SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policy)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]

General

General

1. Operation

Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (collectively with its subsidiaries, the "Company"), and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Protalix Ltd., are biopharmaceutical companies focused on the development and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins based on the Company's proprietary ProCellEx^® protein expression system ("ProCellEx"). In September 2009, Protalix Ltd. formed another wholly-owned subsidiary under the laws of the Netherlands, Protalix B.V., in connection with the European Medicines Agency ("EMA") application process in the European Union. The Company's two subsidiaries are referred to collectively herein as the "Subsidiaries."

On May 1, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") approved taliglucerase alfa for injection, the Company's first approved drug product, as an enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for the long-term treatment of adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of type 1 Gaucher disease. Taliglucerase alfa is a proprietary, recombinant form of glucocerebrosidase (GCD) that the Company developed using ProCellEx. Taliglucerase alfa was also approved by the Israeli Ministry of Health (the "Israeli MOH") in September 2012, by the Brazilian Ministry of Health (the "Brazilian MOH") in March 2013 and by the applicable regulatory authorities of certain other countries. Taliglucerase alfa is the first plant cell-based recombinant therapeutic protein approved by the FDA or any other major regulatory authority.

Taliglucerase alfa is being marketed in the United States under the brand name ELELYSO™ by Pfizer Inc. ("Pfizer"), the Company's commercialization partner, as provided in the exclusive license and supply agreement by and between Protalix Ltd. and Pfizer (the "Pfizer Agreement"). The Company, through Protalix Ltd., markets ELELYSO in Israel.

Protalix Ltd. granted Pfizer an exclusive, worldwide license to develop and commercialize taliglucerase alfa under the Pfizer Agreement, but retained those rights in Israel and, subject to the effectiveness of the Brazil Agreement (as defined below), in Brazil. The Company has agreed to a specific allocation between Protalix Ltd. and Pfizer regarding the responsibilities for the continued development efforts for taliglucerase alfa. To date, the Company has received an upfront payment of $60.0 million in connection with the execution of the Pfizer Agreement and shortly thereafter an additional $5.0 million clinical development-related milestone payment. The Company received an additional $25.0 million milestone payment in connection with the FDA's approval of taliglucerase alfa in the United States, which was considered to be a substantive milestone for purposes of revenue recognition, and, accordingly, was recorded as revenue during the period in which the milestone was achieved. The agreement provides that the Company share with Pfizer the net profits or loss related to the development and commercialization of taliglucerase alfa on a 40% and 60% basis, respectively, except with respect to the profits or losses related to commercialization efforts in Israel and, subject to the effectiveness of the Brazil Agreement, Brazil, where the Company retained or will retain exclusive marketing rights. In calculating the net profits or losses under the agreement, there are certain agreed upon limits on the amounts that may be deducted from gross sales for certain expenses and costs of goods sold.

On June 18, 2013, Protalix Ltd. entered into a Supply and Technology Transfer Agreement (the "Brazil Agreement") with Fundação Oswaldo Cruz ("Fiocruz"), an arm of the Brazilian MOH, for taliglucerase alfa. The brand name for taliglucerase alfa in Brazil is UPLYSO^TM. The first term of the technology transfer is seven years and the agreement may be extended for an additional five-year term, as needed, to complete the technology transfer. The technology transfer is designed to be effected in four stages and is intended to transfer to Fiocruz the capacity and skills required for the Brazilian government to construct its own manufacturing facility, at its sole expense, and to produce a sustainable, high quality, and cost effective supply of taliglucerase alfa. Under the agreement, Fiocruz has committed to purchase at least approximately $40 million worth of taliglucerase alfa during the first two years of the agreement. In subsequent years, Fiocruz is required to purchase at least approximately $40 million worth of taliglucerase alfa per year. Additionally, Protalix Ltd. is not required to complete the final stage of the technology transfer until Fiocruz purchases at least approximately $280 million worth of taliglucerase alfa. The Brazil Agreement becomes effective upon its approval by the Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property, which is expected to occur shortly.

To facilitate the arrangement with Fiocruz, Pfizer amended its exclusive license and supply agreement with Protalix Ltd. The amendment provides for the transfer of the commercialization and other rights to taliglucerase alfa in Brazil back to Protalix Ltd. As consideration for the transfer of the commercialization and supply rights, Protalix Ltd. agreed to pay Pfizer a maximum amount of approximately $12.5 million from its net profits (as defined in the license and supply agreement) per year. Pfizer has also agreed to perform certain transitional services in Brazil on Protalix Ltd.'s behalf in connection with the supply of taliglucerase alfa to Fiocruz.

Protalix Ltd. is required to pay a fee equal to 5% of the net proceeds generated in Brazil to its agent for services provided in assisting Protalix Ltd. complete the Brazil Agreement pursuant to an agency agreement between Protalix Ltd. and the agent. The agency agreement will remain in effect with respect to the Brazil Agreement until the termination thereof.

In addition to the approvals from the FDA, the Israeli MOH and the Brazilian MOH, marketing approval has been granted to UPLYSO in Mexico, Chile and Uruguay. In addition, the Company is cooperating with Pfizer in its efforts to obtain marketing approval for taliglucerase alfa in additional countries and jurisdictions. Currently, marketing authorization applications have been filed in a number of countries.

Currently, patients are being treated with taliglucerase alfa on a commercial basis in the United States and Israel. In addition, patients are being treated globally through the Company's clinical trials and related studies, compassionate use programs, special access agreements, named patient provisions and other programs designed to ensure that treatments are available to Gaucher patients in light of recent shortages of approved treatments. On July 13, 2010, the Company announced that the French regulatory authority had granted an Autorisation Temporaire d'Utilisation (ATU), or Temporary Authorization for Use, for taliglucerase alfa for the treatment of Gaucher disease.

An ATU is the regulatory mechanism used by the French Health Products and Safety Agency to make non-approved drugs available to patients in France when a genuine public health need exists. This ATU allows Gaucher patients in France to receive treatment with taliglucerase alfa before marketing authorization for the product is granted in the European Union. Payment for taliglucerase alfa has been secured through government allocations to hospitals. In addition, taliglucerase alfa is currently being provided to Gaucher patients under special access agreements or named patient provisions in other countries.

In addition to taliglucerase alfa, the Company is working on the development of certain other products using ProCellEx.

2. Liquidity and Financial Resources

In addition to the approval of taliglucerase alfa for marketing in the United States, Israel, Brazil, Mexico and other countries, successful completion of the Company's development programs and its transition to normal operations is dependent upon obtaining the foreign regulatory approvals required to sell its products internationally. A substantial amount of time may pass before the Company achieves a level of revenues adequate to support its operations, if at all, and the Company expects to incur substantial expenditures in connection with the regulatory approval process for each of its product candidates during their respective developmental periods.

Obtaining marketing approval with respect to any product candidate in any country is directly dependent on the Company's ability to implement the necessary regulatory steps required to obtain such approvals. The Company cannot reasonably predict the outcome of these activities.

Based on its current cash resources and commitments, the Company believes it will be able to maintain its current planned development activities and the corresponding level of expenditures for approximately 15 months, although no assurance can be given that it will not need additional funds prior to such time. If there are unexpected increases in general and administrative expenses or research and development expenses, the Company may need to seek additional financing during the next 15 months. The Company may also consider arrangements with collaborators or other strategic partnerships.

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (of a normal recurring nature) considered necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented have been included. Operating results for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year.

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed by the Company with the Commission. The comparative balance sheet at December 31, 2012 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date.

Earnings (loss) per share

Earnings (loss) per share

Basic earnings (loss) per share are calculated by dividing the net profit (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 (the "Common Stock"), outstanding during each period.

Diluted earnings (loss) per share are calculated by dividing the net profit (loss) by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period increased to include the number of additional shares of common stock that would have been outstanding if the potentially dilutive shares had been issued. Potentially dilutive shares include outstanding stock options granted to employees and non-employees.

The weighted average number of shares outstanding used to calculate earnings (loss) per share were as follows:

	Six Months Ended				Three Months Ended
	June 30, 2013		June 30, 2012		June 30, 2013		June 30, 2012
Weighted average common shares outstanding for basic calculation		92,241,505		89,702,496		92,297,522		91,526,224
Weighted average dilutive effect of stock options		-		2,967,537		-		3,354,943
Weighted average common shares outstanding for diluted calculation		92,241,505		92,670,033		92,297,522		94,881,167

Diluted earnings (loss) per share do not include options and restricted shares of the Company in the amount of 1,785,542 and 7,413,383 shares of Common Stock for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013, respectively, and 1,785,542 and 7,356,464 shares of Common Stock for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013, respectively, because the effect would be anti-dilutive.