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LIABILITY RELATED TO SETTLEMENT ROYALTIES, WORKING CAPITAL FUND LIABILITY AND LIABILITY RELATED TO SALE OF FUTURE ROYALTIES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2026
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]  
LIABILITY RELATED TO SETTLEMENT ROYALTIES, WORKING CAPITAL FUND LIABILITY AND LIABILITY RELATED TO SALE OF FUTURE ROYALTIES LIABILITY RELATED TO SETTLEMENT ROYALTIES, WORKING CAPITAL FUND LIABILITY AND LIABILITY RELATED TO SALE OF FUTURE ROYALTIES
Vifor License Agreement
Summary of Agreement
On February 18, 2022, the Company entered into a Second Amended and Restated License Agreement, or the Vifor License Agreement, with CSL Vifor, which amended and restated the License Agreement dated as of May 12, 2017, or the Original License Agreement. The Vifor License Agreement granted CSL Vifor an exclusive license to sell Vafseo to Fresenius Medical Care North America and its affiliates, including Fresenius Kidney Care Group LLC, to certain third-party dialysis organizations approved by the Company, to independent dialysis organizations that are members of certain group purchasing organizations and certain non-retail specialty pharmacies, collectively, the Supply Group, in the U.S.
The Vifor License Agreement was structured as a profit share arrangement between the Company and CSL Vifor in which the Company would receive approximately 66% of the profit, net of certain pre-specified costs. In addition, CSL Vifor made an upfront payment to the Company of $25.0 million in February 2022 in connection with the amendment and restatement of the Vifor License Agreement, which was previously recorded as long-term deferred revenue in the consolidated balance sheets.
See Note 8, Liability Related to Settlement Royalties, Working Capital Fund Liability and Liability Related to Sale of Future Royalties, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2025 Form 10-K for a more detailed description of the Vifor License Agreement.
Investment Agreements
In connection with the Original License Agreement, in May 2017, the Company sold an aggregate of 3,571,429 shares of the Company’s common stock, or 2017 Shares, to CSL Vifor at a price per share of $14.00 for a total of $50.0 million.
In February 2022, in connection with the Vifor License Agreement, the Company sold an aggregate of 4,000,000 shares of its common stock, or 2022 Shares, to CSL Vifor at a price per share of $5.00 for a total of $20.0 million.
The $18.3 million, which represented the premiums over the closing stock price, or $4.7 million for the 2017 Shares and $13.6 million for the 2022 Shares, was previously recorded as long-term deferred revenue in the consolidated balance sheets as it represented consideration related to the Vifor License Agreement.  
The 2017 Shares and 2022 Shares are subject to standstill agreements and are subject to voting agreements. The 2017 Shares and 2022 Shares have not been registered pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and were issued and sold in reliance upon the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder as the transaction did not involve any public offering within the meaning of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Vifor Termination Agreement
On July 10, 2024, the Company and CSL Vifor entered into the Vifor Termination Agreement, pursuant to which the Company and CSL Vifor agreed, among other things, to terminate, effective immediately, the Vifor License Agreement.
Pursuant to the terms of the Vifor Termination Agreement, the Company will pay CSL Vifor decreasing quarterly tiered royalty payments ranging from a high single-digit percentage of the Company’s net sales of Vafseo up to $450.0 million to mid-single
digit percentage of the Company’s net sales of Vafseo above $450.0 million, in each case, in the U.S. during a calendar year, or the Settlement Royalty Payments. The Settlement Royalty Payments commenced upon the first sale of Vafseo by the Company, its affiliates or third-party licensees to a third party for use in the U.S., and will continue until the later of the (i) expiration of the last-to-expire valid claim listed in the FDA Orange Book that would be infringed by the making, using, selling or importing of Vafseo in the U.S. or (ii) the expiration of marketing or regulatory exclusivity for Vafseo in the U.S., or the Settlement Royalty Term. Beginning on July 1, 2027 and throughout the Settlement Royalty Term, the Company has the option to make a one-time payment to CSL Vifor, or the Royalty Buy-Down Option, upon which the Settlement Royalty Payments will be adjusted as of the date of exercise of the Royalty Buy-Down Option such that the Company will then only pay CSL Vifor quarterly royalty payments based on a mid-single digit percentage of the Company’s net sales of Vafseo up to $450.0 million in the U.S. during a calendar year in lieu of the above Settlement Royalty Payments. If the Company exercises the Royalty Buy-Down Option, the WCF Royalty Payments, as described below, will continue as described below.
The WCF Royalty Payments, the Settlement Royalty Payments and the Royalty Buy-Down Option are in consideration for the termination of the Vifor License Agreement and all obligations thereunder, and the covenants and agreements set forth in the Vifor Termination Agreement, including the settlement and release of all disputes and claims arising from the Vifor License Agreement.
As a result of the Vifor Termination Agreement, the Company reassessed whether the Vifor License Agreement still met the criteria to be considered a contract within the scope of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and concluded that CSL Vifor no longer met the definition of a customer and, therefore, the arrangement should not be considered a revenue contract with a customer under ASC 606. The Company therefore determined that the consideration received from CSL Vifor of $43.3 million, comprised of the up-front payment of $25.0 million and the premiums paid by CSL Vifor for the 2017 Shares and 2022 Shares of $4.7 million and $13.6 million, respectively, should be classified as debt. Accordingly, the Company recorded the $43.3 million as a liability and is amortizing such amount using the effective interest method over the Settlement Royalty Term. The liability related to settlement royalties and the amortization are based on the Company’s current estimates of future royalties expected to be paid over the life of the arrangement. To the extent the Company’s estimates of future royalty payments are greater or less than previous estimates or the estimated timing of such payments is materially different than previous estimates, the Company will adjust the effective interest rate and recognize the related non-cash interest expense on a prospective basis. On a quarterly basis, the Company reassesses the expected royalty payments.
The annual effective interest rate as of March 31, 2026 was 21.2% which is reflected as interest expense in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). The Company recognized interest expense related to the settlement royalties liability of $3.6 million and $5.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively. As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the balances related to the settlement royalties liability were as follows (in thousands):
Description
March 31, 2026
December 31, 2025
Current portion (included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities)
$15,397 $12,516 
Long-term portion
54,842 54,750 
Total settlement royalties liability
$70,239 $67,266 
Working Capital Fund Liability (Previously Referred to as Refund Liability to Customer)
Pursuant to the Vifor License Agreement, CSL Vifor contributed $40.0 million to a working capital fund, or Working Capital Fund, established to partially fund the Company’s costs of purchasing Vafseo from its contract manufacturers.
The Working Capital Fund was considered a debt arrangement with zero coupon interest and the Company imputed interest on the Working Capital Fund liability at a rate of 15.0% per annum, which was determined based on certain factors, including the Company's credit rating, comparable securities yield and the expected repayment period. On March 18, 2022, when the $40.0 million was received from CSL Vifor, the Company recorded an initial discount on the Working Capital Fund liability and a corresponding deferred gain to the Working Capital Fund liability in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
On May 3, 2024, the Company and CSL Vifor entered into Amendment #1 to the Vifor License Agreement, or the Amendment. Pursuant to the Amendment, and as modified by the Vifor Termination Agreement, the Company and CSL Vifor agreed to modify the method of repayment of the Working Capital Fund such that the Working Capital Fund will be repaid through quarterly tiered royalty payments ranging from 8% to 14% of the Company's net sales of Vafseo in the U.S., or the WCF Royalty Payments. The WCF Royalty Payments commenced on July 1, 2025, and will continue until the earlier of (i) the cumulative total of the WCF Royalty Payments equals $40.0 million, or (ii) May 31, 2028, or the WCF Royalty Term. The WCF Royalty Payments are subject to minimum true-up milestones of $10.0 million, $20.0 million and $40.0 million, or the WCF Royalty True-Up Payments, on each of May 31, 2026, May 31, 2027 and May 31, 2028, respectively, or the WCF Royalty True-Up Dates. If the cumulative total of the WCF Royalty Payments paid to CSL Vifor on any given WCF Royalty True-Up Date is less
than the respective WCF Royalty True-Up Payment, the Company will pay CSL Vifor a one-time payment equal to the difference between the WCF Royalty True-Up Payment and the cumulative total of the WCF Royalty Payments paid by the Company through such WCF Royalty True-Up Date. The Company determined that the terms of the Amendment are not substantially different than the terms of the Vifor License Agreement, and therefore the Amendment was accounted for as a modification. The Company concluded that the 15% discount rate remains appropriate. On a quarterly basis, the Company reassesses the effective rate and will adjust the rate prospectively, if needed.
The discount on the Working Capital Fund liability is being amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the WCF Royalty Term. The deferred gain is being amortized to interest income on a straight-line basis over the WCF Royalty Term. The amortization of the discount was $1.2 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively. The amortization of the deferred gain was $0.8 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively.
As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the balances related to the Working Capital Fund liability were as follows (in thousands):
Description
March 31, 2026
December 31, 2025
Current portion
$23,445 $17,356 
Long-term portion
16,405 22,606 
Total Working Capital Fund liability$39,850 $39,962 
Liability Related to Sale of Future Royalties
In February 2021, the Company entered into a royalty interest acquisition agreement, or the Royalty Agreement, with HealthCare Royalty Partners IV, L.P., or HCR, pursuant to which the Company sold to HCR its right to receive royalties and sales milestones for Vafseo in Japan and certain other Asian countries, such countries collectively, the TPC Territory, and such payments collectively the Royalty Interest Payments, in each case, payable to the Company under the Company's Collaboration Agreement, or the TPC Agreement, with Tanabe Pharma Corporation, formerly Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, or TPC. The Royalty Interest Payments are subject to an annual maximum “cap” of $13.0 million, after which the Company will receive 85% of the Royalty Interest Payments for the remainder of that year. The Royalty Interest Payments are also subject to an aggregate maximum “cap” of $150.0 million, after which the Royalty Interest Payments will revert back to the Company.
The Company retains the right to receive all potential future regulatory milestones for Vafseo under the TPC Agreement. The Royalty Agreement will terminate on the earlier of the date on which HCR has received (i) the last Royalty Interest Payment or (ii) payment by the Company of an amount equal to the Aggregate Cap minus the aggregate amount of all Royalty Interest Payments actually received by HCR.
At the transaction date, the Company recognized the proceeds received from HCR of $44.8 million (net of certain transaction expenses) as a liability and is amortizing it using the effective interest method over the life of the arrangement. The liability related to sale of future royalties and the debt amortization are based on the Company’s current estimates of future royalties expected to be paid over the life of the arrangement. To the extent the Company’s estimates of future royalty payments are greater or less than previous estimates or the estimated timing of such payments is materially different than previous estimates, the Company will adjust the effective interest rate and recognize related non-cash interest expense on a prospective basis. In the event the Company's estimates of future royalties are less than the proceeds from the sale of future royalties, the Company will not recognize related non-cash interest expense. On a quarterly basis, the Company assesses the expected royalty payments. The annual effective interest rate as of March 31, 2026 was 0% and, therefore the Company did not recognize any non-cash interest expense in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). As a result of the Company's ongoing involvement in the cash flows related to the royalties and sales milestones in the TPC Territory, the Company will continue to account for the royalties received as non-cash royalty revenue which is reflected within license, collaboration and other revenue in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). See Note 8, Liability Related to Settlement Royalties, Working Capital Fund Liability and Liability Related to Sale of Future Royalties, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2025 Form 10-K for a more detailed description of the Royalty Agreement.
The Company paid royalties to HCR of $0.5 million during each of the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025. As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025 the balances were as follows (in thousands):                        
Liability related to sale of future royaltiesMarch 31, 2026December 31, 2025
Current portion (included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities)$1,401 $1,664 
Long-term portion50,414 50,608 
Total liability related to sale of future royalties$51,815 $52,272 
The Royalty Agreement requires the Company to take certain actions, including actions with respect to the Royalty Interest Payments, the TPC Agreement, and the Company's intellectual property. The Royalty Agreement also contains certain representations and warranties, covenants, indemnification obligations, events of default and other provisions that are customary for a royalty monetization transaction of this nature. In addition, the Company granted HCR a precautionary security interest in connection with the Royalty Interest Payments.