UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 8-K

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CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 27, 2024

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ARCUTIS BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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Delaware	001-39186	81-2974255
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification Number)

3027 Townsgate Road, Suite 300

Westlake Village, CA 91361

(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (805) 418-5006

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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2. below):

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share	ARQT	The Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 1.01    Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On February 27, 2024, Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. (“Arcutis” or the “Company”) entered into a License Agreement (the “License Agreement”) with Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“Sato”). Pursuant to the terms of the License Agreement, the Company grants to Sato an exclusive, sublicensable (under certain circumstances) license under certain patent rights and know-how controlled by the Company for Sato to develop, conduct medical affairs activities for, manufacture, commercialize and otherwise exploit ZORYVE® (roflumilast) cream and ZORYVE® (roflumilast) foam (the “Licensed Products”) for all therapeutic uses for certain dermatological indications in humans (the “Field”) in Japan.

The License Agreement sets forth each party’s respective obligations with respect to the development, medical affairs activities, manufacture and supply, and commercialization of the Licensed Products. Pursuant to the terms of the License Agreement, Sato will, at its expense, develop, obtain regulatory approval for, commercialize and conduct medical affairs activities related to the Licensed Products in the Field in Japan, subject to certain of the Company’s approval and oversight rights.

Pursuant to the terms of the License Agreement, the Company will receive an upfront payment of $25 million and potentially receive additional payments (i) up to an aggregate amount of $10 million upon the achievement of certain regulatory milestones and (ii) up to an aggregate amount of $30 million upon the achievement of certain sales milestones. In addition, on a Licensed Product-by-Licensed Product basis, commencing from the first commercial sale of such Licensed Product in Japan until the latest of (i) the expiration of the last valid claim in the intellectual property rights licensed by the Company to Sato under the License Agreement covering such Licensed Product in Japan, (ii) the expiration of regulatory exclusivity for such Licensed Product in Japan, or (iii) ten years after the first commercial sale of such Licensed Product in Japan (the “Royalty Term”), the Company will receive low double-digit to mid-teen double-digit percentage royalties on Sato’s, its affiliates’ and sublicensees’ total annual net sales of all Licensed Products, subject to certain royalty reductions.

The term of the License Agreement continues until, on a Licensed Product-by-Licensed Product basis, the expiration of the Royalty Term. The License Agreement may be terminated by either party in its entirety if the other party commits a material breach, subject to a cure period, or if the other party becomes insolvent. Sato may terminate the License Agreement at-will in its entirety upon 90 days’ written notice. Unless unenforceable under applicable law, the Company may terminate the License Agreement in its entirety if Sato, its affiliate or sublicensee contests or assists a third party in contesting the scope, validity or enforceability of any patent or patent application licensed by the Company to Sato. The Company may also terminate the License Agreement if Sato or any director, officers, employee, agent, affiliate, sublicensee, or subcontractor is charged by a governmental authority for a violation of any anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, sanctions or export or import control laws or regulations, or, subject to the terms of the License Agreement, if Sato, its affiliates and sublicensees do not conduct any material development or commercialization activities of a Licensed Product in Japan for a certain period of time.

The foregoing description of the License Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the License Agreement, a copy of which will be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	ARCUTIS BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
Date: February 28, 2024		/s/ Todd Franklin Watanabe
		Todd Franklin Watanabe
		President and Chief Executive Officer