency of interest at a particular point in time. The derivative instruments that we may use to hedge the exposure shall generally not be designated as cash flow hedges, and as a result, changes in their fair value would be recorded in other income (expense), net, in our statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The fair values of forward foreign currency exchange contracts would be estimated using current exchange rates and interest rates and the current creditworthiness of the counterparties is taken into consideration.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, with ranges generally from three to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the estimated useful lives or the related remaining lease term.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The carrying value of long-lived assets, including property and equipment, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized when the total of estimated future undiscounted cash flows, expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition, are less than the asset’s carrying amount. Impairment, if any, would be assessed using discounted cash flows or other appropriate measures of fair value. For the years ending December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 we have recognized no impairment losses.

Income Taxes

We use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial reporting and the tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

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Revenue Recognition

On January 1, 2018 we adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-9, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and related amendments (“ASC 606”), on a modified retrospective basis, which resulted in an adjustment to the opening accumulated deficit balance on the adoption date. As a result of the adoption of the new standard, on January 1, 2018, we recorded the following: (i) unbilled revenue under current assets of $5.0 million representing a future receivable related to the first milestone under our license agreement with Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (formerly known as Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd ("KHK") (“KKC”), which was subsequently achieved by KKC and collected in February 2019, thereby reducing the unbilled revenue balance to zero, (ii) uncharged license fees under current liabilities of $1.0 million representing the corresponding future payable related to AstraZeneca AB ("AstraZeneca") in accordance with our termination agreement with AstraZeneca, which, upon KKC achieving the milestone, was reclassified to accounts payable and subsequently paid to AstraZeneca during the second quarter of 2019, and (iii) a related decrease in accumulated deficit of approximately $4.0 million as the new standard permitted revenue from milestones that possess certain criteria to be recognized earlier and also contained different recognition criteria related to milestones than under the previous accounting standard.

We generate revenue primarily from research and collaboration and license agreements with customers. Goods and services in the agreements may include the grant of licenses for the use of our technology, the provision of services associated with the research and development of product candidates, manufacturing services, and participation in joint steering committees. The terms of these arrangements typically include payment to us of one or more of the following: non-refundable, up-front license fees; research, development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments; reimbursement of research and development services; option payments; reimbursement of certain costs; payments for manufacturing supply services; and future royalties on net sales of licensed products.

When two or more contracts are entered into with the same customer at or near the same time, we evaluate the contracts to determine whether the contracts should be accounted for as a single arrangement. Contracts are combined and accounted for as a single arrangement if one or more of the following criteria are met: (i) the contracts are negotiated as a package with a single commercial objective; (ii) the amount of consideration to be paid in one contract depends on the price or performance of the other contract; or (iii) the goods or services promised in the contracts (or some goods or services promised in each of the contracts) are a single performance obligation.

In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as we fulfill our obligations under each of its agreements, management performs the following steps: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraints on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) we satisfy each performance obligation. As part of the accounting for contracts with customers, we develop assumptions that require judgment to determine whether promised goods and services represent distinct performance obligations and the standalone selling price for each performance obligation identified in the contract. This evaluation is subjective and requires us to make judgments about the promised goods and services and whether those goods and services are separable from other aspects of the contract. Further, determining the standalone selling price for performance obligations requires significant judgment, and when an observable price of a promised good or service is not readily available, we consider relevant assumptions to estimate the standalone selling price, including, as applicable, market conditions, development timelines, probabilities of technical and regulatory success, reimbursement rates for personnel costs, forecasted revenues, potential limitations to the selling price of the product and discount rates.

We apply judgment in determining whether a combined performance obligation is satisfied at a point in time or over time, and, if over time, concluding upon the appropriate method of measuring progress to be applied for purposes of recognizing revenue. We evaluate the measure of progress each reporting period and, as estimates related to the measure of progress change, related revenue recognition is adjusted accordingly. Changes in our estimated measure of progress are accounted for prospectively as a change in accounting estimate. We recognize collaboration revenue by measuring the progress toward complete satisfaction of the performance obligation using an input measure. In order to recognize revenue over the research and development period, we measure actual costs incurred to date compared to the overall total expected costs to satisfy the performance obligation. Revenues are recognized as the program costs are incurred. We will re-evaluate the estimate of expected costs to satisfy the performance obligation each reporting period and make adjustments for any significant changes.

Amounts received prior to satisfying the revenue recognition criteria are recorded as contract liabilities in our Balance Sheets. If the related performance obligation is expected to be satisfied within the next twelve months it will be classified in current liabilities. Amounts recognized as revenue prior to receipt are recorded as contract assets in our Balance Sheets. If we

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expect to have an unconditional right to receive the consideration in the next twelve months, it will be classified in current assets. A net contract asset or liability is presented for each contract with a customer.

Milestone Payments: At the inception of each arrangement that includes development milestone payments, we evaluate 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. Amounts of variable consideration are included in the transaction price to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur and when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. Milestone payments that are not within our control or the control of the licensee, 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 standalone selling price basis, for which we recognize revenue as or when the performance obligations under the contract are satisfied. At the end of each subsequent reporting period, we re-evaluate the probability of achievement of such development milestones and any related constraints, and if necessary, adjusts its estimate of the overall transaction price. Any such adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which would affect earnings in the period of adjustment.

Manufacturing supply services: Arrangements that include a promise for future supply of drug substance or drug product for either clinical development or commercial supply at the customer’s discretion are generally considered as options. We assess if these options provide a material right to the licensee and if so, they are accounted for as separate performance obligations. If we are entitled to additional payments when the customer exercises these options, any payments are recorded in product supply revenue when the customer obtains control of the goods, which is upon delivery.

Royalties: For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on the level of sales, and where the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate, we recognize revenue at the later of (i) when the related sales occur, or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied (or partially satisfied). To date, we have not recognized any royalty revenue resulting from any of its licensing arrangements.

Licenses of intellectual property: If a license granted to a customer to use our intellectual property is determined to be distinct from the other performance obligations identified in the arrangement, we recognize revenue from consideration allocated to the license when the license is transferred to the licensee and the licensee is able to use and benefit from the license. For licenses that are bundled with other promises, we apply judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, to conclude upon the appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenue related to consideration allocated to the performance obligation.

Options: Customer options, such as options granted to allow a licensee to choose to research, develop and commercialize licensed compounds are evaluated at contract inception in order to determine whether those options provide a material right (i.e., an optional good or service offered for free or at a discount) to the customer. If the customer options represent a material right, the material right is treated as a separate performance obligation at the outset of the arrangement. The Company allocates the transaction price to material rights based on the standalone selling price, and revenue is recognized when or as the future goods or services are transferred or when the option expires. Customer options that are not material rights do not give rise to a separate performance obligation, and as such, the additional consideration that would result from a customer exercising an option in the future is not included in the transaction price for the current contract. Instead, the option is deemed a marketing offer, and additional option fee payments are recognized or being recognized as revenue when the licensee exercises the option. The exercise of an option that does not represent a material right is treated as a separate contract for accounting purposes.

Contract modifications: Contract modifications, defined as changes in the scope or price (or both) of a contract that are approved by the parties to the contract, such as a contract amendment, exist when the parties to a contract approve a modification that either creates new or changes existing enforceable rights and obligations of the parties to the contract. Depending on facts and circumstances, we account for a contract modification as one of the following: (i) a separate contract; (ii) a termination of the existing contract and a creation of a new contract; or (iii) a combination of the preceding treatments. A contract modification is accounted for as a separate contract if the scope of the contract increases because of the addition of promised goods or services that are distinct and the price of the contract increases by an amount of consideration that reflects our standalone selling prices of the additional promised goods or services. When a contract modification is not considered a separate contract and the remaining goods or services are distinct from the goods or services transferred on or before the date of the contract modification, we account for the contract modification as a termination of the existing contract and a creation of a new contract. When a contract modification is not considered a separate contract and the remaining goods or services are not distinct, we account for the contract modification as an add-on to the existing contract and as an adjustment to revenue on a cumulative catch-up basis.

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We receive payments from its licensees as established in each contract. Upfront payments and fees are recorded as deferred revenue upon receipt or when due and may require deferral of revenue recognition to a future period until we perform our obligations under these arrangements. Where applicable, amounts are recorded as accounts receivable or unbilled revenue when our right to consideration is unconditional. We do not assess whether a contract with a customer has a significant financing component if the expectation at contract inception is such that the period between payment by the licensees and the transfer of the promised goods or services to the licensees will be one year or less.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred and consisted of costs incurred to further our research and development activities and include salaries and related employee benefits, costs associated with clinical trials, costs related to pre-commercialization manufacturing activities such as manufacturing process validation activities and the manufacturing of clinical drug supply, nonclinical research and development activities, regulatory activities, research-related overhead expenses and fees paid to external service providers and contract research and manufacturing organizations that conduct certain research and development activities on our behalf.

Accrued Research and Development Expenses

We are required to estimate our accrued expenses at the end of each reporting period. This process involves reviewing open contracts and purchase orders, communicating with our personnel to identify services that have been performed on our behalf and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for the service when we have not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of the actual costs. The majority of our service providers submit invoices in arrears for services performed or when contractual milestones are met. We make estimates of our accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date in the financial statements based on facts and circumstances known to us at that time. We periodically confirm the accuracy of our estimates with our service providers and make adjustments if necessary. Examples of estimated accrued research and development expenses include fees paid to:

•contract research organizations ("CROs") in connection with clinical studies;

•investigative sites in connection with clinical studies;

•vendors related to product manufacturing, development and distribution of clinical supplies; and

•vendors in connection with preclinical development activities.

We record expenses related to clinical studies and manufacturing development activities based on our estimates of the services received and efforts expended pursuant to contracts with multiple CROs and manufacturing vendors that conduct and manage these activities on our behalf. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation, vary from contract to contract, and may result in uneven payment flows. There may be instances in which payments made to our vendors will exceed the level of services provided and result in a prepayment of the expense. Payments under some of these contracts depend on factors such as the successful enrollment of subjects and the completion of clinical trial milestones. In accruing service fees, we estimate the time period over which services will be performed, enrollment of subjects, number of sites activated and the level of effort to be expended in each period. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from our estimate, we will adjust the accrued or prepaid expense balance accordingly.

Inventory

We consider regulatory approval of product candidates to be uncertain, and product manufactured prior to regulatory approval may not be sold unless regulatory approval is obtained. We expense manufacturing costs for product candidates incurred prior to regulatory approval as research and development expenses as manufacturing processes are performed. If and when regulatory approval of a product is obtained and we have plans to commercially launch the approved product, we begin capitalizing manufacturing costs related to the approved product into inventory. Although we received approval of IBSRELA (tenapanor) for the treatment of IBS-C in adults from the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) in September 2019, we did not plan to launch IBSRELA commercially at that time and, therefore, continued to expense manufacturing costs of tenapanor, which is also under development for another indication that has not received FDA approval. On November 30, 2021, we made the decision and announced our plans to commercially launch IBSRELA and as a result, in December 2021 we began to capitalize the costs of manufacturing processes associated with IBSRELA as those processes are completed. No manufacturing processes related to IBSRELA were completed in December, resulting in no inventory balance at December 31, 2021.

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Stock-Based Compensation

We recognize compensation expense for all stock-based payment awards made to employees, nonemployees and directors based on estimated fair values. For employee and nonemployee stock options, we determine the grant date fair value of the awards using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and generally recognizes the fair value as stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the respective awards. For restricted stock and performance-based restricted stock, to the extent they are probable, the compensation cost for these awards is based on the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant and recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Stock-based compensation expense is based on the value of the portion of stock-based payment awards that is ultimately expected to vest. As such, our stock-based compensation is reduced for the estimated forfeitures at the date of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.

Derivatives and Hedging Activities

We account for our derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet and measure them at fair value. Derivatives are adjusted to fair value through other income (expense), net in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Leases

We determine if an arrangement is a lease at the inception of the arrangement. Operating leases are included in right-of-use assets, current portion of operating lease liability, and operating lease liability, net of current portion in our balance sheets. Right-of-use assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. In determining the present value of lease payments, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date. The operating lease right-of-use assets also include any lease payments made and exclude lease incentives. Our lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise any such options. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term. We have elected not to separate lease and non-lease components, such as common area maintenance charges, and instead it accounts for these as a single lease component.

Restructuring

We recognize restructuring charges related to reorganization plans that have been committed to by management when liabilities have been incurred. In connection with these activities, we record restructuring charges at fair value for, (a) contractual employee termination benefits when obligations are associated to services already rendered, rights to such benefits have vested, and payment of benefits is probable and can be reasonably estimated, (b) one-time employee termination benefits when management has committed to a plan of termination, the plan identifies the employees and their expected termination dates, the details of termination benefits are complete, it is unlikely changes to the plan will be made or the plan will be withdrawn and communication to such employees has occurred, and (c) contract termination costs when a contract is terminated before the end of its term.

One-time employee termination benefits are recognized in their entirety when communication has occurred and future services are not required. If future services are required, the costs are recorded ratably over the remaining period of service. Contract termination costs to be incurred over the remaining contract term without economic benefit are recorded in their entirety when the contract is canceled.

Net Loss per Share

Basic net loss per common share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, without consideration of potential common shares. Diluted net loss per common share in the periods presented is the same as basic net loss per common share, since the effects of potentially dilutive securities are antidilutive due to the net loss for all periods presented.

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements - Recently Adopted

In December 2019, as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in the accounting standards, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”), which eliminates certain exceptions related to the approach for intra-period tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. ASU 2019-12 also clarifies and simplifies other aspects of the accounting for income taxes. The standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. We early adopted ASU 2019-12 on April 1, 2020 and this adoption had no material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

We adopted Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments ("ASU 2016-13"), as of December 1, 2021 under the modified retrospective approach. ASU 2016-13 requires an entity to measure and recognize expected credit losses for certain financial instruments, including trade receivables, as an allowance that reflects the entity's current estimate of credit losses expected to be incurred. For available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized credit losses, the standard requires allowances to be recorded through net income instead of directly reducing the amortized cost of the investment under the previous other-than-temporary impairment model. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our financial statements or a significant impact on our internal controls.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

There were various accounting standards and interpretations issued recently, none of which are expected to a have a material impact on our financial position, operations or cash flows.

3. CASH AND INVESTMENTS

Securities classified as cash and investments as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 are summarized below (in thousands). Estimated fair value is based on quoted market prices for these investments.

Gross Unrealized

Amortized Cost Gains Losses Fair Value

Cash and cash equivalents:

Short-term investments:

U.S. treasury notes — — — —

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Gross Unrealized

Amortized Cost Gains Losses Fair Value

Cash and cash equivalents:

Short-term investments

U.S. government-sponsored agency bonds 9,277 2 — 9,279

Long-term investments:

Cash equivalents consist of money market funds and other debt securities with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase, and the carrying amount is a reasonable approximation of fair value. We invest our cash in high quality securities of financial and commercial institutions. These securities are carried at fair value, which is based on readily available market information, with unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders’ equity on ours balance sheets. We use the specific identification method to determine the amount of realized gains or losses on sales of marketable securities. Realized gains or losses have been insignificant and are included in other income (expense), net, in the statement of operations.

All short-term available-for-sale securities held as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, had contractual maturities of less than one year. The long-term securities held as of December 31, 2020 had contractual maturities greater than one year. Our available-for-sale securities are subject to a periodic impairment review. We consider a debt security to be impaired when its fair value is less than its carrying cost, in which case we would further review the investment to determine whether it is other-than-temporarily impaired. When we evaluate an investment for other-than-temporary impairment, we review factors such as the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost basis, the financial condition of the issuer and any changes thereto, intent to sell, and whether it is more likely than not we will be required to sell the investment before the recovery of its cost basis. If an investment is other-than-temporarily impaired, we write it down through the statement of operations to its fair value and establishes that value as a new cost basis for the investment. We did not identify any of its available-for-sale securities as other-than-temporarily impaired in any of the periods presented. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, no investment was in a continuous unrealized loss position for more than one year and we believe that it is more likely than not that the investments will be held until maturity or a forecasted recovery of fair value.

As of December 31, 2021, the amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale debt securities by contractual maturity were as follows (in thousands):

Amortized Cost Fair Value

4. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

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The three-level hierarchy for the inputs to valuation techniques is briefly summarized as follows:

Level 1 – Valuations are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and readily accessible by the Company at the reporting date. Examples of assets and liabilities utilizing Level 1 inputs are certain money market funds, U.S. treasuries and trading securities with quoted prices on active markets.

Level 2 – Valuations based on inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Examples of assets and liabilities utilizing Level 2 inputs are corporate bonds, commercial paper, certificates of deposit and over-the-counter derivatives.

Level 3 – Valuations based on unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the Company to develop its own assumptions.

The following table sets forth the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):

Total Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

Assets:

Liabilities:

Derivative liability for exit fee $ 698 $ — $ — $ 698

TotalFair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

Assets:

U.S. government-sponsored agency bonds 9,279 — 9,279 —

Liabilities:

Derivative liability for exit fee $ 1,376 $ — $ — $ 1,376

Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities are classified as Level 1. We classify money market funds, U.S. treasury securities and U.S. treasury notes as Level 1. When quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, we estimate fair value by using benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes and issuer spreads. We classify corporate bonds, commercial paper, asset-backed securities and foreign currency derivative contracts as Level 2. In certain cases, where there is limited activity or less transparency around inputs to valuation, securities or derivative liabilities such as the 2018 Exit Fee, as defined and discussed in Note 7 - Derivative Liability, are classified as Level 3.

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The carrying amounts reflected in the balance sheets for cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair values at both December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, due to their short-term nature.

Based on our procedures under the expected credit loss model, including an assessment of unrealized losses in our portfolio, we concluded that any unrealized losses on our marketable securities were not attributable to credit and, therefore, we have not recorded an allowance for credit losses for these securities as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Fair Value of Debt

The interest rate of our term loan facility approximates the rate at which we could obtain alternative financing. Therefore, the carrying amount of the term loan facility approximated its fair value at December 31, 2021 and 2020.

5. COLLABORATION AND LICENSING AGREEMENTS

Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (2019 KKC Agreement)

In November 2019, we entered into a research collaboration and option agreement with KKC (the "2019 KKC Agreement”), to undergo research to identify two preclinical study-ready compounds for designation as development compounds, with one compound inhibiting the first undisclosed target (“Program 1”) and a second inhibiting the second undisclosed target (“Program 2”). Pursuant to the 2019 KKC Agreement, upon completion of the research and designation by the research steering committee of one or more development candidates (“DCs”), KKC has the right to execute one or more separate collaborative agreements relating to the development and commercialization of one or both DCs in certain specified territories.

Under the terms of the 2019 KKC Agreement, KKC agreed to pay us a non-refundable, non-creditable upfront fee of $10.0 million, which was payable as follows: the first installment of $5.0 million within 30 days of the Effective Date, and the second installment of $5.0 million on the first anniversary of the effective date, unless the 2019 KKC Agreement was earlier terminated by KKC due to material breach by us. The term of the 2019 KKC Agreement commenced on November 11, 2019 (“the Effective Date”) and ends on the earliest of: (a) two years following the Effective Date, or (b) the nomination of a program DC for both programs, (c) or the nomination of one program DC and the decision by the parties to cease research for the other program, (d) or the decision by the parties to cease research for both programs. We assessed the 2019 KKC Agreement in accordance with ASC 606 and concluded that the contract’s counterparty, KKC, is a customer. Management also considered the modification guidance prescribed in ASC 606 and concluded that the 2019 KKC Agreement should be accounted for as a separate contract from the 2017 KKC Agreement, as defined and discussed below.

We identified various promises in the 2019 KKC Agreement, including the grant of an initial research license, the Program 1 research, the Program 2 research, the right to obtain certain development and commercialization rights with Program 1 in certain territories and the right to obtain development and commercialization rights with Program 2 in certain territories, and participation in a joint steering committee (“the JSC”) and determined that KKC could not benefit from either of the research programs without the research license and participation in the JSC. As such, the combined license, research programs and participation in the JSC were deemed to be the highest level of goods and services that can be deemed distinct for each of the Program 1 research and Program 2 research. We concluded that the options to obtain additional development and commercialization rights that are exercisable by KKC under certain circumstances are not performance obligations of the contract at inception because the option fees reflect the standalone selling price of the options, and therefore, the options are not considered to be material rights.

At the outset of the 2019 KKC Agreement, we determined that the initial transaction price was $10.0 million and that revenue associated with the combined performance obligations should be recognized as services are provided using the input method. Since transfer of control occurs over time, in management’s judgment this input method is the best measure of progress towards satisfying the performance obligations and reflects a faithful depiction of the transfer of goods and services. Revenue will be recognized over the Program 1 and Program 2 research periods. Management will re-evaluate the estimates related to the transaction price at the end of each reporting period and as uncertain events are resolved or other changes in circumstances occur and adjust the timing of revenue recognition as necessary.

During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we recognized $4.2 million and $5.4 million, respectively, as revenue under the 2019 KKC Agreement in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss. The aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to our partially unsatisfied performance obligations as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 was zero and $4.2 million, which was presented in the Balance Sheet as deferred revenue for each respective period. As of December 31,

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2021, we have no material future obligations under the 2019 KKC Agreement. There were no significant changes in estimates associated with the 2019 KKC Agreement during the twelve months ended December 31, 2021.

2017 KKC Agreement

In November 2017, we entered into an exclusive license agreement with KKC (the "2017 KKC Agreement") for the development, commercialization and distribution of tenapanor in Japan for cardiorenal indications. We granted KKC an exclusive license to develop and commercialize certain sodium hydrogen exchanger 3 ("NHE3") inhibitors, including tenapanor in Japan for the treatment of cardiorenal diseases and conditions, excluding cancer. We retained the rights to tenapanor outside of Japan, and also retained the rights to tenapanor in Japan for indications other than those stated above. Pursuant to the License Agreement, KKC is responsible for all of the development and commercialization costs for tenapanor in treatment of cardiorenal diseases and conditions, excluding cancer in Japan. Under the 2017 KKC Agreement, we are responsible for supplying the tenapanor drug product for KKC’s use in development and during commercialization until KKC has assumed such responsibility. Additionally, we are responsible for supplying the tenapanor drug substance for KKC’s use in development and commercialization throughout the term of the 2017 KKC Agreement, provided that KKC may exercise an option to manufacture the tenapanor drug substance under certain conditions

We assessed these arrangements in accordance with ASC 606 and concluded that the contract counterparty, KKC, is a customer. Under the terms of the 2017 KKC Agreement, we received $30.0 million in up-front license fees which was recognized as revenue when the agreement was executed. Based on our assessment, we identified that the license and the manufacturing supply services were our material performance obligations at the inception of the agreement, and as such each of the performance obligations are distinct. Additionally, on January 1, 2018, we recorded unbilled revenue under current assets of $5.0 million and an increase in uncharged license fees under current liabilities of $1.0 million related to the first milestone under the 2017 KKC Agreement that KKC achieved in February 2019, reflecting revenues and cost of revenue, respectively, that would have been recognized in the fourth quarter 2017 if we had adopted ASC 606 prior to January 1, 2018. On KKC’s achievement of the milestone in February 2019, the balance related to unbilled revenue was adjusted to zero. Correspondingly, the $1.0 million balance related to uncharged license fees that we owed to AstraZeneca was reclassified to accounts payable during the first quarter of 2019, and subsequently paid to AstraZeneca during the second quarter of 2019.

In addition to the up-front license fee received of $30.0 million, we may be entitled to receive up to $55.0 million in total development milestones, of which $10.0 million has been received to date, ¥8.5 billion Japanese yen for commercialization milestones, or approximately $73.9 million at the currency exchange rate on December 31, 2021, as well as reimbursement of cost, plus a reasonable overhead for the supply of product and high-teen royalties on net sales throughout the term of the agreement. The variable consideration related to the remaining development milestone payments has not been included in the transaction price as these were fully constrained at December 31, 2021.

For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, $0.9 million and $1.4 million, respectively, of product supply revenue was recorded for manufacturing supply of tenapanor and other materials to KKC for product development and clinical trials in Japan, in accordance with our agreement with KKC, including $0.5 million accounts receivable as of December 31, 2021

For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, $5.0 million and zero, respectively, of licensing revenue was recorded. The 2021 licensing revenue was recorded upon the initiation of phase 3 clinical studies by KKC in Japan to evaluate tenapanor for hyperphosphatemia.

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2021, we received a $3.2 million prepayment from KKC for the manufacturing of tenapanor drug substance. In addition, we have unbilled prepayments of $1.5 million from KKC for the manufacturing of tenapanor drug product reflected within prepaid and other current assets. Both amounts are reflected within our deferred revenue, non-current on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2021.

Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Industrial Development Co. Ltd. , or Fosun Pharma

In December 2017, we entered into an exclusive license agreement with Fosun Pharma (the "Fosun Agreement") for the development, commercialization and distribution of tenapanor in China for both hyperphosphatemia and IBS-C. We assessed these arrangements in accordance with ASC 606 and concluded that the contract counterparty, Fosun Pharma, is a customer. Under the terms of the Fosun Agreement, we received $12.0 million in up-front license fees which was recognized as revenue when the agreement was executed. Based on our assessment, we identified that the license and the manufacturing supply services were its material performance obligations at the inception of the agreement, and as such each of the performance obligations are distinct.

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In addition, we may be entitled to additional development and commercialization milestones of up to $110.0 million, as well as reimbursement of cost plus a reasonable overhead for the supply of product and tiered royalties on net sales ranging from the mid-teens to 20%. The variable consideration related to the remaining development milestone payments has not been included in the transaction price as these were fully constrained at December 31, 2021 and 2020.

For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, no revenue was recorded related to the Fosun Agreement.

Knight Therapeutics, Inc.

In March 2018, we entered into an exclusive license agreement with Knight Therapeutics, Inc., (the "Knight Agreement") for the development, commercialization and distribution of tenapanor in Canada for hyperphosphatemia and IBS-C. We assessed these arrangements in accordance with ASC 606 and concluded that the contract counterparty, Knight, is a customer. Based on our assessment, it identified that the license and the manufacturing supply services were its material performance obligations at the inception of the agreement, and as such each of the performance obligations are distinct.

Under the terms of the agreement, we received a$2.3 million nonrefundable, one-time upfront payment in March 2018 and are eligible to receive additional development and commercialization milestone payments worth up to CAD22.2 million, or $17.4 million at the currency exchange rate on December 31, 2021, reimbursement of supply costs on a schedule specifying cost per tablet, with a reasonable mark up for overhead, as well as tiered royalty rates on net sales ranging from the mid-single digits to the low twenties. The variable consideration related to the remaining development milestone payments has not been included in the transaction price as these were fully constrained at December 31, 2021 and 2020.

For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, $13 thousand and $0.7 million of licensing revenue was recorded, respectively, related to the Knight Agreement. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, zero and $0.1 million product supply revenue was recorded, respectively, related to the Knight Agreement. Pursuant to the AstraZeneca Termination Agreement, $1.0 million and $0.1 million of cost of revenue was recorded during 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Xuanzhu (HK) Biopharmaceutical Limited, or XuanZhu

In November 2019, we entered into a license agreement with XuanZhu (“the XuanZhu Agreement") for a license to certain specific patent and patent applications. We assessed these arrangements in accordance with ASC 606 and concluded that the contract counterparty, XuanZhu, is a customer. Under the terms of the XuanZhu Agreement, we recognized $1.5 million in license fees when the agreement was executed, of which, $0.8 million was received upfront in November 2019 and achievement for the second $0.8 million payment was determined to be not materially at risk and probable of achievement and it was included in the transaction price as the amount was not probable of revenue reversal. Based on our assessment, we determined that we had one combined performance obligation, which is the license and the specific patent grant.

In addition to the license fee of $1.5 million, we may be entitled to receive milestone payments. The variable consideration related to the remaining milestone payments has not been included in the transaction price as these were fully constrained at December 31, 2021 and 2020.

For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, no license revenue was recorded related to the XuanZhu Agreement.

AstraZeneca

In June 2015, we entered into a termination agreement with AstraZeneca (the "AstraZeneca Termination Agreement") pursuant to which we remain liable to pay AstraZeneca license fees for (i) future royalties at a royalty rate of 10% of net sales of tenapanor or other NHE3 products by us or our licensees, and (ii) 20% of non-royalty revenue received from a licensee of tenapanor or certain other NHE3 inhibitors, up to a maximum of $75.0 million in aggregate for (i) and (ii).

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To date in aggregate, we have recognized $11.6 million of the $75.0 million, recorded as cost of revenue, as follows (in thousands):

Cost of Revenue

Recognized Amount Paid

Maximum payment per termination agreement 75,000

Remaining potential commitment $ 63,389

* Includes $1.0 million adjustment recorded pursuant to the adoption of ASC 606, as discussed in Note 2.

Deferred Revenue

The following tables present changes in our current and non-current deferred revenue balances during the reporting period. The current deferred revenue balance is attributable entirely to the 2019 KKC Agreement and the non-current deferred revenue balance is attributable entirely to the 2017 KKC Agreement (in thousands):

Balance at Balance at January 1, $ 4,177 $ 4,541

Balance at Balance at December 31, $ — $ 4,177

Balance at Balance at January 1, $ — $ —

Increases due to cash received during the period 3,242 —

Increase due to unbilled prepayments recorded during the period 1,485 —

Balance at Balance at December 31, $ 4,727 $ —

6.BORROWINGS

Solar Capital and Western Alliance Bank Loan Agreement

On May 16, 2018, we entered into a loan and security agreement (the "2018 Loan Agreement"), with Solar Capital Ltd. and Western Alliance Bank (the "Lenders”). The 2018 Loan Agreement provides for a $50.0 million term loan facility with a maturity date of November 1, 2022 (the "2018 Term Loan”). The full amount of the 2018 Term Loan was funded on May 16, 2018. We received net proceeds from the loan of approximately $49.3 million, after deducting the closing fee, legal expenses and issuance costs. On October 9, 2020, we and the Lenders entered into an amendment to the 2018 Loan Agreement (“the 2020 Amendment”) to extend the date through which we were permitted to make interest-only payments on the 2018 Term Loan by twelve months to December 1, 2021 subject to the repayment terms noted below.

Borrowings under the 2018 Term Loan bear interest at a floating per annum rate equal to 7.45% plus the one-month London Inter-bank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"). We were permitted to make interest-only payments on the 2018 Term Loan through June 1, 2020, or until we achieved our primary endpoint in the Phase 3 study of tenapanor for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in end-stage renal disease patients on dialysis prior to June 1, 2020, in which case we would have been permitted to make interest-only payments on the 2018 Term Loan through December 1, 2020. On December 3, 2019, we reported positive topline results for PHREEDOM, a long-term Phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of tenapanor as monotherapy for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in adult patients with CKD on dialysis. The Lenders were in agreement that these positive data from the Phase 3 PHREEDOM study achieve the “Phase 3 Endpoint” required by the 2018 Term Loan to extend the interest only period by six months to December 1, 2020. Subsequent to the 2020 Amendment, the interest only period was extended an additional twelve months to December 1, 2021. Accordingly, beginning on December 1, 2021 through

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the maturity date, we would have been required to make monthly payments of interest plus repayment of the 2018 Term Loan in consecutive equal monthly installments of principal. If however, either the FDA did not approve our NDA for tenapanor for control of serum phosphorus in adult patients with CKD on dialysis on or before May 31, 2021 or the FDA issued a Complete Response Letter ("CRL") for tenapanor for the control of serum phosphorus in adult CKD on dialysis, then we would begin principal payments on the earlier of June 1, 2021 or the first day of the month immediately following the date that the FDA issued a CRL to us.

In May and July 2021, we and the Lenders entered into additional amendments to the 2018 Loan Agreement (“the 2021 Amendments”) which together extended the period of time that we were permitted to make interest-only payments on the 2018 Term Loan to December 1, 2021; provided that if we had not received FDA approval for our NDA for tenapanor for the control of serum phosphorus in adult patients with CDK on dialysis on or before October 25, 2021, the interest-only period would expire and principal repayments would be required to begin on November 1, 2021. If principal repayments were required to begin prior to December 1, 2021 under the 2021 Amendments, then the first such repayment was required include all payments that would have been due if monthly principal repayment had begun on June 1, 2021. Accordingly, during November 2021, in compliance with the terms of our 2018 Loan Agreement, we paid the first principal repayment on the 2018 Term Loan in the amount of $16.7 million and have paid all other subsequently due principal payments through December 31, 2021.

We paid a closing fee of $0.5 million, upon the closing of the 2018 Term Loan and $0.1 million upon closing of the 2020 Amendment. Under the 2018 Term Loan, we were obligated to pay a final fee equal to 3.95% of the 2018 Term Loan upon the earliest to occur of the maturity date, the acceleration of the 2018 Term Loan, the prepayment or repayment of the 2018 Term Loan or the termination of the 2018 Loan Agreement. Under the 2020 Amendment, the final fee was increased to 4.95% of the 2018 Term Loan. We may voluntarily prepay the outstanding 2018 Term Loan, subject to a prepayment premium of (i) 3% of the principal amount of the 2018 Term Loan if prepaid prior to or on the first anniversary of the Closing Date, (ii) 2% of the principal amount of the 2018 Term Loan if prepaid after the first anniversary of the Closing Date through and including the second anniversary of the Closing Date, or (iii) 1% of the principal amount of the 2018 Term Loan if prepaid after the second anniversary of the Closing Date and prior to the maturity date. The 2018 Term Loan is secured by substantially all of our assets, except for our intellectual property and certain other customary exclusions. Additionally, in connection with the 2018 Term Loan, we entered into the 2018 Exit Fee Agreement, as discussed in Note 7 - Derivative Liability.

The 2018 Loan Agreement contains customary representations and warranties and customary affirmative and negative covenants, including restrictions on payment of dividends for our common stock. As of December 31, 2021, we were in compliance with all of the covenants set forth in the 2018 Loan Agreement.

In addition, the 2018 Loan Agreement contains customary events of default that entitle the Lender to cause our indebtedness under the 2018 Loan Agreement to become immediately due and payable, and to exercise remedies against us and the collateral securing the 2018 Term Loan, including its cash. Upon the occurrence and for the duration of an event of default, an additional default interest rate equal to 4.0% per annum will apply to all obligations owed under the 2018 Loan Agreement. As of December 31, 2021, to our knowledge, there were no facts or circumstances in existence that would give rise to an event of default.

As discussed in Note 18 - Subsequent Events, on February 23, 2022 (the “Closing Date”), we entered into a loan and security agreement (the “2022 Loan Agreement”) with SLR Investment Corp. as collateral agent (the “Agent”), and the lenders listed in the 2022 Loan Agreement (collectively the “2022 Lenders”). The 2022 Loan Agreement provides for a senior secured term loan facility, with $27.5 million (the “Term A Loan”) funded on the Closing Date and an additional $22.5 million that we may borrow on or prior to July 25, 2023; provided that (i) we have received approval by the FDA for our NDA for tenapanor the control of serum phosphorus in chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis by December 31, 2022, and (ii) we have achieved certain product revenue milestone targets described in the 2022 Loan Agreement (the “Term B Loan”, and collectively, the Term A Loan and the Term B Loan, the “2022 Term Loan”). The Term A Loan funds are being used to repay the Term Loan with the Lenders as discussed in Note 6 - Borrowings and to fund our ongoing operations. We had $25.0 million principal from the 2018 Term Loan outstanding as of the Closing Date. We have continued to classify the 2018 Term Loan balance as a current liability as of December 31, 2021 due to the determination of the existence of substantial doubt about our ability to continue operating as a going concern discussed in Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and our assessment that the material adverse change clause under the 2022 Loan Agreement is not within the Company's control. The lender has not invoked the material adverse change clause as of the date of issuance of these financial statements.

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As of December 31, 2021, prior to restructuring our debt as discussed in Note 18 - Subsequent Events, our future payment obligations towards the 2018 Term Loan principal and final fee, excluding interest payments and the 2018 Exit Fee were as follows (in thousands):

Total repayment obligations $ 33,031

Less: Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs (235)

Less: Unaccreted value of final fee (532)

Less: Loan payable, current portion (32,264)

Loan payable, net of current portion $ —

Subsequent to restructuring the 2018 Term Loan, we will have no debt repayment obligations in 2022 or 2023. We will be required to repay $6.9 million, $9.2 million, $9.2 million, and $2.3 million in Term A Loan principal repayments per year during 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027, respectively, as well as a final fee in the amount of $1.4 million in 2027.

7. DERIVATIVE LIABILITY

Exit Fee

In May 2018, in connection with entering into the 2018 Loan Agreement, as defined and discussed in Note 6 - Borrowing, we entered into an agreement pursuant to which we agreed to pay $1.5 million in cash (the "2018 Exit Fee") upon any change of control transaction in respect of the Company or if we obtain both (i) FDA approval of tenapanor for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in adult patients with CKD on dialysis and (ii) FDA approval of tenapanor for the treatment of patients with IBS-C, which was obtained on September 12, 2019 when the FDA approved IBSRELA, a 50 mg, twice daily oral pill for the treatment of IBS-C in adults (the “2018 Exit Fee Agreement”). Notwithstanding the prepayment or termination of the 2018 Term Loan, our obligation to pay the 2018 Exit Fee will expire on May 16, 2028. We concluded that the 2018 Exit Fee is a freestanding derivative which should be accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis. The estimated fair value of the 2018 Exit Fee is recorded as a derivative liability and included in accrued expense and other current liabilities on the accompanying balance sheets.

The fair value of the derivative liability was determined using a discounted cash flow analysis and is classified as a Level 3 measurement within the fair value hierarchy since our valuation utilized significant unobservable inputs. Specifically, the key assumptions included in the calculation of the estimated fair value of the derivative instrument include: i) our estimates of both the probability and timing of a potential $1.5 million payment to Solar Capital Ltd. and Western Alliance Bank as a result of the FDA approvals, and ii) a discount rate which was derived from our estimated cost of debt, adjusted with current LIBOR. Generally, increases or decreases in the probability of occurrence would result in a directionally similar impact in the fair value measurement of the derivative instrument and it is estimated that a 10% increase (decrease), not to exceed 100%, in the probability of occurrence would result in a fair value fluctuation of no more than $0.1 million.

Changes in the fair value of recurring measurements included in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy are presented as other income (expense), net in our Statements of Operations and were as follows for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):

Fair value of exit fee derivative liability at January 1 $ 1,376 $ 969 $ 533

Change in estimated fair value of derivative liability $ (678) $ 407 $ 436

Fair value of exit fee derivative liability at December 31 $ 698 $ 1,376 $ 969

As discussed in Note 18 - Subsequent Events, on February 23, 2022, we entered into an additional exit fee agreement with Solar whereby we agreed to pay an exit fee in the amount 2% of the 2022 Term Loan funded upon the first to occur of a specified exit event or revenue achievement event.

8.LEASES

We have recorded right-of-use operating lease assets under three lease agreements. We have evaluated our facility leases and determined that, effective upon the adoption of Topic 842, the leases evaluated are all operating leases. We have performed

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an evaluation of our other contracts with suppliers and collaborators in accordance with Topic 842 and have determined that, except for the facility leases described below, none of our contracts contain a lease.

We have recorded a right-of-use operating lease asset located in Fremont, California under a lease agreement entered into in September 2008 that was amended in December 2012 to extend the lease agreement to September 2016. In September 2014, we signed the second amendment to our facility lease agreement to add space and to extend the lease term through September 2019. In May 2016, we signed a third amendment to our facility lease agreement in Fremont, California to add space and to extend the lease term through September 2021 (the “Third Amendment”). During May 2021, we entered into an additional amendment to the lease for our Fremont, California facility that extended the term of the lease to March 2025. The office space consists of 72,500 square feet, which includes 10,716 square feet added in September 2019. We do not have an option to renew the lease at our current Fremont location beyond March 2025.

We have recorded a right-of-use operating lease asset located in Waltham, Massachusetts under a lease agreement entered into in October 2018. The office space consisted of 3,520 square feet with the lease terminating in September 2021. We did not renew the lease at our original Waltham, Massachusetts facility. During April 2021 and May 2021, we recorded right-of-use operating lease assets for a new facility in Waltham, Massachusetts under a lease agreement entered into during December 2020 with lease commencement dates during April and May 2021. The office space consists of 12,864 square feet with the lease terminating in June 2026. We have an option to extend the lease term for one additional five year period. This option to extend the lease term has not been included in the calculation since currently the exercise of the option is uncertain and therefore deemed not probable. We recorded a $1.6 million right-of-use asset and lease liability for the Waltham lease upon commencement of the lease.

We have recorded a right-of-use operating lease asset located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin under a lease agreement entered into in October 2020 with a lease commencement date in November 2020. The office space consists of 4,768 square feet with the lease terminating in February 2026. We have an option to extend the lease term by one additional five-year period. This option to extend the lease term has not been included in the calculation since currently the exercise of the option is uncertain and therefore deemed not probable. We recorded a $0.4 million right-of use asset and lease liability for the Milwaukee lease upon commencement of the lease.

All of our leases are operating leases and each contain customary rent escalation clauses. Certain of the leases have both lease and non-lease components. We have as elected to account for each separate lease component and the non-lease components associated with that lease component as a single lease component for all classes of underlying assets.

The following table provides additional details of the leases presented in the balance sheets (dollars in thousands):

As of Dec 31,

Current portion of lease liabilities 3,492 2,117

Operating lease liability, net of current portion 9,748 413

Weighted-average remaining life (years) 3.40 1.50

Weighted-average discount rate 6.9 % 11.7 %

The lease costs, which are included in operating expenses in our statements of operations, were as follows (in thousands):

Year Ended December 31,

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The following table summarizes our undiscounted cash payment obligations for our operating lease liabilities as of December 31, 2021 (in thousands):

Ending December 31,

Thereafter —

Total undiscounted operating lease payments 14,894

Imputed interest expenses (1,654)

Total operating lease liabilities 13,240

Less: Current portion of operating lease liability (3,492)

Operating lease liability, net of current portion $ 9,748

9.STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

In July 2020, we filed a Form S-3 registration statement, which became effective in August 2020, containing (i) a base prospectus for the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $250.0 million of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and/or units, from time to time in one or more offerings; and (ii) a prospectus supplement for the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $100.0 million of its common stock that may be issued and sold, from time to time, under an Open Market Sales Agreement with Jefferies LLC, as sales agent, deemed to be “at-the-market offerings” (the "2020 Open Market Sales Agreement"). Pursuant to the 2020 Open Market Sales Agreement, Jefferies, as sales agent, received a commission of up to 3.0% of the gross sales price for shares of common stock sold under the 2020 Open Market Sales Agreement. We sold 8.2 million shares of our common stock between the dates of November 13, 2020 through February 19, 2021, 4.0 million shares between the dates of May 11, 2021 through June 18, 2021, 3.3 million shares between the dates of August 24, 2021 through September 10, 2021 and 7.7 million between the dates of October 21, 2021 through December 31, 2021 for a cumulative total of 23.3 million shares and gross proceeds of $100.0 million at a weighted average sales price of approximately $4.30 per share which resulted in full utilization of the $100.0 million authorized amount under the 2020 Open Market Sales Agreement.

In August 2021, we filed an additional prospectus supplement under the Registration Statement for the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $150.0 million of our common stock that may be issued and sold, from time to time, under an additional sales agreement we entered into with Jefferies (the "2021 Open Market Sales Agreement"), pursuant to which we may, from time to time, sell up to $150.0 million in shares of our common stock through Jefferies. We are not required to sell shares under the 2021 Open Market Sales Agreement. Pursuant to the 2021 Open Market Sales Agreement, Jefferies, as our sales agent, receives a commission of up to 3.0% of the gross sales price for shares of common stock sold under the 2021 Open Market Sales Agreement. As of December 31, 2021 we have sold 15.7 million shares and received gross proceeds of $25.0 million at a weighted average sales price of approximately $1.60 per share under the 2021 Open Market Sales Agreement.

On December 9, 2019, we completed an underwritten public offering of 20.0 million shares of common stock at a price of $6.25 per share before underwriting discounts and commissions (the "2019 Offering"). In connection with the 2019 Offering, we entered into an underwriting agreement, or the 2019 Underwriting Agreement, with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Cowen and Company LLC, SVB Leerink LLC and Piper Jaffray & Co., or collectively the 2019 Underwriters, pursuant to which we granted to the 2019 Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 3.0 million shares of our common stock, or the 2019 Overallotment. We completed the sale of 23.0 million shares, inclusive of the 2019 Overallotment, to the 2019 Underwriters and that sale resulted in the receipt by us of aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $143.8 million, less underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses totaling approximately $8.9 million, which resulted in net proceeds of approximately $134.9 million.

On November 22, 2019, we and KKC entered into a stock purchase agreement, pursuant to which we sold an aggregate of approximately 2.9 million shares of its common stock at $6.96 per share for net proceeds of approximately $20.0 million, or the Private Placement. The Private Placement closed on November 25, 2019.

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10. EQUITY INCENTIVE PLANS

2008 Plan

We granted options under its 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2008 Plan”) until June 2014 when it was terminated as to future awards, although it continues to govern the terms of options that remain outstanding under the 2008 Plan. The 2008 Plan provided for the granting of incentive and non-qualified stock options, and stock purchase rights to employees, directors and consultants at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Stock options granted generally vest over a period of four years from the date of grant. In connection with the Board of Directors and stockholders’ approval of the 2014 Plan, all remaining shares available for future award under the 2008 Plan were transferred to 2014 Plan, and the 2008 Plan was terminated.

2014 Plan

The 2014 Equity Incentive Award Plan (the “2014 Plan”) became effective on June 18, 2014. Under the 2014 Plan, 1.4 million shares of common stock were initially reserved for issuance pursuant to a variety of stock-based compensation awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights ("SARs"), restricted stock awards, service-based restricted stock unit (“RSU”) awards, performance-based restricted stock unit (“PRSU”) awards, deferred stock awards, deferred stock unit awards, dividend equivalent awards, stock payment awards and performance awards. In addition, 35 thousand shares that had been available for future awards under the 2008 Plan as of June 18, 2014, were added to the initial reserve available under the 2014 Plan, bringing the total reserve upon the effective date of the 2014 Plan to 1.5 million shares. The number of shares initially reserved for issuance or transfer pursuant to awards under the 2014 Plan will be increased by (i) the number of shares represented by awards outstanding under 2008 Plan on June 18, 2014, that are either forfeited or lapse unexercised or that are repurchased for the original purchase price thereof, up to a maximum of 1.2 million shares, and (ii) if approved by the Administrator of the 2014 Plan, an annual increase on the first day of each fiscal year ending in 2024 equal to the lesser of (A) four percent (4.0%) of the shares of stock outstanding (on an as converted basis) on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (B) such smaller number of shares of stock as determined by our board of directors; provided, however, that no more than 10.7 million shares of stock may be issued upon the exercise of incentive stock options.

2016 Plan

In November 2016, our board of directors approved the 2016 Employment Commencement Incentive Plan (the “Inducement Plan”) under which 1.0 million shares were reserved. In January 2021 and 2022, 0.5 million and 2.0 million shares, respectively, were added to the Inducement Plan. As of December 31, 2021, 0.4 million shares of our common stock were subject to inducement grants that were issued pursuant to the Inducement Plan.

Stock Options

The following table summarizes activity under the 2008 Plan and the 2014 Plan, including grants issued to nonemployees, in the year ended December 31, 2021:

Number of Shares Weighted-AverageExercise Price per Share

(in Years) (in thousands)

Issuance of common stock for services (25,989) — —

The aggregate intrinsic value represents the difference between the total pre-tax value (i.e., the difference between our stock price and the exercise price) of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2021, based on our common stock closing

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price of $1.10 per share, which would have been received by the option holders had all their in-the-money options been exercised as of that date.

The intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, was $1.7 million, $2.7 million, and $0.4 million, respectively.

The weighted-average grant-date estimated fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 was $3.92, $4.82 and $1.79 per share, respectively. The estimated grant date fair value of employee stock options was calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, based on the following weighted-average assumptions:

Year Ended December 31,

Expected volatility 77 % 83 % 81 %

Dividend yield — % — % — %

Expected Term—We have limited historical information to develop reasonable expectations about future exercise patterns and post-vesting employment termination behavior for its stock-option grants. As such, the expected term has been estimated using the simplified method whereby the expected term equals the arithmetic average of the vesting term and the original contractual term of the option. Beginning in 2021, we estimate the expected term of our options based upon historical exercises and post-vesting termination behavior, which has not resulted in a material difference as compared to using the simplified method.

Expected Volatility—Since January 1, 2017, we use the historic volatility of our own stock over the retrospective period corresponding to the expected remaining term of the options, or the period since our shares were first quoted on The Nasdaq Global Market, if that is shorter, to compute our expected stock price volatility.

Risk-Free Interest Rate—The risk-free interest rate assumption is based on the zero-coupon U.S. treasury instruments on the date of grant with a maturity date consistent with the expected term of our stock option grants.

Dividend Yield—To date, we have not declared or paid any cash dividends and does not have any plans to do so in the future. Therefore, we use an expected dividend yield of zero.

Restricted Stock Units

The following table summarizes restricted stock unit activity under the 2014 Plan in the year ended December 31, 2021, and includes restricted stock units with time or service-based vesting and those restricted stock units with performance-based vesting:

Number ofRSUs Weighted-AverageGrant Date FairValue Per Share

Source: SEC EDGAR (public domain) · 10-K for the period ended 2021-12-31, filed 2022-02-28 · accession 0001628280-22-004226

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