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 together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” and included elsewhere in this Annual Report. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements based upon our current beliefs, estimates, plans and expectations that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” or in other parts of this Annual Report.
Overview
We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on the identification, acquisition, development and commercialization of novel therapies for debilitating rare and orphan diseases. We have three approved medicines: Livmarli, Cholbam, and Chenodal.
Livmarli is a novel, orally administered, minimally-absorbed IBATi that is approved for the treatment of cholestatic pruritus in patients with ALGS in the United States and various other countries around the world and for cholestatic pruritus in patients with PFIC in the United States. We market and commercialize Livmarli in the United States and certain countries in Europe through our specialized and focused commercial team. We have also entered into license and distribution agreements with several rare disease companies for the commercialization of Livmarli in additional countries. We are also developing Livmarli for PFIC outside of the United States. We submitted a marketing authorization variation to the EMA in April 2023, for which we expect an approval decision in the first half of 2024, based on positive data from our MARCH Phase 3 clinical trial of Livmarli in patients with PFIC.
On August 31, 2023, we completed the acquisition of assets of Travere that are primarily related to the development, manufacture (including synthesis, formulation, finishing or packaging) and commercialization of the Bile Acid Medicines pursuant to an asset purchase agreement dated July 16, 2023. The FDA approved Cholbam in March 2015 as the first FDA-approved treatment for pediatric and adult patients with bile acid synthesis disorders due to single enzyme defects and for adjunctive treatment of patients with peroxisomal disorders, including PBD-ZSD and SLOS. Chenodal is approved for the treatment of radiolucent stones in the gallbladder and has received medical necessity recognition by the FDA for the treatment of CTX. We commercialize Chenodal and Cholbam in the United States through our specialized and focused commercial team. We have also assumed several license and distribution agreements with several rare disease companies for the commercialization of Chenodal and Cholbam in additional countries. In October 2023, we reported positive topline data from our RESTORE clinical trial evaluating Chenodal in patients with CTX. We plan to submit a new drug application for Chenodal for the treatment of CTX to the FDA in the first half of 2024.
We are also advancing our product candidate, volixibat, a novel, oral, minimally-absorbed agent designed to inhibit IBAT, for the treatment of adult patients with cholestatic liver diseases. We are developing volixibat in the setting of PSC and PBC. Volixibat has been studied in over 400 adults for up to 48 weeks. Clinical trials of volixibat have shown significant activity on IBAT and bile acid markers such as 7αC4, fecal bile acids and cholesterol, demonstrating potent biological activity. We expect to conduct an interim analysis of our VISTAS Phase 2b clinical trial in PSC and report interim data from our VANTAGE Phase 2b clinical trial in PBC, both in the first half of 2024.
We were incorporated in May 2018 and commenced operations in November 2018. To date, we have focused primarily on acquiring and in-licensing our product candidates, organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, advancing our product candidates through clinical development, preparing for commercialization of our product candidates, commercializing Livmarli, and conducting business development activities relating to, among other things, portfolio expansion through collaborations and acquisitions.
We have not generated operating income to date. We expect to incur significant operating losses for the foreseeable future. Since inception, we have funded our operations primarily through debt, equity, revenue interest financings and cash from our product sales, net and collaboration revenue.
94
Financial Overview
Our net loss was $163.4 million and $135.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Our net loss for the year ended December 30, 2023 includes a $49.1 million loss related to the extinguishment of the liabilities related to the RIPA. As of 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $556.2 million compared to $392.8 million as of December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $286.3 million, compared to cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and investments of $251.7 million as of December 31, 2022.
We anticipate we will continue to generate losses for the foreseeable future as we continue commercial activities for our approved medicines, conduct our ongoing and planned clinical trials, seek regulatory approvals for our product candidates and make potential milestone payments to the licensors and other third parties from whom we have in-licensed or acquired our product candidates. We expect total product sales of our approved medicines will continue to increase on an annual basis, though we expect quarterly fluctuations. We have entered into collaboration arrangements with other companies whereby we are entitled to receive upfront and license fees, research and development funding, development and sales-based milestones, and tiered royalties based on sales of commercialized products. In select countries, we have entered into distribution agreements for the sale of Livmarli and such distributors may have fluctuating purchase levels of Livmarli. As a result, our net losses may fluctuate significantly from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year.
We expect to satisfy future cash needs through existing capital balances, revenue from our approved medicines and through a combination of equity offerings, including the private placement described above, debt financings or other capital sources, collaborations, licenses and other similar arrangements. However, we may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other arrangements when needed on favorable terms or at all. Our failure to raise capital or enter into such other arrangements when needed could have a negative impact on our financial condition and on our ability to pursue our business plans and strategies. If we are unable to raise additional capital when needed, we could be forced to delay, limit, reduce or terminate the development of one or more of our product candidates or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market our product candidates even if we would otherwise prefer to develop and market such product candidates ourselves.
Geopolitical and Macroeconomic Developments
Due to the ongoing military conflicts between Ukraine and Russia and in Israel and the surrounding areas, the U.S. and global financial markets experienced volatility, which has led to disruptions to trade, commerce, pricing stability, credit availability and supply chain continuity globally. In connection with the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the United States, United Kingdom and EU, along with others, imposed significant new sanctions and export controls against Russia, Russian banks and certain Russian individuals and may implement additional sanctions or take further punitive actions in the future. The full economic and social impact of the sanctions imposed on Russia (as well as possible future punitive measures that may be implemented), as well as the counter measures imposed by Russia, in addition to the ongoing military conflict between Ukraine and Russia and related sanctions, which could conceivably expand into the surrounding region, remains uncertain; however, both the conflict and related sanctions have resulted and could continue to result in disruptions to trade, commerce, pricing stability, credit availability and supply chain continuity in both Europe and globally, and has introduced significant uncertainty into global markets. As a result, our business and results of operations may be adversely affected by the ongoing military conflicts and related sanctions, particularly to the extent it escalates to involve additional countries, further economic sanctions or wider military conflict.
Although we did not see a significant financial impact to our business operations as a result of recent geopolitical and macroeconomic developments, such as recent and potential future disruptions in access to bank deposits or lending commitments due to bank failures and the ongoing military conflicts for the year ended December 31, 2023, there may be potential impacts to our business in the future that are highly uncertain and difficult to predict such as disruptions or restrictions in our supply chain, disruption or restrictions on our employees’ ability to travel, disruptions to or delays in ongoing non-clinical trials, clinical trials, third-party manufacturing supply and other operations, inability for patients to see their healthcare providers and access our product and product candidates, or adverse geopolitical and macroeconomic concerns, interruptions or delays in the operations of the FDA or other regulatory authorities, continued increases in inflation and interest rates, bank
95
failures, changes in availability and cost of credit and our ability to raise capital and conduct business development activities. The ultimate impact of these geopolitical and macroeconomic developments, as well as any lasting effects on our revenue and the way we conduct our business, is highly uncertain and subject to continued change, and we recognize that they may continue to present unique challenges for us.
We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents and existing sources of and access to financing are adequate to satisfy our needs for operating capital, working capital, capital expenditures, and debt service in the 12 months from the issuance of the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report. However, should adverse geopolitical and macroeconomic events and any associated recession or depression continue for a prolonged period, our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows could be materially impacted as a result of a lower likelihood of effectively and efficiently developing new product candidates and successfully commercializing our approved medicines.
Asset Purchase Agreement with Travere Therapeutics, Inc.
On August 31, 2023, we completed the Bile Acid Portfolio Acquisition. We paid $210.4 million upon closing of the transaction, and up to an additional $235.0 million is payable upon the achievement of certain milestones based on specified amounts of annual net sales of the Bile Acid Medicines.
We concurrently entered into a transitional services agreement with Travere, pursuant to which Travere is obligated to perform certain services for a period of time, not anticipated to last beyond 12 months post-close, with respect to our use and operation of the assets purchased.
In connection with and immediately prior to the closing of the Bile Acid Portfolio Acquisition, we completed the private placement of 8,000,000 shares of our common stock at a price per share of $26.25, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $202.2 million.
Satiogen Acquisition
In May 2022, we completed the acquisition of Satiogen for total consideration of $24.2 million. At the closing of the acquisition, Satiogen’s assets consisted of cash and intangible assets related to developed technology. Through the transaction, we obtained all Satiogen-owned intellectual property relating to Livmarli and volixibat. The transaction resulted in a reduction of total licensing royalty obligations for Livmarli and volixibat.
The total potential consideration for the acquisition consisted of 841,792 shares of common stock and approximately $2.6 million in cash, excluding $0.2 million of stock option exercise prices deemed to have been paid immediately prior to the acquisition, in respect of an equivalent amount of cash on the books of Satiogen acquired by us at closing.
Assignment and License Agreement with Shire (Takeda)
In November 2018, we entered into the Shire License Agreement with Shire, which was subsequently acquired by Takeda, in which we were granted an exclusive, royalty bearing worldwide license to develop and commercialize our two product candidates, Livmarli and volixibat. As part of the Shire License Agreement, we were assigned license agreements held by Shire with Satiogen, Pfizer, and Sanofi (collectively, “Assigned License Agreements”).
Under the Shire License Agreement and Assigned License Agreements, to date, we have paid aggregate development regulatory and sales milestones of $71.0 million related to our Livmarli and volixibat programs.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
Product Sales, Net
We have three approved medicines: Livmarli, Cholbam and Chenodal. We expect total product sales of our approved medicines will continue to increase on an annual basis, though we expect quarterly fluctuations.
96
Our U.S. revenue from product sales, net further depends on our prescription mix of commercial payors, Medicaid and free medicines under our patient assistance program. We expect our prescription mix and resulting gross to net adjustment in the U.S. to remain consistent; however, we cannot reliably estimate it given our limited experience in the market. Our rest of world revenue from product sales, net primarily depends on our contractual obligations with our distributors and results of pricing negotiations with governmental authorities in certain European countries where we launch Livmarli and expect to launch our other product candidates, if approved. In addition, in certain countries, governments place large periodic orders. The timing of these orders can be inconsistent and can create quarter-to-quarter variation in revenue.
License Revenue
Under the exclusive licensing agreements with CANbridge and GC Biopharma, we have recognized as revenue the upfront nonrefundable payments related to the licenses granted upon satisfaction of certain performance obligations. Pursuant to the agreements, we are eligible to receive future milestone payments. These milestone payments are fully constrained and will be recognized in revenue in the period when it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized for the contract would not occur. We are also eligible to receive royalty payments related to the agreements, which will be recognized as the underlying product sales occur.
Our license revenue is dependent upon our licensees’ achievement of future milestones, which are not within our control, and we are unable to reliably estimate the timing of such revenues.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales consist of raw materials, third-party manufacturing costs, personnel, facility and other costs of manufacturing commercial products, transportation and freight, amortization of finite-lived intangible assets, amortization of capitalized intangibles and royalty payments payable on net sales of our approved medicines under licensing agreements. Cost of sales may also include period costs related to certain manufacturing services and charges for inventory valuation reserves.
As of the date of our acquisition of the Bile Acid Medicines from Travere, inventory acquired was valued at its fair value. As a result, our cost of sales exceeds the historical cost to manufacture the inventory and has a negative impact on our gross margin. We expect to sell the acquired inventory within the next two years from the balance sheet date. In addition, in connection with the acquisition, we have firm commitments for the purchase of minimum order quantities for active pharmaceutical ingredients. We periodically evaluate these firm commitments to determine if these commitments are in excess of our needs. If any net loss is determined, we record a charge to cost of sales in the period identified.
Prior to the regulatory approval of Livmarli, the manufacturing and related costs were expensed as research and development as any future economic benefit was not considered probable; accordingly, these costs were not capitalized and as a result gross margins resulting from product sales were initially higher until inventories that we had expensed prior to receiving approval were depleted. As of December 31, 2023, such inventories were substantially depleted.
Operating Expenses
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses primarily relate to clinical development and manufacturing activities of our product candidates. Our research and development expenses include, among other things:
•
salaries and related expenses for employee personnel, including benefits, travel and expenses related to stock-based compensation granted to personnel in development functions;
•
external expenses paid to clinical trial sites, contract research organizations and consultants that conduct our clinical trials;
•
expenses related to drug formulation development and the production of clinical trial supplies, including fees paid to contract manufacturers;
97
•
licensing milestone payments related to development or regulatory events;
•
research and development funding for collaboration arrangements;
•
expenses related to non-clinical studies;
•
expenses related to compliance with drug development regulatory requirements; and
•
other allocated expenses, which include direct and allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities, depreciation of equipment, and other supplies.
We expense research and development costs as incurred. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research and development activities are recorded as prepaid expenses. The prepaid amounts are expensed as the related goods are delivered or the services are performed. Upfront payments, research and development funding and milestone payments made to third parties in connection with licenses and research and development collaborations are expensed as incurred.
Our research and development expense may increase in the future as we continue to develop our current product candidates and look to acquire and develop additional product candidates.
Selling, General and Administrative Expense
Sales and marketing expense, which is a component of selling, general and administrative expense, primarily consisted of employee-related expenses for our sales group, brand marketing, patient support groups and pre-commercialization expenses related to our product candidates. General and administrative expense, which is a component of selling, general and administrative expense, primarily consists of corporate support and other administrative expenses, including employee-related expenses.
We anticipate that our selling, general and administrative expenses will increase in the future to support our continued commercialization efforts of our approved medicines in the United States and internationally as well as increased costs of operating as a global commercial stage biopharmaceutical public company. These increases will likely include increased costs related to hiring of additional personnel and fees to outside consultants to support further marketing, legal, tax, planning and accounting activities.
Loss from termination of revenue interest purchase agreement
Loss from termination of RIPA is related to the repurchase and termination of the RIPA in the second quarter of 2023. The repurchase payment included a premium over the remaining revenue interest liability and resulted in the recognition of a loss from termination of RIPA in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Interest Income
Interest income consists of interest earned on our cash equivalents and investments.
Interest Expense
We incur interest expense on our convertible notes and on the RIPA. Interest on our convertible notes consists of a 4% per annum fixed rate of interest and amortization of debt discount and amortization costs. Interest on the RIPA consisted primarily of costs associated with our liability and non-cash interest costs associated with the amortization of the related debt discount and deferred issuance costs. Prior to extinguishment of the RIPA in the second quarter of 2023, we imputed interest expense associated with this liability using the effective interest rate method which is calculated based on the rate that would enable the debt to be repaid in full over the anticipated life of the arrangement.
Other Expense, Net
Other expense, net consists of gain or loss from remeasurement of the liabilities associated with the common stock issued in connection with the acquisition of Satiogen after the satisfaction of certain purchase price adjustments and indemnification obligations that may arise during the 12 month period following the asset
98
acquisition date (“Indemnification Holdback”) and the liability associated with the common stock to be issued in connection with the acquisition of Satiogen as contingent consideration upon achievement of a certain milestone (“Contingent Milestone”) both of which were recorded in connection with our acquisition of Satiogen, unrealized and realized currency gains and losses on net assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and operating results require our management to make judgments, assumptions and estimates that affect the amounts reported, including the amount of assets, liabilities, expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report describes the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. Management bases its estimates on historical experience, known trends and events, and on various other assumptions it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
While our significant accounting policies are described in more detail in the notes to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report, we believe the following accounting policies are the most critical for fully understanding and evaluating our financial condition and results of operations.
Intangible Assets, Net
Intangible assets, net are measured at their fair values as of the acquisition date or, in the case of commercial milestone payments, the date they become due. Intangible assets are generally amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. We base the useful lives and related amortization expense on the period of time we estimate the assets will generate net product sales or otherwise be used. We also periodically review the lives assigned to our intangible assets to ensure that our initial estimates do not exceed any revised estimated periods from which we expect to realize cash flows from the technologies. If a change were to occur in any of the above-mentioned factors or estimates, the likelihood of a material change in our reported results would increase.
We evaluate our intangible assets with finite lives for indications of impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors that could trigger an impairment review include significant under-performance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results, significant changes in the manner of our use of the acquired assets or the strategy for our overall business or significant negative industry or economic trends. If this evaluation indicates that the value of the intangible asset may be impaired, we make an assessment of the recoverability of the net carrying value of the asset over its remaining useful life. If this assessment indicates that the intangible asset is not recoverable, based on the estimated undiscounted future cash flows of the technology over the remaining amortization period, we reduce the net carrying value of the related intangible asset to fair value and may adjust the remaining amortization period.
We make significant judgments in relation to the valuation of intangible assets resulting from asset acquisitions, particularly in the forecasts of future operating results that are used in the discounted cash flow valuation models. It is possible that plans may change and estimates used may prove to be inaccurate. If our actual results, or the plans and estimates used in future impairment analyses, are lower than the original estimates used to assess the recoverability of these assets, we could incur additional impairment charges.
Product Sales, Net
Revenues from direct product sales are recorded net of reserves established for applicable discounts and allowances that are offered within contracts with our customers, including amounts from payors and other third parties on behalf of our customers. For revenues from partner markets, we record net product sales based on the estimated variable consideration to be received when the product is sold. The transaction price, which may include fixed or variable consideration reflecting the impact of discounts and allowances, may be subject to constraint and is included in the product sales price only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of the amount of the cumulative revenue recognized will not occur in a future period. We recognize our best estimate of the
99
consideration that we expect to receive when control of the inventory is transferred to our customer and revenue is recognized. Estimates are reviewed and updated quarterly as additional information becomes known. Actual amounts may ultimately differ from our estimates. If actual results vary, we adjust these estimates, which could have an effect on earnings in the period of adjustment.
Government Rebates
We are obligated to pay rebates for mandated discounts under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. Our rebate calculations may require estimates, including estimates of customer mix, to determine which sales will be subject to rebates and the amount of such rebates. We update estimates and assumptions on a quarterly basis and record any necessary adjustments to revenue in the period identified. Estimated rebates are recorded as a reduction of revenue in the period the related sale is recognized. To date, actual government rebates have not differed materially from our estimates.
Revenue Interest Liability, Net
We imputed interest expense associated with this liability using the effective interest rate method. The effective interest rate was calculated based on the rate that would enable the debt to be repaid in full over the anticipated life of the arrangement. The effective interest rate on the liability varied during the term of the agreement depending on a number of factors, including the level of actual and forecasted product sales, net. We evaluated the interest rate quarterly based on actual product sales, net and on product sales, net forecasts utilizing the prospective method. In April 2023, we repurchased all future Revenue Interests and as a result, the RIPA was terminated in accordance with its terms.
At December 31, 2022, the revenue interest liability was calculated using our estimated global forecasted net sales of Livmarli at the time and was impacted by a debt discount comprising the estimated value of a bifurcated derivative liability and issuance costs incurred.
Cost of Product Sales
Prior to receiving approval from the FDA or other foreign regulatory authorities for a new medicine or new formulation, we expense all costs incurred related to the manufacture of such medicines as research and development expense because of the inherent risks associated with the development of a drug candidate, the uncertainty about the regulatory approval process and our lack of history for regulatory approval of drug candidates. Subsequent to receiving FDA or other foreign regulatory authority approval, when commercialization is considered probable and the future economic benefit is expected to be realized, we begin capitalizing inventory costs as incurred.
Cost of product sales consist of raw materials, manufacturing costs, transportation and freight, amortization of capitalized intangible assets, royalties and indirect overhead costs associated with the manufacturing and distribution of the Company’s approved products. Cost of product sales may also include period costs related to certain manufacturing services and inventory adjustment charges.
We analyze our inventory levels quarterly for obsolescence and, if required, adjust inventory to its net realizable value for quantities in excess of expected demand. The analysis uses quantitative forecast and historical demand considerations in combination with shelf life and stop sell dates in our estimates to evaluate inventory that may not be sellable. The resulting adjustments are recognized as Cost of Sales.
Accrued Research and Development Expenses
As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date. 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. We accrue and expense clinical trial activities performed by third parties based upon estimates of the proportion of work completed over the life of the individual study and patient enrollment rates in accordance with agreements established with clinical research organizations, clinical trial sites and other vendors
100
associated with the clinical trials. We determine the estimates by reviewing contracts, vendor agreements and purchase orders and through discussions with internal clinical personnel and external service providers as to the progress or stage of completion of trials or services and the agreed-upon fee to be paid for such services.
We make estimates of accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date 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. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the estimate, we will adjust the accrual accordingly. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods and services, including fees for process development or manufacturing and distribution of clinical supplies that will be used in future research and development activities, are deferred and recognized as expense in the period that the related goods are consumed or services are performed.
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, it could result in us reporting amounts that are too high or too low in any particular period. To date, there have been no material differences between our estimates of such expenses and the amounts actually incurred.
Uncertain Tax Positions
We are subject to income taxes in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions. The evaluation of uncertain tax positions involves significant judgment in the interpretation and application of GAAP and complex tax laws. Although management believes our reserves are reasonable, no assurance can be given that the final tax outcome of these matters will not be different from that which is reflected in our reserves. Reserves are adjusted considering changing facts and circumstances, such as the closing of a tax examination or the refinement of an estimate. Resolution of these uncertainties in a manner inconsistent with management’s expectations could have a material impact on our financial condition and operating results.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
A description of recent accounting pronouncements that may potentially impact our financial position, results of operations or cash flows is disclosed in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
101
Results of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
In this section, we discuss the results of our operations for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. For a discussion of the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 8, 2023.
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Revenue:
Operating expenses:
Other income (expense):
Change in fair value of derivative liability — 906 (906 )
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes 991 (6,406 ) 7,397
Product Sales, Net
Product sales, net was $178.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $75.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in product sales, net was a result of our continued commercialization of Livmarli in the United States, in certain countries in Europe and other international sales through partner market supply orders and sales of Bile Acid Medicines for a partial year following the completion of the Bile Acid Portfolio Acquisition.
The following table disaggregates total Product sales, net:
Year Ended December 31,
Product sales, net:
License Revenue
License revenue was $7.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 due to the achievement of regulatory milestones by CANbridge and GC Biopharma associated with our license agreements, compared to $2.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, due to the achievement of a regulatory milestone by CANbridge associated with our license agreement.
102
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales was $47.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $12.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in cost of sales was primarily a result of increased royalties payable of $9.8 million on net sales of Livmarli and the Bile Acid Medicines under licensing agreements, $7.5 million of amortization of acquired intangibles primarily associated with our acquisition of the Bile Acid Medicines in August 2023 and Satiogen in May 2022, a $5.2 million charge related to net losses associated with excess inventory from certain firm minimum purchase commitments in connection with our acquired Bile Acid Medicines, $3.9 million of increased costs associated with reserves for excess and obsolete inventory, increased product cost of sales of approximately $4.0 million primarily related to the Bile Acid Medicines and $4.0 million of increased commercial product development and supply chain costs.
Research and Development Expenses
The following table summarizes the period-over-period changes in research and development expenses relating to our product candidates in development for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Product-specific costs:
Non product-specific costs:
Research and development expenses were $102.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $4.2 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to:
•
for Livmarli programs, a decrease of $10.8 million, primarily due to decreases of $5.4 million in manufacturing development expenses, $3.1 million in clinical trial expenses primarily related to the MARCH Phase 3 clinical trial which was completed during 2022 and $2.4 million in non-clinical and general research and development expenses; and
•
for volixibat programs, a decrease of $0.9 million, primarily due to a $3.3 million decrease in clinical expenses associated with the discontinuation of the intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy clinical trial and lower clinical manufacturing expenses of $1.8 million, partially offset by an increase of $4.1 million of clinical trial expenses for PSC and PBC.
The decreases were partially offset by increases due to:
•
for personnel related expenses, an increase of $3.3 million, related to an increase in employee headcount to support our development pipeline; and
•
for other expense, an increase of $3.3 million, primarily due to other general research and development activities.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $145.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $56.8 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $26.6 million in personnel and other compensation related expenses, including an increase of $7.2 million in stock-based compensation, reflecting an increase in the number of our selling, marketing and administrative employees to support commercial activities for our approved medicines, and costs associated with the acquisition of the Bile Acid Portfolio and international expansion. The increase was also due to $17.0 million in expenses primarily related to legal, public relations, accounting and international expansion activities, $9.6 million
103
in advertising, promotion and medical affairs associated with commercial activities of our approved medicines and $3.5 million in other general administrative expenses.
Loss from termination of revenue interest purchase agreement
Loss from termination of RIPA was $49.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to zero for the year ended December 31, 2022. The loss was related to the premium paid to repurchase the revenue interests pursuant to the RIPA.
Interest Income
Interest income was $13.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $9.9 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher interest earned on our cash equivalents and investment balances largely due to higher money market and treasury yields and higher cash equivalent balance throughout the year ended December 31, 2023.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $15.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $0.9 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. For the year ended December 31, 2023, interest expense consisted of $10.0 million related to our convertible notes and $5.1 million related to the RIPA prior to extinguishment. For the year ended December 31, 2022, interest expense of $16.0 million was related to the RIPA.
Change in Fair Value of Derivative Liability
Change in fair value of derivative liability for the year ended December 31, 2022 was a gain of $0.9 million and was related to the remeasurement of the derivative liability at December 31, 2022. The gain reflects a decrease in value of the put option associated with the RIPA attributable to the decay in time value of the put option. There was no change in the estimated fair value of the derivative liability in 2023 prior to extinguishment of the RIPA.
Other (Expense) Income, Net
Other (expense) income, net was an expense of $2.8 million, net for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to an income of $0.4 million, net for the year ended December 31, 2022. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the expense was primarily attributable to $1.8 million in unrealized currency losses on net assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency, $0.7 million of expense associated with the remeasurement of the Contingent Milestone liability and the Indemnification Holdback liability prior to issuance of the underlying common stock as well as $0.4 million of realized currency loss. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the income was primarily related to the remeasurement of the Contingent Milestone liability and the Indemnification Holdback liability of $0.9 million and $0.3 million of unrealized currency gains on net assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency, partially offset by $0.8 million of realized currency losses.
Provision For (Benefit From) Income Taxes
Provision for income taxes was $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to a benefit from income taxes of $6.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The change was related to the deferred tax liability recognized as a result of intangible assets acquired as part of the Satiogen acquisition and corresponding reduction in our valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets during the year ended December 31, 2022.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
Since inception, we have funded our operations primarily through debt, equity, a revenue interest financing and, to a lesser extent, cash from our product sales and license and collaboration revenue. We had $286.3 million of cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023, compared to cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash equivalents and investments of $251.7 million as of December 31, 2022. Since inception, we have incurred operating losses and
104
negative cash flows from operations. As of December 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $556.2 million, compared to $392.8 million as of December 31, 2022.
On August 31, 2023, we completed the Bile Acid Portfolio Acquisition for an aggregate purchase price of up to $445.0 million in cash, with $210.4 million paid at the Closing and up to $235.0 million upon achievement of certain milestones based on specified amounts of annual net sales (tiered from $125.0 million to $500.0 million) of the Bile Acid Medicines. In connection with and immediately prior to the closing of the Bile Acid Portfolio Acquisition, we completed the private placement of 8,000,000 shares of our common stock at a price per share of $26.25, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $202.2 million which we used to finance the upfront payment at the closing of the Bile Acid Portfolio Acquisition.
On April 17, 2023, we completed an offering of $316.3 million aggregate principal of the Notes, which includes the exercise of the initial purchasers’ option in full. The offering resulted in net proceeds of $305.3 million after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and commissions and offering expenses. The terms of the convertible Notes are further described in Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements. We used a portion of the net proceeds to repurchase the revenue interests from the Purchasers at a call price of $192.7 million. Upon repurchase of the revenue interests from the Purchasers, the RIPA, in accordance with its terms, was terminated with no further payments due to the Purchasers and the $100.0 million of our previously restricted cash equivalents was no longer restricted from use.
In September 2022, we filed an automatic statement on Form S-3 with the SEC (the “2022 Shelf Registration”), which became effective upon filing, pursuant to which we registered for sale from time to time in one or more offerings an unlimited amount of any combination of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and warrants, so long as we continue to satisfy the requirements of a “well-known seasoned issuer” under SEC rules. This automatic shelf registration statement will remain in effect for up to three years from the date it became effective. As of December 31, 2023, we have not issued any securities pursuant to the 2022 Shelf Registration. We may lose well-known seasoned issuer status in the future upon the occurrence of certain events prescribed by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC occurring after we file this Quarterly Report if, at the time of those certain events, the worldwide market value of our voting and non-voting common equity held by our non-affiliates does not equal $700.0 million or more, calculated as of a date within 60 days prior to such events. If that were to occur and we were no longer considered a well-known seasoned issuer, we anticipate needing to amend our automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 prior to the occurrence of such events in order to sell securities under that Form S-3 on an ongoing basis.
On November 2, 2023, we entered into a Sales Agreement (the “2023 Sales Agreement”) with Leerink and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (the “Sales Agents”), pursuant to which we may, from time to time, sell up to an aggregate amount of $200.0 million of our common stock through the Sales Agents in an “at-the-market” offering (the “ATM Offering”) pursuant to the 2022 Shelf Registration. We are not required to sell shares under the 2023 Sales Agreement. Sales of our common stock, if any, under the 2023 Sales Agreement may be made in any transactions that are deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act. We will pay a given designated Sales Agent a commission of up to 3.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of any shares of common stock sold through it pursuant to the 2023 Sales Agreement. No sales may be made under the 2023 Sales Agreement until a prospectus supplement relating to the ATM Offering is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In August 2020, the SEC declared effective the 2020 Shelf Registration covering the sale of up to $300.0 million of our securities. Also, in August 2020, we entered into the 2020 Sales Agreement with Leerink pursuant to which we could issue and sell, in an at the market offering, from time to time, shares of common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $75.0 million under the 2020 Shelf Registration through Leerink acting as the sales agent and/or principal. During the year ended December 31, 2023 we issued and sold 658,206 shares of common stock pursuant to the 2020 Sales Agreement resulting in aggregate gross proceeds to us of $15.0 million. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the net proceeds to us after deducting sales commissions to Leerink and other issuance expenses were approximately $14.5 million. As of December 31, 2023, we have issued and sold an aggregate of 2,125,090 shares of common stock pursuant to the 2020 Sales Agreement, resulting in aggregate gross proceeds to us of $43.7 million. The 2020 Shelf Registration expired in August 2023, and no further sales may be made under the 2020 Sales Agreement.
105
In August 2022, we completed an underwritten public offering of our common stock pursuant to the 2020 Shelf Registration. We sold 3,478,261 shares of common stock at a price to the public of $23.00 per share. In addition, we granted the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days, to purchase up to 521,739 additional shares of our common stock at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses, which the underwriters exercised in full. The underwritten public offering, including the underwriters’ exercise of their option, resulted in net proceeds to us of $86.1 million after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses.
Based on our current and anticipated level of operations and cash generated from sales of our approved medicines, we believe our existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund our planned operations through at least the next 12 months from the filing of this Annual Report and beyond. Our cash and cash equivalents include readily available checking and money market funds. We maintain established guidelines relating to diversification and maturities of our investments to preserve principal and maintain liquidity.
We anticipate that we will continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future as we continue research efforts and the development of our product candidates, continue commercialization activities for our approved medicines and potentially expand into additional markets, hire additional staff, including clinical, scientific, operational, financial and management personnel and pay potential development and commercial and sales based milestones.
Our primary use of cash is to fund operating 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.
Although Livmarli has been approved for the treatment of cholestatic pruritus in patients with ALGS in patients three months of age and older and cholestatic pruritus in patients with PFIC five years of age and older in the U.S. and for the treatment of cholestatic pruritus in ALGS patients two months of age and older in Europe, and we expect product revenues to increase as we continue commercial activities, Livmarli may not achieve commercial success. Certain of our approved medicines, including the Bile Acid Medicines, are subject to immediate competition from compounded and generic entrants, as the ANDA and NDA for these drug products have no remaining or current patent or non-patent exclusivity. In addition, Chenodal is approved for radiolucent stones in the gallbladder yet is used primarily as standard of care for CTX. The FDA has provided a letter acknowledging Chenodal as a medical necessity for CTX, but prescriptions for this indication are not on label. As such, any change in this view from the FDA could adversely affect our ability to sell Chenodal in this indication. Unless and until Chenodal is approved for CTX, we cannot market or promote Chenodal for CTX which limits its growth potential.
Our principal source of liquidity is product revenue from sales of approved medicines, and, to a lesser extent, from our collaboration agreements. Until such time, if ever, as we can generate sufficient product revenue from sales of our approved medicines, our current product candidates or any future product candidates, if approved, to fund operations, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings and potential collaboration, license or development agreements. Our primary cash needs are for day-to-day operations and to fund our working capital requirements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, ownership interest will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect rights as a stockholder. Debt financing and preferred equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends.
If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may be required to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. As a result of adverse geopolitical and macroeconomic developments, such as the ongoing military conflicts between Ukraine and Russia and in Israel and the surrounding areas, and related sanctions, actual and anticipated changes in interest rates, economic inflation and the responses by central banking authorities to control such inflation, bank failures, the global credit and financial markets have experienced volatility and disruptions, including severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, declines in consumer confidence, declines in economic growth, increases in unemployment rates and uncertainty about economic stability. If the equity and credit markets
106
deteriorate, it may make any necessary debt or equity financing more difficult, more costly and more dilutive. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our drug development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.
Contractual Obligations
In addition to ongoing capital needs to fund our ongoing operations, our material cash requirements include the following contractual and other obligations.
On April 17, 2023, we completed an offering of $316.3 million aggregate principal of the Notes, which includes the exercise of the initial purchasers’ option in full. The offering resulted in net proceeds of $305.3 million after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and commissions and offering expenses. The Notes are our senior, unsecured obligations and accrue interest at a rate of 4.00% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year. Our first interest payment was due on November 1, 2023. The Notes will mature on May 1, 2029, unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased by us. The terms of these Notes are further described in Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements.
We used a portion of the net proceeds from the Notes to repurchase the revenue interests from the Purchasers at a call price of $192.7 million. Upon repurchase of the revenue interests from the Purchasers, the RIPA, in accordance with its terms, was terminated with no further payments due to the Purchasers.
Under the Shire License Agreement and Asset Purchase Agreement with Travere, as well as our other license and acquisition agreements, we have payment obligations that are contingent upon future events such as our achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones and are required to make royalty payments in connection with the sale of products developed under those agreements. The amount and timing of milestone obligations are unknown or uncertain as we are unable to estimate the timing or likelihood of achieving the milestone events. Additionally, the amount of royalty payments are based upon future product sales, which we are unable to predict with certainty. These potential obligations are further described in Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements.
We additionally have contractual obligations for our operating leases for our corporate headquarters. These obligations are further described in Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements.
We are party to certain license and collaboration agreements, which contain a number of contractual obligations. Those contractual obligations may entitle us to receive, or may obligate us to make, certain payments. The amount and timing of those payments are unknown or uncertain as we are unable to estimate the timing or likelihood of the events that will obligate those payments.
We enter into contracts in the normal course of business with clinical research organizations and clinical sites for the conduct of clinical trials, non-clinical research studies, professional consultants for expert advice and other vendors for clinical supply manufacturing or other services. These contracts generally provide for termination on notice, and therefore are cancelable contracts.
We enter into commercial inventory supply agreements that obligate us to firm commitments for the purchase of minimum order quantities, which may be material to our financial statements.
107
Cash Flows
The following table provides a summary of the net cash flow activity for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Net cash used in operating activities $ (70,944 ) $ (120,136 )
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (107,200 ) 7,700
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $70.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, reflecting our net loss of $163.4 million, partially offset by non-cash adjustments of $115.1 million. Non-cash adjustments consisted primarily of a loss from termination of RIPA of $49.1 million, $35.0 million of stock-based compensation, $11.4 million of depreciation and amortization of our intangible assets and fixed assets and non-cash lease expense, a $9.3 million charge associated with excess and obsolete inventory and losses on firm purchase commitments, $5.1 million of effective interest expense in connection with the RIPA, $3.4 million related to the cost of sale of inventory acquired in the Bile Acid Portolio Acquisition, $0.7 million expense related to the change in fair value of contingent liabilities associated with an acquisition, $1.8 million of unrealized foreign exchange losses and $1.1 million amortization of debt discount and offering costs, partially offset by $1.7 million net accretion of discounts on our investments. Additionally, cash used in operating activities reflected changes in net operating assets of $22.6 million, consisting primarily of a $44.0 million increase in accounts receivable due to the increase in the sales of Livmarli and the acquisition of the Bile Acid Medicines, a $30.8 million increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities resulting primarily from a $19.4 million increase in accrued sales deductions, a $4.3 million increase in accrued royalties payable both due to our increased net product sales, a $6.3 million increase in accrued compensation and related benefits and a $2.1 million increase in accrued interest expense related to the Notes issued in April 2023, a $4.4 million increase in inventory related to Livmarli and a $3.6 million increase in prepaid and other current assets due to timing of payment for deposits for professional services, software license and regulatory fees.
Net cash used in operating activities was $120.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, reflecting our net loss of $135.7 million partially offset by non-cash items of $36.6 million. Non-cash items consisted primarily of $27.0 million of stock-based compensation, $16.0 million of effective interest expense in connection with the RIPA, $3.7 million of depreciation and amortization of our intangible assets and fixed assets and non-cash lease expense, $6.6 million related to deferred tax liability recognized as a result of intangible assets acquired as part of the Satiogen acquisition, $1.7 million accretion of discounts on our investments, $0.9 million gain related to the change in fair value of Indemnification Holdback and Contingent Milestone liabilities and $0.9 million gain related to the change in fair value of the derivative liability. Additionally, cash used in operating activities reflected changes in net operating assets of $21.0 million, consisting primarily of a $20.7 million increase in accounts receivable related to sales of Livmarli, a $3.4 million increase in inventory, a $3.7 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets, a $0.1 million increase in other long term assets, and a $0.7 million decrease in operating lease liability, partially offset by a $7.6 million increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities.
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $107.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily due to $212.8 million paid in connection with our acquisition of the Bile Acid Medicines from Travere, $27.3 million used in purchases of investments and $20.0 million used in the acquisition of intangible assets associated with our license payments for Livmarli regulatory and commercial milestones, partially offset by proceeds of $153.0 million from maturities of investments.
Net cash provided by investing activities was $7.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to proceeds of $140.3 million from maturities of investments, partially offset by $132.3 million used in purchases of investments and $0.3 million used in purchases of property and equipment.
108
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $336.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, due to net proceeds of $305.3 million from the issuance of convertible notes, net proceeds of $202.2 million from the issuance and sale of common stock in a private placement offering, $14.5 million net proceeds from the issuance and sale of common stock under the 2020 Sales Agreement with Leerink, pursuant to which we issued and sold an aggregate of 658,206 shares of common stock at a weighted-average price of $22.79 per share, and proceeds of $10.5 million from employee equity award exercises, partially offset by $195.6 million in revenue interest payments and payments to repurchase the revenue interests under the RIPA.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $109.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, due to net proceeds of $86.1 million from completion of an underwritten public offering of 4,000,000 shares of common stock at a price of $23.00 per share, net proceeds of $21.3 million from the issuance and sale of common stock under the Sales Agreement with SVB Securities, pursuant to which we issued and sold an aggregate of 1,160,915 shares of common stock at a weighted-average price of $19.01 per share, and proceeds of $7.3 million from employee equity award exercises, partially offset by $5.6 million of revenue interest payments made under the RIPA.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Interest Rate Risk
Our cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023 consist of readily available checking and money market funds. The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve our capital to fund operations. We may invest in highly liquid and high-quality government and debt securities. As a result, our primary exposure to market risk is interest income sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of U.S. interest rates. As of the date of this report, we do not hold investments that expose us to interest rate risk. Should interest rates decrease on money market funds, it will result in lower interest income in future periods. In addition, we maintain significant amounts of cash and cash equivalents at one financial institution that is in excess of federally insured limits.
We have outstanding $316.3 million aggregate principal of the Notes. The interest rate on these Notes is fixed and therefore they do not expose us to risk related to increases in interest rates. As of December 31, 2023, the approximate fair value of our Notes was $387.3 million.
Foreign Currency Rate Risk
Our operations include activities in the U.S. and to a lesser extent Switzerland and certain other countries in Europe. As a result, our financial results may be affected by factors such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates or weak economic conditions in the foreign markets in which we sell our products. Our operating results are exposed to changes in foreign currency exchange rates between the U.S. Dollar (USD) and various foreign currencies, primarily the Euro. When the USD strengthens against these currencies, the relative value of the sales and operating expenses made in the respective foreign currency decreases. Conversely, when the USD weakens against these currencies, the relative value of such sales and operating expenses increases.
Based on our overall foreign currency denominated exposures as of December 31, 2023, we believe that a near-term 10% fluctuation of the USD exchange rate could result in a potential change in the fair value of our net assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency by approximately $5.8 million. We expect to continue to enter into transactions based in foreign currencies that could be impacted by changes in exchange rates.
Effects of Inflation
Inflation generally affects us by increasing our cost of labor and clinical trial costs. We do not believe that inflation and changing prices had a significant impact on our results of operations for any periods presented herein.
109
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 42) 111
Consolidated Balance Sheets 115
Consolidated Statements of Operations 116
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss 117
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity 118
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 119
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 120
110
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, because of the effect of the material weaknesses described below on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria, Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the Company) has not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on the COSO criteria.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The following material weaknesses have been identified and included in management’s assessment. Management has identified material weaknesses in the design of controls and level of evidence retained over the existence and valuation of inventory, including the controls over existence of inventory located at third parties and the net realizable value assessment of on-hand inventory and future purchases under firm commitments, and over the precision of management review controls and the sufficiency of control evidence related to prospective financial information used to determine the fair value of acquired developed technology.
As indicated in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management's assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls relating to the Bile Acid Portfolio, which is included in the 2023 consolidated financial statements of the Company and constituted approximately 6% of total assets (excluding intangible assets) as of December 31, 2023, and 20% of total revenues for the year then ended. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of the Company also did not include an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of the Bile Acid Portfolio.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes. The material weaknesses were considered in determining the nature, timing and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the 2023 consolidated financial statements, and this report does not affect our report dated March 15, 2024, which expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. 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 audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
111
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
San Mateo, California
March 15, 2024
112
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, 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, 2023, 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 March 15, 2024 expressed an adverse opinion thereon.
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 consolidated 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.
Acquisition of the Bile Acid Portfolio
113
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019.
San Mateo, California
March 15, 2024
114
Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31,
Assets
Current assets:
Short-term investments — 123,716
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 10,935 8,947
Restricted cash equivalents — 100,000
Property and equipment, net 706 914
Operating lease right-of-use assets 1,284 1,431
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Operating lease liabilities 1,104 931
Derivative liability — 1,090
Revenue interest liability, net — 140,351
Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent 617 1,257
Convertible notes payable, net 306,421 —
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 1,644 (217 )
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 646,621 $ 352,906
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
115
Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Year Ended December 31,
Revenue:
Operating expenses:
Other income (expense):
Change in fair value of derivative liability — 906 (732 )
Loss from termination of revenue interest purchase agreement (49,076 ) — —
Gain from sale of priority review voucher, net — — 108,000
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes 991 (6,406 ) 37
Net loss per share:
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
116
Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
Other comprehensive gain (loss):
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investments 230 (194 ) (117 )
Cumulative translation adjustments 1,631 12 (1 )
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
117
Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Shares Amount Capital Deficit Income (Loss) Equity
Restricted common stock vested in the period 133,592 — — — — —
Other comprehensive loss — — — — (118 ) (118 )
Restricted common stock vested in the period 122,464 — — — — —
Other comprehensive loss — — — — (182 ) (182 )
Other comprehensive income — — — — 1,861 1,861
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
118
Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
Operating activities
Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Net accretion of discounts on investments (1,725 ) (1,703 ) (137 )
Amortization of debt discount and offering costs 1,117 — —
Change in fair value of derivative liability — (906 ) 732
Inventory reserves and firm purchase commitment losses 9,257 — —
Loss from termination of revenue interest purchase agreement 49,076 — —
Costs recognized on sale of acquired inventory 3,419 — —
Unrealized foreign exchange loss 1,764 — —
Deferred income taxes associated with an acquisition — (6,580 ) —
Gain on sale of priority review voucher, net — — (108,000 )
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities 30,778 7,639 22,655
Operating lease liabilities (940 ) (711 ) (649 )
Investing activities
Proceeds from paydown of investments — — 2,000
Purchase of property and equipment (109 ) (278 ) (24 )
Cash paid for acquisition (212,762 ) — —
Payments made for additions to intangible assets (20,000 ) — (19,000 )
Proceeds from sale of priority review voucher, net — — 108,000
Financing activities
Proceeds from the issuance of convertible notes, net 305,304 — —
Payments of deferred offering costs (281 ) — —
Proceeds from revenue interest liability, net of issuance costs — — 64,575
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Operating cash flows paid for operating lease $ 1,079 $ 911 $ 864
Cash paid for income taxes $ 125 $ — $ —
Cash paid for interest $ 6,817 $ — $ —
Non-cash operating, investing and financing activities:
Inventory purchases included in accrued liabilities $ 6,076 $ 163 $ 1,018
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liability $ 473 $ 285 $ —
Stock-based compensation capitalized into inventory $ 822 $ 441 $ 71
Accrued milestone payments classified as intangible assets, net $ — $ 15,000 $ —
Deferred tax liability incurred from acquired intangible $ — $ 6,580 $ —
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
119
Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Organization and Description of Business
Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated in the State of Delaware on May 2, 2018, and is headquartered in Foster City, California. The Company is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the identification, acquisition, development and commercialization of novel therapies for debilitating rare and orphan diseases.
The Company has three approved medicines: LIVMARLI® (maralixibat) oral solution (“Livmarli”), Cholbam® (cholic acid) capsules, and Chenodal® (chenodiol) tablets (“Chenodal”). Livmarli is approved for the treatment of cholestatic pruritus in patients with Alagille syndrome (“ALGS”) three months of age and older and cholestatic pruritus in patients with primary familial intrahepatic cholestasis (“PFIC”) five years of age and older in the United States, and for the treatment of cholestatic pruritus in patients with ALGS two months of age and older in Europe.
On July 16, 2023, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Travere Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Travere”), pursuant to which, upon the closing in August 2023, the Company acquired Travere’s bile acid product portfolio, including Chenodal and Cholbam (also known as Kolbam, and together with Chenodal, the “Bile Acid Medicines”), two therapies addressing rare diseases in high-need settings (such acquisition, the “Bile Acid Portfolio Acquisition”) (Note 7). Cholbam is FDA-approved for the treatment of bile acid synthesis disorders due to single enzyme deficiencies and adjunctive treatment of peroxisomal disorders in patients who show signs or symptoms or liver disease. Chenodal is approved for the treatment of radiolucent stones in the gallbladder and has received medical necessity recognition by the FDA for the treatment of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (“CTX”).
The Company’s development pipeline consists of the clinical-stage product candidate volixibat and life-cycle extension opportunities for Livmarli. The Company commenced significant operations in November 2018.
The Company views its operations and manages its business as one operating segment. The Company determined its operating segment on the same basis that it uses to evaluate its performance internally.
Liquidity
The Company has a limited operating history, has incurred significant operating losses since its inception, and the revenue and income potential of the Company’s business and market are unproven. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $556.2 million and cash and cash equivalents of $286.3 million. The Company believes that its cash and cash equivalents of $286.3 million as of December 31, 2023 provide sufficient capital resources to continue its operations for at least twelve months from the issuance date of the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. Management expects to continue to incur additional substantial losses in the foreseeable future as a result of the Company’s research and development activities.
In April 2023, the Company completed a convertible notes offering, as further described in Note 10, with net proceeds of $305.3 million, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and commissions and offering expenses. From the net proceeds, $192.7 million was used to repurchase all future revenue interests (the “Revenue Interests”) in connection with the Company’s Revenue Interest Purchase Agreement (“RIPA”) (Note 6). Upon repurchase and the termination of the RIPA, in accordance with its terms, the previously restricted cash equivalents of $100.0 million were no longer restricted from use.
In August 2023, the Company completed the Bile Acid Portfolio Acquisition contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and acquired substantially all of the assets of Travere that are primarily related to the development, manufacture and commercialization of the Bile Acid Medicines. Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the
120
Company paid an upfront purchase price of $210.4 million in cash to Travere and may pay additional amounts of up to $235.0 million upon the achievement of certain milestones based on specified amounts of net annual sales of the Bile Acid Medicines. In connection with and immediately prior to the closing of the Bile Acid Portfolio Acquisition, the Company completed the private placement of 8,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock at a price per share of $26.25, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $202.2 million.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company translates the financial statements of its foreign subsidiaries using end-of-period exchange rates for assets and liabilities and average exchange rates during each reporting period for results of operations. All intercompany balances and transactions among the consolidated entities have been eliminated in consolidation. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that impact the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates and assumptions are based upon historical experience, knowledge of current events and various other factors believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the recording of expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
The Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023 reflect the Company’s estimates of the impact of the geopolitical and macroeconomic environment, including the impact of inflation, bank failures, high interest rates and foreign exchange rate fluctuations. The duration and the scope of these conditions cannot be predicted; therefore, the extent to which these conditions will directly or indirectly impact the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition, is uncertain. The Company is not aware of any specific event or circumstance that would require an update to its estimates, judgments and assumptions or a revision of the carrying value of the Company’s assets or liabilities as of the date of this filing.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into cash without penalty and with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost, which approximate their fair value.
Restricted cash equivalents as of December 31, 2022 consisted of deposits placed in a segregated bank account as required under the terms of the Company’s RIPA, as amended in September 2021, with Mulholland SA LLC, an affiliate of Oberland Capital LLC (“Oberland”), as agent for the purchasers party thereto (the “Purchasers”), and the Purchasers in connection with the sale of the Priority Review Voucher in December 2021. Upon repurchase and the termination of the RIPA in April 2023, in accordance with its terms, the previously restricted cash equivalents of $100.0 million were no longer restricted from use.
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents reported within the consolidated balance sheets that together reflect the same amounts shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows (in thousands):
121
December 31,
Restricted cash equivalents — 100,000
Concentrations of Credit Risk and Off-Balance Sheet Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and investments. The Company limits the amount of credit exposure by investing cash that is not required for immediate operating needs in money market funds, government obligations and/or commercial paper with short maturities. Additionally, the Company has established guidelines regarding diversification of its investments and their maturities, which are designed to maintain principal and maximize liquidity. To date, the Company has not experienced any losses associated with this credit risk and continues to believe that this exposure is not significant.
The Company relies on a specialty pharmacy and a single distributor for all of the Company’s sales of Livmarli in the United States as well as a single distributor for sales outside the United States. The Company relies on a specialty pharmacy for all the Company’s sales of Chenodal and Cholbam in the United States.
The Company sources materials and services through several vendors. Certain materials are sourced from a single vendor. The loss of certain vendors could result in a temporary disruption of the Company’s commercialization efforts.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company did not have any customers that individually accounted for more than 10% of accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had one customer that accounted for approximately 23% of accounts receivable. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company did not have revenue attributable to any one customer in excess of 10% of sales.
Investments
The Company classifies all investments in securities as available-for-sale. Management determines the appropriate classification of its investments in securities at the time of purchase. Investments with original maturities beyond three months at the date of purchase and which mature at, or less than twelve months from the balance sheet date, are classified as a current asset.
Investments are recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until realized, with the exception of any declines in fair value below the cost basis that are a result of a credit loss, which, if any, are reported in other income (expense), net in the current period through an allowance for credit losses. Each reporting period, the Company evaluates whether declines in fair values of its available-for-sale securities below their cost basis are a result of credit loss or other factors and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. This evaluation consists of several qualitative and quantitative factors regarding the severity and duration of the unrealized loss, the creditworthiness of the security issuers, as well as the Company’s ability and intent to hold the available-for-sale security until a forecasted recovery occurs. Additionally, the Company assesses whether it has plans to sell the security or it is more likely than not it will be required to sell any available-for-sale securities before recovery of its amortized cost basis. The cost of debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity. Such amortization and accretion, as well as interest and dividends, are included in interest income. Realized gains and losses from the sale of available-for-sale securities, if any, are determined on a specific identification basis and are also included in other income (expense). To date, the Company has not identified any declines in fair value of its investments related to credit loss.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The following fair value hierarchy distinguishes between observable and unobservable inputs, which are categorized in one of the following levels:
122
Level 1: Observable inputs (unadjusted) such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2: Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly for similar assets or liabilities; and
Level 3: Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.
Accounts Receivable
The Company has accounts receivable amounts due from product sales. The Company also has accounts receivable amounts due from license agreements for milestones achieved, but not yet paid. Amounts payable to the Company are recorded as accounts receivable when the Company’s right to consideration is unconditional. The Company estimates the allowance for credit losses using the current expected credit loss model. Under this model, the allowance for credit losses reflects the Company’s estimate of lifetime expected credit losses. The Company evaluates the collectability of the cash flows based on the risk of loss over the contractual life, even when that risk is remote, based on judgments about the creditworthiness of its customers, historical experience and other relevant information that is available to the Company. There was no allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2023. There was no bad debt expense for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Inventory
Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis. The Company periodically reviews the composition of inventory to identify excess, obsolete, slow-moving or otherwise unsaleable items. If unsaleable items are observed and there are no alternate uses for the inventory, the Company will record a write-down to net realizable value in the period that the decline in value is recognized through a charge to cost of sales. Furthermore, the Company periodically reviews its firm commitments for the purchase of minimum order quantities. If the minimum order quantities exceed the Company’s future demand, a net loss is accrued in cost of sales for such future inventory purchases. The determination of whether inventory costs will be realizable requires estimates by management. If actual market conditions are less favorable than projected by management, additional write-downs of inventory may be required.
Accruals for firm purchase commitments amounted to $5.2 million as of December 31, 2023, of which $3.8 million was included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
Prior to the initial regulatory approval for Livmarli, the Company expensed costs relating to raw materials and production of inventory as research and development expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, in the period incurred. The Company has substantially depleted such inventories as of December 31, 2023.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, ranging from three to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their useful lives or the related lease term. As of December 31, 2023, property and equipment consisted primarily of leasehold improvements of $1.3 million and furniture and equipment of $0.9 million. As of December 31, 2022, property and equipment consisted primarily of leasehold improvements of $1.3 million and furniture and equipment of $0.6 million. Accumulated depreciation as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $1.5 million and $1.0 million, respectively. Depreciation expense was $0.3 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are reviewed for indications of possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparison of the carrying amounts to the future undiscounted cash flows attributable to these assets. An impairment loss is recognized to the extent an asset group is not recoverable, and the carrying amount exceeds the
123
projected discounted future cash flows arising from these assets. There were no impairments of long-lived assets for any of the periods presented.
Intangible Assets, Net
The Company accounts for asset acquisitions that do not meet the definition of a business using the cost accumulation method, whereby the cost of the acquisition, including certain transaction costs, is allocated to the asset (or assets) acquired on the basis of its (or their) relative fair value(s) on the measurement date. No goodwill is recognized in an asset acquisition.
Intangible assets are measured at their fair values as of the acquisition date or, in the case of commercial milestone payments, the date they become due. The evaluation of intangible assets includes assessing the amortization period for which the asset is expected to contribute to the future cash flows of the Company. Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives, primarily on a straight-line basis when the Company is unable to reliably estimate the pattern of cash flow. The Company tests its finite lived intangible assets for impairment annually or if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the asset is impaired. If it is determined that the asset is impaired, the carrying value is written down to its estimated fair value, with the related impairment charge recognized in the consolidated statements of operations in the period in which the impairment occurs. The Company has not recorded any impairments to its intangible assets for any of the periods presented.
The components of the Company’s intangible assets were as follows (in thousands, except for weighted-average remaining amortization period):
Amortization expense was $10.5 million, $2.9 million and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and was included in cost of sales on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
The following table summarizes the estimated future amortization expense associated with the Company’s intangible assets as of December 31, 2023 (in thousands):
Amount
124
Leases
The Company determines if a contractual arrangement is or contains a lease at inception. Operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset during the lease term, and operating lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating leases are included in ROU assets, current operating lease liabilities, and long-term operating lease liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Operating lease ROU assets and lease liabilities are initially recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date calculated using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate applicable to the leased asset, unless the implicit rate is readily determinable. Operating lease ROU assets also include any lease payments made at or before lease commencement and exclude any lease incentives received. The Company determines the lease term as the noncancelable period of the lease and may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Leases with a term of 12 months or less are not recognized on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s leases do not contain any residual value guarantees. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized as rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable lease payments include lease operating expenses.
Accrued Research and Development Expenses
The Company accrues and expenses clinical trial activities performed by third parties based upon estimates of the proportion of work completed over the life of the individual study and patient enrollment rates in accordance with agreements established with clinical research organizations and clinical trial sites. The Company determines the estimates by reviewing contracts, vendor agreements and purchase orders and through discussions with internal clinical personnel and external service providers as to the progress or stage of completion of trials or services and the agreed-upon fee to be paid for such services.
The Company makes estimates of accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date based on facts and circumstances known to the Company at that time. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the estimate, the Company will adjust the accrual accordingly. The Company has not experienced any material differences between accrued costs and actual costs incurred for the periods presented. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods and services are deferred and recognized as expense in the period that the related goods are consumed or services are performed.
Convertible Notes
The Company evaluates all conversion, repurchase and redemption features contained in a debt instrument to determine if there are any embedded features that require bifurcation as a derivative. The Company accounts for its convertible notes (refer to Note 10) as a long-term liability equal to the proceeds received from issuance, including any embedded conversion features, net of the unamortized debt discount and offering costs in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The debt issuance and offering costs are amortized over the contractual term of the convertible notes, using the effective interest method, as interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Revenue Interest Liability, Net
The revenue interest liability, net, associated with the RIPA that the Company entered into in December 2020, as amended in September 2021,with Oberland as agent for Purchasers, and the Purchasers, was presented net of issuance costs and a debt discount on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2022. The Company imputed interest expense associated with this liability using the effective interest rate method. The effective interest rate was calculated based on the rate that would enable the debt to be repaid in full over the anticipated life of the arrangement. The interest rate on the liability varied during the term of the agreement depending on a number of factors, including the level of actual and forecasted product sales, net. The Company evaluated the interest rate quarterly based on actual product sales, net and forecast product sales, net, utilizing the prospective method. In April 2023, the Company repurchased all future Revenue Interests and as a result, the RIPA was terminated in accordance with its terms (refer to Note 6).
125
Derivative Liability
The RIPA contained certain features that met the definition of being an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation as a separate compound financial instrument apart from the RIPA. The derivative liability was initially measured at fair value on issuance and was subject to remeasurement at each reporting period with changes in fair value recognized as other income (expense) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations as the change in fair value of derivative liability. In April 2023, the derivative liability was extinguished in connection with the termination of the RIPA (refer to Note 6).
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services.
Product Sales, Net
The Company recognizes product sales, net when the customer obtains control of our product, which occurs at a point in time, typically upon delivery of the Company’s product to the customer.
Revenues from product sales are recorded at the net sales price, or the transaction price, which may include fixed or variable consideration for discounts, government rebates, co-pay assistance, returns and other allowances that are offered within contracts with a customer relating to the sale of the Company's approved medicines. Estimates of variable consideration are calculated based on the actual product sales each reporting period and the nature of the variable consideration related to those sales. Overall, these estimates reflect the Company’s best estimate of the amount of consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled based on the terms of the contract. The amount of variable consideration that is included in the transaction price may be constrained and is included in product sales, net only to the extent that it is considered probable that a significant reversal in the amount of the cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. Estimates are reviewed and updated quarterly as additional information becomes known. Actual amounts of consideration ultimately received may differ materially from estimates. If actual results in the future vary from estimates, the Company will adjust these estimates, which would affect product sales, net and earnings in the period such variances are adjusted. Significant categories of sales discounts and allowances are as follows:
Government Rebates: The Company records rebates payable under Medicaid and other government programs as a reduction of revenue at the time product revenues are generated. The Company’s rebate calculations may require estimates, including estimates of customer mix, to determine which sales will be subject to rebates and the amount of such rebates. The Company updates its estimates and assumptions on a quarterly basis and records any necessary adjustments to revenue in the period identified. The liability for unpaid rebates is included in accrued expenses on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. To date, actual government rebates have not differed materially from the Company’s estimates.
Other Incentives: Other incentives include a branded co-pay assistance program for eligible patients with commercial insurance in the United States. The branded co-pay assistance program assists commercially insured patients who have coverage for the Company's approved medicines and is intended to reduce each participating patient’s portion of the financial responsibility of the purchase price up to a specified dollar amount of assistance. The calculation of the accrual for co-pay assistance is based upon an identification of claims and the cost per claims associated with product that has been recognized as revenue. The Company records amounts paid under the brand specific co-pay assistance program for each patient as a reduction of revenue from product sales. To date, actual other incentives have not differed materially from the Company’s estimates.
Product Returns: The Company records revenue for product sales, net of estimated product returns. Customers have limited return rights related only to the product’s damage or defect identified upon delivery of the product. The Company estimates the amount of product sales that may be returned and records the estimate as a reduction of revenue and a refund liability in the period the related product revenue is recognized. To date, actual returns have not differed materially from the Company’s estimates.
126
The following table presents Total revenues and disaggregates Product sales, net by approved medicine (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Product sales, net:
Bile Acid Medicines 37,079 — —
The following table sets forth Product sales, net by geographic area based on the ship-to location (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
License and Collaboration Arrangements
The Company enters into collaborative arrangements with partners and analyzes the collaboration arrangements to assess whether they are within the scope of Collaborative Arrangements (Topic 808) ("Topic 808") and determine whether such arrangements involve joint operating activities performed by parties that are both active participants in the activities and exposed to significant risks and rewards dependent on the commercial success of such activities. This assessment is performed throughout the life of the arrangement based on changes in the responsibilities of all parties in the arrangement. The accounting for some of the activities under collaboration arrangements may be subject to Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“Topic 606”) for distinct units of account that are reflective of a vendor-customer relationship. For other elements of collaboration arrangements, such as reimbursements of certain development costs, the Company generally records reimbursements received as a reduction of research and development expenses.
In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized under Topic 606 as the Company fulfills its obligations under each of its agreements, the Company performs the following steps: (i) identification of the contracts with customers; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) determination and measurement of the transaction price, including any constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligation.
The terms of the Company’s license and collaborative research and development agreements include upfront license fees, research, development and other funding or reimbursements, milestone and other contingent payments for the achievement of defined collaboration objectives and certain development, regulatory and sales-based events, as well as royalties on sales of commercialized products. Arrangements that include upfront payments may require deferral of revenue recognition to a future period until the Company satisfies performance obligations under these arrangements.
A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service and is the unit of accounting in Topic 606. A contract’s transaction price is allocated among each distinct performance obligation based on relative standalone selling price and recognized as revenue when, or as, the applicable performance obligation is satisfied.
If a license to the Company’s intellectual property is determined to be distinct from the other performance obligations identified in the arrangement, the Company recognizes revenues attributed to the license when the license is transferred to the customer and the customer is able to use and benefit from the license.
127
At the inception of each arrangement that includes development milestone payments, the Company evaluates whether the milestones are considered probable of being achieved and estimates the amount to be included in the transaction price as variable consideration using the most likely amount method or expected value method, depending on the nature of the contingency and the variable payments. If it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized for the contract would not occur, the associated milestone value is included in the transaction price. Milestone payments that are not within the control of the Company or the licensee, such as regulatory approvals, are not generally considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received. Given the high degree of uncertainty around the occurrence of these events, the Company generally determines the milestone and other contingent amounts to be fully constrained until the uncertainty associated with these payments is resolved. At the end of each reporting period, the Company re-evaluates the probability of achievement of any development milestones, and if necessary, adjusts its estimate of the transaction price. Any such adjustments would be recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which would affect revenues and earnings in the period of adjustment.
For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on the level of sales, the Company recognizes revenue at the later of (i) when or as 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).
Accounting for these arrangements requires the Company to develop assumptions that require judgment to determine the stand-alone selling price of each performance obligation identified in the contract. The Company has never sold the performance obligations in its collaborative arrangements separately; therefore, an observable stand-alone selling price does not exist. Accordingly, the Company estimates a stand-alone selling price through maximizing the use of observable inputs such as market data, project cost estimates, and targeted margins.
Cost of Product Sales
Prior to receiving approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") or other foreign regulatory authorities for a new medicine or new formulation, the Company expenses all costs incurred related to the manufacture of such medicines as research and development expense because of the inherent risks associated with the development of a drug candidate, the uncertainty about the regulatory approval process and the lack of history for the Company of regulatory approval of drug candidates. Subsequent to receiving FDA or other foreign regulatory authority approval, when commercialization is considered probable and the future economic benefit is expected to be realized, the Company begins capitalizing inventory costs incurred.
Cost of product sales consist of manufacturing costs, transportation and freight, amortization of capitalized intangible assets, royalties and indirect overhead costs associated with the manufacturing and distribution of the Company's approved products. Cost of product sales may also include period costs related to certain manufacturing services and inventory adjustment charges.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consists primarily of fees paid to contract research organizations and other vendors for clinical, non-clinical and manufacturing services, salaries and employee benefits, including stock-based compensation, consultant expenses, costs related to acquiring manufacturing materials, costs related to compliance with regulatory requirements and license payments related to acquiring intellectual property rights for the Company’s product candidates. Research and development expenses are expensed as incurred.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses relate to sales and marketing, finance, human resources, legal and other administrative activities. SG&A expenses consist primarily of personnel costs, facilities and overhead costs, outside marketing, advertising and legal expenses, and other general and administrative costs.
The Company expenses the costs of advertising, including promotional expenses, as incurred. Advertising expenses were $6.3 million, $4.0 million and $9.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
128
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company recognizes stock-based compensation for all stock-based awards based on the grant date fair value of the award granted to employees and nonemployees, including members of its board of directors. For stock-based awards with service conditions, the fair value of the awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period in which the awards are expected to vest. For stock-based awards with performance vesting conditions, stock-based compensation is recognized when it is considered probable that the performance conditions will be satisfied. At each reporting period, the Company reassesses the probability of the achievement of the performance vesting conditions. Any change in stock-based compensation resulting from an adjustment in the vesting is treated as a cumulative catch-up in the period of adjustment. For stock-based awards with market conditions, stock-based compensation is recognized over the appropriate requisite service period. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.
The Company evaluates the grant date fair value of awards granted for impacts of any potential material non-public information at the time of grant.
Foreign Currency
The consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars. The functional currency for most of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is their local currency. Balance sheet accounts of international subsidiaries are translated at the current exchange rates as of the end of each accounting period. Income statement items are translated at average exchange rates for the period. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.
Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations. Transaction gains and losses result primarily from fluctuations in exchange rates when intercompany receivables and payables are denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of our subsidiary that recorded the transaction. Unrealized foreign exchange losses amounted to $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, and were insignificant for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. Realized foreign exchange gains and losses were insignificant for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are recorded using the liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax basis 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. Valuation allowances are recorded against deferred tax assets, including net operating losses and tax credits, when it is determined it is more-likely-than-not that some or all of the tax benefits will not be realized.
The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification No. 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). When uncertain tax positions exist, the Company recognizes the tax benefit of tax positions to the extent that the benefit would more likely than not be realized assuming examination by the taxing authority. The determination as to whether the tax benefit will more likely than not be realized is based upon the technical merits of the tax position as well as consideration of the available facts and circumstances.
Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, are recorded as a component of income tax expense.
Net Loss Per Share
Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding for the period, without consideration for potentially dilutive securities. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average shares of common stock and potentially dilutive securities outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock and if-converted methods. Diluted net loss per share excludes the potential impact of the Company’s common stock subject to repurchase, common stock options, restricted stock units, contingently issuable employee stock purchase plan shares and common stock issuable upon conversion of convertible notes because their effect would be anti-dilutive due to the Company’s net loss.
129
The following table sets for the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021(in thousands, except share and per share data):
Year Ended December 31,
Numerator:
Add: Change in fair value of Holdback Indemnification liability — (214 ) —
Add: Change in fair value of Contingent Milestone liability — (700 ) —
Denominator:
Effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted-average Holdback-Indemnification shares issuable — 19,590 —
Weighted-average contingent milestone shares — 123,831 —
Net loss per share, basic $ (4.00 ) $ (4.01 ) $ (2.77 )
Net loss per share, diluted $ (4.00 ) $ (4.02 ) $ (2.77 )
The following outstanding potential dilutive shares have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share for the periods presented due to their anti-dilutive effect:
As of December 31,
Common stock issuable upon conversion of convertible notes 9,964,247 — —
Common stock subject to repurchase — — 122,464
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 requires an entity to utilize a new impairment model that requires measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments, including but not limited to available-for-sale debt securities. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities will be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than as a direct write-down to the security. The new guidance also modifies the impairment models for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration since their origination. There was no impact on the accompanying consolidated financial statements as of the adoption date.
In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2020-3, Codification Improvements to Financial Instruments which makes narrow-scope improvements to various financial instruments topics, including the new credit losses standard and clarifies the following areas (i) the contractual term of a net investment in a lease should be the contractual term used to measure expected credit losses; (ii) when an entity regains control of financial assets sold, an allowance for credit losses should be recorded. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2023. There was no impact on the accompanying consolidated financial statements as of the adoption date.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASB or other standard setting bodies and adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, the Company believes that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on the accompanying consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
130
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”). This new guidance is designed to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 on a retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”). This new guidance is designed to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The amendments of this update are related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.
3. Fair Value Measurements
Financial assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurements on a recurring basis and the level of inputs used in such measurements by major security type are presented in the following table (in thousands):
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Financial assets:
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Financial assets:
Financial liabilities:
Contingent milestone liability $ 3,900 $ — $ — $ 3,900
Indemnification holdback — — 617 617
The carrying amounts of certain financial instruments such as cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash equivalents, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses, other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 approximate their related fair values due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.
Money market funds and U.S. treasury bills are highly liquid investments and are actively traded. The pricing information on these investment instruments is readily available and can be independently validated as of the measurement date. This approach results in the classification of these securities as Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.
U.S. government bonds and commercial paper are measured at fair value using Level 2 inputs. The Company reviews trading activity and pricing for these investments as of each measurement date.
The carrying amount of the revenue interest liability as of December 31, 2022 approximates its fair value and is based on the Company’s contractual repayment obligation to the Purchasers, based on the current estimates of future revenues, over the life of the RIPA.
131
At the time of issuance, the Contingent Milestone liability was recognized at fair value using Level 3 inputs as no observable inputs were available at the time in the market. As of December 31, 2022, the Contingent Milestone liability is considered a Level 1 input as the significant inputs were known and observable. The derivative liability and Indemnification Holdback liability (each as defined below) as of December 31, 2022 are each considered a Level 3 input based on the three-level hierarchy.
Derivative Liability
The debt pursuant to the RIPA (refer to Note 6 “Revenue Interest Purchase Agreement” for further information) contained an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation as a single compound derivative instrument. The Company estimated the fair value of the derivative liability using a “with-and-without” method. The “with-and-without” methodology involves valuing the whole instrument on an as-is basis and then valuing the instrument without the individual embedded derivative. The difference between the entire instrument with the embedded derivative compared to the instrument without the embedded derivative was the fair value of the derivative liability at December 31, 2022. The estimated probability and timing of underlying events triggering the exercisability of the put option contained within the RIPA, forecasted cash flows and the discount rate were significant unobservable inputs used to determine the estimated fair value of the entire instrument with the embedded derivative. As of December 31, 2022, the discount rate used for valuation of the derivative liability was 15.7%. In 2023, there was no change in the fair value of the derivative liability prior to its extinguishment in connection with the termination of the RIPA in April 2023.
Indemnification Holdback and Contingent Milestone Liabilities
In May 2022, in connection with the acquisition of Satiogen (refer to Note 7 “Asset Acquisitions” for further information), the Company recorded at fair value liabilities related to the Company’s common stock issuable upon satisfaction of certain purchase price adjustments and indemnification obligations that may arise during the 12 month period following the asset acquisition date (“Indemnification Holdback”) and contingent consideration upon achievement of a certain milestone (“Contingent Milestone”). The fair value of the Indemnification Holdback and the Contingent Milestone was classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy and was estimated based upon the value of the Company’s common stock price. The fair value of the Indemnification Holdback was additionally determined based on management’s estimate of the probability of indemnification obligations being incurred during the one year following the acquisition date, while the fair value of the Contingent Milestone was additionally determined based upon management’s estimate of the probability of the milestone being met. The fair value of the Indemnification Holdback and Contingent Milestone was initially measured on May 20, 2022, the date on which the Company completed the acquisition of Satiogen. The Company assessed the fair value of the Indemnification Holdback and Contingent Milestone each reporting period until resolution of the related contingency, and changes in fair value were recorded in other income (expense), net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. As of December 31, 2022, the contingency for the Contingent Milestone was resolved and the fair value of the liability was determined based solely upon the closing price of the Company’s common stock. In January 2023, the Company issued 199,993 shares of common stock in connection with the Contingent Milestone liability. In June 2023, the contingencies related to the Indemnification Holdback were resolved and the Company issued 31,631 shares of common stock.
The following table provides a summary of the changes in the estimated fair value of the Indemnification Holdback and Contingent Milestone liability within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):
Indemnification Holdback Liability Contingent Milestone Liability
Balance at January 1, 2022 $ — $ —
Change in fair value (214 ) (700 )
Transfer out of Level 3 fair value hierarchy — (3,900 )
Change in fair value 279 —
Settlement of Indemnification Holdback liability (896 ) —
Balance at December 31, 2023 $ — $ —
132
The Contingent Milestone and Indemnification Holdback liability is included in other liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2022. There was no outstanding balance related to the Contingent Milestone and Indemnification Holdback liability as of December 31, 2023.
4. Financial Instruments
The fair value and amortized cost of cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments by major security type are presented in the following table (in thousands):
AmortizedCost UnrealizedGain UnrealizedLoss EstimatedFairValue
Cash equivalents and investments:
Total cash equivalents and investments $ 278,116 $ — $ — $ 278,116
Classified as:
Total cash equivalents and investments $ 278,116
AmortizedCost UnrealizedGain UnrealizedLoss EstimatedFairValue
Cash equivalents and investments:
Classified as:
Cash equivalents - restricted 100,000
Total cash equivalents, restricted cash equivalents and investments $ 247,942
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, there have been no significant realized gains or losses on available-for-sale investments, no investments have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for more than 12 months, and the Company did not recognize any credit losses on these securities.
5. Balance Sheet Components
Inventory
Inventory consists of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
Raw materials $ 2,998 $ —
133
Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
Accrued compensation and related benefits $ 20,939 $ 14,660
Accrued professional service fees 7,941 5,372
Accrued manufacturing and non-clinical costs 9,922 3,927
Accrued interest 2,108 —
Accrued milestone payments — 15,000
6. Revenue Interest Purchase Agreement
In December 2020, the Company entered into the RIPA, as amended in September 2021, with Oberland as agent for the Purchasers, and the Purchasers to obtain financing for the commercialization and further development of Livmarli and other working capital needs. Pursuant to the RIPA, the Company has received $115.0 million consisting of an upfront payment of $50.0 million in December 2020 and $65.0 million in April 2021 associated with the acceptance for filing by the FDA of a New Drug Application for Livmarli for the treatment of cholestatic pruritus in patients with ALGS, less certain transaction expenses.
Under the RIPA, the Company was entitled to receive an additional $35.0 million upon FDA approval of Livmarli, which it elected to forgo. The Company was also entitled to receive up to approximately $50.0 million at the option of the Purchasers to finance in-licenses or other acquisitions on or prior to December 31, 2022, which the Company did not request.
As consideration for such payments, the Purchasers had the right to receive the Revenue Interests from the Company based on annual product sales, net of Livmarli, in tiered payments (the “Revenue Interest Payments”) based on whether annual product sales, net were (i) less than or equal to $350.0 million (“Tier 1”), (ii) exceeding $350.0 million and less than or equal to $1.1 billion (“Tier 2”), or (iii) exceeding $1.1 billion (“Tier 3”). The Revenue Interest Payments were initially 9.75% (at Tier 1) and 2.0% (at Tier 2 and Tier 3) of such annual net sales.
Under the RIPA, the Company had an option (the “Call Option”) to terminate the RIPA and repurchase future Revenue Interests at any time upon advance written notice. Additionally, the Purchasers had an option (the “Put Option”) to terminate the RIPA and to require the Company to repurchase future Revenue Interests upon enumerated events such as a bankruptcy event, an uncured material breach, a material adverse effect or a change of control, or upon the 12th anniversary of the first payment made by Purchasers. If the Put Option is exercised prior to the first anniversary of the closing date by the Purchasers (except pursuant to a change of control), the required repurchase price is 120.0% of the Cumulative Purchaser Payments (minus all payments Company has made to the Purchasers in connection with the Revenue Interests). In all other cases, if the Put Option or the Call Option are exercised, the required repurchase price is 175.0% of the Cumulative Purchaser Payments (minus all payments the Company has made to the Purchasers in connection with the Revenue Interests), if such option is exercised prior to the third anniversary of the closing date, and 195.0% of the Cumulative Purchaser Payments (minus all payments Company has made to the Purchasers in connection with the Revenue Interests) if such option is exercised thereafter.
In addition, the RIPA contained various representations and warranties, information rights, non-financial and financial covenants, indemnification obligations and other provisions that are customary for a transaction of this nature. The Purchasers’ obligations to fund the scheduled installments were subject to certain customary conditions as set forth in the RIPA.
134
Concurrently with the RIPA, the Company entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement (“CSPA”) with certain affiliates of Oberland, pursuant to which the Company sold an aggregate of 509,164 shares of its common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $10.0 million. The $50.0 million upfront payment received pursuant to the RIPA and $10.0 million received pursuant to the CSPA was allocated between the resulting financial instruments on a relative fair value basis, with $49.2 million allocated to the debt under the RIPA and $10.8 million allocated to the common stock issued under the CSPA.
The Put Option under the RIPA that was exercisable by Purchasers upon certain contingent events was determined to be an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation and separately accounted for as a single compound derivative instrument. The Company recorded the initial fair value of the derivative liability of $1.3 million as a debt discount, which was amortized to interest expense over the expected term of the debt using the effective interest method.
The Company imputed interest expense associated with the revenue interest liability using the effective interest rate method. The effective interest rate was calculated based on the rate that would enable the debt to be repaid in full over the anticipated life of the arrangement. The interest rate on this liability was variable during the term of the agreement depending on a number of factors, including the level of forecasted product sales, net. The Company evaluated the interest rate quarterly based on each period's product sales, net forecasts utilizing the prospective method. The Company recorded interest expense related to this arrangement of $5.1 million, $16.0 million and $17.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
The Company incurred $0.9 million of issuance costs in connection with the RIPA, which were being amortized to interest expense over the estimated term of the debt.
In April 2023, the Company exercised the Call Option and repurchased all future Revenue Interests. In connection with such repurchase, the Company made a payment of $192.7 million, or 175% of the Cumulative Purchaser Payments (minus all payments that were made to the Purchasers in connection with the Revenue Interests). As a result, the RIPA terminated in accordance with its terms.
The following table summarizes the revenue interest liability activity during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
Revenue Interest Liability Derivative Liability
Interest expense recognized 15,979 —
Revenue interest payments (5,551 ) —
Change in fair value — (906 )
Interest expense recognized 5,060 —
Revenue interest payments (2,883 ) —
Revenue interest liability settlement (192,694 ) —
Revenue interest liability at December 31, 2023 $ — $ —
The net loss from termination of the RIPA of $49.1 million, comprised of the $50.2 million loss related to the settlement of the revenue interest liability and the $1.1 million gain on the derecognition of the related derivative liability, was recorded in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. As of December 31, 2023, there were no outstanding balances related to the revenue interest liability and the derivative liability.
7. Asset Acquisitions
Asset Purchase Agreement with Travere Therapeutics, Inc.
On August 31, 2023, the Company completed the Bile Acid Portfolio Acquisition.
135
In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Purchase Agreement, the Company purchased from Travere substantially all of the assets related to its business of development, manufacturing (including synthesis, formulation, finishing or packaging) and commercialization of the Bile Acid Medicines. The Company paid $210.4 million upon closing of the transaction, and up to an additional $235.0 million is payable upon the achievement of certain milestones based on specified amounts of annual net sales of the Bile Acid Medicines. The Company assessed the fair value of this contingent consideration in its determination of whether the acquisition of the Bile Acid Portfolio should be accounted for as an asset acquisition. The Company estimated the fair value of the contingent consideration using a Monte Carlo simulation model, which includes the amount and timing of revenue projections subsequent to the acquisition date as a significant assumption.
The Company and Travere concurrently entered into a transitional services agreement pursuant to which Travere is obligated to perform certain services for a period of time, not anticipated to last beyond 12 months post-close, with respect to the Company’s use and operation of the assets purchased.
The Company accounted for the transaction as an asset acquisition as substantially all the fair value of the gross assets acquired was concentrated in a group of similar identifiable assets, namely, the developed technology related to the Bile Acid Medicines. The developed technology asset consists of certain processes and at-market contracts related to the manufacture and commercialization of the Bile Acid Medicines, regulatory approvals, and other assets, and are considered a single asset as they are interdependently linked. The Company estimated the fair value of the developed technology asset using the discounted cash flow method. This approach incorporates significant estimates and assumptions related to the forecasted results including, but not limited to, estimates and assumptions regarding revenues, expenses, and discount rates to estimate future cash flows. The Company determined that the developed technology asset acquired was commercially viable and the cost of the acquisition was recorded as an intangible asset in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023. The acquired assets are amortizable for tax purposes.
The Company is obligated to pay tiered royalties, based on licensing agreements acquired with the Bile Acid Medicines, with rates ranging from high single digit to mid-teens based on net sales of the Bile Acid Medicines.
The following represents the consideration paid and allocation of the purchase price for the acquisition of the Bile Acid Medicines (in thousands):
Transaction costs 2,384
Total purchase consideration 212,762
Assets acquired:
Intangible assets - developed technology 198,513
Intangible assets - assembled workforce 970
Other current and noncurrent assets 379
Total assets acquired $ 212,762
The Company amortizes the acquired intangible assets straight-line over their estimated useful lives of 12.5 years for developed technology and 3 years for assembled workforce (Note 2).
Assignment and License Agreement with Shire International GmbH (Takeda)
In November 2018, the Company entered into an Assignment and License Agreement (the “Shire Agreement”) with Shire International GmbH (“Shire”), which was subsequently acquired by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Takeda”). Under the terms of the Shire Agreement, Shire granted the Company an exclusive, royalty bearing worldwide license to develop and commercialize its two product candidates, Livmarli and volixibat. As part of the Shire Agreement, the Company was assigned license agreements held by Shire with Satiogen, Pfizer Inc. (“Pfizer”) and Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (“Sanofi”). The Company has the right to sublicense under the Shire Agreement and additionally has the right to sublicense under the Satiogen, Pfizer and Sanofi licenses subject to the terms of those license agreements.
136