DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Organization and Description of Business

Retrophin, Inc. (“we”, “our”, “us”, “Retrophin” and the “Company”) refers to Retrophin, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as well as our direct and indirect subsidiaries. Retrophin is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company headquartered in San Diego, California, focused on identifying, developing and delivering life-changing therapies to people living with rare diseases. We regularly evaluate and, where appropriate, act on opportunities to expand our product pipeline through licenses and acquisitions of products in areas that will serve patients with serious or rare diseases and that we believe offer attractive growth characteristics.

On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) declared that the recent novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak was a global health emergency, which prompted national governments to begin putting actions in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. In March 2020, the WHO classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. The outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in travel restrictions, quarantines, “stay-at-home” and “shelter-in-place” orders and extended shutdown of certain businesses around the world. While the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic did not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, these governmental actions and the widespread economic disruption arising from the pandemic have the potential to materially impact our business and influence our business decisions. The extent and duration of the pandemic is unknown, and the future effects on our business are uncertain and difficult to predict. The Company is continuing to monitor the events and circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, which may require adjustments to the Company’s estimates and assumptions in the future.

Clinical Programs:

Sparsentan, also known as RE-021, is an investigational product candidate with a dual mechanism of action, selective endothelin receptor antagonist (“ERA”), with in vitro selectivity toward endothelin receptor type A, and a potent angiotensin receptor blocker (“ARB”). Sparsentan is currently being evaluated in two pivotal Phase 3 clinical studies in the following indications:

•Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis ("FSGS") is a rare kidney disease characterized by proteinuria where the glomeruli become progressively scarred. FSGS is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease.

•Immunoglobulin A nephropathy ("IgAN") is an immune-complex-mediated glomerulonephritis characterized by hematuria, proteinuria, and variable rates of progressive renal failure. IgAN is the most common primary glomerular disease.

Chenodal® has been recognized as the standard of care for cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (“CTX”) patients for more than three decades but is not currently labeled for this indication. In January 2020, we randomized the first patients in a Phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate the effects of Chenodal in adult and pediatric patients with CTX. The pivotal study, known as the RESTORE study, is intended to support a new drug application (“NDA”) submission for marketing authorization of Chenodal for CTX in the United States.

Cooperative Research and Development Agreements ("CRADAs"):

The Company is a participant in two CRADAs, which form a multi-stakeholder approach to pool resources with leading experts, and incorporates the patient perspective early in the identification and development process. Retrophin has partnered with the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences ("NCATS") and leading patient advocacy organizations, NGLY1.org and Alagille Syndrome Alliance ("ALGSA"), aimed at the identification of potential small molecule therapeutics for NGLY1 deficiency and Alagille syndrome, respectively. There are no treatment options currently approved for these diseases.

Approved products:

•Chenodal (chenodiol tablets) is approved in the United States for the treatment of patients suffering from gallstones in whom surgery poses an unacceptable health risk due to disease or advanced age. Chenodal has been the standard of care for CTX patients for more than three decades.

•Cholbam® (cholic acid capsules) is approved in the United States for the treatment of bile acid synthesis disorders due to single enzyme defects and is further indicated for adjunctive treatment of patients with peroxisomal disorders.

•Thiola® and Thiola EC® (tiopronin tablets) are approved in the United States for the prevention of cystine (kidney) stone formation in patients with severe homozygous cystinuria.