EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1369568
Filing Year: 2022
Filename: 1369568_10-K_2022_0001193125-22-077228.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1.
Business
Overview
We are a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing,
developing and commercializing novel medicines for patients living with rare diseases. With exceptional patient focus, we are committed to developing a robust pipeline of cutting-edge, best-in-class
medicines for rare diseases. We historically focused our efforts on developing products that treat diseases in the neuromuscular and neurological space, but in 2021 we made a strategic decision to broaden and diversify our product portfolio through acquisitions of both early and late-stage products or companies or technology platforms in rare disease therapeutic categories outside of neuromuscular diseases. To accomplish these new priorities, we are employing a disciplined approach to evaluating assets and we believe that this strategic expansion will better position our company to build out a broader more diversified portfolio of drug candidates, which should add greater value to our company over the near and long-term. However, there can be no assurance that whatever product candidates or technology platforms we acquire, if any, will be successfully developed or commercialized.
We are currently exploring several potential opportunities to acquire companies with drug products in development or to in-license
or acquire drug products in development. However, no definitive agreements have been entered into to date. Further, during the third quarter of 2021 we hired Dr. Preethi Sundaram, who serves as our Chief Strategy Officer. In that position, Dr. Sundaram is leading our efforts to acquire R&D assets, from early stage through late-stage clinical programs and technologies to treat rare diseases, and once such drug candidates are acquired, Dr. Sundaram will help oversee the development of those assets.
We are dedicated to making a meaningful impact on the lives of those suffering from rare diseases, and we believe in putting patients first in everything we do.
Impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on our business
The COVID-19
pandemic has affected our business operations in numerous ways, and we continue to monitor applicable government modifications. We had to make modifications to our normal operations because of the COVID-19
pandemic, including allowing our employees to work remotely. At present, our operations have returned to mostly being in-person,
with some contact with physicians by our commercial sales force still being done remotely. Notwithstanding, the COVID-19
pandemic, including the emergence of new COVID-19
variants, including the delta and omicron variants, could affect the health and availability of our workforce as well as those of third parties whom we are relying upon to take similar measures. As such, we have experienced in the past, and may experience in the future, disruptions to our business operations because of the COVID-19
pandemic, and our business could be materially adversely affected by such disruptions, directly or indirectly. National, state and local governments in affected regions have implemented and may continue to implement varying safety precautions, such as quarantines, border closures, increased border controls, travel restrictions, shelter-in-place
orders and shutdowns, business closures, cancellations of public gatherings and other measures. Organizations and individuals may continue to take additional steps to avoid infection, including limiting travel and staying home from work. These measures may continue to disrupt normal business operations both inside and outside of affected areas and have had significant impacts on healthcare and businesses worldwide.
We believe that because many healthcare providers who treat LEMS patients have delayed seeing new patients because of the pandemic, there has been a delay in the diagnosis of new LEMS patients and their initiating therapy, which has slowed our efforts to locate new patients who could benefit from our therapy. However, we believe that when conditions allow healthcare providers to resume seeing new patients in person on a regular basis, the impact of this aspect of the COVID-19
pandemic on our business will lessen.
One area where we have not been impacted by the pandemic is in our supply chain. To date, we have been able to avoid material disruptions in the production of FIRDAPSE®
and, based upon current estimates, we have sufficient inventory to meet current and foreseeable patient needs for at least the next 12 months.
FIRDAPSE®
On November 28, 2018, we received approval from the FDA for FIRDAPSE®
Tablets 10 mg for the treatment of adult patients (ages 17 and above) with Lambert-Eaton, Myasthenic Syndrome (“LEMS”). In January 2019, we launched FIRDAPSE®
in the United States. We sell our product through a field force experienced in neurologic, central nervous system or rare disease products consisting at this time of approximately 30 field personnel, including sales (Regional Account Managers), patient assistance and insurance navigation support (Patient Access Liaisons), and payor reimbursement (National Account Managers). We also have a field-based force of five medical science liaisons who are helping educate the medical communities and patients about LEMS and our programs supporting patients and access to FIRDAPSE®
.
Further, we have contracted with an experienced inside sales agency that works to generate leads through telemarketing to targeted physicians. This inside sales agency allows our sales efforts to not only reach the neuromuscular specialists who regularly treat LEMS patients, but also the roughly 9,000 neurology and neuromuscular healthcare providers that may be treating an adult LEMS patient who can benefit from FIRDAPSE®
. Additionally, we recently began non-personal
promotion to oncologists that may treat adult LEMS patients. We also are continuing to make available at no-cost
a LEMS voltage gated calcium channel (VGCC) antibody testing program for use by physicians who suspect that one of their patients may have LEMS and wish to reach a definitive diagnosis.
Finally, we are continuing to expand our digital and social media activities in order to introduce our product and services to potential patients and their healthcare providers. We also work with several rare disease advocacy organizations (including Global Genes, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), and the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America) to help increase awareness and level of support for patients living with LEMS and to provide education for the physicians who treat these rare diseases and the patients they treat.
We are supporting the distribution of FIRDAPSE®
through Catalyst Pathways®
, our personalized treatment support program for patients who enroll in it. Catalyst Pathways®
is a single source for personalized treatment support, education and guidance through the challenging dosing and titration regimen required to reach an effective therapeutic dose. It also includes distributing the drug through a very small group of exclusive specialty pharmacies (primarily AnovoRx), which is consistent with the way that most drug products for ultra-orphan diseases are distributed and dispensed to patients. We believe that by using specialty pharmacies in this way, the difficult task of navigating the health care system is far better for the patient needing treatment for their rare disease and the health care community in general.
In order to help adult LEMS patients afford their medication, we, like other pharmaceutical companies which are marketing drugs for ultra-orphan conditions, have developed an array of financial assistance programs that are available to reduce patient co-pays
and deductibles to a nominal affordable amount. For eligible patients with commercial coverage, a co-pay
assistance program designed to keep out-of-pocket
costs to not more than $10.00 per month (currently $0.00 per month) is available for all LEMS patients who are prescribed FIRDAPSE®
. We are also donating, and committing to continue to donate, money to qualified, independent charitable foundations dedicated to providing assistance to any U.S. LEMS patients in financial need. Subject to compliance with regulatory requirements, our goal is that no LEMS patient is ever denied access to their medication for financial reasons.
In May 2019, the FDA approved a New Drug Application (NDA) for Ruzurgi®
, another version of amifampridine (3,4-DAP),
for the treatment of pediatric LEMS patients (ages 6 to under 17). While the NDA for Ruzurgi®
only covers pediatric patients, we believe that Ruzurgi®
has been regularly prescribed off-label
to adult LEMS patients. We also believe that the FDA’s approval of Ruzurgi®
violated our statutory rights and was in multiple other respects arbitrary, capricious and contrary to law. As a result, in June 2019 we filed suit against the FDA and several related parties challenging this approval and related drug labeling, and Jacobus Pharmaceuticals (Jacobus) intervened in our case. Our complaint, which was filed in the federal district court for the Southern District of Florida, alleged that the FDA’s approval of Ruzurgi®
violated multiple provisions of FDA regulations regarding labeling, resulting in misbranding in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA); violated our statutory rights to Orphan Drug Exclusivity and New Chemical Entity Exclusivity under the FDCA; and was in multiple other respects arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. Among other remedies, the suit sought an order setting aside the FDA’s approval of Ruzurgi®
.
On July 30, 2020, the Magistrate Judge considering our lawsuit against the FDA filed a Report and Recommendation in which she recommended to the District Judge handling the case that she grant the FDA’s and Jacobus’ motions for summary judgment and deny our motion for summary judgment. On September 29, 2020, the District Judge adopted the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge, granted the FDA’s and Jacobus’ motions for summary judgment, and dismissed our case. We appealed the District Court’s decision to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 11th
Circuit. By early 2021, the case was fully briefed, and oral argument was held in March 2021.
On September 30, 2021, a three-judge panel of 11th
Circuit judges issued a unanimous decision overturning the District Court’s decision. The appellate court adopted our argument that the FDA’s approval of Ruzurgi®
violated our rights to Orphan Drug Exclusivity and remanded the case to the District Court with orders to enter summary judgment in our favor. In November 2021, Jacobus filed a motion seeking rehearing of the case from the full 11th
Circuit, which motion was denied in January 2022. Further, in January 2022, Jacobus filed motions with both the 11th
Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court seeking a stay of the 11th
Circuit’s ruling indicating that it would seek a review of the 11th
Circuit’s decision from the U.S. Supreme Court. Both stay motions were denied, and on January 28, 2022, the 11th
Circuit issued a mandate directing the District Court to enter summary judgment in our favor. The District Court entered that order on January 31, 2022. On February 1, 2022, the FDA informed Jacobus that, consistent with the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit’s September 30, 2021, decision in favor of Catalyst, the final approval of the Ruzurgi®
NDA was switched to a tentative approval until the 7-year
orphan-drug exclusivity (ODE) for Firdapse®
has expired.
There can be no assurance as to whether Jacobus will seek U.S. Supreme Court review of the 11th
Circuit’s decision, whether the U.S. Supreme Court will agree to hear the case, or whether, if the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, Jacobus’ appeal to overturn the decision of the 11th
Circuit will be successful. Similarly, there can be no assurance as to whether the U.S. Congress will pass, and the President will sign, legislation revising the Orphan Drug Act that effectively overturns the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th
Circuit, and whether any such legislation, if passed and signed into law, will retroactively affect the outcome of the 11th
Circuit decision and allow the FDA to reinstate the approval of Ruzurgi®
before the expiration of FIRDAPSE®
’s orphan drug exclusivity.
We are actively working with parents and physicians of pediatric LEMS patients to make sure that such patients will be able to obtain FIRDAPSE®
through appropriate legal and regulatory means. In addition, we are working to file an application with the FDA seeking approval for use of FIRDAPSE®
by pediatric LEMS patients, though any effort to obtain such authorization is not guaranteed. We anticipate submitting the sNDA before the end of the first quarter. For the adult LEMS patients who have been taking Ruzurgi®
off-label
(who are believed to be a large majority of the patients currently taking Ruzurgi®
), we are working with prescribers to transition such patients to FIRDAPSE®
as needed.
We have been developing a long-acting formulation of amifampridine phosphate. While a number of formulations have been prepared, after discussions with researchers and an advisory board made up of both patients and physicians, we recently concluded that we would be unable to develop a long-acting formulation that was both beneficial to patients and commercially viable, and as a result we have made the determination not to proceed with development of this product.
On August 10, 2020, we announced the top-line
results from our Phase 3 clinical trial (MSK-002)
evaluating FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of adults with MuSK-MG.
Unfortunately, the MSK-002
trial did not achieve statistical significance on its primary endpoint or its secondary endpoint. Following our receipt of these results, we analyzed the data and proposed a plan to FDA to perform an additional study evaluating FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of MuSK-MG.
In response, the FDA provided written comments that were unfavorable towards our proposed revised study design and further questioned the ability of the initial MuSK-MG
pilot study to be supportive. These remarks make it unlikely that a single study of similar design to MSK-002
would be sufficient for potential approval of the MuSK-MG
indication. We also held an expert panel with key opinion leaders (KOLs) to discuss options and review the likelihood of success for the MuSK-MG
indication for FIRDAPSE®
under these circumstances. After receiving the input of the FDA and the KOLs, we concluded that the approval of FIRDAPSE®
as a first line therapy for MuSK-MG
is unlikely, and therefore we have decided not to further pursue this indication.
We previously announced our intent to conduct a proof-of-concept
study evaluating FIRDAPSE®
as a treatment for Hereditary Neuropathy with Liability to Pressure Palsies (HNPP). The FDA requested that a new, patient-centric endpoint be researched and used for our proposed study, without assurance that such endpoint would be acceptable for approval. Based upon the uncertainty of such an endpoint, we have decided not to conduct this study as a company-sponsored study, though there is a possibility that this study will move forward as investigator-initiated study that we will support.
There can be no assurance that any future clinical trials of FIRDAPSE®
that we undertake will be successful. Further, there can be no assurance that we will ever be granted the right to commercialize FIRDAPSE®
for any additional indications.
Our NDS filing for FIRDAPSE®
for the symptomatic treatment of LEMS was approved by Health Canada on July 31, 2020. In August 2020, we entered into a license agreement with KYE Pharmaceuticals (KYE), pursuant to which we licensed the Canadian rights for FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of LEMS to KYE. Pursuant to the license agreement, KYE was obligated to pay us an up-front
payment based on approval, a milestone upon attainment of marketing authorization and product supply, milestones based on achievements of sales and regulatory milestones, and a sharing of defined net sales following commercialization.
On August 10, 2020, Health Canada issued a Notice of Compliance (NOC) to Medunik for Ruzurgi®
for the treatment of LEMS. We initiated a legal proceeding in Canada seeking judicial review of Health Canada’s decision to issue the NOC for Ruzurgi®
as incorrect and unreasonable under Canadian law. Data protection, per Health Canada regulations, is supposed to prevent Health Canada from issuing a NOC to a drug that directly or indirectly references an innovative drug’s data, for eight years from the date of the innovative drug’s approval. The Ruzurgi®
Product Monograph clearly references pivotal nonclinical carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity data for amifampridine phosphate developed by us. As such, we believe that our data was relied upon to establish the nonclinical safety profile of Ruzurgi®
needed to meet the standards of the Canadian Food and Drugs Act.
On June 3, 2021, we announced a positive decision in this proceeding that quashed the NOC previously issued for Ruzurgi®
and remanded the matter to the Minister of Health to redetermine its decision to grant marketing authorization to Ruzurgi®
in spite of FIRDAPSE®
’s data protection rights. However, on June 28, 2021, we announced that Health Canada had re-issued
an NOC for Ruzurgi®
, once again allowing the product to be marketed in Canada for patients with LEMS. As a result, in July 2021 we, along with our partner KYE, filed a second suit against Health Canada to overturn this decision. That case was fully briefed in late 2021, with oral argument held in early December.
On March 11, 2022, we announced that we had received a favorable decision from the Canadian court setting aside, for the second time, the decision of Health Canada approving Ruzurgi®
for the treatment of LEMS patients. In its ruling, the court determined that the Minister of Health’s approach to evaluating whether FIRDAPSE®
’s data deserved protection based on FIRDAPSE®
’s status as an innovative drug, which protects by regulation the use of such data as part of a submission seeking an NOC for eight years from approval of the innovative drug, was legally flawed and not supported by the evidence. As a result, the matter has, once again, been remanded to the Minister of Health to redetermine its decision in light of the court’s ruling. There can be no assurance as to the outcome of this proceeding.
In May 2019, we entered into an amendment to our license agreement for FIRDAPSE®
. Under the amendment, we expanded our commercial territory for FIRDAPSE®
, which originally was comprised of North America, to include Japan. Additionally, we have an option to further expand our territory under the license agreement to include most of Asia, as well as Central and South America, upon the achievement of certain milestones in Japan. Under the amendment, we will pay royalties to our licensor on net sales in Japan of a similar percentage to the royalties that we are currently paying under our original license agreement for North America.
We have reached an agreement with Japanese regulatory authorities as to the scope of the clinical trial that will be required to be completed before an application can be submitted to Japanese regulatory authorities to commercialize FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of LEMS in Japan. We also have been granted orphan drug designation in Japan for FIRDAPSE®
for the symptomatic treatment of LEMS.
On June 28, 2021, we entered into a sub-license
agreement with DyDo Pharma, Inc. (DyDo), pursuant to which we sub-licensed
to DyDo the Japanese rights for FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of LEMS. Under the terms of the Agreement, DyDo will have joint rights to develop FIRDAPSE®
, and exclusive rights to commercialize the product, in Japan. DyDo will be responsible for funding all clinical, regulatory, marketing and commercialization activities in Japan. We will be responsible for clinical and commercial supply, as well as providing support to DyDo in its efforts to obtain regulatory approval for the product from the Japanese regulatory authorities. Subject to the satisfaction of terms and conditions as set forth in the Agreement, we have earned an upfront payment and are eligible to receive further development and sales milestones for FIRDAPSE®
, as well as revenue on product supplied to DyDo.
In December 2021, we announced that DyDo had initiated a Phase 3 registrational study in Japan to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of LEMS. We anticipate completion of that study sometime in 2023. There can be no assurance that this trial will be successful or that DyDo will be granted the right to commercialize FIRDAPSE®
in Japan.
All of our patent rights for FIRDAPSE®
are derived from our license agreement. In August 2020, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) allowed Patent No. 10,793,893 (the ’893 patent) to our licensor and thereby to us, and the patent issued on October 6, 2020. The patent is directed to the use of suitable doses of amifampridine to treat patients, regardless of the therapeutic indication, that are slow metabolizers of amifampridine. Any drug product containing amifampridine with a label that states the patented dosing regimens and doses in the Dosing and Administration section prior to April 7, 2034, the expiration date of the patent, could possibly infringe this patent. Generic drug product labels would necessarily have to do this, and we intend to take all appropriate actions to protect our intellectual property.
In April 2021, the USPTO also allowed Patent No. 11,060,128 (the ’128 patent) to our licensor and thereby to us, and this second patent issued on July 13, 2021. The patent is directed to the use of suitable doses of amifampridine to treat patients suffering with LEMS that are slow metabolizers of amifampridine. Any drug product containing amifampridine with a label for the treatment of LEMS, that states the patented dosing regimens and doses in the Dosing and Administration section of a product label, including generic drug product labels, could possibly infringe this patent prior to this patent’s expiration date.
On December 24, 2021, the USPTO allowed continuing application, 17/503,190. On January 3, 2022, the USPTO allowed related continuing application 17/503,148. A further related continuing application, 17/503,092 was allowed on January 7, 2022. All three patents were issued in March 2022. The claims in each of these applications have either already been listed in the Orange Book for FIRDAPSE®
or are in the process of being listed.
We are also pursuing additional patent applications for FIRDAPSE®
in an effort to further protect our drug product. There can be no assurance that any additional patents will be issued which provide additional intellectual property protection for our drug product.
In that regard, in October 2020, we filed lawsuits against Jacobus and the specialty pharmacy marketing Ruzurgi®
, PantherRx Rare LLC (PantherRx), for infringement of the ‘893 patent. The suits have now been consolidated in a single action in the U.S. District Court for New Jersey. Further, in August 2021, the lawsuits were amended to include alleged infringement of the ‘128 patent. The lawsuits arise from Jacobus’ and PantherRx’s sales and marketing of Ruzurgi®
(amifampridine) Tablets, 10 mg. The lawsuits allege that the Ruzurgi®
product infringes the ‘893 patent and the ‘128 patent when administered in accordance with its product labeling. The lawsuit seeks damages and injunctive relief to prevent further marketing of Ruzurgi®
in violation of our patent rights. The lawsuit is in the discovery stage and there can be no assurance as to the results of these proceedings.
There can be no assurance that we do not or will not infringe on patents held by third parties or that third parties in the future will not claim that we have infringed on their patents. In the event that our products or technologies infringe or violate the patent or other proprietary rights of third parties, there is a possibility we may be prevented from pursuing product development, manufacturing or commercialization of our products that utilize such technologies until the underlying patent dispute is resolved. For example, there may be patents or patent applications held by others that contain claims that our products or operations might be determined to infringe or that may be broader than we believe them to be. Given the complexities and uncertainties of patent laws, there can be no assurance as to the impact that future patent claims against us may have on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or prospects.
Generic Sabril®
In December 2018, we entered into a definitive agreement with Endo International plc’s subsidiary, Endo Ventures Limited (Endo), for the further development and commercialization of generic Sabril®
tablets through Endo’s United States Generic Pharmaceuticals segment, Par Pharmaceutical. If and when the product is launched, we will be entitled to receive a milestone payment of $2.0 million on the commercial launch of the product. Further, we will receive a sharing of defined net profits upon commercialization and we are obligated to share the costs of certain development expenses. There can be no assurance that our collaboration with Endo for the development of generic Sabril®
(vigabatrin) tablets will be successful and that if an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) is approved for vigabatrin tablets in the future, that it will be profitable to us.
Capital Resources
At December 31, 2021, we had cash and investments of approximately $191.3 million. Based on our current financial condition and forecasts of available cash, we believe that we have sufficient funds to support our operations for at least the next 12 months. There can be no assurance that we will continue to be successful in commercializing FIRDAPSE®
or will continue to be profitable. Further, there can be no assurance that if we need additional funding in the future, whether such funding will be available to us. See Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources” below for further information on our liquidity and cash flow.
Our Strategy
Our goal is to develop and commercialize novel prescription drugs targeting rare (orphan) neuromuscular and neurological diseases and disorders. We are dedicated to making a meaningful impact on the lives of those suffering from rare diseases, and we believe in putting patients first in everything we do. Specifically, we intend to:
•
Continue to commercialize FIRDAPSE
®
for the treatment of LEMS and improve disease awareness
. We are currently commercializing FIRDAPSE®
in the United States and supporting its commercialization in Canada. We are working to expand awareness of the disease, including to physicians treating LEMS patients with small-cell lung cancer, and helping health care providers and their patients understand the benefits of FIRDAPSE®
. A cornerstone of our U.S. strategy is our continuing development of Catalyst Pathways®
, our personalized treatment support program, and our development of the patient assistance programs that are required to further our goal that no LEMS patient be denied access to FIRDAPSE®
for financial reasons within existing legal restrictions.
•
Seek approval for FIRDAPSE
®
in Japan
. We are currently supporting our sub-licensee,
DyDo, as they begin taking necessary steps to seek approval for FIRDAPSE®
in Japan for the treatment of patients with LEMS.
•
Seek to acquire additional products
. We recently made a strategic decision to broaden and diversify our product portfolio through acquisitions of both early and late-stage products or companies or technology platforms in rare disease therapeutic categories outside of neuromuscular diseases. To accomplish these new priorities, we are employing a disciplined approach to evaluating assets and we believe that this strategic expansion will better position our company to build out a broader more diversified portfolio of drug candidates, which should add greater value to our company over the near and long-term. However, no products have been acquired to date.
FIRDAPSE®
Product Overview
FIRDAPSE®
is Catalyst’s registered trade name in the United States for amifampridine phosphate tablets. Amifampridine is the WHO (World Health Organization) registered INN (International Nonproprietary Name) and United States Adopted Name (USAN) for the chemical entity, 3,4-diaminopyridine,
often abbreviated as 3,4-DAP
or DAP. FIRDAPSE®
contains the phosphate salt of amifampridine, hence the name “amifampridine phosphate.” We will refer to our drug by its trade name in the United States (FIRDAPSE®
), by the INN/USAN (amifampridine), or by the specific salt in our product (amifampridine phosphate), throughout this report.
Amifampridine has been recommended as the first-line symptomatic treatment for LEMS by the European Federation of Neurological Societies (now known as the European Academy of Neurology). In December 2009, amifampridine phosphate received marketing approval from the European Commission (with the trade name FIRDAPSE®
) for the symptomatic treatment of patients with LEMS. Safety data from clinical data published over the last 30 years in patients with LEMS or other neurological disorders treated with amifampridine show that amifampridine is well tolerated at doses up to 80 mg per day. Among the 1,279 patients or healthy subjects assessed in the literature, the most frequently reported adverse events (AEs) were perioral and peripheral paresthesias (unusual sensations like pins and needles), and gastrointestinal disorders (abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and epigastralgia (pain around the upper part of the stomach)). These events were typically mild or moderate in severity, and transient, seldom requiring dose reduction or withdrawal from treatment.
Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS)
Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS) is a rare autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized primarily by muscle weakness of the limbs. The disease is caused by an autoimmune reaction where antibodies are formed against voltage-gated calcium channels on nerve endings, which damages the channels. These calcium channels are responsible for the transport of charged calcium atoms that activate the biochemical machinery responsible for releasing acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter responsible for causing muscles to contract and the failure to release enough of this neurotransmitter results in muscle weakness in LEMS patients. Additionally, LEMS is often associated with an underlying malignancy, most commonly small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), and in some individuals, LEMS is the first symptom of such malignancy.
LEMS generally affects the extremities, especially the legs. As LEMS most affects the parts of limbs closest to the trunk, difficulties with climbing stairs or rising from a sitting position are commonly reported. Physical exercise and high temperatures tend to worsen the symptoms. Other symptoms often seen include weakness of the muscles of the mouth, throat, and eyes. Individuals affected with LEMS also may have a disruption of the autonomic nervous system, including dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, impaired sweating, and/or hypotension.
LEMS is managed by treating the symptoms or treating the underlying autoimmune attack on voltage gated calcium channels. Unapproved treatments include steroids, azathioprine and intravenous immunoglobulin, which work by suppressing the immune system; and pyridostigmine and amifampridine, which enhance neuromuscular transmission. Plasma exchange has also been used to attempt to remove antibodies from the body. FIRDAPSE®
is a symptomatic treatment and does not alter the underlying autoimmune condition. As a voltage gated potassium blocker, FIRDAPSE®
prevents charged potassium atoms from leaving the nerve cells, which prolongs the period of depolarization. This allows more charged calcium atoms to enter the nerves, which enables the nerves to release acetylcholine and causes muscles to contract and to restore lost muscle strength in LEMS patients.
Based on currently available information, we estimate that there are approximately 3,000 LEMS patients in the United States, approximately 1,500 of which are presently diagnosed and identified and approximately 1,500 of which we believe are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. However, until awareness of the disease is increased, it is unlikely that the total number of LEMS patients in the United States can be determined with better certainty (as is typical of rare diseases), and the actual number of patients in the United States with LEMS may be higher or lower than our estimate.
Some of the factors that affect the size of the population with a rare disease such as LEMS include the number of patients actually diagnosed with the disease, the number of patients who are misdiagnosed with other diseases, and the number of patients who are simply undiagnosed. Additionally, while there is an antibody test that positively identifies patients with LEMS which we offer at no cost to health-care providers to be used to definitively determine whether a patient has LEMS, the test is not particularly well known or utilized at this time by many neurologists. Further, many LEMS patients who have small cell lung cancer (SCLC) are not currently being treated for LEMS because many oncology medical professionals who treat SCLC patients are generally unfamiliar with how to diagnose and treat LEMS. All of these factors affect the ultimate number of patients who will benefit from treatment with FIRDAPSE®
.
License Agreement for FIRDAPSE®
On October 26, 2012, we licensed the exclusive North American rights to FIRDAPSE®
pursuant to a License Agreement (the “License Agreement”) between us and BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (‘BioMarin”). Under the License Agreement, we make the following royalty payments on our net sales of FIRDAPSE®
:
•
Royalties to the licensor for seven years from the first commercial sale of FIRDAPSE®
equal to 7% of net sales (as defined in the License Agreement) in North America for any calendar year for sales up to $100 million, and 10% of net sales in North America in any calendar year in excess of $100 million; and
•
Royalties to the third-party licensor of the rights sublicensed to us for seven years from the first commercial sale of FIRDAPSE®
equal to 7% of net sales (as defined in the License Agreement between BioMarin and the third-party licensor) in any calendar year for the duration of any pending or issued patents or regulatory exclusivity within a territory and 3.5% of net sales in any calendar year in territories without pending or issued patents or regulatory exclusivity.
On May 29, 2019, we entered into an amendment to our License Agreement. Under the amendment, we expanded our commercial territory for FIRDAPSE®
, which originally was comprised of North America, to include Japan. Additionally, we have an option to further expand our territory under the License Agreement to include most of Asia, as well as Central and South America, upon the achievement of certain milestones in Japan. Under the amendment, we will pay royalties on net sales in Japan of a similar percentage to the royalties that we are currently paying under our original License Agreement for North America.
In January 2020, we were advised that BioMarin had sold certain rights under the License Agreement to SERB SA.
We believe that we remain in compliance with our obligations under the License Agreement.
Clinical trials supporting our NDA for FIRDAPSE®
for LEMS and approval of our NDA
We conducted two successful Phase 3 double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials evaluating FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of LEMS. The results of the first trial published in 2016 in Muscle & Nerve (Muscle Nerve, 2016, 53(5):717-725).
The results of the second trial were published in March 2019 in the Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular Disease (J. Clin Neuromusc Dis 2019; 20:111-119).
In March 2018, we submitted an NDA seeking approval of FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of LEMS. Our NDA was accepted for filing in May 2018 and, on November 28, 2018, the FDA granted approval of FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of LEMS in adult patients.
Required Post-Approval Studies
As part of the approval of our NDA for FIRDAPSE®
for LEMS, the FDA required us to conduct a clinical trial to evaluate the effect of hepatic impairment on the exposure of amifampridine after oral administration of FIRDAPSE®
relative to that in subjects with normal hepatic function. This study was recently completed and submitted to the FDA. We have also established a pregnancy surveillance program to collect and analyze information for a minimum of ten (10) years on pregnancy complications and birth outcomes related to FIRDAPSE®
. Finally, the FDA required us to perform a second carcinogenicity study of amifampridine phosphate in mice, which we have completed and submitted to the FDA.
Expanded access program
We operate an expanded access program (EAP) that is currently making FIRDAPSE®
available to a limited number of patients diagnosed with CMS or Downbeat Nystagmus (DN). It is anticipated that the EAP may be used to make FIRDAPSE®
available to pediatric LEMS patients now that the Ruzurgi®
approval has been vacated, subject to applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
Sales, Marketing and Distribution
Launch of FIRDAPSE®
in January 2019
In January 2019, we launched FIRDAPSE®
in the United States through a field force of approximately 20 personnel who are experienced in neurologic, central nervous system or rare diseases in sales, patient support and payer reimbursement. The sales representatives (Regional Account Managers) who were part of the field force targeted approximately 1,250 physicians who are either neuromuscular specialists or general neurologists with a known adult LEMS patient or specific training in neuromuscular diseases. We also utilized field force Patient Access Liaisons who work with the patients and provider offices to help navigate the insurance landscape, as well as National Account Managers who work directly with the payors to ensure comprehensive coverage for FIRDAPSE®
across the commercial and governmental plans in the United States. We also have a field-based force of five medical science liaisons who help educate the medical communities and patients about LEMS and about our company’s ongoing clinical trial activities. Further, we work closely with several rare disease advocacy organizations (including Global Genes, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), and the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America) to help increase awareness and the level of support for patients living with LEMS, MuSK antibody positive myasthenia gravis, and other neuromuscular diseases that may be treatable with FIRDAPSE®
, and to provide education for the physicians who treat these rare diseases and the patients they treat.
In early 2020, we expanded our field sales group by almost one hundred percent and established a partnership with an experienced inside sales agency generating leads through telemarketing to targeted physicians. Through this expansion of our sales team, we are working to expand our sales efforts beyond the neuromuscular specialists who regularly treat LEMS patients to reach roughly 9,000 neurology and neuromuscular healthcare providers that might be treating an adult LEMS patient who can benefit from FIRDAPSE®
. We also make available a no-cost
LEMS voltage gated calcium channel (VGCC) antibody testing program for physicians who suspect their patient may have LEMS and wish to reach a definitive diagnosis.
We are supporting the distribution of FIRDAPSE®
through Catalyst Pathways®
, our personalized treatment support program for enrolled patients. Catalyst Pathways®
is a single source for personalized treatment support, education and guidance through the challenging dosing and titration regimen to an effective therapeutic dose. It also includes distributing the drug through a very small group of exclusive specialty pharmacies (primarily AnovoRx), which is consistent with the way that most drug products for ultra-orphan diseases are distributed and dispensed to patients. By using specialty pharmacies in this way, the difficult task of navigating the health care system is far better for the patient needing treatment for their rare disease and the health care community in general.
In addition, Catalyst Pathways®
is the gateway for our free bridge medication for patients during transitioning from investigational product while they are waiting for a coverage determination or, later on, for patients whose access is threatened by the bureaucratic complications arising from a change of insurer. The Catalyst Pathways®
program is also the access point for our Patient Assistance Program, which provides longer-term free medication for those who are uninsured or functionally uninsured with respect to FIRDAPSE®
because they may be unable to obtain coverage from their payer despite having health insurance.
In addition to our current work to assist former Ruzurgi®
patients to transition to FIRDAPSE®
, we are continuing efforts on the longer, slower process to identify patients and their physicians who have diagnosed LEMS, but have not had access, awareness or understanding of this treatment for their rare disease. These patients often do not see their physician frequently, have many questions about changing treatment(s), and may not perceive the need to change to a new therapy. Further, we have begun to focus our commercial efforts to locate misdiagnosed and undiagnosed LEMS patients and provide educational and sales activities to help improve the diagnosis, understanding of the treatment, and information on the prescribing process. We plan to continue to support LEMS and rare disease patient organizational groups’ efforts to generate awareness and educate patients and physicians on the diagnosis of LEMS, the impact of the disease, and the support services and treatments available.
Access to FIRDAPSE®
In order to help patients afford their medication, we, like other pharmaceutical companies who are marketing drugs for ultra-orphan conditions, have developed an array of financial assistance programs that are available to reduce patient co-pays
and deductibles to a nominal affordable amount. For eligible patients with commercial coverage, a co-pay
assistance program designed to keep out-of-pocket
costs to $10 or less per month (currently $0.00 per month) is available for all LEMS patients prescribed FIRDAPSE®
. We are also donating, and committing to continue to donate, money to qualified, independent charitable foundations dedicated to providing assistance to LEMS patients in financial need. Our goal is to ensure that no LEMS patient is ever denied access to their medication for financial reasons.
To date, FIRDAPSE®
has been widely covered and reimbursed by private and public payors for the indicated small population of adult LEMS patients.
FDA approval of Ruzurgi®
for pediatric LEMS patients (ages 6 to under 17)
In May 2019, the FDA approved an NDA for Ruzurgi®
, Jacobus Pharmaceuticals’ version of amifampridine (3,4-DAP),
for the treatment of pediatric LEMS patients (ages 6 to under 17). We believe that the vast majority of Ruzurgi®
sales are to adult LEMS patients who are being prescribed the drug off label. If Jacobus is able to successfully continue to sell Ruzurgi®
off-label
to additional adult LEMS patients, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We believe that the FDA’s approval of Ruzurgi®
violated our statutory rights and was in multiple other respects arbitrary, capricious and contrary to law. As a result, in June 2019 we filed suit against the FDA and several related parties challenging this approval and related drug labeling. Jacobus later intervened in the case. Our complaint, which was filed in the federal district court for the Southern District of Florida, alleged that the FDA’s approval of Ruzurgi®
violated multiple provisions of FDA regulations regarding labeling, resulting in misbranding in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA); violated our statutory rights to Orphan Drug Exclusivity and New Chemical Entity Exclusivity under the FDCA; and was in multiple other respects arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. Among other remedies, the suit seeks an order vacating the FDA’s approval of Ruzurgi®
.
On July 30, 2020, the Magistrate Judge considering this lawsuit filed a Report and Recommendation in which she recommended to the District Judge handling the case that she grant the FDA’s and Jacobus’ motions for summary judgment and deny our motion for summary judgment. On September 29, 2020, the District Judge adopted the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge, granted the FDA’s and Jacobus’ motions for summary judgment, and dismissed our case. We appealed the District Court’s decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th
Circuit. The case was fully briefed in early 2021, and oral argument was held in March 2021.
On September 30, 2021, a three-judge panel of 11th
Circuit judges issued a unanimous decision overturning the District Court’s decision. The appellate court adopted our argument that the FDA’s approval of Ruzurgi®
violated our rights to Orphan Drug Exclusivity and remanded the case to the District Court with orders to enter summary judgment in our favor. In November 2021, Jacobus filed a motion
seeking rehearing of the case from the full 11th
Circuit, which motion was denied in January 2022. Further, in January 2022, Jacobus filed motions with both the 11th
Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court seeking a stay of the 11th
Circuit’s ruling indicating that it would seek a review of the 11th
Circuit’s decision from the U.S. Supreme Court. Both stay motions were denied, and on January 28, 2022, the 11th
Circuit issued a mandate directing the District Court to enter summary judgment in our favor. The District Court entered that order on January 31, 2022. On February 1, 2022, the FDA informed Jacobus that, consistent with the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit’s September 30, 2021, decision in favor of Catalyst, the final approval of the Ruzurgi®
NDA was switched to a tentative approval until the 7-year
orphan-drug exclusivity (ODE) for Firdapse®
has expired.
There can be no assurance as to whether Jacobus will seek U.S. Supreme Court review of the 11th Circuit’s decision, whether the U.S. Supreme Court will agree to hear the case, or whether, if the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, Jacobus’ appeal to overturn the decision of the 11th Circuit will be successful. Similarly, there can be no assurance as to whether the U.S. Congress will pass, and the President will sign, legislation revising the Orphan Drug Act that effectively overturns the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, and whether any such legislation, if passed and signed into law, will retroactively affect the outcome of the 11th
Circuit decision and allow the FDA to reinstate the approval of Ruzurgi®
before the expiration of FIRDAPSE®
’s orphan drug exclusivity.
Third-Party Reimbursement
Sales of drug products depend in significant part on the availability of coverage and adequate reimbursement by third party payors, such as state and federal governments, including Medicare and Medicaid, managed care providers, private commercial insurance plans and pharmacy benefit management (PBM) plans. Decisions regarding the extent of coverage and the amount of reimbursement to be provided for FIRDAPSE®
are expected to be made on a plan-by-plan,
and in some cases, on a patient-by-patient
basis. Particularly given the rarity of LEMS, our experience has been that securing coverage and appropriate reimbursement from third-party payors requires targeted education and highly skilled insurance navigation experts that have experience with rare disease launches and medical exception processes at insurance companies to provide patient coverage for important rare disease therapies. To that end, we have engaged a dedicated team of field-based market access account managers and reimbursement experts as well as a patient service center staffed with experienced personnel focused on ensuring that clinically-qualified patients have access to our product.
There can be no assurance, however, as to whether payors will continue to cover our product, and if so, at what level of reimbursement. In that regard, we have advised payors that we will provide free medication to support titration and confirm patient therapeutic benefit. Further, when necessary, we provide patients with access to therapy at no charge while those patients are awaiting coverage decisions.
Our efforts to develop FIRDAPSE®
as a treatment for additional neuromuscular indications
Over the past few years, we have studied FIRDAPSE®
as a potential treatment for multiple neuromuscular indications other than LEMS, and the results of recent studies are summarized below. Based on the results of these activities, in 2021 we have made a strategic decision not to proceed forward to further study FIRDAPSE®
as a potential treatment for additional indications.
MuSK-MG
studies
In February 2016, we initiated an investigator-sponsored, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover proof-of-concept
clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability and potential efficacy of FIRDAPSE®
as a symptomatic treatment for patients with MuSK-MG.
Seven patients participated in this proof-of-concept
trial. On March 15, 2017, we reported top-line
results from this trial. Both of the co-primary
efficacy endpoints of change from baseline (CFB) in total Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) score (p=0.0003) and CFB in total Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL)
score (p=0.0006) were statistically and clinically significant in this trial. Several secondary efficacy measures also achieved statistical significance. Amifampridine phosphate was well tolerated in this population of patients. The results of this study were published in SAGE Open Medicine and can be accessed at https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2050312118819013
. Subsequently, we engaged in a Phase 3 clinical trial (MSK-002)
evaluating FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of adults with MuSK-MG.
Our trial was a multi-site, international (United States, Italy and Serbia), double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial being conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) with the FDA. The trial enrolled more than 60 MuSK antibody positive patients. It also enrolled more than 10 generalized myasthenia gravis patients who were assessed with the same clinical endpoints. However, achieving statistical significance in this subgroup of patients was not required.
On August 10, 2020, we announced the top-line
results from our Phase 3 clinical trial (MSK-002)
evaluating FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of adults with MuSK-MG.
Unfortunately, the MSK-002
trial did not achieve statistical significance on its primary endpoint or its secondary endpoint, even though clinical improvement was observed by patients and investigators during the initial dose-titration period of the trial and in the company’s previous proof-of-concept
trial. However, we have recently concluded a detailed analysis of the data from this trial in an effort to understand why the MuSK-MG
Phase 3 trial did not meet statistical significance on its endpoints.
Following our receipt of these results, we analyzed the data and proposed a plan to the FDA to perform an additional study evaluating FIRDAPSE®
for MuSK-MG.
In response, the FDA provided written comments that were unfavorable towards our proposed revised study design and further questioned the ability of the initial MuSK-MG
pilot study to be supportive. These remarks make it unlikely that a single study design similar to MSK-002
would be sufficient for potential approval of the MuSK-MG
indication. We also held an appropriate expert panel to discuss options and review the likelihood for success for a MuSK-MG
indication for FIRDAPSE®
. Based on the input from the FDA and advisors, we have concluded that the approval of FIRDAPSE®
as a first-line therapy for MuSK-MG
is unlikely and therefore we have decided not to continue to pursue this indication.
Proof-of-concept
clinical trial evaluating FIRDAPSE
®
for the treatment of SMA Type 3
Our exploratory study, SMA-001
(A Randomized Placebo Controlled Crossover Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Amifampridine Phosphate in Ambulatory Patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 3, met the primary endpoint of a statistically significant difference for the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded (HFMSE). Clinically, however, the effect was modest. The secondary endpoints were not statistically significant, although several individual quality of life measures demonstrated a positive nominally statistically significant change. Key opinion leaders with whom we have spoken believed that FIRDAPSE®
needed to show a large clinically significant change if there was the possibility to affect disease progression through retrograde signaling from enhanced neuromuscular junction function. After considering all of these factors, we have concluded that the modest results exhibited in this study are unlikely to result in a sufficient modification of disease progression, and, particularly in light of the fact that there are now three approved disease modifying medications for SMA Type 3, we have decided not to pursue the SMA Type 3 indication further.
Study to evaluate FIRDAPSE®
as a treatment for HNPP
We previously announced our intent to conduct a proof-of-concept
study evaluating FIRDAPSE®
as a treatment for Hereditary Neuropathy with Liability to Pressure Palsies (HNPP). The FDA requested that a new, patient centric endpoint be researched and used for our proposed study, without assurance that such endpoint would be acceptable for approval. Based upon the uncertainty of such an endpoint, we have decided not to conduct this study as a company sponsored study, though there is a possibility that this study will move forward as investigator-initiated study that we will support.
Long-acting version of amifampridine phosphate
We were previously developing a long-acting formulation of amifampridine phosphate. While a number of formulations were prepared, after discussions with researchers and an advisory board made up of both patients and physicians, we concluded that we would be unable to develop a long-acting formulation that is both beneficial to patients and commercially viable, and as a result we made the determination not to proceed with development of this product.
Intellectual property and regulatory exclusivity protections for FIRDAPSE®
All of our patent rights for FIRDAPSE®
are derived from our license agreement. In August 2020, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) allowed Patent No. 10,793,893 (the ’893 patent) to our licensor and thereby to us, and the patent issued on October 6, 2020. The patent is directed to the use of suitable doses of amifampridine to treat patients, regardless of the therapeutic indication, that are slow metabolizers of amifampridine. Any drug product containing amifampridine with a label that states the patented dosing regimens and doses in the Dosing and Administration section prior to April 7, 2034, the expiration date of the patent, could possibly infringe this patent. Generic drug product labels would necessarily have to do this, and we intend to take all appropriate actions to protect our intellectual property.
In April 2021, the USPTO also allowed Patent No. 11,060,128 (the ’128 patent) to our licensor and thereby to us, and this second patent issued on July 13, 2021. The patent is directed to the use of suitable doses of amifampridine to treat patients suffering with LEMS that are slow metabolizers of amifampridine. Any drug product containing amifampridine with a label for the treatment of LEMS, that states the patented dosing regimens and doses in the Dosing and Administration section of a product label, including generic drug product labels, could possibly infringe this patent prior to this patent’s expiration date.
On December 24, 2021, the USPTO allowed continuing application, 17/503,190. On January 3, 2022, the USPTO allowed related continuing application 17/503,148. A further related continuing application, 17/503,092 was allowed on January 7, 2022. All three patents were issued in March 2022. The claims in each of these applications have either already been listed in the Orange Book for FIRDAPSE®
or are in the process of being listed.
We are also pursuing additional patent applications for FIRDAPSE®
in an effort to further protect our drug product. There can be no assurance that any additional patents will be issued which provide additional intellectual property protection for our drug product.
In that regard, in October 2020, we filed lawsuits against Jacobus and the specialty pharmacy marketing Ruzurgi®
, PantherRx Rare LLC (PantherRx), for infringement of the ‘893 patent. The suits have now been consolidated in a single action in the U.S. District Court for New Jersey. In August 2021, the lawsuits were amended to include alleged infringement of the ‘128 patent. The lawsuits arise from
Jacobus’ and PantherRx’s sales and marketing of Ruzurgi®
(amifampridine) Tablets, 10 mg. The lawsuits allege that the Ruzurgi®
product infringes the ‘893 patent and the ‘128 patent when administered in accordance with its product labeling. The lawsuit seeks damages and injunctive relief to prevent further marketing of Ruzurgi®
in violation of our patent rights. The lawsuit is in the discovery stage and there can be no assurance as to the results of these proceedings.
There can be no assurance that we do not or will not infringe on patents held by third parties or that third parties in the future will not claim that we have infringed on their patents. In the event that our products or technologies infringe or violate the patent or other proprietary rights of third parties, we may be prevented from pursuing product development, manufacturing or commercialization of our products that utilize such technologies. For example, there may be patents or patent applications held by others that contain claims that our products or operations might be determined to infringe or that may be broader than we believe them to be. Given the complexities and uncertainties of patent laws, there can be no assurance as to the impact that future patent claims against us may have on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or prospects.
Until FIRDAPSE®
was approved in November 2018, no drug product containing amifampridine for any indication had been approved by the FDA such that we received five-year “new chemical entity” exclusivity from the FDA. New chemical entity exclusivity provides a five-year period of marketing exclusivity for all indications and in the absence of an Orange Book listed patent, precludes a generic from submitting an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) until that five year period has expired. Further, when FIRDAPSE®
was approved for the treatment of LEMS patients, we received seven-year orphan drug exclusivity for our product for the treatment of LEMS, precluding a generic filer from receiving final FDA approval until the ODE exclusivity period has expired. Because we have Orange Book listed patents for FIRDAPSE®
, potential generic filers will be permitted to submit ANDA filings to the FDA as early as the “NCE-1”
date (November 28, 2022). In the event of such filings, and after appropriate investigation, we intend to vigorously enforce our patent rights.
We have in-licensed
the FIRDAPSE®
trademark, and the trademark was registered in the United States in March 2015.
Protection of our intellectual property and regulatory exclusivities is a strategic priority for our business. Our ability to protect and use our intellectual property rights and regulatory exclusivity in the future development and commercialization of our products, operate without infringing the proprietary rights of others, and prevent others from infringing our proprietary rights, is crucial to our future success. See Item 1A. “Risk Factors-Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property.”
Generic Sabril®
In September 2015, we announced the launch of a program to develop our version of vigabatrin (CPP-109)
as a generic version of Sabril®
, which is marketed in the United States by Lundbeck. Lundbeck’s exclusivity for Sabril®
expired on April 26, 2018. Vigabatrin comes in two dosage forms - a powder sachet and a tablet. Par Pharmaceutical brought the first generic version of the powder sachet to market, and since then numerous additional generic versions of this product have been approved. Further, four generic versions of vigabatrin tablets have also been approved.
On December 18, 2018, we entered into a definitive agreement with Endo International plc’s subsidiary, Endo Ventures Limited (Endo), for the further development and commercialization of generic Sabril®
tablets through Endo’s United States Generic Pharmaceuticals segment, Par Pharmaceutical. Pursuant to the agreement, in December 2018, we received an up-front
payment of $0.5 million. We will be entitled to receive a milestone payment of $2.0 million on the commercial launch of the product. Further, we will receive a sharing of defined net profits upon commercialization and certain expenses for development.
Sabril®
is marketed by Lundbeck in the United States for infantile spasms and for refractory complex partial seizures. Lundbeck’s sales of Sabril®
(tablets and sachets) were approximately $129.0 million in 2019 and $118.3 million in 2020. Four generic versions of Sabril®
tablets have been approved to date in the United States, as have numerous generic versions of the powder form. We have entered into a definitive agreement with Endo/Par for the further development and commercialization of generic Sabril®
tablets.
There can be no assurance that our collaboration with Endo for the development of generic Sabril®
(vigabatrin) tablets will be successful and that if an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) is approved for vigabatrin tablets in the future, that it will be profitable to us.
Plans to Acquire or In-License
Additional Products
In 2021, we made a strategic decision to broaden and diversify our product portfolio through acquisitions of both early and late-stage products or companies or technology platforms in rare disease therapeutic categories outside of neuromuscular diseases. To accomplish these new priorities, we are employing a disciplined approach to evaluating assets and we believe that this strategic expansion will better position our company to build out a broader more diversified portfolio of drug candidates, which should add greater value to our company over the near and long-term. However, there can be no assurance that whatever product candidates or technology platforms we acquire, if any, will be successfully developed or commercialized.
We are currently exploring several potential opportunities to acquire companies with drug products in development or to in-license
or acquire drug products in development. However, no definitive agreements have been entered into to date. Further, during the third quarter of 2021 we hired Dr. Preethi Sundaram, who serves as our Chief Strategy Officer. In that position, Dr. Sundaram is leading our efforts to acquire R&D assets, from early stage through late-stage clinical programs and technologies to treat rare diseases, and once such drug candidates are acquired, Dr. Sundaram will help oversee the development of those assets.
Manufacturing and Supply
We are licensed in Florida as a virtual drug manufacturer, which means that we have no in-house
manufacturing capacity and we are obligated to rely on contract manufacturers and packagers. We have no plans to build or acquire the manufacturing capability needed to manufacture any of our research materials or commercial products, and we expect that our drug products and drug substances will be prepared by contractors with suitable capabilities for these tasks and that we will enter into appropriate supply agreements with these contractors at appropriate times in the development and commercialization of our products. Because we will use contractors to manufacture and supply our products, we will be reliant on such contractors. Further, the contractors selected would have to be inspected by the FDA and found to be in substantial compliance with federal regulations in order for an application for one of our drug candidates to be approved, and there can be no assurance that the contractors we select would pass such an inspection.
We have entered into agreements with a supplier of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) contained in FIRDAPSE®
for future requirements and we have contracted with third-party contract manufacturers who are manufacturing FIRDAPSE®
tablets for us.
Any significant change that we make for FIRDAPSE®
must be approved by the FDA in a supplemental new drug application (sNDA). If the manufacturing plan and data are insufficient, any sNDA we submit will not be approved. Before an sNDA can be approved, our manufacturers must also demonstrate compliance with FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) regulations and policies. Further, even if we receive approval of any sNDAs for FIRDAPSE®
, if our manufacturers do not follow cGMPs in the manufacture of our products, it may delay product launches or shipments and adversely affect our business.
Since we contract with third parties to manufacture our products, our contract manufacturers are required to comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations that affect the manufacturing process. As a result, we do not believe that we will have any significant direct exposure to environmental issues.
Competition
The pharmaceutical industry is intensely competitive, and any product candidate developed or licensed by us would likely compete with currently marketed and potentially new drugs and therapies even though they are not indicated for these conditions. There are many pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, public and private universities, government agencies and research organizations that compete with us in developing various approaches to the treatment of orphan diseases. Many of these organizations have substantially greater financial, technical, marketing and manufacturing resources than we have.
Before the approval of FIRDAPSE®
, LEMS was generally treated with unapproved drugs and therapies including steroids, azathioprine, other immunosuppressants and intravenous immunoglobulin, which work by suppressing the immune system, and pyridostigmine. Plasma exchange has also been used in an attempt to remove antibodies from the body. Further, one other product, guanidine HCl tablets, was approved many years ago (during a period when drugs were not required to be reviewed by the FDA for both safety and effectiveness) for use in the treatment of LEMS. However, this drug has significant side effects and is not currently viewed as an effective treatment for LEMS. Notwithstanding, drugs may be prescribed by physicians for the treatment of LEMS whether or not they are considered effective.
For some years, Ruzurgi®
for the treatment of pediatric patients with LEMS was often proscribed to adult LEMS patients, and at a lower price than FIRDAPSE®
. Now that Ruzurgi®
is no longer on the market, it is no longer competitive to FIRDAPSE®
. However, if Ruzurgi®
were to become available in the future, it would likely be competitive to FIRDAPSE®
.
Finally, we are aware that amifampridine has been available from compounding pharmacies for many years and may remain available, even though we have obtained FDA approval of FIRDAPSE®
. Compounded amifampridine is likely to be substantially less expensive than FIRDAPSE®
. The Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 included a new section, which clarified the status of pharmacy compounding under Federal law. Under Section 503A, drug products that are lawfully compounded by a pharmacist or physician for an individual patient may be entitled to exemptions from three key provisions of the FDCA: (1) the adulteration provision of section 501(a)(2)(B) (concerning FDA’s cGMP regulations); (2) the misbranding provision of section 502(f)(1) (concerning the labeling of drugs with adequate directions for use); and (3) the new drug provision of section 505 (concerning the approval of drugs under new drug or abbreviated new drug applications).
To qualify for these statutory exemptions, a compounded drug product must satisfy several legal requirements. One of these requirements restricts the universe of bulk drug substances that a compounder may use. Specifically, every bulk drug substance used in compounding: (1) must comply with an applicable and current USP or NF drug monograph, if one exists, as well as the current USP chapters on pharmacy compounding; (2) if such a monograph does not exist, the bulk drug substance must be a component of an FDA-approved
drug; or (3) if a monograph does not exist and the bulk drug substance is not a component of an FDA-approved
drug, it must appear on a list of bulk drug substances that may be used in compounding (i.e., the “Section 503A bulk substances list 1”). While the advertising provisions in Section 503A were ruled unconstitutional in part in the United States by the Supreme Court in 2002, the FDA, since 2013, has aggressively regulated and exercised oversight over the practice of pharmacy compounding following the compounding incident at the New England Compounding Center in Massachusetts that sickened hundreds and killed over 60 individuals.
In 2013, Congress removed the unconstitutional advertising provisions in Section 503A when it passed the Drug Quality and Security Act of 2013 (DQSA), Title I (The Compounding Quality Act). The DQSA also created “outsourcing facilities” under Section 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which are drug compounders that voluntarily register with FDA and may produce compounded formulations for office use (at least one of which must be sterile), but must comply with FDA’s cGMP regulations and other requirements set forth in Section 503B. Section 503B outsourcing facilities may also only compound from bulk substances if the product is on FDA’s drug shortage list, or the substance is on FDA’s Section 503B list of bulk substances that may be used in compounding (i.e., the Section 503B bulk substances list 1”).
While the FDA has been aggressively enforcing Section 503A since its re-enactment,
compounders may still compound “near copies” (but not “essentially copies”) of approved drug products, under Section 503A, so long as the prescriber makes a change to the compounded formulation that produces for that patient a significant difference between the commercially available drug and the compounded version. Compounders may also copy commercially available products if they do not do so in “regular or inordinate amounts.” In January 2018, FDA published a Final Guidance document titled, “Compounded Drug Products That Are Essentially Copies of a Commercially Available Drug Product Under Section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.” This Final Guidance sets forth FDA’s enforcement policy concerning those compounders that make essentially copies of commercially available drug products. FDA has defined the term “regular or inordinate” in the Final Guidance to mean: “a drug product that is essentially a copy of a commercially available drug product is compounded regularly or in inordinate amounts if it is compounded more frequently than needed to address unanticipated, emergency circumstances, or in more than the small quantities needed to address unanticipated, emergency circumstances.” FDA has further stated it will not take enforcement action, considering all the facts and circumstances, against a compounder that compounds less than four “essentially copies” of a commercially available drug product in a calendar month.
Factors affecting competition generally
In general, our ability to compete depends in large part upon:
•
our ability to complete clinical development and obtain regulatory approvals for our drug candidates;
•
the demonstrated efficacy, safety and reliability of our drug candidates;
•
the timing and scope of regulatory approvals;
•
product acceptance by physicians and other health care providers;
•
the willingness of payors to reimburse for our product;
•
protection of our proprietary rights and the level of generic competition;
•
the speed at which we develop drug candidates;
•
our ability to supply commercial quantities of a product to the market;
•
our ability to obtain reimbursement from private and/or public insurance entities for product use in approved indications;
•
our ability to recruit and retain skilled employees; and
•
the availability of capital resources to fund our development and commercialization activities, including the availability of funding from the federal government.
Regulatory Matters
Government regulation and product approval
Government authorities in the United States, at the federal, state and local level, and in other countries extensively regulate, among other things, the research, development, testing, manufacture, labeling, record-keeping, promotion, storage, advertising, distribution, marketing and export and import of products such as those we are developing. Our drugs must be approved by the FDA through the NDA process before they may be legally marketed in the United States.
In the United States, drugs are subject to rigorous regulation by the FDA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) and implementing regulations, as well as other federal and state statutes. The process of obtaining regulatory approvals and the subsequent compliance with appropriate federal, state, local, and foreign statutes and regulations require the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources. Failure to comply with the applicable United States requirements at any time during the product development process, approval process, or after approval, may subject an applicant to administrative or judicial sanctions. These sanctions could include the FDA’s refusal to approve pending applications, license suspension or revocation, withdrawal of an approval, a clinical hold, warning letters, product recalls, product seizures, total or partial suspension of production or distribution, injunctions, fines, civil penalties or criminal prosecution. Any agency or judicial enforcement action could have a material adverse effect on us. The process required by the FDA before a drug may be marketed in the United States generally involves the following:
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completion of pre-clinical
laboratory tests, animal studies and formulation studies according to the FDA’s good laboratory practice, or GLP, regulations;
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submission of an investigational new drug application, or IND, which must become effective before human clinical trials may begin and which must include approval by an institutional review board, or IRB, at each clinical site before the trials are initiated;
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performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of the proposed drug for its intended use conducted in compliance with federal regulations and good clinical practice, or GCP, an international standard meant to protect the rights and health of patients and to define the roles of clinical trial sponsors, administrators, and monitors;
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submission to, and acceptance by, the FDA of an NDA;
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satisfactory completion of an FDA inspection of the manufacturing facility or facilities at which the drug is produced to assess compliance with current good manufacturing practice, or cGMP, regulations to assure that the facilities, methods and controls are adequate to preserve the drug’s identity, strength, quality and purity;
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potential FDA audit of the non-clinical
and clinical trial sites that generated the data in support of the NDA; and
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FDA review and approval of the NDA.
The testing and approval process requires substantial time, effort and financial resources, and the receipt and timing of any approval is uncertain.
United States drug development process
Once a pharmaceutical candidate is identified for development it enters the pre-clinical
testing stage. Pre-clinical
tests include laboratory evaluations of product chemistry, toxicity and formulation, as well as animal studies. Prior to beginning human clinical trials, an IND sponsor must submit an IND to the FDA. The IND sponsor must submit the results of the pre-clinical
tests, together with manufacturing information and analytical data, to the FDA as part of the IND. Some pre-clinical
or non-clinical
testing may continue even after the IND is submitted. In addition to including the results of the pre-clinical
studies, the IND will also include a protocol detailing, among other things, the objectives of the clinical trial, the parameters to be used in monitoring safety and the effectiveness criteria to be evaluated, if the trial lends itself to an efficacy evaluation. The IND automatically becomes effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless the FDA, within the 30-day time period, raises concerns or questions about the conduct of the trial. In such a case, the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding concerns before the clinical trial can begin. The FDA may, at any time, impose a clinical hold on ongoing clinical trials. If the FDA imposes a clinical hold, clinical trials cannot commence or recommence without FDA authorization and then only under terms authorized by the FDA.
Clinical trials involve the administration of the investigational new drug to healthy volunteers or patients under the supervision of one or more qualified investigators in accordance with federal regulations and GCP.
Clinical trials must be conducted under protocols detailing the objectives of the trial and the safety and effectiveness criteria to be evaluated. Each protocol must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND. Further, an Institutional Review Board (IRB) at each institution participating in the clinical trial must review and approve each protocol before any clinical trial commences at that institution. All research subjects must provide informed consent, and informed consent information must be submitted to the IRB for approval prior to initiation of the trial. Progress reports detailing the results of the clinical trials must be submitted at least annually to the FDA and more frequently if adverse events or other certain types of other changes occur.
Human clinical trials are typically conducted in three phases. A fourth, or post-approval, phase may include additional clinical studies. These phases generally include the following, and may be sequential, or may overlap or be combined:
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Phase 1 clinical trials involve the initial introduction of the drug into human subjects. These studies are designed to determine the safety of usually single doses of the compound and determine any dose limiting intolerance, as well as evidence of the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of the drug in humans.
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Phase 2 clinical trials usually involve studies in a limited patient population to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the drug for specific, targeted indications, to determine dosage tolerance and optimal dosage, and to identify possible adverse effects and safety risks.
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In Phase 3, if a compound is found to be potentially effective and to have an acceptable safety profile in Phase 2 (or occasionally Phase 1) studies, the Phase 3 studies will be conducted to further confirm clinical efficacy, optimal dosage and safety within an expanded population which may involve geographically diverse clinical trial sites. Generally, but not always, two adequate and well-controlled Phase 3 clinical trials are required by the FDA for approval of an NDA.
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Phase 4 clinical trials are studies required of or agreed to by a sponsor that are conducted after the FDA has approved a product for marketing. These studies are used to gain additional experience from the treatment of patients in the intended therapeutic indication and to document a clinical benefit in the case of drugs approved under accelerated approval regulations. If the FDA approves a product while a company has ongoing clinical trials that were not necessary for approval, a company may be able to use the data from these clinical trials to meet all or part of any Phase 4 clinical trial requirement. Failure to promptly conduct Phase 4 clinical trials where necessary could result in withdrawal of approval for products approved under accelerated approval regulations.
While Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 tests are generally required for approval of an NDA, certain drugs may not require one or more steps in the process depending on other testing and the situation involved. Additionally, the FDA, an IRB, or the sponsor may stop testing at any time if results show patients being exposed to unnecessary health risks or overly dangerous side effects.
In addition, the manufacturer of an investigational drug in a Phase 2 or Phase 3 clinical trial for a serious or life-threatening disease is required to make available, such as by posting on its website, its policy on evaluating and responding to requests for expanded access to such investigational drug.
Concurrent with clinical trials, companies usually complete additional animal studies and must also develop additional information about the chemistry and physical characteristics of the drug and finalize a process for manufacturing the product in accordance with cGMP requirements. The manufacturing process must be capable of consistently producing quality batches of the drug candidate and, among other requirements, the manufacturer must develop methods for testing the identity, strength, quality and purity of the final drug. Additionally, appropriate packaging must be selected and tested, and stability studies must be conducted to demonstrate that the drug candidate does not undergo unacceptable deterioration over its shelf life.
United States review and approval process
FDA approval of an NDA is required before marketing of the product may begin in the United States. The NDA must include the results of product development, pre-clinical
studies and clinical studies, together with other detailed information, including information on the chemistry, manufacture and composition of the product. The FDA has 60 days from its receipt of the NDA to review the application to ensure that it is sufficiently complete for substantive review before filing it. The FDA may request additional information rather than file an NDA. In this event, the NDA must be resubmitted with the additional information. The resubmitted application also is subject to review before the FDA files it. Once the submission is filed, the FDA begins an in-depth
substantive review. The submission of an NDA is also subject to the payment of a substantial application fee (for FDA fiscal year 2022 this fee is $3,117,218), although a waiver of such fee may be obtained under certain limited circumstances, including when the drug that is subject of the application has received Orphan Drug Designation for the indication sought. Further, the sponsor of an approved NDA is subject to an annual program fee, which for FDA fiscal year 2022 is $369,413 per prescription drug product. User fees typically increase annually. The approval process is lengthy and difficult, and the FDA may refuse to approve an NDA if the applicable regulatory criteria are not satisfied or may require additional clinical or other data and information. Even if such data and information is submitted, the FDA may ultimately decide that
the NDA does not satisfy the criteria for approval. The FDA may also refer applications for novel drug products or drug products which present difficult questions of safety or efficacy to an advisory committee, typically a panel that includes clinicians and other experts, for review, evaluation and a recommendation as to whether the application should be approved. The FDA is not bound by the recommendation of an advisory committee. The FDA reviews an NDA to determine, among other things, whether a product is safe and effective for its intended use. Before approving an NDA, the FDA will inspect the facility or facilities where the product is manufactured to determine whether its manufacturing is cGMP-compliant to assure and preserve the product’s identity, strength, quality, purity and stability.
If the FDA’s evaluation of the NDA submission or manufacturing facilities is not favorable, the FDA will issue a complete response letter. The complete response letter outlines the deficiencies in the submission and often requires additional testing or information in order for the FDA to reconsider the application. Even after submitting this additional information, the FDA ultimately may decide that the application does not satisfy the regulatory criteria for approval. With limited exceptions, the FDA may withhold approval of an NDA regardless of prior advice it may have provided or commitments it may have made to the sponsor.
Once an NDA is approved, changes to the conditions of approval, including additional indications, are made by the submission of a supplement to the NDA. The supplemental NDA, or sNDA, must contain all of the information necessary to support the change. In the case of a new indication, that information usually consists of at least one clinical trial, and often more. Like an NDA, FDA determines whether the sNDA is sufficiently complete to permit review before it files the sNDA. FDA then reviews the sNDA. Like an NDA, FDA can either approve the sNDA or issue a complete response letter outlining the deficiencies in the sNDA.
Special Protocol Assessments
A SPA is a process in which sponsors may request to meet with the FDA to reach agreement on the design and size of certain clinical trials, clinical studies, or animal trials to determine if they adequately address scientific and regulatory requirements. As part of this process, sponsors submit specific questions about protocol design and scientific and regulatory requirements. After the FDA completes the review of a SPA request, the FDA may issue a SPA Letter, including an assessment of the protocol, agreement or non-agreement
with the proposed protocol, and answers to the sponsor’s relevant questions.
A SPA agreement indicates concurrence by the FDA with the adequacy and acceptability of specific critical elements of overall protocol design (e.g., entry criteria, dose selection, endpoints, and planned analyses). These elements are critical to ensuring that the trial conducted under the protocol has the potential to support a future submitted application’s ability to meet regulatory requirements for approval. Feedback on these issues provides the greatest benefit to sponsors in planning late-phase development strategy. However, a SPA agreement does not indicate FDA concurrence on every protocol detail. Further, the FDA may rescind a SPA if the director of the FDA reviewing division determines that a substantial scientific issue essential to determining the safety or efficacy of the drug was identified after the trial began. Thus, a SPA is not binding on the FDA if, for example, the Agency identifies a safety concern related to the product or its pharmacological class, if the FDA or the scientific community recognizes a paradigm shift in disease diagnosis or management, if the relevant data or assumptions provided by the sponsor in the SPA submission are found to be false or misstated, or if the sponsor fails to follow the protocol that was agreed upon with the FDA. The FDA retains significant latitude and discretion in interpreting the terms of a SPA agreement and the data and results from the applicable clinical trial.
Because a SPA provides for the evaluation of protocols for trials that have not been initiated, the conduct and results of the subsequent trial are not part of the evaluation. Therefore, the existence of an SPA agreement does not guarantee that the FDA will accept an NDA, or that the trial results will be adequate to support approval. Those issues are addressed during the review of a submitted application; however, it is hoped that trial quality will be improved by the SPA process.
Post-approval requirements and consideration
Once an NDA is approved, a product will be subject to certain post-approval requirements. For instance, the FDA closely regulates the post-approval marketing and promotion of drugs, including standards and regulations for direct-to-consumer
advertising, off-label
promotion, industry-sponsored scientific and educational activities and promotional activities involving the internet. As a condition of NDA approval, the FDA may also require a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy, or REMS, to help ensure that the benefits of the drug outweigh the potential risks. REMS can include medication guides, communication plans for the healthcare professionals, and other Elements To Assure Safe Use, or ETASU. ETASU can include, but are not limited to, special training or certification for prescribing or dispensing, dispensing only under certain circumstances, special monitoring, and the use of patient registries. The requirement for a REMS can materially affect the potential market and profitability of the drug.
Drugs may be marketed only for the approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved labeling. Changes to some of the conditions established in an approved application, including changes in indications, labeling, or manufacturing processes or facilities, require submission and FDA approval of a new NDA or NDA supplement before the change can be implemented. An NDA supplement for a new indication typically requires clinical data similar to that in the original application, and the FDA uses the same procedures and actions in reviewing NDA supplements as it does in reviewing NDAs.
Adverse event reporting and submission of periodic reports is required following FDA approval of an NDA. The FDA also may require post-marketing testing, known as Phase 4 testing, and surveillance to monitor the effects of an approved product or place conditions on an approval that could restrict the distribution or use of the product. In addition, quality control as well as drug manufacture, packaging, and labeling procedures must continue to conform to cGMPs after approval. Drug manufacturers and certain of their subcontractors are required to register their establishments with the FDA and certain state agencies and are subject to periodic unannounced inspections by the FDA during which the agency inspects manufacturing facilities to assess compliance with cGMPs. Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money and effort in the areas of production and quality control to maintain compliance with cGMPs. Regulatory authorities may withdraw product approvals or request product recalls if a company fails to comply with regulatory standards, if it encounters problems following initial marketing, or if previously unrecognized problems are subsequently discovered.
The Hatch-Waxman Amendments
Orange Book Listing
In seeking approval for a drug through an NDA, applicants are required to list with the FDA each patent with claims covering the applicant’s product or approved methods of using the product. Upon approval of a drug, each of the patents listed in the application for the drug are then published in the FDA’s Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, commonly known as the Orange Book. Drugs listed in the Orange Book can, in turn, be cited by potential generic competitors in support of approval of an abbreviated new drug application, or ANDA. An ANDA provides for marketing of a drug product that has the same active ingredients in the same strengths and dosage form as the listed drug and has been shown to be bioequivalent to the listed drug. Other than the requirement for bioequivalence testing, ANDA applicants are not required to conduct, or submit results of, pre-clinical
or clinical tests to prove the safety or effectiveness of their drug product. Drugs approved in this way are commonly referred to as “generic equivalents” to the listed drug and can often be substituted by pharmacists under prescriptions written for the original listed drug.
The ANDA applicant is required to certify to the FDA concerning any patents listed for the approved product in the FDA’s Orange Book. Specifically, the applicant must certify that: (i) the required patent information has not been filed; (ii) the listed patent has expired; (iii) the listed patent has not expired but will expire on a particular date and approval is sought after patent expiration; or (iv) the listed patent is invalid or will not be infringed by the new product. The ANDA applicant may also elect to submit a section viii statement certifying that its proposed ANDA label does not contain (or carves out) any language regarding the patented method-of-use
rather than certify to a listed method-of-use
patent. If the applicant does not challenge the listed patents, the ANDA application will not be approved until all the listed patents claiming the referenced product have expired.
A certification that the new product will not infringe the already approved product’s listed patents, or that such patents are invalid, is called a Paragraph IV certification. If the ANDA applicant has provided a Paragraph IV certification to the FDA, the applicant must also send notice of the Paragraph IV certification to the NDA and patent holders once the ANDA has been accepted for filing by the FDA. The NDA and patent holders may then initiate a patent infringement lawsuit in response to the notice of the Paragraph IV certification. The filing of a patent infringement lawsuit within 45 days of the receipt of a Paragraph IV certification automatically prevents the FDA from approving the ANDA until the earlier of 30 months, expiration of the patent, settlement of the lawsuit, or a decision in the infringement case that is favorable to the ANDA applicant.
The ANDA application also will not be approved until any applicable non-patent
exclusivity listed in the Orange Book for the referenced product has expired.
Exclusivity
Upon NDA approval of a new chemical entity (NCE), which is a drug product that contains an active moiety that has never been approved by FDA in any other NDA, that drug receives five years of marketing exclusivity during which FDA cannot receive any ANDA seeking approval of a generic version of that drug. A drug may obtain a three-year period of exclusivity for a particular condition of approval, or change to a marketed product, such as a new formulation for the previously approved product, if one or more new clinical studies (other than bioavailability or bioequivalence studies) was essential to the approval of the application and was conducted/sponsored by the applicant. During this period of exclusivity, FDA cannot approve an ANDA for a generic drug that includes the change.
An ANDA may be submitted one year before NCE exclusivity expires if a Paragraph IV certification is filed. If there is no listed patent in the Orange Book, there cannot be a Paragraph IV certification, and, thus, no ANDA can be filed before the expiration of the exclusivity period.
Section 505(b)(2) New Drug Applications
Most drug products obtain FDA marketing approval pursuant to an NDA or an ANDA. A third alternative is a special type of NDA, commonly referred to as a Section 505(b)(2), or 505(b)(2), NDA, which enables the applicant to rely, in part, on FDA’s previous approval of a similar product, or published literature, in support of its application.
505(b)(2) NDAs often provide an alternate path to FDA approval for new or improved formulations or new uses of previously approved products. Section 505(b)(2) permits the filing of an NDA where at least some of the information required for approval comes from studies not conducted by, or for, the applicant and for which the applicant has not obtained a right of reference. If the Section 505(b)(2) applicant can establish that reliance on FDA’s prior findings of safety and effectiveness or published literature is scientifically appropriate, it may eliminate the need to conduct certain pre-clinical
or clinical studies of the new product.
The FDA may also require companies to perform additional studies or measurements to support the change from the approved product. The FDA may then approve the new product candidate for all, or some, of the label indications for which the referenced product has been approved, as well as for any new indication sought by the Section 505(b)(2) applicant.
To the extent that the Section 505(b)(2) applicant is relying on studies conducted for an already approved product, the applicant is required to certify to the FDA concerning any patents listed for the approved product in the Orange Book to the same extent that an ANDA applicant would. A Section 505(b)(2) NDA may be eligible for three years of marketing exclusivity to the same extent that a Section 505(b)(1) NDA is.
Abbreviated new drug applications
Generic drugs may enter the market after the approval of an ANDA. The ANDA development process typically does not require new pre-clinical
or clinical studies, but it does typically require one or more bioequivalence studies to show that the ANDA drug is bioequivalent to the previously approved brand name reference listed drug. Bioequivalence studies compare the bioavailability of the proposed drug product with that of the approved listed product containing the same active ingredient. Bioavailability is a measure of the rate and extent to which the active ingredient or active moiety is absorbed from a drug product and becomes available at the site of action. A demonstration of bioequivalence means that the rate and extent of absorption of the ANDA drug is not significantly different from the rate and extent of absorption of the brand name reference listed drug when administered at the same molar dose under similar experimental conditions.
As noted above, generic drug products are generally introduced to the marketplace at the expiration of patent protection and non-patent
market exclusivity for the reference listed drug. However, if an ANDA applicant is the first ANDA applicant to submit an ANDA containing a Paragraph IV certification, that ANDA may be eligible for a period of generic marketing exclusivity on approval. This exclusivity, which under certain circumstances must be shared with other ANDA applicants with Paragraph IV certifications, lasts for 180 days, during which the FDA cannot grant final approval to other ANDA sponsors of an application for a generic equivalent to the same reference drug. Under certain circumstances, eligibility for 180-day
exclusivity may be forfeited.
Various types of changes to an approved ANDA must be requested in a prior approval supplement. In addition, some changes may only be approved after new bioequivalence studies are conducted or other requirements are satisfied. In addition, the ANDA applicant must demonstrate that manufacturing procedures and operations conform to FDA cGMP requirements. Facilities, procedures, operations, and/or testing of products are subject to periodic inspection by the FDA and other authorities. In addition, the FDA conducts pre-approval
and post-approval reviews and inspections to determine whether the systems and processes are in compliance with cGMP and other FDA regulations.
There are also user fees for ANDA applicants, sponsors, and manufacturers. For fiscal year 2022, the application fees are $225,712 per ANDA application and the facility fees are $195,012 per domestic finished dosage form facility, $210,012 per foreign finished dosage form facility, $42,557 per domestic active pharmaceutical ingredient facility, and $57,557 per foreign active pharmaceutical ingredient facility. In addition, there is a new annual program fee based on the size of the generic drug applicant. These user fees typically increase each fiscal year.
Other regulatory requirements
In addition to regulation by the FDA and certain state regulatory agencies, we are also subject to a variety of foreign regulations governing clinical trials and the marketing of other products. Outside of the United States, our ability to market a product depends upon receiving a marketing authorization from the appropriate regulatory agencies. The requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials, marketing authorization, pricing and reimbursement vary widely from country to country. In any country, however, we will only be permitted to commercialize our products if the appropriate regulatory agency is satisfied that we have presented adequate evidence of safety, quality and efficacy. Whether or not FDA approval has been obtained, approval of a product by the comparable regulatory authorities of foreign countries must be obtained prior to the commencement of marketing of the product in those countries. The regulatory approval and oversight process in other countries includes all of the risks associated with regulation by the FDA and certain state regulatory agencies as described above.
Under the European Union regulatory system, applications for drug approval may be submitted either in a centralized or decentralized manner. Under the centralized procedure, a single application to the European Medicines Agency leads to an approval granted by the European Commission which permits marketing of the product throughout the European Union. The decentralized procedure provides for mutual recognition of nationally approved decisions and is used for products that do not comply with requirements for the centralized procedure. Under the decentralized procedure, the holders of national marketing authorization in one of the countries within the European Union may submit further applications to other countries within the European Union, who will be requested to recognize the original authorization based on an assessment report provided by the country in which marketing authorization is held.
Pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement
In both United States and foreign markets, our ability to commercialize our products successfully, and to attract commercialization partners for our products, depends in significant part on the availability of adequate financial coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors, including, in the United States, governmental payors such as Medicare and Medicaid, managed care organizations, private commercial health insurers and PBMs. Third party payors are increasingly challenging the prices charged for medicines and examining their cost effectiveness, in addition to their safety and efficacy. We may need to conduct expensive pharmacoeconomic or other studies in order to further demonstrate the value of our products. Even with the availability of such studies, our products may be considered less safe, less effective or less cost-effective than alternative products, and third-party payors may not provide coverage and reimbursement for our drug candidates, in whole or in part.
Political, economic and regulatory influences are subjecting the health care industry in the United States to fundamental changes. There have been, and we expect there will continue to be, legislative and regulatory proposals to change the healthcare system in ways that could significantly affect our business, including the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (the “Affordable Care Act”). In fact, there continue to be efforts in Congress to revise the Affordable Care Act and replace it with another law. As a result, there is great uncertainty as to what changes will be made to United States healthcare laws and there can be no assurance how changes to those laws may affect our business.
We anticipate that in the United States, Congress, state legislatures, and private sector entities will continue to consider and may adopt healthcare policies intended to curb rising healthcare costs. These cost containment measures could include:
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controls on government-funded reimbursement for drugs;
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mandatory rebates or additional charges to manufacturers for their products to be covered on Medicare Part D formularies;
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controls on healthcare providers;
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controls on pricing of drug products, including the possible reference of the pricing of United States drugs to non-United
States drug pricing for the same product;
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challenges to the pricing of drugs or limits or prohibitions on reimbursement for specific products through other means;
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reform of drug importation laws;
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entering into contractual agreements with payors; and
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expansion of use of managed-care systems in which healthcare providers contract to provide comprehensive healthcare for a fixed cost per person.
We are unable to predict what additional legislation, regulations or policies, if any, relating to the healthcare industry or third-party coverage and reimbursement may be enacted in the future or what effect such legislation, regulations or policies would have on our business. Any cost containment measures, including those listed above, or other healthcare system reforms that are adopted may have a material adverse effect on our business prospects.
Further, the pricing of drug products generally, and particularly the pricing of orphan drugs, has recently received scrutiny from the press, and from members of Congress in both parties. Some members of the medical community and Senator Bernie Sanders have also made statements in the press on the potential pricing of orphan drugs generally and on the pricing of our product specifically. The impact of this scrutiny on us and on the pricing of orphan drugs and other drug products generally cannot be determined with any certainty at this time.
Orphan Drug Exclusivity and Pediatric Exclusivity Designation
Some jurisdictions, including the United States and Europe, may designate drugs for relatively small patient populations as orphan drugs. Under the Orphan Drug Act of 1983 (ODA), the FDA may grant Orphan Drug Designation to drugs intended to treat a rare disease or condition that affects fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States, or more than 200,000 individuals in the United States and for which there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing and making available in the United States a drug for this type of disease or condition will be recovered from sales in the United States for that drug. In the United States, Orphan Drug Designation must be requested before submitting an application for marketing approval. An Orphan Drug Designation does not shorten the duration of the regulatory review and approval process. The grant of an Orphan Drug Designation request does not alter the standard regulatory requirements and process for obtaining marketing approval. Safety and efficacy of a compound must be established through adequate and well-controlled studies. If a product which has been granted Orphan Drug Designation subsequently receives the first FDA approval for the indication for which it has such designation, the product is entitled to an orphan drug exclusivity period, which means the FDA may not approve any other application to market the same drug for the same disease or condition for a period of seven years, except in limited circumstances, such as where an alternative product demonstrates clinical superiority to the product with orphan exclusivity. In addition, holders of exclusivity for orphan drugs are expected to assure the availability of sufficient quantities of their orphan drugs to meet the needs of patients. Failure to do so could result in the withdrawal of marketing exclusivity for the drug.
The orphan drug exclusivity contained in the ODA has been the subject of recent scrutiny from the press, from some members of Congress and from some in the medical community, and a recent proposed change to the ODA would limit the availability of the benefits of the act for drugs that treat more than 200,000 individuals in the United States. There can be no assurance that the exclusivity granted in ODA to orphan drugs approved by the FDA will not be modified in the future, and as to how any such change might affect our products, if approved.
Pediatric exclusivity is another type of non-patent
exclusivity in the United States and, if granted, provides for the attachment of an additional six months of marketing protection to the term of any existing regulatory exclusivity, including the five-year and three-year non-patent
and seven-year orphan exclusivities. This six-month
exclusivity may be granted if an NDA sponsor submits pediatric data that fairly responds to a written request from the FDA for such data. The data do not need to show the product to be effective in the pediatric population studied. If the FDA determines that information relating to the use of the new drug in the pediatric population may produce health benefits in the population, the clinical study is deemed to fairly respond to the FDA’s request and the reports of FDA-requested
pediatric studies are submitted to and accepted by the FDA within the statutory time limits, whatever statutory or regulatory periods of exclusivity or patent protection covering the product are extended by six months. This is not a patent term extension, but it effectively extends the regulatory period during which the FDA cannot approve another application relying on the NDA sponsor’s data.
The European Orphan Drug Regulation is considered for drugs intended to diagnose, prevent or treat a life-threatening or very serious condition afflicting five or fewer per 10,000 people in the EU, including compounds that for serious and chronic conditions would likely not be marketed without incentives due to low market return on the sponsor’s development investment. The medicinal product considered should be of significant benefit to those affected by the condition. Benefits of being granted Orphan Medicinal Product Designation are significant, including eight years of data exclusivity, two years of marketing exclusivity and a potential one-year
extension of both. The EU Community and Member States may not accept or grant for ten years a new marketing authorization or application for another drug for the same therapeutic indication as the orphan drug, although the ten-year
period can be reduced to six years if, after the end of the fifth year, available evidence establishes that the product is sufficiently profitable not to justify maintenance of the marketing exclusivity. A supplementary protection certificate may extend the protection six months beyond patent expiration if that is later than the orphan drug exclusivity period. To apply for the supplementary protection, a pediatric investigation plan, or PIP, must be included in the market application. In Europe all drugs now seeking marketing authorization need to have a PIP agreed with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) before it can be approved, even if it is a drug being developed specifically for a pediatric indication. If a product is developed solely for use in the pediatric population, then a Pediatric Use Marketing Authorization, or PUMA, may provide eight years of data exclusivity and ten years of marketing exclusivity.
Breakthrough Therapy Designation
Breakthrough therapy designation is intended to expedite the development and review of drugs for serious or life-threatening conditions. The criteria for breakthrough therapy designation require preliminary clinical evidence that demonstrates the drug may have substantial improvement on at least one clinically significant endpoint over available therapy. A breakthrough therapy designation conveys all of the fast track program features (see below for more details on fast track designation), as well as more intensive FDA guidance on an efficient drug development program. The FDA also has an organizational commitment to involve senior management in such guidance. Actions taken to expedite development may include the following actions, as appropriate:
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holding meetings with the sponsor and review team throughout the development of the drug;
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providing timely advice to, and interactive communication with, the sponsor regarding the development of the drug to ensure that the development program to gather the non-clinical
and clinical data necessary for approval is as efficient as possible;
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taking steps to ensure that the design of the clinical trials is as efficient as practicable, when scientifically appropriate, such as by minimizing the number of patients exposed to a potentially less efficacious treatment;
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assigning a cross-disciplinary project lead for the FDA review team to facilitate an efficient review of the development program and to serve as a scientific liaison between the cross-discipline members of the review team (i.e., clinical, pharmacology-toxicology, chemistry, manufacturing and control (CMC), compliance) for coordinated internal interactions and communications with the sponsor through the review division’s Regulatory Health Project Manager; and
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involving senior managers and experienced review staff, as appropriate, in a collaborative, cross-disciplinary review.
Fast Track Designation and Accelerated Approval
FDA is required to facilitate the development, and expedite the review, of drugs that are intended for the treatment of a serious or life-threatening disease or condition for which there is no effective treatment and which demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs for the condition. Under the fast track program, the sponsor of a new drug candidate may request that FDA designate the drug candidate for a specific indication as a fast track drug concurrent with, or after, the filing of the IND for the drug candidate. FDA must determine if the drug candidate qualifies for fast track designation within 60 days of receipt of the sponsor’s request.
Under the fast track program and FDA’s accelerated approval regulations, FDA may approve a drug for a serious or life-threatening illness that provides meaningful therapeutic benefit to patients over existing treatments based upon a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit, or on a clinical endpoint that can be measured earlier than irreversible morbidity or mortality, that is reasonably likely to predict an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality or other clinical benefit, taking into account the severity, rarity, or prevalence of the condition and the availability or lack of alternative treatments.
In clinical trials, a surrogate endpoint is a measurement of laboratory or clinical signs of a disease or condition that substitutes for a direct measurement of how a patient feels, functions, or survives. Surrogate endpoints can often be measured more easily or more rapidly than clinical endpoints. A drug candidate approved on this basis is subject to rigorous post-marketing compliance requirements, including the completion of Phase 4 or post-approval clinical trials to confirm the effect on the clinical endpoint. Failure to conduct required post-approval studies, or confirm a clinical benefit during post-marketing studies, will allow FDA to withdraw the drug from the market on an expedited basis. All promotional materials for drug candidates approved under accelerated regulations are subject to prior review by FDA.
In addition to other benefits such as the ability to use surrogate endpoints and engage in more frequent interactions with FDA, FDA may initiate review of sections of a fast track drug’s NDA before the application is complete. This rolling review is available if the applicant provides, and FDA approves, a schedule for the submission of the remaining information and the applicant pays applicable user fees. However, FDA’s time period goal for reviewing an application does not begin until the last section of the NDA is submitted. Additionally, the fast track designation may be withdrawn by the FDA if the FDA believes that the designation is no longer supported by data emerging in the clinical trial process.
Priority Review
Under FDA policies, a drug candidate is eligible for priority review, or review within a six to eight-month time frame from the time a complete NDA is submitted, if the drug candidate is intended for the treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of a serious or life-threatening condition, demonstrates the potential to address an unmet medical need, or provides a significant improvement compared to marketed drugs.
Disclosure of clinical trial information
Sponsors of clinical trials of FDA-regulated
products, including drugs, are required to register and disclose certain clinical trial information. Information related to the product, patient population, phase of investigation, study sites and investigators, and other aspects of the clinical trial is then made public as part of the registration. Sponsors are also obligated to disclose the results of their clinical trials after completion. Disclosure of results of these trials can be delayed in certain circumstances for up to two years after the date of completion of the clinical trial. Competitors may use this publicly-available information to gain knowledge regarding the progress of development programs.
Anti-Kickback, False Claims Laws & the Prescription Drug Marketing Act
In addition to FDA restrictions on marketing of drug products, other state and federal laws have been applied to restrict certain marketing practices in the pharmaceutical industry in recent years. These laws include anti-kickback statutes and false claims statutes. The federal healthcare program anti-kickback statute prohibits, among other things, knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration to induce or in return for purchasing, leasing, ordering or arranging for the purchase, lease or order of any healthcare item or service reimbursable under Medicare, Medicaid or other federally financed healthcare programs. This statute has been interpreted to apply to arrangements between pharmaceutical manufacturers on the one hand and patients, prescribers, purchasers and formulary managers on the other. Violations of the anti-kickback statute are punishable by imprisonment, criminal fines, civil monetary penalties, and exclusion from participation in federal healthcare programs. Although there are a number of statutory exemptions and regulatory safe harbors protecting certain common activities from prosecution or other regulatory sanctions, the exemptions and safe harbors are drawn narrowly, and practices that involve remuneration intended to induce prescribing, purchases or recommendations may be subject to scrutiny if they do not qualify for an exemption or safe harbor.
Federal false claims laws prohibit any person from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, a false claim for payment to the federal government, or knowingly making, or causing to be made, a false statement to have a false claim paid. Recently, several pharmaceutical and other healthcare companies have been prosecuted under these laws for allegedly inflating drug prices they report to pricing services, which in turn were used by the government to set Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates, and for allegedly providing free product to customers with the expectation that the customers would bill federal programs for the product. In addition, certain marketing practices, including off-label
promotion, may also violate false claims laws. The majority of states also have statutes or regulations similar to the federal anti-kickback law and false claims laws, which apply to items and services reimbursed under Medicaid and other state programs, or, in several states, apply regardless of the payer.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a final rule that requires manufacturers of approved prescription drugs to collect and report information on payments or transfers of value to physicians, physician assistants, certain types of advanced practice nurses and teaching hospitals, as well as investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members. The information reported each year is made publicly available on a searchable website. Failure to submit required information may result in civil monetary penalties.
In addition, several states now require prescription drug companies to report expenses relating to the marketing and promotion of drug products, to report gifts and payments to individual physicians in these states and to report certain pricing information, including price increases. Other states prohibit various other marketing-related activities. Still other states require the posting of information relating to clinical studies and their outcomes. In addition, California, Connecticut, Nevada, and Massachusetts require pharmaceutical companies to implement compliance programs and/or marketing codes. Several additional states are considering similar proposals. Compliance with these laws is difficult and time consuming, and companies that do not comply with these state laws face civil penalties.
Prescription drug advertising is subject to federal, state and foreign regulations. In the United States, the FDA regulates prescription drug promotion, including direct-to-consumer
advertising. Prescription drug promotional materials must be submitted to the FDA in conjunction with their first use. Any distribution of prescription drug products and pharmaceutical samples must comply with the United States Prescription Drug Marketing Act (PDMA), a part of the FDCA. In addition, Title II of the Federal Drug Quality and Security Act of 2013, known as the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), has imposed new “track and trace” requirements on the distribution of prescription drug products by manufacturers, distributors, and other entities in the drug supply chain. The DSCSA requires product identifiers (i.e., serialization) on prescription drug products in order to eventually establish an electronic interoperable prescription product to system to identify and trace certain prescription drugs distributed in the United States and preempts existing state drug pedigree laws and regulations on this topic. The DSCSA also establishes new requirements for the licensing of wholesale distributors and third-party logistic providers, although FDA regulations addressing wholesale distributors and third party logistics providers have not yet been promulgated. We serialize our product at both the package and homogeneous case level, pass serialization and required transaction information to our customers, and believe that we comply with all such requirements.
Government Programs for Marketed Drugs
Medicaid, the 340B Drug Pricing Program, and Medicare
Federal law requires that a pharmaceutical manufacturer, as a condition of having its products receive federal reimbursement under Medicaid and Medicare Part B, must pay rebates to state Medicaid programs for all units of its covered outpatient drugs dispensed to Medicaid beneficiaries and paid for by a state Medicaid program under either a fee-for-service
arrangement or through a managed care organization. This federal requirement is effectuated through a Medicaid drug rebate agreement between the manufacturer and the
Secretary of Health and Human Services. CMS administers the Medicaid drug rebate agreements, which provide, among other things, that the drug manufacturer will pay rebates to each state Medicaid agency on a quarterly basis and report certain price information on a monthly and quarterly basis. The rebates are based on prices reported to CMS by manufacturers for their covered outpatient drugs. For innovator products, that is, drugs that are marketed under approved NDAs, the basic rebate amount is the greater of 23.1% of the average manufacturer price (“AMP”) for the quarter or the difference between such AMP and the best price for that same quarter. The AMP is the weighted average of prices paid to the manufacturer (1) directly by retail community pharmacies and (2) by wholesalers for drugs distributed to retail community pharmacies. The best price is essentially the lowest price available to non-governmental
entities. Innovator products are also subject to an additional rebate that is based on the amount, if any, by which the product’s current AMP has increased over the baseline AMP, which is the AMP for the first full quarter after launch, adjusted for inflation. To date, the rebate amount for a drug has been capped at 100% of the AMP; however, effective January 1, 2024, this cap will be eliminated, which means that a manufacturer could pay a rebate amount on a unit of the drug that is greater than the average price the manufacturer receives for the drug. For non-innovator
products, generally generic drugs marketed under approved abbreviated new drug applications, the basic rebate amount is 13% of the AMP for the quarter. Non-innovator
products are also subject to an additional rebate. The additional rebate is similar to that discussed above for innovator products, except that the baseline AMP quarter is the fifth full quarter after launch (for non-
innovator multiple source drugs launched on April 1, 2013 or later) or the third quarter of 2014 (for those launched before April 1, 2013). The terms of participation in the Medicaid drug rebate program impose an obligation to correct the prices reported in previous quarters, as may be necessary. Any such corrections could result in additional or lesser rebate liability, depending on the direction of the correction. In addition to retroactive rebates, if a manufacturer were found to have knowingly submitted false information to the government, federal law provides for civil monetary penalties for failing to provide required information, late submission of required information, and false information.
A manufacturer must also participate in a federal program known as the 340B drug pricing program in order for federal funds to be available to pay for the manufacturer’s drugs under Medicaid and Medicare Part B. Under this program, the participating manufacturer agrees to charge certain federally funded clinics and safety net hospitals no more than an established discounted price for its covered outpatient drugs. The formula for determining the discounted price is defined by statute and is based on the AMP and the unit rebate amount as calculated under the Medicaid drug rebate program, discussed above. Manufacturers are required to report pricing information to the Health Resources and Services Administration (“HRSA”) on a quarterly basis. HRSA has also issued regulations relating to the calculation of the ceiling price as well as imposition of civil monetary penalties for each instance of knowingly and intentionally overcharging a 340B covered entity.
Federal law also requires that manufacturers report data on a quarterly basis to CMS regarding the pricing of drugs that are separately reimbursable under Medicare Part B. These are generally drugs, such as injectable products, that are administered “incident to” a physician service and are not generally self-administered. The pricing information submitted by manufacturers is the basis for reimbursement to physicians and suppliers for drugs covered under Medicare Part B. As with the Medicaid drug rebate program, federal law provides for civil monetary penalties for failing to provide required information, late submission of required information, and false information.
Medicare Part D provides prescription drug benefits for seniors and people with disabilities. Medicare Part D beneficiaries once had a gap in their coverage (between the initial coverage limit and the point at which catastrophic coverage begins) where Medicare did not cover their prescription drug costs, known as the coverage gap. However, beginning in 2019, Medicare Part D beneficiaries pay 25% of brand drug costs after they reach the initial coverage limit-the same percentage they were responsible for before they reached that limit-thereby closing the coverage gap. Most of the cost of closing the coverage gap is being borne by innovator companies and the government through subsidies. Each manufacturer of a drug approved under an NDA is required to enter into a Medicare Part D coverage gap discount agreement and provide a 70% discount on those drugs dispensed to Medicare beneficiaries in the coverage gap, in order for its drugs to be reimbursed by Medicare Part D.
Federal Contracting/Pricing Requirements
Manufacturers are also required to make their covered drugs, which are generally drugs approved under NDAs, available to authorized users of the Federal Supply Schedule (“FSS”) of the General Services Administration. The law also requires manufacturers to offer deeply discounted FSS contract pricing for purchases of their covered drugs by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense (“DoD”), the Coast Guard, and the Public Health Service (including the Indian Health Service) in order for federal funding to be available for reimbursement or purchase of the manufacturer’s drugs under certain federal programs. FSS pricing to those four federal agencies for covered drugs must be no more than the Federal Ceiling Price (“FCP”), which is at least 24% below the Non-Federal
Average Manufacturer Price (“Non-FAMP”)
for the prior year.
The Non-FAMP
is the average price for covered drugs sold to wholesalers or other middlemen, net of any price reductions.
The accuracy of a manufacturer’s reported Non-FAMPs,
FCPs, or FSS contract prices may be audited by the government. Among the remedies available to the government for inaccuracies is recoupment of any overcharges to the four specified federal agencies based on those inaccuracies. If a manufacturer were found to have knowingly reported false prices, in addition to other penalties available to the government, the law provides for civil monetary penalties of $100,000 per incorrect item.
Finally, manufacturers are required to disclose in FSS contract proposals all commercial pricing that is equal to or less than the proposed FSS pricing, and subsequent to award of an FSS contract, manufacturers are required to monitor certain commercial price reductions and extend commensurate price reductions to the government, under the terms of the FSS contract Price Reductions Clause. Among the remedies available to the government for any failure to properly disclose commercial pricing and/or to extend FSS contract price reductions is recoupment of any FSS overcharges that may result from such omissions.
Tricare Retail Pharmacy Network Program
The DoD provides pharmacy benefits to current and retired military service members and their families through the Tricare healthcare program. When a Tricare beneficiary obtains a prescription drug through a retail pharmacy, the DoD reimburses the pharmacy at the retail price for the drug rather than procuring it from the manufacturer at the discounted FCP discussed above. In order for the DoD to realize discounted prices for covered drugs (generally drugs approved under NDAs), federal law requires manufacturers to pay refunds on utilization of their covered drugs sold to Tricare beneficiaries through retail pharmacies in DoD’s Tricare network. These refunds are generally the difference between the Non-FAMP
and the FCP and are due on a quarterly basis. Absent an agreement from the manufacturer to provide such refunds, DoD will designate the manufacturer’s products as Tier 3 (non-formulary)
and require that beneficiaries obtain prior authorization in order for the products to be dispensed at a Tricare retail network pharmacy. However, refunds are due whether or not the manufacturer has entered into such an agreement.
Branded Pharmaceutical Fee
A branded pharmaceutical fee is imposed on manufacturers and importers of branded prescription drugs, generally drugs approved under NDAs. In each year between 2011 and 2018, the aggregate fee for all such manufacturers ranged from $2.5 billion to $4.1 billion, and has remained at $2.8 billion in 2019 and subsequent years. This annual fee is apportioned among the participating companies based on each company’s sales of qualifying products to or utilization by certain U.S. government programs during the preceding calendar year. The fee is not deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Utilization of generic drugs, generally drugs approved under ANDAs, is not included in a manufacturer’s sales used to calculate its portion of the fee.
Human Capital Management
We are dedicated to making a meaningful impact on the lives of those suffering from rare diseases, and we believe in putting patients first in everything we do. To facilitate talent attraction and retention, we strive to make Catalyst an inclusive, safe, and healthy workplace, with opportunities to grow and develop in their careers, supported by strong compensation, benefits, health and welfare programs. Our goal in selecting employees is to retain high quality personnel with substantial prior experience who understand and support our mission as a company to develop and commercialize innovative therapies for people with rare, debilitating, chronic neuromuscular and neurological diseases and who are willing to work hard and in a collaborative manner to further that mission.
Employee Profile
As of March 14, 2022, we had approximately 76 employees, approximately 32 of whom are in our commercial organization, approximately 23 of whom are in our R&D organization, and the rest of whom are in our G&A organization. We also utilize the services of several full-time consultants who work with our commercial organization. None of our employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We believe our relationship with our employees and consultants is good.
Compensation and Benefits
Our compensation philosophy is to provide pay and benefits that are competitive in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry where we compete for talent. We monitor our compensation programs closely and review them at least annually to provide what we consider to be a very competitive mix of compensation and health, welfare and retirement benefits for all our employees. Our compensation package for all employees includes market-competitive base salaries, annual performance bonuses and stock option grants. Our benefits programs include company sponsored medical, dental and vision health care coverage, life and AD&D insurance, and a 401(k) plan with a matching employer contribution, among others benefits.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Our goal is a diverse and inclusive workforce - not because it is the right thing to do but because we believe that such a workforce is key to our long-term success. Approximately 58% of our employees are female. At the leadership level (employees at manager and above) approximately 64% are female, and two of seven members of our C-suite
are female.
Communication and Engagement
We focus on engagement with our employees as we believe an engaged workforce is key to our success and to the success and wellbeing of our employees. In October 2021, we held an in-person
meeting with our sales staff for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19
pandemic. This meeting, as with the meetings prior to the pandemic, serve to bring together and energize our staff. We plan to hold further such meetings as the course of the COVID-19
pandemic allows.
Health, Wellness and Safety
We are committed to the health and safety of our employees.
In March 2020, in light of worsening conditions as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic, we implemented a number of safety related initiatives among our employees, including a travel ban and a work from home policy for all employees. This included our customer-facing employees, who began working remotely and utilizing telephone and web-based
technologies to provide support to patients and their healthcare providers. At present, our operations have returned to mostly being in-person,
with some contact with doctors by our commercial sales force still being done remotely. Notwithstanding, the COVID-19
pandemic, including the emergence of new COVID-19
variants, including the delta and omicron variants, could affect the health and availability of our workforce, and we may return to a work from home policy if it is in the best interests of the health and welfare of our employees.
Available Information
We make available free of charge on or through our Internet website our Annual Report on Form 10-K,
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q,
Current Reports on Form 8-K
and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Our Internet address is www.catalystpharma.com. The content on our website is not, nor should it be deemed to be, incorporated by reference into this report.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Risk Factors Summary
We are providing the following summary of the risk factors contained in our Form 10-K
to enhance the readability and accessibility of our risk factor disclosures. We encourage our stockholders to carefully review the full risk factors contained in this Form 10-K
in their entirety for additional information regarding the risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to vary materially from our recent results or from our anticipated future results.
Risks related to the commercialization of FIRDAPSE®
•
We depend substantially on the commercial success of FIRDAPSE®
.
•
Our success depends on our ability to continue to successfully commercialize FIRDAPSE®
. We are primarily a single product company with only limited commercial experience, which makes it difficult to evaluate our current business, predict our future prospects and forecast our financial performance and growth.
•
If we are unable to continue to successfully commercialize FIRDAPSE®
, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially adversely affected.
•
Our business is subject to substantial competition.
•
Our strategy of seeking to acquire or in-license
innovative technical platforms or earlier stage drug development programs in the rare disease space may not be successful.
•
Our business may require additional capital.
•
The obligations incident to being a public company place significant demands on our management.
•
We are highly dependent on our small number of key personnel and advisors.
•
The ongoing COVID-19
pandemic and the worldwide attempts to contain it could harm our business and results of operations and financial condition and we could be adversely impacted by it.
•
Because the target patient population for FIRDAPSE®
is small, we must achieve significant market share and obtain relatively high per-patient
prices for our products to achieve meaningful gross margins.
•
We face a risk of product liability claims and may not be able to obtain adequate insurance.
•
Business or economic disruptions or global health concerns could seriously harm our development efforts and increase our costs and expenses.
Risks Related to the Development of Additional Drug Products
•
Our efforts may fail.
•
Failure can occur at any stage of our drug development efforts.
•
We rely on third parties to conduct our pre-clinical
studies and clinical studies and trials, and if they do not perform their obligations to us we may not be able to obtain approval for additional indications.
•
We will need to continue to develop and maintain distribution and production capabilities or relationships to be successful.
•
We could be impacted by the viability of our suppliers.
•
We may encounter difficulties in managing our growth, which would adversely affect our results of operations.
•
Pressure on drug product third-party payor coverage, reimbursement and pricing may impair our ability to be reimbursed at prices or on terms sufficient to provide a viable financial outcome.
•
Our internal computer systems, or those of our contract research organizations and other key vendors or consultants, may fail or suffer security breaches, which could result in a material disruption of our product development programs.
•
Our employees, sales agents and consultants may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including noncompliance with regulatory standards and requirements.
Risks Related to Government Regulation
•
The regulatory approval process is lengthy, and we may not be able to obtain all of the regulatory approvals required to manufacture and commercialize FIRDAPSE®
in all areas in which we are licensed to supply it.
•
If our pre-clinical
studies or our clinical studies and trials are unsuccessful or significantly delayed, our ability to commercialize our products will be impaired.
•
We may face significant delays in our clinical studies and trials due to an inability to recruit patients for our clinical studies and trials or to retain patients in the clinical studies and trials we may perform.
•
If our third-party suppliers or contract manufacturers do not maintain appropriate standards of manufacturing in accordance with cGMP and other manufacturing regulations, our development and commercialization activities could suffer significant interruptions or delays.
•
FIRDAPSE®
is subject to ongoing regulatory review. If we fail to comply with continuing United States and applicable foreign regulations, we could lose those approvals, and our business would be severely harmed.
•
Enacted and future legislation or judicial action may increase the difficulty and cost for us to commercialize FIRDAPSE®
or any other drug candidates we may acquire or license and affect the prices we may obtain.
•
If we fail to obtain or subsequently maintain orphan drug exclusivity or regulatory exclusivity for FIRDAPSE®
and any other orphan drug candidates we may acquire or license, our competitors may sell products to treat the same conditions at greatly reduced prices, and our revenues would be significantly adversely affected.
•
Changes to the Orphan Drug Act or successful legal challenges to the FDA’s interpretation of the Orphan Drug Act may affect our ability to obtain or subsequently maintain orphan drug exclusivity or may affect the scope orphan drug exclusivity for our products.
•
Our operations and relationships with healthcare providers, healthcare organizations, customers and third-party payors are subject to applicable anti-bribery, anti-kickback, fraud and abuse, transparency and other healthcare laws and regulations, which could expose us to, among other things, enforcement actions, criminal sanctions, civil penalties, contractual damages, reputational harm, administrative burdens and diminished profits and future earnings.
Risks Related to our Intellectual Property
•
We are dependent on our relationships and license agreements, and we rely upon the patent rights granted to us pursuant to the license agreements.
•
Our success will depend significantly on our ability to operate without infringing the patents and other proprietary rights of third parties.
•
We may incur substantial costs as a result of litigation or other proceedings relating to patent and other intellectual property rights.
There are also general risk factors relating to us that you should consider that relate to our business and to our common stock.
Risk Factors
Our business involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, and all of the other information contained in this Form 10-K
in assessing the risks relating to ownership of our common stock. The risks described below could cause our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects to materially suffer and the market price of our stock to decline.
Risks related to Our Business
We depend substantially on the commercial success of FIRDAPSE®
.
Until we launched FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of LEMS in January 2019, we focused all of our efforts over the prior six years on obtaining regulatory approval for FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of LEMS, on evaluating FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of other neuromuscular diseases including CMS, MuSK-MG
and SMA Type 3, on raising capital, and on recruiting personnel. On November 28, 2018, the FDA approved our first product, FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of adults with LEMS, which became commercially available in January 2019. While we reported net income in each year since 2019, we have a prior history of operating losses in all prior fiscal years of our existence. In addition, we have recently concluded that we will no longer go forward with the evaluation of FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of indications other than LEMS. As a result of this and other factors, there can be no assurance that we will remain cash flow positive and profitable.
Our success depends on our ability to continue to successfully commercialize FIRDAPSE®
. We are primarily a single product company with only limited commercial experience, which makes it difficult to evaluate our current business, predict our future prospects, and forecast our financial performance and growth.
We have invested a significant portion of our efforts and financial resources to date into the development and commercialization of our lead product, FIRDAPSE®
. Our success depends on our ability to effectively continue to commercialize FIRDAPSE®
, and we expect that the vast majority of our product revenues in the foreseeable future will be from sales of FIRDAPSE®
. Continued commercialization of FIRDAPSE®
is subject to many risks. Until we launched FIRDAPSE®
, we had never launched or commercialized a product, and there is no guarantee that we will be able to continue to be profitable and cash flow positive based on our sales of FIRDAPSE®
. There are numerous examples of unsuccessful product launches and failures to meet high expectations of market growth potential, including by pharmaceutical companies with more resources and experience than we have. The long term commercial success of FIRDAPSE®
depends on the extent to which patients and physicians accept and adopt FIRDAPSE®
. For example, if the expected patient population is smaller than we estimate or if physicians are unwilling to prescribe or patients are unwilling to take FIRDAPSE®
,
or if patients discontinue from use of the medication at rates that are higher than we expect, or if payers decide not to reimburse for our product, the commercial potential of FIRDAPSE®
will be limited. Thus, despite our success to date, significant uncertainty remains regarding the ultimate commercial potential of FIRDAPSE®
.
Moreover, our ability to effectively continue to generate significant product revenue from FIRDAPSE®
will depend on our ability to, among other things:
•
educate patients and physicians successfully about efficacy expectations, side effects expectations, and how to successfully dose and titrate the medication to optimal patient benefit in order to minimize discontinuation due to perceived lack of efficacy or side effects;
•
educate LEMS patients who also suffer from small cell lung cancer, and the physicians who treat them, as to the benefits to such patients of treatment for their LEMS using FIRDAPSE®
(in addition to the treatments they are receiving for their cancer);
•
achieve and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements, including those related to our required post-approval studies, promotion and advertising requirements;
•
increase awareness for and achieve market acceptance of FIRDAPSE®
through our sales and marketing activities and other arrangements established for the promotion of FIRDAPSE®
;
•
train, deploy, support, and retain a qualified field sales and marketing force;
•
secure continued formulary approvals for FIRDAPSE®
with a substantial number of targeted payors;
•
ensure that our third-party manufacturers manufacture FIRDAPSE®
in sufficient quantities, in compliance with requirements of the FDA and at acceptable quality and pricing levels, in order to meet commercial demand;
•
ensure that our third-party manufacturers develop, validate and maintain commercially viable manufacturing processes that are compliant with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations;
•
implement and maintain agreements with wholesalers, distributors and group purchasing organizations on commercially reasonable terms;
•
ensure that our entire supply chain efficiently and consistently delivers FIRDAPSE®
to our customers;
•
provide co-pay
assistance to help qualified patients with out-of-pocket
costs associated with their FIRDAPSE®
prescription, and/or other programs to ensure patient access to our products, educate physicians and patients about the benefits, administration and use of FIRDAPSE®
, and obtain acceptance of FIRDAPSE®
as safe and effective by patients and the medical community;
•
receive adequate levels of coverage and reimbursement for FIRDAPSE®
from commercial health plans and governmental health programs;
•
generate positive experience with our Catalyst Pathways®
program in helping patients obtain access to FIRDAPSE®
at an acceptable patient out-of-pocket
cost;
•
maintain quality relationships with patient advocacy groups;
•
influence the nature of publicity related to our product relative to the publicity related to our competitors’ products; and
•
obtain regulatory approvals for additional indications for the use of FIRDAPSE®
in treating other rare neuromuscular diseases.
Any disruption in our ability to generate product revenue from the sale of FIRDAPSE®
will have a material and adverse impact on our results of operations.
If we are unable to continue to successfully commercialize FIRDAPSE®
, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially adversely affected.
Our strategy is to continue to successfully commercialize FIRDAPSE®
in the United States. There are risks involved both with maintaining our own sales and marketing capabilities, and with entering into arrangements with third parties to perform these services. For example, any efforts to maintain a direct sales and marketing organization are subject to numerous risks, including:
•
the expense and time required to recruit, retain, and motivate members of the sales force;
•
our inability to recruit, retain or motivate adequate numbers of effective marketing personnel and partner marketing agencies;
•
the inability to provide adequate training to sales and marketing personnel;
•
the expense and time required to monitor regulatory compliance;
•
the inability of sales personnel to obtain access to physicians or convince adequate numbers of physicians to prescribe any product; and
•
unforeseen costs and expenses associated with creating an independent sales and marketing organization.
Similarly, as we enter into arrangements with third parties to perform sales, marketing and distribution services, our product revenue or the profitability associated with any product revenue may be lower than if we were to market and sell any products that we develop ourselves. In addition, we may not be successful in entering into arrangements with third parties to sell and market our products or may be unable to do so on terms that are favorable to us. We may have little control over such third parties, and any of them may fail to devote the necessary resources and attention to sell and market our products effectively. Moreover, we may be negatively impacted by other factors outside of our control relating to such third parties, including, but not limited to, their inability to comply with regulatory requirements. If we do not establish sales, marketing and distribution capabilities successfully, either on our own or in collaboration with third parties, we will not be successful in commercializing our products.
Finally, because we are using a very small group of exclusive specialty pharmacies to distribute our product, if the organizations that we work with to deliver our drug do not perform in a lawful manner or have issues unrelated to our business, our business could be adversely affected.
Our business is subject to substantial competition.
The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are highly competitive. Many of our competitors have substantially greater financial and other resources, larger research and development staffs and more experience developing products, obtaining FDA and other regulatory approvals of products and manufacturing and marketing products than we have. We compete against pharmaceutical companies that are developing or currently marketing therapies that will compete with us. In addition, we compete against biotechnology companies, universities, government agencies, and other research institutions in the development of drug products. Our business could be negatively impacted if our competitors’ present or future offerings are more effective, safer or less expensive than ours, or more readily accepted by regulators, healthcare providers or third-party payors. Further, we may also compete with respect to manufacturing efficiency and marketing capabilities.
Even with the FDA approval of FIRDAPSE®
, the bulk active pharmaceutical ingredient in the drug (i.e., amifampridine) may be used by compounding pharmacies pursuant to Section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because the ingredient is a component of an FDA-approved
drug product, and pharmacies may lawfully compound for individually identified patients under Section 503A using components of approved drug products. In addition, drugs that are not approved by FDA for the treatment of LEMS may nonetheless be prescribed by physicians for the treatment of LEMS.
For all of these reasons, we may not be able to continue to compete successfully.
Our strategy of seeking to acquire or in-license
innovative technical platforms or earlier stage drug development programs outside of the neuromuscular disease space may not be successful.
We have made a strategic decision to broaden and diversify our product portfolio through acquisitions of both early and late-stage products or companies or technology platforms in rare disease therapeutic categories including those outside of neuromuscular diseases. To accomplish these new priorities, we are employing a disciplined approach to evaluating assets and we believe that this strategic expansion will better position our company to build out a broader more diversified portfolio of drug candidates, which should add greater value to our company over the near and long-term. However, there can be no assurance that whatever product candidates or technology platforms we acquire, if any, will be successfully developed or commercialized.
The process of proposing, negotiating and implementing a license or acquisition of a product candidate is lengthy and complex, and we may be unable to in-license
or acquire the rights to any such products, product candidates or technologies from third parties for several reasons. Further, even if we identify acquisition or in-licensing
targets, we may not be able to close those deals or we may determine after diligence not to pursue identified targets. The success of this strategy depends partly upon our ability to identify, select and acquire or in-license
promising product candidates and technologies.
The in-licensing
and acquisition of drug products is an area characterized by intense competition, and a number of companies (both more established and early-stage biotechnology companies) are also pursuing strategies to in-license
or acquire product candidates or technologies that we may consider attractive. We believe that other companies may be particularly active in pursuing opportunities to in-license
or acquire the same or similar products which we may seek to acquire. More established companies may have a competitive advantage over us due to their size, cash resources and greater research, preclinical or clinical development or commercialization capabilities, while earlier stage companies may be more aggressive or have a higher risk tolerance. In addition, companies that perceive us to be a competitor may be unwilling to assign or license rights to us. We also may be unable to in-license
or acquire the rights to the relevant product candidate or technology on terms that would allow us to make an appropriate return on our investment. Moreover, we may devote resources to potential acquisitions or in-licensing
opportunities that are never completed, or we may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of such efforts or we may incorrectly judge the value of an acquired or in-licensed
product candidate or technology.
If we are unable to successfully obtain rights to suitable product candidates or technologies, our business, financial condition and prospects for growth could suffer. In addition, acquisitions and in-licensing
arrangements for product candidates and technologies are inherently risky, and ultimately, if we do not complete an announced acquisition or license transaction or integrate an acquired or licensed product candidate or technology successfully and in a timely manner, we may not realize the benefits of the acquisition or license to the extent anticipated and the perception of the effectiveness of our management team and our company may suffer in the marketplace. In addition, even if we are able to successfully identify, negotiate and execute one or more transactions to acquire or in-license
new product candidates or technologies, our expenses and short-term costs may increase materially and adversely affect our liquidity.
In addition, acquisitions and in-licenses
may entail numerous operational, financial and legal risks, including:
•
exposure to known and unknown liabilities, including possible intellectual property infringement claims, violations of laws, tax liabilities and commercial disputes;
•
incurrence of substantial debt, dilutive issuances of securities or depletion of cash to pay for acquisitions;
•
higher than expected acquisition and integration costs;
•
difficulty in combining the operations and personnel of any acquired businesses with our operations and personnel;
•
inability to maintain uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies;
•
restructuring charges related to eliminating redundancies or disposing of assets as part of any such combination;
•
large write-offs and difficulties in assessing the relative percentages of in-process
research and development expense that can be immediately written off as compared to the amount that must be amortized over the appropriate life of the asset;
•
increased amortization expenses or, in the event that we write down the value of acquired assets, impairment losses;
•
potential failure of the due diligence process to identify significant problems, liabilities or other shortcomings or challenges of an acquired or licensed product candidate or technology, including problems, liabilities or other shortcomings or challenges with respect to intellectual property, product quality, revenue recognition or other accounting practices, partner disputes or issues and other legal and financial contingencies and known and unknown liabilities; and
•
entry into therapeutic modalities, indications or markets in which we have no or limited direct prior development or commercial experience and where competitors in such markets have stronger market positions.
Our business may require additional capital.
We may need to raise additional capital in the future in order to fund our business (particularly to fund potential company or product acquisitions that are intended to expand our product offerings). If necessary, we would likely raise additional funds in the future through public or private equity offerings, debt financings, corporate collaborations, or other means. We may also seek governmental grants to support our clinical and pre-clinical
trials. However, there is no assurance that any such funding will be available, and, even if it is available, whether it will be available on terms that are favorable to us. We may also seek to raise additional capital to fund additional product development efforts, even if we have sufficient funds for our planned operations.
Any sale by us of additional equity or debt securities convertible into additional equity could result in dilution to our stockholders. Further, to the extent that we raise funds through collaborative arrangements, it may be necessary to relinquish some rights to our technologies or grant sublicenses on terms that are not favorable to us. If we are not able to secure funding when needed, we may have to delay, reduce the scope of or eliminate one or more research and development programs, which could have an adverse effect on our business.
The obligations incident to being a public company place significant demands on our management.
As a public reporting company, we are required to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related rules and regulations of the SEC, including periodic reports, disclosures and more complex accounting rules. As directed by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the SEC adopted rules requiring public companies to include a report of management on a company’s internal control over financial reporting in their Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Based on current rules, we are required to annually report under Section 404(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding our management’s assessment as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Further, under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, our auditors are required to report on their assessment as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. If we or our auditors are unable to conclude that we have effective internal control over our financial reporting, investors could lose confidence in the reliability of our consolidated financial statements, which could result in a decrease in the value of our common stock.
We are highly dependent on our small number of key personnel and advisors.
We are highly dependent on our executive officers and key employees, and on our Board of Directors. The loss of the services of one or more of these individuals could significantly impede the achievement of our scientific and business objectives. Other than an employment agreement with Patrick J. McEnany, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer with respect to his services, we have no employment or retention agreements with any of our other officers or key employees. If we lose the services of any of our existing executive officers or key employees, or if we were unable to recruit qualified replacements on a timely basis for persons who leave our employ, our efforts to develop our drug candidates might be significantly delayed. We do not carry key-man
insurance on any of our personnel.
The ongoing COVID-19
pandemic and the worldwide attempts to contain it could harm our business and results of operations and financial condition and we could be adversely impacted by it.
The COVID-19
pandemic has had an impact on our business operations, and we continue to monitor applicable government modifications. We had to make modifications to our normal operations at various points in time during the pandemic, including requiring our employees to work remotely. At present, our operations have returned mostly to being in-person,
with some contact with doctors by our commercial sales force still being done remotely. Notwithstanding, the COVID-19
pandemic, including the emergence of new COVID-19
variants, including the delta and omicron variants, has in the past and may in the future affect the health and availability of our workforce as well as those of third parties whom we are relying upon to take similar measures. As a result, we have previously and may in the future experience disruptions to our business operations due to the COVID-19
pandemic, and our business could be materially adversely affected by such disruptions, directly or indirectly. National, state and local governments in affected regions have implemented and may continue to implement varying safety precautions, such as quarantines, border closures, increased border controls, travel restrictions, shelter-in-place
orders and shutdowns, business closures, cancellations of public gatherings and other measures. Organizations and individuals may continue to take additional steps to avoid infection, including limiting travel and staying home from work. These measures may continue to disrupt normal business operations both inside and outside of affected areas and have had significant impacts on healthcare and businesses worldwide.
During 2020 and 2021, we believe that the COVID-19
pandemic impacted new patient starts in the United States, as some physicians were reluctant to diagnose LEMS via telemedicine. To the extent that the COVID-19
pandemic continues, we may continue to see an impact on the number of naïve patients who begin to take FIRDAPSE®
. There can be no assurance as to how these matters will affect our business or results of operations.
We cannot assess the impact on our business of the public concerns expressed by a U.S. Senator and a vocal group of neuromuscular physicians and patients with LEMS about the pricing of our product.
We are also aware that the vocal group of neuromuscular physicians and a number of LEMS patients who have raised these issues in the past are continuing to raise concerns with the pricing of our product and with the appropriateness of the provisions in the Orphan Drug Act that grant us exclusivity for FIRDAPSE®
. A few of these patients continue to say negative things about us to the media, to other patients, to the FDA, and to politicians. We cannot assess the impact of these activities on our business.
Because the target patient population for FIRDAPSE®
is small, we must achieve significant market share and obtain relatively high per-patient
prices for our products to achieve meaningful gross margins.
FIRDAPSE®
targets a disease with a small patient population. A key component of the successful commercialization of a drug product for these indications includes identification of patients and a targeted prescriber base for the drug product. Due to small patient populations, we believe that we would need to have significant market penetration to achieve meaningful revenues and identifying patients and targeting the prescriber base are key to achieving significant market penetration. Typically, drugs for conditions with small prevalence have higher prices in order to generate a return on investment, and as a result, the per-patient
prices at which we sell
FIRDAPSE®
are relatively high in order for us to generate an appropriate return for the investment in these product development programs and achieve meaningful gross margins, and high per patient prices could drive physicians to seek out compounding pharmacies to provide compounded amifampridine to fill their prescriptions rather than FIRDAPSE®
, thereby lowering the FIRDAPSE®
market share or penetration in the market. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in achieving a sufficient degree of market penetration and/or obtaining or maintaining high per-patient
prices for FIRDAPSE®
for diseases with small patient populations. Further, even if we obtain significant market share for FIRDAPSE®
, because the potential target populations are very small, we may not be able to maintain profitability despite obtaining such significant market share. Additionally, patients who discontinue therapy or do not fill prescriptions are not easily replaced by new patients, given the limited patient population.
We face a risk of product liability claims and may not be able to obtain adequate insurance.
Our business exposes us to potential liability risks that may arise from the clinical testing, manufacture, and/or sale of our drug products. Patients have received substantial damage awards in some jurisdictions against pharmaceutical companies based on claims for injuries allegedly caused by the use of drug products used in clinical trials or after FDA approval.
Liability claims may be expensive to defend and may result in large judgments against us. We currently carry liability insurance that we believe to be adequate. Our insurance may not reimburse us for certain claims or the coverage may not be sufficient to cover claims made against us. We cannot predict all of the possible harms or side effects that may result from the use of our current drug candidates, or any potential future products we may acquire and use in clinical trials or after FDA approval and, therefore, the amount of insurance coverage we currently hold may not be adequate to cover all liabilities we might incur. If we are sued for any injury allegedly caused by our products, our liability could exceed our ability to pay the liability. Whether or not we are ultimately successful in any adverse litigation, such litigation could consume substantial amounts of our financial and managerial resources, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects and stock price.
Business or economic disruptions or global health concerns could seriously harm our development efforts and increase our costs and expenses.
Broad-based business or economic disruptions could adversely affect our ongoing or planned research and development activities. Global health concerns, such as the COVID-19
pandemic, could also result in social, economic, and labor instability in the countries in which we or the third parties with whom we engage operate. We cannot presently predict the scope and severity of any potential business shutdowns or disruptions, but if we or any of the third parties with whom we engage, including the suppliers, clinical trial sites, regulators and other third parties with whom we conduct business, were to experience shutdowns or other business disruptions, our ability to conduct our business in the manner and on the timelines presently planned could be materially and negatively impacted. It is also possible that global health concerns such as the COVID-19
pandemic could disproportionately impact the hospitals and clinical sites in which we conduct any of our clinical trials, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and our results of operation and financial condition.
Risks Related to the Development of Drug Products
Our efforts to develop additional drug products may fail.
Our efforts to develop additional products that we may acquire or in-license
(or to develop additional indications for FIRDAPSE®
) are subject to risks of failure. For example:
•
Our drug candidates may be found to be ineffective or unsafe for one or more additional indications, or fail to receive necessary regulatory approvals;
•
Our drug candidates may not be economical to market or take substantially longer to obtain necessary approvals for additional indications than anticipated; or
•
Competitors may develop and market equivalent or superior products, including next generation products that act with the same mechanism of action as our drug candidates.
As a result, our drug development activities may not result in any safe, effective and commercially viable additional indications, and we may not be able to commercialize our products successfully. For example, for several years, we evaluated FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of CMS, MuSK-MG
and SMA Type 3. However, FIRDAPSE®
failed to meet the primary endpoints in a Phase 3 trial for CMS, and we are no longer pursing this indication. Further, and even though we achieved statistical significance in the primary endpoint in our proof-of-concept
trial for SMA Type 3, the lack of robust results in this trial has caused us to decide to no longer pursue this indication. Finally, our Phase 3 clinical trial (MSK-002)
evaluating FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of adults with MuSK-MG
did not achieve statistical significance on its primary endpoint or its secondary endpoint, even though clinical improvement was observed by patients and investigators during the initial dose-titration period of the trial and in the company’s previous proof-of-concept
trial, and we are no longer pursuing this indication.
Further, the efforts of our collaboration partner in Japan, DyDo Pharma, to commercialize FIRDAPSE®
in Japan requires successful completion of a small Phase 3 trial in Japan evaluating FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of LEMS that is currently ongoing. While we expect that trial to be successful based on our prior trials evaluating our product for the treatment of LEMS, there can be no assurance that DyDo Pharma’s trial will be successful.
Our failure to develop safe, effective, and/or commercially viable products would have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
Failure can occur at any stage of our drug development efforts.
We will only obtain regulatory approval to commercialize our future drug candidates if we can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA (or the equivalent foreign regulatory authorities) in adequate and well-controlled clinical studies and trials that the drug is safe and effective for its intended use, that the clinical and other benefits outweigh the safety risks and that it otherwise meets approval requirements. As we have experienced in the past, a failure of one or more pre-clinical
or clinical trials or studies can occur at any stage of drug development. We may experience numerous unforeseen events during, or as a result of, testing that could delay or prevent us from obtaining regulatory approval for, or commercializing our drug candidates, including but not limited to:
•
regulators or Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) may not authorize us to commence a clinical trial or conduct a clinical trial at a prospective trial site;
•
conditions may be imposed upon us by the FDA regarding the scope or design of our clinical trials, or we may be required to resubmit our clinical trial protocols to IRBs for review due to changes in the regulatory environment;
•
the number of subjects required for our clinical trials may be larger, patient enrollment may take longer, or patients may drop out of our clinical trials at a higher rate than we anticipate;
•
we may have to suspend or terminate one or more of our clinical trials if we, regulators, or IRBs determine that the participants are being subjected to unreasonable health risks;
•
our third-party contractors, clinical investigators or contractual collaborators may fail to comply with regulatory requirements or fail to meet their contractual obligations to us in a timely manner;
•
the FDA may not accept clinical data from trials that are conducted at clinical sites in countries where the standard of care is potentially different from the United States;
•
our tests may produce negative or inconclusive results, and we may decide, or regulators may require us, to conduct additional testing; and
•
the costs of our pre-clinical
and/or clinical trials may be greater than we anticipate.
We rely on third parties to conduct our pre-clinical
studies and clinical studies and trials, and if they do not perform their obligations to us we may not be able to obtain approval for additional indications.
We do not currently have the ability to independently conduct pre-clinical
studies or clinical studies and trials, and we typically rely on third parties, such as third-party contract research and governmental organizations, medical institutions and clinical investigators (including academic clinical investigators), to conduct studies and trials for us. Our reliance on third parties for development activities reduces our control over these activities. These third parties may not complete activities on schedule or may not conduct our pre-clinical
studies and our clinical studies and trials in accordance with regulatory requirements or our study design. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or meet expected deadlines, we may be adversely affected, and our efforts to obtain regulatory approvals for and commercialize our product candidates may be delayed.
If we conduct studies with other parties, we may not have control over all decisions associated with that trial. To the extent that we disagree with the other party on such issues as study design, study timing and the like, it could adversely affect our drug development plans.
Although we also rely on third parties to manage the data from our studies and trials, we are responsible for confirming that each of our studies and trials is conducted in accordance with its general investigational plan and protocol. Moreover, the FDA and foreign regulatory agencies will require us to comply with applicable regulations and standards, including Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Good
Clinical Practice (GCP), for conducting, recording and reporting the results of such studies and trials to assure that the data and the results are credible and accurate and that the human study and trial participants are adequately protected. Our reliance on third-parties does not relieve us of these obligations and requirements, and we may fail to obtain regulatory approval for any additional indications if these requirements are not met.
We will need to continue to develop and maintain distribution and production capabilities or relationships to be successful.
We are licensed in Florida as a virtual drug manufacturer, which means we have no in-house
manufacturing capacity and we will be obligated to rely on contract manufacturers and packagers. We cannot be sure that we will successfully manufacture any product, either independently or under manufacturing arrangements, if any, with third party manufacturers. Moreover, if any manufacturer should cease doing business with us or experience delays, shortages of supply or excessive demands on their capacity, we may not be able to obtain adequate quantities of product in a timely manner, or at all. Manufacturers, and in certain situations their suppliers, are required to comply with current NDA commitments and current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) requirements enforced by the FDA, and similar requirements of other countries. The failure by a manufacturer to comply with these requirements could affect its ability to provide us with product. Although we intend to rely on third-party contract manufacturers, we are ultimately responsible for ensuring that our products are manufactured in accordance with cGMP. In addition, if, during a preapproval inspection or other inspection of our third-party manufacturers’ facility or facilities, the FDA determines that the facility is not in compliance with cGMP, any of our marketing applications that lists such facility as a manufacturer may not be approved or approval may be delayed until the facility comes into compliance with cGMP and completes a successful re-inspection
by the FDA.
Any manufacturing problem, natural disaster, or epidemic, affecting manufacturing facilities, or the loss of a contract manufacturer could be disruptive to our operations and result in lost sales. Additionally, we will be reliant on third parties to supply the raw materials needed to manufacture our products. Any reliance on suppliers may involve several risks, including a potential inability to obtain critical materials and reduced control over production costs, delivery schedules, reliability and quality. Any unanticipated disruption to future contract manufacture caused by problems at suppliers could delay shipment of products, increase our cost of goods sold and result in lost sales. If our suppliers were to be unable to supply us with adequate supply of our drugs, it could have a material adverse effect on our ability to successfully commercialize our drug candidates.
We could be impacted by the viability of our suppliers.
We source our products from more than one supplier, and we have entered into contracts with our suppliers that contractually obligate them to meet our requirements. However, if our suppliers cannot or will not meet our requirements (for whatever reason), our business could be adversely impacted.
We may encounter difficulties in managing our growth, which would adversely affect our results of operations.
To manage future growth, we will likely need to hire, train, and manage additional employees. Concurrent with expanding our operational and marketing capabilities, we will also need to increase our product development activities. We may not be able to support, financially or otherwise, future growth, or hire, train, motivate, and manage the required personnel. Our failure to manage growth effectively could limit our ability to achieve our goals.
Our success in managing our growth will depend in part on the ability of our executive officers to continue to implement and improve our operational, management, information and financial control systems, and to expand, train and manage our employee base, and particularly to expand, train and manage a specially-trained sales force to market our products. We may not be able to attract and retain personnel on acceptable terms given the intense competition for such personnel among biotechnology, pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, universities and non-profit
research institutions. Our inability to manage growth effectively could cause our operating costs to grow at a faster pace than we currently anticipate and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Pressure on drug product third-party payor coverage, reimbursement and pricing may impair our ability to be reimbursed at prices or on terms sufficient to provide a viable financial outcome.
The commercial success of our drug products, including FIRDAPSE®
and any other products we are able to market in the future, will depend substantially on the extent to which the cost of those products will be paid by health maintenance, managed care, pharmacy benefit and similar healthcare management organizations, or reimbursed by government health administration authorities (such as Medicare and Medicaid), private health coverage insurers and other third-party payors. If reimbursement is not available, or is available only to limited levels, we may not be able to continue to successfully commercialize our products. Even if coverage is provided, the approved reimbursement amount may not be high enough to establish and maintain pricing sufficient to realize a meaningful return on our investment.
The healthcare industry is acutely focused on cost containment, both in the United States and elsewhere. Government authorities and third-party payors have attempted to control costs by limiting coverage and the amount of reimbursement for particular medications, which could affect our ability to sell our product candidates profitably. These payors may not view our products as cost-effective, and coverage and reimbursement may not be available to our customers, or may not be sufficient to allow our products, if any, to be marketed on a competitive basis. Cost-control initiatives could cause us to decrease the price we might establish for products, which could result in lower than anticipated product revenues. If the prices for our products decrease or if governmental and other third-party payors do not provide adequate coverage or reimbursement, our prospects for revenue and profitability will suffer.
There may also be delays in obtaining coverage and reimbursement for newly approved drugs, and coverage may be more limited than the indications for which the drug is approved by the FDA. Moreover, eligibility for reimbursement does not imply that any drug will be paid for in all cases or at a rate that covers our costs, including research, development, manufacture, sale and distribution. Reimbursement rates may vary, by way of example, according to the use of the drug and the clinical setting in which it is used. Reimbursement rates may also be based on reimbursement levels already set for lower cost drugs or may be incorporated into existing payments for other services.
In addition, increasingly, third-party payors are requiring higher levels of evidence of the benefits and clinical outcomes of new technologies and are challenging the prices charged. We cannot be sure that coverage will be available for any product candidate that we commercialize and, if available, that the reimbursement rates will be adequate. Further, the net reimbursement for drug products may be subject to additional reductions if there are changes to laws that presently restrict imports of drugs from countries where they may be sold at lower prices than in the United States. An inability to promptly obtain coverage and adequate payment rates from both government-funded and private payors for any of our product candidates for which we obtain marketing approval could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, our ability to raise capital needed to commercialize products and our overall financial condition.
The pricing of drug products, in general, and of specialty drugs, in particular, has been a topic of concern in the United States Congress, where hearings have been held on the topic, and several bills have been introduced proposing a variety of actions to restrain the prices of drugs. Former President Trump frequently discussed his intention to reduce drug prices, as has President Biden. The Trump Administration solicited public comment on a variety of regulatory proposals to reduce drug prices, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Center) published an interim final rule that establishes a Most Favored Nation (MFN) Model for Medicare Part B drug payment. This regulation would substantially change the drug reimbursement landscape as it bases Medicare Part B payment for 50 selected drugs on prices in foreign countries instead of average sales price, or ASP. The MFN drug payment amount was expected to be lower than the current ASP-based
payment limit because United States drug prices are generally the highest in the world. While the MFN Model payment methodology was scheduled to begin on January 1, 2021, by the end of December 2020, three federal courts had granted orders preventing implementation of the MFN Model rule. On August 6, 2021, the Center published a proposed rule rescinding the November 2020 MFN Model interim final rule, and on December 27, 2021, CMS published a final rule withdrawing the MFN Model effective February 28, 2022. In its release, the Center stated that it will consider stakeholder feedback as it explores options to incorporate value into payments for Medicare Part B drugs, improving access to evidence-based care, and reducing drug spending for consumers throughout the health care system. Further, since President Biden took office, there have been continuing efforts in Congress and through the administration to reduce drug prices.
For example, on November 20, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized a regulation removing safe harbor protection under the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute for price reductions from pharmaceutical manufacturers to plan sponsors under Part D, either directly or through pharmacy benefit managers, unless the price reduction is required by law or unless it is passed through to the dispensing pharmacy and reflected in the price to the patient. The implementation of the rule has been delayed by the Biden administration to January 1, 2023 in response to ongoing litigation. In addition, effective January 1, 2024, a provision capping the rebate amount under the Medicaid Drug Rebate program at 100% of AMP will be eliminated, which means that a manufacturer could pay a rebate amount on a unit of the drug that is greater than the price the manufacturer receives for the drug. Further, effective January 1, 2023, a final rule issued by CMS will change the way copay assistance program prices are treated in best price for purposes of the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. This change could result in manufacturers eliminating their patient assistance programs, which would make many innovator drugs more expensive for patients. This final rule is subject to ongoing litigation, but it is not clear when a decision will be made or how the court will rule.
On September 9, 2021, the Biden administration published a wide-ranging list of policy proposals, most of which would need to be carried out by Congress, to reduce drug prices and drug payment. The HHS plan includes, among other reform measures, proposals to lower prescription drug prices, including by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices and disincentivizing price increases, and to support market changes that strengthen supply chains, promote biosimilars and generic drugs, and increase price transparency. Many similar proposals, including the plans to give Medicare Part D authority to negotiate drug prices, require drug manufacturers to pay rebates on drugs whose prices increase greater than the rate of inflation, and cap out-of-pocket
costs, have already been included in policy statements and legislation currently being considered by Congress. It is unclear to what extent these and other statutory, regulatory, and administrative initiatives will be enacted and implemented, and to what extent these or any future legislation or regulations by the Biden administration will have an effect on our business, including market acceptance, and sales, of our products and product candidates.
We cannot predict how any such laws or regulations, or new laws or regulations that have yet to be proposed, will affect the pricing of our product, of orphan drugs generally, or of drug products generally.
Our internal computer systems, or those of our contract research organizations and other key vendors or consultants, may fail or suffer security breaches, which could result in a material disruption of our product development programs.
Our internal computer systems and those of our contract research organizations and other key vendors and consultants are vulnerable to damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, natural disasters, terrorism, war and telecommunication and electrical failures. If such an event were to occur and cause interruptions in our operations, it could result in a material disruption of our programs. For example, the loss of clinical trial data from completed or ongoing clinical trials could result in delays in our regulatory approval efforts and significantly increase our costs to recover or reproduce the data. To the extent that any disruption or security breach results in a loss of or damage to our data or applications, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liability and the further development of our drug candidates could be delayed.
Our employees, sales agents and consultants may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including noncompliance with regulatory standards and requirements.
We are exposed to the risk of fraud or other misconduct by our employees, sales agents or consultants. Misconduct could include failures to comply with FDA regulations, provide accurate information to the FDA, comply with manufacturing standards, comply with federal and state healthcare fraud and abuse laws and regulations, report financial information or data accurately or disclose unauthorized activities to us. In particular, sales, marketing and business arrangements in the healthcare industry are subject to extensive laws and regulations intended to prevent fraud, kickbacks, self-dealing, and other abusive practices. These laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, sales commission, customer incentive programs, and other business arrangements. Misconduct could also involve the improper use of information obtained in the course of clinical trials, which could result in regulatory sanctions and serious harm to our reputation. It is not always possible to identify and deter such misconduct, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to be in compliance with such laws or regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of significant fines or other sanctions.
Risks Related to Government Regulation
The regulatory approval process is lengthy, and we may not be able to obtain all of the regulatory approvals required in the future to manufacture and commercialize FIRDAPSE®
or other products we may develop in the future in all areas in which we are licensed to supply it.
We will not be able to commercialize our products in other countries or for additional indications until we have obtained the requisite regulatory approvals from applicable governmental authorities. To obtain regulatory approval of a drug candidate for an indication, we must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the applicable regulatory agency that such drug candidate is safe and effective for that indication. The type and magnitude of the testing required for regulatory approval varies depending on the drug candidate and the disease or condition for which it is being developed. In addition, in the United States we must show that the facilities used to manufacture our drug candidates are in compliance with cGMP requirements. We will also have to meet similar regulations in any foreign country where we may seek to commercialize our drug candidates. In general, these requirements mandate that manufacturers follow elaborate design, testing, control, documentation, and other quality assurance procedures throughout the entire manufacturing process. The process of obtaining regulatory approvals typically takes several years and requires the expenditure of substantial capital and other resources. Despite the time, expense and resources invested by us in the approval process, we may not be able to demonstrate that our drug candidate is safe and effective for such indications, in which event we would not receive the regulatory approval required to market it.
If our pre-clinical
studies or our clinical studies and trials are unsuccessful or significantly delayed, our ability to commercialize our products will be impaired.
Before we can obtain future regulatory approval for the sale of our drug candidates for an indication, we may have to conduct, at our own expense, pre-clinical
tests in animals in order to support the safety of our drug candidates. Pre-clinical
testing is expensive, difficult to design and implement, can take several years to complete, and is uncertain as to outcome. Our pre-clinical
tests may produce negative or inconclusive results, and on the basis of such results, we may decide, or regulators may require us, to halt ongoing clinical trials or conduct additional pre-clinical
testing.
Additionally, future clinical trials for FIRDAPSE®
or any other drug candidate we may acquire may not be successfully completed or may take longer than anticipated because of any number of factors, including potential delays in the start of the trial, an inability to recruit clinical trial participants at the expected rate, failure to demonstrate safety and efficacy, unforeseen safety issues, or unforeseen governmental or regulatory delays. Further, our drug candidate may not be found to be safe and effective in particular indications and
may not be approved by regulatory authorities for the proposed indication. Further, regulatory authorities and IRBs that must approve and monitor the safety of each clinical study may suspend a clinical study at any time if the patients participating in such study are deemed to be exposed to any unacceptable health risk. We may also choose to suspend human clinical studies and trials if we become aware of any such risks. We might encounter problems in our clinical trials, including our expanded access program, such as seizures, weakness or other side effects that will cause us, regulatory authorities, or IRBs to delay or suspend such trial or study. Moreover, FDA will consider the data, including safety data, from patients enrolled in any expanded access program we may implement in the evaluation of any NDA or sNDA we may submit.
In other countries where FIRDAPSE®
or any other product we may acquire or license may be marketed, we will also be subject to regulatory requirements governing human clinical studies, trials and marketing approval for drugs. The requirements governing the conduct of clinical studies, trials, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement varies widely from country to country.
We may face significant delays in our clinical studies and trials due to an inability to recruit patients for our clinical studies and trials or to retain patients in the clinical studies and trials we may perform.
We may encounter difficulties in our current and future clinical studies and trials recruiting patients, particularly since the conditions we are studying are rare, orphan conditions. The availability of approved therapies can also make enrollment difficult. We compete for study and trial subjects with others conducting clinical trials testing other treatments for the indications we are studying for our drug candidates. Further, unrelated third parties and investigators in the academic community have in the past and we expect will continue in the future to test our drug candidates, including FIRDAPSE®
. If these third-party tests are unsuccessful, or if they show significant health risk to the test subjects, our development efforts may also be adversely affected.
Clinical trials in orphan diseases are often difficult to enroll given the small number of patients with these diseases. Completion of orphan clinical trials may take considerably more time than other trials, sometimes years, depending on factors such as type, complexity, novelty and intended use of a product candidate. As a result of the uncertainties described above, there can be no assurance that we will meet timelines that we establish for any of our clinical trials.
If our third-party suppliers or contract manufacturers do not maintain appropriate standards of manufacturing in accordance with cGMP and other manufacturing regulations, our development and commercialization activities could suffer significant interruptions or delays.
We rely, and intend to continue to rely, on third-party suppliers and contract manufacturers to provide us with materials for our clinical trials and commercial-scale production of our products. These suppliers and manufacturers must continuously adhere to cGMP as well as any applicable corresponding manufacturing regulations outside of the United States. In complying with these regulations, we and our third-party suppliers and contract manufacturers must expend significant time, money and effort in the areas of design and development, testing, production, record-keeping, and quality control to assure that our products meet applicable specifications and other regulatory requirements. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in an enforcement action against us, including warning letters, the seizure of products, suspension or withdrawal of approvals, shutting down of production, and criminal prosecution. Any of these third-party suppliers or contract manufacturers will also be subject to inspections by the FDA and other regulatory agencies. If any of our third-party suppliers or contract manufacturers fail to comply with cGMP or other applicable manufacturing regulations, our ability to develop and commercialize our products could suffer significant interruptions and delays.
Reliance on third-party manufacturers entails risks to which we would not be subject if we manufactured the product ourselves, including:
•
reliance on the third party for regulatory compliance and quality assurance;
•
reliance on the continued financial viability of the third parties;
•
limitations on supply availability resulting from capacity and scheduling constraints of the third parties;
•
impact on our reputation in the marketplace if manufacturers of our products fail to meet the demands of our customers;
•
the possible breach of the manufacturing agreement by the third party because of factors beyond our control; and
•
the possible termination or nonrenewal of the agreement by the third party, based on its own business priorities, at a time that is costly or inconvenient for us.
If any of our contract manufacturers fail to achieve and maintain appropriate manufacturing standards, patients using our products could be injured or die, resulting in product liability claims. Even absent patient injury, we may be subject to product recalls, product seizures or withdrawals, delays or failures in testing or delivery, cost overruns, or other problems that could seriously harm our business or profitability.
FIRDAPSE®
is subject to ongoing regulatory review. If we fail to comply with continuing United States and applicable foreign regulations, we could lose those approvals, and our business would be severely harmed.
We are and will continue to be subject to continuing regulatory review for our approved products, including the review of our required nonclinical and clinical post-marketing studies, and other clinical results which are reported after our drug candidates become commercially available approved drugs. As greater numbers of patients use a drug following its approval, side effects and other problems may be observed after approval that were not seen or anticipated during preapproval clinical studies and trials. In addition, the manufacturer, and the manufacturing facilities we use to make any approved drugs, will also be subject to periodic review and inspection by the FDA. The subsequent discovery of previously unknown problems with the drug, manufacturer or facility may result in restrictions on the drug, manufacturer or facility, including withdrawal of the drug from the market. If we fail to comply with applicable continuing regulatory requirements, we may be subject to fines, suspension, or withdrawal of regulatory approval, product recalls and seizures, operating restrictions, and criminal prosecutions.
Our product promotion and advertising are also subject to regulatory requirements and continuing regulatory review. In particular, the marketing claims we will be permitted to make in labeling or advertising regarding our marketed products will be limited by the terms and conditions of the FDA-approved
labeling and available scientific data. We must submit copies of our advertisements and promotional labeling to the FDA at the time of initial publication or dissemination. If the FDA believes these materials or statements promote our products for unapproved indications, or with unsubstantiated claims, or if we fail to provide appropriate safety related information, the FDA could allege that our promotional activities misbrand our products. Specifically, the FDA could issue an untitled letter or warning letter, which may demand, among other things, that we cease such promotional activities and issue corrective advertisements and labeling to all recipients of the misbranded materials. The FDA also could take enforcement action including seizure of allegedly misbranded product, injunction, or criminal prosecution against us and our officers or employees. If we repeatedly or deliberately fail to submit such advertisements and labeling to the agency, the FDA could withdraw our approvals. Moreover, the Department of Justice can bring civil or criminal actions against companies and executives that promote drugs or biologics for unapproved uses, based on the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the False Claims Act, and other federal laws governing the marketing and reimbursement for such products under federally supported healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Monetary penalties in such cases have often been substantial, and civil penalties can include costly mandatory compliance programs and potential exclusion of a company’s products from federal healthcare programs.
Enacted and future legislation or judicial action may increase the difficulty and cost for us to commercialize FIRDAPSE®
or any other drug candidates we may acquire or license and affect the prices we may obtain.
In the United States, there have been a number of court cases, legislative and regulatory changes, and other potential changes relating to the healthcare system that restrict or regulate post-approval activities, which may affect our ability to profitably sell FIRDAPSE®
or any other drug candidates for which we obtain marketing approval.
The Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, or MMA, changed the way Medicare covers and pays for drug products. The legislation expanded Medicare coverage for outpatient drug purchases by those covered by Medicare under a new Part D and introduced a reimbursement methodology based on average sales prices for Medicare Part B physician-administered drugs. In addition, this legislation authorized Medicare Part D prescription drug plans to use formularies whereby they can limit the number of drugs that will be covered in any therapeutic class. As a result of this legislation and the expansion of federal coverage of drug products, there is additional pressure to contain and reduce costs. While the MMA applies only to drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, private payors often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own reimbursement rates, and any reduction in reimbursement that results from the MMA may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors. These cost reduction initiatives and other provisions of the MMA could decrease the coverage and reimbursement that we receive for any approved products and could seriously harm our business. Manufacturers’ contributions to this area, including donut hole coverage (as described below) or potential excise taxes, are increasing and are subject to additional changes in the future.
In 2010, former President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (together, the “Health Care Reform Law”), a sweeping law intended to broaden access to health insurance, reduce or constrain the growth of healthcare spending, enhance remedies against fraud and abuse, add new transparency requirements for healthcare and health insurance industries, impose new taxes and fees on the health industry, and impose additional health policy reforms. The Health Care Reform Law, among other things, revised the definition of Average Manufacturer Price used by the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program for reporting purposes, imposed a significant annual fee on companies that manufacture or import branded prescription drug products and established an annual non-deductible
fee on entities that sell branded prescription drugs or biologics to specified government programs in the United States. The Health Care Reform Law also expanded the 340B drug discount program (excluding orphan drugs), including the creation of new penalties for non-compliance
and included a discount (now 70%, on brand name drugs for Medicare Part D participants in the coverage gap, or “donut hole.” The Health Care Reform Law increased the Medicaid rebates for line extensions or reformulated drugs, which could substantially increase our Medicaid rebate rate (in effect limiting reimbursement for these patients).
Beginning in January 2017, former President Trump signed two Executive Orders and other directives designed to delay the implementation of certain provisions of the Health Care Reform Law or otherwise circumvent some of the requirements for health insurance mandated by the Health Care Reform Law. These actions include directing applicable federal agencies to waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the implementation of any provision of the Health Care Reform Law that would impose a fiscal or regulatory burden on states, individuals, healthcare providers, health insurers, or manufacturers of pharmaceuticals or medical devices. On October 13, 2017, an Executive Order was signed terminating the cost sharing subsidies that reimburse insurers under the Health Care Reform Law. Several state Attorneys Generals filed suit to stop the administration from terminating the subsidies, but their request for a restraining order was denied by a federal judge in California on October 25, 2017. Further, on June 14, 2018 the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that the federal government was not required to pay more than $12.0 billion in Health Care Reform Law risk corridor payments to third-party payors. The effects of this gap in reimbursement on third-party payors, the viability of the Health Care Reform Law marketplace, providers, and our business, are not yet known. On December 18, 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the Health Care Reform Law’s individual mandate is unconstitutional but sent the matter back down to a district court to determine whether that provision can be removed from the rest of the Health Care Reform Law. On March 2, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the Fifth Circuit’s ruling, and oral argument was heard on November 10, 2020. On June 17, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed the challenge to the Health Care Reform Law in a 7-2
decision.
Additionally, in response to controversies regarding pricing of drug products, there has been a recent push to propose legislation, both on state and federal levels, that would require greater disclosure as to the reasoning behind drug prices and, in some cases, could give state or federal-level commissions the right to impose cost controls on certain drugs. These and other new provisions are likely to continue the pressure on pharmaceutical pricing, may require us to modify our business practices with healthcare practitioners, and may also increase our regulatory burdens and operating costs. In that regard, President Biden and members of Congress in both parties have expressed concerns about high drug prices. However, whether and to what extent any such positions will result in changes of the law, and how any such changes could impact our business, cannot be determined at this time.
Legislative and regulatory proposals also have been made to expand post-approval requirements, restrict sales and promotional activities for drug products, and with respect to orphan drug designation and exclusivity. In addition, increased scrutiny by the United States Congress of the FDA’s approval process may subject us to more stringent product labeling and post-marketing testing and other requirements. Delays in feedback from the FDA may affect our ability to quickly update or adjust our label in the interest of patient adherence and tolerability. We cannot predict whether other legislative changes will be adopted or how such changes would affect the pharmaceutical industry generally and specifically the commercialization of FIRDAPSE®
and any other products we develop.
If we fail to obtain or subsequently maintain orphan drug exclusivity or regulatory exclusivity for FIRDAPSE®
and any other orphan drug candidates we may acquire or in-license,
our competitors may sell products to treat the same conditions at greatly reduced prices, and our revenues would be significantly adversely affected.
In the United States, orphan drug designation entitles a party to financial incentives such as opportunities for grant funding towards clinical trial costs, tax advantages, and user-fee
waivers. The company that first obtains FDA approval for a designated orphan drug for a given rare disease receives marketing exclusivity for use of that drug for the stated disease or condition for a period of seven years, with an additional six months of exclusivity if the product also qualifies for pediatric exclusivity. Orphan drug exclusive marketing rights may be lost if the FDA later determines that the request for designation was materially defective, a subsequent product is deemed clinically superior, or if the manufacturer is unable to deliver sufficient quantity of the drug.
Because the extent and scope of patent protection for some of our drug products may be particularly limited, orphan drug designation - and ultimately, orphan drug exclusivity - is especially important for our products that are eligible for orphan drug designation. For eligible drugs, we plan to rely on the orphan exclusivity period to maintain a competitive position. However, if we do not obtain orphan drug exclusivity for our drug candidates or we cannot maintain orphan exclusivity for our drug candidates, our competitors may then sell the same drug to treat the same condition and our revenues will be reduced. Also, without strong patent protection, competitors may sell a generic version upon the expiration of orphan exclusivity if our patent position is not upheld.
Even if we obtain orphan drug designation for our future drug candidates, we may not fulfill the criteria for exclusivity or we may not be the first to obtain marketing approval for any orphan indication. Further, even if we obtain orphan drug exclusivity for a particular product, that exclusivity may not effectively protect the product from competition because different drugs can be approved for the same condition, and FDA can approve the same drug for a different patient population. Even after an orphan drug is approved, the FDA can subsequently approve a drug for the same condition if the FDA concludes that the later drug is safer, more effective or makes a major contribution to patient care. The FDA can discontinue orphan drug exclusivity after it has been granted if the orphan drug cannot be manufactured in sufficient quantities to meet demand.
Finally, there can be no assurance that the exclusivity provisions currently in the law may not be changed in the future and the impact of any such changes (if made) on us. The orphan drug exclusivity contained in the Orphan Drug Act has been the subject of recent scrutiny from the press, from some members of Congress and from some in the medical community. There can be no assurance that the exclusivity granted in the Orphan Drug Act to orphan drugs approved by the FDA will not be modified in the future, and as to how any such change might affect our products, if approved.
Changes to the Orphan Drug Act or successful legal challenges to the FDA’s interpretation of the Orphan Drug Act may affect our ability to obtain or subsequently maintain orphan drug exclusivity or affect the scope of orphan drug exclusivity for our products.
There can be no assurance whether the exclusivity provisions in the Orphan Drug Act may be changed in the future and the impact of such changes, if made on us. For example, if the United States Congress were to pass, and the President were to sign, legislation revising the Orphan Drug Act that effectively overturns the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th
Circuit, such legislation might retroactively affect the outcome of the 11th
Circuit decision and allow the FDA to reinstate the approval of Ruzurgi®
before the expiration of Firdapse®
’s orphan drug exclusivity.
The orphan drug exclusivity contained in the Orphan Drug Act has been the subject of recent scrutiny from the press, from some members of Congress and from some in the medical community. Furthermore, the FDA’s interpretations of the Orphan Drug Act have been successfully challenged in court and future court decisions could continue that trend. There can be no assurance that the exclusivity granted in the Orphan Drug Act to orphan drugs approved by the FDA will not be modified in the future, and as to how any such change might affect our products, if approved.
Our operations and relationships with healthcare providers, healthcare organizations, customers and third-party payors are subject to applicable anti-bribery, anti-kickback, fraud and abuse, transparency and other healthcare laws and regulations, which could expose us to, among other things, enforcement actions, criminal sanctions, civil penalties, contractual damages, reputational harm, administrative burdens and diminished profits and future earnings.
Our current and future arrangements with healthcare providers, healthcare organizations, third-party payors, customers, and patients expose us to broadly applicable anti-bribery, fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws and regulations that may constrain the business or financial arrangements and relationships through which we research, market, sell and distribute our drug candidates. In addition, we may be subject to patient data privacy and security regulation by the U.S. federal government and the states and the foreign governments in which we conduct our business. Restrictions under applicable federal and state anti-bribery and healthcare laws and regulations include the following:
•
the Federal health care program Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits individuals and entities from, among other things, knowingly and willfully soliciting, offering, receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind, to induce or reward, or in return for, either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, order or recommendation of, any good or service, for which payment may be made under a federal and state healthcare program such as Medicare and Medicaid. A person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation;
•
the federal criminal and civil false claims and civil monetary penalties laws, including the federal False Claims Act, which can be imposed through civil whistleblower or qui tam actions against individuals or entities, prohibits, among other things, knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, to the federal government, claims for payment that are false or fraudulent, knowingly making, using or causing to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim, or from knowingly making a false statement to avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government. In addition, certain marketing practices, including off-label
promotion, may also violate false claims laws. Moreover, the government may assert that a claim including items and services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the federal False Claims Act;
•
HIPAA, which imposes criminal and civil liability, prohibits, among other things, knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program, or knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making any materially false statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items or services; similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, a person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation;
•
HIPAA, as amended by HITECH, which impose obligations on certain healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses, known as covered entities, as well as their business associates that perform certain services involving the storage, use or disclosure of individually identifiable health information, including mandatory contractual terms, with respect to safeguarding the privacy, security, and transmission of individually identifiable health information, and require notification to affected individuals and regulatory authorities of certain breaches of security of individually identifiable health information;
•
the federal legislation commonly referred to as the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, enacted as part of the ACA, and its implementing regulations, which requires certain manufacturers of covered drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies that are reimbursable under Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, with certain exceptions, to report annually to CMS information related to certain payments and other transfers of value to physicians (defined to include doctors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists and chiropractors), physician assistants, certain types of advanced care practice nurses and teaching hospitals, as well as ownership and investment interests held by the physicians described above and their immediate family members, with the information made publicly available on a searchable website;
•
the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, which prohibits, among other things, U.S. companies and their employees and agents from authorizing, promising, offering, or providing, directly or indirectly, corrupt or improper payments or anything else of value to foreign government officials, employees of public international organizations and foreign government owned or affiliated entities, candidates for foreign political office, and foreign political parties or officials thereof;
•
analogous state and foreign laws and regulations, such as state anti-kickback and false claims laws, that may apply to sales or marketing arrangements and claims involving healthcare items or services reimbursed by non-governmental
third-party payors, including private insurers; and
•
certain state laws that require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government in addition to requiring drug and therapeutic biologics manufacturers to report information related to payments to physicians and other healthcare providers or marketing expenditures and pricing information, state and local laws that require the registration of pharmaceutical sales representatives, and state laws governing the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and often are not preempted by HIPAA, thus complicating compliance efforts.
If we or our collaborators, manufacturers or service providers fail to comply with applicable federal, state or foreign laws or regulations, we could be subject to enforcement actions, which could affect our ability to develop, market and sell our products successfully and could harm our reputation and lead to reduced acceptance of our products by the market. These enforcement actions include, not only civil and criminal penalties, but also exclusion from participation in government-funded healthcare programs, and exclusion from eligibility for the award of government contracts for our products.
Efforts to ensure that our current and future business arrangements with third parties comply with applicable healthcare laws and regulations could involve substantial costs. It is possible that governmental authorities will conclude that our business practices do not comply with current or future statutes, regulations, agency guidance or case law involving applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare laws and regulations. If our operations are found to be in violation of any such requirements, we may be subject to significant penalties, including civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, imprisonment, the curtailment or restructuring of our operations, loss of eligibility to obtain approvals from the FDA, exclusion from participation in government contracting, healthcare reimbursement or other government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, integrity oversight and reporting obligations, or reputational harm, any of which could adversely affect our financial results. Although effective compliance programs can mitigate the risk of investigation and prosecution for violations of these laws, these risks cannot be entirely eliminated. Any action against us for an alleged or suspected violation could cause us to incur significant legal expenses and could divert our management’s attention from the operation of our business, even if our defense is successful. In addition, achieving and sustaining compliance with applicable laws and regulations may be costly to us in terms of money, time and resources.
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
We are dependent on our relationships and license agreements, and we rely upon the patent rights granted to us pursuant to the license agreements.
All of our patent rights for FIRDAPSE®
are derived from our license agreement. In August 2020, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) allowed U.S. Patent No. 10,793,893 (the ’893 patent) to our licensor and thereby to us, and the patent issued on October 6, 2020. The patent is directed to the use of suitable doses of amifampridine to treat patients, regardless of the therapeutic indication, that are slow metabolizers of amifampridine. Any drug product containing amifampridine with a label that states the patented dosing regimens and doses in the Dosing and Administration section prior to April 7, 2034, the expiration date of the patent, could possibly infringe this patent. Generic drug product labels would necessarily have to do this, and we intend to take all appropriate actions to protect our intellectual property.
In April 2021, the USPTO also allowed Patent No. 11,060,128 (the ’128 patent) to our licensor and thereby to us, and this second patent issued on July 13, 2021. The patent is directed to the use of suitable doses of amifampridine to treat patients suffering with LEMS that are slow metabolizers of amifampridine. Any drug product containing amifampridine with a label for the treatment of LEMS, that states the patented dosing regimens and doses in the Dosing and Administration section of a product label, including generic drug product labels, could possibly infringe this patent prior to this patent’s expiration date.
On December 24, 2021, the USPTO allowed continuing application, 17/503,190. On January 3, 2022, the USPTO allowed related continuing application 17/503,148. A further related continuing application, 17/503,092 was allowed on January 7, 2022. All three patents were issued in March 2022. The claims in each of these applications have either already been listed in the Orange Book for FIRDAPSE®
or are in the process of being listed.
We may lose our rights to these patents and patent applications if we breach our obligations under the License Agreement, including, without limitation, our financial obligations to the licensor. If we violate or fail to perform any term or covenant of the License Agreement, the licensor may terminate the License Agreement upon satisfaction of any applicable notice requirements and expiration of any applicable cure periods. Additionally, any termination of the License Agreement, whether by us or by the licensor, will not relieve us of our obligation to pay any license fees owing at the time of such termination. If we fail to retain our rights under the License Agreement, we would not be able to commercialize FIRDAPSE®
, and our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects would be materially adversely affected.
Our commercial success will depend in large part on our ability to use patents and regulatory exclusivity to exclude others from competing with our products. The patent position of emerging pharmaceutical companies like us can be highly uncertain and involve complex legal and technical issues. Until the ’893 patent and the ‘128 patent are interpreted by a court, and unless and until our other pending applications are granted, we will not know the breadth of protection that they will afford us. Our pending applications, if granted, may not contain claims sufficiently broad to prevent others from practicing our technologies or marketing competing products. Third parties may intentionally attempt to design around any FIRDAPSE®
patents that ultimately grant so as to compete with us without infringing our patents. Although granted patents enjoy a presumption of validity, there is a risk that the ’893 patent, the ‘128 patent and any patents resulting from our ongoing prosecution efforts may be invalidated or rendered unenforceable if challenged by others.
As a result of the foregoing factors, we cannot be certain how much protection from competition patent rights will provide us.
Our success will depend significantly on our ability to operate without infringing the patents and other proprietary rights of third parties.
Further, there can be no assurance that we do not or will not infringe on patents held by third parties or that third parties in the future will not claim that we have infringed on their patents. In the event that our products or technologies infringe one or more patents or violate other proprietary rights of any third parties, we may be prevented from pursuing product development, manufacturing or commercializing any of our products using such technologies. For example, there may be patents or patent applications held by others that contain claims that our products or operations might be determined to infringe or that may be broader than we believe them to be. Given the complexities and uncertainties of patent laws, there can be no assurance as to the impact that future claims of infringement against us may have on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or prospects.
If a third-party claims that we infringe its patents, any of the following may occur:
•
we may be preliminarily enjoined from making, using, selling, or offering to sell our allegedly infringing product by a court of competent jurisdiction in advance of any formal infringement determination;
•
we may be required to pay substantial financial damages if a court formally decides that our technologies infringe the third party’s patent(s). Damages can be tripled if the infringement is deemed willful;
•
we may be required to discontinue or significantly delay developing, marketing, selling and licensing the allegedly infringing product(s) absent a license from the patent holder, which may not be available on commercially acceptable terms or at all, or which may require us to pay substantial royalties or grant cross-licenses to our patents; and
•
we may need to redesign our product so that it does not infringe the third party’s patent rights, which may not be possible or could require substantial funds or time and require additional studies.
In addition, our employees, consultants, contractors and others may knowingly or unknowingly use the proprietary information of others in their work for us or disclose our proprietary information to others. If our employees, consultants, contractors or others disclose our data to others or use data belonging to others in connection with our business, it could lead to disputes over the ownership of inventions derived from that information or expose us to potential damages or other penalties.
The occurrence of any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.
We may incur substantial costs as a result of litigation or other proceedings relating to patent and other intellectual property rights.
There is substantial history of litigation and other proceedings regarding patent and intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical industry. We may be forced to defend claims of infringement brought by our competitors and others, and we may institute litigation against third parties who we believe are infringing our intellectual property rights. The outcome of intellectual property litigation is subject to substantial uncertainties and may, for example, turn on the interpretation of claim language by the court, which may not be to our advantage, or on the testimony of experts as to technical facts upon which experts may reasonably disagree.
Under our License Agreements, we have the right to bring legal action against any alleged infringers of the patents we license. In that regard, in October 2020, we filed lawsuits against Jacobus and the specialty pharmacy marketing Ruzurgi®
, PantherRx Rare LLC (PantherRx), for infringement of the ‘893 patent. The suits have now been consolidated in a single action in the U.S. District Court for New Jersey. In August 2021, the lawsuits were amended to include alleged infringement of the ‘128 patent. The lawsuits arise from Jacobus’ and PantherRx’s sales and marketing of Ruzurgi®
(amifampridine) Tablets, 10 mg. The lawsuits allege that the Ruzurgi®
product infringes the ‘893 patent and the ‘128 patent when administered in accordance with its product labeling. The lawsuit seeks damages and injunctive relief to prevent further marketing of Ruzurgi®
in violation of our patent rights. The lawsuit is in the discovery stage and there can be no assurance as to the results of these proceedings.
Our involvement in intellectual property litigation could result in significant expense to us. Some of our competitors have considerable resources available to them and a strong economic incentive to undertake substantial efforts to stop or delay us from commercializing products. Moreover, regardless of the outcome, intellectual property litigation against or by us could significantly disrupt our development and commercialization efforts, divert our management’s attention and quickly consume our financial resources.
In addition, if third parties have filed patent applications or have issued patents claiming technology that is also claimed by us in any of our pending applications, we may be required to participate in interference or derivation proceedings with the third party at the United States Patent Office. We may also need to participate in proceedings outside the United States, such as an opposition at the European Patent Office, to determine whether or not a patent issued by the EPO was properly granted. Even if we are successful in these proceedings, we may incur substantial costs, and the time and attention of our management and scientific personnel will be diverted from product development or other more productive matters.
General Risk Factors Relating to our Common Stock
The trading price of the shares of our common stock has been and could in the future be highly volatile.
The market price of our common stock has fluctuated in the past and is likely to fluctuate in the future. Market prices for biopharmaceutical companies have historically been particularly volatile. Some of the factors that may cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate include:
•
developments concerning our clinical studies and trials and our pre-clinical
studies;
•
status of regulatory requirements for approval of our drug candidates;
•
adverse publicity regarding the pricing of FIRDAPSE®
;
•
announcements of product development successes and failures by us or our competitors;
•
new products introduced or announced by us or our competitors;
•
adverse changes in the abilities of our third-party manufacturers to provide drug or product in a timely manner or to meet FDA requirements;
•
changes in reimbursement levels;
•
changes in financial estimates by securities analysts;
•
actual or unanticipated variations in operating results;
•
changes in laws regarding FDA approval;
•
expiration or termination of licenses (particularly our License Agreement for FIRDAPSE®
), research contracts, or other collaboration agreements;
•
conditions or trends in the regulatory climate and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries;
•
intellectual property, product liability or other litigation against us;
•
changes in the market valuations of similar companies;
•
changes in pharmaceutical company regulations or reimbursements for drug products as a result of healthcare reform or other legislation;
•
changes in economic conditions; and
•
sales of shares of our common stock, particularly sales by our officers, directors and significant stockholders, or the perception that such sales may occur.
In addition, equity markets in general, and the market for emerging pharmaceutical and life sciences companies in particular, have experienced substantial price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of companies traded in those markets. Further, changes in economic conditions in the United States, Europe, or globally could impact our ability to grow profitably. Adverse economic changes are outside our control and may result in material adverse impacts on our business or financial results. These broad market and industry factors may materially affect the market price of our shares, regardless of our own development and operating performance. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class-action litigation has often been instituted against that company. Any such litigation that we become involved in could cause us to incur substantial costs and divert our management’s attention and resources, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Delaware law and our certificate of incorporation and by-laws
contain provisions that could delay and discourage takeover attempts that stockholders may consider favorable.
Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and by-laws,
and applicable provisions of Delaware corporate law, may make it more difficult for or prevent a third party from acquiring control of us or changing our Board of Directors and management. These provisions include:
•
the ability of our Board of Directors to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences;
•
limitations on the ability of stockholders to amend our charter documents, including stockholder supermajority voting requirements;
•
the inability of stockholders to act by written consent or to call special meetings;
•
requirements that special meetings of our stockholders may only be called by the Board of Directors; and
•
advance notice procedures our stockholders must comply with in order to nominate candidates for election to our Board of Directors or to place stockholders’ proposals on the agenda for consideration at meetings of stockholders.
On September 20, 2011, the board of directors approved the adoption of a stockholder rights plan (Rights Plan), which was amended on September 19, 2016 and further amended on August 28, 2019. The Rights Plan was implemented through our entry into a rights agreement with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent, and the declaration of a non-taxable
dividend distribution of one preferred stock purchase right (each, a Right) for each outstanding share of our common stock. The dividend had been paid on October 7, 2011 to holders of record as of that date. Each right was attached to and traded with the associated share of common stock. Under the Rights Plan, the rights would have become exercisable only if a person acquired beneficial ownership of 17.5% or more of our common stock (or, in the case of a person who beneficially owned 17.5% or more of our common stock on the date the rights plan was adopted, such person acquires beneficial ownership of any additional shares of our common stock) or after the date of the Rights Agreement, commenced a tender offer that, if consummated, would have resulted in beneficial ownership by a person of 17.5% or more of our common stock.
On November 12, 2021, our Board of Directors terminated the Rights Plan. Despite the termination of the Rights Plan, the Board of Directors reserves the right to take all necessary actions it deems appropriate in the future to protect the interests of all of the Company’s stockholders.
In addition, Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law generally prohibits us from engaging in a business combination with any person who owns 15% or more of our common stock for a period of three years from the date such person acquired such common stock, unless Board or stockholder approval is obtained. These provisions could make it difficult for a third party to acquire us, or for members of our Board of Directors to be replaced, even if doing so would be beneficial to our stockholders.
Any delay or prevention of a change of control transaction or changes in our Board of Directors or management could deter potential acquirers or prevent the completion of a transaction in which our stockholders could receive a substantial premium over the then current market price for their shares.
Future sales of our common stock may cause our stock price to decline.
As of March 14, 2022, we had 102,744,913 shares of our common stock outstanding, of which 7,753,498 shares were held by our officers and directors. We also had outstanding: (i) stock options to purchase an aggregate of 14,455,728 shares at exercise prices ranging from $0.79 to $7.07 per share (9,726,842 of which are currently exercisable); and (ii) restricted stock units for 597,339 shares of common stock (none of which are currently vested). Sales of shares, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our common stock.
We do not intend to pay cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock or other securities, and we currently do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, investors should not invest in our common stock if they require dividend income. Our stockholders will not realize a return on their investment unless the trading price of our common stock appreciates, which is uncertain and unpredictable.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2.
Properties
We currently operate our business in leased office space in Coral Gables, Florida. During 2020, we leased approximately 7,800 square feet of space, for which we paid annual rent of approximately $0.3 million. During May 2020 we amended our office lease to increase our leased space to approximately 10,700 square feet. The amended lease commenced in March 2021 when construction of the asset was completed and the space became available for use. Our current annual rent in the new space is approximately $0.5 million.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
Ruzurgi®
In May 2019, the FDA approved a New Drug Application (NDA) for Ruzurgi®
, another version of amifampridine (3,4-DAP),
for the treatment of pediatric LEMS patients (ages 6 to under 17). While the NDA for Ruzurgi®
only covers pediatric patients, we believe that Ruzurgi®
has been regularly prescribed off-label
to adult LEMS patients. We also believe that the FDA’s approval of Ruzurgi®
violated our statutory rights and was in multiple other respects arbitrary, capricious and contrary to law. As a result, in June 2019 we filed suit against the FDA challenging this approval and related drug labeling, and Jacobus Pharmaceuticals (Jacobus) intervened in our case. Our complaint, which was filed in the federal district court for the Southern District of Florida, alleged that the FDA’s approval of Ruzurgi®
violated multiple provisions of FDA regulations regarding labeling, resulting in misbranding in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA); violated our statutory rights to Orphan Drug Exclusivity and New Chemical Entity Exclusivity under the FDCA; and was in multiple other respects arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. Among other remedies, the suit sought an order setting aside the FDA’s approval of Ruzurgi®
.
On July 30, 2020, the Magistrate Judge considering our lawsuit against the FDA filed a Report and Recommendation in which she recommended to the District Judge handling the case that she grant the FDA’s and Jacobus’ motions for summary judgment and deny our motion for summary judgment. On September 29, 2020, the District Judge adopted the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge, granted the FDA’s and Jacobus’ motions for summary judgment, and dismissed our case. We appealed the District Court’s decision to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. By early 2021, the case was fully briefed, and oral argument was held in March 2021.
On September 30, 2021, a three-judge panel of 11th Circuit judges issued a unanimous decision overturning the District Court’s decision. The appellate court adopted our argument that the FDA’s approval of Ruzurgi®
violated our rights to Orphan Drug Exclusivity and remanded the case to the District Court with orders to enter summary judgment in our favor. In November 2021, Jacobus filed a motion seeking rehearing of the case from the full 11th Circuit, which motion was denied in January 2022. Further, in January 2022, Jacobus filed motions with both the 11th Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court seeking a stay of the 11th Circuit’s ruling indicating that it would seek a review of the 11th Circuit’s decision from the U.S. Supreme Court. Both stay motions were denied, and on January 28, 2022, the 11th Circuit issued a mandate directing the District Court to enter summary judgment in our favor. The District Court entered that order on January 31, 2022. On February 1, 2022, the FDA informed Jacobus that, consistent with the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit’s September 30, 2021, decision in favor of Catalyst, the final approval of the Ruzurgi®
NDA was switched to a tentative approval until the 7-year
orphan-drug exclusivity (ODE) for Firdapse®
has expired.
There can be no assurance as to whether Jacobus will seek U.S. Supreme Court review of the 11th Circuit’s decision, whether the U.S. Supreme Court will agree to hear the case, or whether, if the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, Jacobus’ appeal to overturn the decision of the 11th Circuit will be successful. Similarly, there can be no assurance as to whether the U.S. Congress will pass, and the President will sign, legislation effectively overturning the 11th Circuit’s decision, and whether or not such legislation, if passed, would have any retroactive effect that would allow the FDA to reinstate Ruzurgi®
.
On August 10, 2020, Health Canada issued a Notice of Compliance (NOC) to Medunik for Ruzurgi®
for the treatment of LEMS. We initiated a legal proceeding in Canada seeking judicial review of Health Canada’s decision to issue the NOC for Ruzurgi®
as incorrect and unreasonable under Canadian law. Data protection, per Health Canada regulations, is supposed to prevent Health Canada from issuing a NOC to a drug that directly or indirectly references an innovative drug’s data, for eight years from the date of the innovative drug’s approval. The Ruzurgi®
Product Monograph clearly references pivotal nonclinical carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity data for amifampridine phosphate developed by us. As such, we believe that our data was relied upon to establish the nonclinical safety profile of Ruzurgi®
needed to meet the standards of the Canadian Food and Drugs Act.
On June 3, 2021, we announced a positive decision in this proceeding that quashed the NOC previously issued for Ruzurgi®
and remanded the matter to the Minister of Health to redetermine its decision to grant marketing authorization to Ruzurgi®
in spite of FIRDAPSE®
’s data protection rights. However, on June 28, 2021, we announced that Health Canada had re-issued
an NOC for Ruzurgi®
, once again allowing the product to be marketed in Canada for patients with LEMS. As a result, in early July 2021 we, along with our partner KYE, filed a second suit against Health Canada to overturn their most recent decision. That case was fully briefed in late 2021, with oral argument held in early December.
On March 11, 2022, we announced that we had received a favorable decision from the Canadian court setting aside, for the second time, the decision of Health Canada approving Ruzurgi®
for the treatment of LEMS patients. In its ruling, the court determined that the Minister of Health’s approach to evaluating whether FIRDAPSE®
’s data deserved protection based on FIRDAPSE®
’s status as an innovative drug, which protects by regulation the use of such data as part of a submission seeking an NOC for eight years from approval of the innovative drug, was legally flawed and not supported by the evidence. As a result, the matter has, once again, been remanded to the Minister of Health to redetermine its decision in light of the court’s ruling. There can be no assurance as to the outcome of this proceeding.
Patent Litigation
All of our patent rights for FIRDAPSE®
are derived from our license agreement. In August 2020, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) allowed Patent No. 10,793,893 (the ’893 patent) to our licensor and thereby to us, and the patent issued on October 6, 2020. The patent is directed to the use of suitable doses of amifampridine to treat patients, regardless of the therapeutic indication, that are slow metabolizers of amifampridine. Any drug product containing amifampridine with a label that states the patented dosing regimens and doses in the Dosing and Administration section prior to April 7, 2034, the expiration date of the patent, could possibly infringe this patent. Generic drug product labels would necessarily have to do this, and we intend to take all appropriate actions to protect our intellectual property.
In April 2021, the USPTO also allowed Patent No. 11,060,128 (the ’128 patent) to our licensor and thereby to us, and this second patent issued on July 13, 2021. The patent is directed to the use of suitable doses of amifampridine to treat patients suffering with LEMS that are slow metabolizers of amifampridine. Any drug product containing amifampridine with a label for the treatment of LEMS, that states the patented dosing regimens and doses in the Dosing and Administration section of a product label, including generic drug product labels, could possibly infringe this patent prior to this patent’s expiration date.
On December 24, 2021, the USPTO allowed continuing application, 17/503,190. On January 3, 2022, the USPTO allowed related continuing application 17/503,148. A further related continuing application, 17/503,092 was allowed on January 7, 2022. All three patents were issued in March 2022. The claims in each of these applications have either already been listed in the Orange Book for FIRDAPSE®
or are in the process of being listed.
We are also pursuing additional patent applications for FIRDAPSE®
in an effort to further protect our drug product. There can be no assurance that any additional patents will be issued which provide additional intellectual property protection for our drug product.
In that regard, in October 2020, we filed lawsuits against Jacobus and the specialty pharmacy marketing Ruzurgi®
, PantherRx Rare LLC (PantherRx), for infringement of the ‘893 patent. The suits have been consolidated in a single action in the U.S. District Court for New Jersey. In August 2021, the lawsuits were amended to include alleged infringement of the ‘128 patent. The lawsuits arise from Jacobus’ and PantherRx’s sales and marketing of Ruzurgi®
(amifampridine) Tablets, 10 mg. The lawsuits allege that the Ruzurgi®
product infringes the ‘893 patent and the ‘128 patent when administered in accordance with its product labeling. The lawsuit seeks damages and injunctive relief to prevent further marketing of Ruzurgi®
in violation of our patent rights. The lawsuit is in the discovery stage and there can be no assurance as to the results of these proceedings.
Other Litigation
From time to time we may become involved in legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Other than as set forth above, we believe that there is no litigation pending at this time that could have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosure
Not applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Performance Graph
The graph below matches Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s cumulative 5-Year
total shareholder return on common stock with the cumulative total returns of the NASDAQ Composite index, the Russell MicroCap index, and the NASDAQ Biotechnology index. The graph tracks the performance of a $100 investment in our common stock and in each index (with the reinvestment of all dividends) from 12/31/2016 to 12/31/2021.
12/16
12/17
12/18
12/19
12/20
12/21
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
100.00
372.38
182.86
357.14
318.10
644.76
NASDAQ Composite
100.00
129.64
125.96
172.17
249.51
304.85
Russell MicroCap
100.00
113.17
98.36
120.43
145.67
173.84
NASDAQ Biotechnology
100.00
121.63
110.85
138.69
175.33
175.37
The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
Market Information
Our common stock trades on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CPRX.” The closing sale price for the common stock on March 14, 2022 was $7.63. As of March 14, 2022, there were 31 holders of record of our common stock, which includes custodians who hold our securities for the benefit of others.
Dividend Policy
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to support operations, finance the growth and development of our business, and repurchase up to $40 million of our common stock. We do not intend to pay cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. Any future determination related to our dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our Board of Directors.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table presents information as of December 31, 2021 with respect to compensation plans under which shares of our common stock may be issued.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Plan Category
Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants, and rights
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants, and rights
Number of securities
remaining available
for equity
compensation plans
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1)
14,207,728
$ 3.55
4,708,013 (2)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
-
-
-
Total
14,207,728
$
3.55
4,708,013
(1) Includes our 2014 Stock Incentive Plan and our 2018 Stock Incentive Plan
(2) Remaining shares are only under our 2018 Stock Incentive Plan
Sales of Unregistered Securities
None.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
In March 2021, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program that authorizes the repurchase of up to $40 million of our common stock, pursuant to a repurchase program under Rule 10b-18
of the Securities Act (the “Share Repurchase Program
”). The Share Repurchase Program commenced on March 22, 2021.
The following table presents information regarding repurchases by us of our common stock under the Share Repurchase Program during the three months ended December 31, 2021:
Period
Total
Number
of Shares
Purchased
Average
Price
Paid Per
Share
Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased as
Part of
Publicly
Announced
Program
Dollar Value
of Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased
(in thousands
)
October 1 - October 31, 2021
58,546
$ 5.99
58,546
$ 30,637
November 1 - November 30, 2021
6,654
$ 7.01
6,654
$ 30,590
December 1 - December 31, 2021
393,346
$ 6.81
393,346
$ 27,912
Total
458,546
458,546

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data
Not applicable.

---

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this report. In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including but not limited to those set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this report.
Introduction
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) is intended to provide an understanding of our financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations. The discussion and analysis is organized as follows:
•
Overview
. This section provides a general description of our business and information about our business that we believe is important in understanding our financial condition and results of operations.
•
Basis of Presentation
. This section provides information about key accounting estimates and policies that we followed in preparing our consolidated financial statements for the 2021 fiscal year.
•
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
. This section discusses those accounting policies that are both considered important to our financial condition and results of operations and require significant judgment and estimates on the part of management in their application. All of our significant accounting policies, including the critical accounting policies, are also summarized in the notes to our accompanying consolidated financial statements.
•
Results of Operations
. This section provides an analysis of our results of operations for the three fiscal years presented in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
•
Liquidity and Capital Resources
. This section provides an analysis of our cash flows, capital resources, off-balance
sheet arrangements and our outstanding commitments, if any.
•
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
. This section discusses how certain forward-looking statements made throughout this MD&A and in other sections of this report are based on management’s present expectations about future events and are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and changes in circumstance.
Overview
We are a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing,
developing and commercializing novel medicines for patients living with rare diseases. With exceptional patient focus, we are committed to developing a robust pipeline of cutting-edge, best-in-class
medicines for rare diseases. We historically focused our efforts on developing products that treat diseases in the neuromuscular and neurological space, but in 2021 we made a strategic decision to broaden and diversify our product portfolio through acquisitions of both early and late-stage products or companies or technology platforms in rare disease therapeutic categories outside of neuromuscular diseases. To accomplish these new priorities, we are employing a disciplined approach to evaluating assets and we believe that this strategic expansion will better position our company to build out a broader more diversified portfolio of drug candidates, which should add greater value to our company over the near and long-term. However, there can be no assurance that whatever product candidates or technology platforms we acquire, if any, will be successfully developed or commercialized.
We are currently exploring several potential opportunities to acquire companies with drug products in development or to in-license
or acquire drug products in development. However, no definitive agreements have been entered into to date. Further, during the third quarter of 2021 we hired Dr. Preethi Sundaram, who serves as our Chief Strategy Officer. In that position, Dr. Sundaram is leading our efforts to acquire R&D assets, from early stage through late-stage clinical programs and technologies to treat rare diseases, and once such drug candidates are acquired, Dr. Sundaram will help oversee the development of those assets.
We are dedicated to making a meaningful impact on the lives of those suffering from rare diseases, and we believe in putting patients first in everything we do.
Impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on our business
The COVID-19
pandemic has affected our business operations in numerous ways, and we continue to monitor applicable government modifications. We had to make modifications to our normal operations because of the COVID-19
pandemic, including allowing our employees to work remotely. At present, our operations have returned to mostly being in-person,
with some contact with physicians by our commercial sales force still being done remotely. Notwithstanding, the COVID-19
pandemic, including the emergence of new COVID-19
variants, including the delta and omicron variants, could affect the health and availability of our workforce as well as those of third parties whom we are relying upon to take similar measures. As such, we have experienced in the past, and may experience in the future, disruptions to our business operations because of the COVID-19
pandemic, and our business could be materially adversely affected by such disruptions, directly or indirectly. National, state and local governments in affected regions have implemented and may continue to implement varying safety precautions, such as quarantines, border closures, increased border controls, travel restrictions, shelter-in-place
orders and shutdowns, business closures, cancellations of public gatherings and other measures. Organizations and individuals may continue to take additional steps to avoid infection, including limiting travel and staying home from work. These measures may continue to disrupt normal business operations both inside and outside of affected areas and have had significant impacts on healthcare and businesses worldwide.
We believe that because many healthcare providers who treat LEMS patients have delayed seeing new patients because of the pandemic, there has been a delay in the diagnosis of new LEMS patients and their initiating therapy, which has slowed our efforts to locate new patients who could benefit from our therapy. However, we believe that when conditions allow healthcare providers to resume seeing new patients in person on a regular basis, the impact of this aspect of the COVID-19
pandemic on our business will lessen.
One area where we have not been impacted by the pandemic is in our supply chain. To date, we have been able to avoid material disruptions in the production of FIRDAPSE®
and, based upon current estimates, we have sufficient inventory to meet current and foreseeable patient needs for at least the next 12 months.
FIRDAPSE®
On November 28, 2018, we received approval from the FDA for FIRDAPSE®
Tablets 10 mg for the treatment of adult patients (ages 17 and above) with Lambert-Eaton, Myasthenic Syndrome (“LEMS”). In January 2019, we launched FIRDAPSE®
in the United States. We sell our product through a field force experienced in neurologic, central nervous system or rare disease products consisting at this time of approximately 30 field personnel, including sales (Regional Account Managers), patient assistance and insurance navigation support (Patient Access Liaisons), and payor reimbursement (National Account Managers). We also have a field-based force of five medical science liaisons who are helping educate the medical communities and patients about LEMS and our programs supporting patients and access to FIRDAPSE®
.
Further, we have contracted with an experienced inside sales agency that works to generate leads through telemarketing to targeted physicians. This inside sales agency allows our sales efforts to not only reach the neuromuscular specialists who regularly treat LEMS patients, but also the roughly 9,000 neurology and neuromuscular healthcare providers that may be treating an adult LEMS patient who can benefit from FIRDAPSE®
. Additionally, we recently began non-personal
promotion to oncologists that may treat adult LEMS patients. We also are continuing to make available at no-cost
a LEMS voltage gated calcium channel (VGCC) antibody testing program for use by physicians who suspect that one of their patients may have LEMS and wish to reach a definitive diagnosis.
Finally, we are continuing to expand our digital and social media activities in order to introduce our product and services to potential patients and their healthcare providers. We also work with several rare disease advocacy organizations (including Global Genes, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), and the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America) to help increase awareness and level of support for patients living with LEMS and to provide education for the physicians who treat these rare diseases and the patients they treat.
We are supporting the distribution of FIRDAPSE®
through Catalyst Pathways®
, our personalized treatment support program for patients who enroll in it. Catalyst Pathways®
is a single source for personalized treatment support, education and guidance through the challenging dosing and titration regimen to an effective therapeutic dose. It also includes distributing the drug through a very small group of exclusive specialty pharmacies (primarily AnovoRx), which is consistent with the way that most drug products for ultra-orphan diseases are distributed and dispensed to patients. We believe that by using specialty pharmacies in this way, the difficult task of navigating the health care system is far better for the patient needing treatment for their rare disease and the health care community in general.
In order to help adult LEMS patients afford their medication, we, like other pharmaceutical companies which are marketing drugs for ultra-orphan conditions, have developed an array of financial assistance programs that are available to reduce patient co-pays
and deductibles to a nominal affordable amount. For eligible patients with commercial coverage, a co-pay
assistance program designed to keep out-of-pocket
costs to not more than $10.00 per month (currently $0.00 per month) is available for all LEMS patients who are prescribed FIRDAPSE®
. We are also donating, and committing to continue to donate, money to qualified, independent charitable foundations dedicated to providing assistance to any U.S. LEMS patients in financial need. Subject to compliance with regulatory requirements, our goal is that no LEMS patient is ever denied access to their medication for financial reasons.
In May 2019, the FDA approved a New Drug Application (NDA) for Ruzurgi®
, another version of amifampridine (3,4-DAP),
for the treatment of pediatric LEMS patients (ages 6 to under 17). While the NDA for Ruzurgi®
only covers pediatric patients, we believe that Ruzurgi®
has been regularly prescribed off-label
to adult LEMS patients. We also believe that the FDA’s approval of Ruzurgi®
violated our statutory rights and was in multiple other respects arbitrary, capricious and contrary to law. As a result, in June 2019 we filed suit against the FDA and several related parties challenging this approval and related drug labeling, and Jacobus Pharmaceuticals (Jacobus) intervened in our case. Our complaint, which was filed in the federal district court for the Southern District of Florida, alleged that the FDA’s approval of Ruzurgi®
violated multiple provisions of FDA regulations regarding labeling, resulting in misbranding in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA); violated our statutory rights to Orphan Drug Exclusivity and New Chemical Entity Exclusivity under the FDCA; and was in multiple other respects arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. Among other remedies, the suit sought an order setting aside the FDA’s approval of Ruzurgi®
.
On July 30, 2020, the Magistrate Judge considering our lawsuit against the FDA filed a Report and Recommendation in which she recommended to the District Judge handling the case that she grant the FDA’s and Jacobus’ motions for summary judgment and deny our motion for summary judgment. On September 29, 2020, the District Judge adopted the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge, granted the FDA’s and Jacobus’ motions for summary judgment, and dismissed our case. We appealed the District Court’s decision to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 11th
Circuit. By early 2021, the case was fully briefed, and oral argument was held in March 2021.
On September 30, 2021, a three-judge panel of 11th
Circuit judges issued a unanimous decision overturning the District Court’s decision. The appellate court adopted our argument that the FDA’s approval of Ruzurgi®
violated our rights to Orphan Drug Exclusivity and remanded the case to the District Court with orders to enter summary judgment in our favor. In November 2021, Jacobus filed a motion seeking rehearing of the case from the full 11th
Circuit, which motion was denied in January 2022. Further, in January 2022, Jacobus filed motions with both the 11th
Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court seeking a stay of the 11th
Circuit’s ruling indicating that it would seek a review of the 11th
Circuit’s decision from the U.S. Supreme Court. Both stay motions were denied, and on January 28, 2022, the 11th
Circuit issued a mandate directing the District Court to enter summary judgment in our favor. The District Court entered that order on January 31, 2022. On February 1, 2022, the FDA informed Jacobus that, consistent with the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit’s September 30, 2021, decision in favor of Catalyst, the final approval of the Ruzurgi®
NDA was switched to a tentative approval until the 7-year
orphan-drug exclusivity (ODE) for Firdapse®
has expired.
There can be no assurance as to whether Jacobus will seek U.S. Supreme Court review of the 11th
Circuit’s decision, whether the U.S. Supreme Court will agree to hear the case, or whether, if the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, Jacobus’ appeal to overturn the decision of the 11th
Circuit will be successful. Similarly, there can be no assurance as to whether the U.S. Congress will pass, and the President will sign, legislation revising the Orphan Drug Act that effectively overturns the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th
Circuit, and whether any such legislation, if passed and signed into law, will retroactively affect the outcome of the 11th
Circuit decision and allow the FDA to reinstate the approval of Ruzurgi®
before the expiration of FIRDAPSE®
’s orphan drug exclusivity.
We are actively working with parents and physicians of pediatric LEMS patients to make sure that such patients will be able to obtain FIRDAPSE®
through appropriate legal and regulatory means. In addition, we are working to file an application with the FDA seeking approval for use of FIRDAPSE®
by pediatric LEMS patients, though any effort to obtain such authorization is not guaranteed. We anticipate submitting the sNDA before the end of the first quarter. For the adult LEMS patients who have been taking Ruzurgi®
off-label
(who are believed to be a large majority of the patients currently taking Ruzurgi®
), we are working with prescribers to transition such patients to FIRDAPSE®
as needed.
We have been developing a long-acting formulation of amifampridine phosphate. While a number of formulations have been prepared, after discussions with researchers and an advisory board made up of both patients and physicians, we recently concluded that we would be unable to develop a long-acting formulation that was both beneficial to patients and commercially viable, and as a result we have made the determination not to proceed with development of this product.
On August 10, 2020, we announced the top-line
results from our Phase 3 clinical trial (MSK-002)
evaluating FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of adults with MuSK-MG.
Unfortunately, the MSK-002
trial did not achieve statistical significance on its primary endpoint or its secondary endpoint. Following our receipt of these results, we analyzed the data and proposed a plan to FDA to perform an additional study evaluating FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of MuSK-MG.
In response, the FDA provided written comments that were unfavorable towards our proposed revised study design and further questioned the ability of the initial MuSK-MG
pilot study to be supportive. These remarks make it unlikely that a single study of similar design to MSK-002
would be sufficient for potential approval of the MuSK-MG
indication. We also held an expert panel with key opinion leaders (KOLs) to discuss options and review the likelihood of success for the MuSK-MG
indication for FIRDAPSE®
under these circumstances. After receiving the input of the FDA and the KOLs, we concluded that the approval of FIRDAPSE®
as a first line therapy for MuSK-MG
is unlikely, and therefore we have decided not to further pursue this indication.
We previously announced our intent to conduct a proof-of-concept
study evaluating FIRDAPSE®
as a treatment for Hereditary Neuropathy with Liability to Pressure Palsies (HNPP). The FDA requested that a new, patient centric endpoint be researched and used for our proposed study, without assurance that such endpoint would be acceptable for approval. Based upon the uncertainty of such an endpoint, we have decided not to conduct this study as a company sponsored study, though there is a possibility that this study will move forward as investigator-initiated study that we will support.
There can be no assurance that any future clinical trials of FIRDAPSE®
that we undertake will be successful. Further, there can be no assurance that we will ever be granted the right to commercialize FIRDAPSE®
for any additional indications.
Our NDS filing for FIRDAPSE®
for the symptomatic treatment of LEMS was approved by Health Canada on July 31, 2020. In August 2020, we entered into a license agreement with KYE Pharmaceuticals (KYE), pursuant to which we licensed the Canadian rights for FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of LEMS to KYE. Pursuant to the license agreement, KYE was obligated to pay us an up-front
payment based on approval, a milestone upon attainment of marketing authorization and product supply, milestones based on achievements of sales and regulatory milestones, and a sharing of defined net sales following commercialization.
On August 10, 2020, Health Canada issued a Notice of Compliance (NOC) to Medunik for Ruzurgi®
for the treatment of LEMS. We initiated a legal proceeding in Canada seeking judicial review of Health Canada’s decision to issue the NOC for Ruzurgi®
as incorrect and unreasonable under Canadian law. Data protection, per Health Canada regulations, is supposed to prevent Health Canada from issuing a NOC to a drug that directly or indirectly references an innovative drug’s data, for eight years from the date of the innovative drug’s approval. The Ruzurgi®
Product Monograph clearly references pivotal nonclinical carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity data for amifampridine phosphate developed by us. As such, we believe that our data was relied upon to establish the nonclinical safety profile of Ruzurgi®
needed to meet the standards of the Canadian Food and Drugs Act.
On June 3, 2021, we announced a positive decision in this proceeding that quashed the NOC previously issued for Ruzurgi®
and remanded the matter to the Minister of Health to redetermine its decision to grant marketing authorization to Ruzurgi®
in spite of FIRDAPSE®
’s data protection rights. However, on June 28, 2021, we announced that Health Canada had re-issued
an NOC for Ruzurgi®
, once again allowing the product to be marketed in Canada for patients with LEMS. As a result, in July 2021 we, along with our partner KYE, filed a second suit against Health Canada to overturn this decision. That case was fully briefed in late 2021, with oral argument held in early December.
On March 11, 2022, we announced that we had received a favorable decision from the Canadian court setting aside, for the second time, the decision of Health Canada approving Ruzurgi®
for the treatment of LEMS patients. In its ruling, the court determined that the Minister of Health’s approach to evaluating whether FIRDAPSE®
’s data deserved protection based on FIRDAPSE®
’s status as an innovative drug, which protects by regulation the use of such data as part of a submission seeking an NOC for eight years from approval of the innovative drug, was legally flawed and not supported by the evidence. As a result, the matter has, once again, been remanded to the Minister of Health to redetermine its decision in light of the court’s ruling. There can be no assurance as to the outcome of this proceeding.
In May 2019, we entered into an amendment to our license agreement for FIRDAPSE®
. Under the amendment, we expanded our commercial territory for FIRDAPSE®
, which originally was comprised of North America, to include Japan. Additionally, we have an option to further expand our territory under the license agreement to include most of Asia, as well as Central and South America, upon the achievement of certain milestones in Japan. Under the amendment, we will pay royalties to our licensor on net sales in Japan of a similar percentage to the royalties that we are currently paying under our original license agreement for North America.
We have reached an agreement with Japanese regulatory authorities as to the scope of the clinical trial that will be required to be completed before an application can be submitted to Japanese regulatory authorities to commercialize FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of LEMS in Japan. We also have been granted orphan drug designation in Japan for FIRDAPSE®
for the symptomatic treatment of LEMS.
On June 28, 2021, we entered into a sub-license
agreement with DyDo Pharma, Inc. (DyDo), pursuant to which we sub-licensed
to DyDo the Japanese rights for FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of LEMS. Under the terms of the Agreement, DyDo will have joint rights to develop FIRDAPSE®
, and exclusive rights to commercialize the product, in Japan. DyDo will be responsible for funding all clinical, regulatory, marketing and commercialization activities in Japan. We will be responsible for clinical and commercial supply, as well as providing support to DyDo in its efforts to obtain regulatory approval for the product from the Japanese regulatory authorities. Subject to the satisfaction of terms and conditions as set forth in the Agreement, we have earned an upfront payment and are eligible to receive further development and sales milestones for FIRDAPSE®
, as well as revenue on product supplied to DyDo.
In December 2021, we announced that DyDo had initiated a Phase 3 registrational study in Japan to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of LEMS. We anticipate completion of that study sometime in 2023. There can be no assurance that this trial will be successful or that DyDo will be granted the right to commercialize FIRDAPSE®
in Japan.
All of our patent rights for FIRDAPSE®
are derived from our license agreement. In August 2020, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) allowed Patent No. 10,793,893 (the ’893 patent) to our licensor and thereby to us, and the patent issued on October 6, 2020. The patent is directed to the use of suitable doses of amifampridine to treat patients, regardless of the therapeutic indication, that are slow metabolizers of amifampridine. Any drug product containing amifampridine with a label that states the patented dosing regimens and doses in the Dosing and Administration section prior to April 7, 2034, the expiration date of the patent, could possibly infringe this patent. Generic drug product labels would necessarily have to do this, and we intend to take all appropriate actions to protect our intellectual property.
In April 2021, the USPTO also allowed Patent No. 11,060,128 (the ’128 patent) to our licensor and thereby to us, and this second patent issued on July 13, 2021. The patent is directed to the use of suitable doses of amifampridine to treat patients suffering with LEMS that are slow metabolizers of amifampridine. Any drug product containing amifampridine with a label for the treatment of LEMS, that states the patented dosing regimens and doses in the Dosing and Administration section of a product label, including generic drug product labels, could possibly infringe this patent prior to this patent’s expiration date.
On December 24, 2021, the USPTO allowed continuing application, 17/503,190. On January 3, 2022, the USPTO allowed related continuing application 17/503,148. A further related continuing application, 17/503,092 was allowed on January 7, 2022. All three patents were issued in March 2022. The claims in each of these applications have either already been listed in the Orange Book for FIRDAPSE®
or are in the process of being listed.
We are also pursuing additional patent applications for FIRDAPSE®
in an effort to further protect our drug product. There can be no assurance that any additional patents will be issued which provide additional intellectual property protection for our drug product.
In that regard, in October 2020, we filed lawsuits against Jacobus and the specialty pharmacy marketing Ruzurgi®
, PantherRx Rare LLC (PantherRx), for infringement of the ‘893 patent. The suits have now been consolidated in a single action in the U.S. District Court for New Jersey. Further, in August 2021, the lawsuits were amended to include alleged infringement of the ‘128 patent. The lawsuits arise from Jacobus’ and PantherRx’s sales and marketing of Ruzurgi®
(amifampridine) Tablets, 10 mg. The lawsuits allege that the Ruzurgi®
product infringes the ‘893 patent and the ‘128 patent when administered in accordance with its product labeling. The lawsuit seeks damages and injunctive relief to prevent further marketing of Ruzurgi®
in violation of our patent rights. The lawsuit is in the discovery stage and there can be no assurance as to the results of these proceedings.
There can be no assurance that we do not or will not infringe on patents held by third parties or that third parties in the future will not claim that we have infringed on their patents. In the event that our products or technologies infringe or violate the patent or other proprietary rights of third parties, there is a possibility we may be prevented from pursuing product development, manufacturing or commercialization of our products that utilize such technologies until the underlying patent dispute is resolved. For example, there may be patents or patent applications held by others that contain claims that our products or operations might be determined to infringe or that may be broader than we believe them to be. Given the complexities and uncertainties of patent laws, there can be no assurance as to the impact that future patent claims against us may have on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or prospects.
Generic Sabril®
In December 2018, we entered into a definitive agreement with Endo International plc’s subsidiary, Endo Ventures Limited (Endo), for the further development and commercialization of generic Sabril®
tablets through Endo’s United States Generic Pharmaceuticals segment, Par Pharmaceutical. If and when the product is launched, we will be entitled to receive a milestone payment of $2.0 million on the commercial launch of the product. Further, we will receive a sharing of defined net profits upon commercialization and we are obligated to share the costs of certain development expenses. There can be no assurance that our collaboration with Endo for the development of generic Sabril®
(vigabatrin) tablets will be successful and that if an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) is approved for vigabatrin tablets in the future, that it will be profitable to us.
Capital Resources
At December 31, 2021, we had cash and cash equivalents and investments of approximately $191.3 million. Based on our current financial condition and forecasts of available cash, we believe that we have sufficient funds to support our operations for at least the next 12 months. There can be no assurance that we will continue to be successful in commercializing FIRDAPSE®
or will continue to be profitable. Further, there can be no assurance that if we need additional funding in the future, whether such funding will be available to us. See Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources” below for further information on our liquidity and cash flow.
Basis of Presentation
Revenues.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, we continued to generate revenues from product sales of FIRDAPSE®
in the U.S. We expect these revenues to fluctuate in future periods based on our sales of FIRDAPSE®
. We received approval from Health Canada on July 31, 2020, for FIRDAPSE®
for the symptomatic treatment of LEMS and as of December 31, 2020, we had launched FIRDAPSE®
in Canada. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, revenues generated under our collaboration agreement with KYE Pharmaceuticals were immaterial. We expect our revenues from the KYE collaboration agreement to fluctuate in future periods based on our collaborator’s ability to sell FIRDAPSE®
in Canada.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, we did not generate revenues under our collaborative agreement with Endo. We expect our revenues from the Endo collaborative agreement to fluctuate in future periods based on our collaborator’s ability to meet various regulatory milestones set forth in such agreement.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, we generated revenues of approximately $2.9 million from our collaborative agreement with DyDo Pharma. We expect our revenue from the DyDo license agreement to fluctuate in future periods based on DyDo’s ability to meet various regulatory milestones set forth in such agreement.
Cost of Sales.
Cost of sales consists of third-party manufacturing costs, freight, royalties, and indirect overhead costs associated with sales of FIRDAPSE®
. Cost of sales may also include period costs related to certain inventory manufacturing services, inventory adjustments charges, unabsorbed manufacturing and overhead costs, and manufacturing variances.
Research and Development Expenses.
Our research and development expenses consist of costs incurred for company-sponsored research and development activities, as well as support for selected investigator-sponsored research. The major components of research and development costs include preclinical study costs, clinical manufacturing costs, clinical study and trial expenses, insurance coverage for clinical trials, consulting, and other third-party costs, salaries and employee benefits, stock-based compensation expense, supplies and materials, and allocations of various overhead costs related to our product development efforts. To date, all of our research and development resources have been devoted to the development of FIRDAPSE®
, CPP-109
(our version of vigabatrin), and formerly CPP-115,
and until we acquire or license new products we currently expect that our future development costs will be attributable principally to the continued development of FIRDAPSE®
.
Our cost accruals for clinical studies and trials are based on estimates of the services received and efforts expended pursuant to contracts with numerous clinical study and trial sites and clinical research organizations (CROs). In the normal course of our business we contract with third parties to perform various clinical study and trial activities in the on-going
development of potential products. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation and vary from contract to contract and may result in uneven
payment flows. Payments under the contracts depend on factors such as the achievement of certain events or milestones, the successful enrollment of patients, the allocation of responsibilities among the parties to the agreement, and the completion of portions of the clinical study or trial or similar conditions. The objective of our accrual policy is to match the recording of expenses in our consolidated financial statements to the actual services received and efforts expended. As such, expense accruals related to preclinical and clinical studies or trials are recognized based on our estimate of the degree of completion of the event or events specified in the specific study or trial contract. We monitor service provider activities to the extent possible; however, if we underestimate activity levels associated with various studies or trials at a given point in time, we could be required to record significant additional research and development expenses in future periods. Preclinical and clinical study and trial activities require significant up-front
expenditures. We anticipate paying significant portions of a study or trial’s cost before they begin and incurring additional expenditures as the study or trial progresses and reaches certain milestones.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.
During 2019, we actively committed funds to developing our commercialization program for FIRDAPSE®
and we have continued to incur substantial commercialization expenses, including sales, marketing, patient services, patient advocacy and other commercialization related expenses as we have continued our sales program for FIRDAPSE®
.
Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and personnel expenses for accounting, corporate, compliance, and administrative functions. Other costs include administrative facility costs, regulatory fees, insurance, and professional fees for legal including litigation cost, information technology, accounting, and consulting services.
Stock-Based Compensation.
We recognize expense for the fair value of all stock-based awards to employees, directors, and consultants in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (U.S. GAAP). For stock options, we use the Black-Scholes option valuation model in calculating the fair value of the awards.
Income Taxes.
Our effective income tax rate is the ratio of income tax expense (benefit) over our income before income taxes.
We incurred operating losses from inception through the three-month period ended March 31, 2019. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, we had federal net operating loss carry-forwards of approximately $0 million and $3 million. Additionally, we had state net operating loss carry-forwards of approximately $28 million and $42 million, respectively, available to reduce future Florida taxable income for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
In the third quarter of 2020, we determined that there was sufficient positive evidence to conclude that it is more likely than not that our additional deferred taxes of approximately $33.0 million are realizable. As a result, we reduced the valuation allowance accordingly.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards.
For discussion of recently issued accounting standards, please see Note 2, “Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies,” in the consolidated financial statements included in this report.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make judgments, estimates, and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. We continually evaluate our judgments, estimates and assumptions. We base our estimates on the terms of underlying agreements, our expected course of development, historical experience and other factors we believe are reasonable based on the circumstances, the results of which form our management’s basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The amounts of assets and liabilities reported in our consolidated balance sheets and the amounts reported in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income are affected by estimates and assumptions, which are used for, but not limited to, the accounting for revenue recognition, leases, preclinical study and clinical trial expenses, stock-based compensation and valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. The accounting policies described below are not intended to be a comprehensive list of all of our accounting policies but represent the accounting estimates which involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by U.S. GAAP. There are also areas in which our management’s judgment in selecting any available alternative would not produce a materially different result. Our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this report contain accounting policies and other disclosures as required by U.S. GAAP.
Revenue Recognition.
Revenue from product sales are recorded at the net sales price (transaction price), which includes estimates of variable consideration for which reserves are established. Components of variable consideration include trade discounts and allowances, product returns, provider chargebacks and discounts, government rebates, and other incentives, such as voluntary patient assistance, and other allowances that are offered within contracts with our customer, payors, and other indirect customers relating to the sale of our products. These reserves are based on the amounts earned, or to be claimed on the related sales, and are classified as reductions of accounts receivable (if the amount is payable to the customer) or a current liability (if the amount is payable to a party other than a customer). These estimates take into consideration a range of possible outcomes which are probability-weighted in accordance with the expected value method in Topic 606 for relevant factors such as current contractual and statutory requirements, specific known market events and trends, industry data, and forecasted customer buying and payment patterns. Overall, these reserves reflect our best estimates of the amount of consideration to which we are entitled based on the terms of the respective underlying contracts.
The amount of variable consideration which is included in the transaction price may be constrained, and is included in the net sales price only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of the cumulative revenue recognized under the contract will not occur in a future period. Our analyses also contemplated application of the constraint in accordance with the guidance, under which it determined a material reversal of revenue would not occur in a future period for the estimates as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 and, therefore, the transaction price was not reduced further during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. Actual amounts of consideration ultimately received may differ from our estimates. If actual results in the future vary from our estimates, we will adjust these estimates, which would affect net product revenue and earnings in the period such variances become known. Refer to Note 2, “Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies,” in the consolidated financial statements included in this report for further details on revenue recognition.
Stock-Based Compensation.
We recognize stock-based compensation for the fair value of all share-based payments, including grants of stock options and restricted stock units. For stock options, we use the Black-Scholes option valuation model to determine the fair value of stock options on the date of grant. This model derives the fair value of stock options based on certain assumptions related to expected stock price volatility, expected option life, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. Expected volatility is based on reviews of historical volatility of our common stock. The estimated expected option life is based upon the simplified method. Under this method, the expected option life is presumed to be the mid-point
between the vesting date and the end of the contractual term. We will continue to use the simplified method until we have sufficient historical exercise data to estimate the expected life of the options. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon the U.S. Treasury yield curve appropriate for the expected life of our stock option awards. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the assumptions used were an estimated annual volatility of 70.0% and 81.4%, expected holding periods of primarily four and a half years, and risk-free interest rates of 0.34% to 1.18% and 0.24% to 1.64%, respectively.
Valuation Allowance for Deferred Tax Assets.
We assess the need for a valuation allowance against our deferred tax asset each quarter through the review of all available positive and negative evidence. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a tax valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Management’s analysis depends on historical and projected taxable income. Projected taxable income includes significant assumptions related to revenue, commercial expenses and research and development activities. In the third quarter of 2020, we determined that there was sufficient positive evidence to conclude that it is more likely than not that our additional deferred taxes are realizable. As a result, we reduced the valuation allowance accordingly.
Results of Operations
Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
Revenues.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, we recognized $138.0 million in net revenue from product sales of FIRDAPSE®
primarily in the U.S. compared to $118.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase of approximately $19.2 million was due to increases in sales volumes of approximately 10.4% and net price increases. For the year ended December 31, 2021, we also recognized $2.8 million in license and other revenue, as compared to $0.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to our license agreement with DyDo Pharma for the commercialization of FIRDAPSE®
in Japan that was signed in 2021.
Cost of Sales.
Cost of sales was approximately $21.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to $17.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Cost of sales in both periods consisted principally of royalty payments, which are based on net revenue as defined in the applicable license agreement. Royalties are payable on the terms set forth below in Liquidity and Capital Resources -Contractual Obligations and Arrangements
, and increase by 3% when net sales (as defined in the applicable license agreement) exceed $100 million in any calendar year.
Research and Development Expenses.
Research and development expenses for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were approximately $16.9 million and $16.5 million, respectively, and represented approximately 19% and 21% of total operating costs and expenses, respectively. Research and development expenses for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows (in thousands):
For the year ended December 31,
Change
$
%
Research and development expenses
$ 15,325
$ 14,912
2.8
Employee stock-based compensation
1,611
1,585
1.6
Total research and development expenses
$ 16,936
$ 16,497
2.7
Research and development expenses stayed relatively consistent for the 2021 fiscal year, when compared to the same period in 2020. For the 2020 fiscal year, research and development expenses included costs related to our MuSK-MG
clinical trial and our SMA type 3 proof-of-concept trial,
both of which were completed in the second half of 2020. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, research and development expenses included costs relating to closing out sites for both the MuSK-MG
clinical trial and SMA type 3 proof-of-concept
trial. Research and development costs in both the 2020 and 2021 periods also included expenses relating to medical and regulatory affairs, our expanded access programs, and our efforts to develop a long-acting formulation of amifampridine phosphate.
We expect that research and development expenses will continue to be substantial in 2022 and beyond as we execute on our strategic initiative to acquire or in-license innovative
technology platforms and/or earlier stage programs in rare disease categories outside of neuromuscular diseases.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were approximately $49.6 million and $44.2 million, respectively, and represented approximately 56% and 57% of total operating costs and expenses for the years ended December 31, 2021, and 2020, respectively. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows (in thousands):
For the year ended December 31,
Change
$
%
Selling
$ 26,151
$ 23,567
2,584
11.0
General and administrative
19,015
15,991
3,024
18.9
Employee stock-based compensation
4,462
4,676
(214 )
(4.6 )
Total selling, general and administrative expenses
$ 49,628
$ 44,234
5,394
12.2
For the year ended December 31, 2021, selling, general and administrative expenses increased approximately $5.4 million, compared to the same period in 2020, primarily attributable to the timing of our commitments to make contributions to 501(c)(3) organizations supporting LEMS patients of approximately $1 million and increases of legal fees of approximately $1.9 million. The increase was also due to increased costs due to the expansion of our operations and headcount required to support our ongoing efforts to commercialize FIRDAPSE®
.
We expect that selling, general and administrative expenses will continue to be substantial in future periods as we continue our efforts to increase our revenues from FIRDAPSE®
and take steps to expand our business.
Stock-Based Compensation.
Total stock-based compensation for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $6.1 million and $6.3 million, respectively. In 2021 and 2020, grants were principally for stock options relating to year-end
bonus awards and grants to new employees.
Other Income, Net.
We reported other income, net in all periods, primarily relating to our investment of our cash and cash equivalents and investments. The decrease in other income, net for the year ended December 31, 2021 of approximately $0.3 million when compared to the same period in 2020 is primarily due to lower yields on investments, despite higher invested balances. Other income, net, consists primarily of interest and dividend income.
Income Taxes.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, we had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $0 million and $3 million. The federal net operating loss carryforwards were utilized in 2020. Additionally, we had state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $28 million and $42 million, respectively, available to reduce future Florida taxable income. We had no uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
For the year ending December 31, 2020 we recorded a net valuation release of $41.6 million ($0.40 per basic share and $0.39 per diluted share) on the basis of management’s determination that it is more likely than not that the amount of our deferred tax assets will be realized.
Our effective income tax rate was 25% and (79%), respectively, for fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2020. The difference in the effective rates between periods is driven by the release of the valuation allowance against deferred taxes in the third quarter of 2020. Differences in the effective tax and the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% are driven by state income taxes and anticipated annual permanent differences, and offset by the orphan drug credit claimed.
Net Income.
Our net income was approximately $39.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2021 ($0.38 per basic and $0.37 per diluted share) as compared to $75.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2020 ($0.72 per basic and $0.71 per diluted share).
Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
The information comparing results of operations for the year ended 2020 compared to 2019 was included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K
for 2020.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Since our inception, we have financed our operations primarily through multiple offerings of our securities and, since January 2019, from revenues from product sales of FIRDAPSE®
. At December 31, 2021 we had cash and cash equivalents and investments aggregating $191.3 million and working capital of $183.0 million. At December 31, 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents and investments aggregating $140.3 million and working capital of $136.5 million. At December 31, 2021, substantially all of our cash and cash equivalents were deposited with one financial institution, and such balances were in excess of federally insured limits. Further, as of such date, substantially all such funds were invested in money market accounts, short-term interest bearing obligations and U.S. Treasuries.
Based on forecasts of available cash, we believe that we have sufficient resources to support our currently anticipated operations for at least the next 12 months from the date of this report. There can be no assurance that we will remain profitable or that we will be able to obtain any additional funding that we may require in the future.
In the future, we may require additional working capital to support our operations depending on our future success with FIRDAPSE®
sales, or the products we acquire and continue to develop and whether our results continue to be profitable and cash flow positive. There can be no assurance as to the amount of any such funding that will be required for these purposes or whether any such funding will be available to us when it is required.
In that regard, our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including:
•
the scope, rate of progress and cost of our clinical trials and other product development activities;
•
the cost of diligence in seeking a potential acquisition and of the completion of such acquisition, if an acquisition so occurs;
•
future clinical trial results;
•
the terms and timing of any collaborative, licensing and other arrangements that we may establish;
•
the cost and timing of regulatory approvals;
•
the cost and delays in product development as a result of any changes in regulatory oversight applicable to our products;
•
the level of revenues that we report from sales of FIRDAPSE®
;
•
the effect of competition and market developments;
•
the cost of filing and potentially prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights; and
•
the extent to which we acquire or invest in other products.
We may raise additional funds through public or private equity offerings, debt financings, corporate collaborations or other means. We also may seek governmental grants for a portion of the required funding for our clinical trials and preclinical trials. We may further seek to raise capital to fund additional product development efforts or product acquisitions, even if we have sufficient funds for our planned operations. Any sale by us of additional equity or convertible debt securities could result in dilution to our stockholders. There can be no assurance that any such required additional funding will be available to us at all or available on terms acceptable to us. Further, to the extent that we raise additional funds through collaborative arrangements, it may be necessary to relinquish some rights to our technologies or grant sublicenses on terms that are not favorable to us. If we are not able to secure additional funding when needed, we may have to delay, reduce the scope of or eliminate one or more research and development programs, which could have an adverse effect on our business.
On July 23, 2020, we filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC to sell up to $200 million of common stock, preferred stock, warrants to purchase common stock, debt securities and units consisting of one or more of such securities (the “2020 Shelf Registration Statement”). The 2020 Shelf Registration Statement (file no. 333-240052)
was declared effective by the SEC on July 31, 2020. As of the date of this report, no offerings have been completed under the 2020 Shelf Registration Statement.
Cash Flows.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $60.4 million and $45.0 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. During the year ended December 31, 2021, net cash provided by operating activities was primarily attributable to our net income of $39.5 million, a decrease of $4.0 million in prepaid expenses and other current and non-current
assets, increases of $5.5 million in accrued expenses and other liabilities, $0.9 million in operating lease liability, $9.3 million in deferred taxes and of $6.6 million of non-cash
expenses. This was partially offset by increases of $0.6 million in accounts receivable, net and $3.2 million in inventory and a decrease of $1.5 million in accounts payable. During the year ended December 31, 2020, net cash provided by operating activities was primarily attributable to our net income of $75.0 million, a decrease of $4.5 million in accounts receivable, net, an increase of $0.1 million in accounts payable and $7.1 million net of non-cash
expenses. This was partially offset by increases of $4.0 million in prepaid expenses and other current and non-current
assets and $2.7 million in inventory and decreases of $1.2 million in accrued expenses and other liabilities, $0.9 million in operating lease liability and $33.0 million in non-cash
deferred taxes.
Net cash used in investing activities was $11.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, consisting primarily of purchases of investments. Net cash used in investing activities was $5.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, consisting primarily of purchases of investments of $10.0 million, partially offset by proceeds from sales/maturities of investments of $5.0 million.
Net cash used in financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2021 was $8.1 million, consisting primarily of repurchases of common stock, partially offset by proceeds from the exercise of options to purchase shares of common stock. Net cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2020 was $0.7 million, consisting primarily of proceeds from the exercise of options to purchase shares of common stock.
Contractual Obligations and Arrangements.
We have entered into the following contractual arrangements:
•
Payments under our license agreement
. We have agreed to pay the following royalties under our license agreement:
•
Royalties to our licensor for seven years from the first commercial sale of FIRDAPSE®
equal to 7% of net sales (as defined in the License Agreement) in North America for any calendar year for sales up to $100 million, and 10% of net sales in North America in any calendar year in excess of $100 million; and
•
Royalties to the third-party licensor of the rights sublicensed to us from the first commercial sale of FIRDAPSE®
equal to 7% of net sales (as defined in the License Agreement between BioMarin and the third-party licensor) in any calendar year for the duration of regulatory exclusivity within a territory and 3.5% for territories in any calendar year in territories without regulatory exclusivity.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, we recognized an aggregate of approximately $19.5 million of royalties, which is included in cost of sales in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
•
Employment agreements
. We have entered into an employment agreement with our Chief Executive Officer that required us to make base salary payments of approximately $0.6 million in 2021. The agreement expires in November 2022.
•
Purchase commitment
. We have entered into a purchase commitment with our contract manufacturing organization for approximately $0.5 million per year. The agreement expires in December 2023.
•
Lease for office space
. We operate our business in leased office space in Coral Gables, Florida. We entered into an agreement in May 2020 that amended our lease for office facilities. Under the amended lease, our leased space increased from approximately 7,800 square feet of office space to approximately 10,700 square feet of office space. We moved into the new space around March 1, 2021 when the space became available for use. We pay annual rent of approximately $0.5 million.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements.
We currently have no debt or finance leases. We have an operating lease for our office facilities. We do not have any off-balance
sheet arrangements as such term is defined in rules promulgated by the SEC.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains “forward-looking statements”, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, plans or objectives for future operations and anticipated results of operations. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, “believes”, “anticipates”, “proposes”, “plans”, “expects”, “intends”, “may”, and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or other achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the section entitled “Item 1A - Risk Factors.”
The continued successful commercialization of FIRDAPSE®
is highly uncertain. Factors that will affect our success include the uncertainty of:
•
The impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on our business or on the economy generally;
•
Whether we will be able to continue to successfully market FIRDAPSE®
while maintaining full compliance with applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations;
•
Whether our estimates of the size of the market for FIRDAPSE®
for the treatment of Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS) will turn out to be accurate;
•
Whether we will be able to locate LEMS patients who are undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed with other diseases;
•
Whether patients will discontinue from the use of our drug at rates that are higher than historically experienced or are higher than we project;
•
Whether the daily dose taken by patients changes over time and affects our results of operations;
•
Whether FIRDAPSE®
patients can be successfully titrated to stable therapy;
•
Whether we can continue to market FIRDAPSE®
on a profitable and cash flow positive basis;
•
Whether any revenue or earnings guidance that we provide to the public market will turn out to be accurate;
•
Whether payors will reimburse for our product at the price that we charge for the product;
•
The ability of our third-party suppliers and contract manufacturers to maintain compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP);
•
The ability of our distributor and the specialty pharmacies that distribute our product to maintain compliance with applicable law;
•
Our ability to maintain compliance with applicable rules relating to our patient assistance programs and our contributions to 501(c)(3) organizations that support LEMS patients;
•
The scope of our intellectual property and the outcome of any future challenges or opposition to our intellectual property, and, conversely, whether any third-party intellectual property presents unanticipated obstacles for FIRDAPSE®
;
•
Whether our lawsuits against Jacobus Pharmaceutical Company (Jacobus) and the specialty pharmacy distributing its product for patent infringement will be successful;
•
Whether Jacobus will seek U.S. Supreme Court review of the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th
Circuit granting summary judgment in our favor in our case against the FDA, thereby overturning the FDA’s approval of Ruzurgi®
, whether the U.S. Supreme Court will agree to hear the case, or whether if the U.S. Supreme Court hears the case, they will overturn the decision of the 11th
Circuit;
•
Whether the United States Congress will pass, and the President will sign, legislation revising the Orphan Drug Act that effectively overturns the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th
Circuit, and whether any such legislation, if passed and signed into law, will retroactively affect the outcome of the 11th
Circuit decision and allow the FDA to reinstate the approval of Ruzurgi®
before the expiration of Firdapse®
’s orphan drug exclusivity;
•
The impact on FIRDAPSE®
of adverse changes in reimbursement and coverage policies from government and private payors such as Medicare, Medicaid, insurance companies, health maintenance organizations and other plan administrators, or the impact of pricing pressures enacted by industry organization, the federal government or the government of any state, including as a result of increased scrutiny over pharmaceutical pricing or otherwise;
•
Changes in the healthcare industry and the effect of political pressure from and actions by the President, Congress and/or medical professionals seeking to reduce prescription drug costs;
•
The state of the economy generally and its impact on our business;
•
Changes to the healthcare industry occasioned by any future changes in laws relating to the pricing of drug products, or changes in the healthcare industry generally;
•
The scope, rate of progress and expense of our clinical trials and studies, pre-clinical
studies, proof-of-concept
studies, and our other drug development activities, and whether our trials and studies will be successful;
•
Our ability to complete any clinical trials and studies that we may undertake on a timely basis and within the budgets we establish for such trials and studies;
•
Whether COVID-19
will further affect the timing and costs of our currently ongoing and contemplated clinical trials;
•
Whether FIRDAPSE®
can be successfully commercialized in Canada on a profitable basis;
•
Whether our suit with KYE Pharmaceuticals to overturn the approval of Ruzurgi®
in Canada will be successful;
•
The impact on sales of FIRDAPSE®
in the United States if an amifampridine product is purchased in Canada for use in the United States;
•
Whether our collaboration partner in Japan, DyDo, will successfully complete the clinical trial in Japan that will be required to seek approval to commercialize FIRDAPSE®
in Japan;
•
Whether DyDo will be able to obtain approval to commercialize FIRDAPSE®
in Japan;
•
Whether our efforts to grow our business beyond FIRDAPSE®
through acquisitions of companies or in-licensing
of product opportunities will be successful;
•
Whether we will have sufficient capital to finance any such acquisitions;
•
Whether our version of vigabatrin tablets will ever be approved by the FDA;
•
Even if our version of vigabatrin tablets is approved for commercialization, whether Endo Ventures/Par Pharmaceutical (our collaborator in this venture) will be successful in marketing the product; and
•
Whether we will earn milestone payments on the first commercial sale of vigabatrin tablets and royalties on sales of generic vigabatrin tablets.
Our current plans and objectives are based on assumptions relating to the continued commercialization of FIRDAPSE®
. Although we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, any of our assumptions could prove inaccurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements we have made herein, which reflect our views only as of the date of this report, you should not place undue reliance upon such statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

---

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market risk represents the risk of changes in the value of market risk-sensitive instruments caused by fluctuations in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and commodity prices. Changes in these factors could cause fluctuations in our results of operations and cash flows.
Our exposure to interest rate risk is currently confined to our cash and short-term investments that are from time to time invested in highly liquid money market funds, U.S. Treasuries and short-term bond funds. The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve our capital to fund operations. We also seek to maximize income from our investments without assuming significant risk. We do not use derivative financial instruments in our investment portfolio. Our cash and investments policy emphasizes liquidity and preservation of principal over other portfolio considerations.

---

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
See the list of financial statements filed with this report under Item 15 below.

---

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.

---

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We have carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. The term “disclosure controls and procedures”, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e)
and 15(d)-15(e)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Based on such evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that as of December 31, 2021, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports filed or submitted by us under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, was recorded, processed, summarized or reported within the time periods specified in the rules and regulations of the SEC, and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in such reports was accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
Management’s Annual Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f).
Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
Internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements prepared for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 based on the 2013 framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and in accordance with the interpretive guidance issued by the SEC in Release No. 34-55929.
Based on that evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021.
During the fourth quarter of 2021, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f)
under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Our independent registered public accounting firm, Grant Thornton LLP, has issued a report on our internal control over financial reporting, which is included in Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

---

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B.
Other Information
Not applicable.
PART III

---

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10.
Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
The information required by this item will be contained in our definitive proxy statement, or Proxy Statement, to be filed with the SEC in connection with our 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Our Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is expected to be filed not later than 120 days after the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and is incorporated into this report by this reference.
We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and to all of our other officers, directors, employees and agents. The code of ethics is available on our website at www.catalystpharma.com. We intend to disclose future amendments to, or waivers from, certain provisions of our code of ethics on the above website within five business days following the date of such amendment or waiver.

---

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
The information required by this item will be set forth in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated into this report by this reference.

---

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The information required by this item will be set forth in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated into this report by this reference.

---

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
The information required by this item will be set forth in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated into this report by this reference.

---

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The information required by this item will be set forth in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated into this report by this reference.
PART IV

---

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
Documents filed as part of this report.
The following financial statements of Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, are included in this report:
Reports of Grant Thornton LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
List of financial statement schedules. All schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.
List of exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K.
See part (b) below.
Exhibits.
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit
Number
Description of Exhibit
Form
File Number
Date of
Filing
Exhibit
Number
Filed
Herewith
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated August 14, 2006, between the Company and Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc., a Florida corporation
S-1
333-136039
9/1/2006
10.9
3.1
Certificate of Incorporation
S-1
333-136039
7/25/2006
3.1
3.2
Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation
S-1
333-136039
7/25/2006
3.2
3.3
Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation
DEF 14A
001-33057
3/30/2015
Annex A
3.4
Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation
8-K
001-33057
8/21/2020
3.1
3.5
By-Laws
S-1
333-136039
9/1/2006
3.3
3.6
Amendment to By-Laws
8-K
001-33057
11/27/2019
3.1
4.1
Specimen Stock Certificate for Common Stock
S-1
333-136039
9/1/2006
4.1
4.2
Rights Agreement between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company
8-K
001-33057
9/23/2011
4.1
4.3
Amendment to Rights Agreement
8-K
001-33057
9/19/2016
4.1
4.4
Second Amendment to Rights Agreement
8-K
001-33057
8/30/2019
4.1
4.5
Description of the Company’s Capital Stock
X
10.1(a)+
Employment Agreement between the Company and Patrick J. McEnany
10-Q
001-33057
12/15/2006
10.1
10.1(b)+
First Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and Patrick J. McEnany
8-K
001-33057
12/23/2008
10.1
10.1(c)+
Second Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and Patrick J. McEnany
10-Q
001-33057
11/12/2009
10.1
10.1(d)+
Third Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and Patrick J. McEnany
8-K
001-33057
9/15/2011
10.1
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit
Number
Description of Exhibit
Form
File Number
Date of
Filing
Exhibit
Number
Filed
Herewith
10.1(e)+
Fourth Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and Patrick J. McEnany
8-K
001-33057
8/29/2013
10.1
10.1(f)+
Fifth Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and Patrick J. McEnany
8-K
001-33057
6/24/2016
10.1
10.1(g)+
Sixth Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and Patrick J. McEnany
8-K
001-33057
5/31/2018
10.1
10.1(h)+
Seventh Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and Patrick J. McEnany
8-K
001-33057
9/11/2020
10.1
10.2(a)+
2014 Stock Incentive Plan
DEF 14A
001-33057
3/19/2014
Annex A
10.2(b)+
Amendment No. 1 to 2014 Stock Incentive Plan
DEF 14A
001-33057
4/29/2016
Annex A
10.2(c)+
Amendment No. 2 to 2014 Stock Incentive Plan
DEF 14A
001-33057
4/14/2017
Annex A
10.3(a)+
2018 Stock Incentive Plan
DEF 14A
001-33057
4/17/2018
Annex A
10.3(b)+
Amendment No. 1 to 2018 Stock Incentive Plan
DEF 14A
001-33057
7/7/2020
Annex A
10.3(c)+
Amendment No. 2 to 2018 Stock Incentive Plan
DEF 14A
001-33057
10/25/2021
Annex A
10.4(a)
Lease Agreement between the Company and 355 Alhambra Plaza, Ltd.
10-Q
001-33057
5/14/2007
10.1
10.4(b)
First Amendment to Lease Agreement between the Company and CPT 355 Alhambra Circle, LLC
10-Q
001-33057
8/15/2011
10.1
10.4(c)
Second Amendment to Lease Agreement between the Company and CPT 355 Alhambra Circle, LLC
8-K
001-33057
2/20/2014
10.1
10.4(d)
Third Amendment to Lease Agreement between the Company and CPT 355 Alhambra Circle, LLC
8-K
001-33057
3/27/2015
10.1
10.4(e)
Fourth Amendment to Lease Agreement between the Company and PRII 355 Alhambra Circle, LLC
8-K
001-33057
8/17/2018
10.1
10.4(f)
Fifth Amendment to Lease Agreement between the Company and PRII 355 Alhambra Circle, LLC
8-K
001-33057
5/13/2020
10.1
10.5
License Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2011, among New York University, the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, and the Company
10-K
001-33057
3/30/2012
10.15
10.6(a)
License Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2012, between the Company and BioMarin
8-K
001-33057
10/31/2012
10.2
10.6(b)
Amendment No. 1 to License Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2014, between the Company and BioMarin
8-K
001-33057
4/17/2014
10.1
10.6(c)
Settlement Agreement, dated effective as of July 26, 2018, by and among (i) Aceras BioMedical, LLC, in its capacity as Stockholder Representative for the Former stockholders of Huxley Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (ii) BioMarin, and (iii) the Company
10-Q
001-33057
8/17/2018
10.1
10.6(d)
Second Amendment to License Agreement, dated May 29, 2019, between the Company and BioMarin
8-K
001-33057
5/30/2019
10.1
10.7
Development, License and Commercialization Agreement, dated effective as of December 18, 2018, by and between Endo Ventures Limited and the Company
8-K
001-33057
12/26/2018
10.1
10.8
License and Supply Agreement, dated as of August 14, 2020, by and between KYE Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and the Company
8-K
001-33057
8/20/2020
10.1
10.9
License and Supply Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2021, by and between DyDo Pharma, Inc. and the Company
8-K
001-33057
6/28/2021
10.1
21.1
Subsidiaries of the registrant
10-K
001-33057
3/16/2020
21.1
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
X
31.1
Section 302 CEO Certification
X
31.2
Section 302 CFO Certification
X
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit
Number
Description of Exhibit
Form
File
Number
Date of
Filing
Exhibit
Number
Filed
Herewith
32.1
Section 906 CEO Certification
X
32.2
Section 906 CFO Certification
X
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)