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EX-32.1 - SECTION 1350 CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER - SCICLONE PHARMACEUTICALS INCd236742dex321.htm
EX-31.1 - RULE 13A-14(A) CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER - SCICLONE PHARMACEUTICALS INCd236742dex311.htm
EX-32.2 - SECTION 1350 CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER - SCICLONE PHARMACEUTICALS INCd236742dex322.htm
EX-10.1 - FORM OF AMENDMENT TO CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENTS - SCICLONE PHARMACEUTICALS INCd236742dex101.htm
EXCEL - IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT - SCICLONE PHARMACEUTICALS INCFinancial_Report.xls
EX-31.2 - RULE 13A-14(A) CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER - SCICLONE PHARMACEUTICALS INCd236742dex312.htm
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011

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: 0-19825

 

 

SCICLONE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   94-3116852

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. employer

Identification no.)

950 Tower Lane, Suite 900,

Foster City, California

  94404
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

(650) 358-3456

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(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 definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   x
Non-accelerated filer   ¨    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

As of November 9, 2011, 58,491,736 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value, were issued and outstanding.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

SCICLONE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

INDEX

 

         PAGE NO.  

PART I.

  FINANCIAL INFORMATION   

Item 1.

 

Financial Statements (Unaudited)

  
   

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010

     3   
   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010

     4   
   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010

     5   
   

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

     6   

Item 2.

 

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

     18   

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     26   

Item 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

     26   

PART II.

  OTHER INFORMATION   

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

     28   

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

     29   

Item 2.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     43   

Item 3.

 

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

     43   

Item 4.

 

(Removed and Reserved)

     43   

Item 5.

 

Other Information

     43   

Item 6.

 

Exhibits

     44   

Signature

     45   

 

2


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)

SCICLONE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

     September 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 
ASSETS     

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 43,621      $ 53,017   

Short-term investments

     956        3,125   

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $113 and $0 at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively

     50,491        30,671   

Inventories

     9,141        7,078   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     2,221        2,057   

Deferred tax asset

     1,219        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     107,649        95,948   

Property and equipment, net

     970        588   

Restricted investments

     374        380   

Intangible assets, net

     45,562        —     

Goodwill

     31,569        —     

Other assets

     566        891   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 186,690      $ 97,807   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 2,359      $ 3,882   

Accrued and other current liabilities

     15,977        8,247   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     18,336        12,129   

Long-term borrowing on line of credit

     2,500        2,500   

Liability for contingent consideration

     17,433        —     

Deferred tax liability

     8,472        —     

Other long-term liabilities

     534        990   

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding

     —          —     

Common stock; $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 58,491,736 and 48,011,235 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively

     58        48   

Additional paid-in capital

     265,609        225,897   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     1,510        67   

Accumulated deficit

     (127,762     (143,824
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     139,415        82,188   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 186,690      $ 97,807   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

SCICLONE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Revenues:

        

Product sales

   $ 30,433      $ 22,840      $ 79,484      $ 61,496   

Promotion services

     6,992        —          12,711        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     37,425        22,840        92,195        61,496   

Operating expenses:

        

Cost of product sales

     5,024        3,146        13,301        9,445   

Sales and marketing

     15,222        5,445        33,311        15,996   

Amortization of acquired intangible assets, related to sales and marketing

     858        —          1,572        —     

Research and development

     3,035        2,618        9,235        7,700   

General and administrative

     5,202        3,820        19,419        10,403   

Contingent consideration

     (2,231     —          (1,423     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     27,110        15,029        75,415        43,544   

Income from operations

     10,315        7,811        16,780        17,952   

Non-operating income (expense):

        

Interest and investment income

     15        31        48        79   

Interest and investment expense

     (49     (19     (159     (57

Other (expense) income, net

     (5     64        6        (19
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before provision for income tax

     10,276        7,887        16,675        17,955   

Provision for income tax

     46        259        613        654   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 10,230      $ 7,628      $ 16,062      $ 17,301   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic net income per share

   $ 0.18      $ 0.16      $ 0.30      $ 0.36   

Diluted net income per share

   $ 0.17      $ 0.16      $ 0.28      $ 0.35   

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

SCICLONE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2011     2010  

Operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 16,062      $ 17,301   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Non-cash expense related to stock-based compensation

     2,130        1,552   

Depreciation and amortization

     1,911        318   

Realized gain on investments

     —          (212

Other non-cash expense

     —          236   

Liability for contingent consideration

     (1,423     —     

Deferred tax, net

     (871     —     

Other long-term liabilities

     (456     21   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable, net

     (12,264     (194

Inventories

     (2,017     2,803   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     604        (174

Accounts payable

     (2,279     (836

Accrued and other current liabilities

     2,713        (363

Deferred revenue

     —          (141
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     4,110        20,311   

Investing activities:

    

Acquisition of NovaMed, net of cash acquired

     (21,257     —     

Purchases of available-for-sale investments

     (1,580     (7,146

Proceeds from the sale or maturities of available-for-sale investments

     3,725        —     

Proceeds from the sale or maturity of trading security investments

     —          1,800   

Purchases of property and equipment

     (558     (105
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (19,670     (5,451

Financing activities:

    

Proceeds from issuances of common stock

     6,019        1,108   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     6,019        1,108   

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     145        42   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (decrease) incease in cash and cash equivalents

     (9,396     16,010   

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     53,017        29,687   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 43,621      $ 45,697   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

    

Income taxes paid related to foreign operations

   $ 767      $ 579   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Interest and unused line fees paid related to line-of-credit

   $ 126      $ —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5


Table of Contents

SCICLONE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“SciClone” or the “Company”) have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) consistent with those applied in, and should be read in conjunction with, the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010 included in the Company’s Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company prepared the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements following the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission for interim reporting. As permitted under those rules, certain footnotes or other information that are normally required by GAAP can be condensed or omitted.

On April 18, 2011, SciClone acquired NovaMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“NovaMed”). See Note 8. NovaMed is registered in the Cayman Islands with its principal office located in China. NovaMed Pharmaceuticals (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of NovaMed, is registered in China with its principal office located in Shanghai. Commencing April 18, 2011, the Company’s financial statements include the assets, liabilities, operating results and cash flows of NovaMed.

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The interim financial information reflects all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented and are not necessarily indicative of results for subsequent interim periods or for the full year. The condensed consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2010 is derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make judgments, assumptions and estimates that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

Concentration of Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist of cash, cash equivalents, investments and accounts receivable. The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of default by the institutions holding the cash, cash equivalents and investments to the extent of the amounts recorded on the consolidated balance sheet. Most of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are held by financial institutions that the Company believes are of high credit quality. At times, deposits may exceed government insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses on its deposits of cash and cash equivalents.

The People’s Republic of China (“China”) uses a tiered method to import and distribute products and promoted products. The distributors make the sales in the country, but the product is imported for them by licensed importers. For the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, sales to three and two importing or distributor agents in China accounted for 90% and 97%, respectively, of the Company’s product sales. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, sales to three and four importing or distributor agents in China accounted for 91% and 97%, respectively, of the Company’s product sales. No other importer or distributor accounted for more than 10% during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2011 or 2010. The Company’s two largest importers or distributors were the same for all periods. In 2010, a third party acquired a majority interest in these two largest importers or distributors. As of September 30, 2011, approximately $45.4 million, or 90%, of the Company’s accounts receivable were attributable to three importing or distributor agents in China. The Company generally does not require collateral from its customers.

The Company currently relies on two suppliers to provide key components to its ZADAXIN® manufacturing supply. Although there are a limited number of manufacturers who would be able to meet the requirements to manufacture these components, management believes that other suppliers could provide similar components on comparable terms. A change in suppliers, however, could cause a delay in manufacturing and a possible loss of sales, which would affect operating results adversely.

 

6


Table of Contents

The majority of the Company’s product sales are in U.S. dollars. However, a significant portion of the Company’s revenues and expenses are denominated in renminbi (“RMB”) and a significant portion of the Company’s assets and liabilities are denominated in RMB and are exposed to foreign exchange risk. RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currencies. In China, foreign exchange transactions are required by law to be transacted only by authorized financial institutions at the exchange rates quoted by People’s Bank of China. Remittances in currencies other than RMB by the Company in China require certain supporting documentation in order to affect the remittance.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, services have been rendered or delivery has occurred, the price to the buyer is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.

Product Revenue. The Company earns product revenue from selling manufactured ZADAXIN product at the time of delivery. Sales of ZADAXIN to importing agents or distributors are recognized at time of shipment when title to the product is transferred to them. The Company also earns product revenue from purchasing medical products from pharmaceutical companies and selling them directly to importers or distributors. Sales are recognized when the medical products have been delivered to the importers or distributors. Payments by the importing agents and distributors are not contingent upon sale to the end user by the importing agents or distributors.

Promotion Services Revenue. The Company recognizes promotion services revenue after designated medical products are delivered to the distributors as specified in the promotional contract, which marks the period when marketing and promotional services have been rendered, and when all of the above revenue recognition criteria are met.

Product Returns. Importing agents or distributors do not have contractual rights of return except under limited terms regarding product quality. However, for ZADAXIN product sales, the Company may replace products that have expired or are deemed to be damaged or defective when delivered. For other product sales, the Company has replaced or accepted returns for products that have expired. The Company estimates expected returns primarily on historical patterns, market demand and/or on a percentage of revenue based on industry trends, and management’s evaluation of specific factors that may increase the risk of product returns, and monitors and revises its estimates on a quarterly basis. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company reserved $0.1 million for estimated product returns.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment when facts or circumstances suggest that the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable. The Company’s policy is to identify and record impairment losses, if necessary, on intangible product rights when events and circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the carrying amounts of those assets. It is the Company’s policy to expense costs as incurred in connection with the renewal or extension of its intangible assets.

As part of the acquisition of NovaMed, the Company recorded intangible assets related to promotion and distribution contract rights. The promotion and distribution contracts expire in one to ten years, with the majority expiring in one to two years, but are subject to renewal or extension. The estimated useful life is approximately 13.5 years. Refer to Notes 5 and 8 for further information regarding the Company’s intangible assets.

Goodwill

The Company accounted for the acquisition of NovaMed under the purchase method of accounting in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, Business Combinations. Under the purchase method of accounting, the total purchase price is allocated to the net tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed of NovaMed based on their estimated fair values. The total consideration paid by SciClone to NovaMed consisted of cash, SciClone common stock, and contingent consideration. The excess of the fair value of the total consideration over the net identifiable assets and intangibles was allocated to goodwill. Goodwill will be tested for impairment at least annually, or whenever events or circumstances occur that indicate impairment might have occurred in accordance with ASC Topic 350, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other.

 

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Table of Contents

Liability for Contingent Consideration

As part of the acquisition of NovaMed, the Company may pay up to an additional $43.0 million in earn-out upon the successful achievement of revenue and earnings targets for the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years (the “earn-out” or “contingent consideration”). The Company estimated the fair value of the earn-out on the acquisition date using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The fair value of the earn-out is re-measured each period, and changes in the fair value are recorded to “contingent consideration” in operating expenses. Refer to Liability for Contingent Consideration in Note 3 for further information.

Foreign Currency Translation

The Company translates the assets and liabilities of its foreign subsidiaries stated in local functional currencies to U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange in effect at the end of the period. Revenues and expenses are translated using rates of exchange in effect during the period. Intangible assets and goodwill are generally recorded in the local currency which is the functional currency of our subsidiaries located in China. As a result, the carrying values of intangible assets and goodwill may fluctuate with the value of the renminbi as compared to the U.S. dollar. Gains and losses from the translation of financial statements denominated in foreign currencies are included as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income in the statement of stockholders’ equity.

The Company records foreign currency transactions at the exchange rate prevailing at the date of the transaction with resultant gains and losses being included in results of operations. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses have not been significant for any period presented.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company records stock-based compensation costs relating to share-based payment transactions, including stock options, restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and employee stock purchase plans. Stock-based compensation expense for stock options and the employee stock purchase plan is estimated at the date of grant based on the fair value of the award using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Stock-based compensation expense for RSUs is estimated at the date of grant based on the number of shares granted and the quoted price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. Stock-based compensation expense values are recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, net of estimated forfeitures. The stock-based compensation costs that are ultimately expected to vest are recognized as expense ratably (as the awards vest) over the requisite service period, which is generally one or four years for stock options and RSUs and three months for the employee stock purchase plan. The Company estimates pre-vesting forfeitures at the time of grant by analyzing historical data and revises those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The total expense recognized over the vesting period will only be for those awards that ultimately vest.

Net Income Per Share

Basic net income per share has been computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common equivalent shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income per share includes any dilutive impact from outstanding stock options, RSUs, warrants and the employee stock purchase plan using the treasury stock method.

 

8


Table of Contents

The following is a reconciliation of the numerator and denominators of the basic and diluted net income per share computations (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

Numerator:

           

Net income

   $ 10,230       $ 7,628       $ 16,062       $ 17,301   

Denominator:

           

Weighted-average shares outstanding used to compute basic net income per share

     58,331         47,795         54,044         47,535   

Effect of dilutive securities

     2,106         1,276         2,382         1,758   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares outstanding used to compute diluted net income per share

     60,437         49,071         56,426         49,293   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic net income per share

   $ 0.18       $ 0.16       $ 0.30       $ 0.36   

Diluted net income per share

   $ 0.17       $ 0.16       $ 0.28       $ 0.35   

For the nine months ending September 30, 2011, shares of common stock outstanding increased by 8,298,110 shares due to the acquisition of NovaMed (refer to Note 8) and by approximately 2,160,000 shares due to stock option exercises.

For the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, outstanding stock options, RSUs and warrants for 2,744,796 and 3,393,720 shares, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per share because the effect from the assumed exercise of these options, RSUs and warrants calculated under the treasury stock method would have been anti-dilutive. In addition, for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, shares subject to market or performance conditions of 280,000 and 155,000, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per share because the performance or market criteria had not been met. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, 2,796,688 and 3,033,068 shares, respectively, related to outstanding stock options, RSUs and warrants were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per share because the effect from the assumed exercise of these options, RSUs and warrants calculated under the treasury stock method would have been anti-dilutive. In addition, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, shares subject to market or performance conditions of 190,073 and 155,000, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per share because the performance or market criteria had not been met.

Comprehensive Income

The following table summarizes components of total comprehensive income (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2011     2010      2011     2010  

Net income

   $ 10,230      $ 7,628       $ 16,062      $ 17,301   

Other comprehensive income (loss):

         

Net change in unrealized loss and foreign currency translation on foreign-denominated available-for-sale securities

     (41     39         (6     (26

Net change in unrealized gains on available for sale securities

     —          5         —          4   

Foreign currency translation

     667        34         1,449        42   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

   $ 10,856      $ 7,706       $ 17,505      $ 17,321   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements

On May 12, 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS. The new guidance changes some fair value measurement principles and disclosure requirements. The disclosure requirements have been enhanced, with certain exceptions for U.S. non-public companies. The most significant change will require entities, for their recurring Level 3 fair value measurements, to disclose quantitative information about unobservable inputs used, a description of the valuation processes used by the entity, and a qualitative discussion about the sensitivity of the measurements. New disclosures are required about the use of a nonfinancial asset measured or disclosed at fair value if its use differs from its highest and best use. In addition, entities must report the level in the fair value hierarchy of assets and liabilities not recorded at fair value but where fair value is disclosed. The amendments in this update are to be applied prospectively. For public entities, the amendments are effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Early application by public entities is not permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact, if any, that the adoption of this update will have on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In June 2011, FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income. ASU No. 2011-05 requires that all nonowner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements, eliminating the option to present other comprehensive income in the statement of changes in equity. Under either choice, items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income are required to be presented on the face of the financial statements where the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income are presented. This guidance is effective for the Company’s interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2012. The Company does not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements, as it only requires a change in the format of presentation.

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment. The revised guidance provides an entity the option to make a qualitative evaluation about the likelihood of goodwill impairment. Under the revised guidance, an entity is permitted to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether goodwill impairment exists prior to performing analyses comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, an entity determines it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary. The guidance will be effective for us beginning January 1, 2012; however, early adoption is permitted. We intend on adopting the FASB’s guidance in the fourth quarter of 2011 and do not believe the adoption of the guidance will significantly impact our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

2. Available-for-Sale Investments

The following is a summary of available-for-sale investments (in thousands):

 

     September 30, 2011  
     Amortized
Cost
     Unrealized
Gains
     Unrealized
Losses for
More Than
12 Months
    Estimated
Fair  Value
 

Money market funds

   $ 17,051       $ —         $ —        $ 17,051   

Corporate bonds maturing within 1 year

     454         —           —          454   

U.S. treasuries maturing within 1 year

     502         —           —          502   

Restricted long-term Italian state bonds maturing in 2013

     450         —           (76     374   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total available-for-sale investments

   $ 18,457       $ —         $ (76   $ 18,381   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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     December 31, 2010  
     Amortized
Cost
     Unrealized
Gains
     Unrealized
Losses for
More Than
12 Months
    Estimated
Fair Value
 

Money market funds

   $ 12,900       $ —         $ —        $ 12,900   

Foreign U.S. dollar term deposits maturing within

          

6 months

     3,125         —           —          3,125   

Restricted long-term Italian state bonds maturing in 2013

     450         —           (70     380   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total available-for-sale investments

   $ 16,475       $ —         $ (70   $ 16,405   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

The cost of securities sold is based on specific identification method.

The Company’s restricted long-term Italian state bonds secure its Italian value added tax filing arrangements. The unrealized losses on the Company’s restricted long-term Italian state bond investments are mainly as a result of currency translation. The Company believes that it is more likely than not that it will hold its restricted long-term Italian state bond investments until recovery of the cost basis.

 

3. Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of input are:

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 - Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

The following table represents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for its financial assets (cash, cash equivalents, and investments) and liability measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):

 

      Fair Value Measurements at September 30, 2011 Using  

Description

   Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for

Identical Assets
(Level 1)
     Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)
     Balance
as of
September 30, 2011
 

Assets:

           

Money market funds

   $ 17,051       $ —         $ —         $ 17,051   

U.S. treasury bills

     502         —           —           502   

Corporate bonds

     —           454         —           454   

Restricted long-term Italian state bonds

     374         —           —           374   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 17,927       $ 454       $ —         $ 18,381   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liability:

           

Liability for contingent consideration

   $ —         $ —         $ 17,433       $ 17,433   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ —         $ —         $ 17,433       $ 17,433   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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      Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2010 Using  

Description

   Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for

Identical Assets
(Level 1)
     Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)
     Balance
as of
December 31, 2010
 

Money market funds

   $ 12,900       $ —         $ —         $ 12,900   

Foreign U.S. dollar term deposits

     —           15,130         —           15,130   

Restricted long-term Italian state bonds

     380         —           —           380   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 13,280       $ 15,130       $ —         $ 28,410   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liability for Contingent Consideration

As part of the acquisition of NovaMed, the Company may be required to pay up to an additional $43.0 million in earn-out payments upon the successful achievement of revenue and earnings targets for the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years (the “earn-out” or “contingent consideration”). The Company estimated the fair value of the contingent consideration on the acquisition date using a Monte Carlo simulation model and included a risk-adjusted discount rate of 20% and volatility of 40%.The terms governing the determination of the earn-out are disclosed in Note 8, Acquisition. For the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2011, the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration decreased by $2.2 million and $1.4 million, respectively, primarily as a result of adjustments to certain performance metric projections used to estimate the fair value. The following represents the change in the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration for the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2011(in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30, 2011
    Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011
 

Fair value at beginning of period

   $ 19,663      $ —     

Fair value at acquisition date

     —          18,870   

Change in the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration liability

     (2,230     (1,437
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair value at end of period

   $ 17,433      $ $17,433   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

4. Inventories

Inventories consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     September 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Raw materials

   $ 994       $ 590   

Work in progress

     162         355   

Finished goods

     7,985         6,133   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 9,141       $ 7,078   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

5. Intangible Assets, net

Intangible assets, net consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     September 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 

Promotion and distribution contract rights

   $ 47,134      $ —     

Less accumulated amortization

     (1,572     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 45,562      $ —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Acquired promotion and distribution contract intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over 13.5 years, based on their estimated useful life. Amortization expense was approximately $0.9 million and $1.6 million for the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively. As of September 30, 2011, annual amortization expense in each of the next 5 years is estimated to be $3.4 million.

 

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6. Accrued and Other Current Liabilities

Accrued and other current liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     September 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Accrued sales and marketing expenses

   $ 6,383       $ 1,558   

Accrued compensation and benefits

     4,225         2,277   

Accrued taxes, tax reserves and interest

     2,707         1,683   

Accrued professional fees

     993         1,184   

Accrued manufacturing costs

     594         361   

Accrued clinical trial expense

     451         444   

Other

     624         740   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 15,977       $ 8,247   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

7. Income Taxes

Provision for income tax of $46,000 and $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, related to the Company’s foreign operations in China. Provision for income tax of $0.6 million and $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, related to the Company’s foreign operations in China. The Company’s statutory tax rate in China was 22% for 2010 and is 24 and 25% for 2011. The Company did not provide for U.S. income taxes on undistributed earnings of its foreign operations that are intended to be permanently reinvested in the foreign operations.

 

8. Acquisition

On April 18, 2011, SciClone acquired all the outstanding shares of NovaMed pursuant to the terms of a Share Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated April 18, 2011 between SciClone, NovaMed, the shareholders of NovaMed and SciClone Pharmaceuticals Hong Kong Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SciClone. The acquisition brings additional broad sales and marketing, as well as regulatory and extensive business capabilities and pharmaceutical assets, on the market as well as in the regulatory approval stage, to its growing and profitable China focused specialty pharmaceutical business. Under the terms of the Agreement, the purchase price is comprised of up-front payments of approximately $24.6 million in cash, 8,298,110 shares of SciClone common stock and a contingent right to receive additional cash consideration of up to $43.0 million (the “earn out” or “contingent consideration”), based upon achievement of revenue and earnings targets for the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years.

Under the Agreement the earn-out is based upon certain financial performance metrics, including a revenue-based formula and an adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, depreciation and taxes) based formula. The earn-out provisions provide that: (i) if cumulative revenue in China for legacy NovaMed products for the two fiscal years ending December 31, 2012 exceed $94.2 million, a cash payment ranging from $9.2 million to $11.5 million will be paid, with the full amount payable if such revenue is $117.8 million or more; and (ii) if adjusted EBITDA for the two year period ending December 31, 2012 exceeds $91.8 million, a cash payment from $17.2 million to $21.5 million will be paid with the full amount payable if such adjusted EBITDA is $137.8 million or more. Adjusted EBITDA is defined in the Agreement to exclude certain expenses which are not generally related to operating results in China, including SciClone’s U.S. research and development expense, certain share-based compensation, license fees paid by SciClone for new products, certain legal and advisory fees related to the Agreement or to change-in-control transactions, and certain fees and expenses, including legal fees and governmental fines or settlements paid with respect to the pending formal, non-public investigation being conducted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

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The earn-out provisions are subject to a number of adjustments and acceleration provisions. The total earn-out payments described above may be increased by $10.0 million (a total maximum contingent cash consideration of $43.0 million) or reduced by $10.0 million, depending upon whether the Company is able to achieve targets relating to product distribution agreements. The earn-out payments are due 20 business days after completion of the Company’s audit for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012. However, the earn-out payments may be accelerated in certain conditions. If there is a change-in-control of the Company (as defined in the Agreement) on or before April 18, 2012, then the earn-out payment would be deemed to be $23.0 million and would become due. If there is a change-in-control of the Company on or after April 18, 2012 and before December 31, 2012, then the earn-out payment would become due and the payment would range between $11.5 million and $23.0 million depending upon achievement against the adjusted EBITDA and revenue targets through the date of the change-in-control. In addition, if either (i) Mark Lotter is terminated without cause (as defined in the Agreement) prior to December 31, 2012, or (ii) if the Company fails to meet certain obligations to appoint and retain Mark Lotter and Peter Barrett (or their replacements) on the Company’s Board through December 31, 2012, the earn-out payment would be deemed to be $23.0 million and would be due 20 business days after completion of the Company’s audit for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012. If the earn-out obligations are accelerated, the payment of the specified earn-out amount satisfies all of the Company’s obligations under the earn-out and no further payment is due. The earn-out and acceleration provisions are subject to various limitations and conditions specified in the Agreement.

The estimated fair value of the earn-out is included in the total purchase price and is recorded as a long-term liability. The estimated fair value of the earn-out is based on management’s assessment of the likelihood of whether, as of the closing date, the revenue and earnings targets would be achieved, and of the present value factors associated with the timing of the revenue and earnings targets. No more than 25% of such shares may be sold in any three-month period up to October 18, 2012. The shares of common stock are recorded at estimated fair value as of the closing date, reflecting an estimate of the discount for lack of marketability of 15%.

The total purchase price of NovaMed was approximately $75.0 million, comprised as follows (in thousands):

 

Cash consideration

   $ 24,577   

SciClone shares of common stock at estimated fair value on closing date

     31,531   

Contingent consideration (earn-out) at estimated fair value

     18,870   
  

 

 

 

Total purchase price

   $ 74,978   
  

 

 

 

Under the purchase method of accounting, the total purchase price is allocated to NovaMed’s net tangible and intangible assets based on their estimated fair values as of the closing date. The allocation of the total purchase price to the net assets acquired and included in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet is as follows (in thousands):

 

Cash

   $ 3,322   

Accounts receivable

     7,411   

Prepaid and other assets

     486   

Property and equipment

     80   

Deferred tax asset

     1,389   

Intangible assets - promotion and distribution contract rights

     46,310   

Goodwill

     30,948   

Deferred tax liability

     (9,352

Liabilities assumed

     (5,616
  

 

 

 

Total net assets acquired

   $ 74,978   
  

 

 

 

The fair value of the acquired promotion and distribution contract intangible assets was estimated using the income approach. The income approach uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts to a single present amount (discounted). The Company’s measurement is based on the value indicated by current market expectations about those future amounts. The fair value considered the Company’s estimates of future incremental earnings that may be achieved by the promotion and distribution contract intangible assets, and included estimated acquired useful lives of approximately 13.5 years and a discount rate of 29%.

Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the net assets recognized and represents the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. Specifically, the goodwill recorded as part of the acquisition of NovaMed includes benefits that the Company believes will result from combining the operations of NovaMed with the operations of SciClone and any intangible assets that do not qualify for separate recognition, as well as future, yet unidentified products. Goodwill is not amortized and is not deductible for tax purposes.

 

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Deferred tax liability reflects taxes associated with the promotion and distribution contract intangible assets recognized as part of the acquisition.

During the third quarter of 2011, the Company recorded a purchase price adjustment of $0.2 million to recognize an increase in liabilities assumed for returns related to expired inventory. The purchase price adjustment resulted in an increase in the amount of goodwill recorded. The recorded purchase price amounts are preliminary and subject to change as the Company is awaiting additional information related to revenue and receivable reserves. The effects of final adjustments, if any, on the purchase price allocation are not expected to be material.

The results of operations of NovaMed are included in the Company’s financial statements from April 18, 2011, the date of acquisition. The following summary, prepared on an unaudited pro-forma basis, reflects consolidated results of operations for the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, assuming NovaMed had been acquired on January 1, 2010. The pro forma results of continuing operations are prepared for comparative purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the results that would have occurred had the acquisition occurred at the beginning of the years presented or the results which may occur in the future. (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

Total revenues

   $ 37,425       $ 31,150       $ 100,235       $ 83,486   

Net income

   $ 10,230       $ 7,690       $ 12,789       $ 16,562   

Basic net income per share

   $ 0.18       $ 0.16       $ 0.24       $ 0.35   

Diluted net income per share

   $ 0.17       $ 0.16       $ 0.23       $ 0.34   

The following table presents information for NovaMed that is included in SciClone’s Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations from April 18, 2011 through September 30, 2011 (in thousands):

 

Total revenues

   $ 17,074   

Net loss

   $ (2,145

For the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2011, the Company recorded acquisition-related transaction costs of $28,000 and $3.8 million, respectively, which were included in general and administrative expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

9. Stock-Based Compensation

The following table summarizes the stock-based compensation expenses included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

Sales and marketing

   $ 273       $ 156       $ 520       $ 579   

Research and development

     97         69         252         184   

General and administrative

     511         322         1,358         789   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 881       $ 547       $ 2,130       $ 1,552   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Stock Options

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company granted options to purchase a total of 2,477,000 shares of common stock and options to purchase approximately 2,160,000 shares of common stock were exercised. As of September 30, 2011, there was approximately $7.4 million of unrecognized compensation expense cost, net of forfeitures, related to non-vested stock options, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average remaining period of approximately 2.65 years.

The Company has granted certain performance-based options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price equal to the closing price of a share of the Company’s common stock as of the grant date. The options will fully vest upon meeting a performance goal within an established time frame. If the performance goal is met for the option within the established time frame, the option generally has a ten-year term measured from the date of grant. If the performance goal is not met within the established time frame, the option expires in its entirety. The grant date fair value per share of the awards has been calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following assumptions: expected terms ranging from 4.83-5.28 years, volatility factor ranging from 65.14-70.19%, and risk free interest rates ranging from 1.72-1.96%. The Company recognizes expense related to a performance-based option over the period of time the Company determines that it is probable that the performance goal will be achieved. For the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2011, $0 and $0.1 million in expense was recognized, respectively, related to performance-based options.

 

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RSUs

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company granted to employees 191,667 RSUs at a weighted average fair value at grant date of $5.81. The RSUs vest 25% approximately one year after grant date with the remaining shares vesting either approximately annually or quarterly in equal installments over a three year period, depending on the terms of the grant. There were no RSUs granted by the Company in any period prior to the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and none of the RSUs were vested as of September 30, 2011. As of September 30, 2011, there was approximately $0.8 million of unrecognized compensation cost, net of forfeitures, related to non-vested RSUs, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average remaining period of approximately 3.53 years.

 

10. Other Corporate Matters

On August 5, 2010, SciClone was contacted by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and advised that the SEC has initiated a formal, non-public investigation of SciClone, and the SEC issued a subpoena to SciClone requesting a variety of documents and other information. The subpoena requests documents relating to a range of matters including, but not limited to, potential payments or transfers of anything of value to regulators and government-owned entities in China, bids or contracts with state or government-owned entities in China, any joint venture partner, intermediary or local agent of the Company in China, the Company’s ethics and anti-corruption policies, training, and audits, and certain company financial and other disclosures. On August 6, 2010, the Company received a letter from the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) indicating that the DOJ was investigating Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) issues in the pharmaceutical industry generally, and that the DOJ had information about the Company’s practices suggesting possible violations. The Company will continue to cooperate fully with the SEC and DOJ in the conduct of their investigations.

In response to these matters, the Company’s Board appointed a Special Committee of independent directors (the “Special Committee”) to oversee the Company’s response to the government inquiry. Based on an initial review, the Special Committee decided to undertake an independent investigation as to matters reflected in and arising from the SEC and DOJ investigations including, but not limited to, certain sales and marketing matters in China, in order to evaluate whether any violation of the FCPA or other laws occurred.

During the investigation, the Special Committee instructed management to (i) evaluate and to expand the Company’s training of employees regarding understanding and compliance with laws including the FCPA and other anti-bribery laws and regulations, (ii) evaluate existing compliance and anti-bribery policies and guidelines and to prepare new, more detailed policies and guidelines for implementation after review by SciClone’s Board and/or committees of the Board, and (iii) implement a pre-approval policy for certain expenses including payments for, or reimbursement of, travel and entertainment expenses, and sponsorships of certain third party events.

The Special Committee has substantially concluded its investigation and on May 4 and 5, 2011 reported its findings and recommendations to the Board of Directors. As part of its continuing cooperation with the ongoing investigation of the SEC and the DOJ, the Special Committee has also reported findings to the SEC and DOJ.

The SEC’s and DOJ’s formal investigations are continuing. These continuing investigations could result in administrative orders against the Company, the imposition of significant penalties and/or fines against the Company, and/or the imposition of civil or criminal sanctions against the Company or certain of its officers, directors and/or employees. The Company cannot predict what the outcome of those investigations will be, or the timing of any resolution.

Following the Company’s announcement of these investigations, purported class actions naming SciClone and certain of its officers as defendants were filed and derivate lawsuits purportedly on behalf of the Company were filed naming certain of its officers and directors as defendants. On January 13, 2011, the derivative lawsuits were consolidated into a single action (“the Consolidated Derivative Action”). On October 6, 2011, the California Superior Court for the County of San Mateo granted preliminary approval of the settlement of the Consolidated Derivative Action against certain of the Company’s current and former directors and officers, and against SciClone Pharmaceuticals as a nominal defendant, and the Court has granted preliminary approval of a settlement reached by the parties. The settlement is subject to final approval by the Court and a settlement hearing is currently scheduled for December 13, 2011.

 

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The proposed settlement terms provide for the actions against the defendants to be dismissed with prejudice and for the release of certain known or unknown claims that have been or could have been brought later in court arising out of the same allegations. The Company has agreed that if the proposed settlement terms are approved, it will adopt certain corporate governance measures, to be in effect for at least three years, and has agreed to the payment of approximately $2.5 million in attorney’s fees to counsel for the plaintiffs, with $2.5 million to be paid by the Company’s insurers under its director and officer liability policy, subject to approval by the Court. For further information regarding this matter refer to Part II, Item 1, “Legal Proceedings”. Based on the information obtained to date, the Company has determined that any potential liability that may result is not probable or cannot be reasonably estimated and therefore no accrual was made related to these matters in its consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2011. As events occur, the Company will assess the potential liability related to its pending investigations and class action and derivative lawsuits and adjust its estimates accordingly. Such adjustments could materially impact the Company’s financial statements.

 

11. Segment Information and Geographic Data

The Company reports segment information based on the internal reporting used by management for evaluating segment performance based on management’s estimates of the appropriate allocation of resources to segments.

The Company operates and manages its business primarily on a geographic basis. Accordingly, the Company determined its operating and reporting segments, which are generally based on the nature and location of its customers, to be “China” and “Rest of the World, including the U.S.”

The Company evaluates the performance of its operating segments based on revenues and operating income (loss). Revenues for geographic segments are generally based on the location of customers. Operating income for each segment includes revenues, related cost of sales and operating expenses directly attributable to the segment. Operating income (loss) for each segment excludes non-operating income and expense.

Summary information by operating segment for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

China:

        

Revenues

   $ 36,391      $ 22,110      $ 89,667      $ 59,375   

Operating income

   $ 14,430      $ 12,281      $ 31,988      $ 31,419   

Rest of the World (including the U.S.):

        

Revenues

   $ 1,034      $ 730      $ 2,528      $ 2,121   

Operating loss

   $ (4,115   $ (4,470   $ (15,208   $ (13,467

Long-lived assets as of September 30, 2011 by operating segment are as follows (in thousands):

 

China

   $ 77,654   

Rest of the World (including the U.S.)

     1,013   
  

 

 

 
   $ 78,667   
  

 

 

 

 

12. Subsequent Event

In October 2011, the Company announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program that authorizes the Company to repurchase up to $20 million of its outstanding common stock over the next twenty-four months.

 

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

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our business, industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by us. Words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements including those statements we make regarding our future financial results; anticipated product sales; the sufficiency of our resources to complete clinical trials and other new product development initiatives; the findings of our Special Committee and remedial measures we are taking or plan to take, government regulatory actions that may affect product reimbursement, product pricing or otherwise affect the scope of our sales and marketing; the timing and outcome of clinical trials; the timing of completion of therapy and observation for our clinical trials; ZADAXIN®’s ability to complement existing therapies; prospects for ZADAXIN and our plans for its enhancement and commercialization; future size of the worldwide hepatitis B virus (“HBV”) and hepatitis C virus (“HCV”) and other markets; research and development and other expense levels; the ability of our suppliers to continue financially viable production of our products; cash and other asset levels; the allocation of financial resources to certain trials and programs, and expenses related to litigation and regulatory investigations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors including, but not limited to, those described under the caption “Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Overview

SciClone Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SCLN) is a revenue-generating, profitable, China-centric, specialty pharmaceutical company with a substantial commercial business and a product portfolio of therapies for oncology, infectious diseases and cardiovascular, urological, respiratory, and central nervous system disorders. We are focused on continuing international sales growth through our strong sales and marketing efforts, and growing our profitability, while containing our United States-based clinical development costs by limiting this effort to the current SCV-07 phase 2b clinical program in oral mucositis, with the expectation that a partner would fund any future trials for SCV-07. Our business and corporate strategy is focused primarily on the People’s Republic of China (“China”) where we have built a solid reputation and established a strong brand through our many years of experience marketing our lead product, ZADAXIN. We believe our strengths position us to benefit from expanding pharmaceutical markets in China. We believe China will rank second among global pharmaceutical markets by 2016, with projected annual growth rates of 18-20% or more annually over the next several years. We seek to grow sales of our current product portfolio in the region while we leverage our strong balance sheet for future acquisitions and product in-licensing.

We acquired NovaMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“NovaMed”) on April 18, 2011, and our results of operations include the operations of NovaMed as of that date forward. We believe the NovaMed acquisition positions us as a leading specialty pharmaceutical company in China, with key pharmaceutical assets, new therapeutic areas of focus, and an expanded management team, including a combined sales force of over 680 professionals. We aim to expand our presence in China by increasing revenues from our key products, by in-licensing additional products, and by expanding our sales force to further penetrate the market. Our portfolio now has 17 marketed products and spans major therapeutic areas including oncology, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular, urological, respiratory and central nervous system disorders. The acquisition expanded our portfolio of commercial and development stage products through exclusive licensing and promotion agreements with a number of leading pharmaceutical companies.

We have two categories of revenues: those generating “product sales revenues” and those generating “promotion services revenues”. Our product sales revenues result from our proprietary and in-licensed products, including our lead product, ZADAXIN, and products from Pfizer Inc. and Iroko Pharmaceuticals LLC. Our flagship product, ZADAXIN, has the highest margins in our portfolio as it is a premium proprietary product sold exclusively by SciClone. Aggrastat®, an in-licensed product which we began selling more recently in China, also has higher margins than our promoted products and we expect that revenues from this product will grow significantly as it further penetrates the China market. In addition, we anticipate that new marketed products, when introduced, such as DC Bead®, Tramadol®, and ondansetron RapidFilm® will increase our future revenues and profitability of our growing pharmaceutical business in China over the coming years.

Our “promotion services revenues” result from fees we receive for exclusively promoting products from certain partners including Sanofi S.A. and Baxter International, Inc. in China. We recognize promotion services revenues as a percentage of our collaborators’ product sales revenue for our exclusively promoted products such as Depakine®, Stilnox®, and Tritace®. Over time, as additional proprietary or in-licensed products come to the market, we expect our product mix will shift to higher margin products.

 

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SciClone’s ZADAXIN (thymalfasin) is approved in over 30 countries and may be used for the treatment of hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), as a vaccine adjuvant, and certain cancers according to the approvals we have in these countries. To continue to grow ZADAXIN sales to China, our sales force is focused on increasing sales to the country’s largest hospitals (class 3 with over 500 beds) as well as smaller hospitals (class 2). These hospitals serve Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities located mostly in the eastern part of the nation which are the largest and generally have the most affluent populations in China. ZADAXIN’s list price in China is currently under review by regulatory authorities. We anticipate that a price reduction may occur, and if a substantial reduction in the list price occurred, our revenues and gross margins for ZADAXIN would be substantially reduced.

SciClone’s marketed portfolio also includes Depakine, the most widely prescribed broad-spectrum anti-convulsant in China; Tritace, an ACE inhibitor for the treatment of hypertension; Stilnox, a fast-acting hypnotic for the short-term treatment of insomnia (marketed as Ambien® in the US); and Aggrastat, an intervention cardiology product launched in 2009. SciClone is also pursuing the registration of several other therapeutic products in China.

We continue to look for in-licensing opportunities for China of late-stage or approved branded, well-differentiated products that if not yet approved have a clear regulatory pathway in China based on existing approval outside of China. Our preference is on in licensing products for our product sales revenues category and we continue to explore opportunities to optimize our promotion services revenues category. We are also working on the final stage of the regulatory approval in China for our in-licensed candidate DC Bead, and on the approval process for our other product candidates, all of which are in clinical trials or in other stages of the regulatory approval process in China.

We are currently developing SCV-07, a small molecule synthetic peptide with immunomodulating properties, in a phase 2b clinical trial for the prevention of oral mucositis (“OM”). OM is a common, painful, debilitating complication of cancer treatment, and we estimate that medical costs for the treatment of oral mucositis were approximately $4.2 billion in the U.S. and $10 billion worldwide in 2010. We announced the enrollment of the first patient in the Company’s phase 2b clinical trial of SCV-07 for the delay of onset of OM in January of 2011. The current phase 2b clinical trial is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to enroll approximately 160 patients, who are receiving standard chemoradiation therapy for treatment of cancers of the head and neck, to assess the drug’s ability to modify the course of OM. The study will evaluate three doses of SCV-07 (0.1 mg/kg, 0.3 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg), including two higher doses than those used in the previous phase 2a study. The study’s primary efficacy endpoint is the reduction in the proportions of patients with clinically assessed ulcerative OM (WHO Grade ³ 2) at the time that they have received a cumulative radiation dose of 45 Gy. The study’s secondary endpoints include incidence and duration of ulcerative and severe (WHO Grade ³ 3) OM, analgesic use and pain assessments, quality of life measurements, gastrostomy tube placement and use, breaks in radiation or chemotherapy treatment, and unscheduled office or hospital visits.

In October 2011, we announced a preliminary settlement of stockholder derivative litigation. The proposed settlement terms provide for the actions against the defendants to be dismissed with prejudice and for the release of certain known or unknown claims that have been or could have been brought later in court arising out of the same allegations. We agreed that if the proposed settlement terms are approved, we will adopt certain corporate governance measures, to be in effect for at least three years, and have agreed to the payment of approximately $2.5 million in attorney’s fees to counsel for the plaintiffs, with $2.5 million to be paid by our insurers under our director and officer liability policy, subject to approval by the Court. The settlement is subject to final approval by the Court and a settlement hearing is currently scheduled for December 13, 2011.

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) are each conducting formal investigations of us regarding a range of matters including the possibility of violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”). We will continue to cooperate fully with the SEC and DOJ in the conduct of their investigations. In response to these matters, our Board appointed a Special Committee of independent directors (the “Special Committee”) to oversee our response to the government inquiry. The Special Committee has substantially concluded its investigation and on May 4 and 5, 2011 reported its findings and recommendations to the Board of Directors. As part of its continuing cooperation with the ongoing investigation of the SEC and the DOJ, the Special Committee has also reported findings to the SEC and DOJ. The SEC’s and DOJ’s formal investigations are continuing. These continuing investigations could result in administrative orders against us, the imposition of significant penalties and/or fines against us, and/or the imposition of civil or criminal sanctions against us or certain of our officers, directors and/or employees. We cannot predict what the outcome of those investigations will be, or the timing of any resolution. Refer to Footnote 10 “Other Corporate Matters”, Part II, Item 1. “Legal Proceedings” and to Part I, Item 4 “Changes in Internal Controls” in this Form 10-Q for further information regarding the investigation and remedial measures, related litigation, and the material weaknesses we have identified.

 

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Critical Accounting Estimates and Assumptions

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions in the preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Business Combinations

We accounted for the acquisition of NovaMed in April 2011 in accordance with ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations. ASC Topic 805 establishes principles and requirements for recognizing and measuring the total consideration transferred to and the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the acquired target in a business combination. The consideration paid to acquire NovaMed is required to be measured at fair value and included contingent consideration, which are earn-out payments that will be paid upon the successful achievement of revenue and earnings targets for the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years. After the total consideration transferred was calculated by determining the fair value of the contingent consideration and SciClone common stock, plus the cash consideration, we assigned the purchase price of NovaMed to the fair value assets acquired and liabilities assumed. This resulted in recognition of intangible assets related to promotion and distribution contract rights and goodwill. The determination and allocation of the consideration transferred requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions, especially at the acquisition date with respect to the fair value of the contingent consideration and intangible assets acquired.

As part of the acquisition of NovaMed, we may be required to pay up to $43.0 million in contingent consideration upon the successful achievement of revenue and earnings targets for the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years. As of September 30, 2011, we have estimated the fair value of the contingent consideration to be $17.4 million. We estimated the fair value of the contingent consideration on the acquisition date using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The earn-out is based upon certain financial performance metrics, including a revenue-based formula and an adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, depreciation and taxes) based formula. The earn-out provisions are subject to a number of adjustments and acceleration provisions. The total earn-out payments described above may be increased by $10.0 million (but not exceeding a total maximum contingent cash consideration of $43.0 million) or reduced by $10.0 million, depending upon whether we are able to achieve targets relating to product distribution agreements. If there is a change-in-control of the Company on or before April 18, 2012, then the earn-out payment would be deemed to be $23.0 million. If there is a change-in-control of the Company on or after April 18, 2012 and before December 31, 2012, then the earn-out payment would range between $11.5 million and $23.0 million depending upon achievement against the adjusted EBITDA and revenue targets through the date of the change-in-control. In addition, if either (i) Mark Lotter is terminated without cause prior to December 31, 2012, or (ii) if we fail to meet certain obligations to appoint and retain Mark Lotter and Peter Barrett (or their replacements) on our Board of Directors through December 31, 2012, the earn-out payment would be deemed to be $23.0 million. We are required to remeasure the contingent consideration each reporting period until the amount of the payment is finalized, which may not occur until December 31, 2012. The change in the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration is recognized as an adjustment to operating expenses. From the acquisition date of April 18, 2011 to September 30, 2011, the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration decreased by $1.4 million primarily as a result of adjustments to certain performance metric projections used to estimate the fair value. Future changes in the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration may be significant, as the ultimate contingent consideration payout could range from $0 to $43.0 million.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

We account for goodwill and other intangible assets in accordance with ASC Topic 805, and ASC Topic 350, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other. ASC Topic 805 requires that the purchase method of accounting be used for all business combinations and specifies the criteria that must be met in order for intangible assets acquired in a business combination to be recognized and reported apart from goodwill. As of September 30, 2011, we have recognized from the acquisition $47.1 million of intangible assets related to promotion and distribution relationships and $31.6 million of goodwill. Our intangible assets are amortized over 13.5 years, based on their estimated useful life, and goodwill is determined to have an indefinite life and therefore, is not amortized. Intangible assets and goodwill are tested for impairment at least annually or whenever events or circumstances occur that indicate impairment might have occurred in accordance with ASC Topic 350. Judgment regarding the existence of impairment indicators will be based on operating results, changes in the manner of our use of the acquired assets or our overall business strategy, and market and economic trends. In the future, events such as the loss of promotion and distribution contracts could cause us to conclude that impairment indicators exist and that certain intangibles and other long-lived assets are impaired resulting in an adverse impact on our financial position and results of operations.

 

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Product Sales Allowance

Revenue from product sales is recorded net of an allowance for product returns established at the time of sale. The allowance for product returns is based on estimates of the amount of product to be returned by our customers which may result from expired product or for price reductions on the related sales and is based on historical patterns, analysis of market demand and/or a percentage of sales based on industry trends, and management’s evaluation of specific factors that may increase the risk of product returns. The calculation of the product returns allowance requires estimates and involves a high degree of subjectivity and judgment. As a result of the uncertainties involved in estimating the product returns allowance, there is a possibility that materially different amounts could be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. As of September 30, 2011, we have estimated a product returns allowance of $0.1 million on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, related to our oncology products and Aggrastat product sales. We evaluate our returns allowance quarterly and adjust it when events indicate that a change in estimate is appropriate. Such changes in estimate could materially affect our results of operations or financial position; however, to date they have not been material. It is possible that we may need to adjust our estimates in future periods.

We believe there have been no other significant changes in our critical accounting policies discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as filed with the SEC on March 31, 2011.

Results of Operations

Revenues and Cost of Product Sales:

The following table summarizes the period over period changes in our product sales and promotion services (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Change     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     Change  
     2011      2010        2011      2010     

Product Sales

   $ 30,433       $ 22,840         33   $ 79,484       $ 61,496         29

Promotion Services

     6,992         —             12,711         —        
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total Revenues

   $ 37,425       $ 22,840         64   $ 92,195       $ 61,496         50

Product sales were $30.4 million and $79.5 million for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to $22.8 million and $61.5 million for the corresponding periods in 2010. The increase of $7.6 million, or 33%, for the three-month period ended September 30, 2011 and $18.0 million, or 29%, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same periods in the prior year, were primarily attributable to increased sales of ZADAXIN and due to the addition of NovaMed product sales as a result of the acquisition of NovaMed. ZADAXIN sales were $27.9 million and $75.1 million for the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2011, compared to $22.8 million and $61.5 million for the corresponding periods of 2010. Our overall ZADAXIN revenue growth was attributable to an increase in the quantity of ZADAXIN sold primarily due to further market penetration in China.

Promotion services revenue of $7.0 million and $12.7 million for the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively, reflect the addition of NovaMed promotion services as a result of the acquisition of NovaMed and was related to the distribution of products under promotional contracts.

Total revenues to China were $36.4 million and $89.7 million, or 97% of sales for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011, compared to $22.1 million and $59.4 million, or 97% of sales for the corresponding periods in 2010.

For the three-month period ended September 30, 2011, sales to two importing or distributor agents in China accounted for approximately 69% and 18% of our product sales. For the three-month period ended September 30, 2010, sales to two importing or distributor agents in China accounted for approximately 64% and 33% of our product sales. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011, sales to three importing or distributor agents in China accounted for approximately 59%, 19% and 13% of our product sales. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010, sales to two importing or distributor agents in China accounted for approximately 66% and 20% of our product sales. Last year, Sinopharm Group Co. Limited acquired a majority interest in our two largest importers, Shanghai Lingyun Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. and Guangdong South Pharmaceutical Foreign Trade Company Ltd. We do not believe these acquisitions will impact our sales. Our experience with our largest importers or distributors has been good and we anticipate that we will continue to sell a majority of our product to them.

 

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The following tables summarize the period over period changes in our cost of product sales (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Change     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     Change  
     2011      2010        2011      2010     

Cost of Product Sales

   $ 5,024       $ 3,146         60   $ 13,301       $ 9,445         41

Cost of product sales were $5.0 million and $13.3 million for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to $3.1 million and $9.4 million for the same periods in the prior year. The increases of $1.9 million, or 60%, and $3.9 million, or 41%, for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same periods in the prior year were attributable to higher ZADAXIN sales and the addition of NovaMed cost of product sales as a result of the acquisition of NovaMed. ZADAXIN cost of sales were $3.8 million and $10.8 million for the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to $3.1 million and $9.4 million for the corresponding periods in 2010. Gross margin for ZADAXIN was 86.3% and 86.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and was 85.7% and 84.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The increase in gross margin for ZADAXIN for the three- and nine- month period ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three- and nine- month period ended September 30, 2010, was due primarily to lower per vial production costs mainly as a result of increased production.

We expect total revenues and cost of product sales to increase in 2011 compared to 2010 due to increased unit sales of ZADAXIN related to further market penetration in China, and as a result of the addition of revenues from NovaMed’s product portfolio. Through September 30, 2011, we have been able to maintain our ZADAXIN gross margin in part due to relatively stable or even decreasing costs of sales, and in part due to maintaining a relatively stable sales price. ZADAXIN’s list price in China is currently under review by regulatory authorities. We anticipate that a price reduction may occur, and if a substantial reduction in the list price occurred, our revenues and our gross margins for ZADAXIN would be substantially reduced.

We expect our ZADAXIN cost of product sales and gross margins to fluctuate from period to period depending upon the level of sales and price of our products, the absorption of product-related fixed costs, currency exchange fluctuations, any charges associated with excess or expiring finished product inventory and the timing of other inventory period costs.

Sales and Marketing:

The following table summarizes the period over period changes in our sales and marketing expenses (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Change     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     Change  
     2011      2010        2011      2010     

Sales and Marketing

   $ 15,222       $ 5,445         180   $ 33,311       $ 15,996         108

Sales and marketing expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2011 increased by $9.8 million, or 180%, compared to the same period in 2010, and sales and marketing expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased by $17.3 million, or 108%, compared to the same period in 2010. Increases of $8.2 million and $14.2 million, for the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively, were attributable to NovaMed operations as a result of the acquisition of NovaMed and its sales force of over 450 individuals. The remaining increases of $1.6 million and $3.1 million, for the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2011, related to increased growth in the ZADAXIN sales force in China of approximately 34 additional sales individuals, and further market penetration in China resulting in increased sales and marketing costs for compensation and benefits, sales incentives, travel, medical training, and business taxes. We expect sales and marketing expenses to be higher in 2011 compared to 2010 due to increased sales efforts of ZADAXIN, primarily in China, and the addition of NovaMed sales and marketing expenses as a result of our acquisition of NovaMed in April 2011.

 

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Amortization of Acquired Intangible Assets:

For the three- and nine- months ended September 30, 2011, we recognized $0.9 million and $1.6 million in amortization of acquired intangible assets expense, reflecting the amortization of promotion and distribution contract intangible assets acquired as part of the NovaMed acquisition. There was no similar expense for the corresponding periods of 2010. We expect $3.4 million per year of annual amortization expenses in future years.

Research and Development (“R&D”):

The following table summarizes the period over period changes in our R&D expenses (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Change     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     Change  
     2011      2010        2011      2010     

Research and Development

   $ 3,035       $ 2,618         16   $ 9,235       $ 7,700         20

R&D expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2011 increased by $0.4 million, or 16%, compared to the same period in 2010. R&D expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased by $1.5 million, or 20%, compared to the same period in 2010. The increases in the three- and nine- month periods were primarily related to our SCV-07 phase 2b clinical trial which began enrollment in January 2011 for the treatment of oral mucositis, and to a lesser extent to the addition of NovaMed R&D expenses due to our acquisition of NovaMed.

The major components of R&D expenses include salaries and other personnel-related expenses, including associated stock-based compensation, facility-related expenses, depreciation of facilities and equipment, license-related fees, services performed by clinical research organizations and research institutions and other outside service providers.

The initiation, continuation, and completion of our current clinical development programs has had and is expected to continue to have a significant effect on our research and development expenses. Actual costs incurred in future periods will vary depending in particular upon timeline and design of further clinical trials and final decisions regarding the timing and expense-sharing arrangements for these trials, though we expect our research and development expenses to increase in 2011 compared to 2010 primarily related to our SCV-07 phase 2b trial in oral mucositis, and the addition of NovaMed research and development expenses as a result of our acquisition of NovaMed in April 2011. We continue to evaluate opportunities to in-license the marketing rights to proprietary products primarily in China, which may result in increased research and development expenses due to license fee payments or other expenses related to in-licensing and development of new products in the future.

General and Administrative:

The following table summarizes the period over period changes in our general and administrative expenses (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Change     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     Change  
     2011      2010        2011      2010     

General and Administrative

   $ 5,202       $ 3,820         36   $ 19,419       $ 10,403         87

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2011 increased by $1.4 million, or 36%, compared to the same period in 2010. The increase was attributable to the acquisition of NovaMed in April 2011, including the general and administrative expense attributable to NovaMed operations, and higher professional services primarily related to our FCPA compliance efforts and various tax planning and compliance matters.

General and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased by $9.0 million, or 87%, compared to the same period in 2010. The increase was attributable to the acquisition of NovaMed in April 2011, including the general and administrative expenses attributable to NovaMed operations, acquisition related transaction costs (including legal, banker fees, accounting and advisory services) of $3.8 million, higher corporate and legal expenses related to the SEC and DOJ investigations, shareholder litigations, and the conduct of an independent investigation by a special committee of our board as discussed in Note 10 of our Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, and higher professional services primarily related to our FCPA compliance efforts and various tax planning and compliance matters.

 

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We expect our general and administrative expenses will increase in 2011 compared to 2010 because of higher corporate and legal expenses in connection with responding to the SEC and DOJ investigations announced in August 2010, shareholder litigations that have been filed following the announcement of those investigations, and the conduct of the independent investigation by our Special Committee and our FCPA compliance efforts, acquisition related transaction costs and the addition of NovaMed general and administrative expenses as a result of our acquisition of NovaMed in April 2011, and various tax planning and compliance matters.

Contingent Consideration:

As part of the acquisition of NovaMed, we may be required to pay up to an additional $43.0 million in earn-out payments upon the successful achievement of revenue and earnings targets for the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years (the “earn-out” or “contingent consideration.”) We initially recorded $18.9 million as the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration. The fair value of the contingent consideration is re-measured each period, and changes to the fair value are recorded to contingent consideration expense. For the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2011, we recognized ($2.2) million and ($1.4) million, respectively, in contingent consideration expense reflecting the decrease in the fair value of the contingent consideration primarily as a result of adjustments to certain performance metric projections used to estimate the fair value. Our fair value estimates are based on a variety of factors that may significantly fluctuate from period to period, including the likelihood that earn-out targets will be achieved and present value factors associated with the timing of the earn-out targets, and may result in significant fluctuations to contingent consideration expense in the future.

Provision for Income Tax:

The provision for income tax was $46,000 and $0.6 million for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to $0.3 million and $0.7 million for the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2010, and related to our foreign operations in China. Tax expense decreased $0.2 million and $41,000 for the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2011, compared to the same period in 2010. The decreases related to tax benefits recognized of $0.6 million and $0.9 million for the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2011 on deferred tax assets and liabilities acquired as a result of our acquisition of NovaMed in April 2011. These tax benefits were partially offset by additional tax expense of $0.3 million and $0.6 million, recorded for the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively, related to an uncertain tax position in China, and by an increase in tax expense due to growth in our China operations and an increase in the statutory tax rate of certain of our operations in China from 22% in the 2010 period to 24% in 2011. We expect that our tax expense will decrease in 2011 compared to 2010 primarily related to our acquisition of NovaMed in April 2011 and the recognition of tax benefits related to the acquired deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The majority of our sales are to importers and distributors in China where our accounts receivable collections have standard credit terms generally ranging from 45 to 180 days.

The following tables summarize our cash and investments and our cash flow activities as of the end of, and for each of, the periods presented (in thousands):

 

     Nine Months  Ended
September 30,
 
     2011     2010  

Cash provided by (used in):

    

Operating activities

   $ 4,110      $ 20,311   

Investing activities

   $ (19,670   $ (5,451

Financing activities

   $ 6,019      $ 1,108   

 

     As of
September 30, 2011
     As of
December 31, 2010
 

Cash and investments

   $ 44,951       $ 56,522   

 

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Net cash provided by operating activities was $4.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and primarily reflected the net income for the period, adjusted for non-cash items such as stock-based compensation expense, depreciation and amortization expense and changes in operating assets and liabilities. Cash was lower than anticipated at September 30, 2011 due to an increase in accounts receivable of $12.3 million related to increases in sales volume and normal fluctuations in the timing of customer receipts. Changes also included an increase in inventory levels of $2.0 million related to higher inventory stock levels to support increased demand for ZADAXIN product. Net cash provided by operating activities was $20.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and primarily reflected the net income for the period adjusted for non-cash items such as stock-based compensation expense, depreciation and amortization expense and changes in operating assets and liabilities. Such changes included a decrease in inventory levels by $2.8 million and a $0.8 million decrease in accounts payable.

Net cash used in investing activities was $19.7 million and $5.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, cash used in investing activities was primarily related to the acquisition of NovaMed which used cash of approximately $21.3 million, and to a lesser extent related to the sale of available-for-sale investments, net of purchases of available-for-sale investments, and purchases of property and equipment. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, cash used in investing activities was primarily related to the purchase of available-for-sale investments, net of proceeds from the sale or maturity of investments, and purchases of property and equipment.

Net cash provided by financing activities of $6.0 million and $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, consisted of proceeds from the issuances of common stock made under our stock award plans.

The following summarizes our future contractual obligations as of September 30, 2011 (in thousands):

 

     Payments Due by Period         

Contractual Obligations

   Total      1 Year      2 Year      3 Year      More than
3 Years
 

Operating leases (1)

   $ 4,372       $ 1,863       $ 1,404       $ 1,105         —     

Purchase obligations (2)

     6,707         6,707         —           —           —     

Contingent consideration (3)

     17,433         —           17,433         —           —     

Other liabilities (4)

     263         263         —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 28,775       $ 8,833       $ 18,837       $ 1,105         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) These are future minimum rental commitments for office space and copiers leased under non-cancelable operating lease arrangements.
(2) These consist of purchase obligations with manufacturers and distributors.
(3) As part of the acquisition of NovaMed, we may be required to pay up to $43.0 million in contingent consideration upon the successful achievement of revenue and earnings targets for the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years. The timing of the contingent consideration payment, if any, is dependent upon several factors, including whether there is a change-in-control. The contingent consideration is expected to be paid no later than the first half of 2013.
(4) This amount represents a discretionary accrued bonus payable to our chief executive officer as of September 30, 2011 based on the achievement of performance targets over the years 2009 and 2011.

We have a loan and security agreement with Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”) (“the Credit Facility”) for a financing facility up to $15 million for a term of twenty-four months. The Credit Facility bears interest on borrowed funds at the bank’s prime rate plus 1.25% (5.25% at September 30, 2011) on outstanding balances and is secured by a first priority secured interest in all of our assets, including intellectual property in an event of default. We are required to meet certain financial covenants, including minimum liquidity, as defined, and are subject to certain minimum fees and interest payments. We are also required to meet certain operating covenants that limit our ability to incur liabilities, create liens, make capital expenditures, pay dividends or distributions, make investments, and dispose of assets. As of September 30, 2011, we had borrowed $2.5 million on the Credit Facility and we were required to maintain a debt coverage ratio of 1.35 to 1 equal to $3.4 million of cash in SVB cash accounts to meet our financial liquidity covenant and were in compliance with all significant terms of the Credit Facility. The Credit Facility expires October 1, 2012, and upon termination all amounts borrowed must be repaid in full.

In May 2009, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC under which we may offer and sell up to $50.0 million of our securities, assuming we continue to meet the SEC’s eligibility requirements for primary offerings on Form S-3.

On April 18, 2011, we issued 8,298,110 shares of common stock to former stockholders of NovaMed as part of our acquisition of NovaMed. No more than 25% of such shares may be sold by the holders in any three-month period up to October 18, 2012.

 

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In October 2011, we announced that our Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program that authorizes the Company to repurchase up to $20 million of our outstanding common stock over the next twenty-four months.

We believe that our existing cash and investments and ongoing revenue generating business operations will be sufficient to support our current operating plan for at least the next 12 months. We have no current commitments to offer and sell any securities that may be offered or sold pursuant to our registration statement. To the extent that we raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, our stockholders may experience dilution. Debt financing, if available, may subject us to restrictive covenants and significant interest costs. To the extent that we raise additional funds through collaboration and licensing arrangements, we would be required to relinquish some rights to our technologies, product candidates or marketing territories. Additional financing or collaboration and licensing arrangements may not be available when needed either at all or, on favorable terms.

We intend to continue to explore alternatives for financing to provide additional flexibility in managing our operations, in-licensing new products, particularly in China, and funding our clinical trials. The unavailability or the inopportune timing of any financing could prevent or delay our long-term product development and commercialization programs, either of which could hurt our business. We cannot assure you that funds from financings, if any, will be sufficient to conduct and complete further clinical trials or to in-license additional products. The need, timing and amount of any such financing would depend upon numerous factors, including the status of the pending regulatory investigations and pending litigations, the level and price of sales of our products, the timing and amount of manufacturing costs related to our products, the availability of complementary products, technologies and businesses, the initiation and continuation of preclinical and clinical trials and testing, the timing of regulatory approvals, developments in relationships with existing or future collaborative parties, the status of competitive products, and various alternatives for financing. We have not determined the timing or structure of any transaction.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve principal while at the same time maximizing yields without significantly increasing risk. To achieve this objective, we invest in money market funds, term deposits, commercial paper, corporate bonds, U.S. treasury, or government agency notes. All of our investments mature within one year from date of purchase except for our Italian state bonds which mature in 2013. Our investment securities may be subject to interest rate risk and could decrease in value if market interest rates rise. To minimize this risk, we primarily hold securities that are short-term in duration and maintain an average maturity of less than one year. We believe that our exposure to interest rate risk is not significant and a 1% movement in market interest rates would not have a significant impact to the total value of our investment portfolio at September 30, 2011.

We do not hold any derivative financial instruments for speculation or trading purposes. The majority of our sales have been in U.S. dollars, although a significant amount of our sales are denominated in renminbi. Our purchases with contract manufacturers are denominated in U.S. dollars and euros and costs of our marketing efforts in China are paid in local currency. In addition, we have certain cash balances and other assets and liabilities denominated in euros, renminbi and Hong Kong dollars. As a result, we are exposed to foreign currency rate fluctuations, and we do not hedge against the risk associated with such fluctuations. Consequently, changes in exchange rates could result in material exchange losses and could unpredictably, materially and adversely affect our operating results and stock price. A hypothetical 1% increase or decrease in foreign exchange rates would result in an approximate $0.2 million increase or decrease, respectively, in our financial assets and liabilities denominated in euros, renminbi and Hong Kong dollars. This potential change is based on a sensitivity analysis performed on our financial position at September 30, 2011. Actual results may differ materially. We do not hold any derivative financial instruments to manage our interest rate risks. Such losses have not been significant to date.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), we evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based on this evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective and were operating at the reasonable assurance level as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report.

 

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Changes in Internal Controls

In connection with the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, we identified material weaknesses that related to compliance with laws and accounting for income taxes as described below. As a result of the material weaknesses, we have enhanced our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting to remediate the deficiencies that gave rise to the material weaknesses. In addition, we have added an internal audit function. While we have made progress in remediating these material weaknesses, as of September 30, 2011, these material weaknesses had not been fully remediated.

Compliance with Laws

In connection with our Special Committee’s investigation, our management identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010 regarding the implementation of our policy on compliance with applicable laws and this material weakness had not been fully remediated as of September 30, 2011. Our conclusion that we have this material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting is not based on quantified misstatements in our historical financial statements or our financial statements as of and for the period ended September 30, 2011, but instead on the determination that we did not design or maintain sufficient policies, procedures, controls, communications or training to mitigate the risk of violations of laws, including the FCPA.

The following activities to improve internal controls were initiated in the second quarter of 2011 and are continuing:

 

   

Our initiation of more in-depth, Company-wide, comprehensive training of our personnel in the requirements of the FCPA and other laws, including training with respect to those areas of our operations that are most likely to raise FCPA compliance concerns and in the following newly adopted policies and guidelines:

1. Our adoption of a policy regarding the pre-approval of expenses for, or reimbursement of third parties for, certain travel expenses and sponsorship of attendance at medical, scientific or other events including review by our Compliance Officer or designee of these expenses;

2. Our determination to adopt and begin the process of implementing more detailed guidelines on gifts, reimbursement to doctors for attendance at medical and scientific or other events and on compliance with laws; and

 

   

Our identification of the need for more detail and back-up documentation for expense approvals or reimbursement requests relating to various expenses including third-party gifts, travel expenses, honoraria and sponsorship of attendance at medical, scientific or other events and our decision to implement at least two additional policies regarding these matters.

Accounting for Income Taxes

In our assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, we also identified a material weakness in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting for income taxes. The Company’s processes, procedures and controls related to financial reporting were not effective to ensure that tax exposures were correctly calculated and recorded. Specifically, our process of identifying and evaluating our foreign uncertain tax positions and related reserves were not designed effectively to provide for adequate and timely identification and recognition of income tax expense in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and there was a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement would not be prevented or detected in the consolidated financial statements and this material weakness had not been fully remediated as of September 30, 2011. The following activities to improve internal controls were initiated in the second quarter of 2011 and are continuing:

 

   

We clarified our policy for supporting documentation related to expenses deducted on foreign tax returns to ensure the deductibility of all such expenses; and

 

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We began implementing a process for evaluating changes that may be impacted by the international tax environment, where such changes may result in a significant or material increase of our foreign uncertain tax positions and related reserves.

As required by Rule 13a-15(d) of the Exchange Act, our management, including our CEO and CFO, conducted an evaluation of our “internal control over financial reporting” as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) to determine whether any changes in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the third quarter of fiscal 2011 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Based on that evaluation, other than as described above, there have been no such changes during the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

We have discussed these matters with our independent registered public accounting firm and our Audit Committee. There were no other changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Limitations of the Effectiveness of Internal Controls

A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the internal control system are met. Because of inherent limitations in any control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, if any, within a company have been detected. We are continuously seeking to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations and of our internal controls. This results in refinements to processes throughout our organization.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

In August 2010, a purported securities class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, naming us and certain of our officers as defendants. In September 2010, a second purported securities class action lawsuit was filed in the same court. The lawsuits alleged violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in connection with allegedly false, misleading and incomplete statements issued by the defendants related to potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, our reported revenues, income and sales growth, and marketing and sales activities. Plaintiffs sought damages, an award of their costs and attorney’s fees, and injunctive and/or equitable relief on behalf of a purported class of stockholders who purchased our common stock during the period between May 11, 2009 and August 10, 2010. On October 27, 2010, the securities class action lawsuits were consolidated under the caption In re SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Securities Litigation, Case No. CV 10-03584-JW, (“the Consolidated Action”), and the Court appointed lead plaintiffs. Plaintiffs were ordered by the Court to file an amended consolidated complaint on or before November 29, 2010. On November 24, 2010, before filing an amended complaint, the parties stipulated to the voluntary dismissal of the case without prejudice. Plaintiffs may re-file the complaint at a later date.

In September 2010, three derivative lawsuits were filed purportedly on behalf of the Company in California Superior Court for the County of San Mateo naming certain of our officers and directors as defendants. The lawsuits assert claims for breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, unjust enrichment and corporate waste based on alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Plaintiffs seek damages, restitution and injunctive and/or equitable relief purportedly on behalf of the Company, and an award of their costs and attorney’s fees. On January 13, 2011, the derivative lawsuits were consolidated into a single action under the caption In re SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Shareholder Derivative Litigation, Case No. CIV 499030, and the Court appointed lead plaintiffs’ counsel. The Court ordered plaintiffs to file a consolidated complaint on or before March 18, 2011. On February 28, 2011, the parties agreed to a temporary stay of the consolidated action until and including April 15, 2011. The parties stipulated to extend the temporary stay to and including August 19, 2011.

On November 3, 2010, the board of directors received a letter from a purported stockholder demanding that the board of directors take actions to remedy alleged breaches of fiduciary duties by the directors and certain officers relating to alleged violations of the FCPA and other securities laws. The Board responded to the demand letter and informed the shareholder that the Board would consider the demand after its internal investigation is completed. On August 1, 2011, the same stockholder filed a lawsuit in California Superior Court for the County of San Mateo purportedly on behalf of the Company under the caption Emanuel v. Blobel, et al., Case No. CIV 507361. The Emanuel lawsuit names the same individuals as defendants and asserts the same claims as in the consolidated action. It seeks damages, equitable relief and an award of costs and attorney’s fees.

 

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On October 3, 2011, the parties to the Consolidated Action reached an agreement to settle the lawsuit. The proposed settlement terms provide for the actions against the defendants to be dismissed with prejudice and for the release of certain known or unknown claims that have been or could have been brought later in court arising out of the same allegations. The Company has agreed that if the proposed settlement terms are approved, it will adopt certain corporate governance measures, to be in effect for at least three years, and has agreed to the payment of approximately $2.5 million in attorney’s fees to counsel for the plaintiffs, with $2.5 million to be paid by SciClone’s insurers under its director and officer liability policy, subject to approval by the Court. On October 6, 2011, the Court consolidated the Emanuel lawsuit with the Consolidated Action. The settlement, if approved, will also resolve the claims in the Emanuel action. On October 6, 2011, the Court also granted preliminary approval of the settlement. The settlement is subject to final approval by the Court and a settlement hearing is currently scheduled for December 13, 2011.

While Company management believes that we have meritorious defenses and intend to defend these lawsuits vigorously, these lawsuits and any other related lawsuits are subject to inherent uncertainties, and the actual cost will depend upon many unknown factors. The outcome of the litigation is necessarily uncertain. We could be forced to expend significant resources in the defense of these lawsuits and we may not prevail.

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) are each conducting formal investigations of us regarding a range of matters including the possibility of violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”). We will continue to cooperate fully with the SEC and DOJ in the conduct of their investigations.

In response to these matters, our Board appointed a Special Committee of independent directors (the “Special Committee”) to oversee our response to the government inquiry. Based on an initial review, the Special Committee decided to undertake an independent investigation as to matters reflected in and arising from the SEC and DOJ investigations including, but not limited to, certain sales and marketing matters in China, in order to evaluate whether any violation of the FCPA or other laws occurred.

During the investigation, the Special Committee instructed management to (i) evaluate and to expand the Company’s training of employees regarding understanding and compliance with laws including the FCPA and other anti-bribery laws and regulations, (ii) evaluate existing compliance and anti-bribery policies and guidelines and to prepare new, more detailed policies and guidelines for implementation after review by our Board and/or committees of the Board, and (iii) implement a pre-approval policy for certain expenses including payments for, or reimbursement of, travel and entertainment expenses, and sponsorships of certain third party events.

The Special Committee has substantially concluded its investigation and on May 4 and 5, 2011 reported its findings and recommendations to the Board of Directors. As part of its continuing cooperation with the ongoing investigation of the SEC and the DOJ, the Special Committee has also reported findings to the SEC and DOJ.

The SEC’s and DOJ’s formal investigations are continuing. These continuing investigations could result in administrative orders against us, the imposition of significant penalties and/or fines against us, and/or the imposition of civil or criminal sanctions against us or certain of our officers, directors and/or employees. We cannot predict what the outcome of those investigations will be, or the timing of any resolution.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Our risk factors are set forth below in their entirety. The list is not exhaustive and you should carefully consider these risks and uncertainties before investing in our common stock. We have marked with an asterisk (*) those risk factors below that reflect substantive changes from the risk factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2011.

Our stock price may be volatile, and an investment in our stock could suffer a decline in value. *

We have a history of operating losses and an accumulated deficit. Although we reported net income of $21.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 and $16.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we have experienced significant operating losses in the past, and as of September 30, 2011, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $127.8 million. If our operating expenses were to increase or if we were not able to increase or sustain revenue, we may not achieve profitability over the next 12 months.

The market price of our common stock has experienced, and may continue to experience, substantial volatility due to many factors, some of which we have no control over, including:

 

   

developments related to the pending United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) investigations, our efforts to cooperate with the investigations and events related to pending litigations;

 

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government regulatory action affecting our Company or our drug products or our competitors’ drug products in China, the United States and other foreign countries, including the effect of government initiatives in China to reduce health care costs, including the anticipated change in the governmentally permitted maximum listed price for ZADAXIN (“thymosin alpha 1 or thymalfasin”) or our other products on the market in China;

 

   

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operating results some of which may result from acquisition-related expenses including the variation in the valuation of the earn-out, and periodic impairment charges that may result from the recording of goodwill and intangible assets in the acquisition;

 

   

progress and results of clinical trials and the regulatory approval process in the United States, Europe and in China;

 

   

our acquisition of NovaMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“NovaMed”) including our ability to manage the risks associated with the acquisition;

 

   

finding a partner for late-stage trials of our clinical development candidates;

 

   

timing and achievement of our corporate milestones;

 

   

changes in our agreements or relationships with collaborative partners;

 

   

announcements of technological innovations or new products by us or our competitors;

 

   

announcement and completion of corporate acquisition, merger, licensing or marketing arrangements, or sales of assets;

 

   

developments or disputes concerning patent or proprietary rights;

 

   

changes in the composition of our management team or board of directors;

 

   

changes in company assessments or financial estimates by securities analysts;

 

   

changes in assessments of our internal controls over financial reporting;

 

   

general stock market conditions and fluctuations for the emerging growth and pharmaceutical market sectors;

 

   

economic and political conditions in the United States or abroad; and

 

   

broad financial market fluctuations in the United States, Europe or Asia.

Our acquisition of NovaMed involves a number of risks and we may not successfully integrate our and NovaMed’s businesses and may not realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition; and we may acquire other companies or products that present similar risks. *

Achieving the benefits of the acquisition of NovaMed will depend in substantial part on the successful integration of the two companies’ operations and personnel. While at this time SciClone’s China operations and NovaMed’s business will be conducted in separate subsidiaries, we will need to operate as a combined organization and begin utilizing common business, information and communication systems, operating procedures, financial controls and human resource practices, including benefits, training and professional development programs. We will face significant challenges in integrating our organizations and operations in a timely and efficient manner. Some of the challenges and difficulties involved in this integration include:

 

   

retaining key employees of both organizations;

 

   

managing the acquisition and continuing operations in both organizations to successfully achieve the anticipated benefits of the acquisition;

 

   

preserving important relationships of both SciClone and NovaMed, including NovaMed’s contractual relationships with pharmaceutical partners;

 

   

diversion of management’s attention from normal daily operations of the business which could adversely affect on-going operations;

 

   

costs and delays in implementing common systems and procedures;

 

   

consolidating and rationalizing information technology and administrative infrastructures;

 

   

the potential for disputes or litigation related to the earn-out and escrow provisions, which are frequently a source of disputes in acquisition transactions, and potentially unanticipated results of any such dispute;

 

   

variability in our financial results which may result from acquisition-related expenses including the variation in the valuation of the earn-out, and periodic impairment charges that may result from the recording of goodwill and intangible assets in the acquisition;

 

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implementing procedures, policies and processes related to FCPA compliance; and

 

   

integrating and documenting processes and controls in conformance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 which were not applicable to NovaMed prior to the acquisition.

We may enter into other acquisition transactions in the future which could present similar risks and may also cause us to:

 

   

issue common stock that would dilute our current shareholders’ percentage ownership;

 

   

assume liabilities, some of which may be unknown at the time of such acquisitions;

 

   

record goodwill and intangible assets that will be subject to impairment testing and potential periodic impairment charges;

 

   

incur amortization expenses related to certain intangible assets;

 

   

incur large and immediate write-offs of in-process research and development costs; or become subject to litigation.

Any one or all of these factors, many of which are outside of our control, may increase operating costs or lower anticipated financial performance following the NovaMed acquisition, or following any future acquisition. In addition, the combined company may lose distributors, suppliers, manufacturers and employees. Achieving anticipated synergies and the potential benefits underlying the two companies’ reasons for the merger will depend on successful integration of the two companies. In addition, the integration of NovaMed into SciClone will be a complex, time consuming and expensive process and will require significant attention from management and other personnel, which may distract their attention from the day-to-day business of the combined company. The diversion of management’s attention and any difficulties associated with the integration of NovaMed, or of companies or products we may acquire in the future could have a material adverse effect on the operating results of the company and on the value of our common stock, and could result in our not achieving the anticipated benefits of the acquisition. Failure to achieve our objectives could have a material adverse effect on the business and operating results of the company.

Charges to earnings resulting from the NovaMed acquisition may adversely affect our financial results and could adversely affect the market value of our common stock and the cash portion of the purchase price and other expenses will reduce our working capital. *

In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, we have accounted for the NovaMed acquisition using the purchase method of accounting, which will result in charges to earnings that could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Under the purchase method of accounting, we allocated the total estimated purchase price to NovaMed’s net tangible assets, amortizable intangible assets and in-process research and development based on their fair values as of the date of the acquisition, and recorded the excess of the purchase price over those fair values as goodwill. In addition, the purchase price includes an estimate of the value of the earn-out that may be payable in the future. We will incur additional depreciation and amortization expense over the useful lives of certain of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired in the acquisition. The amount of employee stock compensation expense has and will increase as a result of grants to a larger base of employees. We will also incur an expense if the valuation of the earn-out increases, which would occur if in any quarter it appears that the likelihood of payment of any portion of the earn-out has become more likely. The accounting measurement of the earn-out will be subject to change through December 2012 and may create earnings volatility for us every quarterly reporting period through December 2012. In addition, to the extent the value of goodwill or intangible assets becomes impaired, we may be required to incur material impairment charges. These charges, even though they would be non-cash charges, could have a material impact on our results of operations.

We made substantial cash payments in the NovaMed acquisition and we have incurred significant other costs related to the acquisition which reduced our liquidity and could affect our operating results.

We used approximately $21.3 million of cash, net of cash acquired, as part of the purchase price to acquire NovaMed. In addition, we estimate that we incurred investment banker costs of approximately $2.6 million and we have also incurred substantial legal and accounting and professional costs associated with the acquisition. These costs have reduced and may continue to reduce our cash and cash equivalents substantially. In addition, if the earn-out targets are achieved, we would need to use up to an additional $43.0 million in cash, which would materially reduce our cash available for operations.

Our revenue will continue to be substantially dependent on our sale of ZADAXIN in China, and if we experience difficulties in our sales efforts, our operating results and financial condition will be harmed. *

 

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Our product revenue is highly dependent on the sale of ZADAXIN in China. We expect that the percentage of our revenues that come from the sale of ZADAXIN in China will decline significantly as a result of the NovaMed acquisition. However, we anticipate that sales of ZADAXIN will continue to be a majority of our revenue for at least the next two years. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, approximately 97% of our ZADAXIN sales were to customers in China. Sales of ZADAXIN in China may be limited due to the low average personal income, lack of patient cost reimbursement, poorly developed infrastructure and competition from other products, including generics. ZADAXIN sales growth in recent years has benefited from the rapidly growing Chinese economy and growing personal disposable income. Sales of ZADAXIN in China could be adversely affected by a slowing or downturn of the Chinese economy and from the decisions of the National Development and Reform Commission (“NDRC”) pricing reform anticipated to be made in 2012.

In China, ZADAXIN is approved for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (“HBV”) and as a vaccine adjuvant. We face competition from pharmaceutical companies who are aggressively marketing competing products for the treatment of HBV and for other indications where we believe ZADAXIN may be used on an off-label basis. In addition, several local companies are selling lower-priced, locally manufactured generic thymalfasin, which is a competitive product and is selling in substantial and increasing quantities. While generic products outsell ZADAXIN in unit volumes, we have been able to maintain a pricing advantage through the reputation of our imported, branded product. We believe such competition to continue with added new local manufacturers of generic thymalfasin and there could be a negative impact on the price and the volume of ZADAXIN sold in China, which would harm our business. Our efforts to in-license or acquire other pharmaceutical products for marketing in China and other markets may be unsuccessful or even if successful may not have a meaningful effect on our dependence on ZADAXIN sales in those markets.

In November 2009, thymalfasin, the generic chemical name for our pharmaceutical product ZADAXIN, was included as a Category B product in the National Reimbursed Drug List (“NRDL”) and pricing for ZADAXIN on the NRDL is still being reviewed by the authorities, and we do anticipate a price reduction will be imposed in 2012. The price for pharmaceutical products is regulated in China both at the national and at the provincial level. These regulations, as well as regulation of the importation of pharmaceutical products may reduce prices for ZADAXIN to levels significantly below those that would prevail in an unregulated market, limit the volume of product which may be imported and sold or place high import duties on the product, any of which may limit the growth of our revenues or cause them to decline. The Chinese government is increasing its efforts to reduce overall health care costs, including pricing controls on pharmaceutical products. Individual provinces in China and, in some cases, individual hospitals can and have established pricing requirements for a product to be included on formulary lists. In some cases, these prices have been significantly lower than our distributors have been selling ZADAXIN, in which case we have been removed from formulary lists, which consequently has reduced sales to certain hospitals and could adversely affect our future sales. The process and timing for any price restrictions is unpredictable. In addition, we are aware that ZADAXIN may be used on an off-label basis, and the Chinese government’s pricing, reimbursement or other actions might reduce such uses. We are working on these regulatory processes as well as on potential changes in our business model depending on potential outcomes. We believe we will be able to successfully manage our business in China through this process, however maximum prices could be set at some time in the future which could adversely affect our results or require substantial changes in our business model which may be difficult to implement.

Importers and distributors of ZADAXIN borrow funds in China from banks to purchase, hold and distribute ZADAXIN. Substantial increases in restrictions on fund availability and/or increases in borrowing costs could limit the ability of our importers and distributors to finance their import and distribution process.

We have received regulatory approvals to import and market ZADAXIN in China and to manufacture ZADAXIN and export the product from Italy. In order to continue our sales to China, we need to maintain these approvals. Our license to import ZADAXIN into China needs to be renewed every five years and the next renewal is required in 2013. Although we were successful in obtaining a renewal in 2008 and 2003, there is no assurance that we will receive renewals in the future when applied for or that the renewals will not be conditioned or limited in ways that limit our ability to sell ZADAXIN to China. Further, our licenses to manufacture and export ZADAXIN from Italy are dependent upon our continuing compliance with regulations in Italy. Our business would be adversely affected if we are not able to maintain these approvals. In order to sell ZADAXIN to the licensed importers in China, our manufacturers must 1) be approved by the Italian Ministry of Health (“AIFA”) and 2) be accepted by the State Food and Drug Administration of China (“SFDA”), the Chinese equivalent to the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), and we must obtain an Imported Drug License from the SFDA permitting the importation of ZADAXIN into China. The license must be renewed every five years, and if we change manufacturers, these changes must 1) be approved by the AIFA in Italy and 2) be accepted by the SFDA. When we change manufacturers we must obtain a new approval. The SFDA, the FDA, AIFA and other regulatory agencies may, and have, changed their internal administrative rules in ways that may delay or complicate the regulatory process. Those changes are not always disclosed or known to us and we may experience unexpected delays or additional costs as a result of such changes.

 

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Our ZADAXIN sales and operations in other parts of China and the world are subject to a number of risks and increasing regulations, including difficulties and delays in obtaining registrations, renewals of registrations, permits, pricing approvals and reimbursement, increasing regulation of product promotion and selling practices, unexpected changes in regulatory requirements and political instability. In addition, during the second quarter of 2009 we experienced a strong upsurge in ZADAXIN sales which we believe was attributable both to the increasing penetration of ZADAXIN within the Chinese market, as well as concerns in China from the H1N1 flu virus. Although we believe that ZADAXIN sales have returned to levels more consistent with our established business, if distributors and hospitals that purchase ZADAXIN stockpile more ZADAXIN than needed for current use, our sales of ZADAXIN may suffer as distributors and hospitals use ZADAXIN already in their inventory before purchasing additional product from us. This could lead to uneven future revenue results for ZADAXIN and in turn materially impact our cash flow and business condition.

We face risks related to the potential outcomes of the SEC investigation regarding FCPA compliance and other matters and DOJ investigation regarding the FCPA and our own investigation into such matters, including potential penalties, substantial expenses and the use of significant management time and attention, and changes in our marketing and sales practices that could affect our ability to generate revenue, any of which could adversely affect our business. *

In August 2010, we received notices of investigations by U.S. government agencies that relate to our operations in China including compliance with the FCPA and we subsequently initiated an internal investigation regarding these matters. In connection with the formal, non public SEC investigation, the SEC issued a subpoena to us requesting documents regarding a range of matters including but not limited to documents relating to potential payments or transfer of anything of value to regulators and government-owned entities in China; documents relating to bids or contracts with state or government-owned entities in China; documents relating to intermediary or local agent of the Company in China; documents regarding the Company’s ethics and anti-corruption policies, training, and audits; and documents relating to certain Company financial and other disclosures made by the Company. The DOJ is currently conducting an investigation of us in connection with compliance with the FCPA, as to which they have advised us that the DOJ has information about the Company’s practices suggesting possible violations. We have been cooperating with, and will continue to cooperate with, the investigations by and inquiries from the SEC and DOJ. In response to these matters, our board of directors appointed the Special Committee of independent directors to oversee our response to the government inquiry. The Special Committee conducted an independent investigation as to matters reflected in and arising from the SEC and DOJ investigations including, but not limited to, certain sales and marketing matters in China, in order to evaluate whether any violation of the FCPA or other laws occurred.

The Special Committee has substantially concluded its investigation and reached a number of findings, including that we lacked appropriate internal controls to assure compliance with laws, including the FCPA, with respect to sales and marketing practices including payments for, or reimbursement of, third party gifts, travel and entertainment expenses, and sponsorships of certain conferences and symposia. The Special Committee identified evidence of sales and marketing activities that might constitute potential violations of the FCPA. We are undertaking certain remedial measures recommended by the Special Committee and adopted by our Board of Directors. However, the SEC’s and DOJ’s formal investigations are continuing.

We are unable to predict what consequences, if any, that any investigation by any regulatory agency or by our Special Committee may have on us. These and any other regulatory investigations and our cooperation with them will result in substantial legal and accounting expenses, and has diverted management’s attention from other business concerns and could harm our business. If we fail to comply with regulations or to carry out controls on our Chinese or other foreign operations in a manner that satisfies all applicable laws, our business would be harmed. Any civil or criminal action commenced against us by a regulatory agency could result in administrative orders against us, the imposition of significant penalties and/or fines against us, and/or the imposition of civil or criminal sanctions against certain of our officers, directors and/or employees. The investigations, results of the investigations, or remedial actions we may take, if any, as a result of such investigations, may adversely affect our business in China. If we are subject to an adverse finding resulting from the SEC and DOJ investigations, or from our own independent investigation, we could be required to pay damages or penalties or have other remedies imposed upon us. In addition, we will incur additional expenses related to remediative measures we are undertaking, and could incur fines or other penalties. The period of time necessary to resolve the investigations by the DOJ and the SEC is uncertain, and these matters could require significant management and financial resources which could otherwise be devoted to the operation of our business.

We have material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and if we are not able to remediate these weaknesses, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results. As a result, current and potential stockholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which would harm our business and the trading price of our stock. *

 

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Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and to protect from fraudulent, illegal or unauthorized transactions. If we cannot provide effective controls and reliable financial reports, our business and operating results could be harmed. Moreover, as a United States-based corporation doing business in China, these controls often need to satisfy the requirements of Chinese law as well as the requirements of United States law which frequently differ in certain aspects. Our management has determined that as of December 31, 2010, we had two material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting that had not been remediated. In addition, we determined that our disclosure controls were not working effectively as of December 31, 2010. The material weaknesses related to our controls over (i) our implementation of our policy on compliance with laws and (ii) our accounting for income taxes, as discussed in Item 4. Changes in Internal Controls of this Form 10-Q. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company initiated or commenced various remediation efforts to address the weaknesses. While we have made significant progress in remediating them, as of September 30, 2011 they had not been fully remediated. Although we are taking steps to remediate these material weaknesses, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in this regard. Any failure to implement and maintain controls over our financial reporting, or difficulties encountered in the implementation of improvements in our controls, could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. Any failure to improve our internal controls or to address identified weaknesses in the future, including with respect to our clinical research expenses, if they were to occur, could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative impact on the trading price of our stock. New legislation may impact our financial position or results of operations.

Compliance with changing regulations concerning corporate governance and public disclosure has resulted in and may continue to result in additional expenses. Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, new SEC regulations and The NASDAQ Stock Market rules, are creating uncertainty for companies such as ours and costs are increasing as a result of this uncertainty and other factors. We are committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance and public disclosure. As a result, we intend to invest all reasonably necessary resources to comply with evolving standards, and this investment has and may continue to result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities.

We have been named as a party to purported stockholder class actions and purported derivative lawsuits, and we may be named in additional litigation, all of which will require significant management time and attention and result in significant legal expenses and may result in an unfavorable outcome which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Certain of our officers and directors have been named as nominal defendants in three derivative lawsuits purportedly filed on behalf of the Company. The lawsuits which have been consolidated into one action assert claims for breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, unjust enrichment and corporate waste based on alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “consolidated action”). In addition, our Board of Directors has received a demand from a purported stockholder demanding that the board of directors take actions to remedy breaches of fiduciary duties by the directors and certain officers relating to alleged violations of the FCPA and securities laws. The Board responded to the demand letter and informed the shareholder that the Board would consider the demand after its internal investigation was completed. Subsequently, the same stockholder filed a lawsuit in California Superior Court for the County of San Mateo purportedly on behalf of the Company. The lawsuit names the same individuals as defendants and asserts the same claims as in the consolidated action.

On October 3, 2011, the parties to the consolidated action reached an agreement to settle the lawsuit. The proposed settlement terms provide for the actions against the defendants to be dismissed with prejudice and for the release of certain known or unknown claims that have been or could have been brought later in court arising out of the same allegations. The Company has agreed that if the proposed settlement terms are approved, it will adopt certain corporate governance measures, to be in effect for at least three years, and has agreed to the payment of approximately $2.5 million in attorney’s fees to counsel for the plaintiffs, with $2.5 million to be paid by SciClone’s insurers under its director and officer liability policy, subject to approval by the Court. On October 6, 2011, the Court consolidated the lawsuit by the stockholder who made the demand with the consolidated action. The settlement, if approved, will also resolve the claims of the stockholder who issued the demand. On October 6, 2011, the Court also granted preliminary approval of the settlement. The settlement is subject to final approval by the Court and a settlement hearing is currently scheduled for December 13, 2011.

There is a risk that the Court will not approve the settlement. If the Court does not approve the settlement, we cannot predict whether these or other lawsuits or demands are likely to result in any material recovery by, or expense to, SciClone. We believe we will continue to incur legal fees in responding to these lawsuits until the settlement is approved. The expense may be significant. The amount of time to resolve this and any additional lawsuit is unpredictable and these actions may divert management’s attention from the day-to-day operations of our business, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and cash flows.

 

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In addition, we and certain of our officers have also been named as defendants in two purported class action lawsuits which alleged violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in connection with allegedly false, misleading and incomplete statements issued by the defendants related to potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, our reported revenues, income and sales growth, and marketing and sales activities. Although the class action lawsuits have been dismissed, additional class action lawsuits could be filed. If additional lawsuits are filed, these lawsuits could result in a material expense to SciClone. Further, the amount of time to resolve any additional lawsuit is unpredictable and any additional lawsuit may divert management’s attention from the day-to-day operations of our business, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and cash flows.

We are at risk of additional securities class action and derivative lawsuits.

Securities class action and derivative lawsuits are often filed against public companies following a decline in the market price of their securities. We were sued recently after our announcement regarding SEC and DOJ investigations and we and certain of our officers and directors have been named as parties in purported stockholder class actions and derivative lawsuits. The class action lawsuits have been dismissed and although we have settled the derivative lawsuits, the settlement is subject to court approval. We may be named in additional litigation, all of which will require significant management time and attention and result in significant legal expenses and may result in an unfavorable outcome which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We may experience stock price volatility in the future, either related to announcements regarding the SEC and DOJ investigation, our own investigations related thereto or other matters. This risk is especially relevant for us because biotechnology companies have experienced greater than average stock price volatility in recent years. Such litigation could result in additional substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources, which could harm our business.

We may not be able to successfully develop or commercialize our products in China or the United States. *

Following the acquisition of NovaMed, we have numerous products under development in China, and we are developing SCV-07, a small molecule synthetic peptide with immunomodulating properties, in a phase 2b clinical trial in the United States for the prevention of oral mucositis (“OM”). The regulatory approval processes in the United States, Europe and China are demanding, lengthy and expensive. We have committed significant resources, including capital and time, to develop and seek approval for products under development, and if we do not obtain approvals we are seeking, we may be unable to achieve any revenue from these products. All new drugs, including our product candidates under development in the United States and China, are subject to extensive and rigorous regulation by the FDA, SFDA and similar regulatory agencies. These regulations govern, among other things, the development, testing, manufacturing, labeling, storage, pre-market approval, importation, advertising, promotion, sale and distribution of our products. These regulations may change from time to time and new regulations may be adopted.

Satisfaction of government regulations may take several years and the time needed to satisfy them varies substantially based on the type, complexity and novelty of the pharmaceutical product. As a result, government regulation may cause us to delay the introduction of, or prevent us from marketing, our existing or potential products for a considerable period of time and impose costly procedures upon our activities. We have experienced unexpected delays in the regulatory process, including with the approval process for DC Bead. In addition, the Chinese government is increasing its efforts to reduce overall health care costs, including pricing controls on pharmaceutical products. We cannot determine what the potential government pricing \constraints are likely to be for products in development in advance. Therefore, we may be required to abandon the development or commercialization of a product after significant effort and expense if we determine at any time that trends in government pricing constraints will make the commercialization of a product unprofitable.

To fully develop these products and other products we may acquire, substantial resources are required for extensive research, development, pre-clinical testing, clinical trials, and manufacturing scale-up and regulatory approval prior to the potential products being ready for sale. We cannot assure that our efforts will produce commercially viable products. We face significant technological risks inherent in developing these products. We may also abandon some or all of our proposed products before they become commercially viable. We are obligated to make a milestone payment upon regulatory approval of certain products under development. If any of our products, even if developed and approved, cannot be successfully commercialized in a timely manner, our business will be harmed and the price of our stock may decline.

Market acceptance of any product that is successfully developed and approved will depend on many factors, including our ability to convince prospective customers to use our products as an alternative to other treatments and therapies. In addition, doctors must opt to use treatments involving our products. If doctors elect to use a different course of treatment, demand for our drug products would be reduced. In addition, for certain products we may need to convince partners to manufacture or market our products. Failure to do any of the above will lead to an unfavorable outcome on the results of our operations.

 

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Our success is dependent upon the success of our sales and marketing efforts in China, and we may experience difficulties in complying with regulations, slow collections or other matters that could adversely affect our revenue in China. *

Following the acquisition of NovaMed, we have numerous products on the market in China in addition to ZADAXIN. Our future revenue growth depends to a great extent on increased sales of ZADAXIN to China and the successful integration and increased sales of the products promoted or marketed by NovaMed. If we fail to continue to successfully market ZADAXIN or NovaMed’s product portfolio, our revenue and operating results will be limited. If unexpected and serious adverse events are reported, or if expected efficacy results are not achieved, it would have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our sales are concentrated in China and we face risks relating to operating in a China, including pricing and other regulations, slow payment cycles and exposure to fluctuations in the Chinese economy.

The Chinese government is increasing its efforts to reduce overall health care costs, including pricing controls on pharmaceutical products. Individual provinces in China and, in some cases, individual hospitals can and have established pricing requirements for a product to be included on formulary lists. The process and timing for any price restrictions is unpredictable, but we do anticipate that some price reduction will be imposed in 2012. Further, the successful sales and marketing of all of NovaMed’s products requires continuing compliance with other regulations in China relating to the import, manufacture, approval and distribution of products and if we or our partners are not able to obtain or maintain necessary licenses or other approvals, our operations would be adversely affected.

We experience other issues with managing sales operations in China including long payment cycles, potential difficulties in timely accounts receivable collection and, especially from significant customers, fluctuations in the timing and amount of orders and the adverse effect of any of these issues on our business could be increased due to the concentration of our business with a small number of distributors. Problems with collections from, or sales to, any one of those distributors could materially adversely affect our results. Operations in foreign countries including China also expose us to risks relating to difficulties in enforcing our proprietary rights, currency fluctuations and adverse or deteriorating economic conditions. If we experience problems with these matters, or if significant political, economic or regulatory changes occur, our results could be adversely affected.

Our operations throughout the world including China are potentially subject to the laws and regulations of the United States including the FCPA, in addition to the laws and regulations of the local countries. Regulation in China of the activities in the pharmaceutical industry has increased and may continue to undergo significant and unanticipated changes. A number of companies have faced significant expenses or fines as a result of the increasing regulation of, and enforcement activity regarding, the pharmaceutical industry.

Currently all of our revenue is generated from customers located outside the United States, and a substantial portion of our assets, including employees, are located outside the United States. United States income taxes and foreign withholding taxes have not been provided on undistributed earnings of non-United States subsidiaries, because such earnings are intended to be indefinitely reinvested in the operations of those subsidiaries. The United States government may propose initiatives that would substantially reduce our ability to defer U.S. taxes including: repealing deferral of U.S. taxation of foreign earnings, eliminating utilization or substantially reducing our ability to claim foreign tax credits, and eliminating various tax deductions until foreign earnings are repatriated to the United States. If any of these proposals are constituted into legislation, they could increase our U.S. income tax liability and as a result have a negative impact on our financial position and results of operations.

Our business strategy is dependent in part upon our agreements with third parties for the rights to develop and commercialize products, or promote products, particularly in China. If we fail to maintain such agreements, or if we fail to enter into additional agreements, our business will suffer. *

Our sales and marketing strategy in China depends significantly upon agreements with third parties, and potentially upon entering into additional agreements with third parties, or re-negotiating agreements with third parties. Except for ZADAXIN, our rights to develop, market and sell our products in China, including the products currently promoted or sold by our subsidiary, NovaMed, are held by us under license, promotion, distribution or marketing agreements with third parties. These agreements for products on the market including DepaKine, Stilnox, Tritace and Aggrastat, and products in the regulatory review process, including DC Bead and several of NovaMed’s products in clinical trial, are held under license, distribution or marketing agreements. In addition, our success in the future may be dependent upon entering into similar agreements with other parties and the renewal of any such agreements. The third parties to these agreements are generally not under an obligation to renew the agreements. If any of these agreements are terminated, or if they are not renewed, our ability to distribute, or develop, the products or product candidates could be terminated and our business could be adversely affected. Renegotiation of agreements can also occur prior to discussions of contract renewals. We have had disputes with collaborators in the past, and are in negotiations regarding disputes with current collaborators regarding product candidates in the regulatory approval process. Such disputes have arisen, and may arise in the future over the performance of each party’s obligations under the agreements, ownership rights to intellectual property, know-how or technologies developed with our collaborators. Disputes with collaborators or licensors or others could cause us to incur legal costs and could result in the loss of rights to products or other disruptions in our business.

 

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All of our products were originally obtained by us under licenses, promotion, distribution or similar third-party agreements. We do not conduct product discovery and our ability to bring new products to market is dependent upon our entering into additional acquisition, in-licensing, promotion or distribution agreements, particularly in China. The competition for attractive products is intense, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to negotiate in-license, promotion or distribution agreements for additional products in the future on acceptable terms, if at all.

We may lose market share or otherwise fail to compete effectively in the intensely competitive pharmaceutical industry.

Competition in the pharmaceutical industry in China is intense, and we believe that competition will increase. Our success depends on our ability to compete in this industry, but we cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully compete with our competitors. Increased competitive pressure could lead to intensified price-based competition resulting in lower prices and margins, which would hurt our operating results. We cannot assure you that we will compete successfully against our competitors or that our competitors, or potential competitors, will not develop drugs or other treatments for our targeted indications that will be superior to ours.

We depend on sales to China, and global conditions could negatively affect our operating results or limit our ability to expand our operations in and outside of China. Changes in China’s political, social, regulatory and economic environment may affect our financial performance. *

Our business is concentrated in China. Heightened tensions resulting from the current geopolitical conditions in the Middle East, North Korea and elsewhere could worsen, causing disruptions in foreign trade, which would harm our sales. In particular, our commercial product is manufactured in Europe and distributed by us from our operations in Hong Kong. Any disruption of our supply and distribution activities due to geopolitical conditions could decrease our sales and harm our operating results.

With respect to China, our financial performance may be affected by changes in China’s political, social, regulatory and economic environment. The role of the Chinese central and local governments in the Chinese economy is significant. Chinese policies toward economic liberalization, and laws and policies affecting foreign companies, currency exchange rates and other matters could change, resulting in greater restrictions on our ability to do business in China. Any imposition of surcharges or any increase in Chinese tax rates could hurt our operating results. The Chinese government could revoke, terminate or suspend our license for national security and similar reasons without compensation to us. If the government of China were to take any of these actions, we would be prevented from conducting all or part of our business. Any failure on our part to comply with governmental regulations could result in the loss of our ability to market our products in China.

Because of China’s tiered method of importing and distributing finished pharmaceutical products, our quarterly results may vary substantially from one period to the next. *

Imported products in China, including ZADAXIN and NovaMed’s imported products, are distributed through a tiered method to import and distribute finished pharmaceutical products. Promoted products are typically sold from our partner companies within China to the primary distributor with the following distribution being the same for imported as well as promoted products. At each port of entry, and prior to moving the product forward to the distributors, government-licensed importing agents must process and evaluate each imported product shipment to determine whether it satisfies China’s quality assurance requirements. In order to efficiently manage this process, the importing agents typically place large, and therefore relatively few, orders within an annual period. Therefore, sales to an importing agent can vary substantially from quarter to quarter depending on the size and timing of the orders, which has in the past and may in the future cause our quarterly results to fluctuate. We rely on a limited number of importers, in any given quarter, to supply our products and most of our ZADAXIN sales are now through two importers so our receivables from those importers are material, and if we were unable to collect receivables from those importers or any other importer, our business and cash-flow would be adversely affected. Our importers are not obligated to place purchase orders for our product, and if they determined for any reason not to place purchase orders, we would need to seek alternative licensed importers, which could cause fluctuations in our revenue.

The existence of counterfeit pharmaceutical products in China’s pharmaceutical retail market may damage our brand and reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

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Certain medicine products distributed or sold in China’s pharmaceutical retail market, including those appearing to be our products, may be counterfeit. Counterfeit products are products sold under the same or very similar brand names and/or having a similar appearance to genuine products. Counterfeit products, including counterfeit pharmaceutical products, are a significant problem in China. Such products divert sales from genuine products, often are of lower cost, often are of lower quality (having different ingredients or formulations, for example), and have the potential to damage the reputation for quality and effectiveness of the genuine product. The counterfeit pharmaceutical product regulation control and enforcement system in China is not able to completely eliminate production and sale of counterfeit pharmaceutical products. Any sale of counterfeit products resulting in adverse side effects to consumers may subject us to negative publicity and expenses. It could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We may be subject to currency exchange rate fluctuations, which could adversely affect our financial performance. *

A majority of our product sales are denominated in U.S. dollars and a significant portion of our sales and expenses are denominated in renminbi. Fluctuation in the U.S. dollar exchange rate with local currency directly affects the customer’s cost for our product. In particular, a stronger U.S. dollar vis-à-vis the local currency would tend to have an adverse effect on sales and potentially on collection of accounts receivable. China currently maintains the value of the renminbi in a narrow currency trading band that may or may not fluctuate based upon government policy. Depending on market conditions and the state of the Chinese economy, China has intervened in the foreign exchange market in the past to prevent significant short-term fluctuations in the renminbi exchange rate, and it could make future adjustments, including moving to a managed float system, with opportunistic interventions. This reserve diversification may negatively impact the United States dollar and U.S. interest rates. A trend to a stronger U.S. dollar would erode margins earned by our Chinese importers and prompt them to ask us to lower our prices. A weaker U.S. dollar would increase our in-country China operating expenses, and with the addition of NovaMed, our China operating expenses have increased. We are subject to currency exchange rate fluctuations as a result of expenses incurred by our foreign operations. In particular, one of our supply arrangements under which we purchase finished products is denominated in euros and costs of our operations in China are paid in local currency. Consequently, changes in exchange rates could unpredictably and adversely affect our operating results and could result in exchange losses. To date, we have not hedged against the risks associated with fluctuations in exchange rates and, therefore, exchange rate fluctuations could have a material adverse impact on our future operating results and stock price.

We cannot predict the safety profile of the use of thymalfasin, DC Bead, SCV-07, or other drugs we may develop when used in combination with other drugs. *

Many of our prior trials involve the use of thymalfasin in combination with other drugs. SCV-07 may be developed to be used in combination with other drugs. Some of these drugs, particularly pegylated interferon alpha, ribavirin, non-pegylated interferon alpha, and dacarbazine are known to cause adverse patient reactions. We cannot predict how thymalfasin, DC Bead, SCV-07 or other drugs we may develop will work with other drugs, including causing possible adverse side effects not directly attributable to the other drugs that could compromise the safety profile of thymalfasin, DC Bead, SCV-07, or other drugs we may develop when used in certain combination therapies.

If third-party reimbursement is not available or patients cannot otherwise pay for ZADAXIN, DC Bead, SCV-07, or other drugs we may develop we may not be able to successfully market them. *

Significant uncertainty exists as to the reimbursement status of new therapeutic products, such as ZADAXIN, and once commercialized, DC Bead, SCV-07 or other drugs we may develop. We cannot assure you that third-party insurance coverage and reimbursement will be available for therapeutic products we might develop. Although ZADAXIN receives some limited reimbursement in certain provinces in China, we cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain existing reimbursements or increase third-party payments for ZADAXIN or obtain third-party payments for DC Bead in China. The failure to obtain or maintain third-party reimbursement for our products would harm our business. Further, we cannot assure you that additional limitations will not be imposed in the future in the United States or elsewhere on drug coverage and reimbursement due to proposed health care reforms. In many emerging markets where we have marketing rights to ZADAXIN, but where government resources and per capita income may be so low that our products will be prohibitively expensive, we may not be able to market our products on economically favorable terms, if at all.

Efforts by governmental and third-party payers to contain or reduce health care costs or the announcement of legislative proposals or reforms to implement government controls could cause us to reduce the prices at which we market our drugs, which would reduce our gross margins and may harm our business.

We rely on third parties who are our sole source suppliers for our clinical trial and commercial products and their inability to deliver products that meet our quality-control standards could delay or harm one or more important areas of our business including our sales, clinical trials or the regulatory approval process. *

 

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We rely on third parties, who are subject to regulatory oversight, to supply our commercial products. Any deficiencies or shortages in supply of our commercial products would adversely affect our ability to realize our sales plans. For example, the manufacturing of the raw material and the processing to finished product of ZADAXIN is done in few batches in any given three-month period and any manufacturing errors have the potential to require a product recall. We currently have only one approved finished vial manufacturer and two approved active pharmaceutical ingredient (“API”) suppliers. If we experience a problem with the manufacturer or our suppliers our sales may suffer. We and NovaMed have each experienced difficulties with obtaining product from manufacturers in the past. During 2010, we experienced difficulties validating upgrades to equipment with one of our API manufacturers. Although we are taking steps to ensure that such problems do not continue, there is no assurance that we will either be successful in doing so with our current supplier or be able to timely and cost-effectively qualify new suppliers for this component. Manufacturing interruptions or failure or delay of product to meet quality assurance specifications could adversely affect shipments and recognition of sales of our products in any period and impair our relationships with customers and our competitive position and may increase the cost of material produced. In addition, each of the products that are marketed through our new NovaMed subsidiary is manufactured by, or obtained from, a single source.

We also rely on third parties, who are subject to regulatory oversight, to supply drug product for our clinical trials. For example, Biocompatibles is the sole supplier of DC Bead, Solvay Peptides S.A. is our sole supplier of SCV-07, and Depakine, Stilnox, Tritace and other products in either finished product or active pharmaceutical ingredient are manufactured by or for Sanofi-Aventis, Pfizer and other partners of our subsidiary, NovaMed. Any unanticipated deficiencies in these suppliers, or the suppliers of our raw materials, and/or recall of the manufacturing lots or similar action regarding the pegylated interferon alpha or ribavirin used in our clinical trials could delay the trials or detract from the integrity of the trial data and its potential use in future regulatory filings. In addition, manufacturing interruptions or failure to comply with regulatory requirements by any of these suppliers could significantly delay clinical development of potential products and reduce third-party or clinical researcher interest and support of proposed trials. These interruptions or failures could also impede commercialization of our products and impair our competitive position.

We rely on third parties for development of our products and the inability of any of these parties to reliably, timely or cost-effectively provide us with their obligated services could materially harm the timing of bringing our products to market and accordingly adversely affect our business.

We rely on third parties, such as contract research organizations, medical institutions, clinical investigators, contract laboratories, and collaborative partners in the conduct of clinical trials for our product candidates. If these parties, whom we do not control, do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or regulatory obligations or meet expected deadlines or choose not to continue their relationship with us, if the third parties need to be replaced, or if the quality or accuracy of the data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical protocols or regulatory requirements or for other reasons, our pre-clinical or clinical activities may be extended, delayed, suspended or terminated, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for, or successfully commercialize our product candidates.

Commercialization of some of our products depends on collaborations with others. If our collaborators are not successful, or if we are unable to find future collaborators, we may not be able to properly develop and commercialize our products. *

We depend in part on our distributors and business partners to develop or promote our drugs, and if they are not successful in their efforts or fail to do so, our business will suffer. For example, Biocompatibles is providing SciClone with product samples and the necessary supporting documents to obtain regulatory approval in China for DC Bead. We generally do not have control over the amount and timing of resources that our business partners devote to our collaborative efforts, and some have not always performed as or when expected. If they do not perform their obligations as we expect, particularly obligations regarding clinical trials, our development expenses would increase and the development or sale of our products could be limited or delayed, which could hurt our business and cause our stock price to decline. In addition, our relationships with these companies may not be successful. Disputes may arise with our collaborators, including disputes over ownership rights to intellectual property, know-how or technologies developed with our collaborators. We may not be able to negotiate similar additional arrangements in the future to develop and commercialize ZADAXIN or other products.

If we are unable to retain our key personnel, or are unable to attract and retain additional, highly skilled and experienced personnel, including the ability to expand our sales staff, our business will suffer. *

We are highly dependent upon our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel because of the specialized, scientific and worldwide nature of our business. Further, we are also dependent on our ability to appropriately staff these personnel in appropriate positions as our business fluctuates. There is intense competition for qualified management, scientific, clinical, regulatory, and sales and marketing personnel in the pharmaceutical industry.

 

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There is significant turnover in the industry in China in particular, and we have also experienced turnover in our sales personnel.

We may not be able to attract and retain the qualified personnel we need to grow and develop our business globally. In addition, if we are unable to retain key personnel from the acquisition of NovaMed particularly sales and marketing personnel with expertise in the products they promote and regulatory personnel, our business may suffer and could result in our not achieving the anticipated benefits of the acquisition.

Conversely, in the event that we need to reduce the size of a particular aspect of our business, we are also dependent on our ability to make such adjustments while retaining suitably skilled personnel. Further, our efforts to in-license or acquire, develop and commercialize product candidates for China require the addition of clinical and regulatory personnel and the capabilities to expand our sales and marketing operation. In addition, we assign numerous key responsibilities to a limited number of individuals, and we would experience difficulty in finding immediate replacements for any of them were any one of them to choose to leave employment with us.

We are undertaking corrective measures based upon the findings of our Special Committee relating to its investigation of matters relating to the FCPA as well as relating to managements’ evaluation of internal control over financial reporting which could have adverse effects on our business, including the loss of personnel, and changes in marketing, sales and educational practices or programs. If we were unable to attract and retain qualified personnel as needed or promptly replace those employees who are critical to our product development and commercialization, the development and commercialization of our products would be adversely affected. At this time, we do not maintain “key person” life insurance for any of our personnel.

We may need to obtain additional funding to support our long-term product development and commercialization programs. *

We believe our existing cash and investments and ongoing revenue generating business operations will be sufficient to support our current operating plan for at least the next 12 months. However, we used $21.3 million of our cash and cash equivalents, net of cash acquired, to acquire NovaMed, have incurred substantial investment banking, legal and other fees, some of which will continue and the potential earn-out payments related to the acquisition, if targets are met, could be up to $43.0 million in cash. In addition, in October 2011 we announced that our Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program that authorizes the Company to repurchase up to $20 million of its outstanding common stock over the next twenty-four months. Our ability to achieve and sustain operating profitability is dependent on numerous factors including our ability to achieve our goal of increasing sales of ZADAXIN, securing regulatory approval for DC Bead in China, and for our other products and products we acquired as a result of the NovaMed acquisition, the execution and successful completion of clinical trials in the U.S. and China, securing partnerships for those programs that lead to regulatory approvals in major pharmaceutical markets, and successfully continuing NovaMed’s sales and integrating NovaMed into our business. We cannot assure you that such funds from operating activities will be sufficient, or that we will attain profitable operations in future periods. In addition, we intend to develop other products and we may need additional funds in the future to support such development and to support future growth and achieve profitability. If we need to raise additional funds in the future and such funds are not available on reasonable terms, if at all, our commercialization efforts may be impeded, our revenues may be limited and our operating results may suffer.

If we fail to protect our products, technologies and trade secrets, we may not be able to successfully use, manufacture, market or sell our products, or we may fail to advance or maintain our competitive position, and we have limited intellectual property protection in China.

Our success depends significantly on our ability to obtain and maintain meaningful patent protection for our products and technologies and to preserve our trade secrets. Our pending patent applications may not result in the issuance of patents in the future. Our patents or patent applications may not have priority over others’ applications. Our existing patents and additional patents that may be issued, if any, may not provide a competitive advantage to us or may be invalidated or circumvented by our competitors. Others may independently develop similar products or design around patents issued or licensed to us. Patents issued to, or patent applications filed by, other companies could harm our ability to use, manufacture, market or sell our products or maintain our competitive position with respect to our products. Although many of our patents relating to thymalfasin have expired, including composition of matter patents, we have rights to other patents and patent applications relating to thymalfasin and thymalfasin analogues, including method of use patents with respect to the use of thymalfasin for certain indications. Additionally, thymosin alpha 1 (“thymalfasin”), the chemical composition of thymalfasin, has received Orphan Drug designation in the United States for the treatment of stage IIb through stage IV melanoma. If other parties develop generic forms of thymalfasin for other indications, including conducting clinical trials for such indications, our patents and other rights might not be sufficient to prohibit them from marketing and selling such generic forms of thymalfasin. If other parties develop analogues or derivatives of thymalfasin, our patents and other rights might not be sufficient to prohibit them from marketing these analogues or derivatives.

 

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Pharmaceutical products are either not patentable or have only recently become patentable in some of the countries in which we market or may market thymalfasin. We do not have composition patent claims directed to the same form of thymalfasin currently marketed in China, our largest market, although we do have other type of patent claims, pending or issued, directed to other aspects of thymalfasin therapy. Other companies market generic thymalfasin in China, sometimes in violation of our patent, trademark or other rights which, to date, we have defended by informing physicians and hospitals of the practice. Past enforcement of intellectual property rights in many of these countries, including China in particular, has been limited or non-existent. Future enforcement of patents and proprietary rights in many other countries will likely be problematic or unpredictable. Moreover, the issuance of a patent in one country does not assure the issuance of a similar patent in another country. Claim interpretation and infringement laws vary by nation, so the extent of any patent protection is uncertain and may vary in different jurisdictions.

If we are involved in intellectual property claims and litigation, the proceedings may divert our resources and subject us to significant liability for damages, substantial litigation expense and the loss of our proprietary rights.

Our commercial success depends in part on our not infringing valid, enforceable patents or proprietary rights of third parties, and not breaching any licenses that may relate to our technologies and products. In addition, we may not be aware of all patents or patent applications that may impact our ability to make, use or sell any of our potential products. For example, U.S. patent applications may be kept confidential for 12 or more months while pending in the Patent and Trademark Office, and patent applications filed in foreign countries are often first published nine months or more after filing. It is possible that we may unintentionally infringe these patents or other patents or proprietary rights of third parties. We may in the future receive notices claiming infringement from third parties as well as invitations to take licenses under third-party patents. Any legal action against us or our collaborative partners claiming damages and seeking to enjoin commercial activities relating to our products and processes affected by third-party rights may require us or our collaborative partners to obtain licenses in order to continue to manufacture or market the affected products and processes. Our efforts to defend against any of these claims, regardless of merit, would require us to devote resources and attention that could have been directed to our operations and growth plans. In addition, these actions may subject us to potential liability for damages. We or our collaborative partners may not prevail in a patent action and any license required under a patent may not be made available on commercially acceptable terms, or at all. Any conflicts resulting from the patent rights of others could significantly reduce the coverage of our patents and limit our ability to obtain meaningful patent protection.

If other companies obtain patents with conflicting claims, we may be required to obtain licenses to those patents or develop or obtain alternative technology to manufacture or market the affected products and processes. We may not be able to obtain any such licenses on acceptable terms or at all. Any failure to obtain such licenses could delay or prevent us from pursuing the development or commercialization of our potential products. Our efforts to defend against any of these claims would require us to devote resources and attention that could have been directed to our operations and growth plans.

We may need to initiate litigation, which could be time-consuming and expensive, to enforce our proprietary rights or to determine the scope and validity of others’ rights. If litigation results, a court may find our patents or those of our licensors invalid or may find that we have infringed on a competitor’s rights. If any of our competitors have filed patent applications in the United States which claim technology we also have invented, the Patent and Trademark Office may require us to participate in expensive interference proceedings to determine who has the right to a patent for the technology. These actions may subject us to potential liability for damages. We or our collaborative partners may not prevail in a patent action and any license required under a patent may not be made available on commercially acceptable terms, or at all.

Substantial sales of our stock or the exercise or conversion of options or convertible securities may impact the market price of our common stock. *

Our collaborative partner Sigma-Tau and affiliates hold a substantial amount of our stock. The stock is freely tradable and Sigma-Tau is not under any obligation to SciClone which would prevent it from selling some or all of the stock it holds except for applicable U.S. insider trading regulations with respect to possession of material non-public information by Sigma-Tau or its officers and directors. Sigma-Tau affiliates include individuals as well as Sigma-Tau and related corporate entities. Any of such persons or entities may make their own decisions regarding their holdings of our common stock and could make individual decisions to sell such as a result of their individual tax planning, estate planning or corporate reorganizational reasons.

 

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In May 2009, we filed a Form S-3 Shelf registration with the SEC which was later declared effective by the SEC and will allow us to sell securities in one or more offerings. In addition, we issued 8,298,110 shares of the Company’s common stock to NovaMed under the terms of the acquisition in April 2011 and former NovaMed stockholders own approximately 15% of our outstanding common stock after the transaction. We have granted registration rights for those shares and the shares are freely tradable, however not more than 25% of such shares may be sold in any three month period thereafter. Although the shares will continue to be subject to such limitations until October 2012, sales of the shares could lead to a decrease in the market price of our common stock.

Future issuances of substantial amounts of our common stock could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Similarly, if we raise additional funds through the issuance of common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock or sell equity in a subsidiary, the percentage ownership of our present stockholders of the respective entities will be reduced and the price of our common stock may fall.

Our cash and investments are subject to certain risks which could materially adversely affect our overall financial position.

We invest our cash in accordance with an established internal policy and customarily in instruments which historically have been highly liquid and carried relatively low risk. However, with turmoil in the credit markets, similar types of investments have experienced losses in value or liquidity issues which differ from their historical pattern. For example, we routinely have invested in money market funds with large financial institutions. One or more of these funds could experience losses or liquidity problems and, although to date some of the largest financial institutions who sponsor such funds have offset similar losses, there is no assurance that our financial institutions would either not incur losses or would offset any losses were they to occur.

Any adjustment to decrease the ratings of our investments by an Interest Rate Rating Agency may have a negative impact on the value of our investments.

Should any of our cash investments permanently lose value or have their liquidity impaired, it would have a material and adverse effect on our overall financial position by imperiling our ability to fund our operations and forcing us to seek additional financing sooner than we would otherwise and such financing may not be available on commercially attractive terms.

In addition, financial instruments may subject us to a concentration of credit risk. Most of our cash, and cash equivalents are held by a limited number of financial institutions. To date, we have not experienced any losses on our deposits of cash and cash equivalents. However, if any of these instruments permanently lost value or had their liquidity impaired, it would also have a material and adverse effect on our overall financial position by imperiling our ability to fund our operations and forcing us to seek additional financing sooner than we would otherwise and such financing may not be available on commercially attractive terms.

Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and under Delaware law may make an acquisition of us, which may be beneficial to our stockholders, more difficult.

Certain anti-takeover provisions of Delaware law and our charter documents as currently in effect may make a change in control of our company more difficult, even if a change in control would be beneficial to our stockholders. Our charter documents contain certain anti-takeover provisions, including provisions in our certificate of incorporation providing that stockholders may not cumulate votes, stockholders’ meetings may be called by stockholders only if they hold 25% or more of our common stock and provisions in our bylaws providing that the stockholders may not take action by written consent. Additionally, our board of directors has the authority to issue 10 million shares of preferred stock and to determine the terms of those shares of stock without any further action by the stockholders. The rights of holders of our common stock are subject to the rights of the holders of any preferred stock that may be issued. The issuance of preferred stock could make it more difficult for a third-party to acquire a majority of our outstanding voting stock. Delaware law also prohibits corporations from engaging in a business combination with any holders of 15% or more of their capital stock until the holder has held the stock for three years unless, among other possibilities, the board of directors approves the transaction. Our board of directors may use these provisions to prevent changes in the management and control of our company. Also, on December 18, 2006, our board of directors declared a dividend distribution of one Preferred Stock Purchase Right (collectively, the “Rights”) for each outstanding share of our Common Stock, each Right which entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of the Company’s Series D Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value, at a price of $25.00 pursuant to a Rights Agreement dated as of December 19, 2006, between the Company and Mellon Investor Services LLC. The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. Under certain circumstances the Rights could cause substantial dilution to a person or group who attempts to acquire the Company on terms not approved by our board of directors. Although the Rights should not interfere with an acquisition of the Company approved by the board, the Rights may have the effect of delaying and perhaps improving the terms of an acquisition for our stockholders, or deterring an acquisition of the Company. Also, under applicable Delaware law, our board of directors may adopt additional anti-takeover measures in the future.

 

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We may be subject to product liability lawsuits, and our insurance may be inadequate to cover damages.

Clinical trials of any of our current and potential products or the actual commercial sales of our product may expose us to liability claims from the use of these products. We currently carry product liability insurance. However, we cannot be certain that we will be able to maintain insurance on acceptable terms, if at all, for clinical and commercial activities or that the insurance would be sufficient to cover any potential product liability claim or recall. If we fail to have sufficient coverage, our business, results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected.

If we are unable to comply with environmental and other laws and regulations, our business may be harmed.

We are subject to various federal, state and local laws, regulations and recommendations relating to the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of hazardous materials and waste products (including radioactive compounds and infectious disease agents), as well as safe working conditions, laboratory and manufacturing practices and the experimental use of animals. The extent of government regulation that might result from future legislation or administrative action in these areas cannot be accurately predicted.

We do not currently maintain hazardous materials at our facilities. While we outsource our research and development programs involving the controlled use of biohazardous materials, if in the future we conduct these programs ourselves, we might be required to incur significant cost to comply with environmental laws and regulations. Further, in the event of an accident, we would be liable for any damages that result, and the liability could exceed our resources.

Our business and operations are subject to the risks of being based in particular locations known for earthquakes, other natural catastrophic disasters and service interruptions.

Our corporate headquarters are located in the Silicon Valley area of Northern California, a region known for seismic activity. Although we maintain a disaster recovery policy that includes storage of important corporate data in a different geographic region of the United States, all of our significant corporate data is stored in our headquarters facility and accordingly, a significant natural disaster, such as an earthquake, could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results, and financial condition. Most of our sales are into China for which we maintain our warehouses for finished goods in Hong Kong, which can experience severe typhoon storms, earthquakes or other natural catastrophic disasters. Although our distributors in China may maintain several months supply of our product, were our warehouse capability to be interrupted, either through a natural disaster such as flooding or through a service interruption, such as a lack of electricity to power required air conditioning, our ability to timely deliver finished product to China could be adversely affected which in turn would materially adversely affect our sales and ensuing operating results.

We May Be Affected by Climate Change and Market or Regulatory Responses to Climate Change.

Climate change, including the impact of global warming, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity if it were to disrupt the demand, supply or delivery of product, management of our business, or result in cost increases as a result of government regulation.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Removed and Reserved

Item 5. Other Information

None

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit Number

 

Description

  10.1(1)**   Form of Amendment to Change in Control Agreements between SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc and Executive Officers effective August 4, 2011.
  31.1(1)   Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer.
  31.2(1)   Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer.
  32.1(1)   Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer.
  32.2(1)   Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer.
101***   The following materials from Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three- and nine- months ended September 30, 2011, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) includes: (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three- and Nine- Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and (iv) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

(1) Filed Herewith.
** Management compensatory plan or arrangement.
*** XBRL information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

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SIGNATURE

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.

 

    SCICLONE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
    (Registrant)

Date: November 9, 2011

   

/s/ Gary S. Titus

    Gary S. Titus
    Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit Number

 

Exhibit

  10.1(1)**   Form of Amendment to Change in Control Agreements between SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc and Executive Officers effective August 4, 2011.
  31.1(1)   Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer.
  31.2(1)   Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer.
  32.1(1)   Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer.
  32.2(1)   Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer.
101***   The following materials from Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three- and nine- months ended September 30, 2011, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) includes: (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three- and Nine- Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and (iv) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

(1) Filed Herewith.
** Management compensatory plan or arrangement.
*** XBRL information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

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