Commitments and Contingencies |
3 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2017 | |
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
Commitments and Contingencies | Commitments and Contingencies Commitments License Agreements We have entered into a number of license agreements in order to advance and obtain technologies and services related to our business. License agreements generally require us to pay an initial fee and certain agreements call for future payments upon the attainment of agreed upon development and/or commercial milestones. These agreements may also require minimum royalty payments based on sales of products developed from the applicable technologies, if any. In March 2017, we entered into a license agreement with Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (Arbutus) for exclusive worldwide rights to Arbutus’ proprietary lipid nanoparticle technology for use in a single target. Due to the early stage of the assets we are licensing in connection with the collaboration, we recorded expense for the upfront payment of approximately $8 during the first quarter 2017. In addition, we could be required to make payments of up to $75 if certain development, regulatory, and commercial milestones are met over time, as well as royalties on commercial sales. Manufacturing Agreements We have various manufacturing development and license agreements to support our clinical and commercial product needs. We rely on Lonza, a third party manufacturer, to produce a portion of commercial and clinical quantities of Soliris and Strensiq. We have various manufacturing and license agreements with Lonza, with remaining total non-cancellable future commitments of approximately $1,126. If we terminate certain supply agreements with Lonza without cause, we will be required to pay for product scheduled for manufacture under our arrangement. Under an existing arrangement with Lonza, we also pay Lonza a royalty on sales of Soliris manufactured at Alexion Rhode Island Manufacturing Facility (ARIMF) and a payment with respect to sales of Soliris manufactured at Lonza facilities. In addition to Lonza, we have non-cancellable commitments of $27 with other third party manufacturers. Contingent Liabilities We are currently involved in various claims, lawsuits and legal proceedings. On a quarterly basis, we review the status of each significant matter and assess its potential financial exposure. If the potential loss from any claim, asserted or unasserted, or legal proceeding is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated, we accrue a liability for the estimated loss. Because of uncertainties related to claims and litigation, accruals are based on our best estimates based on available information. On a periodic basis, as additional information becomes available, or based on specific events such as the outcome of litigation or settlement of claims, we may reassess the potential liability related to these matters and may revise these estimates, which could result in a material adverse adjustment to our operating results. We have in the past received, and may in the future receive, notices from third parties claiming that their patents may be infringed by the development, manufacture or sale of our products. Under the guidance of ASC 450, Contingencies, we record a royalty accrual based on our best estimate of the fair value percent of net sales of our products that we could be required to pay the owners of patents for technology used in the manufacture and sale of our products. A costly license, or inability to obtain a necessary license, could have a material adverse effect on our financial results. In May 2015, we received a subpoena in connection with an investigation by the Enforcement Division of the SEC requesting information related to our grant-making activities and compliance with the FCPA in various countries. In addition, in October 2015, we received a request from the DOJ for the voluntary production of documents and other information pertaining to Alexion’s compliance with FCPA. The SEC and DOJ also seek information related to Alexion’s recalls of specific lots of Soliris and related securities disclosures. Alexion is cooperating with these investigations. The investigations have focused on operations in various countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Japan, Russia and Turkey, and Alexion's compliance with the FCPA and other applicable laws. At this time, Alexion is unable to predict the duration, scope or outcome of these investigations. While it is possible that a loss related to these matters may be incurred, given the ongoing nature of these investigations, management cannot reasonably estimate the potential magnitude of any such loss or range of loss, or the cost of the ongoing investigation. Any determination that our operations or activities are not in compliance with existing laws or regulations could result in the imposition of fines, civil and criminal penalties, equitable remedies, including disgorgement, injunctive relief, and/or other sanctions against us, and remediation of any such findings could have an adverse effect on our business operations. Alexion is committed to strengthening its compliance program and has initiated a comprehensive company-wide transformation plan to enhance and remediate its business processes, structures, controls, training, talent and systems across Alexion’s global operations. For information concerning the risks associated with the investigation, see our Risk Factor - "If we fail to comply with laws or regulations, we may be subject to investigations and civil or criminal penalties and our business could be adversely affected." In the fourth quarter 2016, several securities class action lawsuits were filed against the Company and its former officers in federal district court alleging violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. § 78j(b), and Rule 10b-5, promulgated thereunder, alleging that defendants made misstatements and/or omissions concerning the Company’s sales of Soliris. On April 12, 2017 the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut (the Court) awarded lead plaintiff status to Erste-Sparinvest KapitalanLagegesellschaft mbH (Erste) and the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI). Erste and PERSI filed its shareholder putative class action with the Court on December 29, 2016, alleging that defendants made misrepresentations and omissions about Soliris between February 10, 2014 and December 9, 2016. The litigation is in the early stages, and defendants have not yet responded to the complaint. Given the early stages of this litigation, management does not currently believe that a loss related to this matter is probable or that the potential magnitude of such loss or range of loss, if any, can be reasonably estimated. In December 2016, we received a subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts requesting documents relating generally to our support of 501(c)(3) organizations that provide financial assistance to Medicare patients taking drugs sold by Alexion, Alexion’s provision of free drug to Medicare patients, and Alexion compliance policies and training materials concerning the anti-kickback statute or payments to any 501(c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to Medicare patients. Other companies have disclosed similar inquiries. We are cooperating with this inquiry. In March 2013, we received a Warning Letter (Warning Letter) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) at ARIMF. The Warning Letter followed receipt of a Form 483 Inspectional Observations by the FDA in connection with an FDA inspection that concluded in August 2012. The observations relate to commercial and clinical manufacture of Soliris at ARIMF. We responded to the Warning Letter in a letter to the FDA dated in April 2013. As previously disclosed, the FDA issued Form 483s in August 2014 and August 2015 related to observations at ARIMF and the inspectional observations from the August 2014 and 2015 Forms 483s have since been closed out by the FDA. During July 2016, the FDA completed a routine inspection at ARIMF and have since confirmed receipt of our responses to the inspectional observations included in the Form 483 received during that inspection. The observations are inspectional and do not represent a final FDA determination of compliance. We continue to manufacture products, including Soliris, in this facility. While the resolution of the issues raised in the Warning Letter is difficult to predict, we do not currently believe a loss related to this matter is probable or that the potential magnitude of such loss or range of loss, if any, can be reasonably estimated. |