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Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1. Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

Organization and Liquidity

Aptevo Therapeutics Inc. (Aptevo, we, us, or the Company) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. Our lead clinical candidate, APVO436, and preclinical candidates, ALG.APV-527 and APVO603 were developed based on the Company’s versatile and robust ADAPTIR™ modular protein technology platform. The ADAPTIR platform is capable of generating highly differentiated bispecific antibodies with unique mechanisms of action for the treatment of different types of cancer. At December 31, 2019, we had one revenue-generating product in the area of hematology, IXINITY®.

We are currently trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “APVO.”

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on a basis that assumes we will continue as a going concern and which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. For the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, we generated product revenue of $32.4 million and $23.1 million, respectively, and had a net loss of $40.4 million and $53.7 million, respectively. We had an accumulated deficit of $167.9 million as of December 31, 2019. For the year ended December 31, 2019, net cash used in our operating activities was $42.4 million. As of December 31, 2019, our sole marketed product was IXINITY®, and therefore IXINITY was our only source of product revenue. We have suffered recurring losses from operations and negative cash flows from operating activities. When considered in aggregate, these factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for the one-year period from the date of issuance of these financial statements. We will need to raise additional funds to support our operating and capital needs in 2020.

We continue to face significant challenges and uncertainties and, as a result, our available capital resources may be consumed more rapidly than currently expected due to: (a) changes we may make to the business that affect ongoing operating expenses; (b) changes we may make in our business strategy; (c) changes we may make in our research and development spending plans; (d) potential decreases in our expected milestone and deferred payments from Medexus with respect to IXINITY; and (e) other items affecting our forecasted level of expenditures and use of cash resources. We may attempt to obtain additional funding through our existing equity sales agreement with Lincoln Park Financial LLC or our Equity Distribution Agreement with Piper Jaffray, or other public or private financing, collaborative arrangements with strategic partners, or through additional credit lines or other debt financing sources to increase the funds available to fund operations. However, we may not be able to secure such funding in a timely manner or on favorable terms, if at all. Furthermore, if we issue equity or debt securities to raise additional funds, our existing stockholders may experience dilution, and the new equity or debt securities may have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of our existing stockholders. If we raise additional funds through collaboration, licensing or other similar arrangements, it may be necessary to relinquish valuable rights to our potential products or proprietary technologies, or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us. Without additional funds, we may be forced to delay, scale back or eliminate some of our research and development activities or other operations and potentially delay product development in an effort to provide sufficient funds to continue our operations. If any of these events occurs, our ability to achieve our development and commercialization goals may be adversely affected.

 

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, which include normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the company and its wholly owned subsidiaries: Aptevo Research and Development LLC and Aptevo BioTherapeutics LLC. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the company and its wholly owned subsidiaries: Aptevo Research and Development LLC and Aptevo BioTherapeutics LLC. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with a maturity of 90 days or less at the date of purchase and include time deposits and investments in money market funds with commercial banks and financial institutions.

Restricted Cash

As of December 31, 2019, we had restricted cash, long-term, which included $5.0 million related to the minimum cash covenant included in the Company’s Credit and Security Agreement (the Credit Agreement) with MidCap Financial Trust, and $2.5 million securing letters of credit. Under the terms of our credit facility agreement with MidCap Financial Trust, we were required to maintain a restricted cash account of $5 million. Repayment of the debt in February 2020 relieved us of the obligation to keep $5 million of cash restricted.  

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject Aptevo to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, certain investments and accounts receivable. Aptevo places its cash and cash equivalents with high quality financial institutions and may maintain cash balances in excess of insured limits. Management believes that the financial risks associated with its cash and cash equivalents are minimal.

Major Customers

 

We sold IXINITY through a limited number of customers and specialty pharmacies. Each of these wholesalers, together with entities under their common control, accounted for greater than 10% of total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 and greater than 10% of accounts receivable as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 as noted below.

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

 

Percentage of

Total Revenue

 

 

Percentage of

Accounts

Receivable

 

 

Percentage of

Total Revenue

 

 

Percentage of

Accounts

Receivable

 

Customer A

 

 

36

%

 

 

72

%

 

 

72

%

 

 

70

%

Customer B

 

 

27

%

 

 

18

%

 

 

17

%

 

 

19

%

Customer C

 

 

20

%

 

 

0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts Receivable

Aptevo records accounts receivable net of an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon its assessment of collectability, and of applicable discounts. Aptevo performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market with cost being determined using a moving average cost method, which approximates weighted-average cost. Average cost consists primarily of material, labor and manufacturing overhead expenses (including allocation of fixed production-overhead costs) from our third-party suppliers.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

 

Furniture and equipment

7-10 years

Software and hardware

3-5 years or product life

Leasehold improvements

Lesser of the asset life or the remaining lease term

 

Upon retirement or sale, the cost of assets disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is credited or charged to operations. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

 

Leases

 

On January 1, 2019 we adopted ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (ASC 842), which amended the existing standards for lease accounting, requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. We adopted the new standard using a modified retrospective transition approach at the beginning of the current fiscal year, January 1, 2019. We did not adjust comparative periods in our financial statements prior to that period.

 

For transition leases, entities were permitted to make an election to apply a package of practical expedients that allows entities not to reassess (i) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, (ii) lease classification for any expired or existing leases, and (iii) whether initial direct costs for any expired or existing leases qualify for capitalization under ASC 842. In addition, entities were also permitted to make an election to use hindsight when determining lease terms and when assessing the impairment of right-of-use assets. We have chosen to elect the package of practical expedients but did not elect the hindsight practical expedient for our transition leases.

 

We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception date. Leases are to be classified as finance or operating at the lease commencement date, which affects the classification of expense recognition in the income statement. Right-of-use assets represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments, as agreed to in the lease. Operating lease liabilities and the corresponding right-of-use assets are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. An operating right-of-use asset is measured as the amount of the initial measurement of the lease liability, adjusted for prepaid or accrued lease payments, the remaining balance of any lease incentive received, unamortized initial direct costs, and any impairment of the right-of-use asset. The initial measurement of the lease liabilities and right-to-use assets of finance leases is the same as for operating leases. We include options to extend the lease and certain termination options in our lease liability and right-of-use asset when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise those options.

 

As our existing leases do not contain an implicit interest rate, we estimate our incremental borrowing rate (IBR) based on information available at commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. Due to the significant judgment involved and the complex analysis needed to determine this discount rate, we engaged a third-party valuation specialist to advise us in our determination of our IBR for the initial adoption of the standard.

 

Lease expense for operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term as part of our selling, general and administrative expenses and our research and development expenses on our consolidated statement of operations. Lease expense for financing leases consists of amortization of the right-of-use asset and interest on the lease liability as part of our research and development expenses on our consolidated statement of operations.

 

Adoption of the new standard resulted in the recognition of a right-of-use asset of $1.5 million, an operating lease liability of $2.2 million dollars, and a related decrease in deferred rent liability of $0.7 million at January 1, 2019. Refer to Note 11 for additional information. We note that there was no cumulative effect due to the deferred rent change.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

We measure and record cash equivalents and investment securities considered available-for-sale at fair value in the accompanying financial statements. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability, an exit price, in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

The carrying amounts of our short-term financial instruments, which include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable, approximate their fair value due to their short maturities.

Product Sales, Rebates and other Discounts

Aptevo marketed and sold IXINITY through commercial wholesalers (direct customers) who purchased IXINITY at a price referred to as the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC). Additionally, Aptevo may enter into separate agreements with indirect customers to acquire its product for a contracted price that is less than the product’s WAC. The indirect customers, such as group-purchasing organizations, physician practice-management groups and hospitals, continued to purchase Aptevo’s product from the wholesalers, but at their respective contractual prices. Per its wholesaler agreements, Aptevo guaranteed to credit the wholesaler for the difference between the WAC and the indirect customers’ contracted price. This credit is referred to as a chargeback and revenues from product sales are recorded net of estimated chargebacks. Adjustments to the chargeback provisions are made periodically to reflect new facts and circumstances, therefore historical experience may not be indicative of current and/or future results.

All revenues from product sales are also recorded net of applicable allowances for sales and government rebates, special promotional programs, and discounts. These allowances are estimated based on historical payment experience, historical relationship to revenues, estimated customer inventory levels, contract terms, and actual discounts offered. In arriving at these estimates, Aptevo further utilizes information received from third parties including market data, inventory reports from major wholesalers, historical information and analysis. These estimates are subject to the inherent limitations of estimates that rely on third-party data, as certain third-party information may itself rely on estimates and reflect other limitations.

Debt Issuance Costs

Aptevo defers costs related to debt issuance and amortizes these costs to interest expense over the term of the debt, using the effective interest method. Debt issuance costs are presented in the balance sheet as a reduction of the carrying amount of the debt liability.

Revenue Recognition

 

Under ASC 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration that the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services.  To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. 

We only apply the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that we will collect the consideration we are entitled to in exchange for the goods or services we transfer to the customers. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, we assess the goods or services promised within each contract and identify, as a performance obligation, and assess whether each promised good or service is distinct. We then recognize as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.

Product Revenue, Net

Aptevo had one marketed commercial product, IXINITY, a coagulation factor IX (recombinant) therapeutic indicated in adults and children 12 years of age and older with hemophilia B for control and prevention of bleeding episodes, and management of bleeding during operations.  

 

On February 28, 2020, Aptevo entered into an LLC Purchase Agreement with Medexus, pursuant to which Aptevo sold all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Aptevo BioT, a subsidiary of Aptevo which wholly owns the IXINITY and related Hemophilia B business.

Reserves for Variable Consideration

We have identified the following fees, discounts and rebates that result in consideration being variable: chargebacks, distributor and Group Purchasing Organizations (GPO) fees, government rebates, return rights, and patient assistance. As part of determining variable consideration we noted that although the distributors are our customers, there are additional indirect customers in the distribution chain to whom we make payments.  These indirect customers are not customers; however, unless a distinct good or service is provided to us, payments to these indirect customers need to be accounted for as a reduction in the transaction price, and therefore constitute an element of variable consideration, under ASC 606.  Further, if material, we would also account for returns as variable consideration.  

These reserves are based on the amounts earned or to be claimed on the related sales and are classified as reductions of accounts receivable (if the amount is payable to the customer) or a current liability (if the amount is payable to a party other than a customer). Where appropriate, these estimates take into consideration a range of possible outcomes that are probability-weighted for relevant factors such as our historical experience, current contractual and statutory requirements, specific known market events and trends, industry data and forecasted customer buying and payment patterns. Overall, these reserves reflect our best estimates of the amount of consideration to which we are entitled based on the terms of the contract. The amount of variable consideration that is included in the transaction price may be constrained and is included in the net sales price only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of the cumulative revenue recognized will not occur in a future period. Actual amounts of consideration ultimately received may differ from our estimates. If actual results in the future vary from our estimates, we will adjust these estimates, which would affect net product revenue and earnings in the period such variances become known.

We have established provisions for the following types of variable consideration:

 

Chargebacks: The Company makes payments to customers (in the form of credit memos) which are based on the difference between the price paid by the distributor (the “WAC”) and contracted prices paid by the authorized customers of the distributor. Specialty pharmacies, GPO’s and other smaller specialty distributors buy the product from the distributors at prices agreed to in contracts with Aptevo or, if they are eligible, at government established prices (PHS/Medicaid/Medicare/VA prices). When the distributor sells the product at contracted prices lower than the WAC, the distributor is allowed to charge the Company back the difference between the WAC and the contract price paid by their customer, this is referred to as a “Chargeback”.

 

Distribution and Data fees – The Company pays fees (in the form of direct payments) to the distributors and some GPO’s (indirect customers) for distribution of the products and for transmission of data. These services satisfy business needs for Aptevo.

 

Commercial Rebate Programs – From time to time, the Company enters into rebate programs with customers. These programs vary in time and scope, but in general, the programs involving paying a per IU rebate if a specific customer or purchasing organization dispenses a certain number of IU’s over a specific period of time.

 

Government Rebates: Certain sales by the specialty pharmacies and GPO’s are to qualify PHS/Medicaid/Medicare/TRICARE/VA and other government patients. The Company has contracts with these agencies that require rebates for sales made under the programs.

 

Cash Discounts: All customers have the option to receive a cash discount for early payment.

Patient Assistance: All patients are eligible for the IXINITY Savings Program – This provides for up to to $12,000 annual benefit to assist with co-payments. Historically, this has been insignificant to the Company.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs primarily consist of internal labor costs, fees paid to outside service providers and the costs of materials used in clinical trials and research and development. Other research and development expenses include facility, maintenance and related support expenses.

A substantial portion of Aptevo’s pre-clinical studies and all of its clinical studies have been performed by third-party CROs. The Company reviews the activities performed by the CROs each period. For pre-clinical studies, the significant factors used in estimating accruals include the percentage of work completed to date and contract milestones achieved. For clinical study expenses, the significant factors used in estimating accruals include the number of patients enrolled and services provided but not yet invoiced. The Company’s estimates are highly dependent upon the timeliness and accuracy of the data provided by its CROs regarding the status of each program and total program spending and adjustments are made when deemed necessary.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel-related costs and professional fees in support of our executive, sales and marketing, business development, finance, accounting, information technology, legal and human resource functions. Other costs include facility costs not otherwise included in cost of product sales or research and development expense.

Stock-Based Compensation

Under the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, we measure and recognize compensation expense for restricted stock units (RSUs), and stock options granted to our employees and directors based on the fair value of the awards on the date of grant. The fair value of stock options is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model that requires management to apply judgment and make estimates, including:

 

the expected term of the stock option award, which we calculate using the simplified method, as permitted by the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 110, Share-Based Payment, as we have insufficient historical information regarding our stock options to provide a basis for an estimate;

 

the expected volatility of our underlying common stock, which we estimate based on the historical volatility of the historical and implied future volatility of our common stock;

 

the risk-free interest rate, which we based on the yield curve of U.S. Treasury securities with periods commensurate with the expected term of the options being valued;

 

the expected dividend yield, which we estimate to be zero based on the fact that we have never paid cash dividends and have no present intention to pay cash dividends; and

 

the fair value of our common stock on the date of grant.

Stock-based compensation expense for RSUs is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the respective award. Stock-based compensation expense for our stock options, both converted and Aptevo granted, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the respective award.

We have elected to estimate a forfeiture rate to calculate the stock-based compensation expense for our awards. We have estimated a forfeiture rate of ten-percent. We routinely evaluate the appropriateness of the forfeiture rate based on actual forfeiture experience, analysis of employee turnover, and expectations of future option exercise behavior.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for using the liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and net operating loss and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

Aptevo’s ability to realize deferred tax assets depends upon future taxable income as well as the limitations discussed below. For financial reporting purposes, a deferred tax asset must be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized prior to expiration. Aptevo considers historical and future taxable income, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, taxable income in prior carryback years, and ongoing tax planning strategies in assessing the need for valuation allowances. In general, if Aptevo determines that it is more likely than not to realize more than the recorded amounts of net deferred tax assets in the future, Aptevo will reverse all or a portion of the valuation allowance established against its deferred tax assets, resulting in a decrease to the provision for income taxes in the period in which the determination is made. Likewise, if Aptevo determines that it is not more likely than not to realize all or part of the net deferred tax asset in the future, Aptevo will establish a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets, with an offsetting increase to the provision for income taxes, in the period in which the determination is made.

Because tax laws are complex and subject to different interpretations, significant judgment is required. As a result, Aptevo makes certain estimates and assumptions, in (1) calculating Aptevo’s income tax expense, deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities, (2) determining any valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets and (3) evaluating the amount of unrecognized tax benefits, as well as the interest and penalties related to such uncertain tax positions. Aptevo’s estimates and assumptions may differ significantly from tax benefits ultimately realized.

Segment Reporting

We have determined that we operate in a single segment and have one reporting unit: the discovery, development, commercialization and sale of novel oncology and hematology therapeutics.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses, (Topic 326) which changes how entities account for credit losses on most financial assets and certain other instruments and expands disclosures. The standard is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted, for Aptevo, as we meet the definition of a smaller reporting company (SRC). We expect to adopt the standard on January 1, 2021 and are still in the process of evaluating the effect of adoption on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

Recently Adopted Standards

On January 1, 2019 we adopted ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (ASC 842), which amended the existing standards for lease accounting, requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. We adopted the new standard using a modified retrospective transition approach at the beginning of the current fiscal year, January 1, 2019. We did not adjust comparative periods in our financial statements prior to that period.

 

Adoption of the new standard resulted in the recognition of a right-to-use asset of $1.5 million, an operating lease liability of $2.2 million dollars, and a related decrease in deferred rent liability of $0.7 million at January 1, 2019. Refer to Note 11 for additional information.

On December 18, 2019 we adopted ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740), which amended the existing standards for income tax accounting, eliminating the legacy exception on how to allocate income tax expense or benefit for the year to continuing operations, discontinued operations, other comprehensive income, and other charges or credits recorded directly to shareholder’s equity.  We did not adjust comparative periods in our financial statements prior to that period.

Adoption of the new standard resulted in determining the tax effect of income or loss from continuing operations using a computation that does not consider the tax effects of items that are not included in continuing operations. As such, we did not record a tax expense or benefit in the income from discontinued operations. Refer to Note 2 for additional information.