Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc 10-Q for FY2022 Q2
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (JAZZ)
10-Q
2022-08-03
For: 2022-06-30
View Original
Added on
April 08, 2026
About this 10-Q
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc filed this 10-Q on August 3, 2022, covering the quarter ended June 30, 2022 (FY2022 Q2).
Headline figures
Quarter ended June 30, 2022, as reported in this filing, compared with the same period a year earlier where the filing states it.
- Revenue
- $932.88M
- up 24.1% from $751.81M a year earlier
- Net income
- $34.67M
- compared with a net loss of $363.32M a year earlier
- Diluted EPS
- $0.55
- compared with -$6.11 a year earlier
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
| Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | |||||
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2022
or
| Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | |||||
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-33500
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||
011-353 -1 -634-7800
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | ||||||||||||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ||||||||||||
| Emerging growth company | ||||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
As of July 27, 2022, 62,680,737 ordinary shares of the registrant, nominal value $0.0001 per share, were outstanding.
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS PLC
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2022
INDEX
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| Item 1. | ||||||||
| Item 1A. | ||||||||
| Item 2. | ||||||||
| Item 5. | ||||||||
| Item 6. | ||||||||
We own or have rights to various copyrights, trademarks, and trade names used in our business in the U.S. and/or other countries, including the following: Jazz Pharmaceuticals®, Xyrem® (sodium oxybate) oral solution, Xywav® (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium oxybates) oral solution, Epidiolex® (cannabidiol) oral solution, Epidyolex® (the trade name in Europe for Epidiolex), Defitelio® (defibrotide sodium), Defitelio® (defibrotide), CombiPlex®, Vyxeos® (daunorubicin and cytarabine) liposome for injection, Vyxeos® liposomal 44 mg/100 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion, Zepzelca® (lurbinectedin), Rylaze® (recombinant Erwinia asparaginase) and Sativex® (nabiximols) oral solution. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q also includes trademarks, service marks and trade names of other companies. Trademarks, service marks and trade names appearing in this Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q are the property of their respective owners.
2
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.Financial Statements
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS PLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
| June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Investments | |||||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net of allowances | |||||||||||
| Inventories | |||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses | |||||||||||
| Other current assets | |||||||||||
| Total current assets | |||||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | |||||||||||
| Operating lease assets | |||||||||||
| Intangible assets, net | |||||||||||
| Goodwill | |||||||||||
| Deferred tax assets, net | |||||||||||
| Deferred financing costs | |||||||||||
| Other non-current assets | |||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Accrued liabilities | |||||||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | |||||||||||
| Income taxes payable | |||||||||||
| Deferred revenue | |||||||||||
| Total current liabilities | |||||||||||
| Deferred revenue, non-current | |||||||||||
| Long-term debt, less current portion | |||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, less current portion | |||||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities, net | |||||||||||
| Other non-current liabilities | |||||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 10) | |||||||||||
| Shareholders’ equity: | |||||||||||
| Ordinary shares | |||||||||||
| Non-voting euro deferred shares | |||||||||||
| Capital redemption reserve | |||||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | |||||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Retained earnings | |||||||||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | $ | |||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS PLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Product sales, net | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Royalties and contract revenues | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of product sales (excluding amortization of acquired developed technologies) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Intangible asset amortization | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquired in-process research and development | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from operations | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange gain (loss) | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) and equity in loss (gain) of investees | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in loss (gain) of investees | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) per ordinary share: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average ordinary shares used in per share calculations - basic | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average ordinary shares used in per share calculations - diluted | |||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS PLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
Loss on fair value hedging activities reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to foreign exchange gain (loss), net of income tax benefit of $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Loss on cash flow hedging activities reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to interest expense, net of income tax benefit of $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedging activities, net of income tax provision (benefit) of $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized loss on fair value hedging activities, net of income tax benefit of $ | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS PLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
| Ordinary Shares | Non-voting Euro Deferred | Capital Redemption Reserve | Additional Paid-in Capital | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Retained Earnings | Total Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2021 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of ordinary shares in conjunction with exercise of share options | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of ordinary shares in conjunction with vesting of restricted stock units | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares withheld for payment of employee's withholding tax liability | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of ordinary shares in conjunction with exercise of share options | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of ordinary shares under employee stock purchase plan | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of ordinary shares in conjunction with vesting of restricted stock units | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares withheld for payment of employee's withholding tax liability | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares repurchased | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at June 30, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS PLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
| Ordinary Shares | Non-voting Euro Deferred | Capital Redemption Reserve | Additional Paid-in Capital | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Retained Earnings | Total Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of ordinary shares in conjunction with exercise of share options | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of ordinary shares in conjunction with vesting of restricted stock units | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares withheld for payment of employee's withholding tax liability | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2021 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of ordinary shares in connection with the acquisition of GW Pharmaceuticals plc | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based payment - precombination service in connection with the acquisition of GW Pharmaceuticals plc | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of ordinary shares in conjunction with exercise of share options | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of ordinary shares under employee stock purchase plan | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of ordinary shares in conjunction with vesting of restricted stock units | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares withheld for payment of employee's withholding tax liability | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at June 30, 2021 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
7
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS PLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
| Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Operating activities | |||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Intangible asset amortization | |||||||||||
| Acquisition accounting inventory fair value step-up adjustment | |||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | |||||||||||
| Deferred tax expense (benefit) | ( | ||||||||||
| Acquired in-process research and development | |||||||||||
| Loss on disposal of a business | |||||||||||
| Non-cash interest expense | |||||||||||
| Depreciation | |||||||||||
| Provision for losses on accounts receivable and inventory | |||||||||||
| Other non-cash transactions | ( | ||||||||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Accounts receivable | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Inventories | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | ( | ||||||||||
| Operating lease assets | |||||||||||
| Other non-current assets | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Accounts payable | ( | ||||||||||
| Accrued liabilities | ( | ||||||||||
| Income taxes payable | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Deferred revenue | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, less current portion | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Other non-current liabilities | |||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | |||||||||||
| Investing activities | |||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of a business | |||||||||||
| Purchases of property, plant and equipment | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Acquisition of intangible assets | ( | ||||||||||
| Acquisition of investments | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Acquired in-process research and development | ( | ||||||||||
| Proceeds from maturity of investments | |||||||||||
| Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired | ( | ||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Financing activities | |||||||||||
| Proceeds from employee equity incentive and purchase plans | |||||||||||
| Share repurchases | ( | ||||||||||
| Payment of employee withholding taxes related to share-based awards | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Repayments of long-term debt | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net proceeds from issuance of borrowings under credit agreement | |||||||||||
| Net proceeds from issuance of Senior Secured Notes, due 2029 | |||||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | ( | ||||||||||
| Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | ( | ||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of period | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, at end of period | $ | $ | |||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
8
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS PLC
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1. The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc is a global biopharmaceutical company whose purpose is to innovate to transform the lives of patients and their families. We are dedicated to developing life-changing medicines for people with serious diseases - often with limited or no therapeutic options. We have a diverse portfolio of marketed medicines and novel product candidates, from early- to late-stage development, in neuroscience and oncology. Within these therapeutic areas, we strive to identify new options for patients by actively exploring small molecules and biologics, and through innovative delivery technologies and cannabinoid science.
Our lead marketed products are:
Neuroscience
•Xywav® (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium oxybates) oral solution, a product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, in July 2020 and launched in the U.S. in November 2020 for the treatment of cataplexy or excessive daytime sleepiness, or EDS, in patients with narcolepsy aged seven years of age and older, and also approved by FDA in August 2021 for the treatment of idiopathic hypersomnia, or IH, in adults and launched in the U.S. in November 2021. Xywav contains 92% less sodium than Xyrem®;
•Xyrem® (sodium oxybate) oral solution, a product approved by FDA and distributed in the U.S. for the treatment of cataplexy or EDS in patients seven years of age and older with narcolepsy; Jazz also markets Xyrem in Canada for the treatment of cataplexy in patients with narcolepsy. Xyrem is also approved and distributed in the EU, Great Britain and other markets through a licensing agreement;
•Epidiolex® (cannabidiol) oral solution, a product approved by FDA and launched in the U.S. in 2018 by GW Pharmaceuticals plc, or GW, and currently indicated for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, or LGS, Dravet syndrome, or DS, or tuberous sclerosis complex, or TSC, in patients one year of age or older; in the EU (where it is marketed as Epidyolex®) and other markets, it is approved for adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with LGS or DS, in conjunction with clobazam (EU and Great Britain only), in patients 2 years of age and older and for adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with TSC in patients 2 years of age and older; and
•Sativex® (nabiximols) oral solution, a product approved and marketed in more than 29 markets outside the U.S. as treatment for symptom improvement in adult patients with moderate to severe spasticity due to multiple sclerosis, or MS, who have not responded adequately to other anti-spasticity medication and who demonstrate clinically significant improvement in spasticity-related symptoms during an initial trial of therapy. Nabiximols is investigational and currently not approved for any indication in the U.S.
Oncology
•Zepzelca® (lurbinectedin), a product approved by FDA in June 2020 under FDA's accelerated approval pathway and launched in the U.S. in July 2020 for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic small cell lung cancer, or SCLC, with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy; in Canada, Zepzelca received conditional approval in September 2021 for the treatment of adults with Stage III or metastatic SCLC, who have progressed on or after platinum-containing therapy;
•Rylaze® (recombinant Erwinia asparaginase), a product approved by FDA in June 2021 and launched in the U.S. in July 2021 for use as a component of a multi-agent chemotherapeutic regimen for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, or lymphoblastic lymphoma, or LBL, in adults and pediatric patients who have developed hypersensitivity to E. coli-derived asparaginase;
•Vyxeos® (daunorubicin and cytarabine) liposome for injection, a product approved in the U.S., Canada, EU, Great Britain, Switzerland, Israel and Australia (marketed as Vyxeos® liposomal in the EU, Great Britain, Switzerland and Israel) for the treatment of adults with newly-diagnosed therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia, or t-AML, or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC). An expanded indication was granted in the U.S. for the treatment of newly diagnosed t-AML or AML-MRC in pediatric patients aged 1 year and older; and
9
•Defitelio® (defibrotide sodium), a product approved in the U.S. and Brazil for the treatment of hepatic veno-occlusive disease, or VOD, with renal or pulmonary dysfunction following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, or HSCT, and in Japan for the treatment of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (hepatic veno-occlusive disease). It is currently approved in the EU, Great Britain and other markets for the treatment of severe hepatic VOD, also known as sinusoidal obstructive syndrome, or SOS, in HSCT therapy. It is indicated in adults and pediatric patients over 1 month of age.
Throughout this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, all references to “Jazz Pharmaceuticals,” “the registrant,” "the Company", “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc and its consolidated subsidiaries. Throughout this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, all references to “ordinary shares” refer to Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc’s ordinary shares.
Basis of Presentation
These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared following the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for interim reporting. As permitted under those rules, certain footnotes and other financial information that are normally required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP, can be condensed or omitted. The information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q should be read in conjunction with our annual consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
In the opinion of management, these condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for the fair presentation of our financial position and operating results. The results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2022, for any other interim period or for any future period.
Our significant accounting policies have not changed substantially from those previously described in our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2021, other than as described below.
These condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc and our subsidiaries, and intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
Our operating segment is reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision maker, or CODM. Our CODM has been identified as our chief executive officer. We have determined that we operate in one business segment, which is the identification, development and commercialization of meaningful pharmaceutical products that address unmet medical needs.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
Adoption of New Accounting Standards
In August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued ASU No. 2020-06, “Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging— Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity”, or ASU 2020-06. ASU 2020-06 simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments by eliminating the requirement to separate embedded conversion features from the host contract when the conversion features are not required to be accounted for as derivatives under Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or that do not result in substantial premiums accounted for as paid-in capital. The Company adopted ASU 2020-06 on January 1, 2022, on a modified retrospective basis. This impacted the accounting for our 1.50 % exchangeable senior notes due 2024, or the 2024 Notes, and our 2.00
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The adoption of ASU 2020-06 resulted in the following adjustments to the condensed consolidated balance sheet (in thousands):
| Balance Sheet Item: | December 31, 2021 | Adoption of ASU 2020-06 | January 1, 2022 | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax assets, net | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt, less current portion | |||||||||||||||||
| Retained earnings | |||||||||||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | ( | ||||||||||||||||
Interest expense on the Exchangeable Senior Notes will be lower as a result of adoption of this guidance. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 the effect of adoption reduced interest expense, net and increased net income by approximately $12 million and $24 million, respectively, and increased basic and diluted EPS by approximately $0.19 0.38
Significant Risks and Uncertainties
We have implemented a comprehensive response strategy designed to manage the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our employees, patients and our business. The prolonged nature of the pandemic is negatively impacting our business in a varied manner due to the emergence of variants with increased transmissibility, even in vaccinated people, including with respect to limited access to health care provider offices and institutions and the willingness of patients or parents of patients to seek treatment. We believe these dynamics have negatively impacted new patient starts in the U.S. and Europe. We expect that our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects may continue to be negatively impacted by the pandemic on a limited basis that may vary depending on the context. However, we have begun to observe, and expect to continue to observe, a gradual normalization in patient and health care provider practices, as providers and patients have adapted their behaviors and procedures to the evolving circumstances and as COVID-19 vaccines continue to be administered. With respect to our commercialization activities, while there continues to be some negative impact on demand, new patient starts and treatments for our products arising from the pandemic, primarily due to the inherent limitations of telemedicine and a reprioritization of healthcare resources toward COVID-19, we have seen improvements as healthcare systems have adapted to cope with the ongoing situation. The extent of the impact on our ability to generate sales of approved products, execute on new product launches, our clinical development and regulatory efforts, our corporate development objectives and the value of and market for our ordinary shares, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence at this time.
Our business has been substantially dependent on Xyrem and while we expect that our business will continue to be substantially dependent on oxybate product sales from both Xyrem and Xywav, there is no guarantee that we can maintain oxybate revenues at or near current levels, or that oxybate revenues will continue to grow. Our ability to maintain or increase oxybate revenues and realize the anticipated benefits from our investment in Xywav are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, those related to the launch of Xywav for the treatment of IH in adults and adoption in that indication; competition from the near-term introduction of authorized generic and generic versions of sodium oxybate and new products for treatment of cataplexy and/or EDS in narcolepsy in the U.S. market and from other competitors; the current and potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the current and expected future negative impact on demand for our products; increased pricing pressure from, changes in policies by, or restrictions on reimbursement imposed by, third party payors, including our ability to maintain adequate coverage and reimbursement for Xywav and Xyrem; increased rebates required to maintain access to our products; challenges to our intellectual property around Xywav and/or Xyrem, including pending antitrust and intellectual property litigation; and continued acceptance of Xywav and Xyrem by physicians and patients.
In addition to risks related specifically to Xywav and Xyrem, we are subject to other challenges and risks related to successfully commercializing a portfolio of oncology products and other neuroscience products, and other risks specific to our business and our ability to execute on our strategy, as well as risks and uncertainties common to companies in the pharmaceutical industry with development and commercial operations, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with: ongoing clinical research activity and related outcomes, obtaining regulatory approval of our late-stage product candidates; effectively commercializing our recently approved or acquired products such as Epidiolex, Zepzelca and Rylaze; obtaining and maintaining adequate coverage and reimbursement for our products; contracting and rebates to pharmacy benefit managers that reduces our net revenue; increasing scrutiny of pharmaceutical product pricing and resulting changes in healthcare laws and policy; market acceptance; regulatory concerns with controlled substances generally and the potential for abuse; future legislation, action by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, or FDA action authorizing the sale, distribution, use, and insurance reimbursement of non-FDA approved cannabinoid products; delays or problems in the supply of
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our products, loss of single source suppliers or failure to comply with manufacturing regulations; delays or problems with third parties that are part of our manufacturing and supply chain; identifying, acquiring or in-licensing additional products or product candidates; pharmaceutical product development and the inherent uncertainty of clinical success; the challenges of protecting and enhancing our intellectual property rights; complying with applicable regulatory requirements; and possible restrictions on our ability and flexibility to pursue certain future opportunities as a result of our substantial outstanding debt obligations.
In May 2021, we acquired GW. The total consideration paid by us for the entire issued share capital of GW was $7.2 billion. We refer to the acquisition of GW as the GW Acquisition. The success of the GW Acquisition will depend, in part, on our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from our and GW's historical businesses. The anticipated benefits to us of the GW Acquisition may not be realized fully within the expected timeframe or at all or may take longer to realize or cost more than expected, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Concentrations of Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash, cash equivalents, investments and derivative contracts. Our investment policy permits investments in U.S. federal government and federal agency securities, corporate bonds or commercial paper issued by U.S. corporations, money market instruments, certain qualifying money market mutual funds, certain repurchase agreements, and tax-exempt obligations of U.S. states, agencies and municipalities and places restrictions on credit ratings, maturities, and concentration by type and issuer. We are exposed to credit risk in the event of a default by the financial institutions holding our cash, cash equivalents and investments to the extent recorded on the balance sheet.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers”, which requires entities to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with ASC 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”. The update will generally result in an entity recognizing contract assets and contract liabilities at amounts consistent with those recorded by the acquiree immediately before the acquisition date rather than at fair value. The new standard is effective on a prospective basis for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted. The new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.
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2. Disposition and License Agreements
Sunosi U.S. Disposition
In March 2022, we entered into a definitive agreement to divest Sunosi to Axsome Therapeutics, or Axsome. In May 2022, we completed the U.S. divestiture of Sunosi and expect to complete the ex-U.S. divestiture later this year. Under the terms of the sale agreement, Axsome received the rights to Sunosi in all of the existing territories available to us. We received an upfront payment of $53.0 million, and have the right to receive a high single-digit royalty on Axsome’s U.S. net sales of Sunosi in current indications and a mid-single-digit royalty on Axsome’s U.S. net sales of Sunosi in future indications.
Upon closing, we recognized a loss on disposal of $40.8
We determined that the disposal of Sunosi does not qualify for reporting as a discontinued operation since it does not represent a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on our operations and financial results.
License Agreements
In the second quarter of 2022, we entered into a licensing agreement with Werewolf Therapeutics, Inc., or Werewolf, to acquire exclusive global development and commercialization rights to Werewolf's investigational WTX-613, now referred to as JZP898. JZP898 is a differentiated, conditionally-activated interferon alpha (IFNα) INDUKINE™ molecule. Under the terms of the agreement, we made an upfront payment of $15.0 1.26 billion and, if JZP898 is approved, a tiered, mid-single-digit percentage royalty on net sales of JZP898.
In the second quarter of 2022, we entered into a licensing agreement with Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd, or Sumitomo, to acquire exclusive development and commercialization rights in the U.S., Europe and other territories for DSP-0187, now referred to as JZP441. JZP441 is a potent, highly selective oral orexin-2 receptor agonist with potential application for the treatment of narcolepsy, IH and other sleep disorders. Under the terms of the agreement, we made an upfront payment of $50.0 1.09 billion and, if JZP441 is approved, a tiered, low double-digit royalty on Jazz's net sales of JZP441.
3. Cash and Available-for-Sale Securities
Cash, cash equivalents and investments consisted of the following (in thousands):
| June 30, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortized Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Estimated Fair Value | Cash and Cash Equivalents | Investments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time deposits | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Totals | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortized Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Estimated Fair Value | Cash and Cash Equivalents | Investments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Totals | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash equivalents and investments are considered available-for-sale securities. We use the specific-identification method for calculating realized gains and losses on securities sold and include them in interest expense, net in the condensed consolidated statements of income (loss). Our investment balances represent time deposits with original maturities of greater than three months and less than one year. Interest income from available-for-sale securities was $0.7 million and $0.9 million
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4. Fair Value Measurement
The following table summarizes, by major security type, our available-for-sale securities and derivative contracts as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis and were categorized using the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):
| June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Total Estimated Fair Value | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Total Estimated Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Available-for-sale securities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time deposits | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange forward contracts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Totals | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cross-currency interest rate contracts | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange forward contracts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Totals | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As of June 30, 2022, our available-for-sale securities included money market funds and time deposits and their carrying values were approximately equal to their fair values. Money market funds were measured using quoted prices in active markets, which represent Level 1 inputs and time deposits were measured at fair value using Level 2 inputs. Level 2 inputs, obtained from various third party data providers, represent quoted prices for similar assets in active markets, or these inputs were derived from observable market data, or if not directly observable, were derived from or corroborated by other observable market data.
Our derivative assets and liabilities include foreign exchange derivatives that are measured at fair value using observable market inputs such as forward rates and based on these inputs, the derivative assets and liabilities are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The cross-currency interest rate swap contract matured on March 31, 2022.
There were no transfers between the different levels of the fair value hierarchy in 2022 or 2021.
As of June 30, 2022, the carrying amount of investments measured using the measurement alternative for equity investments without a readily determinable fair value was $5.5 million. The carrying amount, which is recorded within other non-current assets, is based on the latest observable transaction price.
5. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
We are exposed to certain risks arising from operating internationally, including fluctuations in foreign exchange rates primarily related to the translation of sterling and euro-denominated net monetary liabilities, including intercompany balances, held by subsidiaries with a U.S. dollar functional currency. We manage these exposures within specified guidelines through the use of derivatives. All of our derivative instruments are utilized for risk management purposes, and we do not use derivatives for speculative trading purposes.
In order to hedge our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk associated with our seven-year €625.0 million term loan B facility, or the Euro Term Loan, we entered into a cross-currency interest rate swap contract in May 2021, which matured on March 31, 2022. The terms of this contract converted the principal repayments and interest payments on the Euro Term Loan into U.S. dollars. The carrying amount of the Euro Term Loan and the fair value of the cross-currency interest rate swap
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contract were remeasured on a monthly basis, with changes in the euro to U.S. dollar foreign exchange rates recognized within foreign exchange gain (loss) in the condensed consolidated statements of income (loss).
The impact on accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and earnings from the cross-currency interest rate swap contract was as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cross-Currency Interest Rate Contract: | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Loss recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||
| Loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to foreign exchange gain (loss), net of tax | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss recognized in foreign exchange gain (loss) | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||
We also enter into foreign exchange forward contracts, with durations of up to 12 months, designed to limit the exposure to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates related to the translation of certain non-U.S. dollar denominated liabilities, including intercompany balances. Hedge accounting is not applied to these derivative instruments as gains and losses on these hedge transactions are designed to offset gains and losses on underlying balance sheet exposures. As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the notional amount of foreign exchange contracts where hedge accounting is not applied was $667.0 million and $347.2 million, respectively.
The foreign exchange gain (losses) in our condensed consolidated statements of income (loss) included the following gains (losses) associated with foreign exchange contracts not designated as hedging instruments (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts: | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Gain (loss) recognized in foreign exchange gain (loss) | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||
The cash flow effects of our derivative contracts for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 are included within net cash provided by operating activities in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, except for the settlement of notional amounts of the cross-currency interest rate contract, which are included in net cash provided by (used in) financing activities.
To achieve a desired mix of floating and fixed interest rates on our variable rate debt, we entered into interest rate swap agreements in March 2017. In May 2021, we repaid the term loan to which these interest rate swap agreements related, at which point the interest rate swap contracts were de-designated as cash flow hedges. The interest rate swap agreements matured in July 2021.
The impact on accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and earnings from interest rate swap contracts for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 was as follows (in thousands):
| Interest Rate Contracts: | Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 | Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gain (loss) recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gain reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to interest expense, net of tax | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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The following tables summarize the fair value of outstanding derivatives (in thousands):
| Classification | June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||
| Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments: | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange forward contracts | Other current assets | $ | $ | |||||||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||||||||
| Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments: | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange forward contracts | Accrued liabilities | $ | $ | |||||||||||
| Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: | ||||||||||||||
| Cross-currency interest rate contract | Accrued liabilities | |||||||||||||
| Total fair value of derivative liability instruments | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Although we do not offset derivative assets and liabilities within our condensed consolidated balance sheets, our International Swap and Derivatives Association agreements provide for net settlement of transactions that are due to or from the same counterparty upon early termination of the agreement due to an event of default or other termination event. The following tables summarize the potential effect on our condensed consolidated balance sheets of offsetting our cross-currency interest rate contracts and foreign exchange forward contracts subject to such provisions (in thousands):
| June 30, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ Liabilities | Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet | Net Amounts of Assets/ Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet | Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description | Derivative Financial Instruments | Cash Collateral Received (Pledged) | Net Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative assets | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative liabilities | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/ Liabilities | Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet | Net Amounts of Assets/ Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet | Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description | Derivative Financial Instruments | Cash Collateral Received (Pledged) | Net Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative assets | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative liabilities | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6. Inventories
Inventories consisted of the following (in thousands):
| June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Raw materials | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Work in process | |||||||||||
| Finished goods | |||||||||||
| Total inventories | $ | $ | |||||||||
As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 inventories included $606.0 million and $811.3 million, respectively, related to the purchase accounting inventory fair value step-up on inventory acquired in the GW Acquisition.
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7. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The gross carrying amount of goodwill was as follows (in thousands):
| Balance at December 31, 2021 | $ | ||||
Goodwill allocated to divestiture of Sunosi (1) | ( | ||||
| Foreign exchange | ( | ||||
| Balance at June 30, 2022 | $ | ||||
________________________
(1) See Note 2 for further information relating to this divestiture.
The gross carrying amounts and net book values of our intangible assets were as follows (in thousands):
| June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Remaining Weighted- Average Useful Life (In years) | Gross Carrying Amount | Accumulated Amortization | Net Book Value | Gross Carrying Amount | Accumulated Amortization | Net Book Value | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquired developed technologies | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturing contracts | — | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trademarks | — | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total finite-lived intangible assets | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquired in-process research and development assets | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total intangible assets | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The decrease in the gross carrying amount of intangible assets as of June 30, 2022 compared to December 31, 2021 primarily reflects the sale of the Sunosi acquired developed technology asset to Axsome and the negative impact of foreign currency translation adjustments due to the weakening of sterling and euro against the U.S. dollar.
The assumptions and estimates used to determine future cash flows and remaining useful lives of our intangible and other long-lived assets are complex and subjective. They can be affected by various factors, including external factors, such as industry and economic trends, and internal factors such as changes in our business strategy and our forecasts for specific product lines.
Based on finite-lived intangible assets recorded as of June 30, 2022, and assuming the underlying assets will not be impaired and that we will not change the expected lives of the assets, future amortization expenses were estimated as follows (in thousands):
| Year Ending December 31, | Estimated Amortization Expense | ||||
| 2022 (remainder) | $ | ||||
| 2023 | |||||
| 2024 | |||||
| 2025 | |||||
| 2026 | |||||
| Thereafter | |||||
| Total | $ | ||||
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8. Certain Balance Sheet Items
Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):
| June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Construction-in-progress | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Manufacturing equipment and machinery | |||||||||||
| Leasehold improvements | |||||||||||
| Land and buildings | |||||||||||
| Computer software | |||||||||||
| Computer equipment | |||||||||||
| Furniture and fixtures | |||||||||||
| Subtotal | |||||||||||
| Less accumulated depreciation and amortization | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | $ | $ | |||||||||
Other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands):
| June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Deferred charge for income taxes on intercompany profit | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||
| Total other current assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
Accrued liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):
| June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Rebates and other sales deductions | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Employee compensation and benefits | |||||||||||
| Accrued interest | |||||||||||
| Clinical trial accruals | |||||||||||
| Derivative instrument liabilities | |||||||||||
| Consulting and professional services | |||||||||||
| Accrued royalties | |||||||||||
| Sales return reserve | |||||||||||
| Current portion of lease liabilities | |||||||||||
| Selling and marketing accruals | |||||||||||
| Inventory-related accruals | |||||||||||
| Accrued milestones | |||||||||||
| Accrued construction-in-progress | |||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||
| Total accrued liabilities | $ | $ | |||||||||
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9. Debt
The following table summarizes the carrying amount of our indebtedness (in thousands):
| June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
| 2024 Notes | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Unamortized - debt issuance costs | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Unamortized discount - equity component | ( | ||||||||||
| 2024 Notes, net | |||||||||||
| 2026 Notes | |||||||||||
| Unamortized - debt issuance costs | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Unamortized discount - equity component | ( | ||||||||||
| 2026 Notes, net | |||||||||||
| Secured Notes | |||||||||||
Term Loan (1) | |||||||||||
| Total debt | |||||||||||
| Less current portion | |||||||||||
| Total long-term debt | $ | $ | |||||||||
________________________
Exchangeable Senior Notes Due 2026
In 2020, we completed a private placement of $1.0 billion principal amount of the 2026 Notes. Interest on the 2026 Notes is payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2020, at a rate of 2.00
The holders of the 2026 Notes have the ability to require us to repurchase all or a portion of their 2026 Notes for cash in the event we undergo certain fundamental changes, such as specified change of control transactions, our liquidation or dissolution or the delisting of our ordinary shares from any of The New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Global Market, The Nasdaq Global Select Market or The Nasdaq Capital Market (or any of their respective successors). Additionally, the terms and covenants in the indenture related to the 2026 Notes include certain events of default after which the 2026 Notes may be due and payable immediately. Prior to June 15, 2026, we may redeem the 2026 Notes, in whole but not in part, subject to compliance with certain conditions, if we have, or on the next interest payment date would, become obligated to pay to the holder of any 2026 Notes additional amounts as a result of certain tax-related events. We also may redeem the 2026 Notes on or after June 20, 2023 and prior to March 15, 2026, in whole or in part, if the last reported sale price per ordinary share has been at least 130 % of the exchange price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during any 30 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we provide the notice of redemption.
The 2026 Notes are exchangeable at an initial exchange rate of 6.4182 ordinary shares per $1,000 principal amount of 2026 Notes, which is equivalent to an initial exchange price of approximately $155.81 per ordinary share. Upon exchange, the 2026 Notes may be settled in cash, ordinary shares or a combination of cash and ordinary shares, at our election. Our intent and policy is to settle the principal amount of the 2026 Notes in cash upon exchange. The exchange rate will be subject to adjustment in some events but will not be adjusted for any accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, following certain make-whole fundamental changes occurring prior to the maturity date of the 2026 Notes or upon our issuance of a notice of redemption, we will in certain circumstances increase the exchange rate for holders of the 2026 Notes who elect to exchange their 2026 Notes in connection with that make-whole fundamental change or during the related redemption period. Prior to
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March 15, 2026, the 2026 Notes will be exchangeable only upon satisfaction of certain conditions and during certain periods, and thereafter, at any time until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date.
Following the adoption of ASU 2020-06, the 2026 Notes are accounted for as a single liability measured at its amortized cost. The total liability is reflected net of issuance costs of $15.3 million which will be amortized over the term of the 2026 Notes. The effective interest rate of the 2026 Notes is 2.26 %. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, we recognized interest expense of $5.6 million and $11.1 million, respectively, of which $5.0 million and $10.0 million, related to the contractual coupon rate and $0.6 million and $1.1 million, related to the amortization of debt issuance costs. Please see Note 1 for further information on the adoption of ASU 2020-06.
Exchangeable Senior Notes Due 2024
In 2017, we completed a private placement of $575.0 million principal amount of 2024 Notes. Interest on the 2024 Notes is payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on February 15, 2018, at a rate of 1.50 % per year. In certain circumstances, we may be required to pay additional amounts as a result of any applicable tax withholding or deductions required in respect of payments on the 2024 Notes. The 2024 Notes mature on August 15, 2024, unless earlier exchanged, repurchased or redeemed.
The holders of the 2024 Notes have the ability to require us to repurchase all or a portion of their 2024 Notes for cash in the event we undergo certain fundamental changes, such as specified change of control transactions, our liquidation or dissolution or the delisting of our ordinary shares from The Nasdaq Global Select Market. Prior to August 15, 2024, we may redeem the 2024 Notes, in whole but not in part, subject to compliance with certain conditions, if we have, or on the next interest payment date would, become obligated to pay to the holder of any 2024 Notes additional amounts as a result of certain tax-related events. We also may redeem the 2024 Notes on or after August 20, 2021, in whole or in part, if the last reported sale price per ordinary share has been at least 130 % of the exchange price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during any 30 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we provide the notice of redemption.
The 2024 Notes are exchangeable at an initial exchange rate of 4.5659 ordinary shares per $1,000 principal amount of 2024 Notes, which is equivalent to an initial exchange price of approximately $219.02 per ordinary share. Upon exchange, the 2024 Notes may be settled in cash, ordinary shares or a combination of cash and ordinary shares, at our election. Our intent and policy is to settle the principal amount of the 2024 Notes in cash upon exchange. The exchange rate will be subject to adjustment in some events but will not be adjusted for any accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, following certain make-whole fundamental changes occurring prior to the maturity date of the 2024 Notes or upon our issuance of a notice of redemption, we will in certain circumstances increase the exchange rate for holders of the 2024 Notes who elect to exchange their 2024 Notes in connection with that make-whole fundamental change or during the related redemption period. Prior to May 15, 2024, the 2024 Notes will be exchangeable only upon satisfaction of certain conditions and during certain periods, and thereafter, at any time until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date.
Following adoption of ASU 2020-06, the 2024 Notes are accounted for as a single liability measured at its amortized cost. The total liability is reflected net of issuance costs of $11.4 million which will be amortized over the term of the 2024 Notes. The effective interest rate of the 2024 Notes is 1.79 %. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, we recognized interest expense of $2.5 million and $5.0 million, respectively, of which $2.1 million and $4.2 million related to the contractual coupon rate and $0.4 million and $0.8 million, related to the amortization of debt issuance costs. Please see Note 1 for further information on the adoption of ASU 2020-06.
The Exchangeable Senior Notes were issued by Jazz Investments I Limited, or the Issuer, a 100 %-owned finance subsidiary of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc. The Exchangeable Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Issuer and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc. No subsidiary of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc guaranteed the Exchangeable Senior Notes. Subject to certain local law restrictions on payment of dividends, among other things, and potential negative tax consequences, we are not aware of any significant restrictions on the ability of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc to obtain funds from the Issuer or Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc’s other subsidiaries by dividend or loan, or any legal or economic restrictions on the ability of the Issuer or Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc’s other subsidiaries to transfer funds to Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc in the form of cash dividends, loans or advances. There is no assurance that in the future such restrictions will not be adopted.
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Maturities
Scheduled maturities with respect to our long-term debt principal balances outstanding as of June 30, 2022 were as follows (in thousands):
| Year Ending December 31, | Scheduled Long-Term Debt Maturities | ||||
| 2022 (remainder) | $ | ||||
| 2023 | |||||
| 2024 | |||||
| 2025 | |||||
| 2026 | |||||
| Thereafter | |||||
| Total | $ | ||||
10. Commitments and Contingencies
Indemnification
In the normal course of business, we enter into agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties and provide for general indemnification, including indemnification associated with product liability or infringement of intellectual property rights. Our exposure under these agreements is unknown because it involves future claims that may be made but have not yet been made against us. To date, we have not paid any claims or been required to defend any action related to these indemnification obligations.
We have agreed to indemnify our executive officers, directors and certain other employees for losses and costs incurred in connection with certain events or occurrences, including advancing money to cover certain costs, subject to certain limitations. The maximum potential amount of future payments we could be required to make under the indemnification obligations is unlimited; however, we maintain insurance policies that may limit our exposure and may enable us to recover a portion of any future amounts paid. Assuming the applicability of coverage, the willingness of the insurer to assume coverage, and subject to certain retention, loss limits and other policy provisions, we believe the fair value of these indemnification obligations is not significant. Accordingly, we did not recognize any liabilities relating to these obligations as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021. No assurances can be given that the covering insurers will not attempt to dispute the validity, applicability, or amount of coverage without expensive litigation against these insurers, in which case we may incur substantial liabilities as a result of these indemnification obligations.
Other Commitments
As of June 30, 2022, we had $59.1 million of noncancelable purchase commitments due within one year, primarily related to agreements with third party manufacturers.
Legal Proceedings
We are involved in legal proceedings, including the following matters:
Xyrem Class Action
From June 2020 to May 2022, a number of lawsuits were filed on behalf of purported direct and indirect Xyrem purchasers, alleging that the patent litigation settlement agreements we entered with generic drug manufacturers who had filed Abbreviated New Drug Applications, or ANDA, violate state and federal antitrust and consumer protection laws, as follows:
On June 17, 2020, a class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, or BCBS, against Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Jazz Pharmaceuticals Ireland Limited, or, collectively, the Company Defendants (hereinafter referred to as the BCBS Lawsuit). The BCBS Lawsuit also names Roxane Laboratories, Inc., Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Eurohealth (USA), Inc., Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc, Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Par Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lupin Ltd., Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Lupin Inc., or, collectively, the BCBS Defendants.
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On June 18 and June 23, 2020, respectively, two additional class action lawsuits were filed against the Company Defendants and the BCBS Defendants: one by the New York State Teamsters Council Health and Hospital Fund in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and another by the Government Employees Health Association Inc. in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (hereinafter referred to as the GEHA Lawsuit).
On June 18, 2020, a class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California by the City of Providence, Rhode Island, on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated, against Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc, and Roxane Laboratories, Inc., West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corp., Hikma Labs Inc., Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., and Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc, or, collectively, the City of Providence Defendants.
On June 30, 2020, a class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by UFCW Local 1500 Welfare Fund on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated, against Jazz Pharmaceuticals Ireland Ltd., Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Roxane Laboratories, Inc., Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc, Eurohealth (USA), Inc. and West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corp., or collectively the UFCW Defendants (hereinafter referred to as the UFCW Lawsuit).
On July 13, 2020, the plaintiffs in the BCBS Lawsuit and the GEHA Lawsuit dismissed their complaints in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and refiled their respective lawsuits in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. On July 14, 2020, the plaintiffs in the UFCW Lawsuit dismissed their complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and on July 15, 2020, refiled their lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
On July 31, 2020, a class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by the A.F. of L.-A.G.C. Building Trades Welfare Plan on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated, against Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (hereinafter referred to as the AFL Plan Lawsuit). The AFL Plan Lawsuit also names Roxane Laboratories Inc., West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corp., Hikma Labs Inc., Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc, Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Par Pharmaceuticals Inc., Lupin Ltd., Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Lupin Inc.
On August 14, 2020, an additional class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by the Self-Insured Schools of California on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated, against the Company Defendants, as well as Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc, Eurohealth (USA) Inc., Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corp., Roxane Laboratories, Inc., Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Endo International, plc, Endo Pharmaceuticals LLC, Par Pharmaceutical, Inc., Lupin Ltd., Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc., Lupin Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Sun Pharmaceutical Holdings USA, Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc., Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Watson Laboratories, Inc., Wockhardt Ltd., Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Wockhardt USA LLC, Mallinckrodt plc, and Mallinckrodt LLC (hereinafter referred to as the Self-Insured Schools Lawsuit).
On September 16, 2020, an additional class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, by Ruth Hollman on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, against the same defendants named in the Self-Insured Schools Lawsuit.
In December 2020, the above cases were centralized and transferred to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, where the multidistrict litigation will proceed for the purpose of discovery and pre-trial proceedings. In January 2021, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California issued a Case Management Order that schedules this case for trial in February 2023.
On March 18, 2021, United Healthcare Services, Inc. filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota against the Company Defendants, Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc, Roxane Laboratories, Inc., Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Eurohealth (USA) Inc., Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Par Pharmaceutical Inc., Lupin Ltd., and Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., raising similar allegations, or the UHS Lawsuit. On March 24, 2021, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation conditionally transferred the UHS Lawsuit to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, where it was consolidated for discovery and pre-trial proceedings with the other cases.
On August 13, 2021, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California granted in part and denied in part the Company Defendants" motion to dismiss the complaints in the cases referenced above.
On October 8, 2021, Humana Inc. filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the Company Defendants, Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Hikma Labs, Inc., Eurohealth (USA), Inc., Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Par Pharmaceutical, Inc., Lupin Ltd., Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Lupin Inc, raising similar allegations.
On October 8, 2021, Molina Healthcare Inc. filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the Company Defendants, Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Hikma Labs, Inc., Eurohealth (USA), Inc., Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Par Pharmaceutical, Inc., Lupin Ltd., Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Lupin Inc, raising similar allegations.
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On February 17, 2022, Health Care Service Corporation filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the Company Defendants, Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Hikma Labs, Inc., Eurohealth (USA), Inc., Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Par Pharmaceutical, Inc., Lupin Ltd., Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Lupin Inc, raising similar allegations.
On May 9, 2022, Aetna Inc. filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of California for the County of Alameda against the Company Defendants, Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Hikma Labs, Inc., Eurohealth (USA), Inc., Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Par Pharmaceutical, Inc., Lupin Ltd., Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Lupin Inc, raising similar allegations.
A hearing on class certification in the consolidated multi-district litigation referenced above is scheduled for March 2023. A trial date will be set following a ruling on class certification.
The plaintiffs in certain of these lawsuits are seeking to represent a class of direct purchasers of Xyrem, and the plaintiffs in the remaining lawsuits are seeking to represent a class of indirect purchasers of Xyrem. Each of the lawsuits generally alleges violations of U.S. federal and state antitrust, consumer protection, and unfair competition laws in connection with the Company Defendants’ conduct related to Xyrem, including actions leading up to, and entering into, patent litigation settlement agreements with each of the other named defendants. Each of the lawsuits seeks monetary damages, exemplary damages, equitable relief against the alleged unlawful conduct, including disgorgement of profits and restitution, and injunctive relief. It is possible that additional lawsuits will be filed against the Company Defendants making similar or related allegations. If the plaintiffs were to be successful in their claims, they may be entitled to injunctive relief or we may be required to pay significant monetary damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
GW Acquisition Litigation
On March 15, 2021, GW filed a definitive proxy statement, or Proxy Statement, with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the GW Acquisition.
Since the filing of the Proxy Statement, Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc has been named in two lawsuits filed in state and federal courts in New York on March 17, 2021 by purported GW shareholders in connection with the GW Acquisition. The first was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by James Farrell (hereinafter referred to as the Farrell Lawsuit) and an additional suit was filed in New York state court by Brian Levy (hereinafter referred to as the Levy Lawsuit). In addition to Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc, Jazz Pharmaceuticals U.K. Holdings Ltd., GW Pharmaceuticals plc, and the GW board of directors are named as defendants in the Farrell Lawsuit. In the Levy Lawsuit, GW Pharmaceuticals plc, the GW board of directors, Centerview Partners LLC, and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are named as defendants. In addition to the Farrell Lawsuit and the Levy Lawsuit, ten additional suits have been filed in New York, California, and Pennsylvania federal courts by purported GW shareholders against GW Pharmaceuticals plc and its board of directors, but which do not name any Jazz Pharmaceuticals parties (hereinafter referred to as the GW Litigation, and collectively with the Farrell Lawsuit and the Levy Lawsuit, as the Transaction Litigation). In the Transaction Litigation, the plaintiffs allege that the Proxy Statement omitted material information and contained misrepresentations, and that the individual members of the GW board of directors breached their fiduciary duties, in violation of state and federal laws, including the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The plaintiffs in the Transaction Litigation sought various remedies, including injunctive relief to prevent the consummation of the GW Acquisition unless certain allegedly material information was disclosed, or in the alternative, rescission or damages.
On April 14, 2021, GW filed a Form 8-K containing supplemental disclosures related to the GW Acquisition. Pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between the parties, the Levy Lawsuit was dismissed on April 14, 2021.
On May 27, 2021, a class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California by plaintiff Kurt Ziegler against GW and its former Directors asserting claims under Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, referred to as the Ziegler Lawsuit. The allegations in the Ziegler Lawsuit are similar to those in the previously dismissed Transaction Litigation.
Patent Infringement Litigation
Avadel Patent Litigation
On May 13, 2021, we filed a patent infringement suit against Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc, or Avadel, and several of its corporate affiliates in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The suit alleges that Avadel’s product candidate FT-218 will infringe five of our patents related to controlled release formulations of oxybate and the safe and effective distribution of oxybate. The suit seeks an injunction to prevent Avadel from launching a product that would infringe these patents, and an award of monetary damages if Avadel does launch an infringing product. Avadel filed an answer to the complaint and counterclaims asserting that the patents are invalid or not enforceable, and that its product, if approved, will not infringe our patents.
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On August 4, 2021, we filed an additional patent infringement suit against Avadel in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The second suit alleges that Avadel’s product candidate FT-218 will infringe a newly-issued patent related to sustained-release formulations of oxybate. The suit seeks an injunction to prevent Avadel from launching a product that would infringe this patent, and an award of monetary damages if Avadel does launch an infringing product. Avadel filed an answer to the complaint and counterclaims asserting that the patents are invalid or not enforceable, and that its product, if approved, will not infringe our patents.
On November 10, 2021, we filed an additional patent infringement suit against Avadel in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The third suit alleges that Avadel’s product candidate FT-218 will infringe a newly-issued patent related to sustained-release formulations of oxybate. The suit seeks an injunction to prevent Avadel from launching a product that would infringe this patent, and an award of monetary damages if Avadel does launch an infringing product. Avadel filed an answer to the complaint and counterclaims asserting that the patents are invalid or not enforceable, and that its product, if approved, will not infringe our patents.
On April 14, 2022, Avadel sued us in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. Avadel’s new suit alleges that we misappropriated trade secrets related to Avadel’s once-nightly sodium oxybate development program and breached certain contracts between the parties. Avadel seeks monetary damages, an injunction preventing us from using Avadel’s confidential information, and an order directing the United States Patent and Trademark Office to modify the inventorship of one of our oxybate patents.
On June 7, 2022 we received notice from Avadel that it had filed a "paragraph IV certification" regarding one patent listed in the Orange Book for Xyrem. A paragraph IV certification is a certification by a generic applicant that alleges that patents covering the branded product are invalid, unenforceable, and/or will not be infringed by the manufacture, use or sale of the generic product. On July 15, 2022, we filed an additional lawsuit against Avadel asserting infringement of that patent. The suit alleges that the filing of Avadel’s application for approval of FT-218 is an act of infringement, and that Avadel’s product would infringe the patent if launched. The suit seeks an injunction to prevent Avadel from launching a product that would infringe the patent, and an award of damages if Avadel does launch an infringing product.
On July 21, 2022, Avadel filed a lawsuit against FDA in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, challenging FDA’s determination that Avadel was required to file a paragraph IV certification regarding one of our Orange Book listed patents. Avadel filed a motion for preliminary injunction, or in the alternative, summary judgment, seeking relief including a declaration that FDA’s decision requiring patent certification was unlawful, an order setting aside that decision, an injunction prohibiting FDA from requiring such certification as a precondition to approval of its application for FT-218, and an order requiring FDA to take final action on Avadel’s application for approval of FT-218 within 14 days of the Court’s ruling. On July 27, 2022, we filed a motion to intervene in that case, which the Court granted.
Canopy Patent Litigation
In December 2020, Canopy Growth Corporation filed a complaint against our subsidiary, GW, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, alleging infringement of its patent, U.S. Patent No. 10,870,632. Canopy claims that our extraction process used to produce material used to produce Epidiolex infringes its patent. Canopy seeks a judgment that we have infringed their patent and an award of monetary damages. In July 2021, we filed an answer to the amended complaint, and counterclaims seeking judgment that the ‘632 patent is invalid and that we have not infringed the patent. In October 2021, the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas held a claim construction hearing regarding the disputed term of the ‘632 patent. In November 2021, the Court issued a claim construction order. On February 23, 2022, the parties filed a Joint Motion and Stipulation to Enter Final Judgment in favor of GW. On February 25, 2022, the Court granted the parties’ motion and entered final judgment in favor of GW. Pursuant to the stipulation, Canopy filed a notice of appeal of the Court’s ruling on the disputed term in March 2022.
Lupin Patent Litigation
In June 2021, we received notice from Lupin Inc., or Lupin, that it has filed with FDA an ANDA, for a generic version of Xywav. The notice from Lupin included a paragraph IV certification with respect to ten of our patents listed in FDA’s Orange Book for Xywav on the date of our receipt of the notice. The asserted patents relate generally to the composition and method of use of Xywav, and methods of treatment when Xywav is administered concomitantly with certain other medications.
In July 2021, we filed a patent infringement suit against Lupin in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The complaint alleges that by filing its ANDA, Lupin has infringed ten of our Orange Book listed patents. We are seeking a permanent injunction to prevent Lupin from introducing a generic version of Xywav that would infringe our patents. As a result of this lawsuit, we expect that a stay of approval of up to 30 months will be imposed by FDA on Lupin's ANDA. In June 2021, FDA recognized seven years of Orphan Drug Exclusivity for Xywav through July 21, 2027. On October 4, 2021, Lupin filed an answer to the complaint and counterclaims asserting that the patents are invalid or not enforceable, and that its product, if approved, will not infringe our patents.
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In April 2022, we received notice from Lupin that it had filed a paragraph IV certification regarding a newly-issued patent listed in the Orange Book for Xywav. On May 11, 2022, we filed an additional lawsuit against Lupin in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey alleging that by filing its ANDA, Lupin infringed the newly-issued patent related to a method of treatment when Xywav is administered concomitantly with certain other medications. The suit seeks a permanent injunction to prevent Lupin from introducing a generic version of Xywav that would infringe our patent. On June 22, 2022, the court consolidated the two lawsuits we filed against Lupin. No trial date has been set in the consolidated case.
Otsuka Patent Litigation
In October 2021, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., or Otsuka, filed claims against GW Pharma Limited and GW Pharmaceuticals Limited, or collectively, the GW Parties, in the English High Court, Patents Court. Otsuka alleges that under a now-expired Research Collaboration and License Agreement between Otsuka and the GW Parties, Otsuka and the GW Parties jointly own certain patents and other intellectual property, that Epidiolex is covered by that intellectual property, and that Otsuka is therefore due a royalty on net sales of Epidiolex.
In December 2021, GW filed an application contesting the jurisdiction of the Patents Court. On May 3, 2022, the Patents Court denied GW’s application. GW has filed papers with the Court of Appeal seeking leave to challenge the Patents Court’s decision.
In January 2022, we filed a lawsuit against Otsuka in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, seeking a declaration that Otsuka is not entitled to any royalties on sales of Epidiolex under the Research Collaboration and License Agreement.
The Company vigorously enforces its intellectual property rights, but cannot predict the outcome of these matters.
From time to time we are involved in legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. We believe there is no other litigation pending that could have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
11. Shareholders’ Equity
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 were as follows (in thousands):
| Net Unrealized Loss From Hedging Activities | Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments | Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | |||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2021 | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss | |||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Balance at June 30, 2022 | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||||||||
During the six months ended June 30, 2022, other comprehensive loss primarily reflects foreign currency translation adjustments, primarily due to the weakening of the sterling and the euro against the U.S. dollar.
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12. Net Income (Loss) per Ordinary Share
Basic net income (loss) per ordinary share is based on the weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding. Diluted net income (loss) per ordinary share is based on the weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding and potentially dilutive ordinary shares outstanding.
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per ordinary share were computed as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Numerator: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||
| Denominator: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average ordinary shares used in per share calculations - basic | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dilutive effect of employee equity incentive and purchase plans | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average ordinary shares used in per share calculations - diluted | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) per ordinary share: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||
Potentially dilutive ordinary shares from our employee equity incentive and purchase plans are determined by applying the treasury stock method to the assumed exercise of share options, the assumed vesting of outstanding Restricted Stock Units, or RSUs, and Performance-based restricted stock units, or PRSUs, and the assumed issuance of ordinary shares under our employee stock purchase plan, or ESPP. Potentially dilutive ordinary shares from the Exchangeable Senior Notes are determined by applying the if-converted method to the assumed issuance of ordinary shares upon exchange of the Exchangeable Senior Notes. The potential issue of ordinary shares upon exchange of the Exchangeable Senior Notes was anti-dilutive and had no impact on diluted net income per ordinary share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022.
The following table represents the weighted-average ordinary shares that were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per ordinary share for the periods presented because including them would have an anti-dilutive effect (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Exchangeable Senior Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Employee equity incentive and purchase plans | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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13. Revenues
The following table presents a summary of total revenues (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Xyrem | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Xywav | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Oxybate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Epidiolex/Epidyolex1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sunosi2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sativex1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Neuroscience | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zepzelca | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rylaze | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vyxeos | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defitelio/defibrotide | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Erwinaze/Erwinase | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Oncology | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Product sales, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royalties and contract revenues | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
__________________________
1.Net product sales for Epidiolex/Epidyolex and Sativex are included from the acquisition of GW on May 5, 2021.
2.Net product sales for Sunosi U.S. are included until the date of divestment to Axsome of May 9, 2022.
The following table presents a summary of total revenues attributed to geographic sources (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| United States | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Europe | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| All other | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
The following table presents a summary of the percentage of total revenues from customers that represented more than 10% of our total revenues:
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ESSDS | % | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| McKesson | % | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Financing and payment
Our payment terms vary by the type and location of our customer but payment is generally required in a term ranging from 30 to 45 days.
Contract Liabilities - Deferred Revenue
The deferred revenue balance as of June 30, 2022 primarily related to deferred upfront fees received from Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd., or Nippon Shinyaku, in connection with two license, development and commercialization agreements
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granting Nippon Shinyaku exclusive rights to develop and commercialize each of Defitelio and Vyxeos in Japan. We recognized contract revenues of $0.5 million and $1.0 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, relating to these upfront payments. The deferred revenue balances are being recognized over an average of four years representing the period over which we expect to perform our research and developments obligations under each agreement.
The following table presents a reconciliation of our beginning and ending balances in contract liabilities from contracts with customers for the six months ended June 30, 2022 (in thousands):
| Contract Liabilities | |||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2021 | $ | ||||
| Amount recognized within royalties and contract revenues | ( | ||||
| Balance as of June 30, 2022 | $ | ||||
14. Share-Based Compensation
Share-based compensation expense related to share options, RSUs, PRSUs and grants under our ESPP was as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of product sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total share-based compensation expense, pre-tax | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax benefit from share-based compensation expense | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total share-based compensation expense, net of tax | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
Share Options
There were no The table below shows the number of shares underlying options granted to purchase our ordinary shares, the weighted-average assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the resulting weighted-average grant date fair value of share options granted for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021:
| Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 | Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares underlying options granted (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grant date fair value | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Black-Scholes option pricing model assumption information: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Volatility | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected term (years) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Range of risk-free rates | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected dividend yield | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Nominal Strike Price Options
During the second quarter of 2021, we issued nominal strike price share options to replace certain unvested GW awards in connection with the GW Acquisition. There were no
The table below shows the number of nominal strike price options granted covering an equal number of our ordinary shares and the weighted-average grant date fair value:
| Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Nominal strike price share options granted (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grant date fair value | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock Units
The table below shows the number of RSUs granted covering an equal number of our ordinary shares and the weighted-average grant date fair value of RSUs granted:
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| RSUs granted (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grant date fair value | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
The fair value of RSUs is determined on the date of grant based on the market price of our ordinary shares on that date. The fair value of RSUs is expensed ratably over the vesting period, generally over four years .
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units
The Compensation & Management Development Committee of our board of directors approved awards of PRSUs to certain employees of the Company, subject to vesting on the achievement of certain commercial and pipeline performance criteria to be assessed over a performance period from the date of the grant to December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2024, respectively. Following the determination of the Company’s achievement with respect to the performance criteria, the amount of shares awarded will be subject to adjustment based on the application of a relative total shareholder return, or TSR modifier. The number of shares that may be earned ranges between 0 % and 200 % of the target number of PRSUs granted based on the degree of achievement of the applicable performance metric and the application of the relative TSR modifier.
The table below shows the number of PRSUs granted covering an equal number of our ordinary shares and the weighted-average grant date fair value of PRSUs granted:
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| PRSUs granted (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grant date fair value | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
As the PRSUs granted in 2021 and 2022 are subject to a market condition, the grant date fair value for such PRSUs was based on a Monte Carlo simulation model. The Company evaluated the performance targets in the context of its current long-range financial plan and its product candidate development pipeline and recognized expense based on the probable number of awards that will ultimately vest.
As of June 30, 2022, compensation cost not yet recognized related to unvested share options, RSUs and PRSUs was $23.1 million, $377.0 million and $50.4 million, respectively, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.4 years, 3.0 years and 2.1 years, respectively.
15. Income Taxes
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remeasurement of our U.K. net deferred tax liability, which arose primarily in relation to the GW Acquisition, due to a change in the statutory rate in the U.K. following enactment of the U.K. Finance Act 2021. Excluding this impact, the increase in the income tax benefit resulted primarily from the mix of pre-tax income and losses incurred across tax jurisdictions. We do not provide for Irish income taxes on undistributed earnings of our foreign operations that are intended to be indefinitely reinvested in our foreign subsidiaries.
Our net deferred tax liability is primarily related to acquired intangible assets, and is net of deferred tax assets related to U.S. federal and state tax credits, U.S. federal and state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards and other temporary differences. We maintain a valuation allowance against certain deferred tax assets. Each reporting period, we evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets by jurisdiction and adjust our estimates as more information becomes available.
We are required to recognize the financial statement effects of a tax position when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination. As a result, we have recorded an unrecognized tax benefit for certain tax benefits which we judge may not be sustained upon examination. Our most significant tax jurisdictions are Ireland, the U.S. (both at the federal level and in various state jurisdictions) and the U.K. In Ireland we are no longer subject to income tax audits by taxing authorities for the years prior to 2017. The U.S. jurisdictions generally have statute of limitations three to four years from the later of the return due date or the date when the return was filed. However, in the U.S. (at the federal level and in most states), carryforwards that were generated in 2017 and earlier may still be adjusted upon examination by the tax authorities. In the U.K., we are no longer subject to income tax audits by taxing authorities for the years prior to 2018. Certain of our Luxembourg subsidiaries are currently under examination by the Luxembourg taxing authorities for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018. Certain of our German subsidiaries are currently under examination by the German taxing authorities for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
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Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes to condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. When reviewing the discussion below, you should keep in mind the substantial risks and uncertainties that could impact our business. In particular, we encourage you to review the risks and uncertainties described in “Risk Factors” in Part II, Item 1A in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements contained in this report or implied by past results and trends. Forward-looking statements are statements that attempt to forecast or anticipate future developments in our business, financial condition or results of operations. See the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” that appears at the end of this discussion. These statements, like all statements in this report, speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q (unless another date is indicated), and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements in light of future developments.
Overview
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc is a global biopharmaceutical company whose purpose is to innovate to transform the lives of patients and their families. We are dedicated to developing life-changing medicines for people with serious diseases - often with limited or no therapeutic options. We have a diverse portfolio of marketed medicines and novel product candidates, from early- to late-stage development, in neuroscience and oncology. Within these therapeutic areas, we strive to identify new options for patients by actively exploring small molecules and biologics, and through innovative delivery technologies and cannabinoid science.
Our strategy for growth is rooted in executing commercial launches and ongoing commercialization initiatives; advancing robust research and development, or R&D, programs and delivering impactful clinical results; effectively deploying capital to strengthen the prospects of achieving our short- and long-term goals through strategic corporate development; and delivering strong financial performance. We focus on patient populations with high unmet needs. We identify and develop differentiated therapies for these patients that we expect will be long-lived assets and that we can support with an efficient commercialization model. In addition, we leverage our efficient, scalable operating model and integrated capabilities across our global infrastructure to effectively reach patients around the world.
At the 40th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in January 2022, we announced our Vision 2025, which aims to deliver sustainable growth and enhanced value, driving our continued transformation to an innovative, high-growth global pharmaceutical leader. The three core components of our Vision 2025 focus on commercial execution, pipeline productivity and operational excellence.
Commercial Achievements
Our marketed products are approved in countries around the world to improve patient care.
| Product | Indications | Initial Approval Date | Markets | ||||||||
| NEUROSCIENCE | |||||||||||
Xywav® (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium oxybates) | Treatment of cataplexy or excessive daytime sleepiness, or EDS, in patients seven years of age and older with narcolepsy. Treatment of idiopathic hypersomnia, or IH, in adults. | July 2020 August 2021 | U.S. U.S. | ||||||||
Xyrem® (sodium oxybate) | Treatment of cataplexy or EDS in patients seven years of age and older with narcolepsy. For the treatment of cataplexy in patients with narcolepsy. Treatment of narcolepsy with cataplexy in adult patients, adolescents and children from age of 7 years. | July 2002 August 2005 October 2005 | U.S. Canada EU, Great Britain, other markets (through licensing agreement) | ||||||||
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Epidiolex® (cannabidiol) Epidyolex® (cannabidiol) | Treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, or LGS, Dravet syndrome, or DS, or tuberous sclerosis complex, or TSC, in patients 1 year of age and older. For adjunctive therapy of seizures associated with LGS or DS, in conjunction with clobazam, for patients 2 years of age and older.* For adjunctive therapy of seizures associated with TSC for patients 2 years of age and older.** | June 2018 September 2019 April 2021 | U.S. EU, Great Britain, other markets EU, Great Britain, other markets | ||||||||
Sunosi® (solriamfetol)*** | Improve wakefulness and reduce EDS in adult patients with narcolepsy (with or without cataplexy) or adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, whose EDS has not been satisfactorily treated by primary OSA therapy, such as continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP. Treatment of EDS in adult patients with narcolepsy or OSA. | January 2020 May 2021 | EU, Great Britain, other markets Canada | ||||||||
Sativex® (nabiximols) | Treatment for adult patients with moderate to severe spasticity due to multiple sclerosis, or MS, who have not responded adequately to other anti-spasticity medication and who demonstrate clinically significant improvement in spasticity related symptoms during an initial trial of therapy. | June 2010 | U.K. (other markets through licensing agreements with partners) | ||||||||
| ONCOLOGY | |||||||||||
Zepzelca® (lurbinectedin) | Treatment of adult patients with metastatic small cell lung cancer, or SCLC, with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Treatment of adults with Stage III or metastatic SCLC who have progressed on or after platinum-containing therapy. | June 2020 September 2021 | U.S. (licensed from PharmaMar)**** Canada (licensed from PharmaMar)***** | ||||||||
Rylaze® (asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi (recombinant)- rywn) | A component of a multi-agent chemotherapeutic regimen for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, and lymphoblastic lymphoma, or LBL, in adult and pediatric patients 1 month or older who have developed hypersensitivity to E. coli-derived asparaginase. | June 2021 | U.S. | ||||||||
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Vyxeos® (daunorubicin and cytarabine) liposome for injection Vyxeos® liposomal 44 mg/100 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion Vyxeos® Daunorubicin and cytarabine liposome for injection Powder, 44 mg daunorubicin and 100 mg cytarabine per vial, intravenous infusion | Treatment of newly-diagnosed therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia, or t-AML or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC) in adults and pediatric patients one year and older. Treatment of adults with newly-diagnosed t-AML or AML-MRC. Treatment of adults with newly diagnosed therapy-related t-AML or AML with AML-MRC. | August 2017 August 2018 April 2021 | U.S. EU, Great Britain, other markets Canada | ||||||||
| Defitelio® (defibrotide sodium) Defitelio® (defibrotide) | Treatment of adult and pediatric patients with hepatic veno-occlusive disease, or VOD, also known as SOS, with renal or pulmonary dysfunction following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, or HSCT. Treatment of severe hepatic VOD, also known as SOS, following HSCT therapy. | March 2016 October 2013 | U.S. EU, Great Britain, other markets | ||||||||
*Clobazam restriction limited to EU and Great Britain
**TSC approval pending in certain markets
***In May 2022, we completed the U.S. divestiture of Sunosi to Axsome Therapeutics, or Axsome; we expect to complete the ex-U.S. divestiture to Axsome later this year. For more information, see Note 2, Disposition and License Agreements, of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q.
****Accelerated approval received from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA
*****Conditional approval received from Health Canada
Neuroscience
We are the global leader in the development and commercialization of oxybate therapy for patients with sleep disorders. Xyrem was approved by FDA in 2002, and has become a standard of care for treating EDS and cataplexy in narcolepsy. In 2020, we received FDA approval for Xywav for the treatment of cataplexy or EDS, in patients seven years of age and older with narcolepsy. In August 2021, Xywav became the first and only therapy approved by FDA for the treatment of IH in adults. Xywav is an oxybate therapy that contains 92% less sodium than Xyrem.
Since there is no cure for narcolepsy and long-term disease management is needed, we believe that Xywav represents an important new therapeutic option for patients with this sleep disorder. Our commercial efforts are focused on educating patients and physicians about the lifelong impact of high sodium intake, and how the use of Xywav enables them to address what is a modifiable risk factor.
In June 2021, FDA recognized seven years of Orphan Drug Exclusivity, or ODE, for Xywav in narcolepsy. ODE extends through July 2027. In connection with granting ODE, FDA stated that "Xywav is clinically superior to Xyrem by means of greater safety because Xywav provides a greatly reduced chronic sodium burden compared to Xyrem. "FDA's summary also stated that "the differences in the sodium content of the two products at the recommended doses will be clinically meaningful in reducing cardiovascular morbidity in a substantial proportion of patients for whom the drug is indicated."
We view the adoption of Xywav in narcolepsy as a positive indication that physicians and patients appreciate the benefits of a lower sodium oxybate option. We continue to see Xywav adoption among existing Xyrem patients, as well as the majority of new-to-oxybate narcolepsy patients.
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On August 12, 2021, FDA approved Xywav for the treatment of IH in adults. Xywav is the first and only FDA-approved therapy to treat IH. We initiated the U.S. commercial launch of Xywav for the treatment of IH in adults on November 1, 2021. In January 2022, FDA recognized seven years of ODE for Xywav in IH that extends through August 2028. IH is a debilitating neurologic sleep disorder characterized by chronic EDS, the inability to stay awake and alert during the day resulting in the irrepressible need to sleep or unplanned lapses into sleep or drowsiness. An estimated 37,000 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with IH and are actively seeking healthcare.
We now have agreements in place for Xywav with all three major pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, in the U.S. To date, we have entered into agreements with various entities and have achieved benefit coverage for Xywav in both narcolepsy and IH indications for approximately 90% of commercial lives.
We have seen strong adoption of Xywav in narcolepsy since its launch in November 2020, and increasing adoption in IH since its launch in November 2021. Exiting the second quarter of 2022, there were approximately 8,700 patients taking Xywav, including approximately 7,550 patients with narcolepsy and approximately 1,150 patients with IH. With respect to Xywav and Xyrem in the aggregate, the average number of active oxybate patients on therapy was approximately 17,100 in the second quarter of 2022.
We acquired Epidiolex (Epidyolex outside the U.S.) in May 2021 as part of the acquisition of GW Pharmaceuticals plc, or GW, which we refer to as the GW Acquisition, which expanded our growing neuroscience business with a global, high-growth childhood-onset epilepsy franchise. Epidiolex was approved in the U.S. in June 2018 for the treatment of seizures associated with two rare and severe forms of epilepsy, LGS and DS, in patients two years of age and older, and subsequently approved in July 2020 for the treatment of seizures associated with TSC in patients one year of age and older. FDA also approved the expansion of all existing indications, LGS and DS, to patients one year of age and older. The rolling European launch of Epidyolex is also underway following European Commission approval in September 2019 for use as adjunctive therapy of seizures associated with LGS or DS, in conjunction with clobazam, for patients two years of age and older. The clobazam restriction is limited to EU and Great Britain. Epidyolex was also approved for adjunctive therapy of seizures associated with TSC for patients 2 years of age and older in the EU in April 2021 and Great Britain in August 2021, and is approved or under review for this indication in other markets. Outside the U.S. and Europe, Epidiolex/Epidyolex is approved in Israel and Australia.
Sativex (nabiximols) is approved in more than 29 countries outside the U.S. for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe spasticity due to MS who have not responded adequately to other anti-spasticity medication. We market Sativex directly in the U.K. and through licensing agreements with partners in other countries. We are working toward potential approval of nabiximols in the U.S. with multiple Phase 3 clinical trials in progress.
In addition to our currently-marketed products, we previously marketed Sunosi® (solriamfetol) in the U.S. and, pending the completion of the ex-U.S. divestiture of Sunosi to Axsome Therapeutics, or Axsome, we continue to market Sunosi in Europe and Canada. In this regard, in March 2022, we entered into a definitive agreement to divest Sunosi to Axsome. In May 2022, we completed the U.S. divestiture of Sunosi to Axsome and we expect to complete the ex-U.S. divestiture to Axsome later this year. Under the terms of the sale agreement with Axsome, Axsome received the rights to Sunosi in all of the existing territories available to us. We received an upfront payment of $53.0 million, and will receive a high single-digit royalty on Axsome’s U.S. net sales of Sunosi in current indications and a mid-single-digit royalty on Axsome’s U.S. net sales of Sunosi in future indications. The divestiture of Sunosi to Axsome is intended to enable us to sharpen our focus on our highest strategic priorities designed to deliver sustainable growth and enhanced shareholder value. In assessing the positioning of Sunosi in the overall treatment landscape, we believe that Axsome is well positioned to deliver access to this important medicine and to maximize the value of Sunosi to us through future growth.
Oncology
We acquired U.S. development and commercialization rights to Zepzelca in early 2020, and launched six months thereafter, with an indication for treatment of patients with SCLC with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Our education and promotional efforts are focused on SCLC-treating physicians. We are continuing to raise awareness of Zepzelca across academic and community cancer centers, and see continued opportunities for growth in second-line share and overall demand, reflecting the significant unmet need and favorable Zepzelca product profile. In collaboration with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Roche), we have initiated a Phase 3 pivotal clinical trial in first-line extensive stage SCLC of Zepzelca in combination with Tecentriq® (atezolizumab). We are also developing Zepzelca in additional indications.
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Rylaze was approved by FDA in June 2021 under the Real-Time Oncology Review, or RTOR, program, and was launched in the U.S. in July 2021 for use as a component of a multi-agent chemotherapeutic regimen for the treatment of patients with ALL or LBL in pediatric and adult patients one month and older who have developed hypersensitivity to E. coli-derived asparaginase. Rylaze is the only recombinant erwinia asparaginase manufactured product that maintains a clinically meaningful level of asparaginase activity throughout the entire duration of treatment. We developed Rylaze to address the needs of patients and health care providers for an innovative, high-quality erwinia asparaginase with reliable supply. The current indication is for an intramuscular, or IM, dosing regimen of 25 mg/m2 every 48 hours. We submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application, or sBLA, with additional data in support of a Monday/Wednesday/Friday, or M/W/F, IM dosing schedule in January 2022 and submitted a separate sBLA for intravenous, or IV, administration in April 2022, both of which have been granted review under the RTOR program with Prescription Drug User Fee Act, or PDUFA, action dates in 2022 and 2023, respectively. We also completed a Marketing Authorization Application, or MAA, submission to the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, in May 2022 for M/W/F and every 48-hour dosing schedules and IV and IM administration, with potential for approval in 2023. In addition, we submitted a New Drug Submission, or NDS, to Health Canada in September 2021. We are also advancing the program for potential submission, approval and launch in Japan, as well as planning additional submissions in other markets.
Vyxeos is a treatment for adults with newly-diagnosed t-AML, or AML-MRC. In March 2021, FDA approved a revised label to include a new indication to treat newly-diagnosed t-AML, or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes in pediatric patients aged one year and older. We have a number of ongoing development activities and continue to expand into new markets internationally. Despite an ongoing trend in the U.S. towards lower-intensity treatments and away from Vyxeos that accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to see recovery in demand for Vyxeos and expect future demand for appropriate secondary AML patients to remain steady. In Europe, we continue to expect a negative impact on demand for and utilization of Vyxeos compared to historical periods due to COVID-19.
Defitelio is the first and only approved treatment for patients with VOD following HSCT. There was a significant decline in the number of patients receiving HSCT due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We anticipate the use of Defitelio will increase to the extent that hospital systems globally are able to continue moving forward with HSCT procedures.
Research and Development Progress
Our research and development activities encompass all stages of development and currently include clinical testing of new product candidates and activities related to clinical improvements of, or additional indications or new clinical data for, our existing marketed products. We also have active preclinical programs for novel therapies, including precision medicines in hematology and oncology and the GW cannabinoid platform. We are increasingly leveraging our growing internal research and development function, and we have also entered into collaborations with third parties for the research and development of innovative early-stage product candidates and have supported additional investigator-sponsored trials, or ISTs, that are anticipated to generate additional data related to our products. We also seek out investment opportunities in support of the development of early- and mid-stage technologies in our therapeutic areas and adjacencies. We have a number of licensing and collaboration agreements with third parties, including biotechnology companies, academic institutions and research-based companies and institutions, related to preclinical and clinical research and development activities in hematology and in precision oncology, as well as in neuroscience.
With the approvals and launches of Rylaze for the treatment ALL or LBL in pediatric and adult patients one month and older who have developed hypersensitivity to E. coli-derived asparaginase and Xywav for IH in 2021, we accomplished our goal to deliver five product launches through 2020 and 2021. We have taken both Rylaze and Xywav from concept to commercialization.
Our neuroscience R&D efforts include the planned initiation of a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of Epidiolex for the treatment of Epilepsy with Myoclonic-Atonic Seizures, or EMAS, also known as Doose syndrome. This trial is expected to evaluate Epidiolex in a fourth childhood-onset epileptic encephalopathy with high unmet need. EMAS is characterized by generalized myoclonic-atonic seizures, and this trial is designed to provide the first randomized, controlled clinical data with Epidiolex in this syndrome type. Seizure types including atonic, tonic, clonic, tonic-clonic and partial onset seizures are seen in LGS, DS, and TSC.
For nabiximols, we have multiple Phase 3 clinical trials in MS-related spasticity in progress. Spasticity occurs in up to 84% of MS patients, and approximately one-third of those who experience spasticity live with uncontrolled symptoms. In June 2022, we announced top-line results from the first and smallest trial, which evaluated the safety and efficacy of nabiximols in 68 patients with MS spasticity. The trial did not meet the primary endpoint of change in Lower Limb Muscle Tone-6, or LLMT-6, between baseline and Day 21, as measured by the Modified Ashworth Scale, or MAS. The safety profile of nabiximols in this trial was consistent with previously reported adverse events, with no new safety signals attributable to
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nabiximols oromucosal spray observed in this population. We continue to assess the trial results, which will be presented at a future medical meeting.
Additionally, in December 2021 we initiated Phase 2 clinical trials for suvecaltamide, or JZP385, for essential tremor, or ET, and for JZP150 for post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. These are both patient populations that suffer significant impacts to their quality of life and for whom there are limited current treatment options. We are also pursuing early-stage activities related to the development of JZP324, an extended-release low sodium, oxybate formulation that we believe could provide a clinically meaningful option for narcolepsy patients.
Within our oncology R&D program, there is a robust development plan being executed for Zepzelca. We are collaborating with Roche on a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating Zepzelca in combination with Tecentriq in first-line extensive stage SCLC. In December 2021, our licensor PharmaMar initiated a confirmatory trial in second-line SCLC. This is a three-arm trial comparing Zepzelca as either monotherapy or in combination with irinotecan to investigator's choice of irinotecan or topotecan. Data from this trial could confirm the benefit of Zepzelca in the treatment of SCLC when patients progress following first-line treatment with a platinum-based regimen.
In 2022, we initiated a Phase 2 basket trial to explore Zepzelca monotherapy in patients with select advanced or metastatic solid tumors. Cohorts will include advanced urothelial cancer, large cell neuroendocrine tumor of the lung and homologous recombination deficient, or HRD, cancers. In addition, we have initiated a Phase 4 observational study to collect real world safety and outcome data in adult Zepzelca monotherapy patients with SCLC who progress on or after prior platinum-containing chemotherapy.
For Rylaze, in January 2022 we submitted an sBLA with data in support of a M/W/F IM dosing schedule and submitted a separate sBLA for intravenous administration in April 2022, both of which have been granted review under the RTOR program. We completed a MAA submission to the EMA in May 2022.
In June 2022, we announced the FDA had cleared our Investigational New Drug, or IND, application for JZP815. JZP815 is an investigational, pre-clinical stage pan-RAF kinase inhibitor that targets specific components of the mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK, pathway that, when activated by oncogenic mutations, can be a frequent driver of human cancer.
In the second quarter of 2022, we acquired development and commercialization rights to two early-stage molecules, consistent with our objective to expand our pipeline. In April 2022, we announced that we had entered into a licensing agreement with Werewolf Therapeutics, Inc., or Werewolf, to acquire exclusive global development and commercialization rights to Werewolf's investigational WTX-613, now referred to as JZP898. JZP898 is a differentiated, conditionally-activated interferon alpha, or IFNα, INDUKINE™ molecule. Under the terms of the agreement, we made an upfront payment of $15.0 million to Werewolf, and Werewolf is eligible to receive development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments of up to $1.26 billion. If approved, Werewolf is eligible to receive a tiered, mid-single-digit percentage royalty on net sales of JZP898. This transaction underscores our commitment to enhancing our pipeline to deliver novel oncology therapies to patients, and also provides us with an opportunity to expand into immuno-oncology.
In May 2022, we announced that we had entered into a licensing agreement with Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd, or Sumitomo, to acquire exclusive development and commercialization rights in the United States, Europe and other territories for DSP-0187, now referred to as JZP441, a potent, highly selective oral orexin-2 receptor agonist with potential application for the treatment of narcolepsy, IH and other sleep disorders. Under the terms of the agreement, we made an upfront payment of $50 million to Sumitomo, and Sumitomo is eligible to receive development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments of up to $1.09 billion. If approved, Sumitomo is eligible to receive a tiered, low double-digit royalty on Jazz's net sales of JZP441.
Below is a summary of our key ongoing and planned development projects related to our products and pipeline and their corresponding current stages of development:
| Product Candidates | Description | ||||
| NEUROSCIENCE | |||||
| Phase 3 | |||||
| Epidiolex | EMAS, also known as Doose syndrome (planned study) | ||||
| Nabiximols | MS Spasticity (multiple studies ongoing) Spinal cord injury spasticity (planned study) | ||||
| Phase 2b | |||||
Suvecaltamide (JZP385) | ET (ongoing study) | ||||
| Phase 2 | |||||
JZP150 | PTSD (ongoing study) | ||||
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| Product Candidates | Description | ||||
| Additional cannabinoids | Autism spectrum disorders (ongoing study) | ||||
| Phase 1 | |||||
| JZP324 | Oxybate extended-release formulation (planned study) | ||||
| JZP441 (DSP-0187) | Potent, highly selective oral orexin-2 receptor agonist (Japan) | ||||
| Additional cannabinoids | Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (ongoing study) Neuropsychiatry targets (ongoing study) | ||||
| Preclinical | |||||
| Undisclosed targets | Neuroscience Cannabinoids | ||||
| ONCOLOGY | |||||
| Regulatory Review | |||||
| Rylaze | ALL/LBL FDA approval in June 2021; submitted sBLA in January 2022 seeking approval for M/W/F IM dosing schedule; submitted separate sBLA seeking approval for intravenous administration; completed MAA submission to EMA in May 2022 | ||||
| Phase 3 | |||||
| Zepzelca | First-line extensive stage SCLC in combination with Tecentriq (collaboration with Roche) (ongoing study) Confirmatory Study (PharmaMar study) (ongoing study) | ||||
| Vyxeos | AML or high-risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome, or MDS (AML18) (cooperative group studies) (ongoing study) Newly diagnosed adults with standard- and high-risk AML (AML Study Group cooperative group study) (ongoing study) Newly diagnosed pediatric patients with AML (Children’s Oncology Group cooperative group study) (ongoing study) | ||||
| Phase 2 | |||||
| Zepzelca | Basket trial including urothelial cancer, large cell neuroendocrine tumor of the lung, and HRD cancers (ongoing study) | ||||
| Vyxeos | High-risk MDS (European Myelodysplastic Syndromes (cooperative group study) (ongoing study) Newly diagnosed older adults with high-risk AML (cooperative group study) (planned study) | ||||
| Vyxeos + venetoclax | De novo or relapsed/refractory, or R/R, AML (MD Anderson collaboration study) (ongoing study) | ||||
| Phase 1 | |||||
| Vyxeos | Low intensity dosing for higher risk MDS (MD Anderson collaboration study) (ongoing study) | ||||
| Vyxeos + other approved therapies | R/R AML or hypomethylating agent failure MDS (MD Anderson collaboration study) (ongoing study) First-line, fit AML (Phase 1b study) (ongoing study) Low intensity therapy for first-line, unfit AML (Phase 1b study) (ongoing study) | ||||
| Preclinical | |||||
CombiPlex® | Hematology/oncology exploratory activities | ||||
JZP341 (long-acting Erwinia asparaginase) | ALL and other hematological malignancies (collaboration with Ligand) | ||||
| JZP815/Pan-Raf inhibitor program | Raf and Ras mutant tumors (acquired from Redx) | ||||
| JZP898 | Conditionally-activated interferon alpha (IFNα) INDUKINE™ molecule | ||||
| Undisclosed target | Ras/Raf/MAPK pathway (collaboration with Redx) Oncology | ||||
| Exosome targets (up to 3 targets) | Hematological malignancies/solid tumors (collaboration with Codiak BioSciences, Inc., or Codiak) | ||||
| Undisclosed targets | Oncology | ||||
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Operational Excellence
We remain focused on continuing to build excellence in areas that we believe will give us a competitive advantage, including building an increasingly agile and adaptable commercialization engine and strengthening our customer-focused market expertise across patients, providers and payors. We are refining our approach to engaging our customers by strengthening alignment and integration across functions and across regions. This includes a more integrated approach to brand planning, a heightened focus on launch and operational excellence and multichannel customer engagement. We have fully adapted to virtual scientific congresses designed to ensure we can continue to provide promotional and non-promotional interactions and have supported our field-based teams with virtual customer interaction tools, training and content. These initiatives mark a significant operational evolution that is directly linked to our corporate strategy and are designed to better enable our teams to work collaboratively on an aligned and shared agenda through both virtual and in-person interactions. In most geographies, our teams are increasing the frequency of in-person interactions as medical congresses and healthcare practices begin to resume in-person activities, taking into account applicable public health authority and local government guidelines which are designed to ensure community and employee safety.
COVID-19 Business Update
We have implemented a comprehensive response strategy designed to manage the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our employees, patients and our business. The prolonged nature of the pandemic is negatively impacting our business in a varied manner due to the emergence of variants with increased transmissibility, even in vaccinated people, including limited access to health care provider offices and institutions and the willingness of patients or parents of patients to seek treatment or change existing treatments. We expect that our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects may continue to be negatively impacted by the pandemic on a limited basis that may vary depending on the context. However, we have begun to observe, and expect to continue to observe, a gradual normalization in patient and health care provider practices, as providers and patients have adapted their behaviors and procedures to the evolving circumstances and as COVID-19 vaccines continue to be administered.
Workplace and Employees
We support broad public health strategies designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and are focused on the health and welfare of our employees. Our global organization has mobilized to enable our employees to accomplish our most critical goals through a combination of virtual and in-person work. In addition to rolling out new technologies and collaboration tools, we have implemented processes and resources to support our employees in the event an employee receives a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. We have reopened our sites to enable our employees to return to our global offices, which takes into account applicable public health authority and local government guidelines, and which is designed to ensure community and employee safety. We have moved to a more flexible mix of virtual and in-person working designed to advance our culture, drive innovation and agility and enable greater balance and well-being for our workforce. This should also enable us to reconfigure our physical workspaces to optimize the footprint of our company-owned or leased office spaces.
Commercialization
There continues to be some negative impact on demand, new patient starts and treatments for our products arising from the pandemic, primarily due to the inherent limitations of telemedicine and a reprioritization of healthcare resources toward COVID-19. As healthcare systems have adapted to cope with the ongoing situation, we have seen improvements. We are utilizing technology to continue to engage healthcare professionals and other customers virtually to support patient care. As more clinics and institutions begin to allow in-person interactions pursuant to local health authority and government guidelines, our field teams continue to resume in-person interactions with healthcare professionals and clinics combined with virtual engagement. The level of renewed in-person engagement varies by account, region and country and may be adversely impacted in the future as a result of the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of access to health care providers has caused, and may continue to cause, delays in appropriate diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care for some patients, which has negatively impacted, and could continue to impact, prescribing and use of our products.
Supply Chain
Our manufacturing facilities in Athlone, Ireland, which produces Xywav and Xyrem, Villa Guardia, Italy, which produces defibrotide, and Kent Science Park, U.K., which produces Epidiolex/Epidyolex and Sativex, are operational with essential staff onsite and office-based staff working onsite and virtually as business needs require. We currently expect to have adequate global supply of all of our products for 2022.
Research and Development
With respect to our clinical trial activities, we have taken measures to implement remote and virtual approaches, including remote data monitoring where possible, to maintain patient safety and trial continuity and to preserve study integrity.
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We have seen some COVID-19-related impact to our mid- and late-stage clinical trial activity. We rely on contract research organizations or other third parties to assist us with clinical trials, and we cannot guarantee that they will perform their contractual duties in a timely and satisfactory manner as a result of the evolving effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, our ability to recruit and retain patients and principal investigators and site staff who, as health care providers, have heightened exposure to COVID-19, is adversely impacting our clinical trial operations. Supply chain disruptions related to the pandemic have also impacted our ability to initiate clinical trials as originally planned.
Corporate Response
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant burden on health systems globally and has highlighted the need for companies to evaluate existing therapies to assess if they can be utilized beyond their current indications to treat COVID-19 as well as consider developing new therapies. To this end, we have granted requests for several ISTs to evaluate the use of defibrotide in COVID-19 patients experiencing respiratory distress.
In addition, we are supporting our local communities and patient-focused organizations in COVID-19 relief efforts including through corporate donations to charitable organizations providing food and medical relief to communities in which we operate, and other localities where the needs related to the impact of COVID-19 are greatest. We are engaging with patient advocacy organizations to better understand the impact of COVID-19 and working to enable patients living with sleep disorders, epilepsies and oncology conditions with access to treatments and that their other needs are addressed given the impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare system. We are committed to enabling our employees to give back, including allowing licensed healthcare practitioners employed by us to support local response efforts.
Other Challenges, Risks and Trends Related to Our Business
Our business has been substantially dependent on Xyrem. Our future plans assume that Xywav, with 92% lower sodium compared to Xyrem, depending on the dose, absence of a sodium warning and dosing titration option, will become the treatment of choice for patients who can benefit from oxybate treatment, including current Xyrem patients and patients who previously were not prescribed Xyrem for whom sodium content is a concern. In June 2021, FDA recognized seven years of ODE for Xywav in narcolepsy through July 21, 2027 stating that Xywav is clinically superior to Xyrem by means of greater safety due to reduced chronic sodium burden. While we expect that our business will continue to be substantially dependent on oxybate product sales from both Xywav and Xyrem, there is no guarantee that we can maintain oxybate sales at or near historical levels, or that oxybate sales will continue to grow.
Our ability to successfully commercialize Xywav will depend on, among other things, our ability to maintain adequate coverage and reimbursement for Xywav and acceptance of Xywav by payors, physicians and patients, including of Xywav for the treatment of IH in adults. In an effort to support strong adoption of Xywav, we are focused on providing robust patient copay and savings programs and facilitating payor coverage for Xywav. Moreover, we have increasingly experienced pressure from third party payors to agree to discounts, rebates or restrictive pricing terms, and we cannot guarantee we will be able to agree to commercially reasonable terms with PBMs and other third party payors, or that we will be able to ensure patient access and acceptance on institutional formularies. Entering into agreements with PBMs and payors to ensure patient access has and will likely continue to result in higher gross to net deductions. In addition to the COVID-19-related impacts described above, we expect our oxybate products to face near-term competition from generic and authorized generic versions of sodium oxybate pursuant to the settlement agreements we have entered into with multiple abbreviated new drug application, or ANDA, filers. Generic competition can decrease the prices at which Xywav and Xyrem are sold and the number of prescriptions written for Xywav and Xyrem. Xywav and Xyrem may also face increased competition from new branded products for treatment of cataplexy and/or EDS in narcolepsy in the U.S. market.
Our financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects are also dependent on our ability to maintain or increase sales of Epidiolex/Epidyolex in the U.S. and Europe, which is subject to many risks and there is no guarantee that we will be able to continue to successfully commercialize Epidiolex/Epidyolex for its approved indications. The commercial success of Epidiolex depends on the extent to which patients and physicians accept and adopt Epidiolex as a treatment for seizures associated with LGS, DS and TSC, and we do not know whether our or others’ estimates in this regard will be accurate. Physicians may not prescribe Epidiolex and patients may be unwilling to use Epidiolex if coverage is not provided or reimbursement is inadequate to cover a significant portion of the cost. Additionally, any negative development for Epidiolex in the market, in clinical development for additional indications, or in regulatory processes in other jurisdictions, may adversely impact the commercial results and potential of Epidiolex. Thus, significant uncertainty remains regarding the commercial potential of Epidiolex.
In addition to our neuroscience products and product candidates, we are commercializing a portfolio of oncology products, including Defitelio, Vyxeos, Rylaze and Zepzelca. An inability to effectively commercialize Defitelio, Vyxeos, Rylaze and Zepzelca and to maximize their potential where possible through successful research and development activities could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
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A key aspect of our growth strategy is our continued investment in our evolving and expanding research and development activities. If we are not successful in the clinical development of these or other product candidates, if we are unable to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates in a timely manner, or at all, or if sales of an approved product do not reach the levels we expect, our anticipated revenue from our product candidates would be negatively affected, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
In addition to continued investment in our R&D pipeline, we intend to continue to grow our business by acquiring or in-licensing, and developing, including with collaboration partners, additional products and product candidates that we believe are highly differentiated and have significant commercial potential. Failure to identify and acquire, in-license or develop additional products or product candidates, successfully manage the risks associated with integrating any products or product candidates into our portfolio or the risks arising from anticipated and unanticipated problems in connection with an acquisition or in-licensing, such as the GW Acquisition, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The success of the GW Acquisition will depend, in part, on our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from our and GW’s businesses. Nonetheless, Epidiolex and the other products and technologies acquired may not be successful or continue to grow at the same rate as if our companies operated independently or they may require significantly greater resources and investments than originally anticipated. As a result, the anticipated benefits of the GW Acquisition may not be realized fully within the expected timeframe or at all or may take longer to realize or cost more than expected, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Our industry has been, and is expected to continue to be, subject to healthcare cost containment and drug pricing scrutiny by regulatory agencies in the U.S. and internationally. If healthcare policies or reforms intended to curb healthcare costs are adopted or if we experience negative publicity with respect to pricing of our products or the pricing of pharmaceutical drugs generally, the prices that we charge for our products may be affected, our commercial opportunity may be limited and/or our revenues from sales of our products may be negatively impacted. We are also subject to increasing pricing pressure and restrictions on reimbursement imposed by payors. If we fail to obtain and maintain adequate formulary positions and institutional access for our products and future approved products, we will not be able to achieve a return on our investment and our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects would be materially adversely affected.
While certain preparations of cannabis remain Schedule I controlled substances, if such products are approved by FDA for medical use in the U.S. they are rescheduled to Schedules II-V, since approval by FDA satisfies the “accepted medical use” requirement; or may be removed from control under the Controlled Substances Act entirely. If any of our product candidates receive FDA approval, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, will make a scheduling determination. If any foreign regulatory authority determines that Epidyolex may have potential for abuse, or if DEA makes a similar determination for nabiximols, it may require us to generate more clinical or other data than we currently anticipate to establish whether or to what extent the substance has an abuse potential, which could increase the cost, delay the approval and/or delay the launch of that product. In addition, there are non-FDA approved cannabidiol preparations being made available from companies through the state-enabled medical marijuana industry, which might attempt to compete with Epidiolex and, if approved by FDA, nabiximols. If we are unable to compete successfully, our commercial opportunities will be reduced and our business, results of operations and financial conditions may be materially harmed.
Finally, business practices by pharmaceutical companies, including product formulation improvements, patent litigation settlements, and risk evaluation and mitigation strategy, or REMS, programs, have increasingly drawn public scrutiny from legislators and regulatory agencies, with allegations that such programs are used as a means of improperly blocking or delaying competition. If we become the subject of any future government investigation with respect to our business practices, including as they relate to the Xywav and Xyrem REMS, the launch of Xywav, our Xyrem patent litigation settlement agreements or otherwise, we could incur significant expense and could be distracted from operation of our business and execution of our strategy. From June 2020 to May 2022, a number of lawsuits were filed on behalf of purported direct and indirect Xyrem purchasers, alleging that the patent litigation settlement agreements we entered with certain generic companies violate state and federal antitrust and consumer protection laws. For additional information on these lawsuits, see Note 10, Commitments and Contingencies-Legal Proceedings of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q. It is possible that additional lawsuits will be filed against us making similar or related allegations. We cannot predict the outcome of these or potential additional lawsuits or government action; however, if the plaintiffs were to be successful in their claims, they may be entitled to injunctive relief or we may be required to pay significant monetary damages.
Any of the foregoing risks and uncertainties could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. In addition, to the extent the COVID-19 pandemic continues to adversely affect our business and results of operations, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks and uncertainties described above. All of these risks and uncertainties are discussed in greater detail, along with other risks and uncertainties, in “Risk Factors” in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
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Results of Operations
The following table presents our revenues and expenses (in thousands, except percentages):
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Increase/ | Six Months Ended June 30, | Increase/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021(1) | (Decrease) | 2022 | 2021 (1) | (Decrease) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Product sales, net | $ | 928,300 | $ | 748,340 | 24 | % | $ | 1,738,137 | $ | 1,351,871 | 29 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royalties and contract revenues | 4,578 | 3,471 | 32 | % | 8,462 | 7,521 | 13 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of product sales (excluding amortization of acquired developed technologies) | 124,208 | 119,194 | 4 | % | 239,492 | 159,383 | 50 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 366,473 | 429,031 | (15) | % | 675,286 | 689,539 | (2) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | 139,047 | 132,696 | 5 | % | 269,028 | 209,269 | 29 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Intangible asset amortization | 148,456 | 140,480 | 6 | % | 320,550 | 208,672 | 54 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquired in-process research and development | 69,148 | — | N/A(2) | 69,148 | — | N/A(2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 63,189 | 69,420 | (9) | % | 133,873 | 96,796 | 38 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange loss (gain) | 1,343 | (2,950) | N/A(2) | 11,883 | (3,893) | N/A(2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | (16,112) | 228,621 | N/A(3) | (15,576) | 246,640 | N/A(3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in loss (gain) of investees | 2,461 | (1,365) | (280) | % | 6,603 | (5,530) | (219) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
____________________________
(1)The results of operations of the GW business have been included from the closing of the acquisition of GW on May 5, 2021.
(2)Comparison to prior period not meaningful.
(3)The fluctuations in the income tax expense (benefit) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 are as a result of changes in the mix of pre-tax income and losses across our jurisdictions and the impact of the change in the statutory tax rate in the U.K. on the 2021 periods.
Revenues
The following table presents our net product sales, royalties and contract revenues, and total revenues (in thousands, except percentages):
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Increase/ | Six Months Ended June 30, | Increase/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021(1) | (Decrease) | 2022 | 2021(1) | (Decrease) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Xyrem | $ | 269,421 | $ | 334,182 | (19) | % | $ | 516,918 | $ | 669,732 | (23) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Xywav | 235,025 | 124,164 | 89 | % | 421,105 | 199,580 | 111 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Oxybate | 504,446 | 458,346 | 10 | % | 938,023 | 869,312 | 8 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Epidiolex/Epidyolex | 175,289 | 109,481 | N/A(3) | 333,182 | 109,481 | N/A(3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sunosi2 | 12,966 | 12,124 | 7 | % | 28,844 | 23,730 | 22 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sativex | 4,142 | 1,961 | N/A(3) | 8,884 | 1,961 | N/A(3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Neuroscience | 696,843 | 581,912 | 20 | % | 1,308,933 | 1,004,484 | 30 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zepzelca | 68,285 | 55,924 | 22 | % | 127,623 | 110,258 | 16 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rylaze | 72,954 | — | N/A(3) | 127,174 | — | N/A(3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vyxeos | 33,890 | 31,453 | 8 | % | 67,647 | 64,608 | 5 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defitelio/defibrotide | 54,696 | 48,096 | 14 | % | 104,185 | 97,715 | 7 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Erwinaze/Erwinase | — | 28,314 | N/A(3) | — | 69,382 | N/A(3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Oncology | 229,825 | 163,787 | 40 | % | 426,629 | 341,963 | 25 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 1,632 | 2,641 | (38) | % | 2,575 | 5,424 | (53) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Product sales, net | 928,300 | 748,340 | 24 | % | 1,738,137 | 1,351,871 | 29 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royalties and contract revenues | 4,578 | 3,471 | 32 | % | 8,462 | 7,521 | 13 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | 932,878 | $ | 751,811 | 24 | % | $ | 1,746,599 | $ | 1,359,392 | 28 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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_____________________________
(1)The results of operations of the GW business have been included from the closing of the acquisition of GW on May 5, 2021.
(2)Net product sales for Sunosi U.S. are included until the date of divestment to Axsome of May 9, 2022.
(3)Comparison to prior period not meaningful.
Product Sales, Net
Total oxybate product sales increased by $46.1 million and $68.7 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2021. Total oxybate revenue bottle volume increased by 5% and 4% in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2021. Average active oxybate patients on therapy were approximately 17,100 in the second quarter of 2022, an increase of approximately 8% compared to the same period in 2021. Xyrem product sales decreased in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same periods in 2021 primarily due to a decrease in sales volume, reflecting the continued adoption of Xywav by existing Xyrem patients, partially offset by a higher average net selling price. Price increases were instituted in January 2021 and January 2022. Xywav product sales increased in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same periods in 2021 primarily due to higher sales volume, with bottle volume increasing by 81% and 106%, respectively. Xywav product sales were positively impacted by the launch of Xywav for IH and continued strong adoption in narcolepsy driven by educational initiatives around the benefit of lowering sodium intake. Epidiolex/Epidyolex product sales in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 were $175.3 million and $333.2 million, respectively. On a pro forma basis, Epidiolex/Epidyolex product sales increased by 12% and 10% in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2021, primarily due to an increase in commercial sales volume and a higher average net selling price, partially offset by higher gross to net deductions. Price increases were instituted in January 2021 and January 2022. We completed the U.S divestiture of Sunosi in May 2022. Sunosi product sales increased in the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 primarily due to lower gross to net deductions, driven by the release of the product returns reserve upon completion of the U.S. divestment, partially offset by lower sales volume, and increased in the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 primarily due to lower gross to net deductions.
Zepzelca product sales increased in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same periods in 2021 primarily due to an increase in sales volume resulting from continued adoption of Zepzelca in the treatment of second-line SCLC and a higher average net selling price. Price increases were instituted in July 2021 and January 2022. Rylaze product sales were $73.0 million and $127.2 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, following its U.S. launch in July 2021. Vyxeos product sales increased in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same periods in 2021 primarily due to an increase in sales volume, partially offset by the negative impact of foreign exchange rates. Defitelio/defibrotide product sales increased in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same periods in 2021 primarily due to a higher average net selling price and an increase in sales volume, partially offset by the negative impact of foreign exchange rates. We distributed our final Erwinaze inventory in June 2021 following expiration of our license and supply agreement.
We expect total product sales, net will increase in 2022 over 2021, primarily due to an increase in product sales of Xywav partially offset by a decrease in Xyrem, as patients continue to transition to Xywav, expected growth in, and the inclusion of a full year sales of, Epidiolex and Rylaze and expected growth in Zepzelca, partially offset by a reduction in Erwinaze following expiration of our license and supply agreement and a reduction in Sunosi following completion of the sale to Axsome.
Cost of Product Sales
Cost of product sales increased in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same periods in 2021 primarily due to the cost of product sales acquired in the acquisition of GW, including increases in the acquisition accounting inventory fair value step-up expense, or fair value step-up expense, of $2.3 million and $66.3 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively. Gross margin as a percentage of net product sales was 86.6% and 86.2% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to 84.1% and 88.2% for the same periods in 2021. The increase in our gross margin percentage in the three months ended June 30, 2022 was primarily due to a change in product mix. The decrease in our gross margin percentage in the six months ended June 30, 2022 was primarily due to the impact of the fair value step-up expense. We expect our cost of product sales to increase in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily driven by the inclusion of a full year of fair value step-up expense.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same periods in 2021, primarily due to lower transaction and integration expenses related to the acquisition of GW and lower Sunosi U.S. marketing related costs in the 2022 periods, offset by the loss on disposal of Sunosi and an increase in compensation related expenses driven by the inclusion of GW related headcount costs for the full periods in 2022. We expect
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selling, general and administrative expenses in 2022 to decrease compared to 2021, primarily due to a reduction in transaction and integration expenses, together with synergies expected to be realized in connection with the acquisition of GW, partially offset by the inclusion of a full year of expense related to the acquired GW business.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs related to clinical studies and outside services, personnel expenses, and other research and development costs. Clinical study and outside services costs relate primarily to services performed by clinical research organizations, materials and supplies, and other third party fees. Personnel expenses relate primarily to salaries, benefits and share-based compensation. Other research and development expenses primarily include overhead allocations consisting of various support and facilities-related costs. We do not track fully-burdened research and development expenses on a project-by-project basis. We manage our research and development expenses by identifying the research and development activities that we anticipate will be performed during a given period and then prioritizing efforts based on our assessment of which development activities are important to our business and have a reasonable probability of success, and by dynamically allocating resources accordingly. We also continually review our development pipeline projects and the status of their development and, as necessary, reallocate resources among our development pipeline projects that we believe will best support the future growth of our business.
The following table provides a breakout of our research and development expenses by major categories of expense (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Clinical studies and outside services | $ | 57,150 | $ | 67,165 | $ | 113,579 | $ | 98,211 | |||||||||||||||
| Personnel expenses | 56,304 | 47,929 | 111,605 | 84,155 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Milestone expense | 5,500 | 2,000 | 5,500 | 2,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 20,093 | 15,602 | 38,344 | 24,903 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 139,047 | $ | 132,696 | $ | 269,028 | $ | 209,269 | |||||||||||||||
Research and development expenses increased by $6.4 million and $59.8 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2021. Clinical studies and outside services costs decreased in the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 primarily due to a reduction in costs related to JZP458 (Rylaze) and JZP385 and increased in the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 primarily due to the addition of costs related to clinical programs for Epidiolex, nabiximols and cannabinoids and an increase in costs related to JZP150. Personnel expenses increased in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to the same periods in 2021 due to the inclusion of GW-related headcount costs for the full periods in 2022.
For 2022, we expect that our research and development expenses will continue to increase from previous levels due to the inclusion of a full year of expense with respect to the acquired GW business and as we prepare for anticipated data read-outs from clinical trials, initiate and undertake additional clinical trials and related development work and potentially acquire rights to additional product candidates.
Intangible Asset Amortization
Intangible asset amortization increased by $8.0 million and $111.9 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2021 primarily due to the inclusion of the amortization of the intangible assets arising from the acquisition of GW, primarily related to Epidiolex, offset by a decrease relating to the Erwinaze intangible asset that was fully amortized in June 2021. Intangible asset amortization is expected to increase in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily as a result of the inclusion of a full years amortization on the intangible assets acquired in the acquisition of GW.
Acquired In-Process Research and Development
Acquired in-process research and development, or IPR&D, expense in the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 primarily related to the upfront payments made in connection with our licensing agreements with Sumitomo and Werewolf of $50.0 million and $15.0 million, respectively.
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Interest Expense, Net
Interest expense, net in the three months ended June 30, 2022, was in line with the same period in 2021. Interest expense, net, increased by $37.1 million in the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to the same periods in 2021, primarily due to higher interest expense from the seven-year $3.1 billion term loan B facility, or the Dollar Term Loan, the seven-year €625.0 million term loan B facility, or the Euro Term Loan, together with the Dollar Term Loan known as the Term Loan, and the 4.375% senior secured notes, due 2029, or the Secured Notes. We expect interest expense, net for 2022 to be broadly in line with 2021.
Foreign Exchange Loss (Gain)
The foreign exchange loss (gain) is primarily related to the translation of sterling and euro-denominated net monetary liabilities, primarily intercompany balances, held by subsidiaries with a U.S. dollar functional currency and related foreign exchange forward contracts not designated as hedging instruments.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Our income tax benefit was $16.1 million and $15.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, compared to an income tax expense of $228.6 million and $246.6 million for the same periods in 2021. Our income tax expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 included an expense of $251.4 million arising on the remeasurement of our U.K. net deferred tax liability, which arose primarily in relation to the GW Acquisition, due to a change in the statutory rate in the U.K. following enactment of the U.K. Finance Act 2021. Excluding this impact, the increase in the income tax benefit resulted primarily from the mix of pre-tax income and losses incurred across tax jurisdictions. We do not provide for Irish income taxes on undistributed earnings of our foreign operations that are intended to be indefinitely reinvested in our foreign subsidiaries.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of June 30, 2022, we had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $771.3 million, borrowing availability under our revolving credit facility of $500.0 million and long-term debt principal balance of $6.1 billion. Our long-term debt included $3.1 billion in aggregate principal amount of the Dollar Term Loan, $1.5 billion in aggregate principal amount of the Secured Notes, $1.0 billion principal amount of the 2.00% exchangeable senior notes due 2026, or the 2026 Notes and $575.0 million principal amount of the 1.50% exchangeable senior notes due 2024, or the 2024 Notes. We generated cash flows from operations of $512.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022, and we expect to continue to generate positive cash flows from operations which will enable us to operate our business and de-lever our balance sheet over time.
In the first quarter of 2022, we repaid €208.3 million, or $251.0 million which represents the remaining principal amount of the Euro Term Loan. We have made voluntary repayments of €625.0 million, or $753.0 million, relating to Euro Term Loan and mandatory repayments of $31.0 million relating to the Dollar Term Loan since the closing of the acquisition of GW in May 2021.
We have a significant amount of debt outstanding on a consolidated basis. For a more detailed description of our debt arrangements, including information relating to our scheduled maturities with respect to our long-term debt, see Note 9, Debt, of the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements, included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q. This substantial level of debt could have important consequences to our business, including, but not limited to the factors set forth in “Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under the heading “We have incurred substantial debt, which could impair our flexibility and access to capital and adversely affect our financial position, and our business would be adversely affected if we are unable to service our debt obligations.”
We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and investments balances, cash we expect to generate from operations and funds available under our Revolving Credit Facility will be sufficient to fund our operations and to meet our existing obligations for the foreseeable future. The adequacy of our cash resources depends on many assumptions, including primarily our assumptions with respect to product sales and expenses, as well as the other factors set forth in in Part II, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under the headings “Risks Related to our Lead Products and Product Candidates” and “To continue to grow our business, we will need to commit substantial resources, which could result in future losses or otherwise limit our opportunities or affect our ability to operate and grow our business.” Our assumptions may prove to be wrong or other factors may adversely affect our business, and as a result we could exhaust or significantly decrease our available cash resources, and we may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service our debt obligations which could, among other things, force us to raise additional funds and/or force us to reduce our expenses, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
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To continue to grow our business over the longer term, we plan to commit substantial resources to product acquisition and in-licensing, product development, clinical trials of product candidates and expansion of our commercial, development, manufacturing and other operations. In this regard, we have evaluated and expect to continue to evaluate a wide array of strategic transactions as part of our strategy to acquire or in-license and develop additional products and product candidates. Acquisition opportunities that we pursue could materially affect our liquidity and capital resources and may require us to incur additional indebtedness, seek equity capital or both. We regularly evaluate the performance of our products and product candidates to ensure fit within our portfolio and support efficient allocation of capital. In addition, we may pursue new operations or continue the expansion of our existing operations. Accordingly, we expect to continue to opportunistically seek access to additional capital to license or acquire additional products, product candidates or companies to expand our operations or for general corporate purposes. Raising additional capital could be accomplished through one or more public or private debt or equity financings, collaborations or partnering arrangements. However, global economic conditions have been worsening, with disruptions to, and volatility in, the credit and financial markets in the U.S. and worldwide resulting from the effects of COVID-19 and otherwise. If these conditions persist and deepen, we could experience an inability to access additional capital or our liquidity could otherwise be impacted, which could in the future negatively affect our capacity for certain corporate development transactions or our ability to make other important, opportunistic investments. In addition, under Irish law we must have authority from our shareholders to issue any ordinary shares, including ordinary shares that are part of our authorized but unissued share capital. Moreover, as a matter of Irish law, when an Irish public limited company issues ordinary shares to new shareholders for cash, the company must first offer those shares on the same or more favorable terms to existing shareholders on a pro-rata basis, unless this statutory pre-emption obligation is dis-applied, or opted-out of, by approval of its shareholders. At our recent annual general meeting of shareholders in July 2022, our shareholders voted to approve our proposal to dis-apply the statutory pre-emption obligation on terms that are substantially more limited than our general pre-emption opt-out authority that had been in effect prior to August 4, 2021. This current pre-emption opt-out authority is due to expire in December 2023. If we are unable to obtain further pre-emption authorities from our shareholders in the future, or otherwise continue to be limited by the terms of new pre-emption authorities approved by our shareholders in the future, our ability to effectively use our unissued share capital to fund in-licensing, acquisition or other business opportunities, or to otherwise raise capital, could be adversely affected. In any event, an inability to borrow or raise additional capital in a timely manner and on attractive terms could prevent us from expanding our business or taking advantage of acquisition opportunities, and could otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business and growth prospects. In addition, if we use a substantial amount of our funds to acquire or in-license products or product candidates, we may not have sufficient additional funds to conduct all of our operations in the manner we would otherwise choose. Furthermore, any equity financing would be dilutive to our shareholders, and could require the consent of the lenders under the Credit Agreement and the indenture for the Secured Notes for certain financings.
The following table presents a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
| Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 512,015 | $ | 326,692 | |||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (126,454) | (5,175,238) | |||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (260,034) | 4,682,312 | |||||||||
| Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents | (5,710) | (135) | |||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | $ | 119,817 | $ | (166,369) | |||||||
Operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities increased by $185.3 million in the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, primarily due to decreased transaction and integration-related costs associated with the GW Acquisition.
Investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities decreased by $5,048.8 million in the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, primarily due to the following:
•$6,234.8 million outflow related to the net cash paid for the GW Acquisition in the six months ended June 30, 2021; and
•$53.0 million upfront payment from Axsome relating to the Sunosi U.S. disposition in the six months ended June 30, 2022; offset by
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•$1,129.6 million decrease in net proceeds from maturity of investments, primarily time deposits in the six months ended June 30, 2022;
•$69.1 million in upfront payments for acquired IPR&D primarily driven by the $50.0 million and $15.0 million payments to Sumitomo and Werewolf, respectively, in connection with our licensing agreements in the six months ended June 30, 2022; and
•$25.0 million milestone payment to PharmaMar in relation to our first sales-based milestone for Zepzelca in the six months ended June 30, 2022.
Financing activities
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities decreased by $4,942.3 million in the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, primarily due to:
•Net proceeds from issuance of borrowings under the Credit Agreement of $3,719.9 million and the Secured Notes of $1,471.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2021;
•A decrease of $55.7 million in proceeds from employee equity incentive and purchase plans; and
•An increase of $12.9 million in payment of employee withholding taxes related to share-based awards; offset by
•Repayment of long-term debt of $266.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $584.3 million in the six months ended June 30, 2021.
Debt
The summary of our outstanding indebtedness under our financing arrangements is included in Note 9, Debt, of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. During the six months ended June 30, 2022, there were no changes to the credit agreement, as set forth in Note 12, Debt, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Contractual Obligations
During the six months ended June 30, 2022, there were no material changes to our contractual obligations as set forth in Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Critical Accounting Estimates
To understand our financial statements, it is important to understand our critical accounting estimates. The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates and assumptions are required in determining the amounts to be deducted from gross revenues and also with respect to the acquisition and valuation of intangibles and income taxes. Some of these judgments can be subjective and complex, and, consequently, actual results may differ from these estimates. For any given individual estimate or assumption we make, there may also be other estimates or assumptions that are reasonable. Although we believe our estimates and assumptions are reasonable, they are based upon information available at the time the estimates and assumptions were made.
Our critical accounting policies and significant estimates are detailed in our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2021. Our critical accounting policies and significant estimates have not changed substantially from those previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s current plans, objectives, estimates, expectations and intentions and on information currently available to our management. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “propose,” “intend,” “continue,” “potential,” “possible,” “foreseeable,” “likely,” “unforeseen” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance, time frames or
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achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, time frames or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We discuss many of these risks, uncertainties and other risk factors in greater detail under Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Also, these forward-looking statements represent our plans, objectives, estimates, expectations and intentions only as of the date of this filing. You should read this Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q completely and with the understanding that our actual future results and the timing of events may be materially different from what we expect. We hereby qualify our forward-looking statements by our cautionary statements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements publicly, or to update or supplement the reasons that actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
During the six months ended June 30, 2022, there were no material changes to our market risk disclosures as set forth in Part II, Item 7A“Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Item 4.Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. We have carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q. Based on their evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2022.
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Because of inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, if any, within an organization have been detected. Accordingly, our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of our disclosure control system are met and, as set forth above, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based on their evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report, that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that the objectives of our disclosure control system were met.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting. During the quarter ended June 30, 2022, other than continuing changes to our internal control process resulting from the integration of GW, there have been no changes to our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.Legal Proceedings
The information required to be set forth under this Item 1 is incorporated by reference to Note 10, Commitments and Contingencies—Legal Proceedings of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q.
Item 1A.Risk Factors
We have identified the following risks and uncertainties that may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. The risks described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations. Our business could be harmed by any of these risks. The trading price of our ordinary shares could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment. In assessing these risks, you should also refer to the other information contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q, including our condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.
Summary Risk Factors
Below is a summary of material factors that make an investment in our ordinary shares speculative or risky. Importantly, this summary does not address all of the risks and uncertainties that we face. Additional discussion of the risks and uncertainties summarized in this risk factor summary, as well as other risks and uncertainties that we face, immediately follows this risk factor summary. The below risk factor summary is qualified in its entirety by that more complete discussion of such risks and uncertainties. You should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described below as part of your evaluation of an investment in our ordinary shares.
•Our inability to maintain or increase sales from our oxybate franchise would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
•The introduction of new products in the U.S. market that compete with, or otherwise disrupt the market for, our oxybate products and product candidates would adversely affect sales of our oxybate products and product candidates.
•The distribution and sale of our oxybate products are subject to significant regulatory restrictions, including the requirements of a REMS and safety reporting requirements, and these regulatory and safety requirements subject us to risks and uncertainties, any of which could negatively impact sales of Xywav® and Xyrem®.
•Our inability to maintain or increase sales of Epidiolex®/Epidyolex® would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
•While we expect our oxybate products and Epidiolex/Epidyolex to remain the largest parts of our business, our success also depends on our ability to effectively commercialize other products in our neuroscience and oncology therapeutic areas.
•We face substantial competition from other companies, including companies with larger sales organizations and more experience working with large and diverse product portfolios, and face competition from generic drugs and potentially from non-FDA approved cannabidiol preparations.
•Adequate coverage and reimbursement from third party payors may not be available for our products and we may be unable to successfully contract for coverage from pharmacy benefit managers and other organizations; conversely, to secure coverage from these organizations, we may be required to pay rebates or other discounts or other restrictions to reimbursement, either of which could diminish our sales or adversely affect our ability to sell our products profitably.
•The pricing of pharmaceutical products has come under increasing scrutiny as part of a global trend toward healthcare cost containment and resulting changes in healthcare law and policy may impact our business in ways that we cannot currently predict, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
•In addition to access, coverage and reimbursement, the commercial success of our products depends upon their market acceptance by physicians, patients, third party payors and the medical community.
•Delays or problems in the supply of our products for sale or for use in clinical trials, loss of our single source suppliers or failure to comply with manufacturing regulations could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
•Our future success depends on our ability to successfully develop and obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for our late-stage product candidates and, if approved, to successfully launch and commercialize those product candidates.
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•We may not be able to successfully identify and acquire or in-license additional products or product candidates to grow our business, and, even if we are able to do so, we may otherwise fail to realize the anticipated benefits of these transactions.
•Conducting clinical trials is costly and time-consuming, and the outcomes are uncertain. A failure to prove that our product candidates are safe and effective in clinical trials, or to generate data in clinical trials to support expansion of the therapeutic uses for our existing products, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
•We may not realize the anticipated benefits and synergies from the GW Acquisition.
•It is difficult and costly to protect our proprietary rights, and we may not be able to ensure their protection.
•We have incurred and may in the future incur substantial costs as a result of litigation or other proceedings relating to patents, other intellectual property rights and related matters, and we may be unable to protect our rights to, or commercialize, our products.
•Our business is currently adversely affected and could be materially and adversely affected in the future by the evolving effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic and related global economic slowdown, including with respect to our commercialization efforts, clinical trial activity, research and development activities, supply chain and corporate development activities and other business operations.
•Significant disruptions of information technology systems or data security breaches could adversely affect our business.
•We are subject to significant ongoing regulatory obligations and oversight, which may result in significant additional expense and limit our ability to commercialize our products.
•If we fail to comply with our reporting and payment obligations under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program or other governmental pricing programs, we could be subject to additional reimbursement requirements, penalties, sanctions and fines, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
•We have incurred substantial debt, which could impair our flexibility and access to capital and adversely affect our financial position, and our business would be adversely affected if we are unable to service our debt obligations.
•To continue to grow our business, we will need to commit substantial resources, which could result in future losses or otherwise limit our opportunities or affect our ability to operate and grow our business.
Risks Related to Our Lead Products and Product Candidates
Our inability to maintain or increase sales from our oxybate franchise would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Our business has been substantially dependent on Xyrem® (sodium oxybate) oral solution, and our financial results have been significantly influenced by sales of Xyrem. Our future plans assume that Xywav®, our oxybate product launched in November 2020, will become the treatment of choice for patients who can benefit from oxybate treatment, current Xyrem patients, and patients who previously were not prescribed Xyrem, including those patients for whom sodium content is a concern. Xywav has 92%, or approximately 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams per day, less sodium than Xyrem, depending on the dose, the absence of a sodium warning and a dosing titration option. In June 2021, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, recognized seven years of Orphan Drug Exclusivity through July 21, 2027 for Xywav in narcolepsy stating that Xywav is clinically superior to Xyrem by means of greater safety due to reduced chronic sodium burden. However, our ability to successfully commercialize Xywav will continue to depend on, among other things, our ability to maintain adequate coverage and reimbursement for Xywav and acceptance of Xywav by payors, physicians and patients.
In addition, our ability to maintain or increase oxybate product sales and realize the anticipated benefits from our investment in Xywav is subject to a number of additional risks and uncertainties as discussed in greater detail below, including those related to the near-term introduction of authorized generic and generic versions of sodium oxybate and new products for treatment of cataplexy and/or excessive daytime sleepiness, or EDS, in narcolepsy in the U.S. market; the current and potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the current and expected future negative impact on demand for our products and the uncertainty with respect to our ability to meet commercial demand in the future; increased pricing pressure from, changes in policies by, or restrictions on reimbursement imposed by, third party payors, including our ability to maintain adequate coverage and reimbursement for Xywav; and challenges to our intellectual property around Xyrem and/or Xywav. While we expect that our business will continue to be substantially dependent on oxybate product sales, there is no guarantee that we can maintain oxybate sales at or near historical levels, or that oxybate sales will continue to grow. A significant decline in oxybate sales could cause us to reduce our operating expenses or seek to raise additional funds, which would have a material adverse
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effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects, including on our ability to acquire, in-license or develop new products to grow our business.
The introduction of new products in the U.S. market that compete with, or otherwise disrupt the market for, our oxybate products and product candidates would adversely affect sales of our oxybate products and product candidates.
While Xywav and Xyrem are currently the only products approved by FDA and marketed in the U.S. for the treatment of both cataplexy and EDS in both adult and pediatric patients with narcolepsy, new treatment options for cataplexy and EDS in narcolepsy have launched, and in the future, other products may be launched that are competitive with or disrupt the market for our oxybate products.
For example, in the future, we expect Xywav and Xyrem to face competition from authorized generic and generic versions of sodium oxybate. Nine companies have sent us notices that they had filed abbreviated new drug applications, or ANDAs, seeking approval to market a generic version of Xyrem, and we have filed and settled patent lawsuits with all nine companies. To date, FDA has approved or tentatively approved four of these ANDAs, and we believe that it is likely that FDA will approve or tentatively approve some or all of the others. In our patent litigation settlement with the first filer, West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corp. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC and now known as Hikma in the U.S.), or Hikma, we granted Hikma the right to sell an authorized generic product, or AG Product, with royalties back to us, in the U.S. beginning on January 1, 2023, or earlier under certain circumstances. Hikma has a right to elect to continue to sell the Hikma AG Product for a total of up to five years. We also granted Hikma a license to launch its own generic sodium oxybate product as early as six months after it has the right to sell the Hikma AG Product, but if it elects to launch its own generic product, Hikma will no longer have the right to sell the Hikma AG Product. In our settlements with Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, or Amneal, Lupin Inc., or Lupin, and Par Pharmaceutical, Inc., or Par, we granted each party the right to sell a limited volume of an AG Product in the U.S. beginning on July 1, 2023, or earlier under certain circumstances, and ending on December 31, 2025, with royalties back to us. AG Products will be distributed through the same risk evaluation and mitigation strategy, or REMS, as Xywav and Xyrem. We also granted each of Amneal, Lupin and Par a license to launch its own generic sodium oxybate product under its ANDA on or after December 31, 2025, or earlier under certain circumstances, including the circumstance where Hikma elects to launch its own generic product. If Amneal, Lupin or Par elects to launch its own generic product under such circumstance, it will no longer have the right to sell an AG Product. In our settlements with each of the other five ANDA filers, we granted each a license to launch its own generic sodium oxybate product under its ANDA on or after December 31, 2025, or earlier under certain circumstances, including circumstances where Hikma launches its own generic sodium oxybate product. The actual timing of the launch of an AG Product or generic sodium oxybate product is uncertain because the launch dates of the AG Products and generic sodium oxybate products under our settlement agreements are subject to acceleration under certain circumstances. It is possible that additional companies may file ANDAs seeking to market a generic version of Xyrem which could lead to additional patent litigation or challenges with respect to Xyrem.
Any ANDA holder launching an AG Product or another generic sodium oxybate product will independently establish the price of the AG Product and/or its own generic sodium oxybate product. Generic competition often results in decreases in the prices at which branded products can be sold. After any introduction of a generic product, whether or not it is an AG Product, a significant percentage of the prescriptions written for Xyrem will likely be filled with the generic product. Certain U.S. state laws allow for, and in some instances in the absence of specific instructions from the prescribing physician mandate, the dispensing of generic products rather than branded products when a generic version is available. This would result in reduction in sales of, and revenue from, Xyrem, although we would continue to receive royalties and other revenue based on sales of an AG Product in accordance with the terms of our settlement agreements.
A circumstance that could trigger acceleration of Hikma’s launch date for an AG Product, which would also accelerate Amneal, Lupin and Par’s launch dates for their AG Products and ultimately could lead to acceleration of the other settling ANDA filers’ launch dates for their generic sodium oxybate products, is a substantial reduction in Xyrem net sales. Other companies may develop a sodium oxybate product for treatment of narcolepsy, using an alternative formulation or a different delivery technology, and seek approval in the U.S. using a new drug application, or NDA, approval pathway under Section 505(b)(2) and referencing the safety and efficacy data for Xyrem. In February 2021, FDA accepted for filing an NDA submitted by Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc, or Avadel, for an extended-release formulation of sodium oxybate which uses its proprietary technology for the treatment of EDS and cataplexy in patients with narcolepsy with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act, or PDUFA, target action date of October 15, 2021. On October 15, 2021, Avadel announced that FDA review was ongoing and FDA would provide a new target action date. In May 2022, Avadel reported that FDA requested Avadel certify to our REMS patent. Accordingly, Avadel stated that it anticipates potential full approval on or before the expiration of the REMS patent on June 17, 2023. In July 2022, Avadel announced that it had received tentative approval pending disposition of the REMS patent. Xyrem may also face increased competition from new branded entrants to treat EDS in narcolepsy such as pitolisant. Other companies have announced that they have product candidates in various phases of development to treat the symptoms of narcolepsy, such as Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.’s reboxetine, and various companies are performing research and development on orexin agonists for the treatment of sleep disorders.
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We expect that Xywav for the treatment of both cataplexy and EDS in patients with narcolepsy will face competition similar to that described above for Xyrem, including from generic or authorized generic sodium oxybate products or new branded entrants in narcolepsy notwithstanding FDA recognizing Orphan Drug Exclusivity for Xywav. For example, we received notice in June 2021 that Lupin filed an ANDA for a generic version of Xywav. Additional companies may file ANDAs seeking to market a generic version of Xywav which could lead to additional patent litigation or challenges with respect to Xywav. Moreover, Avadel has announced that it has obtained an orphan drug designation from FDA for its extended-release sodium oxybate formulation. To obtain approval with Orphan Drug Exclusivity, Avadel will have to show clinical superiority to Xywav and Xyrem. We cannot predict the timing or approvability of Avadel’s sodium oxybate product candidate or how FDA will evaluate any clinical superiority arguments that either we or Avadel may make, but in any event, we expect to face competition from Avadel, if its product candidate is approved.
Moreover, non-oxybate products intended for the treatment of EDS or cataplexy in narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia, or IH, including new market entrants, even if not directly competitive with Xywav or Xyrem, could have the effect of changing treatment regimens and payor or formulary coverage of Xywav or Xyrem in favor of other products, and indirectly materially and adversely affect sales of Xywav and Xyrem. Examples of such new market entrants include pitolisant, a drug that was approved by FDA in 2019 for the treatment of EDS in adult patients with narcolepsy and approved by FDA in October 2020 pursuant to a complete response resubmission for an adult cataplexy indication in the U.S. Pitolisant has also been approved and marketed in Europe to treat adult patients with narcolepsy, with or without cataplexy, and to treat EDS in obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. Pitolisant is also in late stage development for the treatment of IH. In addition, we are also aware that prescribers often prescribe branded or generic medications for cataplexy, before or instead of prescribing oxybate therapy in Xywav and Xyrem, and that payors often require patients to try such medications before they will cover Xywav or Xyrem, even if they are not approved for this use. Examples of such products are described in “Business—Competition” in Part I, Item 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
We expect that the approval and launch of an AG Product or other generic version of Xyrem could have a material adverse effect on our sales of Xywav and Xyrem and on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. We also expect that sales of Xywav will, and the approval and launch of any other sodium oxybate (including Avadel’s extended-release sodium oxybate formulation) or alternative product that treats narcolepsy could, have a material adverse effect on our sales of Xyrem, which could have the additional impact of potentially triggering acceleration of market entry of AG Products or other generic sodium oxybate products under our patent litigation settlement agreements.
The distribution and sale of our oxybate products are subject to significant regulatory restrictions, including the requirements of a REMS and safety reporting requirements, and these regulatory and safety requirements subject us to risks and uncertainties, any of which could negatively impact sales of Xywav and Xyrem.
The active pharmaceutical ingredient, or API, of Xywav and Xyrem, is a form of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, or GHB, a central nervous system depressant known to be associated with facilitated sexual assault as well as with respiratory depression and other serious side effects. As a result, FDA requires that we maintain a REMS with elements to assure safe use, or ETASU, for Xywav and Xyrem to help ensure that the benefits of the drug in the treatment of cataplexy and EDS in narcolepsy outweigh the serious risks of the drug. The REMS imposes extensive controls and restrictions on the sales and marketing of Xywav and Xyrem that we are responsible for implementing. Any failure to demonstrate our substantial compliance with our REMS obligations, including as a result of business or other interruptions resulting from the evolving effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, or a determination by FDA that the REMS is not meeting its goals, could result in enforcement action by FDA, lead to changes in our REMS obligations, negatively affect sales of Xywav or Xyrem, result in additional costs and expenses for us and/or require us to invest a significant amount of resources, any of which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
FDA has stated that it will evaluate the Xywav and Xyrem REMS on an ongoing basis and will require modifications as may be appropriate. We cannot predict whether FDA will request, seek to require or ultimately require modifications to, or impose additional requirements on, the Xywav and Xyrem REMS, including in connection with the submission of new oxybate products or indications, the introduction of authorized generics, or to accommodate generics, or whether FDA will approve modifications to the Xywav and Xyrem REMS that we consider warranted. Any modifications approved, required or rejected by FDA could change the safety profile of Xywav or Xyrem, and have a significant negative impact in terms of product liability, public acceptance of Xywav or Xyrem as a treatment for cataplexy and EDS in narcolepsy, and prescribers’ willingness to prescribe, and patients’ willingness to take, Xywav or Xyrem, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our oxybate business. Modifications approved, required or rejected by FDA could also make it more difficult or expensive for us to distribute Xywav or Xyrem, make distribution easier for oxybate competitors, disrupt continuity of care for Xywav or Xyrem patients and/or negatively affect sales of Xywav or Xyrem.
We depend on outside vendors, including Express Scripts Specialty Distribution Services, Inc., the central certified pharmacy, to distribute Xywav and Xyrem in the U.S., provide patient support services and implement the requirements of the
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Xywav and Xyrem REMS. If the central pharmacy fails to meet the requirements of the Xywav and Xyrem REMS applicable to the central pharmacy or otherwise does not fulfill its contractual obligations to us, moves to terminate our agreement, refuses or fails to adequately serve patients, or fails to promptly and adequately address operational challenges or challenges in implementing REMS modifications, whether due to business or other interruptions resulting from the evolving effects of the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise, the fulfillment of Xywav or Xyrem prescriptions and our sales would be adversely affected. If we change to a new central pharmacy, new contracts might be required with government payors and other insurers who pay for Xywav or Xyrem, and the terms of any new contracts could be less favorable to us than current agreements. In addition, any new central pharmacy would need to be registered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, and certified under the REMS and would also need to implement the particular processes, procedures and activities necessary to distribute under the Xywav and Xyrem REMS. Transitioning to a new pharmacy could result in product shortages, which would negatively affect sales of Xywav and Xyrem, result in additional costs and expenses for us and/or take a significant amount of time, any of which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
In its approval of Hikma’s ANDA, FDA waived the requirement of a single shared REMS between the brand drug and generic versions, approving Hikma’s ANDA with a generic sodium oxybate REMS separate from the Xywav and Xyrem REMS, except for the requirement that the generic sodium oxybate REMS program pharmacies contact the Xywav and Xyrem REMS by phone to verify and report certain information. The generic sodium oxybate REMS was approved with the condition that it be open to all future sponsors of ANDAs or NDAs for sodium oxybate products. A sodium oxybate distribution system that is less restrictive than the Xywav and Xyrem REMS, such as the generic sodium oxybate REMS, which provides that generic sodium oxybate products and potentially new sodium oxybate products approved under a Section 505(b)(2) NDA approval pathway could be distributed through multiple pharmacies, could increase the risks associated with oxybate distribution. Because patients, consumers and others may not differentiate generic sodium oxybate from Xyrem or differentiate between the different REMS programs, any negative outcomes, including risks to the public, caused by or otherwise related to a separate sodium oxybate REMS, could have a significant negative impact in terms of product liability, our reputation and good will, public acceptance of Xywav or Xyrem as a treatment for cataplexy and EDS in narcolepsy, and prescribers’ willingness to prescribe, and patients’ willingness to take, Xywav or Xyrem, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our oxybate business.
We may face pressure to further modify the Xywav and Xyrem REMS or to license or share intellectual property pertinent to that REMS, including proprietary data required for the safe distribution of sodium oxybate, in connection with FDA’s approval of the generic sodium oxybate REMS or another oxybate REMS that may be submitted or approved in the future. Our settlement agreements with ANDA filers do not directly impact FDA’s waiver of the single shared system REMS requirement, any other ANDA or NDA filer’s ability to develop and implement the generic sodium oxybate REMS for its sodium oxybate product, or our ability to take any action with respect to the safety of the generic sodium oxybate REMS. We cannot predict the outcome or impact on our business of any future action that we may take with respect to FDA’s waiver of the single shared system REMS requirement, its approval and tentative approval of generic versions of sodium oxybate or the consequences of distribution of sodium oxybate through the generic sodium oxybate REMS approved by FDA or another separate REMS.
REMS programs have increasingly drawn public scrutiny from the U.S. Congress, the Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, and FDA, with allegations that such programs are used as a means of improperly blocking or delaying competition. In December 2019, as part of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, the U.S. Congress passed legislation known as the Creating and Restoring Equal Access To Equivalent Samples Act, or CREATES. CREATES is intended to prevent companies from using REMS and other restricted distribution programs as a means to deny potential competitors access to product samples that are reasonably necessary to conduct testing in support of an application that references a listed drug or biologic, and provides such potential competitors a potential private right of action if the innovator fails to timely provide samples upon request. CREATES also grants FDA additional authority regarding approval of generic products with REMS.
It is possible that the FTC, FDA or other governmental authorities could claim that, or launch an investigation into whether, we are using our REMS programs in an anticompetitive manner or have engaged in other anticompetitive practices. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act further states that a REMS ETASU shall not be used by an NDA holder to block or delay generic drugs or drugs covered by an application under Section 505(b)(2) from entering the market. In its 2015 letter approving the Xyrem REMS, FDA expressed concern that we were aware that the Xyrem REMS is blocking competition. From June 2020 to May 2022, we were served with a number of lawsuits that included allegations that we had used the Xyrem REMS to delay approval of generic sodium oxybate. In December 2020, these cases were centralized and transferred to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, where the multidistrict litigation will proceed for the purpose of discovery and pre-trial proceedings. For additional information on these lawsuits, see Note 10, Commitments and Contingencies-Legal Proceedings of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, included this Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q. It is possible that additional lawsuits will be filed against us making similar or related allegations. We cannot predict the outcome of these or potential additional lawsuits; however, if the plaintiffs were to be successful in their claims, they
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may be entitled to injunctive relief or we may be required to pay significant monetary damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Pharmaceutical companies, including their agents and employees, are required to monitor adverse events occurring during the use of their products and report them to FDA. The patient counseling and monitoring requirements of the Xywav and Xyrem REMS provide more extensive information about adverse events experienced by patients taking Xywav and Xyrem, including deaths, than is generally available for other products that are not subject to similar REMS requirements. As required by FDA and other regulatory agencies, the adverse event information that we collect for Xywav and Xyrem is regularly reported to FDA and could result in FDA requiring changes to Xywav and/or Xyrem labeling, including additional warnings or additional boxed warnings, or requiring us to take other actions that could have an adverse effect on patient and prescriber acceptance of Xywav and Xyrem. As required by FDA, Xywav’s and Xyrem’s current labeling includes a boxed warning regarding the risk of central nervous system depression and misuse and abuse.
Any failure to demonstrate our substantial compliance with the REMS or any other applicable regulatory requirements to the satisfaction of FDA or another regulatory authority could result in such regulatory authorities taking actions in the future which could have a material adverse effect on oxybate product sales and therefore on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Our inability to maintain or increase sales of Epidiolex/Epidyolex would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Our ability to maintain or increase sales of Epidiolex/Epidyolex (cannabidiol) is subject to many risks. There are many factors that could cause the commercialization of Epidiolex to be unsuccessful, including a number of factors that are outside our control. The commercial success of Epidiolex depends on the extent to which patients and physicians accept and adopt Epidiolex as a treatment for seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, or LGS, Dravet syndrome and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, and we do not know whether our or others’ estimates in this regard will be accurate. Physicians may not prescribe Epidiolex and patients may be unwilling to use Epidiolex if coverage is not provided or reimbursement is inadequate to cover a significant portion of the cost. Additionally, any negative development for Epidiolex in the market, in clinical development for additional indications, or in regulatory processes in other jurisdictions, may adversely impact the commercial results and potential of Epidiolex.
While we expect our oxybate products and Epidiolex/Epidyolex to remain the largest parts of our business, our success also depends on our ability to effectively commercialize other products in our neuroscience and oncology therapeutic areas.
In addition to Xywav, Xyrem, Epidiolex/Epidyolex and our other neuroscience products and product candidates, we are commercializing a portfolio of products, including our other lead marketed products, Zepzelca, Rylaze, Vyxeos and Defitelio. An inability to effectively commercialize our other lead marketed products and to maximize their potential where possible through successful research and development activities, whether due to the evolving effects of the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Zepzelca
Our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from our investment in Zepzelca® (lurbinectedin) is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including our ability to successfully commercialize Zepzelca in the U.S.; adequate supply of Zepzelca to meet demand; availability of favorable pricing and adequate coverage and reimbursement; the limited experience of, and need to educate, physicians in the use of Zepzelca for the treatment of metastatic small cell lung cancer, or SCLC; the potential for negative trial data read-outs in ongoing or future Zepzelca clinical trials; our and Pharma Mar, S.A., or PharmaMar’s, ability to maintain accelerated approval or successfully complete a confirmatory study of Zepzelca; and the impact of the evolving effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our ability to educate health care providers about Zepzelca in the treatment of relapsed, metastatic SCLC in the U.S. and on patients’ access to lung cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment. If we are unable to successfully commercialize Zepzelca in the U.S. and Canada, or if sales of Zepzelca do not reach the levels we expect, our anticipated revenue from Zepzelca will be negatively affected, which would have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Rylaze
Our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from our investments in Rylaze® (recombinant Erwinia asparaginase) is subject to a number of uncertainties, including our ability to successfully commercialize Rylaze in the U.S. including creating awareness among health care professionals and ensuring physicians are confident in its supply and that patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, or lymphoblastic lymphoma, or LBL, will be given the appropriate course of therapy based on current FDA approval. In addition, there continues to be the potential of a competitive erwinia product being reintroduced into the marketplace that could create uncertainty in demand and utilization of Rylaze moving forward.
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Vyxeos
Our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from our investment in Vyxeos® (daunorubicin and cytarabine) liposome for injection by successfully and sustainably growing sales is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including our ability to differentiate Vyxeos from other liposomal chemotherapies and generically available chemotherapy combinations with which physicians and treatment centers are more familiar; acceptance by hospital pharmacy and therapeutics committees in the U.S., the EU and other countries; the increasing complexity of the acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, landscape requiring changes in patient identification and treatment selection, including diagnostic tests and monitoring that clinicians may find challenging to incorporate; the use of new and novel compounds in AML that are either used off-label or are only approved for use in combination with other agents and that have not been tested in combination with Vyxeos; the increasing use of venetoclax, which received full FDA approval in October 2020 for AML treatment; the limited size of the population of high-risk AML patients who may potentially be indicated for treatment with Vyxeos, particularly as a result of the shift of healthcare resources toward less intensive outpatient AML treatments in the U.S. in light of the COVID-19 pandemic which is directly negatively impacting, or delaying, the use of Vyxeos, as well as the suspension of in-person interactions with healthcare professionals due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the availability of adequate coverage, pricing and reimbursement approvals; and competition from new and existing products and potential competition from products in development. Despite an ongoing trend in the U.S. towards using lower-intensity treatments that accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to see recovery in demand for Vyxeos and expect future demand for appropriate secondary AML patients to remain steady. In Europe, we continue to expect a negative impact on demand for and utilization of Vyxeos compared to historical periods due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. If sales of Vyxeos do not reach the levels we expect, our anticipated revenue from the product would be negatively affected, which would have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Defitelio
Our ability to maintain and grow sales and to realize the anticipated benefits from our investment in Defitelio® (defibrotide sodium) is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including continued acceptance by hospital pharmacy and therapeutics committees in the U.S., the EU and other countries; the continued availability of favorable pricing and adequate coverage and reimbursement; the limited experience of, and need to educate, physicians and other health care providers in recognizing, diagnosing and treating hepatic veno-occlusive disease, or VOD, particularly in adults; the possibility that physicians recognizing VOD symptoms may not initiate or may delay initiation of treatment while waiting for those symptoms to improve, or may terminate treatment before the end of the recommended dosing schedule; and the limited size of the population of VOD patients who are indicated for treatment with Defitelio (particularly if changes in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, or HSCT, treatment protocols reduce the incidence of VOD diagnosis and demand for Defitelio).
If sales of Defitelio do not reach the levels we expect, our anticipated revenue from the product would be negatively affected and our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects would be adversely affected. For example, there was a significant decline in the number of patients receiving HSCT due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, because VOD is an ultra-rare disease, we have experienced inter-quarter variability in our Defitelio sales, which makes Defitelio sales difficult to predict from period to period. As a result, Defitelio sales results or trends in any period may not necessarily be indicative of future performance.
We face substantial competition from other companies, including companies with larger sales organizations and more experience working with large and diverse product portfolios, and face competition from generic drugs and potentially from non-FDA approved cannabidiol preparations.
Our products compete, and our product candidates may in the future compete, with currently existing therapies, including generic drugs, product candidates currently under development by us and others and/or future product candidates, including new chemical entities that may be safer or more effective or more convenient than our products. Any products that we develop may be commercialized in competitive markets, and our competitors, which include large global pharmaceutical companies and small research-based companies and institutions, may succeed in developing products that render our products obsolete or noncompetitive. Many of our competitors, particularly large pharmaceutical and life sciences companies, have substantially greater financial, operational and human resources than we do. Smaller or earlier stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through focused development programs and collaborative arrangements with large, established companies. In addition, many of our competitors deploy more personnel to market and sell their products than we do, and we compete with other companies to recruit, hire, train and retain pharmaceutical sales and marketing personnel. If our sales force and sales support organization are not appropriately resourced and sized to adequately promote our products, the commercial potential of our current and any future products may be diminished. In any event, the commercial potential of our current products and any future products may be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop or acquire and commercialize generic or branded products that are safer or more effective, are more convenient or are less expensive than our products. If we are unable to compete successfully, our commercial opportunities will be reduced and our business, results of operations and financial conditions may be materially harmed.
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There is a substantial amount of change occurring in the U.S. regarding the use of medical and recreational marijuana products. While federal law prohibits the sale and distribution of most marijuana products not approved or authorized by FDA, 46 states and the District of Columbia have legalized either cannabidiol, or CBD, or marijuana for either recreational or medical use, or both. Under the U.S. Farm Bill, enacted in late 2018, certain extracts and other material derived from cannabis are no longer controlled under the Federal Controlled Substances Act, or CSA. Although the marketing of such products as a food, dietary supplement, or for medical purposes remains subject to FDA requirements, FDA continues to evaluate regulatory pathways to permit CBD in conventional foods and dietary supplements. In addition, Congressional efforts related to legalization of marijuana continue. Although our business is distinct from that of entities marketing FDA-unapproved marijuana and CBD-containing dietary supplement, future legislation or federal government action authorizing the sale, distribution, use, and insurance reimbursement of non-FDA approved marijuana or cannabinoid products could increase competition for and adversely affect our ability to generate sales of Epidiolex and our cannabinoid product candidates.
In addition, Epidiolex and nabiximols compete with product offerings from a variety of companies. FDA approved Zogenix, Inc.'s low-dose fenfluramine, or Fintepla, in Dravet syndrome in June 2020, and for LGS in March 2022. In March 2022, UCB, S.A. announced that it had completed its acquisition of Zogenix. Ovid Therapeutics Inc./Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Eisai Company Limited, and Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. are developing therapies for treating Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies (includes Dravet and LGS). Stiripentol has been approved in Europe for several years to treat Dravet syndrome and was approved in 2018 by FDA. Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is developing a topical formulation of CBD, for which it is working with FDA on a path forward on CONNECT-FX data for Zygel in Fragile X syndrome. There are a number of public and private companies in the early stages of developing genetic therapies for the underlying causes of Dravet syndrome, including Stoke Therapeutics, Inc., which has an antisense oligonucleotide, STK-001, in early clinical trials. Other companies, including those with greater resources than us may announce similar plans in the future. In addition, there are non-FDA approved CBD preparations being made available from companies in the medical marijuana industry, which might attempt to compete with Epidiolex and, if approved by FDA, nabiximols. If we are unable to compete successfully, our commercial opportunities will be reduced and our business, results of operations and financial conditions may be materially harmed.
For a description of the competition that our lead marketed products and most advanced product candidates face or may face, see the discussion in “Business—Competition” in Part I, Item 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the risk factor under the heading “The introduction of new products in the U.S. market that compete with, or otherwise disrupt the market for, our oxybate products and product candidates would adversely affect sales of our oxybate products and product candidates” in this Part II, Item 1A.
Adequate coverage and reimbursement from third party payors may not be available for our products and we may be unable to successfully contract for coverage from pharmacy benefit managers and other organizations; conversely, to secure coverage from these organizations, we may be required to pay rebates or other discounts or other restrictions to reimbursement, either of which could diminish our sales or adversely affect our ability to sell our products profitably.
In both U.S. and non-U.S. markets, our ability to successfully commercialize and achieve market acceptance of our products depends in significant part on adequate financial coverage and reimbursement from third party payors, including governmental payors (such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs in the U.S.), managed care organizations and private health insurers. Without third party payor reimbursement, patients may not be able to obtain or afford prescribed medications. In addition, reimbursement guidelines and incentives provided to prescribing physicians by third party payors may have a significant impact on the prescribing physicians’ willingness and ability to prescribe our products. The demand for, and the profitability of, our products could be materially harmed if state Medicaid programs, the Medicare program, other healthcare programs in the U.S. or elsewhere, or third party commercial payors in the U.S. or elsewhere deny reimbursement for our products, limit the indications for which our products will be reimbursed, or provide reimbursement only on unfavorable terms. In particular, we cannot predict to what extent the evolving effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may disrupt global healthcare systems and access to our products or result in a widespread loss of individual health insurance coverage due to unemployment, a shift from commercial payor coverage to government payor coverage, or an increase in demand for patient assistance and/or free drug programs, any of which could adversely affect net revenue.
As part of the overall trend toward cost containment, third party payors often require prior authorization for, and require reauthorization for continuation of, prescription products or impose step edits, which require prior use of another medication, usually a generic or preferred brand, prior to approving coverage for a new or more expensive product. Such restrictive conditions for reimbursement and an increase in reimbursement-related activities can extend the time required to fill prescriptions and may discourage patients from seeking treatment. We cannot predict actions that third party payors may take, or whether they will limit the access and level of reimbursement for our products or refuse to provide any approvals or coverage. From time to time, third party payors have refused to provide reimbursement for our products, and others may do so in the future.
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Third party payors increasingly examine the cost-effectiveness of pharmaceutical products, in addition to their safety and efficacy, when making coverage and reimbursement decisions. We may need to conduct expensive pharmacoeconomic and/or clinical studies in order to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of our products. If our competitors offer their products at prices that provide purportedly lower treatment costs than our products, or otherwise suggest that their products are safer, more effective or more cost-effective than our products, this may result in a greater level of access for their products relative to our products, which would reduce our sales and harm our results of operations. In some cases, for example, third party payors try to encourage the use of less expensive generic products through their prescription benefit coverage and reimbursement and co-pay policies. Because some of our products compete in a market with both branded and generic products, obtaining and maintaining access and reimbursement coverage for our products may be more challenging than for products that are new chemical entities for which no therapeutic alternatives exist.
Third party pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, other similar organizations and payors can limit coverage to specific products on an approved list, or formulary, which might not include all of the approved products for a particular indication, and to exclude drugs from their formularies in favor of competitor drugs or alternative treatments, or place drugs on formulary tiers with higher patient co-pay obligations, and/or to mandate stricter utilization criteria. Formulary exclusion effectively encourages patients and providers to seek alternative treatments, make a complex and time-intensive request for medical exemptions, or pay 100% of the cost of a drug. In addition, in many instances, certain PBMs, other similar organizations and third party payors may exert negotiating leverage by requiring incremental rebates, discounts or other concessions from manufacturers in order to maintain formulary positions, which could continue to result in higher gross to net deductions for affected products. In this regard, we have entered into agreements with PBMs and payor accounts to provide rebates to those entities related to formulary coverage for our products, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to agree to coverage terms with other PBMs and other third party payors. Payors could decide to exclude our products from formulary coverage lists, impose step edits that require patients to try alternative, including generic, treatments before authorizing payment for our products, limit the types of diagnoses for which coverage will be provided or impose a moratorium on coverage for products while the payor makes a coverage decision. An inability to maintain adequate formulary positions could increase patient cost-sharing for our products and cause some patients to determine not to use our products. Any delays or unforeseen difficulties in reimbursement approvals could limit patient access, depress therapy adherence rates, and adversely impact our ability to successfully commercialize our products. If we are unsuccessful in maintaining broad coverage for our products, our anticipated revenue from and growth prospects for our products could be negatively affected.
In many countries outside the U.S., procedures to obtain price approvals, coverage and reimbursement can take considerable time after the receipt of marketing authorization. Many European countries periodically review their reimbursement of medicinal products, which could have an adverse impact on reimbursement status. In addition, we expect that legislators, policymakers and healthcare insurance funds in the EU member states will continue to propose and implement cost-containing measures, such as lower maximum prices, lower or lack of reimbursement coverage and incentives to use cheaper, usually generic, products as an alternative to branded products, and/or branded products available through parallel import to keep healthcare costs down. Moreover, in order to obtain reimbursement for our products in some European countries, including some EU member states, we may be required to compile additional data comparing the cost-effectiveness of our products to other available therapies. Health Technology Assessment, or HTA, of medicinal products is becoming an increasingly common part of the pricing and reimbursement procedures in some EU member states, including those representing the larger markets. The HTA process, which is currently governed by national laws in each EU member state, is the procedure to assess therapeutic, economic and societal impact of a given medicinal product in the national healthcare systems of the individual country. The outcome of an HTA will often influence the pricing and reimbursement status granted to these medicinal products by the competent authorities of individual EU member states. The extent to which pricing and reimbursement decisions are influenced by the HTA of the specific medicinal product currently varies between EU member states, although beginning in January 2025, the EU HTA regulation will apply; this regulation aims to harmonize the clinical benefit assessment of HTA across the EU. If we are unable to maintain favorable pricing and reimbursement status in EU member states that represent significant markets, our anticipated revenue from and growth prospects for our products in the EU could be negatively affected. For example, the European Commission, or EC, granted marketing authorization for Vyxeos in August 2018 and for Epidyolex in September 2019, and, as part of our rolling launches of Vyxeos and Epidyolex in Europe, we are making pricing and reimbursement submissions in European countries. Due to the evolving effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we currently anticipate delays by certain European regulatory authorities in their pricing and reimbursement reviews. If we experience setbacks or unforeseen difficulties in obtaining favorable pricing and reimbursement decisions, including as a result of regulatory review delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, planned launches in the affected EU member states would be delayed, which could negatively impact anticipated revenue from and growth prospects for Vyxeos and Epidyolex.
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The pricing of pharmaceutical products has come under increasing scrutiny as part of a global trend toward healthcare cost containment and resulting changes in healthcare law and policy may impact our business in ways that we cannot currently predict, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
Political, economic and regulatory influences are subjecting the healthcare industry in the U.S. to fundamental changes, particularly given the current atmosphere of mounting criticism of prescription drug costs in the U.S. We expect there will continue to be legislative and regulatory proposals to change the healthcare system in ways that could impact our ability to sell our products profitably, as governmental oversight and scrutiny of biopharmaceutical companies is increasing. For example, we anticipate that the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, and federal and state regulators may adopt or accelerate adoption of new healthcare policies and reforms intended to curb healthcare costs, such as federal and state controls on reimbursement for drugs (including under Medicare, Medicaid and commercial health plans), new or increased requirements to pay prescription drug rebates and penalties to government health care programs, and additional pharmaceutical cost transparency policies that aim to require drug companies to justify their prices through required disclosures. Further, momentum continues to build for the U.S. Congress to pass legislation (commonly referred to as the “Build Back Better Act”) before the November 2022 midterm elections that would, among other things, allow the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary to negotiate the price of a set number of drugs per year, penalize Medicare Part B and D manufacturers for price increases above inflation, and redesign the Medicare Part D benefit, including a limit on out-of-pocket costs.
Legislative and regulatory proposals that have recently been considered include, among other things, proposals to limit the terms of patent litigation settlements with generic sponsors, to define certain conduct around patenting and new product development as unfair competition, to facilitate the importation of drugs into the U.S. from other countries, and to increase manufacturer liability in the Medicare Part D pharmaceutical benefit. Legislative and regulatory proposals to reform the regulation of the pharmaceutical industry and reimbursement for pharmaceutical drugs are continually changing, and all such considerations may adversely affect our business and industry in ways that we cannot accurately predict.
There is also ongoing activity related to health care coverage. The Affordable Care Act substantially changed the way healthcare is financed by both governmental and private insurers. These changes impacted previously existing government healthcare programs and have resulted in the development of new programs, including Medicare payment-for-performance initiatives. Further, federal policy makers have taken and are expected to continue to try to take steps towards expanding health care coverage beyond the Affordable Care Act, which could have ramifications for the pharmaceutical industry. Additional legislative changes, regulatory changes, or guidance could be adopted, which may impact the marketing approvals and reimbursement for our products and product candidates. For example, there has been increasing legislative, regulatory, and enforcement interest in the U.S. with respect to drug pricing practices. There have been several Congressional inquiries and proposed and enacted federal and state legislation and regulatory initiatives designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to product pricing, evaluate the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs, and reform government healthcare program reimbursement methodologies for drug products.
If healthcare policies or reforms intended to curb healthcare costs are adopted or if we experience negative publicity with respect to pricing of our products or the pricing of pharmaceutical drugs generally, the prices that we charge for our products may be affected, our commercial opportunity may be limited and/or our revenues from sales of our products may be negatively impacted. We have periodically increased the price of Xywav and Xyrem, most recently in January 2022, and there is no guarantee that we will make similar price adjustments to Xywav and Xyrem in the future or that price adjustments we have taken or may take in the future will not negatively affect Xywav or Xyrem sales volumes and revenues. We also have made and may in the future make price adjustments on our other products. There is no guarantee that such price adjustments will not negatively affect our reputation and our ability to secure and maintain reimbursement coverage for our products, which could limit the prices that we charge for our products, including Xywav and Xyrem, limit the commercial opportunities for our products and/or negatively impact revenues from sales of our products.
If we become the subject of any future government investigation or U.S. Congressional oversight with respect to drug pricing or other business practices, we could incur significant expense and could be distracted from operation of our business and execution of our strategy. Any such investigation or hearing could also result in reduced market acceptance and demand for our products, could harm our reputation and our ability to market our products in the future, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
We expect that legislators, policymakers and healthcare insurance funds in Europe will continue to propose and implement cost-containing measures to keep healthcare costs down; particularly due to the financial strain that the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on their healthcare systems. These measures could include limitations on the prices we will be able to charge for our products or the level of reimbursement available for these products from governmental authorities or third party payors. Further, an increasing number of European and other foreign countries use prices for medicinal products established in other countries as “reference prices” to help determine the price of the product in their own territory. Consequently, a downward trend in prices of medicinal products in some countries could contribute to similar downward trends elsewhere.
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In addition to access, coverage and reimbursement, the commercial success of our products depends upon their market acceptance by physicians, patients, third party payors and the medical community.
If physicians do not prescribe our products, we cannot generate the revenues we anticipate from product sales. Market acceptance of each of our products by physicians, patients, third party payors and the medical community depends on:
•the clinical indications for which a product is approved and any restrictions placed upon the product in connection with its approval, such as a REMS or equivalent obligation imposed in a European or other foreign country, patient registry requirements or labeling restrictions;
•the prevalence of the disease or condition for which the product is approved and its diagnosis;
•the efficacy of the product in regular use;
•the severity of side effects and other risks in relation to the benefits of our products;
•unanticipated serious adverse events;
•acceptance by physicians and patients of each product as a safe and effective treatment;
•availability of sufficient product inventory to meet demand;
•physicians’ decisions relating to treatment practices based on availability of product;
•perceived clinical superiority and/or advantages over alternative treatments;
•overcoming negative publicity surrounding illicit use of
◦GHB or
◦cannabinoid and marijuana products
and the view of patients, law enforcement agencies, physicians and regulators of our products as being the same or similar to illicit products;
•relative convenience and ease of administration;
•with respect to Xywav and Xyrem, physician and patient assessment of the burdens associated with obtaining or maintaining the certifications required under the Xywav and Xyrem REMS;
•the cost of treatment in relation to alternative treatments, including generic products; and
•the availability of financial or other assistance for patients who are uninsured or underinsured.
Because of our dependence upon market acceptance of our products, any adverse publicity associated with harm to patients or other adverse events resulting from the use or misuse of any of our products or any similar products distributed by other companies, including generic versions of our products, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Delays or problems in the supply of our products for sale or for use in clinical trials, loss of our single source suppliers or failure to comply with manufacturing regulations could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
The manufacture of pharmaceutical products requires significant expertise and capital investment, including the development of process controls required to consistently produce the API and the finished product in sufficient quantities while meeting detailed product specifications on a repeated basis. We and our suppliers may encounter difficulties in production, including difficulties with the supply of manufacturing materials, production costs and yields, process controls, quality control and quality assurance, including testing of stability, impurities and impurity levels and other product specifications by validated test methods, and compliance with strictly enforced U.S., state and non-U.S. regulations. In addition, we and our suppliers are subject to FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practices, or cGMP, requirements, DEA regulations and equivalent rules and regulations prescribed by non-U.S. regulatory authorities. If we or any of our suppliers encounter manufacturing, quality or compliance difficulties with respect to any of our products, whether due to the evolving effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine and related sanctions imposed against Russia (including as a result of disruptions of global shipping, the transport of products, energy supply, cybersecurity incidents and banking systems as well as of our ability to control input costs) or otherwise, we may be unable to obtain or maintain regulatory approval or meet commercial demand for such products, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. In addition, we could be subject to enforcement action by regulatory authorities for our failure to comply with cGMP with respect to the products we manufacture in our facilities as well as for our failure to adequately oversee compliance with cGMP by any of our third party suppliers operating under contract. Moreover, failure to comply with applicable legal and regulatory
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requirements subjects us and our suppliers to possible regulatory action, including restrictions on supply or shutdown, which may adversely affect our or a supplier’s ability to supply the ingredients or finished products we need.
We have a manufacturing and development facility in Athlone, Ireland where we manufacture Xywav and Xyrem, a manufacturing plant in Villa Guardia, Italy where we produce the defibrotide drug substance and a manufacturing and development facility in the U.K. at Kent Science Park, where we produce Epidiolex/Epidyolex and Sativex and have capability to develop product candidates. We currently do not have our own commercial manufacturing or packaging capability for our other products, their APIs or product candidates outside of those developed at Kent Science Park. As a result, our ability to develop and supply products in a timely and competitive manner depends primarily on third party suppliers being able to meet our ongoing commercial and clinical trial needs for API, other raw materials, packaging materials and finished products.
In part due to the limited market size for our products and product candidates, we have a single source of supply for most of our marketed products, product candidates and their APIs. Single sourcing puts us at risk of interruption in supply in the event of manufacturing, quality or compliance difficulties. If one of our suppliers fails or refuses to supply us for any reason, it would take a significant amount of time and expense to implement and execute the necessary technology transfer to, and to qualify, a new supplier. FDA and similar international or national regulatory bodies must approve manufacturers of the active and inactive pharmaceutical ingredients and certain packaging materials used in our products. If there are delays in qualifying new suppliers or facilities or a new supplier is unable to meet FDA’s or similar international regulatory body’s requirements for approval, there could be a shortage of the affected products for the marketplace or for use in clinical studies, or both, which could negatively impact our anticipated revenues and could potentially cause us to breach contractual obligations with customers or to violate local laws requiring us to deliver the product to those in need.
We are responsible for the manufacture and supply of Sativex (nabiximols) to our collaboration partners and for the manufacture and supply of Epidiolex/Epidyolex, nabiximols and other cannabinoid product candidates for commercial use and for use in clinical trials. The manufacturing of Epidiolex/Epidyolex, nabiximols and our product candidates necessitates compliance with GMP and other regulatory requirements in jurisdictions internationally. Our ability to successfully manufacture Epidiolex/Epidyolex, nabiximols and other cannabinoid product candidates involves cultivation of botanical raw material from specific cannabinoid plants, extraction and purification processes, manufacture of finished products and labeling and packaging, which includes product information, tamper evidence and anti-counterfeit features, under tightly controlled processes and procedures. In addition, we must ensure chemical consistency among our batches, including clinical batches and, if approved, marketing batches. Demonstrating such consistency may require typical manufacturing controls as well as clinical data. We must also ensure that our batches conform to complex release specifications. For certain steps in the manufacturing process for nabiximols, we are currently reliant on single manufacturing facilities and no back-up facilities are yet in place. We have a second site at which we can grow the specific cannabinoid plants that produce the CBD used in Epidiolex/Epidyolex, a second site at which we can extract CBD from botanical raw material and a second site at which we can crystallize the purified CBD from the liquid plant extract. Because nabiximols is a complex mixture manufactured from plant materials, and because the release specifications may not be identical in all countries, certain batches may fail release testing and not be able to be commercialized. A number of our product candidates (excluding Epidiolex/Epidyolex) also consist of a complex mixture manufactured from plant materials, and are therefore subject to a similar risk. If we are unable to manufacture Epidiolex/Epidyolex, nabiximols or other product candidates in accordance with regulatory specifications, including Good Manufacturing Practice, or GMP, or if there are disruptions in our manufacturing process due to damage, loss or otherwise, or failure to pass regulatory inspections of our manufacturing facilities, we may not be able to meet current demand or supply sufficient product for use in clinical trials, and this may also harm our ability to commercialize Epidiolex/Epidyolex, nabiximols and our product candidates on a timely or cost-competitive basis, if at all. Our manufacturing program requires significant time and resources and may not be successful, may lead to delays, interruptions to supply or may prove to be more costly than anticipated.
Vyxeos is manufactured by Baxter Oncology GmbH, or Baxter, which is a sole source supplier from a single site location. There have been batch failures due to mechanical, component, raw materials and other issues in the production of Vyxeos, and batches have been produced that have otherwise not been in compliance with applicable specifications. We are continuing to work with Baxter and others to address manufacturing complexities related to Vyxeos. Moreover, the proprietary technology that supports the manufacture of Vyxeos is not easily transferable. Consequently, engaging an alternate manufacturer may be difficult, costly and time-consuming. If we fail to obtain a sufficient supply of Vyxeos in accordance with applicable specifications on a timely basis, our sales of Vyxeos, our future maintenance and potential growth of the market for this product, our ability to conduct ongoing and future clinical trials of Vyxeos, and our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects could be materially adversely affected.
Rylaze drug substance is manufactured by AGC Biologics at its facility in Copenhagen, Denmark and the drug product is manufactured and packaged by Patheon at its facility in Greenville, North Carolina. Both sites have ample capacity to support forecast demand and we have secured supply for more than one year's forecast demand. To successfully manufacture Rylaze, the manufacturer must have an adequate master and working cell bank. If we fail to obtain a sufficient supply of Rylaze in accordance with applicable specifications on a timely basis, our sales of Rylaze, our future maintenance and potential growth of
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the market for this product, our competitive advantage over competing products that have supply constraints, and our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects could be materially adversely affected.
In addition, in order to conduct our ongoing and any future clinical trials of, complete marketing authorization submissions for, and potentially launch our other product candidates, we also need to have sufficient quantities of product manufactured.
Moreover, to obtain approval from FDA or a similar international or national regulatory body of any product candidate, we or our suppliers for that product must obtain approval by the applicable regulatory body to manufacture and supply product, in some cases based on qualification data provided to the applicable body as part of our regulatory submission. Any delay in generating, or failure to generate, data required in connection with submission of the chemistry, manufacturing and controls portions of any regulatory submission could negatively impact our ability to meet our anticipated submission dates, and therefore our anticipated timing for obtaining FDA or similar international or national regulatory body approval, or our ability to obtain regulatory approval at all. In addition, any failure of us or a supplier to obtain approval by the applicable regulatory body to manufacture and supply product or any delay in receiving, or failure to receive, adequate supplies of a product on a timely basis or in accordance with applicable specifications could negatively impact our ability to successfully launch and commercialize products and generate sales of products at the levels we expect.
If the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic become more severe and begin to impact supply of manufacturing materials or essential distribution systems such as general delivery services, or require us or our suppliers to again cease or restrict operations at our respective manufacturing facilities, we could experience disruptions to our supply chain and operations, and associated delays in the manufacturing and supply of our products, which would adversely impact our ability to generate sales of our approved products and our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects would be materially adversely affected. For example, supply chain interruptions and shortage of construction materials could lead to delays and rising costs associated with our planned construction project at our commercial manufacturing facility in the U.K. at Kent Science Park. In addition, energy prices have spiked recently due to global macro-economic issues, which has directly impacted CO2 prices and availability. CO2 is a critical raw material for manufacturing our cannabinoid products. Further, energy price rises have also increased costs many other areas of manufacturing and supply in recent months and these could worsen in future periods.
Risks Related to Growth of Our Product Portfolio and Research and Development
Our future success depends on our ability to successfully develop and obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for our late-stage product candidates and, if approved, to successfully launch and commercialize those product candidates.
The testing, manufacturing and marketing of our products require regulatory approvals, including approval from FDA and similar bodies in Europe and other countries. If FDA, the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, or the competent authorities of the EU member states or other European countries determine that our quality, safety or efficacy data do not warrant marketing approval for a product candidate, we could be required to conduct additional clinical trials as a condition to receiving approval, which could be costly and time-consuming and could delay or preclude the approval of our application. Our inability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for our product candidates in the U.S. and internationally and to successfully commercialize new products that are approved would prevent us from receiving a return on our investments and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Due to the evolving effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is possible that we could experience delays in the timing of marketing application review by regulatory authorities and/or our interactions with regulatory authorities due to limited staffing or working hours of governmental employees, governmental “stay-at-home” orders and travel restrictions with respect to physical inspections if required for regulatory approval, or the diversion of regulatory authority efforts and attention to approval of other therapeutics or other activities related to COVID-19, which could delay anticipated approval decisions and otherwise delay or limit our ability to make planned regulatory submissions or obtain new product approvals. For example, due to travel restrictions in 2021 that prevented an on-site inspection, we experienced a delay in FDA’s approval of GP Pharm as a second manufacturer of Zepzelca. It is possible that we could experience delays in regulatory interactions and review of submissions due to COVID-19 impacts described above, such as with respect to our development pathway for nabiximols.
Even if we receive approval of a product, regulatory authorities may impose significant labeling restrictions or requirements, including limitations on the dosing of the product, requirements around the naming or strength of a product, restrictions on indicated uses for which we may market the product, the imposition of a boxed warning or other warnings and precautions, and/or the requirement for a REMS or equivalent obligation imposed in a European or other foreign country to ensure that the benefits of the drug outweigh the risks. FDA requires a REMS and a boxed warning for Xywav and Xyrem, and similar restrictions could be imposed on other products in the future. Our receipt of approval for narrower indications than sought, restrictions on marketing through a REMS or equivalent obligation imposed in a European or other foreign country, or
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significant labeling restrictions or requirements in an approved label such as a boxed warning, could have a negative impact on our ability to recoup our research and development costs and to successfully commercialize that product, any of which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Regulatory authorities may also impose post-marketing obligations as part of their approval, which may lead to additional costs and burdens associated with commercialization of the drug and may pose a risk to maintaining approval of the drug. We are subject to certain post-marketing requirements and commitments in connection with the approval of certain of our products, including Epidiolex, Defitelio, Vyxeos, Rylaze and Zepzelca. These post-marketing requirements and commitments include satisfactorily conducting multiple post-marketing clinical trials and safety studies. For example, FDA granted accelerated approval to Zepzelca for relapsed SCLC based on data from a Phase 2 trial, which approval is contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a post-marketing clinical trial. We and our licensor PharmaMar are committed to the further study of lurbinectedin, both as a single agent and in combination, and have reached agreement with FDA regarding a confirmatory clinical development program. Our inability to confirm its clinical benefit could result in the withdrawal of approval of Zepzelca, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. With respect to FDA’s and EC’s approvals of Epidiolex/Epidyolex, we are subject to certain post-marketing requirements. Failure to comply with these post-marketing requirements could result in withdrawal of our marketing approvals for Epidiolex/Epidyolex and/or other civil or criminal penalties. In any event, if we are unable to comply with our post-marketing obligations imposed as part of the marketing approvals in the U.S., the EU, or other countries, our approval may be varied, suspended or revoked, product supply may be delayed and our sales of our products could be materially adversely affected.
We are pursuing activities related to the development of additional asparaginase products for patients with ALL or other hematological malignancies. Several of our external research and development collaborations are focused on these efforts, including our agreement with Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, or Ligand. We developed Rylaze, a recombinant Erwinia asparaginase product for the treatment of patients with ALL and LBL who have hypersensitivity to E. coli-derived asparaginase, under our Ligand agreement. We also have clinical development efforts in a variety of other areas, including those focused on expanding the potential of Epidiolex, Vyxeos, Rylaze and Xywav, as well as clinical development efforts focused on suvecaltamide (JZP385) for the treatment of essential tremor, JZP150 for post-traumatic stress disorder and nabiximols for multiple sclerosis-related spasticity. Epidiolex has been administered only to a limited number of patients and in limited populations in clinical trials. While FDA and EC granted approval of Epidiolex/Epidyolex based on the data included in GW's NDA, supplemental NDA and marketing authorization application, we do not know whether the results will be consistent with those resulting from administration of the drug to a large number of patients. New data relating to Epidiolex/Epidyolex, including from adverse event reports and post-marketing studies in the U.S. and Europe, and from other ongoing clinical trials, may result in changes to the product label and/or imposition of a REMS and may adversely affect sales, or result in withdrawal of Epidiolex/Epidyolex from the market. FDA, EMA and regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions may also consider the new data in reviewing Epidiolex/Epidyolex marketing applications for indications other than our approved uses in other jurisdictions or impose additional post-approval requirements. If any of these actions were to occur, it could result in significant expense and delay or limit our ability to generate sales of Epidiolex/Epidyolex. If we are not successful in the clinical development of our product candidates, if we are unable to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates in a timely manner, or at all, or if sales of an approved product do not reach the levels we expect, our anticipated revenue from our product candidates would be negatively affected, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
We may not be able to successfully identify and acquire or in-license additional products or product candidates to grow our business, and, even if we are able to do so, we may otherwise fail to realize the anticipated benefits of these transactions.
In addition to continued investment in our research and development pipeline, we intend to grow our business by acquiring or in-licensing, and developing, including with collaboration partners, additional products and product candidates that we believe are highly differentiated and have significant commercial potential. However, we may be unable to identify or consummate suitable acquisition or in-licensing opportunities, and this inability could impair our ability to grow our business. Other companies, many of which may have substantially greater financial, sales and marketing resources, compete with us for these opportunities. Even if appropriate opportunities are available, we may not be able to successfully identify them, or we may not have the financial resources necessary to pursue them.
Even if we are able to successfully identify and acquire, in-license or develop additional products or product candidates, we may not be able to successfully manage the risks associated with integrating any products or product candidates into our portfolio or the risks arising from anticipated and unanticipated problems in connection with an acquisition or in-licensing. Further, while we seek to mitigate risks and liabilities of potential acquisitions and in-licensing transactions through, among other things, due diligence, there may be risks and liabilities that such due diligence efforts fail to discover, that are not disclosed to us, or that we inadequately assess. Any failure in identifying and managing these risks, liabilities and uncertainties effectively, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition,
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product and product candidate acquisitions, particularly when the acquisition takes the form of a merger or other business consolidation such as our acquisition of GW, have required, and any similar future transactions also will require, significant efforts and expenditures, including with respect to transition and integration activities. We may encounter unexpected difficulties, or incur substantial costs, in connection with potential acquisitions and similar transactions, which include:
•the need to incur substantial debt and/or engage in dilutive issuances of equity securities to pay for acquisitions;
•the potential disruption of our historical core business;
•the strain on, and need to continue to expand, our existing operational, technical, financial and administrative infrastructure;
•the difficulties in integrating acquired products and product candidates into our portfolio;
•the difficulties in assimilating employees and corporate cultures;
•the failure to retain key managers and other personnel;
•the need to write down assets or recognize impairment charges;
•the diversion of our management’s attention to integration of operations and corporate and administrative infrastructures; and
•any unanticipated liabilities for activities of or related to the acquired business or its operations, products or product candidates.
As a result of these or other factors, products or product candidates we acquire, or obtain licenses to, may not produce the revenues, earnings or business synergies that we anticipated, may not result in regulatory approvals, and may not perform as expected. Failure to manage effectively our growth through acquisitions or in-licensing transactions could adversely affect our growth prospects, business, results of operations and financial condition.
Conducting clinical trials is costly and time-consuming, and the outcomes are uncertain. A failure to prove that our product candidates are safe and effective in clinical trials, or to generate data in clinical trials to support expansion of the therapeutic uses for our existing products, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
As a condition to regulatory approval, each product candidate must undergo extensive and expensive preclinical studies and clinical trials to demonstrate that the product candidate is safe and effective. The results at any stage of the development process may lack the desired safety, efficacy or pharmacokinetic characteristics. If FDA determines that the safety or efficacy data included in any marketing application we submit do not warrant marketing approval for the affected product or product candidate, we may be required to conduct additional preclinical studies or clinical trials, which could be challenging to perform, costly and time-consuming. Even if we believe we have successfully completed testing, FDA or any equivalent non-U.S. regulatory agency may determine our data is not sufficiently compelling to warrant marketing approval for the indication(s) sought, if at all, and may require us to engage in additional clinical trials or provide further analysis which may be costly and time-consuming. Any adverse events or other data generated during the course of clinical trials of our product candidates and/or clinical trials related to additional indications for our commercialized products could result in action by FDA or an equivalent non-U.S. regulatory agency, which may restrict our ability to sell, or adversely affect sales of, currently marketed products, or such events or other data could otherwise have a material adverse effect on a related commercial product, including with respect to its safety profile. Any failure or delay in completing such clinical trials could materially and adversely affect the maintenance and growth of the markets for the related marketed products, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and overall growth prospects.
In addition to issues relating to the results generated in clinical trials, clinical trials can be delayed or halted for a variety of reasons, including:
•direct and indirect impacts of the evolving effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on various aspects and stages of the clinical development process, including the inherent limitations of remote and virtual approaches, and interruption of key clinical trial activities, such as clinical trial site monitoring, due to limitations on travel, quarantines or social distancing protocols imposed or recommended by federal or state governments, employers and others;
•difficulty identifying, recruiting or enrolling eligible patients, often based on the number of clinical trials, particularly with enrollment criteria targeting the same patient population, and in rare diseases with small patient populations;
•difficulty identifying a clinical development pathway, including viable indications and appropriate clinical trial protocol design, particularly where there is no applicable regulatory precedent;
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•delays or failures in obtaining regulatory authorization to commence a trial because of safety concerns of regulators relating to our product candidates or similar product candidates of our competitors or failure to follow regulatory guidelines;
•delays or failures in obtaining clinical materials and manufacturing sufficient quantities of the product candidate for use in trials;
•delays or failures in reaching agreement on acceptable terms with prospective study sites;
•delays or failures in obtaining approval of our clinical trial protocol from an institutional review board, known as an ethics committee in Europe, to conduct a clinical trial at a prospective study site;
•failure of our clinical trials and clinical investigators, including contract research organizations or other third parties assisting us with clinical trials, to satisfactorily perform their contractual duties, meet expected deadlines and comply with FDA and other regulatory agencies’ requirements, including good clinical practices;
•unforeseen safety issues;
•inability to monitor patients adequately during or after treatment;
•difficulty monitoring multiple study sites; or
•insufficient funds to complete the trials.
In some jurisdictions such as the EU, initiating phase 3 clinical trials and clinical trials in the pediatric population is subject to a requirement to obtain approval or a waiver from the competent authorities of the EU member states and/or the EMA. If we do not obtain such approval our ability to conduct clinical trials and obtain marketing authorizations or approvals may be severely impaired and our business may be adversely impacted.
Our ability to recruit and retain patients and principal investigators and site staff who, as health care providers, may have heightened exposure to COVID-19, may adversely impact our clinical trial operations. In light of the evolving effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have taken measures to implement remote and virtual approaches, including remote data monitoring where possible, to maintain patient safety and trial continuity and to preserve study integrity. To date we have seen some COVID-19-related impact to our mid- and late-stage clinical trial activity causing delays in site initiation, including due to staffing shortages at trial sites. In addition, GW had begun to recruit patients for an early-stage clinical trial of Epidiolex in the treatment of Rett syndrome and GW terminated this trial in November 2020 due to severe feasibility challenges arising from COVID-19. We could also see an impact on the ability to supply study drug, report trial results, or interact with regulators, ethics committees or other important agencies due to limitations in regulatory authority employee resources or otherwise. In addition, we rely on contract research organizations or other third parties to assist us with clinical trials, and we cannot guarantee that they will continue to perform their contractual duties in a timely and satisfactory manner as a result of the evolving effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. If these effects become more severe, we could experience significant disruptions to our clinical development timelines, which would adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. In addition, some patients may not be able to comply with clinical trial protocols if quarantines impede patient movement or interrupt healthcare services.
Risks Related to the GW Acquisition
We may not realize the anticipated benefits from the GW Acquisition.
On May 5, 2021, we completed the acquisition of GW. The success of the acquisition will depend, in part, on our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from successfully combining our and GW's historical businesses and the integration of our business practices and operations with GW's so that we can fully realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition. Epidiolex and the other products and technologies acquired may not be successful or continue to grow at the same rate as if our companies operated independently or they may require significantly greater resources and investments than originally anticipated. As a result, the anticipated benefits of the acquisition may not be realized fully within the expected timeframe or at all or may take longer to realize or cost more than expected, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
It is difficult and costly to protect our proprietary rights, and we may not be able to ensure their protection.
Our commercial success depends in part on obtaining, maintaining and defending intellectual property protection for our products and product candidates, including protection of their use and methods of manufacturing and distribution. Our ability
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to protect our products and product candidates from unauthorized making, using, selling, offering to sell or importation by third parties depends on the extent to which we have rights under valid and enforceable patents or have adequately protected trade secrets that cover these activities.
The degree of protection to be afforded by our proprietary rights is uncertain because legal means afford only limited protection and may not adequately protect our rights or permit us to gain or keep our competitive advantage. For example:
•our patent applications, or those of our licensors or partners, may not result in issued patents;
•others may independently develop similar or therapeutically equivalent products without infringing our patents, or those of our licensors, such as products that are not covered by the claims of our patents, or for which we do not have adequate exclusive rights under our license agreements;
•our issued patents, or those of our licensors or partners, may be held invalid or unenforceable as a result of legal challenges by third parties or may be vulnerable to legal challenges as a result of changes in applicable law;
•our patents covering certain aspects of our products could be delisted from FDA's publication “Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations,” or Orange Book, as a result of challenges by third parties before FDA or the courts;
•we or our licensors or partners might not have been the first to invent or file, as appropriate, subject matters covered by our issued patents or pending patent applications or those of our licensors or partners;
•competitors may manufacture products in countries where we have not applied for patent protection or that have a different scope of patent protection or that do not respect our patents; or
•others may be issued patents that prevent the sale of our products or require licensing and the payment of significant fees or royalties.
Patent enforcement generally must be sought on a country-by-country basis, and issues of patent validity and infringement may be judged differently in different countries. Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting, defending and enforcing intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of certain countries, particularly certain developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of patents and other intellectual property rights, particularly those relating to pharmaceuticals, which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents or marketing of competing products in violation of our proprietary rights generally. Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial cost and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business.
Changes in either the patent laws or in interpretations of patent laws in the U.S. and other countries may diminish the value of our intellectual property portfolio. Even if we are able to obtain patents covering our products and product candidates, any patent may be challenged, and potentially invalidated or held unenforceable, including through patent litigation or through patent office procedures that permit challenges to patent validity. Patents can also be circumvented, potentially including by FDA approval of an ANDA or Section 505(b)(2) application that avoids infringement of our intellectual property.
In June 2021, we received notice from Lupin that it has filed with FDA an ANDA for a generic version of Xywav. The notice from Lupin included a “paragraph IV certification” with respect to ten of our patents listed in FDA’s Orange Book for Xywav on the date of our receipt of the notice. A paragraph IV certification is a certification by a generic applicant that patents covering the branded product are invalid, unenforceable, and/or will not be infringed by the manufacture, use or sale of the generic product.
On July 28, 2021, we filed a patent infringement suit against Lupin in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The complaint alleges that by filing its ANDA, Lupin has infringed ten of our Orange Book listed patents. We are seeking a permanent injunction to prevent Lupin from introducing a generic version of Xywav that would infringe our patents. As a result of this lawsuit, we expect that a stay of approval of up to 30 months will be imposed by FDA on Lupin's ANDA. In June 2021, FDA recognized seven years of Orphan Drug Exclusivity for Xywav through July 21, 2027. On October 4, 2021, Lupin filed an answer to the complaint and counterclaims asserting that the patents are invalid or not enforceable, and that its product, if approved, will not infringe our patents.
In April 2022, we received notice from Lupin that it had filed a paragraph IV certification regarding a newly-issued patent listed in the Orange Book for Xywav. On May 11, 2022, we filed an additional lawsuit against Lupin in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey alleging that by filing its ANDA, Lupin infringed the newly-issued patent related to a method of treatment when Xywav is administered concomitantly with certain other medications. The suit seeks a permanent injunction to prevent Lupin from introducing a generic version of Xywav that would infringe our patent.
We have settled patent litigation with nine companies seeking to introduce generic versions of Xyrem in the U.S. by granting those companies licenses to launch their generic products (and in certain cases, an authorized generic version of
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Xyrem) in advance of the expiration of the last of our patents. Notwithstanding our Xyrem patents and settlement agreements, additional third parties may also attempt to introduce generic versions of Xyrem, Xywav or other sodium oxybate products for treatment of cataplexy and/or EDS in narcolepsy that design around our patents or assert that our patents are invalid or otherwise unenforceable. Such third parties could launch a generic or 505(b)(2) product referencing Xyrem before the dates provided in our patents or settlement agreements. For example, we have several method of use patents listed in the Orange Book, that expire in 2033 that cover treatment methods included in the Xyrem label related to a drug-drug interaction, or DDI, with divalproex sodium. Although FDA has stated, in granting a Citizen Petition we submitted in 2016, that it would not approve any sodium oxybate ANDA referencing Xyrem that does not include the portions of the currently approved Xyrem label related to the DDI patents, we cannot predict whether a future ANDA filer, or a company that files a Section 505(b)(2) application for a drug referencing Xyrem, may pursue regulatory strategies to avoid infringing our DDI patents notwithstanding FDA’s response to the Citizen Petition, or whether any such strategy would be successful. Likewise, we cannot predict whether we will be able to maintain the validity of these patents or will otherwise obtain a judicial determination that a generic or other sodium oxybate product, its package insert or the generic sodium oxybate REMS or another separate REMS will infringe any of our patents or, if we prevail in proving infringement, whether a court will grant an injunction that prevents a future ANDA filer or other company introducing a different sodium oxybate product from marketing its product, or instead require that party to pay damages in the form of lost profits or a reasonable royalty.
Since Xyrem’s regulatory exclusivity has expired in the EU, we are aware that generic or hybrid generic applications have been approved by various EU regulatory authorities, and additional generic or hybrid generic applications may be submitted and approved. We cannot predict whether our licensee in the EU will be able to enforce our existing European patents against generic or hybrid generic filers in the EU.
We also currently rely on trade secret protection for several of our products, including Defitelio, and product candidates, including nabiximols. Trade secret protection does not protect information or inventions if another party develops that information or invention independently, and establishing that a competitor developed a product through trade secret misappropriation rather than through legitimate means may be difficult to prove. We seek to protect our trade secrets and other unpatented proprietary information in part through confidentiality and invention agreements with our employees, consultants, advisors and partners. Nevertheless, our employees, consultants, advisors and partners may unintentionally or willfully disclose our proprietary information to competitors, and we may not have adequate remedies for such disclosures. Moreover, if a dispute arises with our employees, consultants, advisors or partners over the ownership of rights to inventions, including jointly developed intellectual property, we could lose patent protection or the confidentiality of our proprietary information, and possibly also lose the ability to pursue the development of certain new products or product candidates.
We have incurred and may in the future incur substantial costs as a result of litigation or other proceedings relating to patents, other intellectual property rights and related matters, and we may be unable to protect our rights to, or commercialize, our products.
Our ability, and that of our partners, to commercialize any approved products will depend, in part, on our ability to obtain patents, enforce those patents and operate without infringing the proprietary rights of third parties. If we choose to go to court to stop a third party from infringing our patents, our licensed patents or our partners’ patents, that third party has the right to ask the court or an administrative agency to rule that these patents are invalid and/or should not be enforced. These lawsuits and administrative proceedings are expensive and consume time and other resources, and we may not be successful in these proceedings or in stopping infringement. In addition, the inter partes review process, or IPR, under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act permits any person, whether they are accused of infringing the patent at issue or not, to challenge the validity of certain patents through a proceeding before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, or PTAB, of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
There is a risk that a court could decide that our patents or certain claims in our patents are not valid or infringed, and that we do not have the right to stop a third party from using the inventions covered by those claims. In addition, the PTAB may invalidate a patent, as happened with six of our patents covering the Xywav and Xyrem REMS, which were invalidated through the IPR process. In addition, even if we prevail in establishing that another product infringes a valid claim of one of our patents, a court may determine that we can be compensated for the infringement in damages, and refuse to issue an injunction. As a result, we may not be entitled to stop another party from infringing our patents for their full term.
Litigation involving patent matters is frequently settled between the parties, rather than continuing to a court ruling, and we have settled patent litigation with all nine Xyrem ANDA filers. The FTC has publicly stated that, in its view, certain types of agreements between branded and generic pharmaceutical companies related to the settlement of patent litigation or the manufacture, marketing and sale of generic versions of branded drugs violate the antitrust laws and has commenced investigations and brought actions against some companies that have entered into such agreements. In particular, the FTC has expressed its intention to take aggressive action to challenge settlements that include an alleged transfer of value from the brand company to the generic company (so-called “pay for delay” patent litigation settlements). The U.S. Congress and state legislatures have also identified pharmaceutical patent litigation settlements as potential impediments to generic competition
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and have introduced, and in states like California passed, legislation to regulate them. Third party payors have also challenged such settlements on the grounds that they increase drug prices. Because there is currently no precise legal standard with respect to the lawfulness of such settlements, many pharmaceutical companies, including us, have faced extensive litigation over whether patent litigation settlements they have entered into are reasonable and lawful. From June 2020 to May 2022, a number of lawsuits were filed on behalf of purported direct and indirect Xyrem purchasers, alleging that the patent litigation settlement agreements we entered with Hikma and other ANDA filers violate state and federal antitrust and consumer protection laws. For additional information on these lawsuits, see Note 10, Commitments and Contingencies-Legal Proceedings of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. It is possible that additional lawsuits will be filed against us making similar or related allegations. We cannot predict the outcome of these or potential additional lawsuits or government actions; however, if the plaintiffs in the class action complaints were to be successful in their claims, they may be entitled to injunctive relief or we may be required to pay significant monetary damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Parties to such settlement agreements in the U.S. are required by law to file the agreements with the FTC and the U.S. Department of Justice, or DOJ, for review. Accordingly, we have submitted our patent litigation settlement agreements to the FTC and the DOJ for review. We may receive formal or informal requests from the FTC regarding our ANDA litigation settlements, and there is a risk that the FTC may commence a formal investigation or action against us, which could divert the attention of management and cause us to incur significant costs, regardless of the outcome. Any claim or finding that we or our business partners have failed to comply with applicable laws and regulations could be costly to us and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
A third party may claim that we or our manufacturing or commercialization partners are using inventions covered by the third party’s patent rights, or that we or such partners are infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating other intellectual property rights, and may go to court to stop us from engaging in our normal operations and activities, including making or selling our products. Such lawsuits are costly and could affect our results of operations and divert the attention of management and development personnel. There is a risk that a court could decide that we or our partners are infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating third party patent or other intellectual property rights, which could be very costly to us and have a material adverse effect on our business. If we are sued for patent infringement, we would need to demonstrate that our products or methods do not infringe the patent claims of the relevant patent and/or that the patent claims are invalid or unenforceable, which we may not be able to do.
If we were found to infringe upon a patent or other intellectual property right, or if we failed to obtain or renew a license under a patent or other intellectual property right from a third party, or if a third party that we were licensing technologies from was found to infringe upon a patent or other intellectual property rights of another third party, we may be required to pay damages, including damages of up to three times the damages found or assessed, if the infringement is found to be willful, suspend the manufacture of certain products or reengineer or rebrand our products, if feasible, or we may be unable to enter certain new product markets. Litigation, whether filed by us or against us, can be expensive and time consuming to defend and divert management’s attention and resources. Our competitive position could suffer as a result. In addition, if we have declined or failed to enter into a valid non-disclosure or assignment agreement for any reason, we may not own the invention or our intellectual property, and our products may not be adequately protected.
With respect to our products and product candidates targeting rare indications, relevant regulatory exclusivities such as orphan drug exclusivity or pediatric exclusivity may not be granted or, if granted, may be limited.
The first NDA applicant with an Orphan Drug Designation for a particular active moiety to treat a specific disease or condition that receives FDA approval is usually entitled to a seven-year exclusive marketing period in the U.S. for that drug, for that indication. We rely in part on this Orphan Drug Exclusivity and other regulatory exclusivities to protect Xywav, Epidiolex, Zepzelca, Defitelio, Vyxeos and, potentially, our other products and product candidates from competitors, and we expect to continue relying in part on these regulatory exclusivities in the future. The duration of our regulatory exclusivity period could be impacted by a number of factors, including FDA’s later determination that our request for orphan designation was materially defective, that the manufacturer is unable to supply sufficient quantities of the drug, that the extension of the exclusivity period established by the Improving Regulatory Transparency for New Medical Therapies Act does not apply, or the possibility that we are unable to successfully obtain pediatric exclusivity. There is no assurance that we will successfully obtain Orphan Drug Designation for other products or product candidates or other rare diseases or that a product candidate for which we receive Orphan Drug Designation will be approved, or that we will be awarded orphan drug exclusivity upon approval as, for example, FDA may reconsider whether the eligibility criteria for such exclusivity have been met and/or maintained. Moreover, a drug product with an active moiety that is different from that in our drug candidate or, under limited circumstances, the same drug product, may be approved by FDA for the same indication during the period of marketing exclusivity. The limited circumstances include a showing that the second drug is clinically superior to the drug with marketing exclusivity through a demonstration of superior safety or efficacy or that it makes a major contribution to patient care. In addition, if a competitor obtains approval and marketing exclusivity for a drug product with an active moiety that is the same as that in a product
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candidate we are pursuing for the same indication before us, approval of our product candidate would be blocked during the period of marketing exclusivity unless we could demonstrate that our product candidate is clinically superior to the approved product. In addition, if a competitor obtains approval and marketing exclusivity for a drug product with an active moiety that is the same as that in a product candidate we are pursuing for a different orphan indication, this may negatively impact the market opportunity for our product candidate. There have been legal challenges to aspects of FDA’s regulations and policies concerning the exclusivity provisions of the Orphan Drug Act, including whether two drugs are the same drug product, and future challenges could lead to changes that affect the protections potentially afforded our products in ways that are difficult to predict. In a successful legal challenge, a court invalidated FDA’s denial of orphan exclusivity to a drug on the grounds that the drug was not proven to be clinically superior to a previously approved product containing the same ingredient for the same orphan use. In response to the decision, FDA released a policy statement stating that the court’s decision is limited just to the facts of that particular case and that FDA will continue to require the sponsor of a designated drug that is the “same” as a previously approved drug to demonstrate that its drug is clinically superior to that drug upon approval in order to be eligible for orphan drug exclusivity, or in some cases, to even be eligible for marketing approval. In the future, there is the potential for legislative changes or additional legal challenges to FDA’s orphan drug regulations and policies, and it is uncertain how such challenges might affect our business.
In the European Union, if a marketing authorization is granted for a medicinal product that is designated an orphan drug, that product is entitled to ten years of marketing exclusivity. We rely in part on this orphan drug exclusivity and other regulatory exclusivities to protect Epidyolex, Vyxeos and Defitelio. During the period of marketing exclusivity, subject to limited exceptions, no similar medicinal product may be granted a marketing authorization for the orphan indication. There is no assurance that we will successfully obtain Orphan Drug Designation for future rare indications or orphan exclusivity upon approval of any of our product candidates that have already obtained designation. Even if we obtain orphan exclusivity for any product candidate, the exclusivity period can be reduced to six years if at the end of the fifth year it is established that the orphan designation criteria are no longer met or if it is demonstrated that the orphan drug is sufficiently profitable that market exclusivity is no longer justified. Further, a similar medicinal product may be granted a marketing authorization for the same indication notwithstanding our marketing exclusivity if we are unable to supply sufficient quantities of our product, or if the second product is safer, more effective or otherwise clinically superior to our orphan drug. In addition, if a competitor obtains marketing authorization and orphan exclusivity for a product that is similar to a product candidate we are pursuing for the same indication, approval of our product candidate would be blocked during the period of orphan marketing exclusivity unless we could demonstrate that our product candidate is safer, more effective or otherwise clinically superior to the approved product.
Other Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
Changes in the market for directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain directors and officers liability insurance.
In recent years, the market for directors and officers liability insurance for biopharmaceuticals and life sciences companies has changed in ways adverse to us. The premiums charged for such policies have generally increased and the terms of such policies have generally become less favorable. As a result, it is currently expensive and may become significantly more expensive for us to maintain directors and officers liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. In any event, there can be no assurance that directors and officers liability insurance will be adequate to cover our potential liabilities or will be generally available to us in the future or, if available, that the cost of such insurance will be commercially justifiable. The increased cost and decreased availability of directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or as executive officers, and could also make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate and consummate future corporate development transactions, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Our business is currently adversely affected and could be materially and adversely affected in the future by the evolving effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic and related global economic slowdown, including with respect to our commercialization efforts, clinical trial activity, research and development activities, supply chain and corporate development activities and other business operations.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on the global healthcare delivery system. Many healthcare systems have had to restructure operations to prioritize caring for COVID-19 patients and limit or cease other activities. The severe burden on healthcare systems caused by this pandemic has impaired the ability to diagnose and treat patients with non-COVID-19 related conditions and impaired the ability of many clinical research sites to start new studies, enroll new patients and monitor patients in clinical trials. Health care provider offices and institutions have experienced workforce disruption, including the inability to hire staff and challenges maintaining appropriate staffing. The lack of access to health care providers has caused, and may continue to cause, delays in appropriate diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care for
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some patients, which could subsequently impact prescribing and use of our products. The evolving effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and government measures taken in response have had a significant impact, both direct and indirect, on businesses and commerce, as significant reductions in business related activities have occurred, supply chains have been disrupted, and manufacturing and clinical development activities have been curtailed or suspended.
Continued remote work policies, quarantines, shelter-in-place and similar government orders, shutdowns or other restrictions on the conduct of business operations related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may materially and adversely affect our business, our ability to generate sales of our approved products, our supply chain, regulatory, clinical development and corporate development activities. With respect to our commercialization activities, the evolving effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to have a negative impact on demand, new patient starts and treatments for our products, primarily due to the inherent limitations of telemedicine and a reprioritization of healthcare resources toward COVID-19. Due to the nature of the pandemic, we are not able to accurately predict the duration or extent of these impacts on demand for our products. Beginning in March 2020, we transitioned our field-based sales, market access, reimbursement and medical employees out of the field and suspended work-related travel and in-person customer interactions. We utilized technology to continue to engage healthcare professionals and other customers virtually to support patient care. As the effects of the pandemic have evolved from 2020 to 2022, clinics and institutions began to allow in-person interactions pursuant to local health authority and government guidelines; however, certain clinics and institutions have reimposed various restrictions due to the emergence COVID-19 variants. The level of renewed in-person engagement varies by account, region and country and may be adversely impacted in the future as a result of the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The limits on full in-person interactions have had a negative impact our ability to effectively communicate product benefits to physicians, limiting their awareness and understanding and use of our products.
For Xywav and Xyrem, COVID-19 protocols and staffing shortages at sleep labs across the U.S. have resulted in reduced access to sleep testing. The decline in prescribers’ ability to diagnose new narcolepsy patients has resulted in an overall decline in new patients starting on therapy. Although patient persistence and compliance with oxybate therapy remained steady during recent quarters, we continue to expect that delays in obtaining a narcolepsy diagnosis could have a negative impact on new Xywav and Xyrem patient enrollments in future quarters. We also anticipate that pricing and reimbursement reviews by certain European regulatory authorities may take longer in certain countries due to the pandemic, which could delay growth prospects for Vyxeos and Epidyolex in those EU member states.
We have also seen an upward trend in demand for patient assistance programs. Depending on the ultimate duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and the extent of a global economic slowdown, widespread unemployment and resulting loss of employer-sponsored insurance coverage or other market dynamics, we may experience an increasing shift from commercial payor coverage to government payor coverage or increasing demand for patient assistance and/or free drug programs, which could adversely affect net product sales.
In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant volatility in the global financial markets. If this volatility persists and deepens, we could experience an inability to access additional capital or our liquidity could otherwise be impacted, which could in the future negatively affect our capacity for certain corporate development transactions or our ability to make other important, opportunistic investments. In addition, the current recession or additional market corrections resulting from the impact of the evolving effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could materially affect our business and the value of our ordinary shares. While we expect these effects to adversely affect our business operations and financial results, the extent of the impact on our ability to generate sales of our approved products, execute on new product launches, our clinical development and regulatory efforts, our corporate development objectives and the value of and market for our ordinary shares, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence at this time. Such developments include continued spread of variants with increased transmissibility, the ultimate duration and severity of the pandemic, governmental “stay-at-home” orders and travel restrictions, quarantines, social distancing and business closure requirements in the U.S., Ireland and other countries, and the effectiveness of vaccination programs and other actions taken globally to contain and treat the disease. For example, the ongoing stress and reprioritization within the healthcare systems in our key markets may require us to reassess the timing and scope of key business activities for 2022, including with respect to our ability to continue the launch momentum for Epidiolex, Xywav, Zepzelca and Rylaze. These effects could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects, as further described in the risks and uncertainties described elsewhere in this ‘‘Risk Factors’’ section.
We have substantially expanded our international footprint and operations, and we may expand further in the future, which subjects us to a variety of risks and complexities which, if not effectively managed, could negatively affect our business.
We are headquartered in Dublin, Ireland and have offices in multiple locations, including the U.S., the U.K., Italy and Canada. We may further expand our international operations into other countries in the future, either organically or by
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acquisition. Conducting our business in multiple countries subjects us to a variety of risks and complexities that may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and growth prospects, including:
•the diverse regulatory, financial and legal requirements in the countries where we are located or do business, and any changes to those requirements;
•the impact of Brexit on trade relations between the EU and the U.K.;
•challenges inherent in efficiently managing employees and commercial partners in diverse geographies, including the need to adapt systems, policies, benefits and compliance programs to differing labor and employment law and other regulations, as well as maintaining positive interactions with our unionized employees;
•costs of, and liabilities for, our international operations, products or product candidates; and
•public health risks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and potential related effects on supply chain, travel and employee health and availability.
In addition, there can be no guarantee that we will effectively manage the increasing, global complexity of our business without experiencing operating inefficiencies or control deficiencies. Our failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
The U.K.’s withdrawal from the EU, commonly referred to as Brexit, could increase our cost of doing business, reduce our gross margins or otherwise negatively impact our business and our financial results.
Brexit continues to create uncertainty concerning the future relationship between the U.K. and the EU, following the U.K. withdrawal from the EU in January 2020. We have a commercial manufacturing facility in the U.K. at Kent Science Park, and multiple offices in England. Since a significant portion of the regulatory framework in the U.K. is derived from EU laws, Brexit continues to impact the regulatory regime with respect to the development, manufacture, importation, approval and commercialization of our product candidates in the U.K. or the EU. In this regard, in December 2020, the EU and U.K. reached an agreement in principle on the framework for their future relationship, the EU-U.K. Trade and Cooperation Agreement, or TCA. Among the changes that have had a direct impact are that Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) is now treated as a "third country," a country that is not a member of the EU and whose citizens do not enjoy the EU right to free movement. Northern Ireland continues to follow many aspects of the EU regulatory rules, particularly in relation to trade in goods. As part of the TCA, the EU and the U.K. will recognize GMP inspections carried out by the other party and the acceptance of official GMP documents issued by the other party. The TCA also encourages, although it does not oblige, the parties to consult one another on proposals to introduce significant changes to technical regulations or inspection procedures. Among the areas of absence of mutual recognition are batch testing and batch release. The U.K. has unilaterally agreed to accept EU batch testing and batch release for a period of at least 2 years until January 1, 2023. However, the EU continues to apply EU laws that require batch testing and batch release to take place in the EU territory. This means that medicinal products that are tested and released in the U.K. must be retested and re-released when entering the EU market for commercial use. As it relates to marketing authorizations, Great Britain has introduced a separate regulatory submission process, approval process and a separate national marketing authorization. Northern Ireland, however, continues to be covered by the marketing authorizations granted by the EC. Therefore, our medicine candidates require a separate marketing authorization for Great Britain, which involves additional administrative burden. Any delay in obtaining, or an inability to obtain, any marketing approvals, as a result of Brexit or otherwise, could prevent us from or delay us commercializing our medicine candidates in the U.K. and/or the European Economic Area, or EEA, and restrict our ability to generate revenue and achieve and sustain profitability. If any of these outcomes occur, we may be forced to restrict or delay efforts to seek regulatory approval in the U.K. and/or EEA for our medicine candidates, which could harm our business. In addition, the EU’s regulatory environment for clinical trials has been harmonized as part of the Clinical Trials Regulation from January 31, 2022, but it is currently unclear as to what extent the U.K. will seek to align its regulations with the EU. Failure of the U.K. to closely align its regulations with the EU may have an effect on the cost of conducting clinical trials in the U.K. as opposed to other countries and/or make it harder to seek a marketing authorization for our medicine candidates in the EEA on the basis of clinical trials conducted in the U.K. In the short term there is a risk of disrupted import and export processes due to a lack of administrative processing capacity by the respective U.K. and EU customs agencies that may delay time-sensitive shipments and may negatively impact our product supply chain. All of these changes could increase our costs and otherwise adversely affect our business.
Significant disruptions of information technology systems or data security breaches could adversely affect our business.
In the ordinary course of our business, we collect, store, process and transmit large amounts of confidential information, including intellectual property, proprietary business information and personal data. We have also outsourced some of our operations (including parts of our information technology infrastructure) to a number of third party vendors who may have, or could gain, access to our confidential information. In addition, many of those third parties, in turn, subcontract or outsource some of their responsibilities to third parties.
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Our information technology systems, and those of our vendors, are large and complex and store large amounts of confidential information. The size and complexity of these systems make them potentially vulnerable to service interruptions or to security breaches from inadvertent or intentional actions by our employees, third party vendors and/or business partners, or from cyber-attacks by malicious third parties. Attacks of this nature are increasing in frequency, persistence, sophistication and intensity, and are being conducted by sophisticated and organized groups and individuals with a wide range of motives (including, but not limited to, industrial espionage) and expertise, including organized criminal groups, “hacktivists,” nation states and others. In addition to the extraction of important information, such attacks could include the deployment of harmful malware, ransomware, denial-of-service attacks, social engineering and other means to affect service reliability and threaten the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our information. Although the aggregate impact on our operations and financial condition has not been material to date, we and our vendors have been the target of events of this nature and expect them to continue.
Significant disruptions of our, our third party vendors’ and/or business partners’ information technology systems or security breaches, including in our remote work environment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, could adversely affect our business operations and/or result in the loss, misappropriation, and/or unauthorized access, use or disclosure of, or the prevention of access to, confidential information (including trade secrets or other intellectual property, proprietary business information and personal data), and could result in financial, legal, business and reputational harm to us. Any such event that leads to unauthorized access, use or disclosure of personal data, including personal data regarding our patients or employees, could harm our reputation, compel us to comply with federal and/or state breach notification laws and foreign law equivalents, subject us to mandatory corrective action, require us to verify the correctness of database contents and otherwise subject us to liability under laws and regulations that protect the privacy and security of personal data. This could disrupt our business, result in increased costs or loss of revenue, and/or result in significant legal and financial exposure. In addition, security breaches and other inappropriate access can be difficult to detect, and any delay in identifying them may further harm us. Moreover, the prevalent use of mobile devices to access confidential information increases the risk of security breaches. While we have implemented security measures to protect our information technology systems and infrastructure, there can be no assurance that such measures will prevent service interruptions or security breaches that could adversely affect our business. In addition, failure to maintain effective internal accounting controls related to security breaches and cybersecurity in general could impact our ability to produce timely and accurate financial statements and subject us to regulatory scrutiny.
We are subject to significant ongoing regulatory obligations and oversight, which may result in significant additional expense and limit our ability to commercialize our products.
FDA and Equivalent Non-U.S. Regulatory Authorities
Our activities are subject to extensive regulation encompassing the entire life cycle of our products, from research and development activities to marketing approval (including specific post-marketing obligations), manufacturing, labeling, packaging, adverse event and safety reporting, storage, advertising, promotion, sale, pricing and reimbursement, recordkeeping, distribution, importing and exporting. The failure by us or any of our third party partners, including our corporate development and collaboration partners, clinical trial sites, suppliers, distributors and our central pharmacy for Xywav and Xyrem, to comply with applicable requirements could subject us to administrative or judicial sanctions or other negative consequences, such as delays in approval or refusal to approve a product candidate, restrictions on our products, our suppliers, our other partners or us, the withdrawal, suspension or variation of product approval or manufacturing authorizations, untitled letters, warning letters, fines and other monetary penalties, unanticipated expenditures, product recall, withdrawal or seizure, total or partial suspension of production or distribution, interruption of manufacturing or clinical trials, operating restrictions, injunctions, suspension of licenses, civil penalties and/or criminal prosecution, any of which could result in a significant drop in our revenues from the affected products and harm to our reputation and could have a significant impact on our sales, business and financial condition.
We monitor adverse events resulting from the use of our products, as do the regulatory authorities, and we file periodic reports with the authorities concerning adverse events. The authorities review these events and reports, and if they determine that any events and/or reports indicate a trend or signal, they can require a change in a product label, restrict sales and marketing and/or require conduct or other actions, potentially including variation, withdrawal or suspension of the marketing authorization, any of which could result in reduced market acceptance and demand for our products, could harm our reputation and our ability to market our products in the future, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. FDA, the competent authorities of the EU member states on behalf of the EMA, and the competent authorities of other European countries, also periodically inspect our records related to safety reporting. The EMA’s Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee may propose to the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use that the marketing authorization holder be required to take specific steps or advise that the existing marketing authorization be varied, suspended or revoked. Failure to adequately and promptly correct the observation(s) can result in further regulatory enforcement action, which could include the variation, suspension or withdrawal of marketing authorization or imposition of financial penalties or other enforcement measures.
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Defibrotide, Vyxeos, Rylaze, Epidyolex and Sativex are available on a named patient basis or through a compassionate use process in many countries where they are not commercially available. If any such country’s regulatory authorities determine that we are promoting such products without proper authorization, we could be found to be in violation of pharmaceutical advertising laws or the regulations permitting sales under named patient programs. In that case, we may be subject to financial or other penalties. Any failure to maintain revenues from sales of products on a named patient basis and/or to generate revenues from commercial sales of these products exceeding historical sales on a named patient basis could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
FDA, the competent authorities of the EU member states and other European countries, and other governmental authorities require advertising and promotional materials to be truthful and not misleading, and products to be marketed only for their approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved label. Regulatory authorities actively investigate allegations of off-label promotion in order to enforce regulations prohibiting these types of activities. A determination that we have promoted an approved product for off-label uses could subject us to significant liability, including civil and administrative financial penalties and other remedies as well as criminal financial penalties, other sanctions and imprisonment. Even if we are not determined to have engaged in off-label promotion, an allegation that we have engaged in such activities could have a significant impact on our sales, business and financial condition. The U.S. government has also required companies to enter into complex corporate integrity agreements and/or non-prosecution agreements that impose significant reporting and other burdens on the affected companies. Failure to maintain a comprehensive and effective compliance program, and to integrate the operations of acquired businesses into a combined comprehensive and effective compliance program on a timely basis, could subject us to a range of regulatory actions and/or civil or criminal penalties that could affect our ability to commercialize our products and could harm or prevent sales of the affected products, or could substantially increase the costs and expenses of commercializing and marketing our products.
Other Regulatory Authorities
We are also subject to regulation by other regional, national, state and local agencies, including the DEA, the DOJ, the FTC, the United States Department of Commerce, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or OIG, and other regulatory bodies, as well as similar governmental authorities in those non-U.S. countries in which we commercialize our products.
We are subject to numerous fraud and abuse laws and regulations globally and our sales, marketing, patient support and medical activities may be subject to scrutiny under these laws and regulations. These laws are described in “Business—Government Regulation” in Part I, Item 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2021. While we maintain a comprehensive compliance program to try to ensure that our practices and the activities of our third-party contractors and employees fall within the scope of available statutory exceptions and regulatory safe harbors whenever possible, and otherwise comply with applicable laws, regulations or guidance, regulators and enforcement agencies may disagree with our assessment or find fault with the conduct of our employees or contractors. In addition, existing regulations are subject to regulatory revision or changes in interpretation by the DOJ or OIG. For example, in November 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services finalized a previously abandoned proposal to amend the discount safe harbor regulation of the federal anti-kickback statute in a purported effort to create incentives to manufacturers to lower their list prices, and to lower federal program beneficiary out-of-pocket costs. The rule, which is currently slated to take full effect January 1, 2023, revises the discount safe harbor to exclude manufacturer rebates to Medicare Part D plans, either directly or through PBMs, creates a new safe harbor for point-of-sale price reductions that are set in advance and are available to the beneficiary at the point-of-sale, and creates a new safe harbor for service fees paid by manufacturers to PBMs for services rendered to the manufacturer. The effective date of the rule was already delayed by the Biden Administration and legal challenges. It is unclear whether the rule will be further delayed, rewritten, or allowed to go into effect, and if so, what the effect of the rule will be on negotiations of coverage for our products with Medicare Part D plans, or whether the rule will affect our coverage arrangements with commercial insurers. It is also unclear whether the rule will have the intended effect of reducing net prices and beneficiary out-of-pocket costs without also increasing Medicare Part D premiums, which may impact the willingness of Part D plans to cover our products and the price concessions or other terms the plans or their PBMs may seek from us. In addition, in November 2020, the OIG issued a Special Fraud Alert to highlight certain inherent fraud and abuse risks associated with speaker fees, honorariums and expenses paid by pharmaceutical and medical device companies to healthcare professionals participating in company-sponsored events. The Special Fraud Alert sent a clear signal that speaker programs will be subject to potentially heightened enforcement scrutiny.
Many companies have faced government investigations or lawsuits by whistleblowers who bring a qui tam action under the False Claims Act on behalf of themselves and the government for a variety of alleged improper marketing activities, including providing free product to customers expecting that the customers would bill federal programs for the product, providing consulting fees, grants, free travel and other benefits to physicians to induce them to prescribe the company’s products, and inflating prices reported to private price publication services, which are used to set drug reimbursement rates under government healthcare programs. In addition, the government and private whistleblowers have pursued False Claims Act
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cases against pharmaceutical companies for causing false claims to be submitted as a result of the marketing of their products for unapproved uses or violations of the federal anti-kickback statute. If we become the subject of a government False Claims Act or other investigation or whistleblower suit, we could incur substantial legal costs (including settlement costs) and business disruption responding to such investigation or suit, regardless of the outcome.
On July 11, 2022, we received a subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts requesting documents related to Xyrem and U.S. Patent No. 8,772,306 (“Method of Administration of Gamma Hydroxybutyrate with Monocarboxylate Transporters”), product labeling changes for Xyrem, communications with FDA and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, pricing of Xyrem, and other related documents. We are cooperating with this investigation. We are unable to predict how long this investigation will continue or its outcome, but it is possible that we will incur significant costs in connection with the investigation, regardless of the outcome. We may also become subject to similar investigations by other state or federal governmental agencies. The investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and any additional investigations or litigation related to the subject matter of this investigation may result in damages, fines, penalties or administrative sanctions against us, negative publicity or other negative actions that could harm our reputation, reduce demand for Xyrem and/or reduce coverage of Xyrem, including by federal health care programs and state health care programs. If any or all of these events occur, our business and stock price could be materially and adversely affected.
Public reporting under the Physician Payment Sunshine Act, or Sunshine provisions, and other similar state laws, the requirements of which are discussed in “Business—Government Regulation” in Part I, Item 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2021, has resulted in increased scrutiny of the financial relationships between industry, teaching hospitals, physicians and other health care providers. Such scrutiny may negatively impact our ability to engage with physicians and other health care providers on matters of importance to us. In addition, government agencies and private entities may inquire about our marketing practices or pursue other enforcement activities based on the disclosures in those public reports. If the data reflected in our reports are found to be in violation of any of the Sunshine provisions or any other U.S. federal, state or local laws or regulations that may apply, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the Sunshine provisions or similar requirements of state or local regulators, we may be subject to significant civil, and administrative penalties, damages or fines.
We have various programs to help patients access our products, including patient assistance programs, which include co-pay coupons for certain of our products, assistance to help patients determine their insurance coverage for our products, and a free product program. Co-pay coupon programs for commercially insured patients, including our program for Xyrem, have received negative publicity related to allegations regarding their use to promote branded pharmaceutical products over other less costly alternatives, and some states have imposed restrictions on manufacturer co-pay programs when therapeutic equivalents are available. In September 2014, the OIG issued a Special Advisory Bulletin warning manufacturers that they may be subject to sanctions under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and other laws if they do not take appropriate steps to exclude Medicare Part D beneficiaries from using co-pay coupons. It is possible that changes in insurer policies regarding co-pay coupons and/or the introduction and enactment of new legislation or regulatory action could restrict or otherwise negatively affect these patient support programs, which could result in fewer patients using affected products, including Xyrem, and therefore could have a material adverse effect on our sales, business and financial condition.
We have established programs to consider grant applications submitted by independent charitable organizations, including organizations that provide co-pay support to patients who suffer from the diseases treated by our drugs. The OIG has issued guidance for how pharmaceutical manufacturers can lawfully make donations to charitable organizations who provide co-pay assistance to Medicare patients, provided that such organizations, among other things, are bona fide charities, are entirely independent of and not controlled by the manufacturer, provide aid to applicants on a first-come basis according to consistent financial criteria, and do not link aid to use of a donor’s product. In April 2019, we finalized our civil settlement agreement with the DOJ and OIG and entered into a corporate integrity agreement requiring us to maintain our ongoing corporate compliance program and obligating us to implement or continue, as applicable, a set of defined corporate integrity activities for a period of five years from the effective date of the corporate integrity agreement. Although we have structured our programs to follow available guidance and the requirements of our corporate integrity agreement, if we or our vendors or donation recipients are deemed to fail to comply with relevant laws, regulations or evolving government guidance in the operation of these programs, such facts could be used as the basis for an enforcement action against us by the federal government or other enforcement agencies or private litigants, or we could become liable for payment of certain stipulated penalties or could be excluded from participation in federal health care programs, which would have a material adverse effect on our sales, business and financial condition.
We may also become subject to similar investigations by other state or federal governmental agencies or offices of our patient assistance programs or other business practices, which could result in damages, fines, penalties, exclusion from participation in federal health care programs or other criminal, civil or administrative sanctions or enforcement actions, as well as negative publicity, reduction in demand for, or patient access to, our products and/or reduced coverage of our products,
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including by federal and state health care programs. If any or all of these events occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and stock price could be materially and adversely affected.
Our business activities outside of the U.S. are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, and similar anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws, regulations or rules of other countries in which we operate, including the U.K. Bribery Act of 2010, or the U.K. Bribery Act. In certain countries, the health care providers who prescribe pharmaceuticals are employed by their government and the purchasers of pharmaceuticals are government entities; therefore, our dealings with these prescribers and purchasers may be subject to regulation under the FCPA, the U.K. Bribery Act and equivalent national laws in other countries. As an example, recently the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the DOJ have increased their FCPA enforcement activities with respect to pharmaceutical companies. Violation of these laws by us or our suppliers and other third party agents for which we may be liable may result in civil or criminal sanctions, which could include monetary fines, criminal penalties, and disgorgement of past profits, which could have a material adverse impact on our business and financial condition.
Outside the U.S., interactions between pharmaceutical companies and physicians are also governed by strict laws, such as national anti-bribery laws of European countries, national sunshine rules, regulations, industry self-regulation codes of conduct and physicians’ codes of professional conduct. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in reputational risk, public reprimands, administrative penalties, fines or imprisonment.
We are also subject to federal, state, national and international laws and regulations governing the privacy and security of health related and other personal data we collect and maintain (e.g., Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, the California Consumer Privacy Act, or CCPA, and the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR). These laws and regulations are evolving and subject to interpretation, and may impose limitations on our activities or otherwise adversely affect our business. Because of the remote work policies we implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic, information that is normally protected, including company confidential information, may be less secure. Cybersecurity and data security threats continue to evolve and raise the risk of an incident that could affect our operations or compromise our business information or sensitive personal data, including health data. We may also need to collect more extensive health-related information from our employees to manage our workforce. If we or our third party partners fail to comply or are alleged to have failed to comply with applicable data protection and privacy laws and regulations, and related employment rules, or if we were to experience a data breach involving personal data, we could be subject to government enforcement actions or private lawsuits. In addition, our business could be adversely impacted if our ability to transfer personal data outside of the European Economic Area or Switzerland is restricted, which could adversely impact our operating results. For example, in July 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union, or the Court of Justice, declared the EC’s privacy shield framework between the EU and U.S. was invalid, which could adversely impact our ability to transfer personal data from the EU to the U.S. or otherwise may cause us to incur significant costs to do so legally. The Court of Justice further ruled that in order to transfer data outside of the EU, under the existing mechanism known as the Standard Contractual Clauses, or SCCs, the importing country’s level of protection must be adequate. If the level of protection in the U.S. or any other importing country is called into question under the SCCs, this could further impact our ability to transfer data outside of the EU or Switzerland. In March 2022, the EC and the U.S. announced that they have agreed in principle on a new Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework, as a successor arrangement to the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield. The two sides are now expected to finalize the details of this agreement in principle and translate it into legal texts that will form the basis of a draft adequacy decision to be proposed by the EC.
Furthermore, following the U.K.’s exit from the EU, the U.K. became a third country to the EU in terms of personal data transfers. The EC has adopted an Adequacy Decision concerning the level of personal data protection in the U.K. under which personal data may now flow freely from the EU to the U.K. However, personal data transfers from the EU to the U.K. may nevertheless be at a greater risk than before because the Adequacy Decision may be suspended.
In addition, numerous other federal, state, national and international laws and regulations govern the privacy and security of the personal data we collect and maintain, including data breach notification laws, state health information and/or genetic privacy laws, federal and state consumer protection laws (e.g., Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the CCPA), and laws outside of the United States that may apply to us, such as the GDPR and other country laws. Many of these laws and regimes, across countries but even within the United States, differ from each other in significant ways and may not have the same effect, thus complicating compliance efforts. Compliance with these laws is difficult, constantly evolving, and time consuming. International regulators, federal regulators, state attorneys general, and plaintiffs’ attorneys, including class action attorneys, have been and will likely continue to be active in this space.
In California, the CCPA establishes certain requirements for data use and sharing transparency and creates new data privacy rights for California residents. The CCPA and its implementing regulations have already been amended multiple times since their enactment. Failure to comply with the CCPA may result in, among other things, significant civil penalties and injunctive relief, or statutory or actual damages. In addition, California residents have the right to bring a private right of action in connection with certain types of incidents. These claims may result in significant liability and damages. These laws and regulations are evolving and subject to interpretation, and may impose limitations on our activities or otherwise adversely affect
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our business. Similarly, there are a number of legislative proposals in the EU, the U.S. (at both the federal and state level) as well as in other jurisdictions that could impose new obligations or limitations in areas affecting our business. In addition, some countries are considering or have passed legislation implementing data protection or privacy requirements or requiring local storage and processing of data or similar requirements that could increase the cost and complexity of delivering our services and research activities. We may be subject to fines, penalties, or private actions in the event of non-compliance with such laws.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, imposes privacy and security obligations on covered entity health care providers, health plans, and health care clearinghouses, as well as their "business associates" – certain persons or covered entities that create, receive, maintain, or transmit protected health information in connection with providing a specified service or performing a function on behalf of a covered entity. Although we are not directly subject to HIPAA, we could potentially be subject to criminal penalties if we, our affiliates, or our agents knowingly receive individually identifiable health information maintained by a HIPAA-covered entity in a manner that is not authorized or permitted by HIPAA.
If we or our third party partners fail to comply or are alleged to have failed to comply with these or other applicable data protection and privacy laws and regulations, or if we were to experience a data breach involving personal data, we could be subject to government enforcement actions or private lawsuits. Any associated claims, inquiries, or investigations or other government actions could lead to unfavorable outcomes that have a material impact on our business including through significant penalties or fines, monetary judgments or settlements including criminal and civil liability for us and our officers and directors, increased compliance costs, delays or impediments in the development of new products, negative publicity, increased operating costs, diversion of management time and attention, or other remedies that harm our business, including orders that we modify or cease existing business practices.
If we fail to comply with our reporting and payment obligations under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program or other governmental pricing programs, we could be subject to additional reimbursement requirements, penalties, sanctions and fines, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
We participate in the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, the 340B program, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Federal Supply Schedule, or FSS, pricing program, and the Tricare Retail Pharmacy program, and have obligations to report the average sales price for certain of our drugs to the Medicare program. All of these programs are described in more detail under the heading “Business—Pharmaceutical Pricing, Reimbursement by Government and Private Payors and Patient Access” in Part I, Item 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2021. For calendar quarters beginning January 1, 2022, manufacturers will need to start reporting the average sales price for drugs under the Medicare program regardless of whether they are enrolled in the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. Currently, only manufacturers participating in the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program are obligated to do so. In addition, starting in 2023, manufacturers must pay refunds to Medicare for single source drugs or biologicals, or biosimilar biological products, reimbursed under Medicare Part B and packaged in single-dose containers or single-use packages for units of discarded drug reimbursed by Medicare Part B in excess of 10 percent of total allowed charges under Medicare Part B for that drug. Statutory or regulatory changes or guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, could affect the average sales price calculations for our products and the resulting Medicare payment rate and could negatively impact our results of operations.
Pricing and rebate calculations vary across products and programs, are complex, and are often subject to interpretation by us, governmental or regulatory agencies and the courts, which can change and evolve over time. In the case of our Medicaid pricing data, if we become aware that our reporting for a prior quarter was incorrect, or has changed as a result of recalculation of the pricing data, we are generally obligated to resubmit the corrected data for up to three years after those data originally were due. Such restatements and recalculations increase our costs for complying with the laws and regulations governing the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program and could result in an overage or underage in our rebate liability for past quarters. Price recalculations also may affect the ceiling price at which we are required to offer our products under the 340B program and give rise to an obligation to refund entities participating in the 340B program for overcharges during past quarters impacted by a price recalculation.
Civil monetary penalties can be applied if we are found to have knowingly submitted any false price or product information to the government, if we are found to have made a misrepresentation in the reporting of our average sales price, if we fail to submit the required price data on a timely basis, or if we are found to have charged 340B covered entities more than the statutorily mandated ceiling price. CMS could also decide to terminate our Medicaid drug rebate agreement, in which case federal payments may not be available under Medicaid or Medicare Part B for our covered outpatient drugs. We cannot assure you that our submissions will not be found by CMS to be incomplete or incorrect. Moreover, once the refund program for discarded drug takes effect in 2023, manufacturers that fail to pay refunds could be subject to civil monetary penalties of 125 percent of the refund amount.
Our failure to comply with our reporting and payment obligations under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program and other governmental programs could negatively impact our financial results. CMS issued a final regulation, which became effective in
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April 2016, to implement the changes to the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program under the Affordable Care Act. In December 2020, CMS issued a final regulation that modified prior Medicaid Drug Rebate Program regulations to permit reporting multiple best price figures with regard to value‑based purchasing arrangements (beginning in 2022); provide definitions for “line extension,” “new formulation,” and related terms, with the practical effect of expanding the scope of drugs considered to be line extensions that are subject to an alternative rebate formula (beginning in 2022); and revise best price and average manufacturer price exclusions of manufacturer-sponsored patient benefit programs, specifically regarding applicability of such exclusions in the context of pharmacy benefit manager “accumulator” programs (beginning in 2023). The pharmaceutical industry has successfully challenged the pharmacy benefit manager provisions of this rule at the district court level, invalidating this provision for the time being. It is currently unclear whether the government will appeal this decision. Regulatory and legislative changes, and judicial rulings relating to the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program and related policies (including coverage expansion), have increased and will continue to increase our costs and the complexity of compliance, have been and will continue to be time-consuming to implement, and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, particularly if CMS or another agency challenges the approach we take in our implementation. Rebates are currently capped at 100 percent of average manufacturer price, but, effective January 1, 2024, this cap will be lifted.
The Health Resources and Services Administration, or HRSA, issued a final regulation regarding the calculation of the 340B ceiling price and the imposition of civil monetary penalties on manufacturers that knowingly and intentionally overcharge covered entities, which became effective in January 2019. Implementation of this regulation could affect our obligations and potential liability under the 340B program in ways we cannot anticipate. We are also required to report the 340B ceiling prices for our covered outpatient drugs to HRSA, which then publishes them to 340B covered entities. Any charge by HRSA that we have violated this regulation or other requirements of the program could negatively impact our financial results. Moreover, HRSA newly established an administrative dispute resolution, or ADR, process under a final regulation effective January 2021, for claims by covered entities that a manufacturer engaged in overcharging, including claims that a manufacturer limited the ability of a covered entity to purchase the manufacturer’s drugs at the 340B ceiling price, and by manufacturers that a covered entity violated the prohibitions against diversion or duplicate discounts. Such claims are to be resolved through an ADR panel of government officials rendering a decision that could be appealed only in federal court. This ADR regulation has been challenged in separate litigation instituted by PhRMA and by pharmaceutical manufacturers in multiple federal courts. Also, a public notice published in December 2021 by the Office of Management and Budget revealed that HRSA intends to propose a new ADR rule to replace the ADR rule which became effective in January 2021 and that this new rule will propose new requirements and procedures for the 340B program’s ADR process. Under the ADR final rule which became effective in January 2021, an ADR proceeding could potentially subject us to discovery by covered entities and other onerous procedural requirements and could result in additional liability. HRSA could also decide to terminate a manufacturer’s agreement to participate in the 340B program for a violation of that agreement or other good cause shown, in which case the manufacturer’s covered outpatient drugs may no longer be eligible for federal payment under the Medicaid or Medicare Part B program.
Further, legislation may be introduced that, if passed, would, among other things, modify the requirements of the 340B program.
Medicare Part D generally provides coverage to enrolled Medicare patients for self-administered drugs (i.e., drugs that are not administered by a physician). Medicare Part D is administered by private prescription drug plans approved by the U.S. government and, subject to detailed program rules and government oversight, each drug plan establishes its own Medicare Part D formulary for prescription drug coverage and pricing, which the drug plan may modify from time to time. The prescription drug plans negotiate pricing with manufacturers and pharmacies and may condition formulary placement on the availability of manufacturer discounts. In addition, manufacturers, including us, are currently required to provide to CMS a 70% discount on brand name prescription drugs utilized by Medicare Part D beneficiaries when those beneficiaries are in the coverage gap phase of the Part D benefit design. Civil monetary penalties could be due if we fail to offer discounts to beneficiaries under the Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program. Congress could enact legislation that sunsets this discount program and replaces it with a new manufacturer discount program. Congress further could enact a Medicare Part D inflation rebate, under which manufacturers would owe additional rebates if the average manufacturer price of a drug were to increase faster than the pace of inflation.
Congress also could enact a drug price negotiation program under which the prices for certain high Medicare spend single source drugs would be capped by reference to the non-federal average manufacturer price. This or any other legislative change could impact the market conditions for our products. We further expect continued scrutiny on government price reporting from Congress, agencies, and other bodies.
Pursuant to applicable law, knowing provision of false information in connection with price reporting under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, FSS or Tricare Retail Pharmacy, or Tricare, programs can subject a manufacturer to civil monetary penalties. These program obligations also contain extensive disclosure and certification requirements. If we overcharge the government in connection with our arrangements with FSS or Tricare, we are required to refund the difference to the government. Failure to make necessary disclosures and/or to identify contract overcharges can result in allegations
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against us under the False Claims Act and other laws and regulations. Unexpected refunds to the government, and responding to a government investigation or enforcement action, would be expensive and time-consuming, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Product liability and product recalls could harm our business.
The development, manufacture, testing, marketing and sale of pharmaceutical products are associated with significant risks of product liability claims or recalls. Side effects or adverse events known or reported to be associated with, or manufacturing defects in, the products sold by us could exacerbate a patient’s condition, or could result in serious injury or impairment or even death. This could result in product liability claims against us and/or recalls of one or more of our products. In many countries, including in EU member states, national laws provide for strict (no-fault) liability which applies even where damages are caused both by a defect in a product and by the act or omission of a third party.
Product recalls may be issued at our discretion or at the discretion of our suppliers, government agencies and other entities that have regulatory authority for pharmaceutical sales. Any recall of our products could materially adversely affect our business by rendering us unable to sell that product for some time and by adversely affecting our reputation. A recall could also result in product liability claims by individuals and third party payors. In addition, product liability claims could result in an investigation of the safety or efficacy of our products, our manufacturing processes and facilities, or our marketing programs conducted by FDA, the EC or the competent authorities of the EU member states. Such investigations could also potentially lead to a recall of our products or more serious enforcement actions, limitations on the therapeutic indications for which they may be used, or suspension, variation, or withdrawal of approval. Any such regulatory action by FDA, the EC or the competent authorities of the EU member states could lead to product liability lawsuits as well.
Product liability insurance coverage is expensive, can be difficult to obtain and may not be available in the future on acceptable terms, or at all. Our product liability insurance may not cover all of the future liabilities we might incur in connection with the development, manufacture or sale of our products. A successful claim or claims brought against us in excess of available insurance coverage could subject us to significant liabilities and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. Such claims could also harm our reputation and the reputation of our products, adversely affecting our ability to market our products successfully.
We use hazardous materials in our manufacturing facilities, and any claims relating to the improper handling, storage, release or disposal of these materials could be time-consuming and expensive.
Our operations are subject to complex and increasingly stringent environmental, health and safety laws and regulations in the countries where we operate and, in particular, in Ireland, the U.K. and Italy where we have manufacturing facilities. If an accident or contamination involving pollutants or hazardous substances occurs, an injured party could seek to hold us liable for any damages that result and any liability could exceed the limits or fall outside the coverage of our insurance. We may not be able to maintain insurance with sufficient coverage on acceptable terms, or at all. Costs, damages and/or fines may result from the presence, investigation and remediation of such contamination at properties currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by us or at off-site locations, including where we have arranged for the disposal of hazardous substances or waste. In addition, we may be subject to third party claims, including for natural resource damages, personal injury and property damage, in connection with such contamination.
Risks Related to Controlled Substances
Xyrem, Xywav and nabiximols are controlled substances and certain other cannabis-derived product candidates we are developing may be subject to U.S. federal and state controlled substance laws and regulations, and our failure to comply with these laws and regulations, or the cost of compliance with these laws and regulations, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and growth prospects.
Xyrem, Xywav, nabiximols and certain other product candidates we are developing contain controlled substances as defined in the CSA. Controlled substances are subject to a number of requirements and restrictions under the CSA and implementing regulations, including certain registration, security, recordkeeping, reporting, import, export and other requirements administered by the DEA. The DEA classifies controlled substances into five schedules: Schedule I, II, III, IV or V substances. Schedule I substances by definition have a high potential for abuse, no currently “accepted medical use” in the U.S., lack accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and may not be prescribed, marketed or sold in the U.S. Pharmaceutical products approved for use in the U.S. which contain a controlled substance are listed as Schedule II, III, IV or V, with Schedule II substances considered to present the highest potential for abuse or dependence and Schedule V substances the lowest relative risk of abuse among such substances. Schedule I and II drugs are subject to the strictest controls under the CSA, including manufacturing and procurement quotas, heightened security requirements and additional criteria for importation. In addition, dispensing of Schedule II drugs is restricted. For example, they may not be refilled without a new prescription.
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Drug products approved for medical use by FDA that contain cannabis or cannabis extracts may be controlled substances and will be rescheduled to Schedules II-V after approval, or, like Epidiolex, removed completely from the schedules by operation of other laws.
Individual states have also established controlled substance laws and regulations. Though state-controlled substances laws often mirror federal law, they may separately schedule our products or our product candidates as well. We or our partners may also be required to obtain separate state registrations, permits or licenses in order to be able to manufacture, distribute, administer or prescribe controlled substances for clinical trials or commercial sale, and failure to meet applicable regulatory requirements could lead to enforcement and sanctions by the states in addition to those from the DEA or otherwise arising under federal law.
U.S. facilities conducting research, manufacturing, distributing, importing or exporting, or dispensing controlled substances must be registered (licensed) to perform these activities and must comply with the security, control, recordkeeping and reporting obligations under the CSA, DEA regulations and corresponding state requirements. DEA and state regulatory bodies conduct periodic inspections of certain registered establishments that handle controlled substances. Obtaining and maintaining the necessary registrations and complying with the regulatory obligations may result in delay of the importation, manufacturing, distribution or clinical research of our commercial products and products candidates. Furthermore, failure to maintain compliance with the CSA and DEA and state regulations by us or any of our contractors, distributors or pharmacies can result in regulatory action that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. DEA and state regulatory bodies may seek civil penalties, refuse to renew necessary registrations, or initiate proceedings to restrict, suspend or revoke those registrations. In certain circumstances, violations could lead to criminal penalties.
Schedule I and II substances are subject to DEA’s annual manufacturing and procurement quota requirements. The annual quota allocated to us or our contract manufacturers for the active ingredients in our products may not be sufficient to complete clinical trials or meet commercial demand. Consequently, any delay or refusal by the DEA in establishing our, or our contract manufacturers’, procurement and/or production quota for controlled substances could delay or stop our clinical trials or product launches, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and growth prospects.
Nabiximols and other cannabinoid product candidates are currently controlled substances, the use of which may generate public controversy.
Since nabiximols and some of our other product candidates derived from botanical marijuana contain controlled substances, their regulatory approval may generate public controversy. Political and social pressures and adverse publicity could lead to challenges in the approval of, and increased expenses for, nabiximols and our product candidates. These pressures could also limit or restrict the introduction and marketing of nabiximols and our product candidates. Adverse publicity from cannabis misuse or adverse side effects from cannabis or other cannabinoid products may adversely affect the commercial success or market penetration achievable by nabiximols and our other cannabinoid product candidates. The nature of our business attracts a high level of public and media interest, and in the event of any resultant adverse publicity, our reputation may be harmed.
Our ability to research, develop and commercialize Epidiolex/Epidyolex, nabiximols and certain of our product candidates is dependent on our ability to maintain licenses relating to the cultivation, possession and supply of botanical cannabis, a controlled substance.
Our cannabinoid research and manufacturing facilities are located exclusively in the U.K. In the U.K., licenses to cultivate, possess and supply cannabis for medical research are granted by the Home Office on an annual basis. Although the Home Office has renewed our licenses each year since 1998, it may not do so in the future, in which case we may not be in a position to carry on our research and development program in the U.K. In addition, we are required to maintain our existing commercial licenses to cultivate, produce and supply cannabis. However, if the Home Office were not prepared to renew such licenses, we would be unable to manufacture and distribute our products on a commercial basis in the U.K. or beyond. In order to carry out research in countries other than the U.K., similar licenses to those outlined above are required to be issued by the relevant authority in each country. In addition, we will be required to obtain licenses to export from the U.K. and to import into the recipient country. To date, we have obtained necessary import and export licenses to over 30 countries. Although we have an established track record of successfully obtaining such licenses as required, this may change in the future, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and growth prospects.
Controlled substance legislation differs between countries and legislation in certain countries may restrict or limit our ability to sell Epidyolex, nabiximols and certain of our product candidates.
Most countries are parties to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961, which governs international trade and domestic control of narcotic substances, including cannabis extracts. Countries may interpret and implement their treaty
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obligations in a way that creates a legal obstacle to our obtaining regulatory approval for Epidyolex, nabiximols and certain of our other products in those countries. These countries may not be willing or able to amend or otherwise modify their laws and regulations to permit Epidyolex, nabiximols or certain of our other products to be marketed, or achieving such amendments to the laws and regulations may take a prolonged period of time. In the case of countries with similar obstacles, we would be unable to market Epidyolex, nabiximols and certain of our product candidates in countries in the near future or perhaps at all if the laws and regulations in those countries do not change.
Risks Related to Our Financial Condition and Results
We have incurred substantial debt, which could impair our flexibility and access to capital and adversely affect our financial position, and our business would be adversely affected if we are unable to service our debt obligations.
As of June 30, 2022, we had total indebtedness of approximately $6.1 billion. Our substantial indebtedness may:
•limit our ability to use our cash flow or borrow additional funds for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, investments or other general business purposes;
•require us to use a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to make debt service payments;
•limit our flexibility to plan for, or react to, changes in our business and industry, or our ability to take specified actions to take advantage of certain business opportunities that may be presented to us;
•expose us to the risk of increased interest rates as certain of our borrowings, including borrowings under the credit agreement, are at variable rates of interest;
•result in dilution to our existing shareholders in the event exchanges of our exchangeable senior notes are settled in our ordinary shares;
•place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our less leveraged competitors; and
•increase our vulnerability to the impact of adverse economic and industry conditions.
If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures, seek additional capital or restructure or refinance our debt. These alternative measures may not be successful and may not permit us to meet our debt service obligations. In the absence of such cash flows and resources, we could face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to dispose of material assets or operations to meet our debt service and other obligations. In addition, if we are unable to repay amounts under our secured credit agreement or senior secured notes, the credit agreement lenders and note holders could proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure that debt, which would seriously harm our business.
Covenants in our credit agreement and indenture governing our senior secured notes restrict our business and operations in many ways and if we do not effectively manage our covenants, our financial conditions and results of operations could be adversely affected.
The credit agreement and the indenture governing our senior secured notes contain various covenants that, among other things, limit our ability and/or our restricted subsidiaries’ ability to:
•incur or assume liens or additional debt or provide guarantees in respect of obligations of other persons;
•pay dividends or distributions or redeem or repurchase capital stock;
•prepay, redeem or repurchase certain debt;
•make loans, investments, acquisitions (including certain acquisitions of exclusive licenses) and capital expenditures;
•enter into agreements that restrict distributions from our subsidiaries;
•enter into transactions with affiliates;
•enter into sale and lease-back transactions;
•sell, transfer or exclusively license certain assets, including material intellectual property, and capital stock of our subsidiaries; and
•consolidate or merge with or into, or sell substantially all of our assets to, another person.
If we undergo a change of control triggering event, we would be required to make an offer to purchase all of the senior secured notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, subject to
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certain exceptions. If we engage in certain asset sales, we will be required under certain circumstances to make an offer to purchase the senior secured notes at 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
The credit agreement also includes certain financial covenants that require us to maintain a maximum secured leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio as long as we have drawn funds under the revolving credit facility (or letters of credit in excess of $50 million have been issued and remain undrawn).
As a result of these restrictions, we may be:
•limited in how we conduct our business;
•unable to raise additional debt or equity financing to operate during general economic or business downturns; or
•unable to compete effectively, take advantage of new business opportunities or grow in accordance with our plans.
Our failure to comply with any of the covenants could result in a default under the credit agreement and the indenture governing our senior secured notes, which, if not cured or waived, could result in us having to repay our borrowings before their due dates. Such default may allow the lenders or the note holders to accelerate the related debt and may result in the acceleration of any other debt to which a cross-acceleration or cross-default provision applies. If we are forced to refinance these borrowings on less favorable terms or if we were to experience difficulty in refinancing the debt prior to maturity, our results of operations or financial condition could be materially affected. In addition, an event of default under the credit agreement may permit the lenders to refuse to permit additional borrowings under the revolving credit facility or to terminate all commitments to extend further credit under the revolving credit facility. Furthermore, if we are unable to repay the amounts due and payable under the credit agreement or senior secured notes, the lenders and note holders may be able to proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure that indebtedness. In the event our lenders or note holders accelerate the repayment of such borrowings, we cannot assure you that we will have sufficient assets to repay such indebtedness.
Moreover, our failure to repurchase our senior secured notes or our exchangeable senior notes at a time when the repurchase is required by the indentures governing our senior secured notes and our exchangeable senior notes or to pay any cash payable on future exchanges of our exchangeable senior notes as required by the indenture governing our exchangeable senior notes, would constitute a default under those indentures.
A default under the indentures governing our exchangeable senior notes could also lead to a default under other debt agreements or obligations, including the credit agreement and indenture governing the senior secured notes. Likewise, a default under the credit agreement or senior secured notes could lead to a default under other debt agreements or obligations, including the indentures governing our exchangeable senior notes.
To continue to grow our business, we will need to commit substantial resources, which could result in future losses or otherwise limit our opportunities or affect our ability to operate and grow our business.
The scope of our business and operations has grown substantially since 2012, including through a series of business combinations and acquisitions. To continue to grow our business over the longer term, we plan to commit substantial resources to product acquisition and in-licensing, product development, clinical trials of product candidates and expansion of our commercial, development, manufacturing and other operations. Acquisition opportunities that we pursue could materially affect our liquidity and capital resources and may require us to incur additional indebtedness, seek equity capital or both. Our ability to raise additional capital may be adversely impacted by worsening global economic conditions and the recent disruptions to, and volatility in, the credit and financial markets in the U.S. and worldwide resulting from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise. In addition, under Irish law we must have authority from our shareholders to issue any ordinary shares, including ordinary shares that are part of our authorized but unissued share capital, and we currently have such authorization. Moreover, as a matter of Irish law, when an Irish public limited company issues ordinary shares to new shareholders for cash, the company must first offer those shares on the same or more favorable terms to existing shareholders on a pro-rata basis, unless this statutory pre-emption obligation is dis-applied, or opted-out of, by approval of its shareholders. At our recent annual general meeting of shareholders in July 2022, our shareholders voted to approve our proposal to dis-apply the statutory pre-emption obligation on terms that are substantially more limited than our general pre-emption opt-out authority that had been in effect prior to August 4, 2021. This current pre-emption opt-out authority is due to expire in December 2023. If we are unable to obtain further pre-emption authorities from our shareholders in the future, or otherwise continue to be limited by the terms of new pre-emption authorities approved by our shareholders in the future, our ability to effectively use our unissued share capital to fund in-licensing, acquisition or other business opportunities, or to otherwise raise capital, could be adversely affected. In any event, an inability to borrow or raise additional capital in a timely manner and on attractive terms could prevent us from expanding our business or taking advantage of acquisition opportunities and could otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business and growth prospects. In addition, if we use a substantial amount of our funds to acquire or in-license products or product candidates, we may not have sufficient additional funds to conduct all of our operations in the manner we would otherwise choose.
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We have significant intangible assets and goodwill. Consequently, the future impairment of our intangible assets and goodwill may significantly impact our profitability.
Our intangible assets and goodwill are significant and are subject to an impairment analysis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. Additionally, goodwill and indefinite-lived assets are subject to an impairment test at least annually. Events giving rise to impairment are an inherent risk in the pharmaceutical industry and cannot be predicted. For example, in the first quarter of 2020, we recorded a $136.1 million asset impairment charge following the decision to stop enrollment in our Phase 3 clinical study of defibrotide for the prevention of VOD due to a determination that the study is highly unlikely to reach one of its primary endpoints. Our results of operations and financial position in future periods could be negatively impacted should future impairments of intangible assets or goodwill occur.
Our financial results have been and may continue to be adversely affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.
Because our financial results are reported in U.S. dollars, we are exposed to foreign currency exchange risk as the functional currency financial statements of non-U.S. subsidiaries are translated to U.S. dollars for reporting purposes. To the extent that revenue and expense transactions are not denominated in the functional currency, we are also subject to the risk of transaction losses. For example, because our product sales outside of the U.S. are primarily denominated in the euro, our sales of those products have been and may continue to be adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Given the volatility of exchange rates, as well as our expanding operations, there is no guarantee that we will be able to effectively manage currency transaction and/or translation risks, which could adversely affect our operating results. Although we utilize foreign exchange forward contracts to manage currency risk primarily related to certain intercompany balances denominated in non-functional currencies, our efforts to manage currency risk may not be successful.
Changes in our effective tax rates could adversely affect our business and financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
We are incorporated in Ireland and maintain subsidiaries in North America, the U.K. and a number of other foreign jurisdictions. As a result, our effective tax rate is derived from a combination of applicable tax rates in the various jurisdictions where we operate. Our effective tax rate may fluctuate depending on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the distribution of our profits or losses between the jurisdictions where we operate and changes to or differences in interpretation of tax laws. For example, our income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 included an expense of $259.9 million arising on the remeasurement of our U.K. net deferred tax liability, which arose primarily in relation to the GW Acquisition, due to a change in the statutory tax rate in the U.K. following enactment of the U.K. Finance Act 2021.
We are subject to reviews and audits by the U.S. Internal Revenue Services, or IRS, and other taxing authorities from time to time, and the IRS or other taxing authority may challenge our structure, transfer pricing arrangements and tax positions through an audit or lawsuit. Responding to or defending against challenges from taxing authorities could be expensive and consume time and other resources. If we are unsuccessful, we may be required to pay additional taxes for prior periods, interest, fines or penalties, and may be obligated to pay increased taxes in the future, any of which could require us to reduce our operating expenses, decrease efforts in support of our products or seek to raise additional funds. Any of these actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
The IRS may not agree with the conclusion that we should be treated as a foreign corporation for U.S. federal tax purposes.
Although we are incorporated in Ireland, the IRS may assert that we should be treated as a U.S. corporation (and, therefore, a U.S. tax resident) for U.S. federal tax purposes pursuant to Section 7874 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, or the Code. For U.S. federal tax purposes, a corporation generally is considered a tax resident in the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation. Because we are an Irish incorporated entity, we would be classified as a foreign corporation (and, therefore, a non-U.S. tax resident) under these rules. Section 7874 of the Code provides an exception under which a foreign incorporated entity may, in certain circumstances, be treated as a U.S. corporation for U.S. federal tax purposes. Because we indirectly acquired all of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s assets through the acquisition of the shares of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. common stock when the businesses of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Azur Pharma Public Limited Company were combined in a merger transaction in January 2012, or the Azur Merger, the IRS could assert that we should be treated as a U.S. corporation for U.S. federal tax purposes under Section 7874. The IRS continues to scrutinize transactions that are potentially subject to Section 7874, and has issued several sets of final and temporary regulations under Section 7874 since 2012. We do not expect these regulations to affect the U.S. tax consequences of the Azur Merger. Nevertheless, new statutory and/or regulatory provisions under Section 7874 of the Code or otherwise could be enacted that could adversely affect our status as a foreign corporation for U.S. federal tax purposes, and any such provisions could have prospective or retroactive application to us, our shareholders, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and/or the Azur Merger.
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Our affiliates’ ability to use their net operating losses and carryforward tax losses to offset potential taxable income is limited under applicable law and could be subject to further limitations if we do not generate taxable income in a timely manner or if certain “ownership change” provisions of applicable law result in further limitations.
Following certain acquisitions of a U.S. corporation by a foreign corporation, Section 7874 of the Code can limit the ability of the acquired U.S. corporation and its U.S. affiliates to use U.S. tax attributes such as net operating losses, or NOLs, to offset U.S. taxable income resulting from certain transactions. Our U.S. affiliates have a significant amount of NOLs. As a result of Section 7874 of the Code, after the Azur Merger, our U.S. affiliates have not been able and will continue to be unable, for a period of time, to utilize their U.S. tax attributes to offset their U.S. taxable income, if any, resulting from certain taxable transactions. While we expect to be able to fully utilize our U.S. affiliates’ U.S. NOLs before they expire, as a result of this limitation, it may take our U.S. affiliates longer to use their NOLs.
Our ability to use these NOLs to offset potential future taxable income and related income taxes that would otherwise be due also depends on our ability to generate future income that is taxable in the U.S. before the NOLs expire. We cannot predict with certainty when, or whether, our U.S. affiliates will generate sufficient taxable income to use all of the NOLs. In addition, the use of NOLs to offset potential future taxable income and related income taxes that would otherwise be due is subject to limitations under the “ownership change” provisions of Sections 382 and 383 of the Code and similar state provisions. Additionally, U.K. carryforward tax losses may become subject to limitations in the event of certain changes in the ownership interest of significant shareholders where there is also a major change in the nature of conduct of a trade or business within a specified period of time. These limitations may cause us to lose or forfeit additional NOLs or carryforward tax losses before we can use these attributes. Subsequent ownership changes and changes to the U.S. federal or state or U.K. tax rules with respect to the use of NOLs and carryforward tax losses may further affect our ability to use these losses in future years.
Changes to tax laws relating to multinational corporations could adversely affect us.
The U.S. Congress, the EU, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, or OECD, and other government agencies in jurisdictions where we and our affiliates do business have had an extended focus on issues related to the taxation of multinational corporations. One example is the OECD’s initiative in the area of “base erosion and profit shifting,” or BEPS. Many countries have implemented or begun to implement legislation and other guidance to align their international tax rules with the OECD’s BEPS recommendations. In addition, the OECD has been working on an extension of the BEPS project, referred to as BEPS 2.0, focusing on (1) global profit allocation and (2) a global minimum tax rate. In particular, the OECD has released a framework proposal reflecting the agreement of over 140 jurisdictions, including Ireland, to implement a global minimum tax rate of 15% for large multinational corporations on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis by 2023. The EU is currently proposing implementation of this global minimum tax rate for its member states by the start of 2024. As a result of the focus on the taxation of multinational corporations, the tax laws in Ireland, the U.S. and other countries in which we and our affiliates do business could change on a prospective or retroactive basis, and any such changes could adversely affect us.
Further, the Biden administration and U.S. Congress continue to consider changes in U.S. tax laws. In April 2021, the Biden administration released the Made in America Tax Plan, which includes significant modifications to key provisions of the existing U.S. corporate income tax regime, including an increase in the U.S. corporate income tax rate and an increase in the tax rate on certain earnings of controlled foreign corporations. In November 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “Build Back Better Act” budget reconciliation bill, which proposes significant changes to the U.S. tax treatment of multinational corporations. Congress continues to consider these and other legislative proposals. These changes, if enacted, could adversely impact our tax provision, cash tax liability and effective tax rate. At this stage, it is not possible to predict which, if any, proposals the U.S. Congress will ultimately accept, reject or modify and whether any proposals will be enacted into law.
A substantial portion of our indebtedness bears interest at variable interest rates based on USD LIBOR. Changes in the method of determining LIBOR, or the replacement of LIBOR with an alternative reference rate, may adversely affect interest rates on our current or future indebtedness and may otherwise adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
In July 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority, or FCA, the authority that regulates the London Inter-bank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, announced that it intended to stop compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. FCA also announced that certain of the commonly used USD LIBOR tenors will continue to be published until June 30, 2023; however, the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of Currency in the U.S. as well as the FCA announced that all market participants should stop using LIBOR in new contracts after December 31, 2021, subject to limited exemptions for loans and derivative products. Accordingly, new contracts entered into after December 31, 2021, must utilize an alternative reference rate. Our credit agreement is indexed to USD LIBOR. Changes in the method of determining LIBOR, or the replacement of LIBOR with an alternative reference rate, may adversely affect interest rates on our current or future indebtedness. Any transition process may involve, among other things, increased volatility or
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illiquidity in markets for instruments that rely on LIBOR, reductions in the value of certain instruments or the effectiveness of related transactions such as hedges, increased borrowing costs, uncertainty under applicable documentation, or difficult and costly consent processes. Furthermore, the transition away from LIBOR may result in increased expenses, may impair our ability to refinance our indebtedness or hedge our exposure to floating rate instruments, or may result in difficulties, complications or delays in connection with future financing efforts, any of which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Our Ordinary Shares
The market price of our ordinary shares has been volatile and is likely to continue to be volatile in the future, and the value of your investment could decline significantly.
The stock market in general, including the market for life sciences companies, has experienced extreme price and trading volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies, which has resulted in decreased market prices, notwithstanding the lack of a fundamental change in the underlying business models of those companies. Worsening economic conditions and other adverse effects or developments may negatively affect the market price of our ordinary shares, regardless of our actual operating performance. The market price for our ordinary shares is likely to continue to be volatile and subject to significant price and volume fluctuations in response to market, industry and other factors, including the risk factors described in this “Risk Factors” section.
Our share price may be dependent upon the valuations and recommendations of the analysts who cover our business. If our results do not meet these analysts’ forecasts, the expectations of our investors or the financial guidance we provide to investors in any period, the market price of our ordinary shares could decline. Our ability to meet analysts’ forecasts, investors’ expectations and our financial guidance is substantially dependent on our ability to maintain or increase sales of our marketed products.
In addition, the market price of our ordinary shares may decline if the effects of our acquisition of GW and other strategic transactions on our financial or operating results are not consistent with the expectations of financial analysts or investors. The market price of our ordinary shares could also be affected by possible sales of our ordinary shares by holders of our exchangeable senior notes who may view our exchangeable senior notes as a more attractive means of equity participation in our company and by hedging or arbitrage trading activity involving our ordinary shares by the holders of our exchangeable senior notes.
We are subject to Irish law, which differs from the laws in effect in the U.S. and may afford less protection to holders of our securities.
It may not be possible to enforce court judgments obtained in the U.S. against us in Ireland based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal or state securities laws. In addition, there is some uncertainty as to whether the courts of Ireland would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or our directors or officers based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal or state securities laws or hear actions against us or those persons based on those laws. We have been advised that the U.S. currently does not have a treaty with Ireland providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. Therefore, a final judgment for the payment of money rendered by any U.S. federal or state court based on civil liability, whether or not based solely on U.S. federal or state securities laws, would not automatically be enforceable in Ireland.
As an Irish company, we are governed by the Irish Companies Act 2014, which differs in some material respects from laws generally applicable to U.S. corporations and shareholders, including, among others, differences relating to interested director and officer transactions, mergers, amalgamations and acquisitions, takeovers and shareholder lawsuits. The duties of directors and officers of an Irish company are generally owed to the company only. Shareholders of Irish companies generally do not have a personal right of action against directors or officers of the company and may exercise such rights of action on behalf of the company only in limited circumstances. Accordingly, holders of our securities may have more difficulty protecting their interests than would holders of securities of a corporation incorporated in a U.S. jurisdiction.
Our articles of association, Irish law, our credit agreement and the indentures governing our senior secured notes and exchangeable senior notes contain provisions that could delay or prevent a takeover of us by a third party.
Our articles of association could delay, defer or prevent a third party from acquiring us, despite the possible benefit to our shareholders, or otherwise adversely affect the price of our ordinary shares. In addition to our articles of association, several mandatory provisions of Irish law could prevent or delay an acquisition of us. We are also subject to various provisions of Irish law relating to mandatory bids, voluntary bids, requirements to make a cash offer and minimum price requirements, as well as substantial acquisition rules and rules requiring the disclosure of interests in our shares in certain circumstances. Furthermore, our credit agreement limits our ability to enter into certain fundamental changes, and the indentures governing our senior
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secured notes and exchangeable senior notes require us to offer to repurchase such notes for cash if we undergo certain fundamental changes. Additionally, in certain circumstances, the indentures governing our exchangeable senior notes require us to increase the exchange rate for a holder of our exchangeable senior notes in connection with a fundamental change. A takeover of us may trigger a default under the credit agreement or the requirement that we offer to purchase our senior secured notes or exchangeable senior notes and/or increase the exchange rate applicable to our exchangeable senior notes, which could make it more costly for a potential acquirer to engage in a business combination transaction with us.
These provisions, whether alone or together, may discourage potential takeover attempts, discourage bids for our ordinary shares at a premium over the market price or adversely affect the market price of, and the voting and other rights of the holders of, our ordinary shares. These provisions, whether alone or together, could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for our shareholders to elect directors other than the candidates nominated by our board.
Future sales and issuances of our ordinary shares, securities convertible into our ordinary shares or rights to purchase ordinary shares or convertible securities could result in additional dilution of the percentage ownership of our shareholders and could cause our share price to decline.
We expect to continue to opportunistically seek access to additional capital to license or acquire additional products, product candidates or companies to expand our operations or for general corporate purposes. To the extent we raise additional capital by issuing equity securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for ordinary shares, our shareholders may experience substantial dilution. We may sell ordinary shares, and we may sell convertible or exchangeable securities or other equity securities in one or more transactions at prices and in a manner we determine from time to time. If we sell such ordinary shares, convertible or exchangeable securities or other equity securities in subsequent transactions, existing shareholders may be materially diluted.
We have never declared or paid dividends on our capital stock and we do not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future.
We do not currently plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination as to the payment of dividends will, subject to Irish legal requirements, be at the sole discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, compliance with the terms of the credit agreement and the indenture governing our senior secured notes, and other factors our board of directors deems relevant. Accordingly, holders of our ordinary shares must rely on increases in the trading price of their shares for returns on their investment in the foreseeable future. In addition, in the event that we pay a dividend on our ordinary shares, in certain circumstances, as an Irish tax resident company, some shareholders may be subject to withholding tax, which could adversely affect the price of our ordinary shares.
General Risk Factors
If we fail to attract, retain and motivate key personnel or to retain the members of our executive management team, our operations and our future growth may be adversely affected.
Our success and our ability to grow depend in part on our continued ability to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified personnel, including our executive management team. In addition, changes we make to our current and future work environments may not meet the needs or expectations of our employees or may be perceived as less favorable compared to other companies’ policies, which could negatively impact our ability to hire and retain qualified personnel, whether in a remote or in-office environment. The loss of services and institutional knowledge of one or more additional members of our executive management team or other key personnel could delay or prevent the successful completion of some of our vital activities and may negatively impact our operations and future growth. We do not carry “key person” insurance. In addition, changes in our organization as a result of executive management transition may have a disruptive impact on our ability to implement our strategy. Until we integrate new personnel, and unless they are able to succeed in their positions, we may be unable to successfully manage and grow our business. In any event, if we are unable to attract, retain and motivate quality individuals, or if there are delays, or if we do not successfully manage personnel and executive management transitions, our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects could be adversely affected.
Our business and operations could be negatively affected if we become subject to shareholder activism or hostile bids, which could cause us to incur significant expense, hinder execution of our business strategy and impact our stock price.
Shareholder activism, which takes many forms and arises in a variety of situations, has been increasingly prevalent. Stock price declines due to the evolving effects of the COVID-19 may also increase our vulnerability to unsolicited approaches. If we become the subject of certain forms of shareholder activism, such as proxy contests or hostile bids, the attention of our management and our board of directors may be diverted from execution of our strategy. Such shareholder activism could give rise to perceived uncertainties as to our future strategy, adversely affect our relationships with business partners and make it more difficult to attract and retain qualified personnel. Also, we may incur substantial costs, including significant legal fees and
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other expenses, related to activist shareholder matters. Our stock price could be subject to significant fluctuation or otherwise be adversely affected by the events, risks and uncertainties of any shareholder activism.
Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table summarizes purchases of our ordinary shares made by or on behalf of us or any of our “affiliated purchasers” as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, during each fiscal month during the three-month period ended June 30, 2022:
| Total Number of Shares Purchased (1) | Average Price Paid per Share (2) | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (3) | Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| April 1 - April 30, 2022 | — | $ | — | — | $ | 431,219,240 | |||||||||||||||||
| May 1 - May 31, 2022 | — | $ | — | — | $ | 431,219,240 | |||||||||||||||||
| June 1 - June 30, 2022 | 338 | $ | 160.70 | 338 | $ | 431,164,925 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | 338 | $ | 160.70 | 338 | |||||||||||||||||||
1.This table does not include ordinary shares that we withheld in order to satisfy minimum tax withholding requirements in connection with the vesting and release of restricted stock units.
2.Average price paid per ordinary share includes brokerage commissions.
3.The ordinary shares reported in the table above were purchased pursuant to our publicly announced share repurchase program.
4.The dollar amount shown represents, as of the end of each period, the approximate dollar value of ordinary shares that may yet be purchased under our publicly announced share repurchase program, exclusive of any brokerage commissions. The timing and amount of repurchases will depend on a variety of factors, including the price of our ordinary shares, alternative investment opportunities, restrictions under our credit agreement, corporate and regulatory requirements and market conditions, and may be modified, suspended or otherwise discontinued at any time without prior notice.
In November 2016, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program and as of June 30, 2022 had authorized the repurchase of ordinary shares having an aggregate purchase price of up to $1.5 billion, exclusive of any brokerage commissions. Under this program, which has no expiration date, we may repurchase ordinary shares from time to time on the open market. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, we spent a total of $0.1 million to purchase 338 of our ordinary shares under the share repurchase program at a total purchase price, including commissions, of $160.70 per share. All ordinary shares repurchased were canceled. As of June 30, 2022, the remaining amount authorized under the share repurchase program was $431.2 million.
Under our share repurchase program, we are authorized to repurchase shares from time to time through open market repurchases. Such repurchases may be pursuant to Rule 10b-18 or Rule 10b5-1 agreements as determined by our management and in accordance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Item 5.Other Information
Results of Matters Presented at the 2022 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
On July 28, 2022, we held our 2022 annual general meeting of shareholders, or the Annual Meeting, at our corporate headquarters located at Fifth Floor, Waterloo Exchange, Waterloo Road, Dublin 4, Ireland. At the Annual Meeting, our shareholders voted on four proposals, each of which is described in more detail in our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A as filed with the SEC on June 13, 2022, or the Proxy Statement. The results of the matters presented at the Annual Meeting, based on the presence in person or by proxy of holders of 56,409,461 of the 62,442,548 ordinary shares entitled to vote, are described below.
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Proposal 1
Proposal 1 was to elect by separate resolutions each of the four nominees for director named below to hold office until our 2025 annual general meeting of shareholders. Each of the four nominees for director was elected as follows:
| Director Nominees | For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jennifer E. Cook | 51,177,537 | 2,024,696 | 29,572 | 3,177,656 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patrick G. Enright | 51,387,639 | 1,794,994 | 49,172 | 3,177,656 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seamus Mulligan | 51,893,165 | 1,292,487 | 46,153 | 3,177,656 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Norbert G. Riedel, Ph.D. | 46,944,112 | 6,260,930 | 26,763 | 3,177,656 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Proposal 2
Proposal 2 was to ratify, on a non-binding advisory basis, the appointment of KPMG, Dublin as our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 and to authorize, in a binding vote, our board of directors, acting through the audit committee, to determine the auditors’ remuneration. This proposal was approved as follows:
| For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||||||
| 56,011,766 | 375,005 | 22,690 | — | |||||||||||||||||
Proposal 3
Proposal 3 was to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in the Proxy Statement. This proposal was approved as follows:
| For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||||||
| 49,841,152 | 3,338,242 | 52,411 | 3,177,656 | |||||||||||||||||
Proposal 4
Proposal 4 was to grant our board of directors authority under Irish law to allot and issue ordinary shares for cash without first offering those ordinary shares to existing shareholders pursuant to the statutory pre-emption right that would otherwise apply. This proposal was approved as follows:
| For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||||||
| 43,745,839 | 12,616,216 | 47,406 | — | |||||||||||||||||
Proposal 5
Proposal 5 was to approve any motion to adjourn the Annual Meeting, or any adjournments thereof, to another time and place to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the Annual Meeting to approve Proposal 4. As no motion to adjourn the Annual Meeting was made, Proposal 5 was not put to a vote of the shareholders at the Annual Meeting.
Departure of an Executive Officer
On July 28, 2022, we and Chris Tovey mutually agreed that Mr. Tovey’s employment as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, Europe & International will end on October 31, 2022. In connection with Mr. Tovey’s departure, Mr. Tovey will receive the severance benefits provided for under the GW Change in Control and Severance Benefit Plan and related participation agreement described under the heading “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control—Amended and Restated Executive Change in Control and Severance Benefit Plan” and “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control—GW UK Change in Control and Severance Benefit Plan” in our proxy statement filed with the SEC on June 13, 2022 in connection with our Annual Meeting. In addition, following cessation of his employment, Mr. Tovey will be entitled to a pro-rata target bonus for the number of days worked in 2022.
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Item 6.Exhibits
| Exhibit Number | Description of Document | ||||
| 2.1 | |||||
| 2.2 | |||||
| 2.3 | |||||
| 2.4 | |||||
| 2.5 | |||||
| 2.6† | |||||
| 2.7† | |||||
| 2.8 | |||||
| 2.9 | |||||
| 2.10‡ | |||||
| 3.1 | |||||
| 4.1 | |||||
| 4.2A | |||||
| 4.2B | |||||
| 4.2C | First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 21, 2021, among GW Pharmaceuticals Limited, GW Global Services (International) Limited, GW Pharma Limited, GW Research Limited, GW UK Services Limited and Greenwich Biosciences, Inc., Jazz Securities Designated Activity Company, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee under the Indenture, dated as of April 29, 2021. | ||||
| 10.1 | |||||
| 10.2+ | |||||
86
| 31.1 | |||||
| 31.2 | |||||
| 32.1* | |||||
| 101.INS | XBRL Instance Document - The instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document | ||||
| 101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | ||||
| 101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | ||||
| 101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | ||||
| 101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document | ||||
| 101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document | ||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) | ||||
__________________
+ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
† Confidential treatment has been granted for portions of this exhibit (indicated by “[*]”). Omitted portions have been filed separately with the SEC.
‡ Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K.
* The certification attached as Exhibit 32.1 accompanies this Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and shall not be deemed “filed” by the Registrant for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
87
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: August 3, 2022
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY (Registrant) | ||
| /s/ Bruce C. Cozadd | ||
| Bruce C. Cozadd | ||
| Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
| /s/ Renée Galá | ||
| Renée Galá | ||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | ||
| /s/ Patricia Carr | ||
| Patricia Carr | ||
| Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | ||
88
Exhibit 10.1
AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO PHARMACY MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT NO. 5 (this “Amendment”) to the Agreement (as defined below) is entered into as of June 24, 2022 (the “Amendment Effective Date”) by and between Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. with a principal place of business at 3170 Porter Drive, Palo Alto, CA 94304 (“Jazz Pharmaceuticals”) and Express Scripts Specialty Distribution Services, Inc. with a principal place of business at One Express Way, St. Louis, MO 63121 (“ESSDS”) (collectively, the “Parties,” or each separately, a “Party”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Jazz Pharmaceuticals and ESSDS entered into that certain Pharmacy Master Services Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated July 1, 2020, pursuant to which ESSDS provides dispensing, distribution and other services for Products; and
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals, each of which is incorporated by this reference, the mutual promises and covenants set forth below, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
1.Section 11.1 Term; Renewal is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following: Term; Renewal. Unless otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms hereof, this Agreement will remain in effect until August 31, 2022.
2.General. This Amendment constitutes an amendment in writing to the Agreement in accordance with Section 14.1 of the Agreement.
3.Governing Law. This Amendment, and any dispute related hereto, will be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any choice of law rules which may direct the application of the laws of another jurisdiction. In the event of any dispute between the Parties, prior to any Party commencing an action for damages, each Party will designate a representative and the representatives will meet in person or telephonically in a good-faith attempt to resolve their differences. Prior to such meeting, the complaining Party will provide a written explanation of the dispute.
4.Full Force and Effect. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the terms and provisions of the Agreement and the terms and provisions of this Amendment, the terms and provisions of this Amendment will govern and prevail. Except as expressly provided in this Amendment, this Amendment does not in any way change, modify or delete the provisions of the Agreement (or the Parties’ rights, remedies or obligations thereunder), and all such provisions shall remain in full force and effect. On and after the Amendment Effective Date, each reference in the Agreement to “this Agreement,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” “herein,” or words of like import, and each reference to the Agreement in any other agreements, documents or instruments executed and delivered pursuant to the Agreement, shall mean and be a reference to the Agreement, as amended by this Amendment.
5.Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile and pdf signatures will be considered original signatures.
[Signature Page Follows]
2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Amendment to be executed, effective as of the Amendment Effective Date.
| JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. | EXPRESS SCRIPTS SPECIALTY | ||||
| DISTRIBUTION SERVICES, INC. | |||||
By: /s/ Ernie Ross | By: /s/ Joshua B. Parker | ||||
Name: Ernie Ross | Name: Joshua B. Parker | ||||
Title: Senior VP, U.S. Market Access | Title: VP | ||||
29-Jun-2022 | 06/23/2022 | 9:40 AM CDT | ||||
By: | RPM for JLD 6.23.22 | ||||
Name: | |||||
Title: | |||||
[Signature Page to Amendment No.2 to Pharmacy Master Services Agreement]
Exhibit 10.2
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS PLC
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION POLICY
Non-employee members of the board of directors (the “Board”) of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (the “Company”) shall be eligible to receive cash and equity compensation as set forth in this Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy (this “Policy”). The cash compensation and equity grants described in this Policy shall be paid or be made, as applicable, automatically and without further action of the Board, to each member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company (each, a “Non-Employee Director”) who may be eligible to receive such cash compensation or equity grants, unless such Non-Employee Director declines the receipt of such cash compensation or equity grants by written notice to the Company. This Policy shall remain in effect until it is revised or rescinded by further action of the Board.
1. Cash Compensation.
(a) Subject to Section 1(b) and Section 3 below, each Non-Employee Director shall be eligible to receive cash compensation of $60,000 for service on the Board. In addition, a Non-Employee Director serving as:
(i) lead independent director of the Board shall be eligible to receive additional cash compensation of $50,000 per year for such service;
(ii) chairperson of the Audit Committee shall be eligible to receive additional cash compensation of $25,000 per year for such service;
(iii) members (other than the chairperson) of the Audit Committee shall be eligible to receive additional cash compensation of $15,000 per year for such service;
(iv) chairperson of the Compensation & Management Development Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) shall be eligible to receive additional cash compensation of $22,500 per year for such service;
(v) members (other than the chairperson) of the Compensation Committee shall be eligible to receive additional cash compensation of $12,500 per year for such service;
(vi) chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall be eligible to receive additional cash compensation of $20,000 per year for such service;
(vii) members (other than the chairperson) of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall be eligible to receive additional cash compensation of $10,000 per year for such service;
(viii) chairperson of the Science & Medicine Committee shall be eligible to receive additional cash compensation of $22,500 per year for such service;
(ix) members (other than the chairperson of the Science & Medicine Committee) shall be eligible to receive additional cash compensation of $12,500 per year for such service;
(x) chairperson of the Transaction Committee shall be eligible to receive additional cash compensation of $5,000 per meeting up to $20,000 per year for such service; and
(xi) members (other than the chairperson) of the Transaction Committee shall be eligible to receive additional cash compensation of $2,500 per meeting up to $10,000 per year for such service.
The additional cash compensation for the Non-Employee Director’s service on the Committees other than the Transaction Committee shall be paid in four equal quarterly installments, earned upon the completion of service in each calendar quarter. The additional cash compensation for the Non-Employee Director’s service on the Transaction Committee shall be paid in four quarterly installments, earned upon the completion of services in each calendar quarter.
(b) Each person who is elected or appointed to be a Non-Employee Director or who is appointed to serve as lead independent director or a member or chairperson of one of the Committees described above, in each case other than on the first calendar day of a calendar quarter, shall be eligible to receive a pro rata amount of the annual retainers described above with respect to the calendar quarter in which such person becomes a Non-Employee Director, lead independent director or a member or chairperson of one of the Committees, as applicable, which pro rata amount reflects a reduction for each calendar day during the calendar quarter prior to the date of such election or appointment.
(c) Each Non-Employee Director will be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for his or her reasonable travel (including airfare and ground transportation), lodging and meal expenses incidental to meetings of the Board or committees thereof. If any reimbursement payment is subject to tax imposed by the Irish Revenue Commissioners (“Revenue”), each Non-Employee Director will be entitled to a payment, up to an amount (“Tax Reimbursement Payment”) such that after the deduction of all taxes (including, without limitation, any income taxes calculated at the rate applicable to each Non-Employee Director for the year in which the expenses were incurred) on the Tax Reimbursement Payment, the Non-Employee Director will retain an amount equal to the full reimbursement payment. All taxes due will be paid by the Company to Revenue.
2. Equity Compensation. The restricted stock unit (“RSU”) awards described below shall be granted under and shall be subject to the terms and provisions of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2007 Non-Employee Directors Stock Award Plan (the “NEDSAP”).
(a) Eligibility. Subject to Section 3 below, beginning with the annual general meeting of the Company’s shareholders (an “AGM”) held in 2021, each person who is a Non-Employee Director at an AGM and who continues as a Non-Employee Director following such meeting automatically shall be granted an RSU award (an “Annual Grant”) on the grant date set forth in Section 2(b) below. In addition, subject to Section 3 below, each person who is elected or appointed to be a Non-Employee Director for the first time other than at an AGM and after the AGM held in 2021, automatically shall be granted a prorated RSU award (a “Prorated Annual Grant”) on the grant date set forth in Section 2(b) below, provided that such person is a Non-Employee Director on such grant date.
(b) Grant Date. The grant date of each Annual Grant shall be the day of the applicable AGM, and the grant date of each Prorated Annual Grant shall be the second trading day following the filing date of the Company’s next quarterly or annual report filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that occurs after the date of the Non-Employee Director’s initial election or appointment.
(c) Grant Date Value. The grant date value of each Annual Grant shall be equal to approximately $400,000. The grant date value of each Prorated Annual Grant shall be prorated to reflect the shortened period of service (by multiplying $400,000 by the quotient (rounded to the nearest hundredth) obtained by dividing the number of calendar days from and including the date of the Non-Employee Director’s initial election or appointment to and including the date that is the first anniversary of the prior AGM by 365).
(d) Number of Ordinary Shares. The number of ordinary shares of the Company (“Ordinary Shares”) subject to each Annual Grant and Prorated Annual Grant shall be determined by dividing the grant date value, in each case as set forth in Section 2(c) above, by the average of the daily closing prices per share of the Ordinary Shares during the 30 calendar day period ending on and including the grant date, rounded to the nearest share by application of regular rounding.
(e) Vesting. Each Annual Grant granted to a Non-Employee Director shall vest in full on the first anniversary of the AGM in the year of grant and each Prorated Annual Grant granted to a Non-Employee Director shall vest in full on the first anniversary of the AGM held prior to the Non-Employee Director’s initial election or appointment, in each case subject to the Non-Employee Director’s Continuous Service (as defined in the NEDSAP) through such vesting date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Non-
Employee Director does not stand for reelection at an AGM in the year in which his or her term expires or otherwise resigns effective at an AGM and, in either case, the Non-Employee Director’s Continuous Service terminates at such AGM, then effective as of the date of such AGM, the unvested portion, if any, of such Non-Employee Director’s Annual Grant or Prorated Annual Grant shall become vested in full.
(f) Terms and Conditions. The terms and conditions applicable to each Annual Grant and Prorated Annual Grant granted to Non-Employee Directors pursuant to this Policy shall be subject to the terms and conditions in the forms of RSU notice of grant and RSU award agreement previously approved by the Board or the Compensation Committee, as applicable, and the NEDSAP.
3. Non-Employee Director Compensation Limit. The aggregate value of all compensation granted or paid, as applicable, by the Company to any individual for service as a Non-Employee Director with respect to any period commencing on the date of the AGM for a particular year and ending on the calendar day immediately prior to the date of the AGM for the subsequent year (the “Annual Period”), including equity awards granted and cash fees paid by the Company to such Non-Employee Director, will not exceed (i) $750,000 in total value or (ii) in the event such Non-Employee Director is first appointed or elected to the Board during such Annual Period, $1,350,000 in total value, in each case calculating the value of any equity awards based on the grant date fair value of such equity awards for financial reporting purposes.
*****
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc on 2 May 2013.
Amended and restated by the Board of Directors of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc on 1 August 2013.
Amended and restated by the Board of Directors of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc on 1 May 2014.
Amended and restated by the Board of Directors of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc on 30 October 2014.
Amended and restated by the Board of Directors of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc on 30 April 2015.
Amended and restated by the Board of Directors of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc on 4 May 2016.
Amended and restated by the Board of Directors of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc on 3 May 2018.
Amended and restated by the Board of Directors of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc on 21 July 2020.
Amended and restated by the Board of Directors of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc on 28 April 2021.
Amended and restated by the Board of Directors of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc on 29 July 2021.
Amended and restated by the Board of Directors of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc on 28 April 2022.
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION
I, Bruce C. Cozadd, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Jazz Pharmaceuticals public limited company;
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
| Date: August 3, 2022 | By: | /s/ Bruce C. Cozadd | ||||||
| Bruce C. Cozadd Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||||||||
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION
I, Renée Galá, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Jazz Pharmaceuticals public limited company;
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
| Date: August 3, 2022 | By: | /s/ Renée Galá | ||||||
| Renée Galá Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION(1)
Pursuant to the requirement set forth in Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. Section 1350), Bruce C. Cozadd, Chief Executive Officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals public limited company (the “Company”), and Renée Galá, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, each hereby certifies that, to the best of his knowledge:
1.The Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2022, to which this Certification is attached as Exhibit 32.1 (the “Periodic Report”), fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and
2.The information contained in the Periodic Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: August 3, 2022
/s/ Bruce C. Cozadd | ||
| Bruce C. Cozadd | ||
| Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||
/s/ Renée Galá | ||
| Renée Galá | ||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||
______________________________________
(1)This certification accompanies the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to which it relates, is not deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of Jazz Pharmaceuticals public limited company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act (whether made before or after the date of the Form 10-Q), irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing. A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to Jazz Pharmaceuticals public limited company and will be retained by Jazz Pharmaceuticals public limited company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.