(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and include the results of operations of the Company and its majority owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires management of the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include research and development and share-based compensation accounting, which are largely dependent on the fair value of the Company's equity securities. In addition, the Company recognizes Zanaflex revenue based on estimated prescriptions filled. The Company adjusts its Zanaflex inventory value based on an estimate of inventory that may be returned. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition
Ampyra
Ampyra is available only through a network of specialty pharmacy providers that provide the medication to patients by mail, Kaiser Permanente (Kaiser), and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Ampyra is not available in retail pharmacies. The Company applies the revenue recognition guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) 104 and does not recognize revenue from product sales until there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, delivery has occurred, the price is fixed and determinable, the buyer is obligated to pay the Company, the obligation to pay is not contingent on resale of the product, the buyer has economic substance apart from the Company, the Company has no obligation to bring about the sale of the product, the amount of returns can be reasonably estimated and collectability is reasonably assured. The Company recognizes product sales of Ampyra following shipment of product to a network of specialty pharmacy providers, Kaiser and the specialty distributor to the VA. As of March 31, 2011, inventory levels at specialty pharmacy providers that distribute Ampyra (excluding Kaiser and the specialty distributor to the VA) were approximately two weeks of their anticipated usage. The specialty pharmacy providers, Kaiser and the specialty distributor to the VA are contractually obligated to hold no more than 30 days of inventory.
The Company's net revenues represent total revenues less allowances for customer credits, including estimated rebates, discounts and returns. These allowances are recorded for cash consideration given by a vendor to a customer that is presumed to be a reduction of the selling prices of the vendor's products or services and, therefore, are characterized as a reduction of revenue. At the time product is shipped to specialty pharmacies, Kaiser and the specialty distributor to the VA, an adjustment is recorded for estimated rebates, discounts and returns. These allowances are established by management as its best estimate based on available information and will be adjusted to reflect known changes in the factors that impact such allowances. Allowances for rebates, discounts and returns are established based on the contractual terms with customers, communications with customers and the levels of inventory remaining in the distribution channel, as well as expectations about the market for the product and anticipated introduction of competitive products. Product shipping and handling costs are included in cost of sales.
Based on the Company's specialty distribution model where it sells to only 12 specialty pharmacies, Kaiser and the VA (through a specialty distributor), the inventory and prescription data it receives from these distributors, and returns experience of other specialty products with similar selling models, the Company has been able to make a reasonable estimate for product returns. At March 31, 2011, inventory levels at the specialty pharmacies (excluding Kaiser and the specialty distributor to the VA) represented approximately two weeks of their anticipated usage. The Company will accept returns of Ampyra for two months prior to and six months after the product expiration date. The Company will provide a credit for such returns to customers with whom we have a direct relationship. Once product is prescribed, it cannot be returned. The Company does not exchange product from inventory for the returned product.
Zanaflex
The Company applies the revenue recognition guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 605-15-25, which among other criteria requires that future returns can be reasonably estimated in order to recognize revenue. The amount of future tablet returns is uncertain due to generic competition and customer conversion to Zanaflex Capsules. The Company has accumulated some sales history with Zanaflex Capsules; however, due to existing and potential generic competition and customer conversion from Zanaflex tablets to Zanaflex Capsules, we do not believe we can reasonably determine a return rate at this time. As a result, the Company accounts for these product shipments using a deferred revenue recognition model. Under the deferred revenue model, the Company does not recognize revenue upon product shipment. For these product shipments, the Company invoices the wholesaler, records deferred revenue at gross invoice sales price, and classifies the cost basis of the product held by the wholesaler as a component of inventory. The Company recognizes revenue when prescribed to the end-user, on a first-in first-out (FIFO) basis. The Company's revenue to be recognized is based on (1) the estimated prescription demand, based on pharmacy sales for its products; and (2) the Company's analysis of third-party information, including third-party market research data. The Company's estimates are subject to the inherent limitations of estimates that rely on third-party data, as certain third-party information was itself in the form of estimates, and reflect other limitations. The Company's sales and revenue recognition reflects the Company's estimates of actual product prescribed to the end-user. The Company expects to be able to apply a more traditional revenue recognition policy such that revenue is recognized following shipment to the customer when it believes it has sufficient data to develop reasonable estimates of expected returns based upon historical returns and greater certainty regarding generic competition.
The Company's net revenues represent total revenues less allowances for customer credits, including estimated discounts, rebates, and chargebacks. These allowances are recorded for cash consideration given by a vendor to a customer that is presumed to be a reduction of the selling prices of the vendor's products or services and, therefore, should be characterized as a reduction of revenue when recognized in the vendor's statement of operations. Adjustments are recorded for estimated chargebacks, rebates, and discounts. These allowances are established by management as its best estimate based on available information and are adjusted to reflect known changes in the factors that impact such allowances. Allowances for chargebacks, rebates and discounts are established based on the contractual terms with customers, analysis of historical levels of discounts, chargebacks and rebates, communications with customers and the levels of inventory remaining in the distribution channel, as well as expectations about the market for each product and anticipated introduction of competitive products. In addition, the Company records a charge to cost of goods sold for the cost basis of the estimated product returns the Company believes may ultimately be realized at the time of product shipment to wholesalers. The Company has recognized this charge at the date of shipment since it is probable that it will receive a level of returned products; upon the return of such product it will be unable to resell the product considering its expiration dating; and it can reasonably estimate a range of returns. This charge represents the cost basis for the low end of the range of the Company's estimated returns. Product shipping and handling costs are included in cost of sales.
Milestones and royalties
In order to determine the revenue recognition for contingent milestones, the Company evaluates the contingent milestones using the criteria as provided by the Financial Accounting Standards Boards (FASB) guidance on the milestone method of revenue recognition at the inception of a collaboration agreement. The criteria requires that (i) the Company determines if the milestone is commensurate with either its performance to achieve the milestone or the enhancement of value resulting from the Company's activities to achieve the milestone, (ii) the milestone be related to past performance, and (iii) the milestone be reasonable relative to all deliverable and payment terms of the collaboration arrangement. If these criteria are met then the contingent milestones can be considered as substantive milestones and will be recognized as revenue in the period that the milestone is achieved. Royalties are recognized as earned in accordance with the terms of various research and collaboration agreements.
Collaborations
The Company recognizes collaboration revenues and expenses by analyzing each element of the agreement to determine if it shall be accounted for as a separate element or single unit of accounting. If an element shall be treated separately for revenue recognition purposes, the revenue recognition principles most appropriate for that element are applied to determine when revenue shall be recognized. If an element shall not be treated separately for revenue recognition purposes, the revenue recognition principles most appropriate for the bundled group of elements are applied to determine when revenue shall be recognized. Payments received in excess of revenues recognized are recorded as deferred revenue until such time as the revenue recognition criteria have been met.
Ampyra Inventory
Prior to regulatory approval of Ampyra in the three-month period ended March 31, 2010, the Company incurred expenses for the manufacture of bulk, unpackaged product of Ampyra that ultimately became available to support the commercial launch of this drug candidate. Until the necessary initial regulatory approval was received, we charged all such amounts to research and development expenses as there was no alternative future use prior to regulatory approval. As a result, our initial sales of Ampyra resulted in higher gross margins than if the inventory costs had not previously been expensed. Upon regulatory approval of Ampyra, the Company began capitalizing the commercial inventory costs associated with manufacturing with Elan and its second manufacturer, Patheon.
Concentration of Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of investments in cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and accounts receivable. The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash with approved financial institutions. The Company is exposed to credit risks and liquidity risks in the event of default by the financial institutions or issuers of investments in excess of FDIC insured limits. The Company performs periodic evaluations of the relative credit standing of these financial institutions and limits the amount of credit exposure with any institution.
Segment Information
The Company is managed and operated as one business. The entire business is managed by a single management team that reports to the chief executive officer. The Company does not operate separate lines of business with respect to any of its product candidates. Accordingly, the Company does not prepare discrete financial information with respect to separate product candidates or by location and does not have separately reportable segments.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2010-17, Revenue Recognition - Milestone Method (ASU 2010-17). ASU 2010-17 provides guidance in applying the milestone method of revenue recognition to research or development arrangements. Under this guidance management may recognize a payment that is contingent upon the achievement of a substantive milestone in its entirety in the period in which the milestone is achieved. This ASU is effective on a prospective basis for research and development milestones achieved in fiscal years, beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Early adoption is permitted; however, the Company has elected to implement ASU 2010-17 prospectively, and as a result, the effect of this guidance will be limited to future milestones. Adoption of this standard may have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations with regards to future milestones or arrangements.
In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-13, Revenue Recognition - Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements (ASU 2010-13). This new standard impacts the determination of when the individual deliverables included in a multiple-element arrangement may be treated as separate units of accounting. Additionally, these new standards modify the manner in which the transaction consideration is allocated across the separately identified deliverables by no longer permitting the residual method of allocating arrangement consideration. The Company adopted this new standard in the first quarter of 2011. It did not have an impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-27, Fees Paid to the Federal Government by Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (ASU 2010-27). ASU 2010-27 provides guidance concerning the recognition and classification of the new annual fee payable by branded prescription drug manufacturers and importers on branded prescription drugs which was mandated under the health care reform legislation enacted in the U.S. in March 2010. Under this new accounting standard, the annual fee would be presented as a component of operating expenses and recognized over the calendar year such fees are payable using a straight-line method of allocation unless another method better allocates the fee over the calendar year. This ASU is effective for calendar years beginning on or after December 31, 2010, when the fee initially becomes effective. The Company adopted this new standard in the first quarter of 2011. It did not have an impact its consolidated financial statements.