This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward‑looking statements relating to future events and our future performance within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Stockholders are cautioned that such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including: The ability to realize the benefits anticipated from the Biotie Therapies transaction and the Civitas Therapeutics transaction, among other reasons because acquired development programs are generally subject to all the risks inherent in the drug development process and our knowledge of the risks specifically relevant to acquired programs generally improves over time; the ability to successfully integrate Biotie Therapies' operations and Civitas's operations respectively, into our operations; we may need to raise additional funds to finance our expanded operations and may not be able to do so on acceptable terms; our ability to successfully market and sell Ampyra (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg in the U.S.; third party payers (including governmental agencies) may not reimburse for the use of Ampyra or our other products at acceptable rates or at all and may impose restrictive prior authorization requirements that limit or block prescriptions; the risk of unfavorable results from future studies of Ampyra or from our other research and development programs, including CVT-301 or any other acquired or in-licensed programs; we may not be able to complete development of, obtain regulatory approval for, or successfully market CVT-301 or any other products under development, or the products that we acquired with the Biotie Therapies transaction; the occurrence of adverse safety events with our products; delays in obtaining or failure to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of or to successfully market Fampyra outside of the U.S. and our dependence on our collaborator Biogen in connection therewith; competition; failure to protect our intellectual property, to defend against the intellectual property claims of others or to obtain third party intellectual property licenses needed for the commercialization of our products; and failure to comply with regulatory requirements could result in adverse action by regulatory agencies. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate and management's beliefs and assumptions. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this report regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "projects," "will," "would," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make, and investors should not place undue reliance on these statements. In addition to the risks and uncertainties described above, we have included important factors in the cautionary statements included in this report and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, particularly in the "Risk Factors" section (as updated by the disclosures in our subsequent quarterly reports, including this report), that we believe could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments that we may make. Forward-looking statements in this report are made only as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this report.
We and our subsidiaries own several registered trademarks in the U.S. and in other countries. These registered trademarks include, in the U.S., the marks "Acorda Therapeutics," our stylized Acorda Therapeutics logo, "Ampyra," "Zanaflex," "Zanaflex Capsules," "Qutenza" and "ARCUS." Also, our mark "Fampyra" is a registered mark in the European Community Trademark Office and we have registrations or pending applications for this mark in other jurisdictions. Our trademark portfolio also includes several registered trademarks and pending trademark applications (e.g., "Plumiaz") in the U.S. and worldwide for potential product names or for disease awareness activities. Third party trademarks, trade names, and service marks used in this report are the property of their respective owners.
ACORDA THERAPEUTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Item 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our consolidated financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Background
We are a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies that restore function and improve the lives of people with neurological disorders. We market three FDA-approved therapies, including Ampyra (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg, a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis, or MS, as demonstrated by an increase in walking speed. We have a pipeline of novel neurological therapies addressing a range of disorders, including Parkinson's disease, post-stroke walking difficulties, migraine, and MS.
Biotie Acquisition
In January 2016, we announced that we had entered into a combination agreement to acquire Biotie Therapies Corp. On September 30, 2016, we completed the acquisition of 100% of the capital stock of Biotie. Previously, in April and May, 2016, we had acquired approximately 97% of the fully diluted capital stock of Biotie pursuant to public tender offers. On September 30, 2016, we acquired shares representing the remaining approximately 3% of Biotie's fully diluted capital stock pursuant to compulsory redemption proceedings under Finnish law that we had initiated in April 2016. Pursuant to these redemption proceedings, we were entitled to acquire these remaining Biotie shares in exchange for our provision of a cash security deposit pending a final determination and payment of the redemption price for these shares.
As a result of the acquisition, we have obtained worldwide rights to tozadenant, an oral adenosine A2a receptor antagonist currently in Phase 3 development as an adjunctive treatment to levodopa in Parkinson's disease patients to reduce OFF time. A2a receptor antagonists have the potential to be the first new class of drug for Parkinson's disease in over 20 years. We believe that tozadenant will be complementary to our other Phase 3 product for Parkinson's disease, CVT-301, because while tozadenant is aimed at reducing overall OFF time, CVT-301 is aimed at rapid improvement of OFF periods when they occur. The tozadenant Phase 3 clinical trial is currently enrolling and Biotie expects that the efficacy phase of this trial will be clinically complete by the end of 2017, with the safety phase continuing thereafter. We project that, if approved, tozadenant could generate peak annual U.S. net revenue of more than $400 million.
Further expanding our pipeline, with the acquisition of Biotie, we have also obtained global rights to SYN-120, an oral, 5-HT6/5-HT2A dual receptor antagonist for Parkinson's-related dementia, in Phase 2 development with support from the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Also, Biotie receives double digit royalties from sales of Selincro, a European Medicines Agency (EMA)-approved orally administered therapy for alcohol dependence therapy. Selincro has been introduced across Europe by Biotie's partner, H. Lundbeck A/S, a Danish pharmaceutical company specializing in central nervous system products. Selincro is not approved for use in the U.S. and is not under development for use in the U.S.
2016 Financing Transactions
Concurrently with the announcement of the Biotie transaction described above, we announced two separate financing transactions. The first was a private placement of 2,250,900 shares of our common stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $75 million. We paid discounts and commissions of $2,250,900 in connection with the private placement, which settled on January 26, 2016. We used the net proceeds from the private placement to fund, in part, the Biotie acquisition. We also announced a commitment from JPMorgan Chase, N.A. for an asset-based credit facility for up to $60 million, which we entered into on June 1, 2016. Availability under the facility is subject to a borrowing base, which is based on our and certain of our U.S. subsidiaries' eligible accounts receivable, inventory and equipment, after adjusting for customary factors that are subject to modification from time to time by the administrative agent under the facility at its discretion (not to be exercised unreasonably). Based on our eligible accounts receivable and inventory and other components of the borrowing base, the availability under the facility was approximately $60 million as of September 30, 2016.
Ampyra
General
Ampyra was approved by the FDA in January 2010 for the improvement of walking in people with MS. To our knowledge, Ampyra is the first and only drug approved for this indication. Efficacy was shown in people with all four major types of MS (relapsing remitting, secondary progressive, progressive relapsing and primary progressive). Ampyra was made commercially available in the U.S. in March 2010. Net revenue for Ampyra was $128.8 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and $117.0 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2015.
Since the March 2010 launch of Ampyra, more than 110,000 people with MS in the U.S. have tried Ampyra. We believe that Ampyra is increasingly considered by many neurologists a standard of care to improve walking in people with MS. As of September 30, 2016, approximately 70% of all people with MS who were prescribed Ampyra received a first refill, and approximately 40% of all people with MS who were prescribed Ampyra have been dispensed at least six months of the medicine through refills, consistent with previously reported trends. These refill rates exclude patients who started Ampyra through our 60 day free trial program. Our 60 day free trial program provides eligible patients with two months of Ampyra at no cost. During the first three quarters of 2016, on average, approximately 80% of new Ampyra patients were enrolled in our 60 day free trial program. The program is in its fifth year, and data show that participants in the 60 day free trial program have higher compliance and persistency rates over time compared to patients that are not in the program. Approximately 50% of patients who initiate Ampyra therapy with the 60 day free trial program convert to paid prescriptions.
Ampyra is marketed in the U.S. through our own specialty sales force and commercial infrastructure. We currently have approximately 90 sales representatives in the field calling on a priority target list of approximately 7,000 physicians. We also have established teams of Medical Science Liaisons, Regional Reimbursement Directors, and Market Access Account Directors who provide information and assistance to payers and physicians on Ampyra; National Trade Account Directors who work with our limited network of specialty pharmacies; and Market Development Managers who work collaboratively with field teams and corporate personnel to assist in the execution of our strategic initiatives.
Ampyra is distributed in the U.S. exclusively through a limited network of specialty pharmacy providers that deliver the medication to patients by mail; Kaiser Permanente, which distributes Ampyra to patients through a closed network of on-site pharmacies and ASD Specialty Healthcare, Inc. (an AmerisourceBergen affiliate), which distributes Ampyra to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, and other federal agencies. The specialty pharmacy providers that deliver Ampyra by mail, and Kaiser Permanente, are contractually obligated to hold no more than an agreed number of days of inventory, ranging from 10 to 30 calendar days, and some have agreed to hold a minimum of 10 business days of inventory.
We have contracted with a third party organization with extensive experience in coordinating patient benefits to run Ampyra Patient Support Services, or APSS, a dedicated resource that coordinates the prescription process among healthcare providers, people with MS, and insurance carriers. Processing of most incoming requests for prescriptions by APSS begins within 24 hours of receipt. Patients will experience a range of times to receive their first shipment based on the processing time for insurance requirements. As with any prescription product, patients who are members of benefit plans that have restrictive prior authorizations may experience delays in receiving their prescription.
Three of the largest national health plans in the U.S. – Aetna, Cigna and United Healthcare – have listed Ampyra on their commercial formulary. Approximately 75% of insured individuals in the U.S. continue to have no or limited prior authorizations, or PA's, for Ampyra. We define limited PAs as those that require only an MS diagnosis, documentation of no contraindications, and/or simple documentation that the patient has a walking impairment; such documentation may include a Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25W) test. The access figure is calculated based on the number of pharmacy lives reported by health plans.
License and Collaboration Agreement with Biogen
Ampyra is marketed as Fampyra outside the U.S. by Biogen International GmbH, or Biogen, under a license and collaboration agreement that we entered into in June 2009. Fampyra has been approved in a number of countries across Europe, Asia and the Americas. Biogen anticipates making Fampyra available in additional markets in 2016. Under our agreement with Biogen, we are entitled to receive double-digit tiered royalties on sales of Fampyra and we are also entitled to receive additional payments based on achievement of certain regulatory and sales milestones. We received a $25 million milestone payment from Biogen in 2011, which was triggered by Biogen's receipt of conditional approval from the European
Commission for Fampyra. The next expected milestone payment would be $15 million, due when ex-U.S. net sales exceed $100 million over four consecutive quarters.
Ampyra Patent Update
We have five issued patents listed in the Orange Book for Ampyra, as follows:
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The first is U.S. Patent No. 8,007,826, with claims relating to methods to improve walking in patients with MS by administering 10 mg of sustained release 4-aminopyridine (dalfampridine) twice daily. Based on the final patent term adjustment calculation of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, this patent will extend into 2027.
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The second is U.S. Patent No. 5,540,938, the claims of which relate to methods for treating a neurological disease, such as MS, and cover the use of a sustained release dalfampridine formulation, such as AMPYRA (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg for improving walking in people with MS. In April 2013, this patent received a five year patent term extension under the patent restoration provisions of the Hatch-Waxman Act. With a five year patent term extension, this patent will expire in 2018. We have an exclusive license to this patent from Alkermes (originally with Elan, but transferred to Alkermes as part of its acquisition of Elan's Drug Technologies business).
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The third is U.S. Patent No. 8,354,437, which includes claims relating to methods to improve walking, increase walking speed, and treat walking disability in patients with MS by administering 10 mg of sustained release 4-aminopyridine (dalfampridine) twice daily. This patent is set to expire in 2026.
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The fourth is U.S. Patent No. 8,440,703, which includes claims directed to methods of improving lower extremity function and walking and increasing walking speed in patients with MS by administering less than 15 mg of sustained release 4-aminopyridine (dalfampridine) twice daily. This patent is set to expire in 2025.
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The fifth is U.S. Patent No. 8,663,685 with claims relating to methods to improve walking in patients with MS by administering 10 mg of sustained release 4-aminopyridine (dalfampridine) twice daily. Absent patent term adjustment, the patent is set to expire in 2025.
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Ampyra also has Orphan Drug designation, which gives it marketing exclusivity in the U.S. until January 2017.
Our Orange Book-listed patents for Ampyra are the subject of lawsuits relating to Paragraph IV Certification Notices received from several generic drug manufacturers, and also inter partes review (IPR) petitions filed by a hedge fund with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. An adverse outcome in these legal proceedings could result in our loss of some or all Orange-Book listed patents that we rely on for Ampyra. These legal proceedings are described in Part II, Item 1 of this report.
In 2011, the European Patent Office, or EPO, granted EP 1732548, with claims relating to, among other things, use of a sustained release aminopyridine composition, such as dalfampridine (known under the trade name Fampyra in the European Union), to increase walking speed. In March 2012, Synthon B.V. and neuraxpharm Arzneimittel GmBH filed oppositions with the EPO challenging the EP 1732548 patent. We defended the patent, and in December 2013, we announced that the EPO Opposition Division upheld amended claims in this patent covering a sustained release formulation of dalfampridine for increasing walking in patients with MS through twice-daily dosing at 10 mg. Both Synthon B.V. and neuraxpharm Arzneimittel GmBH have appealed the decision. In December 2013, Synthon B.V., neuraxpharm Arzneimittel GmBH and Actavis Group PTC EHF filed oppositions with the EPO challenging our EP 2377536 patent, which is a divisional of the EP 1732548 patent. On February 24, 2016, the EPO Opposition Division rendered a decision that revoked the EP 2377536 patent. We believe the claims of this patent are valid and we have appealed the decision. Both European patents, if upheld as valid, are set to expire in 2025, absent any additional exclusivity granted based on regulatory review timelines. Fampyra also has 10 years of market exclusivity in the European Union that is set to expire in 2021.
We will vigorously defend our intellectual property rights.
Zanaflex
Zanaflex Capsules and Zanaflex tablets are FDA-approved as short-acting drugs for the management of spasticity, a symptom of many central nervous system disorders, including MS and spinal cord injury. These products contain tizanidine
hydrochloride, one of the two leading drugs used to treat spasticity. In 2012, Apotex commercially launched a generic version of tizanidine hydrochloride capsules, and we also launched our own authorized generic version, which is being marketed by an Allergan subsidiary as part of its Actavis business (originally Watson Pharma, Inc.). In March 2013, Mylan Pharmaceuticals commercially launched their own generic version of Zanaflex Capsules. The commercial launch of generic tizanidine hydrochloride capsules has caused a significant decline in net revenue from the sale of Zanaflex Capsules, and the launch of these generic versions and the potential launch of other generic versions is expected to cause our net revenue from Zanaflex Capsules to decline further in 2016 and beyond.
Qutenza
Qutenza is a dermal patch containing 8% prescription strength capsaicin the effects of which can last up to three months and is approved by the FDA for the management of neuropathic pain associated with post-herpetic neuralgia, also known as post-shingles pain. We acquired commercialization rights to Qutenza in July 2013 from NeurogesX, Inc. These rights include the U.S., Canada, Latin America and certain other territories. Qutenza was approved by the FDA in 2010 and launched in April 2010 but NeurogesX discontinued active promotion of the product in March 2012. In January 2014, we re-launched Qutenza in the U.S. using our existing commercial organization, including our specialty neurology sales force as well as our medical and safety reporting infrastructure.
Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. has exclusive commercialization rights for Qutenza in the European Economic Area (EEA) including the 28 countries of the European Union, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein as well as Switzerland, certain countries in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Research & Development Programs
We have a pipeline of novel neurological therapies addressing a range of disorders, including Parkinson's disease, post-stroke walking difficulties, migraine, and MS. Our pipeline includes the programs described below as well as the Biotie programs described above.
CVT-301, CVT-427 and ARCUS Technology
We acquired CVT-301 in October 2014 with our acquisition of Civitas Therapeutics, Inc. CVT-301 is a Phase 3 inhaled formulation of levodopa, or L-dopa, for the treatment of OFF periods in Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder resulting from the gradual loss of certain neurons in the brain responsible for producing dopamine. The disease is characterized by symptoms such as impaired ability to move, muscle stiffness and tremor. The standard of care for the treatment of Parkinson's disease is oral levodopa (L-dopa), but there are significant challenges in creating a dosing regimen that consistently maintains therapeutic effects as Parkinson's disease progresses. The re-emergence of symptoms is referred to as an OFF period, and despite optimized regimens with current therapeutic options and strategies, OFF periods remain one of the most challenging aspects of the disease.
CVT-301 is based on the proprietary ARCUS technology platform that we acquired with Civitas. The ARCUS technology is a dry-powder pulmonary delivery system that we believe has potential applications in multiple disease areas. This platform allows delivery of significantly larger doses of medication than are possible with conventional dry powder formulations. This in turn provides the potential for pulmonary delivery of a much wider variety of pharmaceutical agents.
In December 2014, we announced that the first patient was enrolled in a Phase 3 study of CVT-301 for the treatment of OFF periods in Parkinson's disease. The last patient out of the efficacy trial is expected by the end of 2016 and data is expected in the first quarter of 2017. We had a pre-NDA (New Drug Application) meeting with the FDA during the third quarter of 2016 and have received the FDA's minutes of that meeting. Based on the expected timing of the last patient out of the Phase 3 efficacy trial by the end of 2016, as well as the minutes confirming our conversation with the FDA, we expect to file the NDA submission in the second quarter of 2017. We expect that the NDA will be filed under section 505(b)(2) of the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, referencing data from the branded L-dopa product Sinemet®. Based on interactions with the FDA, we believe a single Phase 3 efficacy study will be needed for filing an NDA, supported by existing Phase 2b data. A separate long-term safety study is also required and is ongoing. This is a 12-month, open-label study evaluating CVT-301 against non-interventional standard of care. We expect data from the safety study in the first quarter of 2017. We are projecting that, if approved, annual peak net revenue of CVT-301 in the U.S. alone could exceed $500 million.
In June 2015, we presented data from a Phase 2b clinical trial of CVT-301 at the 19th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders (MDS). The data showed that patients experiencing an OFF period, treated
with CVT-301, experienced significantly greater improvements in motor function than patients treated with an inhaled placebo; the difference in improvement was already apparent 10 minutes after dosing and was durable for at least an hour, the longest time point at which patients were measured. In April 2016, data from this clinical trial were one of six platform presentations highlighted during the Movement Disorders Invited Science Session at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. In June 2016, data from this clinical trial was also presented in three posters during the 20th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders (MDS). In October 2016, we announced that results from Phase 1, Phase 2a and preclinical studies of CVT-301 were featured in the current edition of Science Translational Medicine.
In addition to CVT-301, we are exploring opportunities for other proprietary products in which inhaled delivery using our ARCUS technology can provide a significant therapeutic benefit to patients. For example, we are currently developing CVT-427, an inhaled triptan (zolmitriptan) intended for acute treatment of migraine by using the ARCUS delivery system. Triptans are the class of drug most commonly prescribed for the acute treatment of migraine. Oral triptans, which account for the majority of all triptan doses, can be associated with slow onset of action and gastrointestinal challenges. The slow onset of action, usually 30 minutes or longer, can result in poor response rates. Patients cite the need for rapid relief from migraine symptoms as their most desired medication attribute. Additionally, individuals with migraine may suffer from nausea and delayed gastric emptying which further impact the consistency and efficacy of the oral route of administration. Triptans delivered subcutaneously (injection) provide the most rapid onset of action, but are not convenient for patients. Many triptans are also available in a nasally-delivered formulation. However, based on available data, we believe that nasally-delivered triptans generally have an onset of action similar to orally administered triptans.
In December 2015, we initiated and completed a Phase 1 safety/tolerability and pharmacokinetic clinical trial of CVT-427 for acute treatment of migraine. Based on initial study analyses, we are planning to advance the development program and are designing protocols for the next studies. In June 2016, at the 58th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society, we presented pharmacokinetic data from the Phase 1 trial which showed that CVT-427 showed increased bioavailability and faster absorption compared to oral and nasal administration of the same active ingredient in healthy adults. In particular, the data showed that CVT-427 had a median Tmax of about 12 minutes for all dose levels compared to 1.5 hours for the oral tablet and 3.0 hours for the nasal spray. There were no serious adverse events, dose-limiting toxicities or study discontinuations due to adverse events reported after administration of CVT-427. The most commonly reported treatment-emergent adverse events were cough, chest discomfort, headache, and feeling hot. Apart from cough, single dose CVT-427 tolerability was generally consistent with the known safety profile of zolmitriptan. We initiated a special population study to evaluate safe inhalation in patients with asthma and in smokers in September, 2016 and, upon successful completion of the study, we plan to advance the program into Phase 2 in the first half of 2017.
Ampyra/Dalfampridine Development Programs
We believe there may be potential for dalfampridine to be applied to neurological conditions in addition to MS. In December 2014, we announced that the first patient was enrolled in a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the use of dalfampridine administered twice-daily (BID) to improve walking in people who are suffering from post-stroke walking difficulties (PSWD) after experiencing an ischemic stroke.
We have been exploring a once-daily (QD) formulation of dalfampridine for use in the post-stroke clinical program. We tested three prototype formulations based on in vitro testing, which did not demonstrate the alcohol dose dumping issue we identified in a prior QD formulation we had been developing. In March 2016, we completed Phase 1 pharmacokinetic studies for these formulations, and at least one of which met our success criteria. Data from the Phase 1 multi-dose pharmacokinetic testing for once-daily (QD) dalfampridine are expected in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Given the progress of our development of a once-daily (QD) formulation of dalfampridine, we have made the decision to stop enrollment of the Phase 3 clinical trial and conduct an unblinded analysis of the trial data. Data are expected in the fourth quarter of 2016. If the data for the Phase 3 BID clinical trial and the Phase 1 pharmacokinetic QD testing are positive, we plan to move forward with the Phase 3 program in the second half of 2017, contingent on discussions with the FDA and the outcomes of the ANDA litigation and the inter partes review proceedings relating to our Ampyra patents.
rHIgM22
We are developing rHIgM22, a remyelinating antibody, as a potential therapeutic for MS. We believe a therapy that could repair myelin sheaths has the potential to restore neurological function to those affected by demyelinating conditions. In April 2013, we initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial of rHIgM22 to assess the safety and tolerability of rHIgM22 in patients with MS. The study also includes several exploratory clinical, imaging and biomarker measures. We announced
top-line safety and tolerability results in February 2015. The trial, which followed participants for up to six months after receiving a single dose of rHIgM22, found no dose-limiting toxicities at any of the five dose levels studied. In April 2015, we presented additional safety data from this trial at the 67th American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting. The additional data showed that rHIgM22 was well tolerated in each of the five doses, supporting additional clinical development. In October 2015, we presented pharmacokinetics from the trial in patients with stable MS, confirming that rHIgM22 penetrates the central nervous system. This data was presented at the 31st Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) annual meeting. We are advancing clinical development of rHIgM22 for MS. We are currently enrolling a Phase 1 trial using one of two doses of rHIgM22 or placebo in people with MS who are experiencing an acute relapse. In addition to assessing safety and tolerability during an acute relapse, the study includes exploratory efficacy measures such as a timed walk, magnetization transfer ratio imaging of lesion myelination in the brain and various biomarkers. We expect to complete the trial in the second half of 2017.
Cimaglermin alfa /Neuregulins
Cimaglermin alfa is our lead product candidate for our neuregulin program. We have completed a cimaglermin Phase 1 clinical trial in heart failure patients. This was a dose-escalating trial designed to test the maximum tolerated single dose, with follow-up assessments at one, three, and six months. Data from this trial showed a dose-related improvement in ejection fraction in addition to safety findings. A dose-limiting report of hepatotoxicity (liver injury) was also identified in the highest planned dose cohort which resolved within several days.
In March 2015, we presented new analyses of data from this trial at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 64th Annual Scientific Session and Expo. These analyses found that cimaglermin produced a dose-dependent benefit at multiple time points for up to three months following a single infusion.
In October 2013, we commenced a second clinical trial of cimaglermin. This Phase 1b single-infusion trial in people with heart failure is assessing tolerability of three dose levels of cimaglermin, which were tested in the first trial, and also includes assessment of drug-drug interactions and several exploratory measures of efficacy. In June 2015 we announced that we had stopped enrollment in this trial based on the occurrence of a case of hepatotoxicity (liver injury) (elevated ALT, AST and bilirubin), based on blood test results. We also received a notification of clinical hold from the FDA following submission of this information, and the trial remains subject to this clinical hold. The abnormal blood tests resolved within several days, as was the case with the one case of hepatotoxicity reported in the previous Phase 1 study noted above. The 22 patients who were dosed in the trial have completed the pre-planned one year of follow up. Outside of the hepatotoxicity case, the safety profile from this trial was consistent with our first Phase 1 trial, but efficacy data was inconclusive which we believe was in part due to the very small number of patients in the trial. We have ongoing analyses and non-clinical studies to further define the nature of the bilirubin signal. We have met with the FDA to present analysis of the data from the cimaglermin studies, as well as data from non-clinical studies, as part of our request that the program be removed from clinical hold.
Chondroitinase Program
We are continuing research on the potential use of chondroitinases for the treatment of injuries to the brain and spinal cord, as well as other neurotraumatic indications. The chondroitinase program is in the research and translational development phase and has not yet entered formal preclinical development.
NP-1998
NP-1998 is a Phase 3 ready, 20% prescription strength capsaicin topical solution that we have been assessing for the treatment of neuropathic pain. We acquired rights to NP-1998 from NeurogesX, Inc. in 2013 in connection with our purchase of Qutenza, an FDA-approved dermal patch containing 8% prescription strength capsaicin. We acquired development and commercialization rights in the U.S., Canada, Latin America and certain other territories. Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. has an option to develop NP-1998 in the European Economic Area (EEA) including the 28 countries of the European Union, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein as well as Switzerland, certain countries in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. We believe this liquid formulation of the capsaicin-based therapy has key advantages over the Qutenza patch, and we believe NP-1998 has the potential to treat multiple neuropathies. However, we have no current plans to invest in further development of NP-1998 for neuropathic pain.
Corporate Update
In October, 2016 we announced the departure of Mr. Michael Rogers, our former Chief Financial Officer. Mr.
Rogers is expected to serve as a consultant to the company through the end of 2016.
In connection with Mr. Rogers' departure from the Company, David Lawrence, previously Chief of Business Operations, assumed the role of Chief, Business Operations and Principal Accounting Officer. He will also carry out principal financial officer responsibilities. Andrew Hindman, the Company's Chief Business Development Officer, assumed responsibility for Financial Planning and Analysis and Investor Relations.
Outlook for 2016
Financial Guidance for 2016
We are providing the following guidance with respect to our 2016 financial performance:
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We expect 2016 net revenue from the sale of Ampyra to range from $475 million to $485 million.
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Research and development (R&D) expenses in 2016 are expected to range from $195 million to $205 million, excluding share-based compensation charges.
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Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses in 2016 are expected to range from $195 million to $205 million, excluding share-based compensation charges and transaction expenses related to the Biotie acquisition. This SG&A guidance reflects the addition of the Biotie operations, offset by reductions in current and projected SG&A expenses. We set a high priority on managing selling, general and administrative expenses in 2016.
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We expect to be approximately cash flow neutral for the second half of 2016.
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The projected range of R&D and SG&A expenses in 2016 are provided on a non-GAAP basis, both excluding share-based compensation charges and in the case of SG&A expenses excluding Biotie transaction expenses. Due to the forward looking nature of this information, the amount of compensation charges and benefits needed to reconcile these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is dependent on future changes in the market price of our common stock and is not available at this time. Non-GAAP financial measures are not an alternative for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. However, we believe the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when viewed in conjunction with actual GAAP results, provide investors with a more meaningful understanding of our projected operating performance because they exclude non-cash charges that are substantially dependent on changes in the market price of our common stock and extraordinary transaction expenses. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures help indicate underlying trends in our business, and are important in comparing current results with prior period results and understanding expected operating performance. Also, our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to establish budgets and operational goals, and to manage our business and to evaluate its performance.
Development Pipeline Goals
Our planned goals and key initiatives with respect to our pipeline during 2016 and beyond are as follows:
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Continue progressing our Phase 3 clinical study of CVT-301 for the treatment of OFF periods in Parkinson's disease. The last patient out of the efficacy trial is expected by the end of 2016 and data is expected by the first quarter of 2017. We had a pre-NDA (New Drug Application) meeting with the FDA during the third quarter of 2016 and have received the FDA's minutes of that meeting. Based on the expected timing of the last patient out of the Phase 3 efficacy trial by the end of 2016, as well as the minutes confirming our conversation with the FDA, we expect to file the NDA submission in the second quarter of 2017. We also expect to announce data from our 12-month safety study, an open-label study evaluating CVT-301 against non-interventional standard of care, in the first quarter of 2017.
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Continue progressing Biotie's Phase 3 clinical trial of tozadenant, an oral adenosine A2a receptor antagonist being developed as an adjunctive treatment to levodopa in Parkinson's disease patients to reduce OFF time. The clinical trial is currently enrolling and Biotie expects that the efficacy phase of this trial will be clinically complete by the end of 2017, with the safety phase continuing thereafter.
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Proceed with an unblinded analysis of clinical trial data from our Phase 3 clinical trial assessing the use of a twice-daily (BID) formulation of dalfampridine as a treatment for post-stroke walking difficulties (PSWD) after experiencing an ischemic stroke. Data are expected in the fourth quarter of 2016. Data from the Phase 1 multi-dose pharmacokinetic testing for once-daily (QD) dalfampridine are also expected in the fourth quarter of 2016. If the
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data for both are positive, we plan to move forward with the Phase 3 program in the second half of 2017, contingent on discussions with the FDA and the outcomes of the ANDA litigation and the inter partes review proceedings relating to our Ampyra patents.
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Based on initial study analyses of a completed Phase 1 safety/tolerability and pharmacokinetic clinical trial of CVT-427, we are planning to advance the development program and are designing protocols for the next studies. We initiated a special population study to evaluate safe inhalation in patients with asthma and in smokers in September, 2016 and, upon successful completion of the study, we plan to advance the program into Phase 2 in the first half of 2017.
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In June 2015 we announced that we had stopped enrollment in our second clinical trial of cimaglermin based on the occurrence of a case of hepatotoxicity (liver injury) (elevated ALT, AST and bilirubin), based on blood test results. We also received a notification of clinical hold from the FDA following submission of this information, and the trial remains subject to the clinical hold. The 22 patients who were dosed in the trial have completed the pre-planned one year of follow up. Outside of the hepatotoxicity case, the safety profile from this trial was consistent with our first Phase 1 trial, but efficacy data was inconclusive which we believe was in part due to the very small number of patients in the trial. We have ongoing analyses and non-clinical studies to further define the nature of the bilirubin signal. We have met with the FDA to present analysis of the data from the cimaglermin studies, as well as data from non-clinical studies, as part of our request that the program be removed from clinical hold.
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We are currently enrolling a Phase 1 trial of rHIgM22 using one of two doses of rHIgM22 or placebo in people with MS who are experiencing an acute relapse. In addition to assessing safety and tolerability during an acute relapse, the study includes exploratory efficacy measures such as a timed walk, magnetization transfer ratio imaging of lesion myelination in the brain and various biomarkers. We expect to complete the trial in the second half of 2017.
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Results of Operations
Three-Month Period Ended September 30, 2016 Compared to September 30, 2015
Net Product Revenues
Ampyra
We recognize product sales of Ampyra following receipt of product by our network of specialty pharmacy providers, Kaiser Permanente and ASD Specialty Healthcare, Inc. We recognized net revenue from the sale of Ampyra to these customers of $128.8 million and $117.0 million for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, an increase of $11.8 million, or 10.1%. The net revenue increase was composed of net volume increases of $3.0 million due to greater demand, due in part to the success of certain marketing programs such as our 60 day free trial program and price increases net of discount and allowance adjustments of $8.8 million. Effective January 1, 2016, we increased our sale price to our customers by 10.95%.
Discounts and allowances which are included as an offset in net revenue consist of allowances for customer credits, including estimated chargebacks, rebates and discounts. Discounts and allowances are recorded following shipment of Ampyra tablets to our network of specialty pharmacy providers, Kaiser Permanente and ASD Specialty Healthcare, Inc. Adjustments are recorded for estimated chargebacks, rebates, and discounts. Discounts and allowances also consist of discounts provided to Medicare beneficiaries whose prescription drug costs cause them to be subject to the Medicare Part D coverage gap (i.e., the "donut hole"). Payment of coverage gap discounts is required under the Affordable Care Act, the health care reform legislation enacted in 2010. Discounts and allowances may increase as a percentage of sales as we enter into managed care contracts in the future.
Other Product Revenues
We recognized net revenue from the sale of other products of $(0.3) million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016, as compared to $24.3 million for the three-month period ended September 31, 2015, a decrease of $24.6 million. Other product revenues for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016 includes a charge of $1.3 million due to an increase in current and estimated future returns for Zanaflex. Other product revenues for the three-month period ended September 30, 2015 include the recognition of a one-time increase in net revenue of $22.2 million, representing previously deferred net product sales of Zanaflex resulting from the Company's change in revenue recognition policy to the sell-in method of revenue recognition.
Discounts and allowances, which are included as an offset in net revenue, consist of allowances for customer credits, including estimated chargebacks, rebates, returns and discounts.
License Revenue
We recognized $2.3 million in license revenue for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, related to the $110.0 million received from Biogen in 2009 as part of our collaboration agreement. We currently estimate the recognition period to be approximately 12 years from the date of the Collaboration Agreement.
Royalty Revenue
We recognized $2.6 million and $2.5 million in royalty revenue for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to ex-U.S. sales of Fampyra by Biogen.
We recognized $1.0 million and $2.1 million in royalty revenue for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to the authorized generic sale of Zanaflex Capsules.
We recognized $1.1 million in royalty revenue for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016 related to sales of Selincro.
Cost of Sales
We recorded cost of sales of $27.6 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016 as compared to $24.7 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2015. Cost of sales for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016 consisted primarily of $22.2 million in inventory costs related to recognized revenues, $2.9 million in royalty fees based on net product shipments and costs related to Biotie of $2.3 million.
Cost of sales for the three-month period ended September 30, 2015 consisted primarily of $20.8 million in inventory costs related to recognized revenues. Cost of sales for the three-month period ended September 30, 2015 also consisted of $2.6 million in royalty fees based on net product shipments, $0.1 million in amortization of intangible assets, and $0.1 million in period costs related to freight, stability testing, and packaging. Cost of sales also included $1.0 million, which represents the cost of Zanaflex Capsules authorized generic product sold for the three-month period ended September 30, 2015.
Cost of License Revenue
We recorded cost of license revenue of $0.2 million for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Cost of license revenue represents the recognition of a portion of the deferred $7.7 million paid to Alkermes in 2009 in connection with the $110.0 million received from Biogen as a result of our collaboration agreement.
Research and Development
Research and development expenses for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016 were $54.8 million as compared to $43.3 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2015, an increase of approximately $11.5 million, or 26.6%. The increase was due primarily to spending for products acquired as a result of the Biotie acquisition of $8.9 million and an increase in spending for CVT-301 and CVT-427 of $8.4 million. The increase was also due to additional research and development staffing costs of $2.4 million, and increased spending of $1.4 million for our Ampyra life cycle management program, partially offset by a reduction in spending of $8.4 million for our Plumiaz program which was discontinued in May 2016, and decreased spending on our cimaglermin program of $1.6 million.
Selling, General and Administrative
Sales and marketing expenses for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016 were $24.8 million compared to $25.1 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2015, a decrease of approximately $0.4 million, or 1.6%. The decrease was attributable to a decrease in overall marketing, selling, distribution, and market research expenses of $0.3 million, and other selling related expenses of $0.2 million, partially offset by an increase in compensation and benefits costs of $0.1 million.
General and administrative expenses for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016 were $30.0 million compared to $26.0 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2015, an increase of approximately $4.0 million, or 15.4%. This increase was primarily due to increases in legal expenses of $4.1 million and spending at Biotie of $1.1 million, partially offset by reductions in staff compensation and other expenses of $1.1 million.
Changes in Fair Value of Acquired Contingent Consideration
As a result of the original Civitas spin out of Alkermes, part of the consideration to Alkermes was a future royalty to be paid to Alkermes on Civitas products. Acorda acquired this contingent consideration as part of the Civitas acquisition. The fair value of that future royalty is assessed quarterly. We recorded expenses pertaining to changes in the fair-value of acquired contingent consideration of $3.7 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016 as compared to $3.2 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2015. Changes in the fair-value of the acquired contingent consideration were due to the re-calculation of discounted cash flows for the passage of time and updates to certain other estimated assumptions.
Other Income / Expense
Other expense was $4.5 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016 compared to other expense of $4.0 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2015, a difference of $0.5 million. The difference is due primarily to an increase in interest and amortization of debt discount expense of approximately $0.4 million and realized losses on foreign currency exchange of approximately $0.2 million, partially offset by a reduction in interest income of approximately $0.1 million.
Benefit from /Provision for Income Taxes
For the three-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company recorded a $3.0 million and $17.8 million provision for income taxes, respectively. The effective income tax rates for the Company for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 were 30% and 82%, respectively. The variance in the effective tax rates for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016 as compared to the three-month period ended September 30, 2015 was due primarily to the valuation allowance recorded on jurisdictions with pretax losses from the acquisition of Biotie during the three-month period ended June 30, 2016 for which no tax benefit can be recognized, partially offset by non-deductible $8.8 million payment in July 2015 to the former equity holders of Neuronex and the Company being able to receive a benefit in 2016 for the Federal research and development tax credits as a result of passed legislation making the tax credit permanent. The Company was not able to benefit from the Federal research and development tax credits for the three-month period ended September 30, 2015, however, the Company was able to receive the benefit for this tax credit in the effective tax rate at December 31, 2015.
The Company continues to evaluate the realizability of its deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis and will adjust such amounts in light of changing facts and circumstances including, but not limited to, future projections of taxable income, tax legislation, rulings by relevant tax authorities, the progress of ongoing tax audits and the regulatory approval of products currently under development. Any changes to the valuation allowance or deferred tax assets and liabilities in the future would impact the Company's income taxes.
Nine-Month Period Ended September 30, 2016 Compared to September 30, 2015
Net Product Revenues
Ampyra
We recognize product sales of Ampyra following receipt of product by our network of specialty pharmacy providers, Kaiser Permanente and ASD Specialty Healthcare, Inc. We recognized net revenue from the sale of Ampyra to these customers of $360.6 million as compared to $315.0 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, an increase of $45.6 million, or 14.5%. The net revenue increase was composed of net volume increases of $20.0 million, due to, in part, the success of certain marketing programs such as our 60 day free trial program and price increases net of discount and allowance adjustments of $25.6 million. Effective January 1, 2016, we increased our sale price to our customers by 10.95%.
Discounts and allowances which are included as an offset in net revenue consist of allowances for customer credits, including estimated chargebacks, rebates and discounts. Discounts and allowances are recorded following shipment of
Ampyra tablets to our network of specialty pharmacy providers, Kaiser and ASD Specialty Healthcare, Inc. Adjustments are recorded for estimated chargebacks, rebates, and discounts. Discounts and allowances also consist of discounts provided to Medicare beneficiaries whose prescription drug costs cause them to be subject to the Medicare Part D coverage gap (i.e., the "donut hole"). Payment of coverage gap discounts is required under the Affordable Care Act, the health care reform legislation enacted in 2010. Discounts and allowances may increase as a percentage of sales as we enter into managed care contracts in the future.
Other Product Revenues
We recognized net revenue from the sale of other products of $(1.2) million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016, as compared to $27.4 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, a decrease of $28.6 million. Other product revenues for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 includes a charge of $5.5 million due to an increase in current and estimated future returns for Zanaflex. Other product revenues for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015 include the recognition of a one-time increase in net revenue of $22.2 million, representing previously deferred net product sales of Zanaflex resulting from the Company's change in revenue recognition policy to the sell-in method of revenue recognition.
Discounts and allowances, which are included as an offset in net revenue, consist of allowances for customer credits, including estimated chargebacks, rebates, returns and discounts.
License Revenue
We recognized $6.8 million in license revenue for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, related to the $110.0 million received from Biogen in 2009 as part of our collaboration agreement. We currently estimate the recognition period to be approximately 12 years from the date of the Collaboration Agreement.
Royalty Revenues
We recognized $7.8 million and $7.3 million in royalty revenue for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively related to ex-U.S. sales of Fampyra by Biogen.
We recognized $3.1 million and $5.3 million in royalty revenue for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to the authorized generic sale of Zanaflex Capsules.
We recognized $1.9 million in royalty revenue for the period April 18, 2016 through September 30, 2016 related to sales of Selincro.
Cost of Sales
We recorded cost of sales of $77.3 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 as compared to $65.9 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015. Cost of sales for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 consisted primarily of $62.6 million in inventory costs related to recognized revenue, $8.2 million in royalty fees based on net product shipments and costs related to Biotie of $4.2 million. Cost of sales also included $1.5 million, which represents the cost of Zanaflex Capsules authorized generic product sold for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016.
Cost of sales for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015 consisted primarily of $55.6 million in inventory costs related to recognized revenues, $7.2 million in royalty fees based on net product shipments, $0.4 million in amortization of intangible assets, and $0.3 million in period costs related to freight, stability testing, and packaging. Cost of sales also included $2.5 million, which represents the cost of Zanaflex Capsules authorized generic product sold for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015.
Cost of License Revenue
We recorded cost of license revenue of $0.5 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Cost of license revenue represents the recognition of a portion of the deferred $7.7 million paid to Alkermes in 2009 in connection with the $110.0 million received from Biogen as a result of our collaboration agreement.
Research and Development
Research and development expenses for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 were $149.6 million as compared to $105.2 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, an increase of approximately $44.4 million, or 42.2%. The increase was primarily due to increased spending for CVT-301 and CVT-427 of $24.9 million, spending for products acquired as a result of the Biotie acquisition of $16.3 million, and an increase in overall research and development staff, compensation and related expenses of $6.8 million to support the research and development initiatives related to our product pipeline. The increase was also due to increases in expenses for various other research and development programs, including $5.6 million related to our life cycle management program for Ampyra. The increases in research and development expenses for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 were partially offset by decrease of $5.0 million related to the Plumiaz program, a decrease in spending of $3.4 million related to our Cimaglermin program and a decrease of $0.8 million related to the NP-1998 program.
Selling, General and Administrative
Sales and marketing expenses for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 were $77.3 million compared to $76.2 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, an increase of approximately $1.1 million, or 1.4%. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in compensation and benefits costs of $1.1 million.
General and administrative expenses for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 were $99.1 million compared to $76.4 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, an increase of approximately $22.7 million, or 29.7%. This increase was due primarily to an increase in business development costs of $10.0 million, spending at Biotie of $7.8 million, increased legal spending of $7.6 million and increased accounting and finance spending of $1.7 million. The increase in general and administrative expenses for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 were partially offset by a decrease in staff compensation and other expenses of $3.1 million and a decrease in spending on medical affairs of $1.1 million.
Changes in Fair Value of Acquired Contingent Consideration
As a result of the original Civitas spin out of Alkermes, part of the consideration to Alkermes was a future royalty to be paid to Alkermes on Civitas products. Acorda acquired this contingent consideration as part of the Civitas acquisition. The fair value of that future royalty is assessed quarterly. We recorded a $11.9 million expense pertaining to changes in the fair-value of our acquired contingent consideration for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 as compared to $7.4 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015. The changes in the fair-value of the acquired contingent consideration were due to the re-calculation of discounted cash flows for the passage of time and updates to certain other estimated assumptions.
Other Income / Expense
Other expense was $3.5 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 compared to other expense of $11.4 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, a difference of approximately $7.9 million. The decrease was due primarily to an increase in other income of $9.6 million which was primarily related to a realized gain on the settlement of foreign currency options of $9.9 million, partially offset by realized losses on foreign currency exchange of approximately $1.7 million.
Benefit From / Provision for Income Taxes
For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company recorded a $7.7 million benefit and $16.9 million provision for income taxes, respectively. The effective income tax rates for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 were 19% and 90.0%, respectively. The variance in the effective tax rates for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 as compared to the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015 was due primarily to the valuation allowance recorded on jurisdictions with pretax losses from the acquisition of Biotie during the six-month period
ended June 30, 2016 for which no tax benefit can be recognized, partially offset by a non-deductible $8.8 million payment in July 2015 to the former equity holders of Neuronex and the Company being able to receive a benefit in 2016 for the Federal research and development tax credits as a result of passed legislation making the tax credit permanent. The Company was not able to benefit from the Federal research and development tax credits for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, however, the Company was able to receive the benefit for this tax credit in the effective tax rate at December 31, 2015.
The Company continues to evaluate the realizability of its deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis and will adjust such amounts in light of changing facts and circumstances including, but not limited to, future projections of taxable income, tax legislation, rulings by relevant tax authorities, the progress of ongoing tax audits and the regulatory approval of products currently under development. Any changes to the valuation allowance or deferred tax assets and liabilities in the future would impact the Company's income taxes.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Since our inception, we have financed our operations primarily through private placements and public offerings of our common stock and preferred stock, a convertible debt offering, payments received under our collaboration and licensing agreements, sales of Ampyra, Zanaflex Tablets and Capsules and Qutenza, and, to a lesser extent, from loans, government and non-government grants and other financing arrangements.
At September 30, 2016, we had $127.9 million of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, compared to $353.3 million at December 31, 2015. We expect that our existing cash, cash flows from operations, and availability under the asset-based credit facility which closed on June 1, 2016, will be sufficient to fund our ongoing operations.
Our future capital requirements will depend on a number of factors, including the amount of revenue generated from sales of Ampyra, the continued progress of our research and development activities, the amount and timing of milestone or other payments payable under collaboration, license and acquisition agreements, the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, defending and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property rights, and capital required or used for future acquisitions or to in-license new products and compounds including the development costs relating to those products or compounds. To the extent our capital resources are insufficient to meet future operating requirements we will need to raise additional capital, reduce planned expenditures, or incur indebtedness to fund our operations. If we require additional financing in the future, we cannot assure you that it will be available to us on favorable terms, or at all.
Financing Arrangements
Saints Capital Notes
As of September 30, 2016, we had $1.1 million of outstanding convertible promissory notes, which amount includes accrued interest payable to Saints Capital. This note will paid in full in January 2017.
Convertible Senior Notes
In June 2014, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement (the Underwriting Agreement) with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (the Underwriter) relating to the issuance by the Company of $345 million aggregate principal amount of 1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2021 (the Notes) in an underwritten public offering pursuant to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the Registration Statement) and a related preliminary and final prospectus supplement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Offering). The principal amount of the Notes included $45 million in aggregate principal that was purchased by the Underwriter pursuant to an option granted to the Underwriter in the Underwriting Agreement, which option was exercised in full. The net proceeds from the offering, after deducting the Underwriter's discount and the offering expenses paid by the Company, were approximately $337.5 million.
The Notes are governed by the terms of an indenture, dated as of June 23, 2014 (the Base Indenture) and the first supplemental indenture, dated as of June 23, 2014 (the Supplemental Indenture, and together with the Base Indenture, the Indenture), each between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the Trustee). The Notes will be convertible into cash, shares of the Company's common stock or a combination of cash and shares of the Company's common stock, at the Company's election, based on an initial conversion rate, subject to adjustment, of 23.4968 shares per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (which represents an initial conversion price of approximately $42.56 per share), only in the following circumstances and to the following extent: (1) during the five business day period after any five consecutive trading day period (the "measurement period") in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes for each
trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the Company's common stock and the conversion rate on each such trading day; (2) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on September 30, 2014 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the last reported sale price of the common stock for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price on each applicable trading day; (3) if the Company calls any or all of the Notes for redemption, at any time prior to the close of business on the scheduled trading day immediately preceding the redemption date; (4) upon the occurrence of specified events described in the Indenture; and (5) at any time on or after December 15, 2020 through the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date.
The Company may not redeem the Notes prior to June 20, 2017. The Company may redeem for cash all or part of the Notes, at the Company's option, on or after June 20, 2017 if the last reported sale price of the Company's common stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during any 30 consecutive trading day period (including the last trading day of such period) ending within five trading days prior to the date on which the Company provides notice of redemption at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date.
The Company will pay 1.75% interest per annum on the principal amount of the Notes, payable semiannually in arrears in cash on June 15 and December 15 of each year.
If the Company undergoes a "fundamental change" (as defined in the Indenture), subject to certain conditions, holders may require the Company to repurchase for cash all or part of their Notes in principal amounts of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The fundamental change repurchase price will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date. If a make-whole fundamental change, as described in the Indenture, occurs and a holder elects to convert its Notes in connection with such make-whole fundamental change, such holder may be entitled to an increase in the conversion rate as described in the Indenture.
The Indenture contains customary terms and covenants and events of default. If an event of default (other than certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization involving the Company) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the Company, or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare 100% of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration of acceleration, such principal and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be due and payable immediately. Upon the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization involving the Company, 100% of the principal and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the Notes will become due and payable automatically. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indenture provides that, to the extent the Company elects and for up to 270 days, the sole remedy for an event of default relating to certain failures by the Company to comply with certain reporting covenants in the Indenture consists exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the Notes.
The Notes will be senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of the Company's existing and future senior debt and senior to any of the Company's subordinated debt. The Notes will be structurally subordinated to all existing or future indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables) of the Company's subsidiaries and will be effectively subordinated to the Company's existing or future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral. The Indenture does not limit the amount of debt that the Company or its subsidiaries may incur.
In accounting for the issuance of the Notes, the Company separated the Notes into liability and equity components. The carrying amount of the liability component was calculated by measuring the fair value of a similar liability that does not have an associated convertible feature. The carrying amount of the equity component representing the conversion option was determined by deducting the fair value of the liability component from the par value of the Notes as a whole. The excess of the principal amount of the liability component over its carrying amount, referred to as the debt discount, is amortized to interest expense over the seven-year term of the Notes using the effective interest method. The equity component is not re-measured as long as it continues to meet the conditions for equity classification.
Our outstanding note balances as of September 30, 2016 consisted of the following:
(In thousands)
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September 30, 2016
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Liability component:
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Principal
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$
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345,000
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Less: debt discount and debt issuance costs, net
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(47,889
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)
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Net carrying amount
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$
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297,111
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Equity component
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$
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61,195
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Common Stock Private Placement
Concurrently with the announcement of the Biotie acquisition, the Company entered into a transaction for the private placement of 2,250,900 shares of the Company's common stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $75 million. The Company paid discounts and commissions of $2.3 million in connection with the private placement, which settled on January 26, 2016. The Company used the net proceeds from the private placement to fund, in part, the acquisition of Biotie.
Asset Based Loan
On June 1, 2016, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the sole initial lender and the administrative agent for the lenders (the "Administrative Agent").
The Credit Agreement provides the Company with a three-year senior secured revolving credit facility in the maximum amount of $60 million. Availability under the facility is subject to a borrowing base, which is based on eligible accounts receivable, inventory and equipment of the Company and certain of its U.S. subsidiaries, after adjusting for customary factors that are subject to modification from time to time by the Administrative Agent at its discretion (not to be exercised unreasonably). Based on the Company's eligible accounts receivable and inventory and other components of the borrowing base, the availability under the facility was approximately $60 million as of September 30, 2016.
Amounts drawn under the facility will bear interest, at the Company's option, at (i) an alternate base rate (the highest of (a) the prime rate, (b) the federal funds effective rate or the overnight bank funding rate plus 0.5%, and (c) the LIBOR rate (adjusted for statutory reserve requirements for eurocurrency liabilities) plus 1%) plus 1.5%, or (ii) the LIBOR rate (adjusted for statutory reserve requirements for eurocurrency liabilities) plus 2.5%. The facility is subject to an annual commitment fee of either 0.375% or 0.50%, depending on the amounts already drawn under the facility. As of September 30, 2016, there were no amounts drawn under the facility.
The Company's obligations under the facility are guaranteed by its U.S. subsidiaries (other than its U.S. subsidiary of Biotie Therapies Oyj). The Company's obligations under the facility and its subsidiaries' obligations under the related guarantees are secured by first priority security interests in collateral that includes, subject to certain exceptions:
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U.S. accounts receivable, inventory and manufacturing equipment;
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Equity interests in the Company's U.S. subsidiaries (other than its U.S. subsidiary of Biotie Therapies Oyj) and up to 65% of the voting equity interests of its directly owned foreign subsidiaries; and
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Substantially all other tangible and intangible assets, including equipment, contract rights and intellectual property (other than intellectual property related to Ampyra).
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The facility contains certain covenants that, among other things, limit the Company's ability and the ability of certain of its subsidiaries to (i) incur additional debt or issue redeemable preferred stock, (ii) pay dividends, repurchase shares or make certain other restricted payments or investments, (iii) incur liens, (iv) sell assets, (v) incur restrictions on future liens and incur restrictions on the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or to make other payments to us, (vi) enter into affiliate transactions, (vii) engage in sale and leaseback transactions, and (viii) consolidate or merge. These covenants are subject to significant exceptions and qualifications. In addition, the Company will not be permitted to allow its ratio of (a) EBITDA minus Unfinanced Capital Expenditures to (b) Fixed Charges to be less than 1.10 to 1.00 on a trailing four quarter basis as of the end of any fiscal quarter during any period.
The facility has customary representations and warranties including, as a condition to borrowing, that all such representations and warranties are true and correct, in all material respects, on the date of the borrowing, including representations as to no material adverse effect on the Company's business or financial condition since December 31, 2015. The facility also has customary defaults, including a cross-default to material indebtedness of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Administrative Agent may declare any outstanding obligations under the facility immediately due and payable upon the occurrence, and during the continuance, of an event of default. In addition, any outstanding obligations under the facility will be immediately due and payable in the event that the Company or certain of its subsidiaries become the subject of voluntary or involuntary proceedings under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.
Non-convertible Capital Loans
Non-convertible capital loans ("Tekes Loans") granted by Tekes, a Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, with an adjusted acquisition-date fair value of $23.3 million (€20.6 million) and a carrying value of $23.2 million as of September 30, 2016. The Tekes Loans are composed of fourteen non-convertible loans granted by Tekes. The maturity dates for the Tekes Loans range from eight to ten years. These loans bear interest based on the greater of 3% or the base rate set by the Finland's Ministry of Finance minus one (1) percentage point. According to certain terms and conditions of the Tekes Loans, Biotie may repay the principal amounts of these loans and the accrued and unpaid interest only if the restricted equity of Biotie, including its consolidated subsidiaries is positive (fully covered).
Convertible Capital Loan
Convertible capital loan issued to certain shareholders and venture capital organizations with an acquisition-date fair value of $6 million (€5.3 million) and a carrying value of $6.0 million as of September 30, 2016. The loan bears cash interest at a rate of 10% per annum, payable annually each year. The convertible capital loan is subject to certain terms and restrictive conditions as it relates to interest payments and repayment of the loan. The loan will yield interest from the fiscal years in which the financial statements do not present sufficient funds available for profit distribution; however, interest on the loan may be paid if Biotie, including its subsidiaries, has sufficient funds for profit distribution as of the most recently ended fiscal year. The loan may be repaid only if the restricted equity of Biotie, including its consolidated subsidiaries, for the last financial period is sufficient to repay the loan. Pursuant to the terms of the loan agreement, the loan is convertible at any time at the option of the holders into 828,000 common shares of Biotie. The conversion rates for the loan are €1.8688 per share for 540,000 of the shares and €2.3359 for the remaining 288,000 of the shares.
Research and Development Loans
Research and Development Loans ("R&D Loans") were granted by Tekes with an acquisition-date fair value of $2.9 million (€2.6 million) and a carrying value of $3.0 million as of September 30, 2016. The R&D Loans bear interest based on the greater of 1% or the base rate set by Finland's Ministry of Finance minus three (3) percentage points. The repayment of these loans shall be initiated after five years, thereafter the loan principal shall be paid in equal installments over a 5 year period.
Investment Activities
At September 30, 2016, cash and cash equivalents were approximately $127.9 million, as compared to $153.2 million at December 31, 2015. Our cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at date of purchase and consists of time deposits and investments in money market funds. At December 31, 2015, we held $200.1 million of short-term investments which consisted of U.S. Treasury bonds with original maturities greater than three months and less than one year. Also, we maintain cash balances with financial institutions in excess of insured limits. We do not anticipate any losses with respect to such cash balances.
Net Cash Provided by Operations
Net cash provided by operations was $2.8 million for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2016 while $16.2 million was provided by operations for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015. Cash provided by operations for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 was primarily due to a net loss of $32.5 million, an increase in accounts receivable of $17.0 million, a deferred tax benefit of $10.5 million, a realized gain on foreign currency transaction of $10.4
million, and an increase in inventory of $4.5 million, partially offset by non-cash share based compensation expense of $27.4 million, depreciation and amortization expense of $15.8 million, changes in acquired contingent consideration of $11.9 million, an increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities of $9.6 million, amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs of $7.1 million, and a decrease in restricted cash of $6.0 million.
Net Cash Used in Investing
Net cash used in investing activities for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 was $73.4 million, which was due primarily to cash used for the acquisition of Biotie, net of cash received of $268.1 million, purchases of investments of $40.2 million and purchases of property and equipment of $4.6 million, partially offset by proceeds from maturing investments of $240.0 million.
Net Cash Provided by Financing
Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 was $45.2 million, which was due to $74.6 million in net proceeds from the issuance of common stock, partially offset by the purchase of the noncontrolling interest of $27.9 million and debt issuance costs of $1.5 million.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
A summary of our minimum contractual obligations related to our material outstanding contractual commitments is included in Note 10. Our long-term contractual obligations include commitments and estimated purchase obligations entered into in the normal course of business.
Under certain agreements, we are required to pay royalties for the use of technologies and products in our R&D activities and in the commercialization of products. The amount and timing of any of the foregoing payments are not known due to the uncertainty surrounding the successful research, development and commercialization of the products.
Under certain agreements, we are also required to pay license fees and milestones for the use of technologies and products in our R&D activities and in the commercialization of products.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our critical accounting policies are detailed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. As of September 30, 2016, with the exception of the addition of our policy on translation of foreign currency, the modification of our policy on segment and geographic information to reflect sales of Selincro and the adoption of ASU 2015-03, "Interest – Imputation of Interest" (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs (ASU 2015-03) in the three-month period ended March 31, 2016, our critical accounting policies have not changed materially from December 31, 2015.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Our financial instruments consist of cash equivalents, short-term investments, grants receivable, convertible senior notes, convertible notes payable, asset based loan, convertible and non-convertible capital loans, research and development loans and accounts payable. The estimated fair values of all of our financial instruments approximate their carrying values at September 30, 2016, except for the fair value of the Company's convertible senior notes which was approximately $276 million as of September 30, 2016.
We have cash equivalents at September 30, 2016, which are exposed to the impact of interest rate changes and our interest income fluctuates as our interest rates change. Due to the nature of our investments in money market funds, the carrying value of our cash equivalents approximates their fair value at September 30, 2016. At September 30, 2016, we held $127.9 million in cash and cash equivalents which had an average interest rate of approximately 0.3%.
We maintain an investment portfolio in accordance with our investment policy. The primary objective of our investment policy is to preserve principal, maintain proper liquidity and to meet operating needs. Although our investments are subject to credit risk, our investment policy specifies credit quality standards for our investments and limits the amount of credit exposure from any single issue, issuer or type of investment. Our investments are also subject to interest rate risk and will decrease in value if market interest rates increase. However, interest rate risk is mitigated due to the conservative nature and relatively short duration of our investments. We do not enter into hedging transactions in the normal course of business. However, as a result of the Biotie acquisition which was completed in euros, the Company was exposed to fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the euro until the completion of the transaction. To mitigate this risk, the Company entered into foreign currency options to limit its exposure to fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the euro until the initial transactions were completed.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures
As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, as of the end of the third quarter of 2016, the period covered by this report. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief, Business Operations and Principal Accounting Officer. Based on that evaluation, these officers have concluded that, as of September 30, 2016, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to achieve their stated purpose.
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules, regulations, and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief, Business Operations and Principal Accounting Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
Change in internal control over financial reporting
In connection with the evaluation required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(d), our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief, Business Operations and Principal Accounting Officer, concluded that there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2016, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Limitations on the effectiveness of controls
Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of our disclosure control system are met. Because of inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, if any, within a company have been detected.
In August 2007, we received a Paragraph IV Certification Notice from Apotex Inc., advising that it had submitted an Abbreviated New Drug Application, or ANDA, to the FDA seeking marketing approval for generic versions of Zanaflex Capsules. In response to the filing of the ANDA, in October 2007, we filed a lawsuit against Apotex in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey asserting infringement of our U.S. Patent No. 6,455,557. In September 2011, the Court ruled against us and, following our appeal, in June 2012 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the decision. We did not seek any further appeal of the decision. In September 2011, we filed a citizen petition with the FDA requesting that the FDA not approve Apotex's ANDA because of public-safety concerns about Apotex's proposed drug. In December 2011, Apotex filed suit against us in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. In that suit, Apotex alleged, among other claims, that we engaged in anticompetitive behavior and false advertising in connection with the development and marketing of Zanaflex Capsules, including that the citizen petition we filed with the FDA delayed FDA approval of Apotex's generic tizanidine capsules. In January 2012, we moved to dismiss or stay Apotex's suit. In February 2012, the FDA denied the citizen petition that we filed and approved Apotex's ANDA for a generic version of Zanaflex Capsules. Also in February 2012, Apotex filed an amended complaint that incorporated the FDA action, but otherwise made allegations similar to the original complaint. Requested judicial remedies include monetary damages, disgorgement of profits, recovery of litigation costs, and injunctive relief. Following our filing of a motion to dismiss the amended complaint, in 2013 the Court dismissed five of the six counts in the amended complaint, including all of the antitrust claims, leaving only a claim under the Lanham Act relating to alleged product promotional activities. In October 2014, the Court granted our motion for summary judgment against Apotex's remaining claim. Apotex has appealed both the motion to dismiss and summary judgment decisions to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. In May 2016, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion affirming the decision of the lower court. Apotex did not appeal to the United States Supreme Court, and accordingly the decision of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals is final and non-appealable.
In June and July of 2014, we received eight separate Paragraph IV Certification Notices from Accord Healthcare, Inc., Actavis Laboratories FL, Inc. ("Actavis"), Alkem Laboratories Ltd. and its affiliate Ascend Laboratories, LLC ("Alkem"), Apotex, Inc., Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. ("Aurobindo"), Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Roxane Laboratories, Inc., and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., advising that each of these companies had submitted an ANDA to the FDA seeking marketing approval for generic versions of Ampyra (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg. The ANDA filers have challenged the validity of our Orange Book-listed patents for Ampyra, and they have also asserted that generic versions of their products do not infringe certain claims of these patents. In response to the filing of these ANDAs, in July 2014, we filed lawsuits against these generic pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware asserting infringement of our U.S. Patent Nos. 5,540,938, 8,007,826, 8,354,437, 8,440,703, and 8,663,685. Requested judicial remedies include recovery of litigation costs and injunctive relief, including a request that the effective date of any FDA approval for these generic companies to make, use, offer for sale, sell, market, distribute, or import the proposed generic products be no earlier than the dates on which the Ampyra Orange-Book listed patents expire, or any later expiration of exclusivity to which we are or become entitled. These lawsuits with the ANDA filers have been consolidated into a single case. The U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware issued a Markman ruling in March, 2016, determining the scope and limitations of certain patent claims asserted in the litigation. A bench trial was completed on September 23, 2016. Post-trial briefing by the parties is expected to be completed in November, and we are waiting for the Court's decision. We filed these lawsuits within 45 days from the date of receipt of each of the Paragraph IV Certification Notices. As a result, a 30 month statutory stay of approval period applies to each of the ANDAs under the Hatch-Waxman Act. The 30 month stay starts from January 22, 2015, which is the end of the new chemical entity (NCE) exclusivity period for Ampyra. This restricts the FDA from approving the ANDAs until July 2017 at the earliest, unless a Federal district court issues a decision adverse to all of our asserted Orange Book-listed patents prior to that date.
In October and December 2015, we entered into settlement agreements with Actavis and Aurobindo to resolve the patent litigation that we brought against them in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, described above. As a result of the settlement agreements, Actavis and Aurobindo will be permitted to market generic versions of Ampyra in the U.S. at a specified date in 2027, or potentially earlier under certain circumstances. The Court entered an order dismissing the case against Actavis without prejudice in October 2015. As a result of the settlement agreement with Aurobindo, and upon the request of the parties, the Court entered a Consent Order, in which it dismissed our litigation against Aurobindo in December 2015. The parties have submitted the agreements to the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice,
as required by federal law. On August 2, 2016, we entered into a settlement agreement with Alkem to resolve the patent litigation that we brought against Alkem in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, described above. As a result of the settlement agreement, Alkem will be permitted to market a generic version of Ampyra in the U.S. at a specified date in 2027, or potentially earlier under certain circumstances. As a result of the settlement agreement with Alkem, and upon the request of the parties, the Court entered a Consent Order, in which it dismissed our litigation against Alkem in August of 2016. The parties have submitted the agreement to the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, as required by Federal law. On August 11, 2016, we entered into a settlement agreement with Accord Healthcare, Inc. and Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited (collectively "Accord") to resolve the patent litigation that we brought against Accord in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, described above. As a result of the settlement agreement, Accord will be permitted to market a generic version of Ampyra in the U.S. at a specified date in 2027, or potentially earlier under certain circumstances. As a result of the settlement agreement with Alkem, and upon the request of the parties, the Court entered a Consent Order, in which it dismissed our litigation against Accord in August of 2016. The parties will submit the agreement to the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, as required by state law. The settlements with Actavis, Aurobindo, Alkem and Accord do not resolve pending patent litigation that we brought against the other ANDA filers, as described in this report.
In August 2014, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its parent, Mylan, Inc. (collectively, "Mylan"), filed a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. In January 2015, the Court denied Mylan's motion to dismiss with respect to the ANDA filer, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Subsequently, in January 2015, the Court granted Mylan's request for an interlocutory appeal of its jurisdictional decision to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. In March 2016, the Court of Appeals denied Mylan's appeal, and the case remains in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. Mylan requested the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider its decision. However, on June 20, 2016, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals denied Mylan's request. Mylan has filed an appeal with the United States Supreme Court. The Company will defend itself vigorously throughout the appeal process. Due to Mylan's motion to dismiss, we also filed another patent infringement suit against Mylan in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia asserting the same U.S. Patents and requesting the same judicial relief as in the Delaware action. In December 2014, we filed a motion in the Northern District of West Virginia to stay that action in deference to the Delaware proceeding and until the issue of jurisdiction has been decided. In February 2014, the District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia granted our motion to stay the proceeding in that district until the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals decides Mylan's appeal of Delaware's jurisdictional decision. The patent infringement case against Mylan, however, is still proceeding in Delaware along with the cases against the other ANDA filers.
In May 2015, we received a Paragraph IV Certification Notice from Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited and Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Inc. ("Sun") advising that they had submitted an ANDA to the FDA seeking marketing approval for a generic version of Ampyra (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg. Sun challenged the validity of four of our five Orange Book-listed patents for Ampyra, and did not file against our U.S. Patent No. 5,540,938, and also asserted that generic versions of its products may not infringe certain claims of these patents. In response to the filing of the ANDA, in May 2015 we filed a lawsuit against Sun in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware asserting infringement of our U.S. Patent Nos. 8,007,826, 8,354,437, 8,440,703, and 8,663,685. In October 2015, we entered into a settlement agreement with Sun to resolve this patent litigation. As a result of the settlement agreement, Sun will be permitted to market a generic version of Ampyra in the U.S. at a specified date in 2027, or potentially earlier under certain circumstances. As a result of the settlement agreement, and upon request of the parties, the Court entered a Consent Order, in which it dismissed our litigation against Sun in October 2015. The parties have submitted the agreement to the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, as required by federal law. The settlement with Sun does not resolve pending patent litigation that we brought against the other ANDA filers, described in this report.
In September 2015, we received a Paragraph IV Certification Notice from Par Pharmaceutical, Inc. ("Par") advising that it had submitted an ANDA to the FDA seeking marketing approval for a generic version of Ampyra (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg. Par challenged the validity of four of our five Orange Book-listed patents for Ampyra, and did not file against our U.S. Patent No. 5,540,938, and it also asserted that generic versions of its products may not infringe certain claims of these patents. In response to the filing of the ANDA, in September 2015 we filed a lawsuit against Par in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware asserting infringement of our U.S. Patent Nos. 8,007,826, 8,354,437, 8,440,703, and 8,663,685. In January 2016, we entered into a settlement agreement with Par to resolve this patent litigation. As a result of the settlement agreement, Par will be permitted to market a generic version of Ampyra in the U.S. at a specified date in 2027, or potentially earlier under certain circumstances. As a result of the settlement agreement, and upon the request of the parties, the Court entered a Consent Order, in which it dismissed our litigation against Par in January 2016. The parties have submitted the agreement to the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, as required by federal law. The settlement with Par does not resolve pending patent litigation that we brought against the other ANDA filers, described in this report.
In February 2015, a hedge fund (acting with affiliated entities and individuals and proceeding under the name of the Coalition for Affordable Drugs) filed two separate inter partes review (IPR) petitions with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or PTO, challenging U.S. Patent Nos. 8,663,685, and 8,007,826, which are two of the five Ampyra Orange Book-listed patents. In August 2015, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patent Trials and Appeals Board, or PTAB, ruled that it would not institute inter partes review of either of these patents. In September 2015, the hedge fund filed two motions for reconsideration to the PTAB, requesting that the denial to institute these two IPRs be reversed. However, in April 2016 the PTAB denied these motions thus denying the hedge fund's two IPR proceedings.
In September 2015, the same hedge fund filed four separate IPR petitions with the PTO. These later IPR petitions challenge the same two patents that were the subject of the February 2015 IPR petitions and also U.S. Patent Nos. 8,354,437 and 8,440,703. The challenged patents are four of the five Ampyra Orange-Book listed patents. We opposed the requests to institute these IPRs, but in March 2016 the PTAB decided to institute the IPR proceedings on all four patents. We filed our complete Patent Owner's Response on July 8, 2016, and the hedge fund's response was filed on September 29, 2016. Oral argument for the IPR is currently scheduled for December 9, 2016. A ruling on the IPR petitions is expected in March 2017. We are opposing those IPRs and defending our patents. The 30-month statutory stay period based on patent infringement suits filed by Acorda against ANDA filers is not impacted by these filings, and remains in effect.
We will vigorously defend our intellectual property rights.
Item 1 of Part II of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2016, and June 30, 2016, include prior updates to the legal proceedings described above.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.