Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Consolidation, Policy

Basis of Presentation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Lexicon and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates, Policy

Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U. S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management 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 period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments: Lexicon considers all highly-liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.  As of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, short-term investments consist of U.S. treasury bills and corporate debt securities. The Company’s short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale securities and are carried at fair value, based on quoted market prices of the securities.  The Company views its available-for-sale securities as available for use in current operations regardless of the stated maturity date of the security.  Unrealized gains and losses on such securities are reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.  Net realized gains and losses, interest and dividends are included in interest income.  The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method.

Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Policy

Accounts Receivable:  Lexicon records trade accounts receivable in the normal course of business related to the sale of products or services, net of an allowance for expected credit losses.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventory: Inventory was comprised of supplies of XERMELO supporting the Company’s commercialization of the product in the United States. Inventories were determined at the lower of cost or market value, with cost determined under the specific identification method. As of December 31, 2019, inventory in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet consisted of raw materials, work in process and finished goods in the amounts of $3.2 million, $0.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively. See Note 4, Asset Sale, for additional information relating to inventory.

Concentration Risk Disclosure

Concentration of Credit Risk: Lexicon’s cash equivalents, investments and accounts receivable represent potential concentrations of credit risk. The Company attempts to minimize potential concentrations of risk in cash equivalents and investments by placing investments in high-quality financial instruments. The Company’s accounts receivable are unsecured and are concentrated in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies located in Europe and the United States.  The Company has not experienced any significant credit losses to date.

Segment Reporting Disclosure

Segment Information and Significant Customers: Lexicon operates in one business segment, which primarily focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of human disease. Substantially all of the Company’s revenues have been derived from drug discovery alliances, target validation collaborations for the development and, in some cases, analysis of the physiological effects of genes altered in knockout mice, technology licenses, subscriptions to its databases, product sales, government grants and contracts and compound library sales.

Intangible Assets, Finite-Lived, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Intangible Assets: Intangible assets, net consist of in-process research and development acquired in business combinations, and are reported at fair value, less accumulated amortization. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment: Property and equipment that is held and used is carried at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the assets which ranges from three to 40 years.  Maintenance, repairs and minor replacements are charged to expense as incurred.  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the estimated useful life or the remaining lease term.  Significant renewals and betterments are capitalized.

Accrued liabilities: Accrued liabilities consisted of the following:

	As of December 31,
	2020		2019
	(in thousands)
Accrued research and development services	$	21,962	$	29,033
Accrued compensation and benefits	6,200		9,644
Short term lease liability	553		553
Other	976		2,921
Accrued liabilities	$	29,691	$	42,151

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets:  Long-lived assets, right-of-use assets for leases and finite-lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considereds to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount that the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. In 2020, we recognized an impairment loss of $1.6 million to reduce the carrying value of the assets comprising our campus in The Woodlands, Texas, which were sold in December 2020, to an estimated fair value, less estimated selling costs. There were no impairments of long-lived assets, including finite-lived intangible assets, in 2019 or 2018.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy

Goodwill Impairment:  Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested at least annually for impairment at the reporting unit level.  The Company has determined that the reporting unit is the single operating segment disclosed in its current financial statements. Impairment is the condition that exists when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value.  The first step in the impairment process is to determine the fair value of the reporting unit and then compare it to the carrying value, including goodwill.  If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, no further action is required and no impairment loss is recognized.  Additional impairment assessments may be performed on an interim basis if the Company encounters events or changes in circumstances that would indicate that, more likely than not, the carrying value of goodwill has been impaired.

Revenue Recognition, Policy

Revenue Recognition:

Product Revenues

Prior to the Company’s sale of XERELO and related assets to TerSera in September 2020, product revenues consisted of commercial sales of XERMELO in the United States and sales of bulk tablets of XERMELO to Ipsen. Product revenues were recognized when the customer obtains control of the Company’s product, which occurs upon delivery to the customer. The Company recognized product revenue net of applicable reserves for variable consideration, including allowances for customer credits, estimated rebates, chargebacks, discounts, returns, distribution service fees, and government rebates, such as Medicare Part D coverage gap reimbursements in the United States, as discussed below. These estimates were based on the most likely amount method for relevant factors such as current contractual and statutory requirements, industry data and forecasted customer buying and payment patterns. Product shipping and handling costs were considered a fulfillment activity when control transfers to the Company’s customers and such costs were included in cost of sales.

Customer Credits: The Company’s customers were offered various forms of consideration, including allowances, service fees and prompt payment discounts. The Company expected that its customers would earn prompt payment discounts. As a result, the Company deducted the full amount of those discounts from total product sales when revenues were recognized. Service fees were also deducted from product sales as they were earned.

Rebates: Allowances for rebates include mandated discounts under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. Rebate amounts are based upon contractual agreements or legal requirements with public sector (e.g., Medicaid) benefit providers. Rebates are amounts owed after the final dispensing of the product to a benefit plan participant and are based upon contractual agreements or legal requirements with public sector benefit providers. The allowance for rebates is based on statutory discount rates and expected utilization. The Company’s estimates for expected utilization of rebates were based on third party market research data and data received from the specialty pharmacies. Rebates were generally invoiced and paid in arrears so that the accrual balance consisted of an estimate of the amount expected to be incurred for the current quarter’s activity, plus an accrual balance for known unpaid rebates from the prior quarter. If actual future rebates varied from estimates, the Company adjusted prior period accruals, which affected revenue in the period of adjustment.

Chargebacks: Chargebacks are discounts that occur when contracted customers purchase directly from a specialty pharmacy or distributor, who acts as a retailer. Contracted customers, which consisted primarily of Public Health Service Institutions, non-profit clinics, and federal government entities purchasing via the Federal Supply Schedule, generally purchase the product at a discounted price. The specialty pharmacy or distributor, in turn, charged back to Lexicon the difference between the price paid by the specialty pharmacy or distributor and the discounted price paid to the specialty pharmacy or distributor by the customer. The allowance for chargeback was based on known sales to contracted customers.

Medicare Part D Coverage Gap: The Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit mandates manufacturers to fund a portion of the Medicare Part D insurance coverage gap for prescription drugs sold to eligible patients. The Company’s estimates for the expected Medicare Part D coverage gap were based on data received from the specialty pharmacies and projections based on historical data. Funding of the coverage gap was generally invoiced and paid in arrears so that the accrual balance consisted of an estimate of the amount expected to be incurred for the current quarter’s activity, plus an accrual balance for known prior quarters. If actual future funding varied from estimates, the Company adjusted prior period accruals, which affected revenues in the period of adjustment.

Co-payment assistance: Patients who have commercial insurance and meet certain eligibility requirements may receive co-payment assistance. The Company accrued a liability for co-payment assistance based on actual program participation and estimates of program redemption using data provided by third-party administrators.

Collaborative Agreements

Cost of Sales

Cost of Sales: Cost of sales consisted of third-party manufacturing costs, freight and indirect overhead costs associated with sales of XERMELO. Product shipping and handling costs were included in cost of sales. Cost of sales also included the amortization of the intangible asset for XERMELO using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of 14 years.

Research and Development Expense, Policy

Research and Development Expenses: Research and development expenses consist of costs incurred for company-sponsored as well as collaborative research and development activities. These costs include direct and research-related overhead expenses and are expensed as incurred.  Technology license fees for technologies that are utilized in research and development and have no alternative future use are expensed when incurred. Substantial portions of the Company’s preclinical and clinical trials are performed by third-party laboratories, medical centers, contract research organizations and other vendors. For preclinical studies, the Company accrues expenses based upon estimated percentage of work completed and the contract milestones remaining. For clinical studies, expenses are accrued based upon the number of patients enrolled and the duration of the study. The Company’s estimates of the clinical study costs and costs to transition activities from Sanofi for the development of sotagliflozin for type 2 diabetes and heart failure, as well as the wind down of those activities, were based on estimates of the services to be received and efforts to be expended pursuant to contracts with multiple vendors and the CRO that conducted and managed the clinical studies on its behalf. The Company monitors patient enrollment, the progress of clinical studies and related activities to the extent possible through internal reviews of data reported to the Company by the vendors and clinical site visits. The Company’s estimates depend on the timeliness and accuracy of the data provided by the vendors regarding the status of each program and total program spending. The Company periodically evaluates the estimates to determine if adjustments are necessary or appropriate based on information it receives.

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy

Stock-Based Compensation:  The Company recognizes compensation expense in its statements of comprehensive income (loss) for share-based payments, including stock options and restricted stock units issued to employees, based on their fair values on the date of the grant, with the compensation expense recognized over the period in which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the stock award.  Stock-based compensation expense for awards without performance conditions is recognized on a straight-line basis. Stock-based compensation expense for awards with performance conditions is recognized over the period from the date the performance condition is determined to be probable of occurring through the time the applicable condition is met.  As of December 31, 2020, stock-based compensation cost for all outstanding unvested options and restricted stock units was $15.7 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.1 years.

The fair value of stock options is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes method.  The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires the input of subjective assumptions.  Because the Company’s employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management’s opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its employee stock options.  For purposes of determining the fair value of stock options, the Company segregates its options into two homogeneous groups, based on exercise and post-vesting employment termination behaviors, resulting in different assumptions used for expected option lives.  Historical data is used to estimate the expected option life for each group. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility in the Company’s stock price.

Earnings Per Share, Policy

Net Income (Loss) per Common Share: Net income (loss) per common share is computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Shares associated with convertible debt, stock options and restricted stock units that could potentially dilute earnings per share in the future are not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they are antidilutive.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Intangible Assets, Indefinite-Lived, Policy

Indefinite-lived intangible assets are also tested annually for impairment and whenever indicators of impairment are present. When performing the impairment assessment, the Company first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to recalculate the fair value of its intangible assets. If management believes, as a result of the qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the intangible assets is less than its carrying amount, the Company calculates the asset’s fair value. If the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value, then the intangible asset is written down to its fair value. In 2019, Lexicon determined that a triggering event occurred upon execution of the Termination Agreement with Sanofi (as defined in Note 14) and Lexicon’s resulting decision to substantially reallocate resources from the development of certain programs, including LX1031 and LX1033 for irritable bowel syndrome, to the development of sotagliflozin. In connection with such triggering event, Lexicon determined that its LX1031 and LX1033 programs for irritable bowel syndrome, collectively an intangible asset, were considered to be impaired and recorded an impairment charge of $28.6 million to IPR&D in 2019. The impairment reduced the remaining book value to zero. There was no impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets in 2018.

Income Tax, Policy

Income Taxes: The Company recognizes deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized differently in the financial statements and tax returns. The Company uses the liability method in accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the difference between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax bases of liabilities and assets using enacted tax rates and laws in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are evaluated for realization based on a more-likely-than-not criteria in determining if a valuation allowance should be provided.

The Company maintains a valuation allowance on net operating losses and other deferred tax assets. Accordingly, the Company has not reported any tax benefit relating to the remaining net operating loss carryforwards and income tax credit carryforwards that are available for utilization in future periods. On a periodic basis, the valuation allowance is reassessed on deferred income tax assets, weighing positive and negative evidence to assess the recoverability of the deferred tax assets. In 2020, the Company reassessed the valuation allowance and considered negative evidence, including the cumulative losses over the three years ended December 31, 2020, and positive evidence, including the income during the year ended December 31, 2020 and projections of future income. After assessing both the negative evidence and the positive evidence, the Company concluded that it should continue to maintain the valuation allowance on net operating losses and other deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2020 given the significance of the weight of the negative evidence. Based on recent financial performance and future projections, the Company could record a reversal of all, or a portion of the valuation allowance associated with U.S. deferred tax assets in future periods. However, any such change is subject to actual performance and other considerations that may present positive or negative evidence at the time of the assessment. The total deferred tax asset balance subject to the valuation allowance was approximately $309.0 million at December 31, 2020.

Significant judgment is required in making these assessments to maintain or reverse valuation allowances and, to the extent future expectations change the Company would have to assess the recoverability of these deferred tax assets at that time.