Attached files

file filename
EXCEL - IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT - ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.Financial_Report.xls
EX-32.2 - CERTIFICATION OF CFO, SECTION 906 - ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.dex322.htm
EX-32.1 - CERTIFICATION OF CEO, SECTION 906 - ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.dex321.htm
EX-31.2 - CERTIFICATION OF CFO, SECTION 302 - ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.dex312.htm
EX-31.1 - CERTIFICATION OF CEO, SECTION 302 - ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.dex311.htm
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2010

OR

 

¨ Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number: 0-27756

 

 

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   13-3648318

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

352 Knotter Drive, Cheshire, Connecticut 06410

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

203-272-2596

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address, and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.:

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

 

Common Stock, $0.0001 par value   90,131,042
Class   Outstanding at July 27, 2010

 

 

 


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

INDEX

 

          Page
PART I.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION   

Item 1.

   Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)   
   Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009    2
   Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009    3
   Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009    4
   Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements    5

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    15

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    25

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures    27
PART II.    OTHER INFORMATION    28

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors    28

Item 5.

   Other Information    46

Item 6.

   Exhibits    46
SIGNATURES    48

 

1


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited)

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)    June 30,
2010
    December 31,
2009
 

Assets

    

Current Assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 212,104      $ 157,172   

Marketable securities

     36,721        19,048   

Trade accounts receivable, net

     127,023        113,731   

Inventories

     57,747        40,885   

Deferred tax assets

     16,816        16,726   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     41,374        25,894   
                

Total current assets

     491,785        373,456   

Property, plant and equipment, net

     161,871        164,691   

Intangible assets, net

     26,299        28,589   

Goodwill

     19,954        19,954   

Deferred tax assets

     181,095        194,308   

Other assets

     8,590        5,403   
                

Total assets

   $ 889,594      $ 786,401   
                

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Current Liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 10,955      $ 11,530   

Accrued expenses

     73,775        71,657   

Deferred revenue

     2,979        1,652   

Current portion of capital lease obligations

     245        422   

Other current liabilities

     1,275        1   
                

Total current liabilities

     89,229        85,262   

Capital lease obligations, less current portion

     381        503   

Convertible notes

     3,718        9,918   

Deferred tax liabilities

     205        204   

Other liabilities

     3,847        2,158   
                

Total liabilities

     97,380        98,045   
                

Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)

    

Stockholders’ Equity:

    

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 5,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding

     —          —     

Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 145,000 shares authorized; 90,499 and 89,097 shares issued at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively

     5        5   

Additional paid-in capital

     1,131,759        1,093,933   

Treasury stock, at cost

     (2,676     (2,676

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     21,383        (1,942

Accumulated deficit

     (358,257     (400,964
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     792,214        688,356   
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 889,594      $ 786,401   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)

 

     Three months ended
June 30,
    Six months ended
June 30,
 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)    2010     2009     2010     2009  

Net product sales

   $ 125,834      $ 92,256      $ 243,412      $ 173,523   

Cost of sales

     13,721        10,313        27,720        20,272   

Operating expenses:

        

Research and development

     23,690        18,288        46,064        37,377   

Selling, general and administrative

     56,098        42,705        106,733        79,357   
                                

Total operating expenses

     79,788        60,993        152,797        116,734   
                                

Operating income

     32,325        20,950        62,895        36,517   

Other income and expense:

        

Investment income

     336        184        586        487   

Interest expense

     (158     (109     (368     (442

Foreign currency gain (loss)

     (420     264        (957     (129

Debt exchange expense

     —          (3,395     —          (3,395
                                

Income before income taxes

     32,083        17,894        62,156        33,038   

Income tax provision

     10,310        1,092        19,449        1,730   
                                

Net income

   $ 21,773      $ 16,802      $ 42,707      $ 31,308   
                                

Earnings per common share

        

Basic

   $ 0.24      $ 0.20      $ 0.48      $ 0.38   
                                

Diluted

   $ 0.24      $ 0.19      $ 0.46      $ 0.35   
                                

Shares used in computing earnings per common share

        

Basic

     89,002        85,128        88,755        82,948   
                                

Diluted

     92,575        90,159        92,340        89,975   
                                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

 

     Six months ended
June 30,
 
(in thousands)    2010     2009  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 42,707      $ 31,308   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     7,833        5,964   

Share-based compensation expense

     16,354        14,874   

Non-cash debt exchange expense

     —          3,395   

Deferred taxes

     12,900        —     

Marketable securities premium amortization

     597        —     

Unrealized foreign currency (gain) loss

     7,532        (3,115

Unrealized loss on forward contracts

     2,416        472   

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

     63        —     

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     (24,141     (18,176

Inventories

     (13,776     4,858   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     6,620        (10,425

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     6,366        11,057   

Deferred revenue

     1,483        2,431   
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     66,954        42,643   
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchases of marketable securities

     (23,647     —     

Proceeds from maturity or sale of marketable securities

     5,250        —     

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

     (5,503     (18,325

Purchase of technology rights

     (20     (27,740

Increase in restricted cash

     —          (134
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (23,920     (46,199
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Payments on capital leases

     (305     (145

Excess tax benefit from stock options

     712        —     

Net proceeds from issuance of common stock

     13,803        10,800   
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     14,210        10,655   
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     (2,312     692   

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     54,932        7,791   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     157,172        138,012   
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 212,104      $ 145,803   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

1. Business

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Alexion” or the “Company”) is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of biologic therapeutic products aimed at treating patients with severe and life-threatening disease states, including hematologic, kidney, inflammatory and neurologic diseases, transplant rejection and cancer. Our marketed product Soliris® (eculizumab) is the first and only therapy approved for the treatment of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, or PNH. We were incorporated in 1992 and began commercial sale of Soliris in 2007.

2. Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. These accounting principles were applied on a basis consistent with those of the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. In our opinion, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation of our financial statements for interim periods in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The December 31, 2009 condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The financial statements of our subsidiaries with functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars using period-end exchange rates for assets and liabilities, historical exchange rates for stockholders’ equity and weighted average exchange rates for operating results. Translation gains and losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax in stockholders’ equity. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in the results of operations in other income and expense.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

3. Revenue and Accounts Receivable

Revenue

We recognize revenue from product sales when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, title to product and associated risk of loss has passed to the customer, the price is fixed or determinable, collection from the customer is reasonably assured and we have no further performance obligations. Revenue is recorded upon receipt of the product by the patients’ health-care provider, which is typically a hospital, physician’s office, pharmacy or health care facility. Amounts collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities, such as value-added taxes (VAT) in foreign jurisdictions, are presented on a net basis in the Company’s statements of operations and do not impact net product sales.

In the United States, our customers are primarily specialty distributors and specialty pharmacies which supply physician office clinics, hospital outpatient clinics, infusion clinics or home health care providers. We also sell Soliris to government agencies. Outside the United States, our customers are primarily hospitals, hospital buying groups, pharmacies, other health care providers and distributors.

 

5


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

In addition to sales in countries where Soliris is commercially available, we have also recorded revenue on sales for individual patients through named-patient programs outside the United States. The relevant authorities or institutions in those countries have agreed to reimburse for product sold on a named-patient basis where Soliris has not received final approval for commercial sales.

Because of the pricing of Soliris, the limited number of patients, the short period from sale of product to patient infusion and the lack of contractual return rights, Soliris customers generally carry limited inventory. We monitor inventory within our distribution channel to determine whether deferral of sales is required. To date, actual refunds and returns have been negligible.

We record estimated rebates payable under governmental programs, including Medicaid in the United States and other programs in Europe, as a reduction of revenue at the time product sales are recorded. Our calculations related to these rebate accruals require an analysis of historical claim patterns and estimates of customer mix to determine which sales will be subject to rebates and the amount of such rebates. We update our estimates and assumptions each period and record any necessary adjustments. Generally, the length of time between product sale and the processing and reporting of the rebates is three to six months. Upon review of historical rebate payments compared to our accruals, we revise our estimates of rebates payable, which may have an impact on revenue in the period in which the adjustment is made.

In March 2010, United States government healthcare legislation, which contains several provisions that impact rebates payable, was enacted. The provisions in the legislation related to rebates payable include an increase in the minimum Medicaid rebate percentages and an extension of the Medicaid rebate to managed care organizations that dispense drugs to Medicaid recipients. We have recorded estimated rebates payable according to the new legislation. If the implementation provisions of this legislation change, we may revise our estimates of rebates payable, which may have an impact on revenue in the period in which the adjustment is made.

We record distribution and other fees paid to our customers as a reduction of revenue. These costs are typically known at the time of sale, resulting in minimal adjustments subsequent to the period of sale.

We record the effective portion of our cash flow hedges to revenue in the period in which the derivative contract is settled.

Accounts Receivable

Our European product sales to government-owned or supported customers in certain countries, including Greece, are subject to delays in payment due to government funding and reimbursement practices. Because these customers are government owned or supported, we may also be impacted by declines in sovereign credit ratings or sovereign defaults in these countries.

During the second quarter 2010, the Greek government announced a plan for repayment of its debt to international pharmaceutical companies. This plan calls for the majority of pharmaceutical industry receivables from 2007 to 2009 to be settled in non-interest bearing bonds issued by the Greek government, with maturity dates ranging from 2 to 3 years. As a result of this announcement, we have recorded an adjustment of $600 to bad debt expense within selling, general and administrative expenses as a result of discounting the accounts receivable to present value.

A significant further decline in sovereign credit ratings or a default in Greece, or in other countries, may decrease the likelihood that we will collect these accounts receivable or may increase the length of time until these receivables are collected, which could result in a negative impact to our operating results.

 

6


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

4. Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or estimated realizable value. We determine the cost of inventory using the weighted average cost method.

The components of inventory are as follows:

 

     June 30,
2010
   December 31,
2009

Raw materials

   $ 1,956    $ 2,678

Work-in-process

     29,648      6,900

Finished goods

     26,143      31,307
             
   $ 57,747    $ 40,885
             

5. Comprehensive Income

The following table summarizes components of our comprehensive income:

 

     Three months ended
June 30,
    Six months ended
June 30,
 
     2010     2009     2010     2009  

Net income

   $ 21,773      $ 16,802      $ 42,707      $ 31,308   

Unrealized gains (losses) on hedge contracts, net of tax

     10,986        (9,143     23,476        (8,514

Net unrealized loss on available for sale securities

     (75     —          (127     —     

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     (845     299        (1,496     159   
                                

Comprehensive income

   $ 31,839      $ 7,958      $ 64,560      $ 22,953   
                                

6. Debt

In January 2010, we amended and restated our existing credit agreement, the Amended Credit Agreement, to, among other things, increase the revolving credit facility by $25,000. The Amended Credit Agreement provides for a $50,000 facility, with up to a $20,000 sublimit for letters of credit that can be used for working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes. With the consent of the lenders and the administrative agent and subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, we may increase the facility to $75,000 in accordance with the Amended Credit Agreement. The loan is collateralized by substantially all of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s assets, including the pledge of the equity interests of certain direct subsidiaries and the real estate owned by Alexion Manufacturing LLC, its wholly owned subsidiary, but excluding intellectual property and assets of foreign subsidiaries.

We may elect that the loans under the agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to (i) LIBOR plus 2.50% to 3.00% depending on the ratio of our cash to liabilities (as calculated in accordance with the agreement), or (ii) a Base Rate equal to the higher of the (A) Prime Rate then in effect, (B) Federal Funds Rate then in effect plus 0.50%, and (C) Eurodollar Rate then in effect plus 1.00%, plus 0.50% to 1.00% depending on the ratio of our cash to liabilities (as calculated in accordance with the agreement). We may prepay the loans, in whole or in part, in minimum amounts without premium or penalty, other than customary breakage costs with respect to LIBOR

 

7


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

borrowings. Interest is payable quarterly for Base Rate loans and, in the case of LIBOR-based loans, at the end of the applicable interest period, with the principal due on January 22, 2013, the maturity date. We may borrow, repay and reborrow under the facility until January 22, 2013.

The Amended Credit Agreement requires us to comply with certain financial covenants on a quarterly basis. Further, the agreement includes negative covenants, subject to exceptions, restricting or limiting our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, grant liens, engage in certain investment, acquisition and disposition transactions, and enter into transactions with affiliates. The agreement also contains customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants and events of default, including payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, covenant defaults and cross defaults. If an event of default occurs, the interest rate would increase and the administrative agent would be entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of amounts due under the loan. As of June 30, 2010, we had no outstanding amounts under the revolving credit facility other than letters of credit, and approximately $44,000 was available for withdrawal.

In the first quarter of 2010, certain holders of our 1.375% Convertible Senior Notes due February 2012, or the 1.375% Notes, exercised conversion rights with respect to an aggregate principal amount of $1,000 resulting in the issuance of 63,582 shares of our common stock. During the second quarter of 2010, certain holders of our 1.375% Notes exercised conversion rights with respect to an aggregate principal amount of $5,200 resulting in the issuance of 330,629 shares of our common stock. As of June 30, 2010, $3,718 of the 1.375% Notes remains outstanding, and the fair value, based on quoted market prices, was estimated at $12,090.

7. Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share (EPS) are computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding. For purposes of calculating diluted EPS, net income is adjusted for the after-tax amount of interest and deferred financing costs associated with our convertible debt, and the denominator reflects the potential dilution that could occur if options, unvested restricted stock or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock, using the treasury stock method, as well as the potential dilution if the remaining convertible notes were converted to common stock.

 

8


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

The following table summarizes the calculation of basic and diluted EPS for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

 

     Three months ended
June 30,
   Six months ended
June 30,
       
     2010    2009    2010    2009

Net income used for basic calculation

   $ 21,773    $ 16,802    $ 42,707    $ 31,308

Weighted average effect of dilutive securities:

           

Interest expense and debt financing cost amortization, net of tax, related to our 1.375% convertible senior notes

     11      26      52      276
                           

Net income used for diluted calculation

     21,784      16,828      42,759      31,584
                           

Shares used in computing earnings per common share—basic

     89,002      85,128      88,755      82,948

Weighted average effect of dilutive securities:

           

Shares issuable upon the assumed conversion of our 1.375% convertible senior notes

     452      2,431      531      4,307

Stock awards

     3,121      2,600      3,054      2,720
                           

Dilutive potential common shares

     3,573      5,031      3,585      7,027
                           

Shares used in computing earnings per common share—diluted

     92,575      90,159      92,340      89,975
                           

Earnings per common share:

           

Basic

   $ 0.24    $ 0.20    $ 0.48    $ 0.38

Diluted

   $ 0.24    $ 0.19    $ 0.46    $ 0.35

The following table represents the potentially dilutive shares excluded from the calculation of EPS for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 because their effect is anti-dilutive:

 

     Three months  ended
June 30,
   Six months  ended
June 30,
     
     2010    2009    2010    2009

Potentially dilutive securities:

           

Options to purchase common stock

   1,499    2,644    1,311    2,463

Unvested restricted stock

   4    28    5    329
                   
   1,503    2,672    1,316    2,792
                   

8. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

We operate internationally and, in the normal course of business, are exposed to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The exposures result from portions of our revenues, as well as the related receivables, and expenses that are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily the Euro, Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc and British Pound. We manage our foreign currency transaction risk within specified guidelines through the use of derivatives. All of our derivative instruments are utilized for risk management purposes, and we do not use derivatives for speculative trading purposes.

We enter into foreign exchange forward contracts, with durations of up to 24 months, to hedge exposures resulting from portions of our forecasted intercompany revenues that are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The purpose of the hedges of revenue is to reduce the volatility of exchange rate fluctuations on our

 

9


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

operating results and to increase the visibility of the foreign exchange impact on forecasted revenues. These hedges are designated as cash flow hedges upon inception. As of June 30, 2010, we have open contracts with notional amounts totaling $172,058 that qualified for hedge accounting.

The impact on other comprehensive income (OCI) and earnings from foreign exchange contracts that qualified as cash flow hedges, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, are as follows:

 

     Three months ended
June 30,
    Six months ended
June 30,
 
      
     2010    2009     2010    2009  

Gain (loss) recognized in OCI, net of tax

   $ 10,986    $ (9,143   $ 23,476    $ (8,514

Gain reclassified from OCI to net product sales (Effective portion)

   $ 3,634    $ 2,648      $ 2,511    $ 6,496   

Gain reclassified from OCI to other income (Ineffective portion)

   $ 384    $ 47      $ 819    $ 212   

Assuming no change in foreign currency rates from market rates at June 30, 2010, $20,987 of the gain recognized in other comprehensive income is expected to be reclassified to revenue over the next twelve months.

We enter into foreign exchange forward contracts, with durations of approximately 30 days, designed to limit the balance sheet exposure of monetary assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiaries. We enter into these hedges to reduce the impact of fluctuating exchange rates on our operating results. These derivative instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting under the guidance; however, gains and losses on these hedge transactions are designed to offset gains and losses on underlying balance sheet exposures. At June 30, 2010, the notional settlement amount of foreign exchange contracts relating to monetary assets and liabilities was $65,378.

We recognized a gain (loss) of $6,445 and $(3,420), in other income and expense, for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $9,953 and $(2,949), for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively associated with the foreign exchange contracts not designated as hedging instruments under the guidance. These amounts were largely offset by gains or losses in monetary assets and liabilities.

The following table summarizes the Company’s fair value of outstanding derivatives at June 30, 2010:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

 

Liability Derivatives

    

Balance Sheet

Location

   Fair
Value
 

Balance Sheet

Location

   Fair
Value

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

          

Foreign exchange forward contracts

   Other current assets    $ 23,832   Other current liabilities    $ 871

Foreign exchange forward contracts

   Other non-current assets      4,829   Other non-current liabilities      842

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

          

Foreign exchange forward contracts

   Other current assets      802   Other current liabilities      434
                  

Total fair value of derivative instruments

      $ 29,463      $ 2,147
                  

 

10


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

9. Share-Based Compensation

The following table summarizes the components of share-based compensation expense in the consolidated statements of operations:

 

     Three months ended
June  30,
   Six months ended
June 30,
     2010    2009    2010    2009

Research and development

   $ 2,025    $ 1,817    $ 4,110    $ 4,055

Selling, general and administrative

     5,975      5,131      11,679      10,819
                           

Total share-based compensation expense

   $ 8,000    $ 6,948    $ 15,789    $ 14,874
                           

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, $250 and $565, respectively, of share-based compensation expense was recognized in cost of sales that was previously capitalized into inventory. The corresponding amounts recognized in 2009 are not material to the results of operations.

The following table summarizes the share-based compensation capitalized to inventory and fixed assets:

 

     Three months ended
June  30,
   Six months ended
June  30,
     2010    2009    2010    2009

Share-based compensation expense capitalized to inventory

   $ 603    $ 303    $ 1,346    $ 569

Share-based compensation expense capitalized to fixed assets

   $ —      $ 332    $ —      $ 652

10. Fair Value Measurement

Authoritative guidance establishes a valuation hierarchy for disclosure of the inputs to the valuation used to measure fair value. This hierarchy prioritizes the inputs into three broad levels as follows. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs based on our own assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value.

 

11


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

The following table presents information about our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2010, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques we utilized to determine such fair value.

 

          Fair Value Measurement at June 30, 2010

Balance Sheet Classification

  

Type of Instrument

   Total    Level 1    Level 2    Level 3

Cash equivalents

   Money market funds    $ 96,695    $ —      $ 96,695    $ —  

Marketable securities

   Federal agency obligations    $ 10,009    $ —      $ 10,009    $ —  

Marketable securities

   U.S. Corporate bonds    $ 26,712    $ —      $ 26,712    $ —  

Other current assets

   Foreign exchange forward contracts    $ 24,634    $ —      $ 24,634    $ —  

Other assets

   Foreign exchange forward contracts    $ 4,829    $ —      $ 4,829    $ —  

Other current liabilities

   Foreign exchange forward contracts    $ 1,305    $ —      $ 1,305    $ —  

Other liabilities

   Foreign exchange forward contracts    $ 842    $ —      $ 842    $ —  

Valuation Techniques

Items classified as Level 2 within the valuation hierarchy, consisting of an institutional money market fund held at a multinational financial institution and corporate and federal agency bonds, are valued based upon pricing of securities with similar investment characteristics and holdings. Our derivative assets and liabilities include foreign exchange derivatives that are measured at fair value using observable market inputs such as forward rates, interest rates, our own credit risk and our counterparties’ credit risks. Based on these inputs, the derivative assets and liabilities are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy.

As of June 30, 2010, there has not been any impact to the fair value of our derivative liabilities due to our own credit risk. Similarly, there has not been any significant adverse impact to our derivative assets based on our evaluation of our counterparties’ credit risks.

11. Income Taxes

We utilize the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for years in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse. We provide a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets will not be realized.

In the fourth quarter of 2009, we reversed the valuation allowance recorded against a substantial portion of our deferred tax assets in the United States. We also reversed the valuation allowance recorded against certain non-US deferred tax assets in the second quarter of 2010 where realization of those assets is more likely than not. At the end of the second quarter of 2010, we continue to maintain a valuation allowance against certain other deferred tax assets where the realization is not certain. We periodically evaluate the likelihood of the realization of deferred tax assets and reduce the carrying amount of these deferred tax assets by a valuation allowance to the extent we believe a portion will not be realized.

The following table provides a comparative summary of our provision for income taxes and effective tax rate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively:

 

     Three months ended
June  30,
    Six months ended
June 30,
 
     2010     2009     2010     2009  

Provision for income taxes

   $ 10,310      $ 1,092      $ 19,449      $ 1,730   

Effective tax rate

     32.1     6.1     31.3     5.2

 

12


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Because the valuation allowance on a substantial portion of our U.S. deferred tax assets was reversed at the end of 2009, the tax provision for periods ending December 31, 2009 and prior included a benefit from the utilization of U.S. net operating losses. The tax provision for periods after December 31, 2009 does not include this benefit.

The tax provision for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 is principally attributable to the U.S. federal, state and foreign income taxes on our profitable operations. The second quarter of 2010 provision also includes a benefit of $796 attributable to the release of a valuation allowance on certain non-US deferred tax assets. The tax provision for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 is principally attributable to entities in certain foreign jurisdictions who reported profitability during the period as well as U.S. federal alternative minimum tax and certain state income taxes.

12. Employee Benefit Plans

Defined Contribution Plan

We have one qualified 401(k) plan covering all eligible employees. Under the plan, employees may contribute up to the statutory allowable amount for any calendar year. We make matching contributions equal to:

 

   

$1.00 for each dollar contributed up to the first 3 percent of an individual’s base salary and incentive cash bonus; and

 

   

$0.50 for each dollar contributed of the next 2 percent of such compensation.

For the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, we recorded matching contributions of approximately $501 and $344, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, we recorded matching contributions of approximately $1,056 and $850, respectively.

Defined Benefit Plan

We maintain a defined benefit plan for employees in Switzerland. The assets of the funded plan are held independently of our assets in a legally distinct and independent collective trust fund which serves various unrelated employers. The plan is valued by independent actuaries using the projected unit credit method. The liabilities correspond to the projected benefit obligations of which the discounted net present value is calculated based on years of employment, expected salary increases, and pension adjustments.

The components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows:

 

     Three months ended
June  30,
    Six months ended
June  30,
 
     2010     2009     2010     2009  

Service cost

   $ 648      $ 90      $ 939      $ 180   

Interest cost

     37        24        82        48   

Expected return on plan assets

     (60     (23     (106     (46

Amortization

     4        3        12        6   

Employee contribution

     (170     (27     (263     (56
                                

Total net periodic benefit cost

   $ 459      $ 67      $ 664      $ 132   
                                

 

13


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

13. Commitments and Contingencies

Royalties

Our cost of sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 includes royalties to third parties related to the sale of Soliris. As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we have recorded $37,998 and $29,177, respectively, in accrued expenses for royalties. We estimate our royalty obligations based on existing contractual obligations and our assessment of estimated royalties potentially owed to other third parties. These estimates may be influenced by the outcome of future litigation or other claims, if any, the results of which are uncertain. On a periodic basis and based on specific events such as the outcome of litigation or settlement of claims, we may reassess these estimates, resulting in adjustments to cost of sales.

 

14


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that have been made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management’s beliefs, and certain assumptions made by our management, and may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential benefits and commercial potential of Soliris® (eculizumab) for its approved indication and any expanded uses, timing and effect of sales of Soliris in various markets worldwide, level of coverage and reimbursement for Soliris, pricing, level of future Soliris sales and collections, costs, expenses and capital requirements, cash outflows, cash from operations, status of reimbursement, price approval and funding processes in various countries worldwide, progress in developing commercial infrastructure and interest about Soliris in the patient, physician and payor communities, the safety and efficacy of Soliris and our product candidates, estimates of the potential markets and estimated commercialization dates for Soliris around the world, sales and marketing plans, any changes in the current or anticipated market demand or medical need for Soliris, status of our ongoing clinical trials, commencement dates for new clinical trials, clinical trial results, evaluation of our clinical trial results by regulatory agencies, prospects for regulatory approval, need for additional research and testing, the uncertainties involved in the drug development process and manufacturing, our future research and development activities, assessment of competitors and potential competitors, estimates of the capacity of manufacturing and other facilities to support Soliris and our product candidates, the timing for regulatory approval of our manufacturing facility in Rhode Island, potential costs resulting from product liability or other third party claims, the sufficiency of our existing capital resources and projected cash needs, assessment of impact of recent accounting pronouncements, declines in sovereign credit ratings or sovereign defaults in countries where we commercialize our products, delay of collection or reduction in reimbursement due to adverse economic conditions, the short and long term effects of government healthcare measures, and the effect of shifting currency exchange rates. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict; therefore, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in any such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed later in this report under the section entitled “Risk Factors”. Unless required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. However, readers should carefully review the risk factors set forth in other reports or documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Business

Overview

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of biologic therapeutic products aimed at treating patients with severe and life-threatening disease states, including hematologic, kidney, inflammatory and neurologic diseases, transplant rejection and cancer. Our marketed product Soliris® (eculizumab) is the first and only therapy approved for the treatment of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, or PNH. We were incorporated in 1992 and began commercial sale of Soliris in 2007.

Soliris is designed to inhibit a specific aspect of the complement component of the immune system and thereby treat inflammation associated with chronic hematologic, kidney, inflammatory and neurological disorders and transplant rejection. Soliris is a humanized monoclonal antibody that generally blocks complement activity for one to two weeks after a single dose at the doses currently prescribed. The initial indication for which we received approval for Soliris is PNH. PNH is an ultra-rare, debilitating and life-threatening, acquired genetic deficiency blood disorder defined by the destruction of red blood cells, or hemolysis. The chronic hemolysis in patients with PNH may be associated with life-threatening thromboses, recurrent pain, kidney disease, disabling fatigue, impaired quality of life, severe anemia, pulmonary hypertension, shortness of breath and intermittent episodes of dark-colored urine (hemoglobinuria).

 

15


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Soliris was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the European Commission (E.C.) in 2007 and by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) in 2010. Additionally, Soliris was granted orphan drug designation for the treatment of PNH in the United States, Europe, Japan and several other territories.

In 2009, the FDA and E.C. granted Soliris orphan drug designation for the treatment of patients with atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, or aHUS, a rare, inherited, and life-threatening complement-inhibitor deficiency disease that often progresses to end-stage kidney disease or failure.

Clinical

We are focusing our research and development efforts on the use of eculizumab as a treatment for patients with other rare and severe complement-mediated conditions, including kidney diseases, transplant rejection and other severe chronic disorders.

Our clinical programs, including investigator sponsored clinical programs, are as follows:

 

Product   

Development

Area

   Indication    Development Stage
       

Soliris

   Hematology    Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)    Commercial
          Cold agglutinin disease*    Phase II
          Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome    Preclinical
       
     Nephrology    Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS)    Phase II
          MPGN II (Dense Deposit Disease*)    Phase II
       
     Transplant    Presensitized Renal Transplant*    Phase II
          Presensitized Cardiac Transplant    Preclinical
          Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome*    Phase II
          ABO Incompatible Renal Transplant*    Phase II
       
     Neurology    Myasthenia Gravis    Phase II
          Neuromyelitis Optica*    Phase II
          Multifocal Motor Neuropathy*    Phase II
          Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)*    Phase II
       

Samalizumab

   Oncology    Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia    Phase I
          Multiple Myeloma    Phase I

 

* Investigator Initiated Trial

 

16


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

We are currently focusing our development efforts in two lead development areas: nephrology and transplant.

Nephrology

In 2009, the FDA and E.C. granted Soliris orphan drug designation for the treatment of patients with aHUS, a disease in which the lack of naturally occurring complement inhibitors can cause life-threatening kidney damage. In April 2010, we completed enrollment of four multi-national, multi-center clinical trials evaluating eculizumab for the treatment of adolescent and adult aHUS patients with evidence of thrombotic microangiopathy (clotting in small blood vessels). Approximately 35 patients are being dosed in these studies. The studies include patients who had been treated chronically with plasma therapy and others who were resistant or intolerant to plasma therapy. We have commenced preparations for a pediatric aHUS study and, as previously disclosed, we expect to initiate the study during the second half of 2010. Further, we are also aware that independent investigators have commenced a study to evaluate eculizumab in patients with dense deposit disease, another ultra-rare and severe kidney disease that can evolve into chronic renal failure, requiring dialysis and renal transplantation.

Transplant

We are aware that independent investigators are continuing to enroll patients in clinical trials to evaluate eculizumab in presensitized renal transplant patients at elevated risk for acute humoral rejection, or AHR, as well as transplant patients with catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome. We are developing protocols to initiate multi-national, multi-site controlled clinical trials of eculizumab in presensitized renal transplant patients at elevated risk for acute humoral rejection and are further considering expansion of development efforts to include investigation of eculizumab as a treatment for patients undergoing transplantation of other organs. We are also aware that an independent investigator has begun enrolling patients in a clinical trial to evaluate eculizumab in kidney transplant patients sensitized to their donor kidney due to an ABO blood group mismatch between donor and recipient.

Other Eculizumab Development Programs

The FDA authorized our Investigational New Drug Application, or IND, for studying the safety and efficacy of eculizumab in treating myasthenia gravis, a rare autoimmune syndrome characterized by the failure of neuromuscular transmission, and we are currently enrolling patients in this trial. We are also aware that independent investigators are examining the role of eculizumab for the treatment of two additional neurological disorders: multifocal motor neuropathy and neuromyelitis optica. We are further aware of an investigator who is evaluating eculizumab for the treatment of patients with cold agglutinin disease, an ultra-rare auto-immune hemolytic anemia.

Oncology

Enrollment is now completed in our Phase I dose-escalation clinical study of samalizumab, our anti-CD200 antibody, in patients with treatment refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia or multiple myeloma. The trial has enrolled approximately 25 patients.

Manufacturing

We currently rely on two facilities, including our own facility in Rhode Island, for commercial and clinical quantities of Soliris, as well as for clinical quantities of product candidates. For both clinical and commercial requirements, we have contracted and expect to continue contracting for product finishing, vial filling and packaging through third parties.

In December 2009, our Rhode Island manufacturing facility received regulatory approval from the E.C. for the production of Soliris. In the fourth quarter of 2009, the FDA commenced its inspection of our Rhode Island manufacturing facility, and we have provided additional information to the FDA regarding our manufacturing processes during early 2010.

 

17


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Our most significant agreement with a third party manufacturer is the large-scale product supply agreement with Lonza Sales AG, or Lonza, dated December 18, 2002, which has been amended from time to time. This agreement, the Lonza Agreement, relates to the manufacture of eculizumab. An amendment to the Lonza Agreement provided for additional production and minimum quantity purchase commitments of Soliris of $30,000 to $35,000 from 2009 through 2013. Such commitments may be cancelled only in limited circumstances. If we terminate the Lonza Agreement without cause, we will be required to pay for product scheduled for manufacture under our arrangement. Under an existing arrangement with Lonza, we expect to pay Lonza a royalty on sales of Soliris manufactured at our Rhode Island facility.

Critical Accounting Policies and the Use of Estimates

The significant accounting policies and basis of preparation of our consolidated financial statements are described in Note 1, “Business Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of our financial statements included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. Under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

We believe the judgments, estimates and assumptions associated with the following critical accounting policies have the greatest potential impact on our consolidated financial statements:

 

   

Revenue recognition

 

   

Royalties

 

   

Inventories

 

   

Research and development expenses

 

   

Share-based compensation

 

   

Income taxes

For a complete discussion of these critical accounting policies, refer to “Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates” within “Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included within our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. We have reviewed our critical accounting policies as disclosed in our Form 10-K, and we have not noted any material changes.

Results of Operations

Revenues

The following table summarizes product revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

 

     Three months ended
June 30,
     $
Variance
     Six months ended
June 30,
     $
Variance
                 
     2010      2009           2010      2009     

Net product sales

   $ 125,834      $ 92,256      $ 33,578      $ 243,412      $ 173,523      $ 69,889

The increase in revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, as compared to the same period in 2009, was primarily due to an increased number of patients treated with Soliris globally. The increase in treated

 

18


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

patients was due to additional patients and physicians requesting Soliris therapy, as well as reimbursement and price approvals in additional territories. The increase in revenues from the increase in treated patients was offset by the negative impact of approximately $4,100 and $6,900 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, primarily the Euro and British Pound, versus the three and six months ended June 30, 2009.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales was $13,721 and $10,313 for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively and $27,720 and $20,272, for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Cost of sales as a percentage of net product revenue was 10.9% and 11.2% for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 and 11.4% and 11.7% for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Cost of sales includes manufacturing costs, as well as actual and estimated royalty expenses associated with sales of Soliris.

On a periodic basis and based on events such as the outcome of litigation, we reassess the estimates of royalties owed to certain third parties. Changes in these estimates could have a material impact on our cost of sales in future periods.

Research and Development Expenses

Our research and development expense includes personnel, facility and external costs associated with the research and development of our product candidates, as well as product development costs.

We group our research and development expenses into two major categories: external direct expenses and all other R&D expenses.

External direct expenses are comprised of costs paid to outside parties for clinical development, product development and discovery research. Clinical development costs are comprised of costs to conduct and manage clinical trials related to eculizumab and other product candidates. Product development costs are those incurred in performing duties related to pre- and post-approval manufacturing development and regulatory functions. Discovery research costs are incurred in conducting laboratory studies and performing preclinical research for other uses of eculizumab and other product candidates. Clinical development costs have been accumulated and allocated to each of our programs, while product development and discovery research costs have not been allocated.

All other R&D expenses consist of costs to compensate personnel, to maintain our facility, equipment and overhead and similar costs of our research and development efforts. These costs relate to efforts on our clinical and preclinical products, our product development and our discovery research efforts. These costs have not been allocated directly to each program.

 

19


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

The following table provides information regarding research and development expenses:

 

     Three months ended
June 30,
   $
Variance
    Six months ended
June 30,
   $
Variance
 
            
     2010    2009      2010    2009   

Clinical development

   $ 6,194    $ 5,035    $ 1,159      $ 11,736    $ 9,836    $ 1,900   

Product development

     2,238      1,769      469        5,056      4,249      807   

Discovery research

     529      452      77        967      736      231   
                                            

Total external direct expenses

     8,961      7,256      1,705        17,759      14,821      2,938   
                                            

Payroll and benefits

     12,174      8,930      3,244        23,358      18,238      5,120   

Operating and occupancy

     1,148      1,190      (42     2,194      2,506      (312

Depreciation and amortization

     1,407      912      495        2,753      1,812      941   
                                            

Total other R&D expenses

     14,729      11,032      3,697        28,305      22,556      5,749   
                                            

Research and development expense

   $ 23,690    $ 18,288    $ 5,402      $ 46,064    $ 37,377    $ 8,687   
                                            

For the three months ended June 30, 2010, the increase in research and development expense of $5,402, as compared to the same period in the prior year, was primarily related to the following:

 

   

Increase of $3,244 in research and development payroll and benefit expense related primarily to global expansion of staff supporting our increasing number of clinical programs, as well as product development activities at our production facility in Smithfield, RI.

 

   

Increase of $1,159 in external clinical development expenses related primarily to an expansion of studies of eculizumab for non-PNH indications, offset by decreases in spending on the PNH program (see table below).

For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the increase in research and development expense of $8,687 as compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily related to the following:

 

   

Increase of $5,120 in research and development payroll and benefit expense related primarily to global expansion of staff supporting our increasing number of clinical programs, as well as product development activities at our production facility in Smithfield, RI.

 

   

Increase of $1,900 in external clinical development expenses related primarily to an expansion of studies of eculizumab for non-PNH indications, offset by decreases in spending on the PNH program (see table below).

 

20


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

The following table summarizes external direct expenses related to our clinical development programs:

 

     Three months  ended
June 30,
   $
Variance
    Six months ended
June 30,
   $
Variance
 
          
     2010    2009      2010    2009   

External direct expenses

                

Eculizumab: PNH program

   $ 1,050    $ 1,692    $ (642   $ 2,383    $ 3,834    $ (1,451

Eculizumab: non-PNH programs

     4,710      2,782      1,928        8,316      5,129      3,187   

Samalizumab

     273      303      (30     666      584      82   

Unallocated

     161      258      (97     371      289      82   
                                            
   $ 6,194    $ 5,035    $ 1,159      $ 11,736    $ 9,836    $ 1,900   
                                            

The successful development of our drug candidates is uncertain and subject to a number of risks. We cannot guarantee that results of clinical trials will be favorable or sufficient to support regulatory approvals for our other programs. We could decide to abandon development or be required to spend considerable resources not otherwise contemplated. For additional discussion regarding the risks and uncertainties regarding our development programs, please refer to the Risk Factors in this Form 10-Q.

Selling, General and Administrative Expense

Our selling, general and administrative expense includes commercial and administrative personnel, corporate facility and external costs required to support the marketing and sales of our commercialized products. These selling, general and administrative costs include: corporate facility operating expenses and depreciation; marketing and sales operations in support of Soliris; human resources; finance, legal, information technology and support personnel expenses; and other corporate costs such as telecommunications, insurance, audit and legal expenses.

The table below provides information regarding selling, general and administrative expense:

 

     Three months ended
June 30,
   $
Variance
   Six months ended
June 30,
   $
Variance
             
     2010    2009       2010    2009   

Selling, general and administrative expense

   $ 56,098    $ 42,705    $ 13,393    $ 106,733    $ 79,357    $ 27,376
                                 

For the three months ended June 30, 2010, the increase of $13,393 in selling, general and administrative expense, as compared to the same period in the prior year, was primarily related to the following:

 

   

Increase in salary, benefits and other labor expenses of $7,200. The increase was a result of increased headcount related to commercial development activities, including increases in payroll and benefits costs of $4,400 related to our global commercial operations teams. This increase was also due to increases in payroll and benefits of $2,800 within our general and administrative functions to support our infrastructure growth as a global commercial entity.

 

   

Increase in external selling, general and administrative expenses of $6,200 was due primarily to increases in marketing services of $3,100, occupancy and depreciation expenses of $900 relating to new and expanded office spaces in Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia and Latin America and bad debt expense of $600 relating to our Greek receivables.

 

21


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the increase of $27,376 in selling, general and administrative expense, as compared to the same period in the prior year, was primarily related to the following:

 

   

Increase in salary, benefits and other labor expenses of $14,400. The increase was a result of increased headcount related to commercial development activities, including increases in payroll and benefits costs of $9,200 related to our global commercial operations teams. This increase was also due to increases in payroll and benefits of $5,200 within our general and administrative functions to support our infrastructure growth as a global commercial entity.

 

   

Increase in external selling, general and administrative expenses of $13,000 was due primarily to increases in marketing services of $4,800, charitable contributions of $2,400, travel costs of $1,000, occupancy and depreciation expenses of $1,600 relating to new and expanded office spaces in Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia and Latin America and bad debt expense of $600 relating to our Greek receivables.

Other Income and Expense

We recognize investment income primarily from our portfolio of cash equivalents and marketable securities. Investment income was $336 and $184, for the three months ended, and $586 and $487, for the six months ended, June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The increases were due to higher cash equivalents and marketable securities balances during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, as compared to the same period in the prior year.

We incur interest on our convertible notes, revolving credit facility and capital lease obligations. Interest expense was $158 and $109, for the three months ended, and $368 and $442 for the six months ended, June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The decrease in interest expense was due to the lower principal balance of our convertible notes as a result of the note conversions and exchanges during 2009 and 2010.

Foreign currency transaction gains and losses relate to changes in the fair value of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. The foreign currency transaction gains (losses) totaled $(420) and $264, for the three months ended, and $(957) and $(129), for the six months ended, June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The gain (loss) recorded in these periods was primarily a result of the fluctuation in exchange rates on the portion of our monetary assets and liabilities that were not fully hedged as part of our hedging programs.

We recorded $3,395 of non-cash debt exchange expense in the three month period ended June 30, 2009 relating to the exchange of 5,644 shares for $87,304 principal amount of our 1.375% Convertible Senior Notes. The expense was recorded based on the fair value of the additional shares provided to the noteholders over the stated conversion rate.

Income Taxes

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, we recorded an income tax provision of $10,310 and $19,449, an effective rate of 32.1% and 31.3%, respectively, compared to the income tax provision of $1,092 and $1,730 an effective rate of 6.1% and 5.2%, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009. Because the valuation allowance on a substantial portion of our U.S. deferred tax assets was reversed at the end of 2009, the tax provision for periods ending December 31, 2009 and prior included a benefit from the utilization of U.S. net operating losses. The tax provision for periods after December 31, 2009 does not include this benefit.

The tax provision for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 is principally attributable to the U.S. federal, state and foreign income taxes on our profitable operations. The tax provision for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 is principally attributable to entities in certain foreign jurisdictions who reported profitability during the period, as well as U.S. federal alternative minimum tax and certain state income taxes.

We expect that our normalized effective tax rate will range from between 30 and 32 percent for 2010. While the U.S. federal research credit provision expired on December 31, 2009, Congress may reinstate the research tax credit retroactive to the beginning of the year. We have not yet considered any tax benefit for the credit and we will continue to monitor the status of this provision. We would report any related tax benefit if and when the credit is reinstated.

 

22


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of June 30, 2010, our consolidated cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $248,825. Until required for use in the business, we invest our cash reserves in money market funds and high quality commercial, corporate and U.S. government and agency bonds in accordance with our investment policy.

Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk are limited to cash equivalents, corporate bonds, accounts receivable and our foreign exchange derivative contracts. At June 30, 2010, one individual customer accounted for 20.6% of the accounts receivable balance. At June 30, 2009, one individual customer accounted for 18.8% of the accounts receivable balance.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, one customer accounted for 22.4% and 21.9% of our product sales, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, one customer accounted for 19.2% and 19.8% of our product sales, respectively.

At June 30, 2010, we have foreign exchange forward contracts with notional amounts totaling $237,436. These outstanding foreign exchange forward contracts had a net fair value of $27,316, of which an unrealized gain of $29,463 is included in other assets, offset by an unrealized loss of $2,147 included in other liabilities. The counterparty to these foreign exchange forward contracts is a large multinational commercial bank, and we believe the risk of nonperformance is not material. However, we can not be assured that the financial institution will not be further impacted by the current economic environment.

In January 2010, we amended and restated our existing credit agreement to, among other things, increase our revolving credit facility by $25,000. The Amended Credit Agreement provides for a $50,000 revolving credit facility, with up to a $20,000 sublimit for letters of credit that can be used for working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes. With the consent of the lenders and the administrative agent and subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, we may increase the facility to $75,000 in accordance with its terms.

At June 30, 2010, our working capital was $402,556, compared to $288,194 at December 31, 2009. At June 30, 2010, our current ratio was 5.5, compared to 4.4 at December 31, 2009. The increase was primarily due to increases in our cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, inventory and forward receivables, without a similar increase in current liabilities.

We anticipate that cash generated from operations and our existing available cash should provide us adequate resources to fund our operating expenses and capital requirements as currently planned for the foreseeable future.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $66,954 and $42,643 for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The increase is primarily due to the net income achieved in 2010 versus the net income achieved in the same period in 2009. The components of cash provided by operating activities, as reported in our Statement of Cash Flows, are as follows:

 

   

Our reported net income, adjusted for non-cash items, including depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expense, deferred taxes, unrealized foreign currency gain (loss), and unrealized loss on foreign exchange forward contracts, was $90,402 and $52,898 for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

   

Net cash outflow due to changes in operating assets and liabilities were $23,448 and $10,255 for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The $23,448 change in operating assets and liabilities primarily relates to increases in inventory and accounts receivable of $37,917 offset by a $6,620 decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets and a $6,366 increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses.

 

23


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $23,920 and $46,199 for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The components of cash used for investing activities consisted of the following:

 

   

Additions to property, plant and equipment were $5,503 and $18,325 for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The reduction in additions to property, plant and equipment was primarily as a result of the approval of our Rhode Island manufacturing facility by the EC in December 2009. Through the approval date, we capitalized costs associated with the construction and validation of our Rhode Island manufacturing facility, and we ceased capitalization of these costs beginning in January 2010.

 

   

Purchases of marketable securities of $23,647, offset by sales of marketable securities of $5,250 for the six months ended June 30, 2010.

 

   

Payments of $25,000 and $2,500 related to the final payment for the PDL settlement and OMRF patent purchase agreement for the six months ended June 30, 2009.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities was $14,210 and $10,655 for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. These amounts reflected proceeds from the issuance of common stock related to the exercise of stock options of $13,803 and $10,800.

Contractual Obligations

The disclosure of payments we have committed to make under our contractual obligations are summarized in Form 10-K for the twelve-months ended December 31, 2009, in the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” under the caption “Contractual Obligations.” There have been no material changes in our contractual obligations.

Significant borrowings and contractual obligations include the following:

Revolving Credit Facility

In January 2010, we entered into an amended and restated credit agreement, the Amended Credit Agreement, that provides for an available $50,000 revolving credit facility, with up to a $20,000 sublimit for letters of credit that can be used for working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes. With the consent of the lenders and the administrative agent and subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, we may increase the facility to $75,000 in accordance with the Amended Credit Agreement. The loan is collateralized by substantially all of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s assets, including the pledge of the equity interests of certain direct subsidiaries and the real estate owned by Alexion Manufacturing LLC, its wholly owned subsidiary, but excluding intellectual property and assets of foreign subsidiaries.

We may elect that the loans under the agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to (i) LIBOR plus 2.50% to 3.00% depending on the ratio of our cash to liabilities (as calculated in accordance with the agreement), or (ii) a Base Rate equal to the higher of the (A) Prime Rate then in effect, (B) Federal Funds Rate then in effect plus 0.50%, and (C) Eurodollar Rate then in effect plus 1.00%, plus 0.50% to 1.00% depending on the ratio of our cash to liabilities (as calculated in accordance with the agreement). We may prepay the loans, in whole or in part, in minimum amounts without premium or penalty, other than customary breakage costs with respect to LIBOR borrowings. Interest is payable quarterly for Base Rate loans and, in the case of LIBOR-based loans, at the end of the applicable interest period, with the principal due on January 22, 2013, the maturity date. We may borrow, repay and reborrow under the facility until January 22, 2013.

 

24


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

The Amended Credit Agreement requires us to comply with certain financial covenants on a quarterly basis. Further, the agreement includes negative covenants, subject to exceptions, restricting or limiting our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, grant liens, engage in certain investment, acquisition and disposition transactions, and enter into transactions with affiliates. The agreement also contains customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants and events of default, including payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, covenant defaults and cross defaults. If an event of default occurs, the interest rate would increase and the administrative agent would be entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of amounts due under the loan.

As of June 30, 2010, we had no outstanding amounts under the revolving credit facility other than letters of credit, and approximately $44,000 was available for withdrawal.

Convertible Notes

As of June 30, 2010, we had outstanding $3,718 principal amount of 1.375% Convertible Senior Notes due February 1, 2012, or the 1.375% Notes. We pay interest on these notes on a semi-annual basis on February 1 and August 1 of each year. However, no principal payments are due until February 2012, except under certain circumstances such as liquidation, merger or business combination. The Notes do not contain covenants related to our financial performance.

The 1.375% Notes are convertible into our common stock at an initial conversion rate of 63.5828 shares of common stock (equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $15.73 per share) per $1 principal amount of the 1.375% Notes, subject to adjustment, at any time prior to the close of business on the final maturity date of the notes. We do not have the right to redeem any of the 1.375% Notes prior to maturity. The conversion rate and conversion price have been adjusted for the stock split effected on August 22, 2008.

In the first quarter of 2010, certain holders of the 1.375% Notes exercised conversion rights with respect to an aggregate principal amount of $1,000 resulting in the issuance of 63,582 shares of our common stock. During the second quarter of 2010, certain holders of the 1.375% Notes exercised conversion rights with respect to an aggregate principal amount of $5,200 resulting in the issuance of 330,629 shares of our common stock.

As of June 30, 2010, $3,718 principal amount of the 1.375% Notes is outstanding, and the fair value, based on quoted market prices, was estimated at $12,090. The $18,642 decrease in fair value from December 31, 2009 is primarily attributable to the exchange of $6,200 principal amount of the notes for 394,211 shares of common stock during the first half of 2010.

Lonza Agreement

We have a supply agreement with Lonza Sales AG relating to the manufacture of Soliris, which requires payments to Lonza at the inception of the contract and as product is manufactured. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our plans for future levels of manufacturing by Lonza, which depends upon our commercial requirements, the progress of our clinical development programs and the production levels of our Smithfield, Rhode Island manufacturing facility.

We have agreed to purchase certain minimum quantities of product from Lonza under our existing arrangements. If we terminate the Lonza Agreement without cause, we will be required to pay for batches of product scheduled for manufacture under our arrangement.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

As of June 30, 2010, we held all of our cash and cash equivalents in bank accounts and money market funds, which are not subject to significant interest rate risk.

 

25


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

At June 30, 2010, we held $36,721 in marketable securities with maturity dates of less than one year. These financial instruments are subject to interest rate risk and will decline in value if interest rates increase. However, we expect to hold time-based investments, such as corporate bonds, through maturity.

Our outstanding long-term liabilities as of June 30, 2010 included our $3,718 principal amount of 1.375% Notes due February 1, 2012. As the notes bear interest at a fixed rate, our results of operations would not be impacted by interest rate changes.

In January 2010, we entered into a $50,000 amended and restated revolving credit facility, the Amended Credit Agreement. We may elect that the loans under the agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to (i) LIBOR plus 2.50% to 3.00% depending on the ratio of our cash to liabilities (as calculated in accordance with the agreement), or (ii) a Base Rate equal to the higher of the (A) Prime Rate then in effect, (B) Federal Funds Rate then in effect plus 0.50%, and (C) Eurodollar Rate then in effect plus 1%, plus 0.50% to 1.00% depending on the ratio of our cash to liabilities (as calculated in accordance with the agreement). We do not expect changes in interest rates related to our revolving credit facility to have a material effect on our financial statements.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

As a result of our foreign operations, we face exposure to movements in foreign currency exchange rates, primarily the Euro, Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc and British Pound. The current exposures arise primarily from cash, accounts receivable, intercompany receivables and payables, and product sales denominated in foreign currencies. Both positive and negative impacts to our international product sales from movements in foreign currency exchange rates are partially mitigated by the natural, opposite impact that foreign currency exchange rates have on our international operating expenses.

We currently have a derivative program in place to achieve two goals: 1) limit the foreign currency exposure of our monetary assets and liabilities on our balance sheet and 2) hedge a portion of our forecasted product sales, using contracts with duration of up to 24 months, to mitigate fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. Both programs utilize foreign exchange forward contracts intended to reduce, not eliminate, the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency rates.

As of June 30, 2010, we held foreign exchange forward contracts with notional amounts totaling $237,436. As of June 30, 2010, our outstanding foreign exchange forward contracts had a net fair value of $27,316.

We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative trading purposes. The counterparty to these foreign exchange forward contracts is a multinational commercial bank. We believe the risk of counterparty nonperformance is not material.

Since our foreign currency hedges are designed to offset gains and losses on our monetary assets and liabilities, we do not expect that a hypothetical 10% adverse fluctuation in exchange rates would result in a material change in the fair value of our foreign currency sensitive assets, which include our monetary assets and liabilities and our foreign exchange forward contracts. The analysis above does not consider the impact that hypothetical changes in foreign currency exchange rates would have on future transactions such as anticipated sales.

Credit Risk

Our European product sales to government-owned or supported customers in certain countries, including Greece, are subject to delays in payment due to government funding and reimbursement practices. Because these customers are government owned or supported, we may also be impacted by declines in sovereign credit ratings or sovereign defaults in these countries.

During the second quarter 2010, the Greek government announced a plan for repayment of its debt to international pharmaceutical companies. This plan calls for the majority of pharmaceutical industry receivables from

 

26


Table of Contents

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

2007 to 2009 to be settled in non-interest bearing bonds issued by the Greek government, with maturity rates ranging from 2 to 3 years. As a result of this announcement, we have recorded an adjustment of $600 to bad debt expense within selling, general and administrative expenses as a result of discounting the accounts receivable to present value.

A significant further decline in sovereign credit ratings or a default in Greece, or in other countries, may decrease the likelihood that we will collect these accounts receivable or may increase the length of time until these receivable are collected, resulting in a higher allowance for doubtful accounts and also may negatively impact our ability to recognize future revenue at the time of product delivery in these countries.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act) as of June 30, 2010. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of June 30, 2010, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, and ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2010 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

 

27


Table of Contents

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

You should carefully consider the following risk factors before you decide to invest in our Company and our business because these risk factors may have a significant impact on our business, operating results, financial condition, and cash flows. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Risks Related to Our Lead Product Soliris

We depend heavily on the success of our lead product, Soliris, which was approved in the United States and in Europe in 2007, and in Japan in 2010, for the treatment of PNH. If we are unable to increase sales of Soliris in the United States and Europe and commercialize Soliris in Japan and additional countries, or if we are significantly delayed or limited in doing so, our business may be materially harmed.

Our ability to generate revenues will depend on commercial success of Soliris in the United States, Europe and throughout the rest of the world and whether physicians, patients and healthcare payors view Soliris as therapeutically effective and safe relative to cost. Since we launched Soliris in the United States in April 2007, almost all of our revenue has been attributed to sales of Soliris, and we expect that Soliris product sales will continue to contribute to a significant percentage or almost all of our total revenue over the next several years.

The commercial success of Soliris and our ability to generate and increase revenues will depend on several factors, including the following:

 

   

the number of patients with PNH who are diagnosed with the disease and identified to us;

 

   

the number of patients with PNH that may be treated with Soliris;

 

   

successful continuation of commercial sales in the United States and in European countries where we are already selling Soliris, and successful launch in countries where we have not yet obtained, or only recently obtained, marketing approval or commenced sales;

 

   

ability to obtain and maintain sufficient coverage or reimbursement by third-party payors;

 

   

acceptance of Soliris in the medical community;

 

   

receipt and maintenance of marketing approvals from the United States and foreign regulatory authorities; and

 

   

establishment and maintenance of commercial manufacturing capabilities ourselves or through third-party manufacturers.

We dedicate significant resources to the worldwide expansion of the commercialization of Soliris for the treatment of PNH. We have established sales and marketing capabilities, and are commercializing Soliris in many countries throughout the world. In certain countries, particularly in the European Union, we continue discussions with appropriate authorities to finalize operational, reimbursement, price approval and funding processes so that we may, upon conclusion of such discussions, commence commercial sales in those countries. We submitted applications for marketing authorization of Soliris for the treatment of PNH in additional territories, and received approval in Canada and Australia in 2009 and Japan, South Korea and Switzerland in 2010. We cannot guarantee that any marketing applications that we file will be approved in all countries where we seek authorization to sell Soliris, or even if approved, that we will be able to obtain reimbursement for Soliris or that we will be able to successfully commercialize Soliris in any additional countries. As a result, sales in certain countries may be delayed or never occur, or may be subsequently reduced. If we are not successful in increasing sales of Soliris in the United States and Europe and commercializing in the rest of the world, or are significantly delayed or limited in doing so, we may experience a surplus inventory, our business may be materially harmed and we may need to significantly curtail operations.

 

28


Table of Contents

Because the target patient population of Soliris for the treatment of PNH is small and has not been definitively determined, we must be able to successfully identify PNH patients and achieve a significant market share in order to achieve or maintain profitability.

The prevalence of PNH patients has not been definitively determined but can be estimated at approximately 8,000—10,000 total patients in North America and Western Europe. There can be no guarantee that any of our programs will be effective at identifying PNH patients and the number of PNH patients in the United States and Europe may turn out to be lower than expected or may not be otherwise amenable to treatment with Soliris, all of which would adversely affect our results of operations and our business.

If we are unable to obtain, or maintain at anticipated levels, reimbursement for Soliris from government health administration authorities, private health insurers and other organizations, our pricing may be affected or our product sales, results of operations or financial condition could be harmed.

We may not be able to sell Soliris on a profitable basis or our profitability may be reduced if we are required to sell our product at lower than anticipated prices or reimbursement is unavailable or limited in scope or amount. Soliris is significantly more expensive than traditional drug treatments and almost all patients require some form of third party coverage to afford its cost. Our future revenues and profitability will be adversely affected if we cannot depend on governmental, private third-party payors and other third-party payors, such as Medicare and Medicaid in the United States or country specific governmental organizations, to defray the cost of Soliris to the patient. If these entities refuse to provide coverage and reimbursement with respect to Soliris, determine to provide a lower level of coverage and reimbursement than anticipated, or reduce previously approved levels of coverage and reimbursement, including in the form of higher mandatory rebates, then our pricing or reimbursement for Soliris may be affected and our product sales, results of operations or financial condition could be harmed.

In certain countries where we are seeking or may seek to commercialize Soliris, pricing, coverage and level of reimbursement of prescription drugs are subject to governmental control and we may be unable to negotiate coverage, pricing, and reimbursement on terms that are favorable to us, or such coverage, pricing, and reimbursement may differ in separate regions in the same country. In some foreign countries, the proposed pricing for a drug must be approved before it may be lawfully marketed. The requirements governing drug pricing vary widely from country to country, and we cannot guarantee that we will have the capabilities or resources to successfully conclude the necessary processes and commercialize Soliris in every or even most countries in which we seek to sell Soliris. Reimbursement sources are different in each country and in each country may include a combination of distinct potential payors, including private insurance and governmental payors. For example, countries in the European Union may restrict the range of medicinal products for which their national health insurance systems provide reimbursement and to control the prices of medicinal products for human use. A member state may from time to time approve a specific price for the medicinal product or it may instead adopt a system of direct or indirect controls on the profitability of the company placing the medicinal product on the market. Our results of operations may suffer if we are unable to successfully and timely conclude reimbursement, price approval or funding processes and begin to market Soliris in foreign countries or if coverage and reimbursement for Soliris in foreign countries is limited. If we are not able to obtain coverage, pricing or reimbursement on terms acceptable to us or at all, or if such terms should change in any foreign countries, we may not be able to or we may determine not to sell Soliris in such countries, or we could decide to sell Soliris at a lower than anticipated price in such countries, and our revenues may be adversely affected as a result.

Changes in pricing or the amount of reimbursement in countries where we currently commercialize Soliris may also reduce our profitability and worsen our financial condition. In the United States, European countries, and elsewhere, there have been, and we expect there will continue to be, efforts to control and reduce healthcare costs. Government and other third-party payors are challenging the prices charged for healthcare products and increasingly limiting and attempting to limit both coverage and level of reimbursement for prescription drugs. For example, the German government recently adopted legislation to increase mandatory discounts on pharmaceutical products and impose a temporary freeze on pharmaceutical pricing, including Soliris. A significant reduction in the amount of reimbursement or pricing for Soliris in one or more countries may have a material adverse effect on our business. See additional discussion below under the headings “Government initiatives that affect coverage and reimbursement of drug products could adversely affect our

 

29


Table of Contents

business” and “The current credit and financial market conditions may aggravate certain risks affecting our business.” In addition, certain countries establish pricing and reimbursement amounts by reference to the price of the same product in other countries. If coverage or the level of reimbursement is limited in one or more countries, we may be unable to obtain or maintain anticipated pricing or reimbursement in current or new territories.

Many third-party payors cover only selected drugs, making drugs that are not preferred by such payor more expensive for patients, and require prior authorization or failure on another type of treatment before covering a particular drug. Third-party payors may be especially likely to impose these obstacles to coverage for higher-priced drugs such as Soliris.

Even in countries where patients have access to insurance, their insurance co-payment amounts or annual or lifetime caps on reimbursements may represent a barrier to obtaining or continuing Soliris. In the United States, Alexion has financially supported non-profit organizations, such as the PNH Fund of the National Organization for Rare Disorders, or NORD, which assist patients in accessing treatment for PNH, including Soliris. Such organizations assist patients whose insurance coverage leaves them with prohibitive co-payment amounts or other expensive financial obligations. NORD’s, and other similar organizations’, ability to provide assistance to PNH patients is dependent on funding from external sources, and we cannot guarantee that such funding will be provided at adequate levels, if at all. We have also provided Soliris without charge to patients who have no insurance coverage for drugs for related charitable purposes in the United States and elsewhere. We are not able to predict the financial impact of the support we may provide for these and other charitable purposes; however, substantial support could have a material adverse effect on our profitability in the future.

We are also focusing development efforts on the use of eculizumab for the treatment of diseases other than PNH. The success of these programs depends on many factors, including those described under the heading “Risks Related to Development, Clinical Testing and Regulatory Approval of our Product Candidates, including Eculizumab for Indications Other than PNH.” If eculizumab is approved by regulatory agencies for indications other than PNH, the potential increase in the number of patients receiving Soliris may cause third party payers to refuse coverage or reimbursement for Soliris for the treatment of PNH or determine to provide a lower level of coverage or reimbursement than is currently in effect.

We may not be able to gain or maintain market acceptance among the medical community or patients which would prevent us from maintaining profitability in the future.

We cannot be certain that Soliris will gain or maintain market acceptance in a particular country among physicians, patients, healthcare payors, and others. Although we have received regulatory approval for Soliris in certain territories, including the United States, Japan and Europe, such approvals do not guarantee future revenue. We cannot predict whether physicians, other healthcare providers, government agencies or private insurers will determine that Soliris is safe and therapeutically effective relative to its cost. Medical doctors’ willingness to prescribe, and patients’ willingness to accept, Soliris depends on many factors, including prevalence and severity of adverse side effects in both clinical trials and commercial use, effectiveness of our marketing strategy and the pricing of Soliris, publicity concerning Soliris, our other product candidates or competing products, our ability to obtain and maintain third-party coverage or reimbursement, and availability of alternative treatments, including bone marrow transplants. If Soliris fails to achieve or maintain market acceptance among the medical community or patients in a particular country, we may not be able to market and sell it successfully in such country, which would limit our ability to generate revenue and could harm our overall business.

If we or our contract manufacturers fail to comply with continuing United States and foreign regulations, we could lose our approvals to market Soliris or our manufacturers could lose their approvals to manufacture Soliris, and our business would be seriously harmed.

We cannot guarantee that we will be able to maintain our regulatory approvals for Soliris. If we do not maintain our regulatory approvals for Soliris, the value of our company and our results of operations will be materially harmed. We and our future partners, contract manufacturers and suppliers are subject to rigorous and extensive regulation by the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, other federal and state agencies, and

 

30


Table of Contents

governmental authorities in other territories. These regulations continue to apply after product approval, and cover, among other things, testing, manufacturing, quality control, labeling, advertising, promotion, risk mitigation, adverse event reporting requirements, and export of biologics. For example, the risk management program established in 2007 upon the FDA’s approval of Soliris for the treatment of PNH was replaced with a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy Program, or REMS program, approved by the FDA in 2010. The REMS program requires mandatory physician certification in the United States. Each physician must certify that the physician is aware of the potential risks associated with the administration of Soliris and that the physician will inform each patient of these risks using educational material approved by the FDA.

As a condition of approval for marketing Soliris, governmental authorities may require us to conduct additional studies. For example, in connection with the approval of Soliris in the United States, European Union and Japan, we agreed to establish a PNH Registry, monitor immunogenicity, monitor compliance with vaccination requirements, and determine the effects of anticoagulant withdrawal among PNH patients receiving eculizumab, and, specifically in Japan, we agreed to conduct a trial in a limited number of Japanese PNH patients to evaluate the safety of a meningococcal vaccine. In the United States, for example, the FDA can propose to withdraw approval for a product if it determines that such additional studies are inadequate or if new clinical data or information shows that a product is not safe for use in an approved indication. We are required to report any serious and unexpected adverse experiences and certain quality problems with Soliris to the FDA, the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, or MHLW, and certain other health agencies. We, the FDA, the EMA, the MHLW or another health agency may have to notify healthcare providers of any such developments. The discovery of any previously unknown problems with Soliris, a manufacturer or a facility may result in restrictions on Soliris, a manufacturer or a facility, including withdrawal of Soliris from the market. Certain changes to an approved product, including the way it is manufactured or promoted, often require prior regulatory approval before the product as modified may be marketed. Our manufacturing and other facilities and those of any third parties manufacturing Soliris will be subject to inspection prior to grant of marketing approval and subject to continued review and periodic inspections by the regulatory authorities. In December 2009, the E.C. approved the use of our Rhode Island manufacturing facility for the production of Soliris, and we are authorized to sell product that is manufactured in our facility in the European Union and certain other territories. The FDA commenced its inspections of this facility during 2009; however we will not be capable of manufacturing Soliris in our Rhode Island facility for commercial sale in the United States until such time as we have received the required FDA approval for our facility in Rhode Island, if ever. Any third party we would use to manufacture Soliris for sale, including Lonza, must also be licensed by applicable regulatory authorities.

Failure to comply with the laws and requirements, including statutes and regulations, administered by the FDA, the EMA, MHLW or other agencies could result in:

 

   

administrative and judicial sanctions, including, warning letters;

 

   

fines and other civil penalties;

 

   

withdrawal of a previously granted approval for Soliris;

 

   

interruption of production;

 

   

operating restrictions;

 

   

delays in approving or refusal to approve Soliris or a facility that manufactures Soliris;

 

   

product recall or seizure;

 

   

injunctions; and

 

   

criminal prosecution.

If the use of Soliris harms people, or is perceived to harm patients even when such harm is unrelated to Soliris, our regulatory approvals could be revoked or otherwise negatively impacted and we could be subject to costly and damaging product liability claims.

The testing, manufacturing, marketing and sale of drugs for use in humans exposes us to product liability risks. Side effects and other problems from using Soliris could (1) lessen the frequency with which physicians decide to prescribe Soliris, (2) encourage physicians to stop prescribing Soliris to their patients who previously had been prescribed Soliris, (3) cause serious adverse events and give rise to product liability claims against us, and (4) result in our need to withdraw or recall Soliris from the marketplace. Some of these risks are unknown at this time.

 

31


Table of Contents

We tested Soliris in only a small number of patients. As more patients begin to use Soliris, new risks and side effects may be discovered, the rate of known risks or side effects may increase, and risks previously viewed as less significant could be determined to be significant. Previously unknown risks and adverse effects of Soliris may also be discovered in connection with unapproved, or off-label, uses of Soliris. We do not promote, or in any way support or encourage the promotion of Soliris for off-label uses in violation of applicable law, but physicians are permitted to use products for off-label purposes and we are aware of such off-label uses of Soliris. In addition, we are studying and expect to continue to study Soliris in diseases other than PNH in controlled clinical settings, and expect independent investigators to do so as well. In the event of any new risks or adverse effects discovered as new patients are treated for PNH and as Soliris is studied in or used by patients for off-label indications, regulatory authorities may delay or revoke their approvals, we may be required to conduct additional clinical trials, make changes in labeling of Soliris, reformulate Soliris or make changes and obtain new approvals for our and our suppliers’ manufacturing facilities. We may also experience a significant drop in the potential sales of Soliris, experience harm to our reputation and the reputation of Soliris in the marketplace or become subject to lawsuits, including class actions. Any of these results could decrease or prevent any sales of Soliris or substantially increase the costs and expenses of commercializing and marketing Soliris.

We may be sued by people who use Soliris, whether as a prescribed therapy, during a clinical trial, during an investigator initiated study, or otherwise. Many patients who use Soliris are already very ill. Any informed consents or waivers obtained from people who enroll in our trials or use Soliris may not protect us from liability or litigation. Our product liability insurance may not cover all potential types of liabilities or may not cover certain liabilities completely. Moreover, we may not be able to maintain our insurance on acceptable terms. In addition, negative publicity relating to the use of Soliris or a product candidate, or to a product liability claim, may make it more difficult, or impossible, for us to market and sell Soliris. As a result of these factors, a product liability claim, even if successfully defended, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Patients who use Soliris already often have severe and advanced stages of disease and known as well as unknown significant pre-existing and potentially life-threatening health risks, including, for example, bone marrow failure. During the course of treatment, patients may suffer adverse events, including death, for reasons that may or may not be related to Soliris. Such events could subject us to costly litigation, require us to pay substantial amounts of money to injured patients, delay, negatively impact or end our opportunity to receive or maintain regulatory approval to market Soliris, or require us to suspend or abandon our commercialization efforts. Even in a circumstance in which we do not believe that an adverse event is related to Soliris, the investigation into the circumstance may be time consuming or inconclusive. These investigations may interrupt our sales efforts, delay our regulatory approval process in other countries, or impact and limit the type of regulatory approvals Soliris receives or maintains.

Some patients treated with Soliris for PNH or other diseases, including patients who have participated in our clinical trials, have died or suffered potentially life-threatening diseases either during or after ending their Soliris treatments. In particular, use of C5 Inhibitors, such as Soliris, is associated with an increased risk for certain types of infection, including Neisseria bacteria. Serious cases of Neisseria infection can result in severe illness, including but not limited to brain damage, loss of limbs or parts of limbs, kidney failure, or death. PNH patients in our TRIUMPH and SHEPHERD trials all received vaccination against Neisseria bacteria prior to first administration of Soliris and all patients who are prescribed Soliris are required by prescribing guidelines to be vaccinated prior to receiving their first dose; however, vaccination does not eliminate all risk of becoming infected with Neisseria bacteria. Some patients treated with Soliris who had been vaccinated have become infected with Neisseria bacteria, including patients who have suffered serious illness or death. Each such incident is required to be reported to appropriate regulatory agencies in accordance with relevant regulations.

We are also aware of a potential risk for PNH patients who delay a dose of Soliris or discontinue their treatment of Soliris. Treatment with Soliris blocks complement and allows complement-sensitive PNH red blood

 

32


Table of Contents

cells to increase in number. If treatment with Soliris is thereafter delayed or discontinued, a greater number of red blood cells therefore would become susceptible to destruction when the patient’s complement system is no longer blocked. The rapid destruction of a larger number of a patient’s red blood cells may lead to numerous complications, including death. Several PNH patients in our studies of Soliris have received delayed doses or discontinued their treatment. In none of those circumstances were significant complications shown to be due to rapid destruction of a larger number of PNH red blood cells; however, we have not studied the delay or termination of treatment in enough patients to determine that such complications in the future are unlikely to occur. Additionally, such delays or discontinuations may be associated with significant complications without evidence of such rapid cell destruction. Clinical evaluations of outcomes in the post-marketing setting are required to be reported to appropriate regulatory agencies in accordance with relevant regulations. Determination of significant complications associated with the delay or discontinuation of Soliris could have a material adverse effect on our ability to sell Soliris for PNH.

Although we obtained regulatory approval to market and sell Soliris for PNH in the United States, Europe, Japan and other territories, we cannot guarantee that we will obtain the regulatory or reimbursement approvals for Soliris in each territory where we seek approval.

Governments in countries outside the United States, Europe and Japan regulate the distribution of drugs in such countries and the facilities where such drugs are manufactured, and obtaining their approvals can be lengthy, expensive and highly uncertain. The approval process varies from country to country, and the requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials, product manufacturing, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary greatly from country to country. In certain jurisdictions, we are required to finalize operational, reimbursement, price approval and funding processes prior to marketing our products, even in countries where marketing approval has been obtained. Soliris became commercially available in certain countries in Europe in the fourth quarter of 2007. We received regulatory approval for Soliris for treatment of patients with PNH in Canada and Australia in 2009 and in Japan, South Korea and Switzerland in 2010. We may not receive regulatory approval for Soliris in any other territories for at least the next several years, if ever.

Regulatory agencies may require additional information or data with respect to our submissions for Soliris for PNH. We may have to conduct additional lengthy clinical testing and other costly and time-consuming procedures to satisfy foreign regulatory agencies. Even with approval of Soliris in certain countries, the regulatory agencies in other countries may not agree with our interpretations of our clinical trial data for Soliris and may decide that our results are not adequate to support approval for marketing of Soliris. In those circumstances, we would not be able to obtain regulatory approval in such country on a timely basis, if ever. Even if approval is granted in such country, the approval may require limitations on the indicated uses for which the drug may be marketed. The foreign regulatory approval process includes all of the risks associated with FDA approval as well as country-specific regulations. We must obtain approval of a product by the comparable regulatory authorities of foreign countries before we can commence clinical trials or marketing of the product in those countries. For example, we were required to conduct clinical studies with Soliris in patients with PNH in Japan prior to obtaining marketing approval in that country.

Commercial quantities of Soliris can only be manufactured at two facilities, including our own facility in Rhode Island, and we are currently entirely dependent on a single third party to manufacture commercial quantities of Soliris for sale in the United States and Japan. Our commercialization of Soliris may be stopped, delayed or made less profitable if we or any other supply vendor fails to provide sufficient quantities of Soliris.

Commercial quantities of Soliris are manufactured by us at our Rhode Island manufacturing facility and by Lonza Sales AG, or Lonza. Manufacturing processes must comply with applicable regulations and manufacturing practices, as well as our own quality standards. In particular, the manufacture of Soliris is heavily regulated by governmental authorities around the world, including the FDA, EMA and MHLW. If we or our third-party suppliers fail to comply fully with such regulations then there could be a government-enforced shutdown of production facilities or production lines, which in turn could lead to product shortages.

Until December 2009, only Lonza was capable of manufacturing commercial quantities of Soliris. In December 2009, the E.C. approved the use of our Rhode Island manufacturing facility for the production of Soliris

 

33


Table of Contents

and we are authorized to sell product that is manufactured in our facility in the European Union and certain other territories. However, we will not be capable of manufacturing Soliris for commercial sale in the United States or Japan until such time as we have received the required FDA and MHLW approval for our manufacturing facility in Rhode Island, if ever. Therefore, we will continue to depend entirely on one company, Lonza, to manufacture Soliris for commercial sale in the United States and Japan until that time.

The manufacture of Soliris is difficult. Manufacture of a biologic requires a multi-step controlled process and even minor problems or deviations could result in defects or failures. We cannot be certain that we or Lonza will be able to perform uninterrupted supply chain services. The failure to manufacture appropriate supplies of Soliris, on a timely basis, or at all, may prevent or interrupt the commercialization of Soliris. If we or Lonza were unable to manufacture Soliris for any period, or if we do not obtain approval of our facility by the FDA or MHLW, we may incur substantial loss of sales. If we are forced to find an alternative supplier for Soliris, in addition to loss of sales, we may also incur significant costs and experience significant delay in establishing a new arrangement.

We also depend on a few outside vendors for other services with respect to our clinical and commercial requirements, including product finishing, packaging, vialing and labeling. We do not have control over any third-party manufacturer’s, vialer’s or other third party provider’s compliance with the rules and regulations of the FDA, EMA, MHLW or any other applicable regulations or standards. Any difficulties or delays in our third party manufacturing and supply of Soliris and other product candidates, or any failure of our third party providers to maintain compliance with the applicable regulations and standards could increase our costs, constrain our ability to satisfy demand for Soliris from customers, cause us to lose revenue, make us postpone or cancel clinical trials, or cause our products to be recalled or withdrawn.

We are dependent upon a small number of customers for a significant portion of our revenue, and the loss of, or significant reduction or cancellation in sales to, any one of these customers could adversely affect our operations and financial condition.

In the United States, we sell Soliris to specialty pharmacies and specialty distributors who in turn sell to patient health-care providers. We do not promote Soliris to these distributors, and they do not set or determine demand for Soliris. For the three months ended June 30, 2010, our single largest customer, AmerisourceBergen, accounted for 22.4% of our Soliris net product sales, and our three largest customers accounted for approximately 37.1% of our net product sales. As of June 30, 2010, our single largest customer, AmerisourceBergen, accounted for 20.6% of the accounts receivable balance. We expect such customer concentration to continue for the foreseeable future. Our ability to successfully commercialize Soliris will depend, in part, on the extent to which we are able to provide adequate distribution of Soliris to patients. Although a number of specialty distributors and specialty pharmacies, which supply physician office clinics, hospital outpatient clinics, infusion clinics, home health care providers, and governmental organizations, distribute Soliris, they generally carry a very limited inventory and may be reluctant to distribute Soliris in the future if demand for the product does not increase. Further, it is possible that our distributors could decide to change their policies or fees, or both, at some time in the future. This could result in their refusal to distribute smaller volume products such as Soliris, or cause higher product distribution costs, lower margins or the need to find alternative methods of distributing our product. Although we believe we can find alternative distributors on a relatively short notice, our revenue during that period of time may suffer and we may incur additional costs to replace a distributor. The loss of any large customer, a significant reduction in sales we make to them, any cancellation of orders they have made with us or any failure to pay for the products we have shipped to them could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

If we are unable to establish and maintain effective sales, marketing and distribution capabilities, or to enter into agreements with third parties to do so, we will be unable to successfully commercialize Soliris.

We are marketing and selling Soliris for the treatment of PNH ourselves in the United States, Europe, Japan and several other territories, but have only limited experience thus far with marketing, sales or distribution of drug products. We have established commercial capabilities in the United States, Europe and Japan. If we are unable to establish and/or expand our capabilities to sell, market and distribute Soliris for the treatment of PNH or, if approved by the necessary regulatory agencies, other future indications, either through our own capabilities or by entering into

 

34


Table of Contents

agreements with others, or to maintain such capabilities in countries where we have already commenced commercial sales, we will not be able to successfully sell Soliris. In that event, we will not be able to generate significant revenues. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to establish and maintain our own capabilities or enter into and maintain any marketing or distribution agreements with third-party providers on acceptable terms, if at all. Even if we hire the qualified sales and marketing personnel we need to support our objectives, or enter into marketing and distribution agreements with third parties on acceptable terms, we may not do so in an efficient manner or on a timely basis. We may not be able to correctly judge the size and experience of the sales and marketing force and the scale of distribution capabilities necessary to successfully market and sell Soliris. Establishing and maintaining sales, marketing and distribution capabilities are expensive and time-consuming. Our expenses associated with building up and maintaining the sales force and distribution capabilities around the world may be disproportional compared to the revenues we may be able to generate on sales of Soliris. We cannot guarantee that we will be successful in commercializing Soliris.

If we market Soliris in a manner that violates health care fraud and abuse laws, we may be subject to civil or criminal penalties.

In addition to FDA and related regulatory requirements, we are subject to health care “fraud and abuse” laws, such as the federal False Claims Act, the anti-kickback provisions of the federal Social Security Act, and other state and federal laws and regulations. Federal and state anti-kickback laws prohibit, among other things, knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration to induce, or in return for purchasing, leasing, ordering or arranging for the purchase, lease or order of any health care item or service reimbursable under Medicare, Medicaid, or other federally or state financed health care programs. This statute has been interpreted to apply to arrangements between pharmaceutical manufacturers on the one hand and prescribers, patients, purchasers and formulary managers on the other. Although there are a number of statutory exemptions and regulatory safe harbors protecting certain common activities from prosecution, the exemptions and safe harbors are drawn narrowly, and practices that involve remuneration intended to induce prescribing, purchasing, or recommending may be subject to scrutiny if they do not qualify for an exemption or safe harbor.

Federal false claims laws prohibit any person from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, a false claim for payment to the federal government, or knowingly making, or causing to be made, a false statement to get a false claim paid. Pharmaceutical companies have been prosecuted under these laws for a variety of alleged promotional and marketing activities, such as allegedly providing free product to customers with the expectation that the customers would bill federal programs for the product; reporting to pricing services inflated average wholesale prices that were then used by federal programs to set reimbursement rates; engaging in promotion for uses that the FDA has not approved, or “off-label” uses, that caused claims to be submitted to Medicaid for non-covered off-label uses; and submitting inflated best price information to the Medicaid Rebate Program.

Although physicians are permitted to, based on their medical judgment, prescribe products for indications other than those cleared or approved by the FDA, manufacturers are prohibited from promoting their products for such off-label uses. We market Soliris for PNH and provide promotional materials and training programs to physicians regarding the use of Soliris for PNH. Although we believe our marketing materials and training programs for physicians do not constitute off-label promotion of Soliris, the FDA may disagree. If the FDA determines that our promotional materials, training or other activities constitute off-label promotion of Soliris, it could request that we modify our training or promotional materials or other activities or subject us to regulatory enforcement actions, including the issuance of a warning letter, injunction, seizure, civil fine and criminal penalties. It is also possible that other federal, state or foreign enforcement authorities might take action if they believe that the alleged improper promotion led to the submission and payment of claims for an unapproved use, which could result in significant fines or penalties under other statutory authorities, such as laws prohibiting false claims for reimbursement. Even if it is later determined we are not in violation of these laws, we may be faced with negative publicity, incur significant expenses defending our position and have to divert significant management resources from other matters.

The majority of states also have statutes or regulations similar to the federal anti-kickback law and false claims laws, which apply to items and services reimbursed under Medicaid and other state programs, or, in several states, apply regardless of the payor. Sanctions under these federal and state laws may include civil monetary

 

35


Table of Contents

penalties, exclusion of a manufacturer’s products from reimbursement under government programs, criminal fines, and imprisonment. Even if we are not determined to have violated these laws, government investigations into these issues typically require the expenditure of significant resources and generate negative publicity, which would also harm our financial condition. Because of the breadth of these laws and the narrowness of the safe harbors and because government scrutiny in this area is high, it is possible that some of our business activities could come under that scrutiny.

In recent years, several states and localities, including California, the District of Columbia, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Vermont, and West Virginia, have enacted legislation requiring pharmaceutical companies to establish marketing compliance programs, file periodic reports with the state or make periodic public disclosures on sales, marketing, pricing, clinical trials, and other activities. Similar legislation is being considered in other states. Many of these requirements are new and uncertain, and the penalties for failure to comply with these requirements are unclear. Nonetheless, if we are found not to be in full compliance with these laws, we could face enforcement action and fines and other penalties, and could receive adverse publicity.

Risks Related to Development, Clinical Testing and Regulatory Approval of Our Product Candidates, Including Eculizumab for Indications Other than PNH

None of our product candidates except for Soliris has received regulatory approvals. Soliris has not been approved for any indication other than for the treatment of patients with PNH. If we are unable to obtain regulatory approvals to market one or more of our product candidates, including Soliris for other indications, our business may be adversely affected.

All of our product candidates except Soliris are in early stages of development, and we do not expect our other product candidates to be commercially available for several years, if at all. Similarly, Soliris has not been approved for any indication other than for the treatment of patients with PNH, and we do not know when or if Soliris will be approved in other indications. Our product candidates are subject to strict regulation by regulatory authorities in the United States and in other countries. We cannot market any product candidate until we have completed all necessary preclinical studies and clinical trials and have obtained the necessary regulatory approvals. We do not know whether regulatory agencies will grant approval for any of our product candidates. Even if we complete preclinical studies and clinical trials successfully, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approvals or we may not receive approvals to make claims about our products that we believe to be necessary to effectively market our products. Data obtained from preclinical studies and clinical trials are subject to varying interpretations that could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval, and failure to comply with regulatory requirements or inadequate manufacturing processes are examples of other problems that could prevent approval. In addition, we may encounter delays or rejections due to additional government regulation from future legislation, administrative action or changes in the FDA policy. Even if the FDA approves a product, the approval will be limited to those indications covered in the approval.

Outside the United States, our ability to market any of our potential products is dependent upon receiving marketing approvals from the appropriate regulatory authorities. These foreign regulatory approval processes include all of the risks associated with the FDA approval process described above. If we are unable to receive regulatory approvals, we will be unable to commercialize our product candidates, and our business may be adversely affected.

Completion of preclinical studies or clinical trials does not guarantee advancement to the next phase of development.

Completion of preclinical studies or clinical trials does not guarantee that we will initiate additional studies or trials for our product candidates, that if further studies or trials are initiated what the scope and phase of the trial will be or that they will be completed, or that if these further studies or trials are completed, that the design or results will provide a sufficient basis to apply for or receive regulatory approvals or to commercialize products. Results of clinical trials could be inconclusive, requiring additional or repeat trials. If the design or results achieved in our clinical trials are insufficient to proceed to further trials or to regulatory approval of our product candidates, our

 

36


Table of Contents

company could be materially adversely affected. Failure of a clinical trial to achieve its pre-specified primary endpoint generally increases the likelihood that additional studies or trials will be required if we determine to continue development of the product candidate, reduces the likelihood of timely development of and regulatory approval to market the product candidate, and may decrease the chances for successfully achieving the primary endpoint in scientifically similar indications.

There are many reasons why drug testing could be delayed or terminated.

For human trials, patients must be recruited and each product candidate must be tested at various doses and formulations for each clinical indication. In addition, to ensure safety and effectiveness, the effect of drugs often must be studied over a long period of time, especially for the chronic diseases that we are studying. Unfavorable results or insufficient patient enrollment in our clinical trials could delay or cause us to abandon a product development program. We may decide to abandon development of a product candidate at any time, or we may have to spend considerable resources repeating clinical trials or conducting additional trials, either of which would increase costs and delay any revenue from those product candidates, if any.

Additional factors that can cause delay, impairment or termination of our clinical trials or our product development efforts include:

 

   

slow patient enrollment, including, for example, due to the rarity of the disease being studied;

 

   

long treatment time required to demonstrate effectiveness;

 

   

lack of sufficient supplies of the product candidate;

 

   

disruption of operations at the clinical trial sites;

 

   

adverse medical events or side effects in treated patients;

 

   

the failure of patients taking the placebo to continue to participate in our clinical trials;

 

   

insufficient clinical trial data to support effectiveness of the product candidates;

 

   

lack of effectiveness or safety of the product candidate being tested;

 

   

lack of sufficient funds;

 

   

inability to manufacture sufficient quantities of the product candidate for development or commercialization activities in a timely and cost-efficient manner; and

 

   

failure to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals for the product candidate or the approvals for the facilities in which such product candidate is manufactured.

The regulatory approval process is costly and lengthy and we may not be able to successfully obtain all required regulatory approvals.

The preclinical development, clinical trials, manufacturing, marketing and labeling of pharmaceuticals are all subject to extensive regulation by numerous governmental authorities and agencies in the United States and other countries. We must obtain regulatory approval for each of our product candidates before marketing or selling any of them. It is not possible to predict how long the approval processes of the FDA or any other applicable federal or foreign regulatory authority or agency for any of our product candidates will take or whether any such approvals ultimately will be granted. The FDA and foreign regulatory agencies have substantial discretion in the drug approval process, and positive results in preclinical testing or early phases of clinical studies offer no assurance of success in later phases of the approval process. The approval process varies from country to country and the requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials, product manufacturing, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary greatly from country to country. Generally, preclinical and clinical testing of product candidates can take many years and require the expenditure of substantial resources, and the data obtained from these tests and trials can be susceptible to varying interpretations that could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. If we encounter significant delays in the regulatory process that result in excessive costs, this may prevent us from continuing to develop our product candidates. Any delay in obtaining, or failure to obtain, approvals could adversely affect the marketing of our products and our ability to generate product revenue. The risks associated with the approval process include:

 

   

failure of our product candidates to meet a regulatory agency’s requirements for safety, efficacy and quality;

 

37


Table of Contents
   

limitation on the indicated uses for which a product may be marketed;

 

   

unforeseen safety issues or side effects; and

 

   

governmental or regulatory delays and changes in regulatory requirements and guidelines.

Even if our drug candidates obtain regulatory approval, they may not gain market acceptance among physicians, patients and health care payors.

Physicians may elect not to recommend our drugs even if they receive marketing approval for a variety of reasons, including the timing of the market introduction of competitive drugs; lower demonstrated clinical safety and efficacy compared to other drugs; lack of cost-effectiveness; lack of availability of reimbursement from third-party payors; convenience and ease of administration; prevalence and severity of adverse side effects; other potential advantages of alternative treatment methods; and ineffective marketing and distribution support. Sales of pharmaceutical products depend in significant part on the coverage and reimbursement policies of government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid in the United States and similar programs in other countries, and other third-party payors. These health insurance programs may restrict coverage of some products by using payor formularies under which only selected drugs are covered, variable co-payments that make drugs that are not preferred by the payor more expensive for patients, and by using utilization management controls, such as requirements for prior authorization or failure on another type of treatment. Payors may especially impose these obstacles to coverage for higher-priced drugs, and consequently our drug candidates may be subject to payor-driven restrictions. In addition, in some foreign countries, the proposed pricing for a drug must be approved before it may be lawfully marketed. The requirements governing drug pricing vary widely from country to country. For example, countries in the European Union may restrict the range of medicinal products for which their national health insurance systems provide reimbursement and to control the prices and/or reimbursement of medicinal products for human use. A member state may approve a specific price or level of reimbursement for the medicinal product, or it may instead adopt a system of direct or indirect controls on the profitability of the company placing the medicinal product on the market. The reimbursement or budget identified by a government or non-government payor for Soliris in an indication other than PNH, if obtained, may be adversely affected by the reimbursement or budget for Soliris in PNH and/or adversely affect the reimbursement or budget for Soliris in PNH by that payor.

Inability to contract with third-party manufacturers and other third parties on commercially reasonable terms, or failure or delay by us or our third-party manufacturers or other third party providers to provide services with respect to our drug products in the volumes and quality required, would have a material adverse effect on our business.

Clinical quantities of eculizumab are manufactured by us in our Rhode Island facility and by Lonza. Clinical quantities of samalizumab are manufactured solely by us in Rhode Island. Manufacture of our drug products is highly technical, and only a small number of companies have the ability and capacity to manufacture our drug products for our development and commercialization needs. Due to the highly technical requirements of manufacturing our drug products, we and our third-party collaborators may be unable to manufacture our drug products despite our and their efforts. In addition, we cannot be certain that any third party will be able or willing to honor the terms of its agreement, including any obligations to manufacture the drug products in accordance with regulatory requirements and to our quality specifications and volume requirements.

Manufacture of drug products, including the need to develop and utilize manufacturing processes that consistently produce our drug products to their required quality specifications, is highly regulated by the FDA and other domestic and foreign authorities. Regulatory authorities must approve the facilities in which our products are manufactured prior to granting marketing approval for any product candidate. Manufacturing facilities are also subject to ongoing inspections, and minor changes in manufacturing processes may require additional regulatory approvals. We cannot assure you that we or our third-party collaborators will successfully comply with all requirements and regulations, which failure could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

38


Table of Contents

We currently have limited experience in manufacturing drug products in volumes that would be necessary to support commercial sales, and we can provide no assurance that we will be able to do so successfully. We acquired a commercial-scale manufacturing plant in Smithfield, Rhode Island in July 2006. In December 2009, the E.C. approved the use of our facility for the production of Soliris, and we are authorized to sell Soliris manufactured in our facility in the European Union and certain other territories. However, the plant is not currently approved by the FDA, MHLW or other regulatory agencies to manufacture Soliris and we will not be capable of manufacturing Soliris for commercial sale in the United States or Japan on our own until such time as we have received FDA approval of our manufacturing facility, if ever. Until December 2009, we have depended on a single third party for commercial supply of Soliris, and until our facility is approved by the FDA and MHLW, as applicable, we are still entirely dependent on this third party for commercial quantities of Soliris for sale in the United States and Japan. We have limited experience in developing commercial-scale manufacturing. We can provide no assurance that we will be able to manufacture our drug products at our Smithfield, Rhode Island plant under conditions required by the FDA or foreign regulatory agencies on a timely basis, if at all. Our plant in Smithfield, Rhode Island is subject to approval by other national and regional regulatory agencies before we can begin sales of Soliris or other drug products manufactured in this facility in the applicable countries or regions, and we will continue to be subject to ongoing regulatory inspections thereafter.

We, and our outside manufacturers, may experience higher manufacturing failure rates than in the past if and when we attempt to substantially increase production volume. If we experience interruptions in the manufacture of our products, our drug development and commercialization efforts will be delayed. If any of our outside manufacturers stops manufacturing our products or reduces the amount manufactured, or is otherwise unable to manufacture our required amounts at our required quality, we may need to find other alternatives, which is likely to be expensive and time consuming, and also may result in reduced revenue during this period. Even if we are able to find alternatives they may ultimately be insufficient for our needs. As a result, our ability to conduct testing and drug trials and our plans for commercialization could be materially adversely affected. Submission of products and new development programs for regulatory approval, as well as our plans for commercialization, would be delayed or suspended. Our competitive position and our prospects for achieving or maintaining profitability could be materially and adversely affected.

Due to the nature of the current market for third-party commercial manufacturing, many arrangements require substantial penalty payments by the customer for failure to use the manufacturing capacity for which it contracted. Penalty payments under these agreements typically decrease over the life of the agreement, and may be substantial initially and de minimis or non-existent in the final period. The payment of a substantial penalty could harm our financial condition.

Risks Related to Intellectual Property

If we cannot protect the confidentiality and proprietary nature of our trade secrets and other intellectual property, our business and competitive position will be harmed.

Our business requires using sensitive technology, techniques and proprietary compounds that we protect as trade secrets. However, we may also rely heavily on collaboration with suppliers, outside scientists and other drug companies. Collaboration presents a strong risk of exposing our trade secrets. If our trade secrets were exposed, it would help our competitors and adversely affect our business prospects.

In order to protect our drugs and technology more effectively, we need to obtain and maintain patents covering the drugs and technologies we develop. We may obtain patents or the right to practice patents through ownership or license. Soliris and our drug candidates are expensive and time-consuming to test and develop. Without patent protection, competitors may copy our methods or the chemical structure or other aspects of our drugs. Even if we obtain and maintain patents, the patents may not be broad enough to protect our drugs from copycat products.

 

39


Table of Contents

If we are found to be infringing on patents owned by others, we may be forced to pay damages to the patent owner and/or obtain a license to continue the manufacture, sale or development of our drugs. If we cannot obtain a license, we may be prevented from the manufacture, sale or development of our drugs, including Soliris, which would adversely affect our business.

Parts of our technology, techniques and proprietary compounds and potential drug candidates, including those which are or may be in-licensed, may be found to infringe patents owned by or granted to others. We previously reported that three civil actions were filed against us relating to the commercialization of Soliris and the intellectual property rights of third parties. Each of these cases was resolved in 2008, however, additional third parties may claim that the manufacture, use or sale of Soliris or other drugs under development infringes patents owned or granted to such third parties. We are aware of broad patents owned by others relating to the manufacture, use and sale of recombinant humanized antibodies, recombinant human antibodies, and recombinant human single chain antibodies. Soliris and many of our product candidates are genetically engineered antibodies, including recombinant humanized antibodies, recombinant human antibodies, or recombinant human single chain antibodies. In addition to the actions described above, we have received notices from the owners of some of these patents claiming that their patents may be infringed by the development, manufacture or sale of Soliris or some of our drug candidates. We are also aware of other patents owned by third parties that might be claimed by such third parties to be infringed by the development and commercialization of Soliris and some of our drug candidates. In respect to some of these patents, we have obtained licenses, or expect to obtain licenses. However, with regard to such other patents, we have determined in our judgment that:

 

   

Soliris and our product candidates do not infringe the patents;

 

   

the patents are not valid; or

 

   

we have identified and tested or are testing various modifications that we believe should not infringe the patents and which should permit commercialization of our product candidates.

Any holder of these patents or other patents covering similar technology could sue us for damages and seek to prevent us from manufacturing, selling or developing our drugs. Legal disputes can be costly and time consuming to defend. If we cannot successfully defend against any future actions or conflicts, if they arise, we may incur substantial legal costs and may be liable for damages, be required to obtain costly licenses or need to stop manufacturing, using or selling Soliris, which would adversely affect our business. A required license may be costly or may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. A costly license, or inability to obtain a necessary license, could have a material adverse effect on our business.

There can be no assurance that we would prevail in a patent infringement action; that we would be able to obtain a license to any third-party patent on commercially reasonable terms; successfully develop non-infringing alternatives on a timely basis; or license alternative non-infringing technology, if any exists, on commercially reasonable terms. Any impediment to our ability to manufacture or sell approved forms of Soliris or our product candidates could have a material adverse effect on our business and prospects.

Risks Related to Our Operations

We have had a history of losses and cannot guarantee that we will achieve our financial goals, including our ability to maintain profitability on a quarterly or annual basis in the future.

Until the quarter ended June 30, 2008, we had never been profitable since we started our company in January 1992. We have maintained profitability on a quarterly basis since the quarter ended June 30, 2008 and on an annual basis for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008. We believe that we formulate our annual operating budgets with reasonable assumptions and targets, however we cannot guarantee that we will be able to generate sufficient revenues or control expenses to achieve our financial goals, including continued profitability. Even if we do achieve profitability in any subsequent quarters, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. You should not consider our revenue growth in recent periods as indicative of our future performance. Our revenue in future periods could decline. We may make errors in predicting and reacting to relevant business trends or our business may be subject to factors beyond control, which could harm our operations. Since we began our business, we have focused on research and development of product candidates. We launched Soliris for sale in the United States and Europe during 2007. We cannot guarantee that we will be successful in

 

40


Table of Contents

marketing and selling Soliris in countries or regions where we have obtained marketing approval, including the United States, Europe and Japan, on a continued basis, and we do not know when we will have Soliris available for sale in territories where we have applied or will apply for marketing approval, if ever. We will have substantial expenses as we continue our research and development efforts, continue to conduct clinical trials, and continue to develop manufacturing, sales, marketing and distribution capabilities in the United States and abroad. The achievement of our financial goals, including the extent of our future profitability, depends on many factors, including our ability to successfully market Soliris in the United States, Europe and Japan and other territories, our ability to obtain regulatory, pricing, coverage, and reimbursement approvals of Soliris in additional countries and regions, our ability to successfully market Soliris in additional countries and regions, and our ability to successfully manufacture and commercialize our drug candidates.

If our competitors get to the marketplace before we do, or with better or cheaper drugs, Soliris and our product candidates may not be profitable to continue to pursue.

The FDA, E.C. and the MHLW granted orphan drug designation for Soliris in the treatment of PNH, which entitles us to exclusivity for a total of seven years in the United States and for ten years in Europe and Japan. However, if a competitive product that is the same as Soliris, as defined under the applicable regulations, is shown to be clinically superior to Soliris in the treatment of PNH, or if a competitive product is different from Soliris, as defined under the applicable regulations, the orphan drug exclusivity we have obtained may not block the approval of such competitive product. Several biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies throughout the world have programs to develop complement inhibitor therapies or have publicly announced their intentions to develop drugs which target the inflammatory effects of complement in the immune system. Other companies have publicly announced intentions to develop therapeutic human antibodies from libraries of human antibody genes or therapeutic human antibodies from mice that have been bred to include some human antibody genes. A number of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies are developing new products for the treatment of the same diseases being targeted by us. These and other companies, many of which have significantly greater resources than us, may develop, manufacture, and market better or cheaper drugs than Soliris or our product candidates. They may establish themselves in the marketplace before Alexion for Soliris for other indications or for any of our other product candidates. Other pharmaceutical companies also compete with us to attract academic research institutions as drug development partners, including for licensing these institutions’ proprietary technology. If our competitors successfully enter into such arrangements with academic institutions, we will be precluded from pursuing those unique opportunities and may not be able to find equivalent opportunities elsewhere.

If we fail to obtain the capital necessary to fund our operations, we will be unable to continue the commercialization of Soliris or continue or complete our product development.

We believe that revenues and collections from sales of Soliris along with our existing cash and cash equivalents will provide sufficient capital to fund our operations and product development for at least twelve months. We may need to raise additional capital before or after that time to complete or continue the development or commercialization of our products and product candidates. We are currently selling or preparing for the commercialization of Soliris in the United States, Europe, Japan several other territories, evaluating and preparing regulatory submissions for Soliris in several countries, and conducting, preparing or evaluating several clinical trials. Funding needs may shift between projects and potentially accelerate and increase as we continue launch and commercialization activities throughout the world and as we initiate or continue clinical trials for our product candidates.

Additional financing could take the form of public or private debt or equity offerings, equity line facilities, bank loans, collaborative research and development arrangements with corporate partners and/or the sale or licensing of some of our property. The amount of capital we may need depends on many factors, including:

 

   

the cost necessary to sell, market and distribute Soliris;

 

   

the rate of new patient sales and drug utilization by treated patients;

 

   

the time and cost necessary to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for Soliris and for eculizumab for other indications in multiple countries;

 

41


Table of Contents
   

the ability to obtain and maintain reimbursement approvals and funding for Soliris and the time necessary to obtain such approvals and funding;

 

   

the time and cost necessary to develop sales, marketing and distribution capabilities outside the United States;

 

   

the time and cost necessary to purchase or to further develop manufacturing processes, arrange for contract manufacturing or build manufacturing facilities and obtain and maintain the necessary regulatory approvals for those facilities;

 

   

changes in applicable governmental regulatory policies or requests by regulatory agencies for additional information or data;

 

   

the progress, timing and scope of our research and development programs;

 

   

the progress, timing and scope of our preclinical studies and clinical trials; and

   

any new collaborative, licensing or other commercial relationships that we may establish.

We may not receive funding when we need it or funding may only be available on unfavorable terms. Financial markets in the United States, Europe and the rest of the world have been experiencing significant volatility in security prices, substantially diminished liquidity and credit availability, rating downgrades of certain investments and declining valuations of others. There can be no assurance that we will be able to access credit or equity markets in order to finance our operations in the United States, Europe or Japan, grow our operations in any territory, or expand development programs for our product candidates, or that there will not be a further deterioration in financial markets and confidence in economies. If we cannot raise adequate funds to satisfy our capital requirements, we may have to delay, scale-back or eliminate our research and development activities or future operations. We might have to license our technology to others or relinquish commercialization rights. This could result in sharing revenues that we might otherwise retain for ourselves. Any of these actions would harm our business.

If we fail to recruit and retain personnel, we may not be able to implement our business strategy.

We are highly dependent upon the efforts of our senior management and scientific personnel, particularly Dr. Leonard Bell, M.D., our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our Board of Directors, and Stephen P. Squinto, Ph.D., our Executive Vice President and Head of Research and Development. There is intense competition in the biopharmaceutical industry for qualified scientific and technical personnel. Since our business is science-oriented and specialized, we need to continue to attract and retain such people. We may not be able to continue to attract and retain the qualified personnel necessary for developing our business. We have employment agreements with Dr. Bell and Dr. Squinto. None of our key personnel is nearing retirement age or to our knowledge, planning to retire. To our knowledge, there is no tension between any of our key personnel and the Board of Directors. If we are unable to retain and recruit highly qualified personnel, our ability to execute our business plan will be materially and adversely affected.

In particular, we highly value the services of Dr. Bell, our Chief Executive Officer. The loss of his services could materially and adversely affect our ability to achieve our objectives.

We are subject to environmental laws and potential exposure to environmental liabilities.

We are subject to various federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations that govern our operations, including the handling and disposal of non-hazardous and hazardous wastes, including medical and biological wastes, and emissions and discharges into the environment, including air, soils and water sources. Failure to comply with such laws and regulations could result in costs for corrective action, penalties or the imposition of other liabilities. We also are subject to laws and regulations that impose liability and clean-up responsibility for releases of hazardous substances into the environment. Under certain of these laws and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of property may be liable for the costs of remediating its property or locations to which wastes were sent from its facilities, without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or necessarily caused, the contamination. Such obligations and liabilities, which to date have not been material, could have a material impact on our business and financial condition.

 

42


Table of Contents

We may expand our business through acquisitions or in-licensing opportunities that could disrupt our business and harm our financial condition.

Our business strategy includes expanding our products and capabilities, and we may seek acquisitions or in-licensing of business or products to do so. Acquisitions of new businesses or products and in-licensing of new products involve numerous risks, including:

 

   

substantial cash expenditures;

 

   

potentially dilutive issuance of equity securities;

 

   

incurrence of debt and contingent liabilities, some of which may be difficult or impossible to identify at the time of acquisition;

 

   

difficulties in assimilating the operations of the acquired companies;

 

   

diverting our management’s attention away from other business concerns;

 

   

risks of entering markets in which we have limited or no direct experience; and

 

   

the potential loss of our key employees or key employees of the acquired companies.

We compete with pharmaceutical companies that have significantly greater resources than us for many of the same acquisition and in-licensing opportunities. Such pharmaceutical companies may be less leveraged and have better access to capital resources may preclude us from completing any acquisition or in-licensing. Even if we are able to complete an acquisition or in-licensing, we cannot assure you that any acquisition or in-licensing of new products will result in short-term or long-term benefits to us. We may incorrectly judge the value or worth of an acquired company or business or an acquired or in-licensed product. In addition, our future success would depend in part on our ability to manage the rapid growth associated with any such acquisitions or in-licensing. We cannot assure you that we will be able to make the combination of our business with that of acquired businesses or companies work or be successful. We may not be able to acquire the rights to additional product candidates and approved products on terms that we find acceptable, or at all. Furthermore, the development or expansion of our business, any acquired business or any acquired or in-licensed products may require a substantial capital investment by us. We may not have these necessary funds or they might not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. We may also seek to raise funds by selling shares of our capital stock, which could dilute current stockholders’ ownership interest in our company, or securities convertible into our capital stock, which could dilute current stockholders’ ownership interest in our company upon conversion.

Our ability to use net operating loss carry forwards to reduce future tax payments may be limited if there is a change in ownership of Alexion, or if taxable income does not reach sufficient levels.

As of December 31, 2009, we have approximately $665.7 million of U.S. Federal net operating loss carryforwards, or NOL’s, available to reduce taxable income in future years. A portion of these NOL’s are currently subject to an annual limitation under section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. We believe it is more likely than not that we will use the net operating losses. However, the ability to use net operating loss carryforwards will be dependent on our ability to generate taxable income. The net operating loss carryforwards may expire before we generate sufficient taxable income. NOL’s totaling $3.8 million expired in the year ended December 31, 2007. No NOL’s expired during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.

Our ability to utilize the NOL’s may be further limited if we undergo an ownership change, as defined in section 382. This ownership change could be triggered by substantial changes in the ownership of our outstanding stock, which are generally outside of our control. An ownership change would exist if the stockholders, or group of stockholders, who own or have owned, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of the value of our stock, or are otherwise treated as 5% stockholders under section 382 and the regulations promulgated there under, increase their aggregate percentage ownership of our stock by more than 50 percentage points over the lowest percentage of our stock owned by these stockholders at any time during the testing period, which is generally the three-year period preceding the potential ownership change. In the event of an ownership change, section 382 imposes an annual limitation on the amount of post-ownership change taxable income a corporation may offset with pre-ownership change NOL’s. The limitation imposed by section 382 for any post-change year would be determined by multiplying the value of our

 

43


Table of Contents

stock immediately before the ownership change (subject to certain adjustments) by the applicable long-term tax-exempt rate. Any unused annual limitation may be carried over to later years, and the limitation may under certain circumstances be increased by built-in gains which may be present with respect to assets held by us at the time of the ownership change that are recognized in the five-year period after the ownership change. Our use of NOL’s arising after the date of an ownership change would not be affected.

We may have exposure to additional tax liabilities which could have a material impact on our results of operations and financial position.

As a company with international operations, we are subject to income taxes, as well as non-income based taxes, in both the United States and various foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide tax liabilities. Although we believe our estimates are reasonable, the ultimate outcome with respect to the taxes we owe may differ from the amounts recorded in our financial statements. If the Internal Revenue Service, or other taxing authority, disagrees with the positions taken by our company, we could have additional tax liability, and this could have a material impact on our results of operations and financial position. In addition, the United States government and other governments are considering and may adopt tax reform measures that significantly increase our worldwide tax liabilities and materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our sales and operations are subject to the economic, political, legal and business conditions in the countries in which we do business, and our failure to operate successfully or adapt to changes in these conditions could cause our sales and operations to be limited or disrupted.

Over the past few years, we have significantly expanded our operations and expect to continue to do so in the future. Our operations in foreign countries subject us to the following additional risks:

 

   

fluctuations in currency exchange rates;

 

   

political or economic determinations that adversely impact pricing or reimbursement policies;

 

   

economic problems or political instability that disrupt healthcare payment systems;

 

   

difficulties or inability to obtain financing in markets;

 

   

unexpected changes in tariffs, trade barriers and regulatory requirements;

 

   

difficulties enforcing contractual and intellectual property rights;

 

   

changes in laws, regulations or enforcement practices with respect to our business, including without limitation laws relating to reimbursement, competition, pricing and sales and marketing of our products;

 

   

trade restrictions and restrictions on direct investments by foreign entities;

 

   

compliance with tax, employment and labor laws;

 

   

costs and difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified managers and employees to manage and operate the business in local jurisdictions;

 

   

costs and difficulties in managing and monitoring international operations; and

 

   

longer payment cycles.

Our business and marketing methods are also subject to regulation by the governments of the countries in which we operate. The United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, and similar anti-bribery laws in other countries prohibit companies and their representatives from offering, promising, authorizing or making payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. We have policies and procedures designed to help ensure that we and our representatives, including our employees, comply with such laws, however we cannot guarantee that these policies and procedures will protect us against liability under the FCPA or other anti-bribery laws for actions taken by our representatives. Failure to comply with the laws and regulations of the countries in which we operate could materially harm our business.

We conduct, or anticipate that we will conduct, a substantial portion of our business in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily the Euro, Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc and British Pound. While we attempt to hedge certain currency risks, currency fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the currencies in which we do business have caused foreign currency transaction gains and losses in the past and will likely do so in the future. Likewise, past currency fluctuations have at times resulted in foreign currency transaction gains, and there can be no assurance that these gains can be reproduced.

 

44


Table of Contents

The credit and financial market conditions may aggravate certain risks affecting our business.

Sales of Soliris are dependent, in large part, on reimbursement from government health administration organizations and private and governmental third-party payors, and also co-payments from individual patients in certain situations. As a result of the current credit and financial market conditions, and the overall financial climate, these governmental organizations and payors, and/or individuals, may reduce or delay initiation of treatment, may be unable to satisfy their reimbursement obligations, may delay payment or may seek to reduce reimbursement for Soliris in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. Payment defaults by a government payor could require us to expense previously recorded revenue as uncollectable, and might cause us to end or restrict sales to patients in that country. Further, the risk of payment default by a government payor could require us to revise our revenue recognition policies in regard to that payor, causing revenue to be recorded only on a cash basis, and we may be required to end or restrict sales to patients in that country.

Additionally, we rely upon third-parties for certain parts of our business, including Lonza, licensees, wholesale distributors of Soliris, contract clinical trial providers, contract manufacturers and other third-party suppliers and financial institutions. Because of the recent volatility in the financial markets, there may be a disruption or delay in the performance or satisfaction of commitments to us by these third parties which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Government initiatives that affect coverage and reimbursement of drug products could adversely affect our business.

In March 2010, the United States adopted the Affordable Care Act and governments in many foreign countries where we operate have adopted or have shown significant interest in pursuing legislative initiatives to reduce costs of healthcare. Any such government-adopted healthcare measures could adversely impact the pricing of Soliris or the amount of coverage and reimbursement available for Soliris from governmental agencies or other third-party payors. For example, the governments of Germany and Spain each approved increases to mandatory rebates on the sales of pharmaceutical products. The pricing and reimbursement environment for Soliris may become more challenging due to, among other reasons, changes in government policies or new legislation, or the impact of total Soliris reimbursement to any one payor. In many cases, these government initiatives, even if enacted into law, are subject to future rulemaking by regulatory agencies. Although we have evaluated these government initiatives and the impact on our business, we cannot know with certainty whether any such law, rule or regulation will adversely affect coverage and reimbursement of Soliris, or to what extent, until such laws, rules and regulations are promulgated, implemented and enforced. The announcement or adoption of regulatory or legislative proposals could delay or prevent our entry into new markets, affect our reimbursement or sales in the markets where we are already selling Soliris and materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Related to Our Common Stock

If the trading price of our common stock continues to fluctuate in a wide range, our stockholders will suffer considerable uncertainty with respect to an investment in our common stock.

The trading price of our common stock has been volatile and may continue to be volatile in the future. Factors such as announcements of fluctuations in our or our competitors’ operating results or clinical or scientific results, fluctuations in the trading prices or business prospects of our competitors and collaborators, changes in our prospects, particularly with respect to sales of Soliris, and market conditions for biopharmaceutical stocks in general could have a significant impact on the future trading prices of our common stock and our convertible senior notes. In particular, the trading price of the common stock of many biopharmaceutical companies, including ours, has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations, which have at times been unrelated to the operating performance of the companies whose stocks were affected. This is due to several factors, including general market conditions, sales of Soliris, the announcement of the results of our clinical trials or product development and the results of our

 

45


Table of Contents

efforts to obtain regulatory approval for our products. In particular, between January 1, 2008 and June 30, 2010, the closing sales price of our common stock fluctuated from a low of $25.49 per share to a high of $56.68 per share, as reported after giving effect to the forward two-for-one stock split effected on August 22, 2008. While we cannot predict our future performance, if our stock price continues to fluctuate in a wide range, an investment in our common stock may result in considerable uncertainty for an investor.

Anti-takeover provisions of Delaware law, provisions in our charter and bylaws and our stockholders’ rights plan, or poison pill, could make a third-party acquisition of us difficult and may frustrate any attempt to remove or replace our current management.

Because we are a Delaware corporation, the anti-takeover provisions of Delaware law could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us, even if the change in control would be beneficial to stockholders. We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Laws, which prohibits a person who owns in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock from merging or combining with us for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person acquired in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock, unless the merger or combination is approved in a prescribed manner.

Our corporate charter and by-law provisions and stockholder rights plan may discourage certain types of transactions involving an actual or potential change of control that might be beneficial to Alexion or its stockholders. Our bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Secretary, or a majority of the Board of Directors, or upon the written request of stockholders who together own of record 50% of the outstanding stock of all classes entitled to vote at such meeting. Our bylaws also specify that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors. Our certificate does not include a provision for cumulative voting for directors, which may have enabled a minority stockholder holding a sufficient percentage of a class of shares to elect one or more directors. Under our certificate of incorporation, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by stockholders, to designate up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series. The rights of the holders of common stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock that may be issued in the future.

Pursuant to our stockholder rights plan, each share of common stock has an associated preferred stock purchase right. The rights will not trade separately from the common stock until, and are exercisable only upon, the acquisition or the potential acquisition through tender offer by a person or group of 20% or more of the outstanding common stock. The rights are designed to make it more likely that all of our stockholders receive fair and equal treatment in the event of any proposed takeover of us and to guard against the use of partial tender offers or other coercive tactics to gain control of us. These provisions could delay or discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change in control of us or our management, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over then current prices. These provisions could also limit the ability of stockholders to remove current management or approve transactions that stockholders may deem to be in their best interests and could adversely affect the price of our common stock.

 

Item 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

 

Item 6. EXHIBITS

(a) Exhibits

31.1 Certification by Leonard Bell, Chief Executive Officer of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, in connection with Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.

 

46


Table of Contents

31.2 Certification by Vikas Sinha, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, in connection with Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.

32.1 Certification by Leonard Bell, Chief Executive Officer of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, in connection with Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.

32.2 Certification by Vikas Sinha, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, in connection with Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.

101 The following materials from the Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (iv) related notes, tagged as blocks of text.

 

47


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

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

 

 

ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Date: July 30, 2010

  By:  

    /s/ Leonard Bell

   

Leonard Bell, M.D.

   

Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and Treasurer
(principal executive officer)

 

Date: July 30, 2010

  By:  

    /s/ Vikas Sinha

   

Vikas Sinha

   

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial officer)

 

48