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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies
Asset Acquisition and In-License Agreements
We have entered into asset purchase agreements, license agreements, and option arrangements in order to advance and obtain technologies and services related to our business. These agreements generally require us to pay an initial fee and certain agreements call for future payments upon the attainment of agreed upon development, regulatory and/or commercial milestones. These agreements may also require minimum royalty payments based on sales of products developed from the applicable technologies, if any.
In January 2019, we entered into an agreement with Caelum, a biotechnology company that is developing CAEL101 for light chain (AL) amyloidosis.  Under the terms of the agreement, we acquired a minority equity interest in preferred stock of Caelum and an exclusive option to acquire the remaining equity in Caelum based on Phase II data, for pre-negotiated economics. We paid $30.0 in the first quarter 2019 and agreed to pay up to an additional $30.0 in contingent development milestones prior to the exercise the option to acquire the remaining equity in Caelum. These contingent payments meet the definition of a derivative liability and were initially recorded at fair value of $27.1. We allocated the total consideration of $57.1, inclusive of the fair value of the contingent payments, to the equity investment in Caelum and the option to acquire the remaining equity in Caelum based on the relative fair values of the assets. Following discussions with the FDA, Caelum changed the design of its clinical development program and now plans to initiate expanded Phase II/III trials in the second quarter 2020. In December 2019, we amended the terms of the agreement with Caelum to modify the option to acquire the remaining equity in Caelum based on data from the expanded Phase II/III trials. The amendment also modified the development-related milestone events associated with the initial $30.0 in contingent payments, provided for an additional $20.0 in upfront funding, which we accrued as of December 31, 2019, as well as funding of $60.0 in exchange for an additional equity interest at fair value upon achievement of a specific development-related milestone event. The agreement with Caelum also provides for additional payments, in the event Alexion exercises the purchase option, for up to $500.0, which includes an upfront option exercise payment and potential regulatory and commercial milestone payments.
In March 2019, we entered into an agreement with Zealand which provides us with exclusive worldwide licenses, as well as development and commercial rights, for subcutaneously delivered preclinical peptide therapies directed at up to four complement pathway targets. Pursuant to the agreement, Zealand will lead joint discovery and research efforts through the preclinical stage, and Alexion will lead development efforts beginning with the investigational new drug filing and Phase I studies. In addition to the agreement, we made an equity investment in Zealand (see Note 7,
Other Investments). Under the terms of the agreement, we made an upfront payment of $40.0 for an exclusive license to the lead target and the equity investment, as well as for preclinical research services to be performed by Zealand in relation to the lead target. The market value of the equity investment was $13.8 as of the date of acquisition, which we recorded in other assets in our consolidated balance sheets. We also recognized prepaid research and development expense of $5.0 within the consolidated balance sheets associated with the research activities to be performed by Zealand. Due to the early stage of the asset we are licensing, we recorded the upfront license payment of $21.2 as research and development expense during the first quarter 2019. As of December 31, 2019, we could be required to pay up to $610.0, for the lead target, upon the achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones, as well as royalties on commercial sales. In addition, we could be required to pay up to an additional $115.0 in development and regulatory milestones if both a long-acting and short-acting product are developed with respect to the lead target. Each of the three subsequent targets can be selected for an option fee of $15.0 and has the potential for additional development, regulatory and commercial milestones, as well as royalty payments, at a reduced price to the lead target.
In March 2019, we entered into an agreement with Affibody AB (Affibody), through which Alexion obtained an exclusive worldwide license, as well as development and commercial rights, to ABY-039, a bivalent antibody-mimetic that targets the FcRn and is currently in Phase I development. The agreement with Affibody was subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and, following receipt of such approval, the transaction closed in April 2019. Pursuant to the agreement, Alexion will lead the clinical development and commercial activities for ABY-039 in rare Immunoglobulin G (IgG)-mediated autoimmune diseases. Affibody has the option to co-promote ABY-039 in the U.S. and will lead clinical development of ABY-039 in an undisclosed indication. Under the terms of the agreement, we made an upfront payment of $25.0 for the exclusive license to ABY-039. Due to the early stage of the asset we are licensing, we recorded the upfront license payment as research and development expense during the second quarter 2019. As of December 31, 2019, we could also be required to pay up to $625.0 for amounts due upon achievement of specific development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, as well as royalties on commercial sales.
In September 2019, we entered into an agreement with Eidos through which Alexion obtained an exclusive license to develop and commercialize AG10 in Japan. AG10 is a small molecule designed to treat the root cause of transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) and is currently in a Phase III study in the U.S. and Europe for ATTR cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). In addition, we made an equity investment in Eidos (see Note 7, Other Investments). Under the terms of the agreement, we made an upfront payment of $50.0 for the exclusive license to AG10 in Japan and the equity investment. The market value of the equity investment was $19.9 as of the date of acquisition, which we recorded in other assets in our consolidated balance sheets. Due to the early stage of the asset we are licensing, we recorded the upfront license payment of $30.1 as research and development expense during the third quarter 2019. As of December 31, 2019, we could also be required to pay $30.0 upon achievement of a Japanese-based regulatory milestone as well as royalties on commercial sales.
In October 2019, we entered into an option agreement with Stealth BioTherapeutics Corp. (Stealth), a clinical-stage biotechnology company whose lead product candidate, elamipretide, is being investigated in late-stage clinical studies in three primary mitochondrial diseases - primary mitochondrial myopathy (PMM), Barth syndrome and Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). Under the terms of the agreement, we made an upfront payment of $30.0 for an equity investment in Stealth and an exclusive option to partner with Stealth in the development of subcutaneous elamipretide based on final results from the Phase III study in PMM. The market value of the equity investment was $9.6 as of the date of acquisition, which we recorded in other assets in our consolidated balance sheets. Due to the early stage of the asset for which we have an option to license, we recorded the upfront option payment of $20.4 as research and development expense during the fourth quarter 2019. In December 2019, Stealth announced that based on top-line data from the Phase 3 study in PMM, the study did not meet its primary endpoints. Following review of the Phase 3 data released in December 2019, we notified Stealth that we will not exercise the co-development option agreement.
In October 2018, we entered into a collaboration agreement with Dicerna that provides us with exclusive worldwide licenses and development and commercial rights for two preclinical RNA interference (RNAi) subcutaneously delivered molecules for complement-mediated diseases, as well as an exclusive option for other preclinical RNAi molecules for two additional targets within the complement pathway. In addition to the collaboration agreement, we made an equity investment in Dicerna. Under the terms of the agreements, we made an upfront payment of $37.0 for the exclusive licenses and the equity investment. The market value of the equity investment was $10.3 as of the date of acquisition, which we recorded in other assets in our consolidated balance sheets. Due to the early stage of the assets we are licensing, we recorded the upfront license payment of $26.7 as research and development expense during the fourth
quarter 2018. In December 2019, we exercised our option for exclusive rights to two additional targets within the complement pathway under an existing agreement with Dicerna, which expands Alexion’s existing research collaboration and license agreement with Dicerna to include a total of four targets within the complement pathway. In connection with the option exercise, we paid Dicerna $20.0, which we recorded as research and development expense in the fourth quarter 2019. As of December 31, 2019, we could be required to pay up to $629.1 for amounts due upon the achievement of specified research, development, regulatory and commercial milestones on the four licensed targets, as well as royalties on commercial sales.
In December 2017, we entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. that allows us to use drug-delivery technology in the development of subcutaneous formulations for our portfolio of products for up to four targets. Due to the early stage of the assets we are licensing, we recorded expense for the upfront payment of $40.0 during the fourth quarter 2017. In addition, as of December 31, 2019, we could be required to pay up to $160.0 for each target developed, subject to achievement of specified development, regulatory and sales-based milestones, as well as royalties on commercial sales.
In connection with our prior acquisition of Syntimmune see Note 2, Acquisitions for additional information, we could be required to pay up to $800.0 upon the achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones.
In addition, as of December 31, 2019, we have other license agreements under which we may be required to pay up to an additional $54.0 for currently licensed targets, if certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones are met. Additional amounts may be payable if we elect to acquire licenses to additional targets, as applicable, under the terms of these agreements.
Asset Sale and Out-License Arrangements
In connection with prior asset sale and out-license arrangements, Alexion is entitled to receive contingent payments upon the achievement of various regulatory and commercial milestones and other events, as well as royalties on commercial sales. The amount of contingent consideration related to these agreements is fully constrained and therefore has not been recognized as of December 31, 2019.
Manufacturing Agreements
We have various manufacturing development and license agreements to support our clinical and commercial product needs.
We rely on Lonza, a third party manufacturer, to produce a portion of commercial and clinical quantities of our commercial products and product candidates. We have various manufacturing and license agreements with Lonza, with remaining total non-cancellable future commitments of approximately $1,099.9. This amount includes $100.0 of undiscounted, fixed payments applicable to our CMO embedded lease arrangement with Lonza. If we terminate certain supply agreements with Lonza without cause, we will be required to pay for product scheduled for manufacture under our arrangement. Under an existing arrangement with Lonza, we also pay Lonza a royalty on sales of SOLIRIS that was manufactured at the Alexion Rhode Island Manufacturing Facility (ARIMF facility) prior to the sale of the facility and a payment with respect to sales of SOLIRIS manufactured at Lonza facilities. We also pay Lonza a royalty on the sales of ULTOMIRIS.
In addition to our commitments with Lonza, as of December 31, 2019, we have non-cancellable commitments of approximately $60.6 through 2020 with other third party manufacturers.
Contingent Liabilities
We are currently involved in various claims, disputes, lawsuits, investigations, administrative proceedings and legal proceedings. On a quarterly basis, we review the status of each significant matter and assess its potential financial exposure. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, if the potential loss from any claim, asserted or unasserted, or legal proceeding is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated, we accrue a liability for the estimated loss. Because of uncertainties related to claims, proceedings and litigation, accruals are based on our best estimates based on information available at the time of the assessment. On a periodic basis, as additional information becomes available, or based on specific events such as the outcome of litigation, court decisions or settlement of claims (and offers of settlement), we may reassess the potential liability related to these matters and may revise these estimates, which could result in a material adverse adjustment to our operating results. Costs associated with our involvement in legal proceedings are expensed as incurred. The outcome of any such proceedings, regardless of the merits, is inherently uncertain. If we were unable to prevail in any such proceedings, our consolidated financial position, results of operations, and future cash flows may be materially impacted.
We have received, and may in the future receive, notices from third parties claiming that their patents may be infringed by the use, development, manufacture, importation or sale of our products or product candidates. Under the guidance of ASC 450, Contingencies, we record a royalty accrual based on our best estimate of the fair value percent of net sales of our products that we could be required to pay the owners of patents for technology used in the manufacture and sale of our products. A costly license, or inability to obtain a necessary license, could have a material adverse effect on our financial results.
In May 2015, we received a subpoena in connection with an investigation by the Enforcement Division of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requesting information related to our grant-making activities and compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in various countries. In addition, in October 2015, we received a request from the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the voluntary production of documents and other information pertaining to Alexion’s compliance with FCPA. The SEC and DOJ also seek information related to Alexion’s recalls of specific lots of SOLIRIS and related securities disclosures. Alexion is cooperating with these investigations.
The investigations have focused on operations in various countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Japan, Russia and Turkey, and Alexion's compliance with the FCPA and other applicable laws.
Preliminary discussions have begun with the SEC to resolve the investigation. However, at this time, Alexion is unable to predict the duration, scope or outcome of these preliminary discussions with the SEC or the investigations at the SEC or DOJ. There can be no assurance that any current or future discussions with the SEC or DOJ to resolve these matters will be successful or that any potential settlement terms or amount will be agreed to or finalized. While it is possible that a loss related to these matters may be incurred, given the ongoing nature of the discussions with the SEC and these investigations at the SEC and DOJ, management cannot reasonably estimate the potential magnitude of any such loss or range of loss, or the cost of the ongoing investigation. Any determination that our operations or activities are not or were not in compliance with existing laws or regulations could result in the imposition of fines, civil and criminal penalties, equitable remedies, including disgorgement, injunctive relief, and/or other sanctions against us, and remediation of any such findings could have an adverse effect on our business operations.
Alexion is committed to strengthening its compliance program and is currently enhancing and continuing to implement a comprehensive company-wide transformation plan that is designed to enhance our business processes, structures, controls, training, talent and systems across Alexion’s global operations.
As previously reported, on December 29, 2016, a shareholder filed a putative class action against the Company and certain former employees in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, alleging that defendants made misrepresentations and omissions about SOLIRIS. On April 12, 2017, the court appointed a lead plaintiff. On July 14, 2017, the lead plaintiff filed an amended putative class action complaint against the Company and seven current or former employees. Defendants moved to dismiss the amended complaint on September 12, 2017. Plaintiffs filed an opposition to defendants’ motion to dismiss on November 13, 2017, and defendants filed a reply brief in further support of their motion on December 28, 2017. On March 26, 2019, the court held a telephonic status conference.  During that conference, the court informed counsel that it was preparing a ruling granting the defendants’ pending motion to dismiss.  The court inquired of plaintiffs’ counsel whether they intended to seek leave to amend their complaint, and indicated that if they wished to file a second amended complaint, they would be allowed to do so.  On April 2, 2019, the court granted plaintiffs until May 31, 2019 to file a second amended complaint, thereby rendering moot defendants’ pending motion to dismiss.  On May 31, 2019, plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint against the same defendants.  The complaint alleges that defendants engaged in securities fraud, including by making misrepresentations
and omissions in its public disclosures concerning the Company’s SOLIRIS sales practices, management changes, and related investigations, between January 30, 2014 and May 26, 2017, and that the Company's stock price dropped upon the purported disclosure of the alleged fraud.  The plaintiffs seek to recover unspecified monetary relief, unspecified equitable and injunctive relief, interest, and attorneys’ fees and costs.  Defendants’ filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on August 2, 2019; plaintiffs’ filed their opposition to that motion on October 2, 2019; and defendants’ filed their reply in further support of their motion on November 16, 2019.  Given the early stage of these proceedings, we cannot presently predict the likelihood of obtaining dismissal of the case (or the ultimate outcome of the case if the motion to dismiss is denied by the court), nor can we estimate the possible loss or range of loss at this time.
In December 2016, we received a subpoena from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts requesting documents relating generally to our support of Patient Services, Inc. (PSI) and National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), 501(c)(3) organizations that provide financial assistance to Medicare patients taking drugs sold by Alexion; Alexion’s provision of free drug to Medicare patients; and Alexion compliance policies and training materials concerning the anti-kickback statute and information on donations to PSI and NORD from 2010 through 2016. In April 2019, we entered into a civil settlement agreement with the DOJ and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to resolve this matter. As part of the settlement agreement, Alexion paid $13.1 to the DOJ and OIG. OIG did not require a Corporate Integrity Agreement with Alexion because it made fundamental organizational changes, including hiring a new executive leadership team, replacing half of the members of its Board of Directors, and effecting a significant change in the workforce.
In May 2017, Brazilian authorities seized records and data from our Sao Paulo, Brazil offices as part of an investigation being conducted into Alexion’s Brazilian operations. We are cooperating with this inquiry.
In June 2017, we received a demand to inspect certain of our books and records pursuant to Section 220 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware on behalf of a purported stockholder. Among other things, the demand sought to determine whether to institute a derivative lawsuit against certain of the Company’s directors and officers in relation to the investigation by our Audit and Finance Committee announced in November 2016 and the investigations instituted by the SEC, DOJ, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, and Brazilian law enforcement officials that are described above. We have responded to the demand. Given the early stages of this matter, an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss cannot be made at this time.
On September 27, 2017, a hearing panel of the Canadian Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) issued a decision in a previously pending administrative pricing matter that we had excessively priced SOLIRIS in a manner inconsistent with the Canadian pricing rules and guidelines. In its decision, the PMPRB ordered Alexion to decrease the price of SOLIRIS to an upper limit based upon pricing in certain other countries, and to forfeit excess revenues for the period between 2009 and 2017. The amount of excess revenues for the period between 2009 and 2017 was not determined to be a material amount and was paid in 2018. In October 2017, Alexion filed an application for judicial review of the PMPRB’s decision in the Federal Court of Canada. On May 23, 2019, the Federal Court of Canada dismissed Alexion's application for judicial review and, as a consequence, affirmed the decision of the PMPRB that we had excessively priced SOLIRIS. On June 21, 2019, Alexion filed a notice of appeal of the Federal Court of Canada's ruling and on October 17, 2019, Alexion filed a memorandum of fact and law in support of the appeal. On December 3, 2019, the Attorney General of Canada filed its memorandum of fact and law in support of the Federal Court of Canada’s dismissal of Alexion’s appeal of the PMPRB’s decision. On December 19, 2019, intervenor, the Minister of Health for the Province of British Columbia, filed a separate memorandum of fact and law in support of the Federal Court of Canada’s decision. Pursuant to an order made by the Federal Court of Canada, as of February 4, 2020, we have placed approximately $43.4 in escrow to secure our obligations pending the final resolution of all appeals in this matter. This amount reflects the difference between the list price for SOLIRIS and the price determined by the PMPRB to be non-excessive for sales of SOLIRIS in Canada for the period beginning September 2017 through December 31, 2019. In addition, on a quarterly basis until the appeals process has concluded, Alexion will be required to place amounts into escrow for each vial of SOLIRIS sold in the applicable quarter equal to the list price for SOLIRIS and the price determined by the PMPRB to be non-excessive. Our revenues in Canada recognized in the year ended December 31, 2019 were reduced by $29.8, which is our current best estimate of our liability through December 31, 2019 if we lose the appeal of this matter (the amount of our ultimate liability, however, may be greater than this estimate when the appeal process for this matter is concluded).
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has filed three lawsuits against Alexion.  The first was filed in November 2018 in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware against Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. alleging that ULTOMIRIS
infringes one U.S. patent held by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.  Upon issuance of a new U.S. patent on November 12, 2019, Chugai filed a second lawsuit in the United States alleging ULTOMIRIS infringes the new patent.  The parties have agreed to consolidate the November 2018 and November 2019 lawsuits.  Chugai filed a lawsuit in December 2018 in the Tokyo District Court against Alexion Pharma GK (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alexion) in Japan and alleges that ULTOMIRIS infringes two Japanese patents held by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.  Chugai’s complaints seek unspecified damages and certain injunctive relief.  In all cases, Alexion has denied the charges and countered that the patents are neither valid nor infringed. A trial date for the U.S. case has been set for June 2021. The case is still at the briefing stage in Japan.  Given the early stages of these litigations, an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss cannot be made at this time.
On February 28, 2019, Amgen Inc. (Amgen) petitioned the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) to institute Inter Partes Review (IPR) of three patents owned by Alexion that relate to SOLIRIS:  U.S. Patent Nos. 9,725,504; 9,718,880; and 9,732,149. In each case, Amgen alleges the patented subject matter was anticipated and/or obvious in view of prior art, and that the patent claims are therefore invalid. On August 30, 2019, the PTO instituted IPRs of each of the three patents. We expect the PTO to review written submissions by both parties, hold an oral argument, and issue decisions on the three IPRs by August 30, 2020. At this time we cannot determine what decision the PTO will make.
In connection with an ongoing matter, in August 2019, the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service provided a Notice of Tax and Description of the Facts (the “Tax Assessment”) to two Alexion subsidiaries (the "Brazil Subsidiaries"), as well as to two additional entities, a logistics provider utilized by Alexion and a distributor. The Tax Assessment focuses on the importation of SOLIRIS vials pursuant to Alexion’s free drug supply to patients program (referred to as Global Access to Medicines, or GATM) in Brazil. In September 2019, the Brazil Subsidiaries filed defenses to the Tax Assessment disputing the basis for liability under the Tax Assessment based on, among others, the following: in connection with the operation of GATM, during the period from September 2014 to June 2019: (i) the importers responsible for the importation of the GATM SOLIRIS vials into Brazil were correctly identified and (ii) the correct customs value was utilized for the purpose of importing the GATM SOLIRIS vials provided to the patients free of charge. There are three separate levels of administrative appeals within the Brazilian federal administrative proceeding system and, if the outcome of these administrative appeals is unfavorable, the final decision of the federal administrative proceeding system can be disputed to the federal court systems in Brazil (at this time, Alexion intends to appeal the Tax Assessment if it is not overturned in the course of administrative appeals). Given the early stage of these proceedings, Alexion is unable to predict the duration, scope or outcome of this matter, but we expect that a final resolution will take three years or more. While it is possible that a loss related to the Tax Assessment may be incurred, given its ongoing nature, we cannot reasonably estimate the potential magnitude of any such possible loss or range of loss, or the cost of the ongoing administrative appeals (and potential appeals to the federal court system) of the Tax Assessment. Any determination that any aspects of the importation of free of charge medications into Brazil as set forth in the Tax Assessment are not or were not in compliance with existing laws or regulations could result in the imposition of fines, civil penalties and, potentially criminal penalties, and/or other sanctions against us and could have an adverse impact on our Brazilian operations.