Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 


 

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007

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 000-33095

 


ACHILLION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   52-2113479

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

300 George Street, New Haven, CT   06511
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(203) 624-7000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


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 is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

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

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 1, 2007, the registrant had 15,622,721 shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, outstanding.

 



Table of Contents

Table of Contents

INDEX

 

     PAGE
NUMBER
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  

Balance Sheets at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 (unaudited)

   3

Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (unaudited)

   4

Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 (unaudited)

   5

Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (unaudited)

   6

Notes to Financial Statements

   7

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

   15

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

   28

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

   28
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

   28

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

   45

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

   46

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     September 30, 2007     December 31, 2006  

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 7,627     $ 22,662  

Marketable securities

     32,016       39,904  

Accounts receivable

     79       796  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     1,506       1,502  
                

Total current assets

     41,228       64,864  

Fixed assets, net

     2,236       1,966  

Deferred financing costs

     42       59  

Restricted cash

     205       257  
                

Total assets

   $ 43,711     $ 67,146  
                

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 3,994     $ 3,572  

Accounts payable

     2,556       2,633  

Accrued expenses

     3,247       2,639  

Deferred revenue

     2,283       2,830  
                

Total current liabilities

     12,080       11,674  

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     3,094       5,327  

Accrued expenses, net of current portion

     144       340  

Deferred revenue

     470       2,435  
                

Total liabilities

     15,788       19,776  
                

Commitments

    

Stockholders’ Equity:

    

Common Stock, $.001 par value; 100,000 shares authorized: 15,623 and 15,535 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

     16       16  

Additional paid-in capital

     172,298       170,650  

Stock warrants

     484       644  

Stock subscription receivable

     (1 )     (50 )

Accumulated deficit

     (144,945 )     (123,908 )

Unrealized gain on marketable securities

     71       18  
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     27,923       47,370  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 43,711     $ 67,146  
                

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

 

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Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,          Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2007     2006          2007     2006  

Revenue

   $ 900     $ 1,196        $ 3,645     $ 5,514  

Operating expenses

           

Research and development

     5,854       5,300          21,939       16,338  

General and administrative

     1,607       1,023          4,878       3,340  
                                   

Total operating expenses

     7,461       6,323          26,817       19,678  
                                   

Loss from operations

     (6,561 )     (5,127 )        (23,172 )     (14,164 )

Other income (expense)

           

Interest income

     581       162          2,005       430  

Interest expense

     (241 )     (232 )        (748 )     (679 )

Change in fair value of put right liability

     —         72          —         72  
                                   

Net loss before tax benefits

     (6,221 )     (5,125 )        (21,915 )     (14,341 )

Tax benefit

     327       9          698       59  
                                   

Net loss

     (5,894 )     (5,116 )        (21,217 )     (14,282 )

Accretion of preferred stock dividends

     —         (1,407 )        —         (3,693 )
                                   

Loss attributable to common stockholders

   $ (5,894 )   $ (6,523 )      $ (21,217 )   $ (17,975 )
                                   

Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders

   $ (0.38 )   $ (12.69 )      $ (1.36 )   $ (35.11 )
                                   

Weighted average shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders

     15,607       514          15,568       512  
                                   

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

 

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Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Common Stock    Additional
Paid-In
Capital
   Stock
Warrants
    Stock
Subscription
Receivable
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Unrealized
Gain
  

Total
Stockholders’

Equity

 
     Shares    Amount               

Balances at December 31, 2006

   15,535      16      170,650      644       (50 )     (123,908 )     18      47,370  

Adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 48

   —        —        —        —         —         180       —        180  

Stock compensation

   —        —        1,294      —         —         —         —        1,294  

Issuance of common stock upon exercise stock options

   59      —        101      —         —         —         —        101  

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants

   9      —        160      (160 )     —         —         —        —    

Issuance of common stock under ESPP Plan

   20      —        93      —         —         —         —        93  

Repayment of stock subscriptions receivable

   —        —        —        —         49       —         —        49  

Unrealized gain on marketable securities

   —        —        —        —         —         —         53      53  

Net loss

   —        —        —        —         —         (21,217 )     —        (21,217 )
                                                          

Balances at September 30, 2007

   15,623    $ 16    $ 172,298    $ 484     $ (1 )   $ (144,945 )   $ 71    $ 27,923  
                                                          

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

 

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Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2007     2006  

Cash flows from operating activities

    

Net loss

   $ (21,217 )   $ (14,282 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     560       545  

Stock-based compensation

     1,294       525  

Noncash interest expense

     87       68  

Change in fair value of put right liability

     —         (72 )

Loss on disposal of equipment

     2       27  

Amortization of premium (discount) on securities

     (1,487 )     4  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     717       146  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (4 )     223  

Account payable

     (77 )     61  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     592       848  

Deferred revenue

     (2,512 )     (3,030 )
                

Net cash (used in) operating activities

     (22,045 )     (14,937 )
                

Cash flows from investing activities

    

Purchase of property and equipment

     (815 )     (355 )

Purchase of marketable securities

     (53,132 )     —    

Maturities of marketable securities

     62,560       —    

Release of restriction on cash

     52       52  
                

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     8,665       (303 )
                

Cash flows from financing activities

    

Proceeds from issuance of Series C-2 Preferred Stock, net of issuance costs

     —         18,224  

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     101       3  

Proceeds from sale of common stock under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan

     93       —    

Proceeds from repayment of stock subscription receivable

     49       98  

Payments for initial public offering costs

     —         (1,402 )

Borrowings under notes payable

     800       5,355  

Repayments of notes payable

     (2,698 )     (2,162 )
                

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (1,655 )     20,116  
                

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (15,035 )     4,876  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     22,662       9,583  
                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 7,627     $ 14,459  
                

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

    

Cash paid for interest

   $ 657     $ 662  

Supplemental disclosure of noncash financing activities

    

Issuance of warrants in connection with debt financing

     —       $ 174  

Cashless exercise of warrants

   $ 288       —    

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

 

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Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

1. Nature of the Business

Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated on August 17, 1998 in Delaware. The Company was established to discover, develop and commercialize innovative anti-infective drug therapies. The Company is devoting substantially all of its efforts towards product research and development.

The Company has incurred losses of $131,082 from inception through September 30, 2007 and had an accumulated deficit of $144,945 through September 30, 2007. The Company has funded its operations primarily through the sale of equity securities, borrowings from debt facilities, and the receipt of license fees, milestone and cost-sharing receipts from our collaboration partner, Gilead Sciences, Inc. (“Gilead”).

The Company expects to incur substantial and increasing losses for at least the next several years and will need substantial additional financing to obtain regulatory approvals, fund operating losses, and, if deemed appropriate, establish manufacturing and sales and marketing capabilities, which the Company will seek to raise through public or private equity or debt financings, collaborative or other arrangements with third parties or through other sources of financing. There can be no assurance that such funds will be available on terms favorable to the Company, if at all. In addition to the normal risks associated with early-stage companies, there can be no assurance that the Company will successfully complete its research and development, obtain adequate patent protection for its technology, obtain necessary government regulatory approval for drug candidates the Company develops or that any approved drug candidates will be commercially viable. In addition, the Company may not be profitable even it succeeds in commercializing any of its drug candidates.

2. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements of the Company should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 29, 2007. The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information, in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and the guidance in Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, since they are interim financial statements, the accompanying financial statements do not include all of the information and disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The accompanying financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations for the interim periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the financial statements and notes thereto. A discussion of the Company’s critical accounting policies and management estimates is described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in Part I, Item II of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

 

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In the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company completed an initial public offering of 5,175 shares of its common stock, including the underwriters’ overallotment option, at a public offering price of $11.50 per share. Net proceeds to the Company were approximately $53,400, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. In connection with the Company’s initial public offering, the outstanding shares of Series A, Series B, Series C, Series C-1 and Series C-2 Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”) were converted into 9,834 shares of common stock, including shares issued in satisfaction of $15,400 of accrued but unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock as of October 31, 2006, the closing date of the initial public offering transaction.

3. Earnings (Loss) Per Share (“EPS”)

Basic EPS is calculated in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 128, or SFAS No. 128, Earnings per Share, by dividing net income or loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average common stock outstanding. Diluted EPS is calculated in accordance with SFAS No. 128 by adjusting weighted average common shares outstanding for the dilutive effect of common stock options, warrants, convertible preferred stock and accrued but unpaid convertible preferred stock dividends. In periods where a net loss is recorded, no effect is given to potentially dilutive securities, since the effect would be antidilutive. Total securities that could potentially dilute basic EPS in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would have been antidilutive for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were as follows (prior to consideration of the treasury stock method):

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,
     2007    2006

Options

   1,259    807

Warrants

   311    335

Convertible Preferred Stock, as converted

   —      8,631

Accrued but unpaid Convertible Preferred Stock dividends

   —      1,165
         

Total potentially dilutive securities outstanding

   1,570    10,938
         

4. Collaboration Arrangement

In November 2004, the Company entered into a collaboration arrangement (the “Gilead Arrangement”) with Gilead, which was amended in March 2007, to jointly develop and commercialize compounds for use in treating hepatitis C infection, which inhibit viral replication through a specified novel mechanism of action. Commercialization efforts will commence under the Gilead Arrangement only if such compounds are found to be commercially viable and all appropriate regulatory approvals have been obtained. In connection with this arrangement, Gilead paid to the Company $10,000 as payment for both a non-refundable up-front license fee and 2,300 shares of Series C-1 Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series C-1”).

Under the Gilead Arrangement, the Company and Gilead will work together to develop one or more compounds for use in treating hepatitis C infection until proof-of-concept in one compound, as defined in the Gilead Arrangement, is achieved (the “Research Period”). Subsequent to the achievement of proof-of-concept in one compound, the Company has no further obligation to continue providing services to Gilead but, at Gilead’s request, the Company may elect to extend the Research Period for up to an additional two years after proof-of-concept is established, based upon good faith negotiations at that point in time. Further, if both parties agree that potential back-up compounds should continue to be researched, good faith negotiations would also be conducted to determine the specifics of any arrangement to continue to research backup compounds.

 

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Gilead has agreed to make milestone payments to the Company upon the achievement of various defined clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones, such as regulatory approval in the United States, the European Union, or Japan. The Company could receive up to $157,500 in development, regulatory and sales milestone payments, assuming the successful simultaneous development of a lead and back-up compound, and annual sales in excess of $600,000. The Company could also receive royalties on net sales of products if commercialization is achieved.

The up-front payment of $10,000, received in 2004, was first allocated to the fair value of the Series C-1, as determined by management after considering a valuation analysis performed by an unrelated third-party valuation firm at the direction of the Company, in which each share of the Series C-1 was determined to be worth $0.88, or approximately $2,000 in aggregate. The remaining $8,000 balance of the $10,000 is being accounted for as a non-refundable up-front license fee. Due to certain provisions contained within the Gilead Arrangement relating to services to be performed on both the primary and backup compounds, as defined in the Gilead Arrangement, the non-refundable up-front license fee, as well as any milestones achieved during the Research Period, including a $2,000 milestone received in 2005, are being accounted for under the proportionate performance model. Revenue recognized under the proportionate performance model is limited by the aggregate cash received or receivable to date by the Company. Milestones achieved, if any, after the termination of the Research Period, will be recognized when the milestone is achieved as the Company has no further research or development obligations under the Gilead Arrangement after the Research Period.

Under the Gilead Arrangement, through March 31, 2007, agreed upon research or development expenses, including internal full-time equivalent (“FTE”) costs and external costs, incurred by both companies during the period up to proof-of-concept were borne equally by both parties. Prior to March 31, 2007, the Company was incurring the majority of those expenses and, therefore, was the net receiver of funds under this cost-sharing portion of the arrangement. Effective April 1, 2007, internal costs, including FTE costs are no longer subject to this cost-sharing arrangement. Instead, each party bears its own internal costs, including FTE costs. External costs continue to be shared equally by both parties. The Company and Gilead also revised their joint research program to focus on next-generation NS4A antagonists, after discontinuing clinical trials for ACH-806, an NS4A antagonist the Company was previously evaluating. As a result, the Company extended the period over which its remaining obligations under the agreement would be completed, which is estimated to be the end of 2008. Accordingly, the period over which the Company recognizes amounts received under the Gilead Arrangement has been extended, resulting in lower revenue for the nine month period ended September 30, 2007 than amounts recognized in previous periods.

Gilead has the right to terminate the Gilead Arrangement without cause upon 120 days written notice to the Company. Upon termination of the Gilead Arrangement for any reason, all cost sharing amounts due and payable through the date of termination shall be paid by the appropriate party and no previously paid amounts will be refundable.

During the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, the Company recognized revenue of $900 and $1,123, respectively, under this collaboration agreement, of which $501 and $529, respectively, related to the recognition of the non-refundable upfront fee and pre-proof-of-concept milestone under the proportionate performance model. The remaining $399 and $594 recognized during the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, relate to FTE reimbursements recognized under the proportionate performance model and external costs billed under the Gilead Arrangement, net of payments made to Gilead of $32 and $375 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Payments to Gilead under this collaboration are recognized as a reduction in revenue.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, the Company recognized revenue of $3,610 and $5,283, respectively, under this collaboration agreement, of which $1,976 and $3,030,

 

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respectively, related to the recognition of the non-refundable fee and pre-proof-of-concept milestone under the proportionate performance model. The remaining $1,634 and $2,253 recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, relate to FTE reimbursements recognized under the proportionate performance model and external costs billed under the collaboration, net of payments made to Gilead of $391 and $1,281 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Included in the accompanying balance sheets as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, is $79 and $772, respectively, of receivables resulting from this collaboration agreement and $2,753 and $5,265, respectively, of deferred revenue resulting from the up-front fee, the $2,000 milestone payment, and FTE costs. In addition to Gilead’s rights to unilaterally terminate this agreement, each party has the right to terminate for material breach; however the Company may terminate for Gilead’s breach only on a market-by-market basis, and, if applicable, a product-by-product basis.

5. Marketable Securities

The Company classifies its entire investment portfolio as available for sale as defined in SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities. As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company’s investment portfolio consisted of U.S. government and agency securities held by a major banking institution. The maturities of marketable securities of $32,016 and $39,904 at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, are less than one year.

Securities are carried at fair value with the unrealized gains (losses) reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. The unrealized gain from marketable securities was $71 and $18 at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.

As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, none of the Company’s investments were determined to be other than temporarily impaired.

6. Accrued Expenses

Current and long-term accrued expenses consist of the following:

 

    

September 30,

2007

   December 31,
2006

Accrued compensation

   $ 812    $ 749

Accrued clinical trial expense

     1,188      783

Accrued preclinical trial expense

     244      213

Accrued license expense/payments

     100      100

Accrued rent expense

     143      160

Accrued manufacturing and formulation

     49      218

Accrued consulting expenses

     178      218

Other accrued expenses

     677      538
             

Total

   $ 3,391    $ 2,979
             

Accrued clinical trial and preclinical trial expenses are comprised of amounts owed to third-party contract research organizations or “CROs”, clinical investigators, laboratories and data managers for research and development work performed on behalf of the Company. At each period end the Company evaluates the accrued clinical trial expense balance based upon information received from each third party and ensures that the estimated balance is reasonably stated based upon the information available to the Company. Such estimates are subject to change as additional information becomes available.

 

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7. Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following:

 

     September 30,
2007
    December 31,
2006
 

CII Term Loan, payable in monthly installments of $13 through September 2010 with a final balloon payment of $686, with interest at 7.5% per annum

   $ 954     $ 1,015  

2002 CII Term Loan, payable in monthly installments of $6 through October 2007, with interest at 7.5% per annum

     6       54  

2002 Credit Facility, payable in monthly installments as the individual notes mature through January 2007, with interest ranging from 8.01% to 10.17% per annum

     —         26  

2003 Credit Facility, payable in monthly installments as the individual notes mature through May 2008, with interest ranging from 7.79% to 9.27% per annum

     308       458  

2005 Credit Facility, payable in monthly installments as the individual notes mature through June 2010, with interest ranging from 10.92% to 11.58% per annum

     5,820       7,346  
                

Total long-term debt

     7,088       8,899  

Less: current portion

     (3,994 )     (3,572 )
                

Total long-term debt, net of current portion

   $ 3,094     $ 5,327  
                

8. Stock-Based Compensation

The Company’s 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, or the 2006 Plan, is administered by the Company’s Board of Directors and provides for the grant of incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights and other stock-based awards. The Company’s officers, employees, consultants, advisors and directors, are eligible to receive awards under the 2006 Plan; however, incentive stock options may only be granted to employees. Options granted are exercisable for a period determined by the Company, but in no event longer than ten years from the date of the grant. Options generally vest ratably over four years. There were 646 shares available to be granted under our 2006 Plan as of September 30, 2007.

A summary of the status of the Company’s stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 is presented in the table and narrative below:

 

     Options     Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

Outstanding at January 1, 2007

   1,208     $ 6.53

Granted

   172       6.37

Exercised

   (59 )     1.73

Cancelled/Forfeited

   (62 )     10.84
            

Outstanding at September 30, 2007

   1,259     $ 6.52
            

Options exercisable at September 30, 2007

   775     $ 2.96
            

Weighted-average fair value of options granted during the period

     $ 4.23

 

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The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes option pricing model for determining the estimated fair value for stock-based awards. The Black-Scholes model requires the use of assumptions which determine the fair value of the stock-based awards. The assumptions used to value options granted are as follows:

 

     For the Nine Months Ended
     September 30,
2007
  September 30,
2006

Expected term of option

   6.1 years   5 years

Expected volatility

   70%   70%

Risk free interest rate

   4.31 – 4.94%   4.30%

Expected dividend yield

   0%   0%

Total compensation expense recorded in the accompanying statements of operations associated with option grants made to employees for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 was $470 and $158, respectively. Total compensation expense recorded in the accompanying statements of operations associated with option grants made to employees for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 was $1,245 and $481, respectively. The Company recorded no tax benefit related to these options since the Company currently maintains a full valuation allowance.

As of September 30, 2007, the intrinsic value of the options outstanding was $3,070, of which $2,221 related to vested options and $849 related to unvested options. The intrinsic value for stock options is calculated based on the difference between the exercise prices of the underlying awards and the quoted stock price of our common stock as of the reporting date.

As of September 30, 2007, the total compensation cost related to unvested options not yet recognized in the financial statements is approximately $4,349, net of estimated forfeitures, and the weighted average period over which it is expected to be recognized is 1.58 years.

The Company also occasionally grants stock option awards to consultants. Such grants are accounted for pursuant to Emerging Issue Task Force (“EITF”) No. 96-18, Accounting for Equity Instruments That Are Issued to Other Than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services, and, accordingly, the Company recognizes compensation expense equal to the fair value of such awards and amortizes such expense over the performance period. Total expense for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 was $(2) and $2, respectively and total expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 was $2 and $43, respectively.

2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Company established an Employee Stock Purchase Plan effective December 1, 2006 (the “2006 ESPP”). A total of 250 shares of common stock are available for issuance under the 2006 ESPP. Eligible employees can purchase common stock pursuant to payroll deductions at a price equal to 85% of the lower of the fair market value of the common stock at the beginning or end of each six-month offering period.

The Company measures the fair value of issuances under the employee stock purchase plan using the Black-Scholes option pricing model at the end of each reporting period. The compensation cost for the 2006 ESPP consists of the discount (15% of the grant date stock price) and the fair value of the option features. The Black-Scholes model requires the use of assumptions that determine the fair value of the stock-based awards. The assumptions used to value issuances under the 2006 ESPP are as follows:

 

     For the Nine Months Ended
     September 30, 2007

Expected term of option

   6 months

Expected volatility

   46% – 70%

Risk free interest rate

   4.31 – 4.94%

Expected dividend yield

   0%

 

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For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company issued 20 shares associated with the 2006 ESPP. The Company recorded compensation expense of $15 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and $47 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. There was no compensation expense related to the 2006 ESPP for the three or nine months ended September 30, 2006 as the 2006 ESPP was not established until December 1, 2006. As of September 30, 2007, 230 shares remained available for future issuance under the 2006 ESPP.

9. Income Taxes

The Company uses an asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting of income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between financial reporting and tax basis assets and liabilities and are measured by applying enacted rates and laws to taxable years in which differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Further, the effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board, (“FASB”) Interpretation No.48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No.109, or FIN 48. FIN 48 prescribes a comprehensive model for how a company should recognize, measure, present, and disclose in its financial statements uncertain tax positions that the company has taken or expects to take on a tax return (including a decision whether to file or not file a return in a particular jurisdiction). Under FIN 48, the financial statements reflect expected future tax consequences of such positions presuming the taxing authorities’ full knowledge of the position and all relevant facts.

The IRS could challenge tax positions taken by the Company for the periods for which there are open tax years. The Company is open to challenge for the periods of 1998 through 2006 from federal and the State of Connecticut jurisdictions.

As a result of implementation of FIN 48, the Company recognized a decrease of $180 in its liability for uncertain tax positions, which was accounted for as a decrease to the January 1, 2007 accumulated deficit. The Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits as of the date of adoption or September 30, 2007.

At December 31, 2006, the Company’s federal and state net operating loss carryforwards, or NOLs, were approximately $101,201 and $102,709, respectively, and the Company had gross deferred income tax assets of approximately $49,069, which resulted primarily from the federal and state NOL and tax credit carryforwards. In accordance with SFAS No. 109 “Accounting for Income Taxes,” or SFAS 109, the Company maintains a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Utilization of the NOL and research and development credit carryforwards may be subject to a substantial annual limitation under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or Section 382, due to changes in ownership of the Company that have occurred previously or that could occur in the future.

 

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These ownership changes may limit the amount of NOL and research and development credit carryforwards that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income and tax. In general, an ownership change, as defined by Section 382, results from transactions increasing the ownership of certain shareholders or public groups in the stock of a corporation by more than 50 percentage points over a three-year period. Since the Company’s formation, the Company has raised capital through the issuance of capital stock on several occasions which, combined with the purchasing shareholders’ subsequent disposition of those shares, may have resulted in a change of control, as defined by Section 382. Due to the significant complexity and cost associated with a change in control study, and because there could be additional changes in control in the future, the Company has not assessed whether there has been one or more changes in control since the Company’s formation. If the Company has experienced a change of control at any time since Company formation, utilization of its NOL or research and development credit carryforwards would be subject to an annual limitation under Section 382. Any limitation may result in expiration of a portion of the NOL or research and development credit carryforwards before utilization which would reduce the Company’s gross deferred tax assets.

The Company does not have any interest or penalties accrued related to tax positions as it does not have any unrecognized tax benefits. In the event the Company determines that accrual of interest or penalties is necessary in the future, the amount will be presented as a component of income taxes.

10. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No.157, Fair Value Measurements. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not believe that its adoption in the first quarter of 2008 will have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. SFAS No. 159 permits an entity to elect to report many financial assets and liabilities at fair value. Entities electing the fair value option would be required to recognize changes in fair value in earnings and are required to distinguish, on the face of the statement of financial position, the fair value of assets and liabilities for which the fair value option has been elected and similar assets and liabilities measured using another measurement attribute. The initial adjustment to reflect the difference between the fair value and the carrying amount would be accounted for as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the date of initial adoption. SFAS No. 159 is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any the adoption of FAS 159 may have on its financial statements.

In June 2007, the EITF reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 07-03, Accounting for Nonrefundable Advance Payments for Goods or Services to Be Used in Future Research and Development Activities. EITF 07-03 concludes that non-refundable advance payments for future research and development activities should be deferred and capitalized until the goods have been delivered or the related services have been performed. If an entity does not expect the goods to be delivered or services to be rendered, the capitalized advance payment should be charged to expense. This consensus is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier adoption is not permitted. The effect of applying the consensus will be prospective for new contracts entered into on or after that date. The Company does not believe that its adoption of the consensus in the first quarter of 2008 will have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements relating to historical matters (including statements to the effect that we “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “target” and similar expressions) should be considered forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of important factors, including factors discussed in this section and elsewhere in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, including those discussed in Item 1A of this report under the heading “Risk Factors,” and the risks discussed in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s analysis, judgment, belief or expectation only as the date hereof. We assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

Overview

We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative treatments for infectious diseases. Within the anti-infective market, we are currently concentrating on the development of antivirals and antibacterials. We are targeting our antiviral development efforts on treatments for HIV infection and chronic hepatitis C infection, and we are directing our antibacterial development efforts toward treatments for serious hospital-based bacterial infections.

We have devoted and are continuing to devote substantially all of our efforts toward product research and development. We have incurred losses of $131 million from inception through September 30, 2007 and had an accumulated deficit of $145 million through September 30, 2007. Our net losses were $21.2 million and $14.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

In the fourth quarter of 2006, we completed an initial public offering of 5,175,000 shares of common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, including the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. Proceeds to us from the offering were approximately $53.4 million, net of underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses.

Financial Operations Overview

Revenue

To date, we have not generated revenue from the sale of any drugs. The majority of our revenue recognized to date has been derived from our collaboration with Gilead Sciences to develop compounds for use in treating chronic hepatitis C infection. During the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, we recognized $3.6 million and $5.3 million, respectively, under this collaboration arrangement.

Upon initiating our collaboration with Gilead Sciences in 2004, we received a payment of $10.0 million, which included an equity investment by Gilead Sciences determined to be worth approximately $2.0 million. We are accounting for the remaining $8.0 million as a nonrefundable up-front fee. Due to certain provisions contained within our collaboration with Gilead Sciences relating to services to be performed on both the primary and backup compounds, the non-refundable up-front license fee, as well as any milestones achieved during the period prior to when proof-of-concept in one compound is achieved, including a $2.0 million milestone received in 2005, are being accounted for under the proportionate performance model. Revenue under the proportionate performance model is recognized as our effort under the collaboration is incurred. When our performance obligation is complete, we will recognize milestone payments, if any, when the corresponding milestone is achieved. We will recognize royalty payments, if

 

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any, upon product sales. We revised our joint research program with Gilead Sciences in early 2007 to focus on next-generation NS4A antagonists. As a result, we extended the period over which our remaining obligations under the arrangement would be completed. Accordingly, the period over which we recognize amounts received under the arrangement has been extended, resulting in lower revenue for the nine month period ended September 30, 2007 as compared to the corresponding period in 2006.

Research and development expenses under our collaboration with Gilead Sciences, including internal full-time equivalent costs and external research costs, incurred by both companies prior to proof-of-concept, were borne equally by both parties through March 31, 2007. As we were providing the majority of those services and were incurring the majority of those expenses, we were the net recipient of funds under this cost-sharing portion of the arrangement and therefore recognized the reimbursed costs as revenue rather than research expense. We are recognizing payments made by us to Gilead Sciences in connection with this collaboration as a reduction of revenue. Effective April 1, 2007, internal full-time equivalent costs are no longer subject to this cost-sharing arrangement. Instead, each party provides for the costs of its own full-time equivalents. We expect that the relative full-time equivalent efforts of each of Achillion and Gilead Sciences will remain approximately one-half of total efforts. We continue to equally share external research costs with Gilead Sciences.

We have also recognized revenue under a Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR, grant by the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, related to our HIV capsid research program. During the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 we recognized $35,000 and $231,000 respectively, in revenue under this grant. Efforts under our Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR, grant were completed in the first quarter of 2007. No additional grant revenue related to this grant will be recognized.

Research and Development

Our research and development expenses reflect costs incurred for our proprietary research and development projects as well as costs for research and development projects conducted as part of collaborative arrangements we establish. These costs consist primarily of salaries and benefits for our research and development personnel, costs of services by clinical research organizations, other outsourced research, materials used during research and development activities, facility-related costs such as rent and utilities associated with our laboratory and clinical development space, and operating supplies. We expect research and development costs to increase significantly over the next several years as our drug development programs progress.

We have established our drug candidate pipeline through our internal discovery capabilities and through the in-licensing of an attractive drug candidate. Through these efforts we have identified and are developing candidates in the following areas:

 

   

Elvucitabine for HIV Infection. Elvucitabine is an antiviral we are developing for the treatment of HIV infection. We are currently evaluating elvucitabine in phase II clinical trials to further explore its safety and efficacy in HIV-infected patients.

 

   

ACH-702 for Serious Hospital-Based Bacterial Infections. Our most advanced preclinical candidate is ACH-702, which we are developing for the treatment of serious hospital-based bacterial infections.

 

   

NS4A Antagonists (including ACH-1095) for Chronic Hepatitis C Infection. In our second preclinical-stage program, we are evaluating drug candidates with a unique mechanism of action for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in collaboration with Gilead Sciences.

 

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All costs associated with internal research and development, and research and development services for which we have externally contracted, are expensed as incurred. Our research and development expenses are outlined in the table below.

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2007
   Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2006
     (in thousands)

Direct external costs:

     

Elvucitabine

   $ 8,388    $ 3,724

ACH-702

     2,732      1,914

NS4A Antagonist (including ACH-806 and ACH-1095)

     1,555      2,254
             
     12,675      7,892

Direct internal personnel costs

     5,376      4,652
             

Sub-total direct costs

     18,051      12,544

Indirect costs and overhead

     3,888      3,794
             

Total research and development

   $ 21,939    $ 16,338
             

Currently, we are conducting two phase II clinical trials with elvucitabine and preclinical studies with ACH-702. In February 2007, we and our collaborator, Gilead Sciences, discontinued a proof-of-concept clinical trial for ACH-806, an NS4A antagonist we were previously evaluating for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, and are currently completing our assessment of new lead candidates in order to nominate one for clinical development. From the inception of each respective program through September 30, 2007, we incurred approximately $41.6 million in total costs for elvucitabine, approximately $14.9 million in total costs for ACH-702 and approximately $24.9 million in total costs for our NS4A antagonist program (including ACH-806). These figures include our internal research and development personnel costs and related facilities overhead. We expect our research and development costs to increase substantially in the foreseeable future. We currently estimate that the clinical trial costs for two phase III clinical trials of elvucitabine in different HIV populations will be approximately $48.0 million, exclusive of the internal personnel costs associated with conducting these trials. We estimate that the costs associated with completing preclinical studies and phase I clinical trials with ACH-702 will be approximately $3.0 million, exclusive of the internal personnel costs associated with conducting these studies and trials. We anticipate that the costs associated with preclinical development through proof-of-concept of our next- generation NS4A antagonist will be approximately $3.7 million, exclusive of internal personnel costs. This amount for NS4A represents one-half of the external costs associated with those activities, as we share such external costs with Gilead Sciences.

General and Administrative

Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and benefits for management and administrative personnel, professional fees for legal, accounting and other services, travel

 

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costs and facility-related costs such as rent, utilities and other general office expenses. We expect our general and administrative expenses to increase as we continue to hire additional employees, increase our recruiting efforts, expand our infrastructure and incur additional costs related to the growth of our business and operations as a public company.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations set forth below are based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions, including those described below. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. These estimates and assumptions form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Management makes estimates and exercises judgment in revenue recognition, research and development costs, stock-based compensation and accrued expenses. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

We believe the following critical accounting policies affect management’s more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements:

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue from contract research and development and research progress payments in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin, or SAB, No. 104, Revenue Recognition, or SAB 104, and Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Emerging Issue Task Force, or EITF, Issue No. 00-21, Accounting for Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables, or EITF 00-21. Revenue-generating research and development collaborations are often multiple element arrangements, providing for a license as well as research and development services. Such arrangements are analyzed to determine whether the deliverables, including research and development services, can be separated or whether they must be accounted for as a single unit of accounting in accordance with EITF 00-21. We recognize up-front license payments as revenue upon delivery of the license only if the license has standalone value and the fair value of the undelivered performance obligations can be determined. If the fair value of the undelivered performance obligations can be determined, such obligations would then be accounted for separately as performed. If the license is considered to either (1) not have standalone value or (2) have standalone value but the fair value of any of the undelivered performance obligations cannot be determined, the arrangement would then be accounted for as a single unit of accounting and the upfront license payments are recognized as revenue over the estimated period of when our performance obligations are performed.

When we determine that an arrangement should be accounted for as a single unit of accounting, we must determine the period over which the performance obligations will be performed and revenue related to upfront license payments will be recognized. Revenue will be recognized using either a proportionate performance or straight-line method. We recognize revenue using the proportionate performance method provided that we can reasonably estimate the level of effort required to complete our performance obligations under an arrangement and such performance obligations are provided on a best-efforts basis. Direct labor hours or full-time equivalents are typically used as the measure of performance. Under the proportionate performance method, periodic revenue related to upfront license payments is recognized as the percentage of actual effort expended in that period to total effort expected for all of our performance obligations under the arrangement. Significant management judgment is required in determining the level of effort required under an arrangement and the period over which we expect to complete our related performance obligations. In the event that a change in estimate occurs, the change will be accounted for using the cumulative catch-up method, which provides for an adjustment to revenue in the

 

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current period. Estimates of our level of effort may change in the future, resulting in a material change in the amount of revenue recognized in future periods. We revised our joint research program with Gilead Sciences in early 2007 to focus on next-generation NS4A antagonists. As a result, we extended the period over which our remaining obligations under the arrangement would be completed. Accordingly, the period over which we recognize amounts received under the arrangement has been extended, resulting in lower revenue for the nine month period ended September 30, 2007 as compared to the corresponding period in 2006.

Collaborations may also involve substantive milestone payments. Substantive milestone payments are considered to be performance bonuses that are recognized upon achievement of the milestone only if all of the following conditions are met: (1) the milestone payments are non-refundable, (2) achievement of the milestone involves a degree of risk and was not reasonably assured at the inception of the arrangement, (3) substantive effort is involved in achieving the milestone, (4) the amount of the milestone payment is reasonable in relation to the effort expended or the risk associated with achievement of the milestone and (5) a reasonable amount of time passes between the upfront license payment and the first milestone payment as well as between each subsequent milestone payment.

Reimbursement of costs is recognized as revenue provided the provisions of EITF Issue No. 99-19 are met, the amounts are determinable and collection of the related receivable is reasonably assured.

Stock-Based Compensation – Employee Stock-Based Awards

We primarily grant qualified stock options for a fixed number of shares to employees with an exercise price equal to the market value of the shares at the date of grant. Under the fair value recognition provisions of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment, or SFAS 123R, stock-based compensation cost is based on the value of the portion of stock-based awards that is ultimately expected to vest during the period. Stock-based compensation expense recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 includes compensation expense for stock-based awards granted prior to, but not yet vested as of December 31, 2005, based on the fair value on the grant date estimated in accordance with the pro forma provisions of SFAS 123. Compensation expense also includes amounts related to the stock-based awards granted subsequent to December 31, 2005, based on the fair value on the grant date, estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123R.

We selected the Black-Scholes option pricing model as the most appropriate method for determining the estimated fair value for stock-based awards. The Black-Scholes model requires the use of assumptions which determine the fair value of the stock-based awards. Determining the fair value of stock-based awards at the grant date requires judgment, including estimating the expected term of stock options, the expected volatility of our stock and expected dividends. In addition, we previously accounted for forfeitures as they occurred. In accordance with SFAS 123R, we are required to estimate forfeitures at the grant date and recognize compensation costs for only those awards that are expected to vest. Judgment is required in estimating the amount of stock-based awards that are expected to be forfeited.

If factors change and we employ different assumptions in the application of SFAS 123R in future periods, the compensation expense that we record under SFAS 123R may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the current period. Therefore, we believe it is important for investors to be aware of the high degree of subjectivity involved when using option pricing models to estimate share-based compensation under SFAS 123R. There is risk that our estimates of the fair values of our share-based compensation awards on the grant dates may differ from the actual values realized upon the exercise, expiration, early termination or forfeiture of those share-based payments in the future. Certain share-based payments, such as employee stock options, may expire worthless or otherwise result in zero intrinsic value as compared to the fair values originally estimated on the grant date and reported in our financial statements. Alternatively, value may be realized from these instruments that is significantly in excess of the fair values originally estimated on the grant date and reported in our financial statements. Although the fair value of employee share-based awards is determined in accordance with SFAS 123R and SAB 107 using an option pricing model, that value may not be indicative of the fair value observed in a willing buyer/willing seller market transaction.

 

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Stock-Based Compensation – Non-Employee Stock-Based Awards

We occasionally grant stock option awards to consultants. Such grants are accounted for pursuant to EITF Issue No. 96-18, Accounting for Equity Instruments That Are Issued to Other Than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services, and, accordingly, we recognize compensation expense equal to the fair value of such awards and amortize such expense over the performance period. We estimate the fair value of each award using the Black-Scholes model. The unvested equity instruments are revalued on each subsequent reporting date until performance is complete, with an adjustment recognized for any changes in their fair value. We amortize expense related to non-employee stock options in accordance with FASB Interpretation 28, Accounting for Stock Appreciation Rights and Other Variable Stock Option or Award Plans.

Accrued Expenses

As part of the process of preparing financial statements, we are required to estimate accrued expenses. This process involves identifying services which have been performed on our behalf and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for such service as of each balance sheet date in our financial statements.

In accruing service fees, we estimate the time period over which services will be provided and the level of effort in each period. If the actual timing of the provision of services or the level of effort varies from the estimate, we will adjust the accrual accordingly. The majority of our service providers invoice us monthly in arrears for services performed. In the event that we do not identify costs that have begun to be incurred or we underestimate or overestimate the level of services performed or the costs of such services, our actual expenses could differ from such estimates. The date on which some services commence, the level of services performed on or before a given date and the cost of such services are often subjective determinations. We make judgments based upon facts and circumstances known to us in accordance with GAAP.

Income Taxes

Effective January 1, 2007, we adopted FASB issued Interpretation No.48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No.109, or FIN 48. FIN 48 prescribes a comprehensive model for how a company should recognize, measure, present, and disclose in its financial statements uncertain tax positions that a company has taken or expects to take on a tax return (including a decision whether to file or not file a return in a particular jurisdiction). Under FIN 48, the financial statements reflect expected future tax consequences of such positions presuming the taxing authorities’ full knowledge of the position and all relevant facts. We consider many factors when evaluating and estimating our tax positions and tax benefits, which may require periodic adjustments and which may not accurately anticipate actual outcomes.

As a result of implementation of FIN 48, we recognized a decrease of $180 in our liability for uncertain tax positions, which was accounted for as a decrease to the January 1, 2007 accumulated deficit. We do not have any unrecognized tax benefits as of the date of adoption or September 30, 2007. We review all tax positions to ensure the tax treatment selected is sustainable based on its technical merits and that the position would be sustained if challenged.

 

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Results of Operations

Results of operations may vary from period to period depending on numerous factors, including the timing of payments received under existing or future strategic alliances, joint ventures or financings, if any, the progress of our research and development projects, technological advances and determinations as to the commercial potential of proposed products.

Comparison of Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006

Revenue. Revenue was $0.9 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The decrease in revenue in 2007 is primarily due to the change in the estimate of our remaining performance obligations under our collaboration with Gilead. In February 2007, we announced our decision to discontinue further development of ACH-806, and we revised our research program with Gilead to focus on next-generation NS4A antagonists. Although ACH-806 demonstrated positive antiviral activity in patients infected with HCV, it also demonstrated early signs of elevated serum creatinine, a marker of kidney function. As a result, we expect that our efforts under the collaboration, which were previously estimated to be complete in March 2007, will extend through 2008. In addition, in March 2007, we and Gilead Sciences entered into an amendment of our collaboration agreement pursuant to which we continue to share external costs, but effective April 1, 2007, each party bears the costs of its respective full-time equivalents and other internal costs. Additionally, efforts under our Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR, grant were completed in the first quarter of 2007. No additional grant revenue related to this grant will be recognized.

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,   

Change

 
     2007    2006   
     (in thousands)       

Amortization of up-front and milestone payments

   $ 501    $ 529    $ (28 )

Cost-sharing revenue

     399      594      (195 )

Grant revenue

     —        73      (73 )
                      

Total revenue

   $ 900    $ 1,196    $ (296 )
                      

Through the completion of our performance obligations under our collaboration with Gilead Sciences, anticipated to be at the end of 2008, we expect to recognize additional revenue of approximately $2.8 million, offset by any payments we are obligated to make to Gilead Sciences in satisfaction of external costs paid by Gilead Sciences under our external cost-sharing arrangement. It is possible that we will recognize negative revenue in future quarters based upon the timing of our performance under the collaboration, and on the timing and magnitude of external costs borne by Gilead Sciences.

Research and development expenses. Research and development expenses were $5.9 million and $5.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The approximate $0.6 million increase from 2006 to 2007 was the result of: (i) increased personnel costs for our research and development staff, combined with increased non-cash stock based compensation, (ii) the costs associated with conducting three clinical trials with elvucitabine during 2007, two of which had longer duration and greater number of patients than those conducted in the same period in 2006, and (iii) the costs associated with additional preclinical testing of ACH-702. We expect that research and development expenses will continue to increase as we complete our phase II clinical program for elvucitabine, enter human clinical trials for ACH-702 and continue our preclinical and research work for our NS4A antagonists. Research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 are comprised as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,    Change  
     2007    2006   
     (in thousands)  

Personnel costs

   $ 1,482    $ 1,425    $ 57  

Stock based compensation

     179      64      115  

Outsourced research and supplies

     3,086      2,617      469  

Professional and consulting fees

     381      413      (32 )

Facilities costs

     643      713      (70 )

Travel and other costs

     83      68      15  
                      

Total

   $ 5,854    $ 5,300    $ 554  
                      

 

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General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses were $1.6 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The $0.6 million increase from 2006 to 2007 was primarily due to increased non-cash stock based compensation, increased insurance premiums, combined with increased professional fees related to certain market studies. We expect that general and administrative expenses will increase in the future due to increased payroll, expanded infrastructure, increased consulting, legal, accounting and investor relations expenses associated with being a public company. General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 are comprised as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,    Change
     2007    2006   
     (in thousands)

Personnel costs

   $ 498    $ 410    $ 88

Stock based compensation

     304      96      208

Professional and consulting fees

     423      281      142

Facilities costs

     283      174      109

Travel and other costs

     99      62      37
                    

Total

   $ 1,607    $ 1,023    $ 584
                    

Interest income (expense). Interest income was $581,000 and $162,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The $419,000 increase from 2006 to 2007 was primarily due to increased average cash balances due to the receipt of $53.4 million in net proceeds from our initial public offering in October 2006. Interest expense was $241,000 and $232,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Tax benefit. The State of Connecticut provides companies with the opportunity to forego certain research and development tax credit carryforwards in exchange for cash. The program provides for such exchange of the research and development credits at a rate of 65% of the annual incremental and non-incremental research and development credits, as defined. The amount of tax benefit we recognized in connection with this exchange program was $327,000 and $9,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The $318,000 increase from 2006 to 2007 was due to the increase in research and development costs for the year, resulting primarily from the lack of reimbursement for internal full-time equivalent costs from Gilead Sciences, under our amended agreement which became effective April 1, 2007 combined with a true up to the final tax return amount. This reimbursement had previously reduced the amount of research and development expense eligible for the tax credit.

 

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Accretion of preferred stock dividends. Accretion of preferred stock dividends was $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006. Following the conversion of our preferred stock into common stock in connection with our initial public offering, there was no further accretion of dividends.

Comparison of Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006

Revenue. Revenue was $3.6 million and $5.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The decrease in revenue in 2007 is primarily due to a significant change in estimate of our remaining performance obligations under our collaboration with Gilead Sciences. In addition, after April 1, 2007, internal FTE costs are no longer shared with Gilead Sciences, reducing 2007 revenue after that date. Additionally, efforts under our Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR, grant were completed and $35,000 was recognized in the first quarter of 2007. No additional grant revenue related to this grant will be recognized.

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,   

Change

 
     2007    2006   
     (in thousands)       

Amortization of up-front and milestone payments

   $ 1,976    $ 3,030    $ (1,054 )

Cost-sharing revenue

     1,634      2,253      (619 )

Grant revenue

     35      231      (196 )
                      

Total revenue

   $ 3,645    $ 5,514    $ (1,869 )
                      

Research and development expenses. Research and development expenses were $21.9 million and $16.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The approximate $5.6 million increase from 2006 to 2007 was the result of: (i) increased personnel costs for our research and development staff, combined with increased non-cash stock based compensation, (ii) the costs associated with three clinical trials with elvucitabine during 2007, two of which had longer duration and greater number of patients than those conducted in the same period in 2006, and (iii) the costs associated with additional preclinical testing of ACH-702. We expect that research and development expenses will continue to increase as we complete our phase II clinical program for elvucitabine, enter human clinical trials for ACH-702 and continue our preclinical and research work for our NS4A antagonists including ACH-1095. Research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 are comprised as follows:

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,    Change  
     2007    2006   
     (in thousands)  

Personnel costs

   $ 4,907    $ 4,453    $ 454  

Stock based compensation

     471      221      250  

Outsourced research and supplies

     13,081      8,199      4,882  

Professional and consulting fees

     1,255      1,198      57  

Facilities costs

     1,963      2,066      (103 )

Travel and other costs

     262      201      61  
                      

Total

   $ 21,939    $ 16,338    $ 5,601  
                      

General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses were $4.9 million and $3.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The $1.5 million increase from 2006 to 2007 was primarily due to increased non-cash stock based compensation, combined with increased professional fees related to certain market studies, and increased insurance premiums. We

 

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expect that general and administrative expenses will increase in the future due to increased payroll, expanded infrastructure, increased consulting, legal, accounting and investor relations expenses associated with being a public company. General and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 are comprised as follows:

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,    Change
     2007    2006   
     (in thousands)

Personnel costs

   $ 1,508    $ 1,404    $ 104

Stock based compensation

     823      303      520

Professional and consulting fees

     1,289      883      406

Facilities costs

     850      524      326

Travel and other costs

     408      226      182
                    

Total

   $ 4,878    $ 3,340    $ 1,538
                    

Interest income (expense). Interest income was $2.0 million and $430,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The $1.6 million increase from 2006 to 2007 was primarily due to increased average cash balances due to the receipt of $18.4 million in proceeds from our Series C-2 financing in March and May of 2006 and $53.4 million in net proceeds from our initial public offering in October 2006. Interest expense was $748,000 and $679,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The $69,000 increase from 2006 to 2007 was primarily attributable to draw downs from the 2005 credit facilities in May 2006 and June 2007.

Tax benefit. The State of Connecticut provides companies with the opportunity to forego certain research and development tax credit carryforwards in exchange for cash. The amount of tax benefit we recognized in connection with this exchange program was $698,000 and $59,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The $639,000 increase from 2006 to 2007 was due to increase in research and development costs for the year, resulting primarily from the lack of reimbursement for internal full-time equivalent costs from Gilead Sciences, under our amended agreement which became effective April 1, 2007 combined with a true up to the final tax return amount. This reimbursement had previously reduced the amount of research and development expense eligible for the tax credit.

Accretion of preferred stock dividends. Accretion of preferred stock dividends was $3.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Following the conversion of our preferred stock into common stock in connection with our initial public offering, there was no further accretion of dividends.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Since our inception in August 1998, we have financed our operations primarily through our initial public offering, the issuance of our convertible preferred stock, borrowings under debt facilities, as well as through receipts from our collaboration with Gilead Sciences. Through September 30, 2007, we had received approximately $161.2 million in aggregate net proceeds from stock issuances, including convertible preferred stock and our initial public offering, $18.3 million from Gilead Sciences under our collaboration agreement with them and approximately $16.7 million under the following debt facilities:

 

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Lender

  

Date

   Interest Rate
(per annum)
   

Principal

Amount

  

Maturity Date

Connecticut Innovations, Inc.

   November 2000    7.5 %   $ 1,400,000    September 2010

Connecticut Innovations, Inc.

   May 2002    7.5 %   $ 278,000    October 2007

General Electric Capital Corporation

   March 2002    8.01% – 10.17 %   $ 3,264,182    March 2005 – May 2007

Webster Bank

   May 2003    6.72% – 9.27 %   $ 972,185    June 2006 – Dec 2009

Oxford Finance Corporation

   December 2005    10.92 %   $ 2,500,000    November 2008

General Electric Capital Corporation

   December 2005    10.92 %   $ 2,500,000    November 2008

Oxford Finance Corporation

   May 2006    11.56 %   $ 2,500,000    April 2009

General Electric Capital Corporation

   May 2006    11.56 %   $ 2,500,000    April 2009

Oxford Finance Corporation

   June 2007    11.58 %   $ 400,000    June 2010

General Electric Capital Corporation

   June 2007    11.58 %   $ 400,000    June 2010

The amounts reflected above represent original maturities under our debt agreements. As of September 30, 2007, our debt balance due to borrowings is $7.1 million with a weighted average interest rate of 10.97%.

We had $39.6 million and $62.6 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.

Cash used in operating activities was $22.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and was primarily attributable to our $21.2 million net loss and $2.5 million reduction in deferred revenue primarily offset by a decrease in working capital and non-cash charges related to depreciation, amortization and non-cash stock based compensation. Cash used in operating activities was $14.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and was primarily attributable to our $14.2 million net loss and $3.0 million amortization of deferred revenue, primarily offset by non-cash charges related to depreciation, amortization and non-cash stock compensation expense.

Cash provided by investing activities was $8.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and was primarily attributable to the maturities of marketable securities offset by purchases of marketable securities and $815,000 of capital improvements. Cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $303,000 which was attributable to the purchase of capital equipment offset by a release on a restriction of cash.

Cash used in financing activities was $1.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and was primarily attributable to $2.7 million used for repayments of debt offset by $800,000 in borrowings under our credit facility. Cash provided by financing activities was $20.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and was primarily attributable to the receipt of $18.2 million in net proceeds from the sale of series C-2 convertible preferred stock and the receipt of $5.0 million in borrowings under our credit facility, primarily offset by $2.2 million used for repayment of debt.

 

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We expect to incur continuing and increasing losses from operations for at least the next several years as we seek to:

 

   

Complete our phase II clinical trials for elvucitabine and, if supported by favorable data from the phase II trials, initiate phase III clinical trials;

 

   

Complete assessment of ACH-702 preclinical data and early clinical testing;

 

   

Advance our NS4A antagonists including ACH-1095, for chronic hepatitis C infection; and

 

   

Progress additional drug candidates.

We do not expect our existing capital resources, together with the milestone payments and research and development funding we expect to receive, to be sufficient to fund the completion of the development of any of our drug candidates. As a result, we expect that we will need to raise additional funds prior to being able to market any drug candidates, to, among other things, obtain regulatory approvals, fund operating losses, and, if deemed appropriate, establish manufacturing and sales and marketing capabilities. We will seek to raise such additional financing through public or private equity or debt financings, collaborative or other arrangements with third parties or through other sources of financing.

We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, as supplemented by research funding pursuant to our collaboration with Gilead Sciences, will be sufficient to meet our projected operating requirements for at least the next twelve months. However, our funding requirements may change and will depend upon numerous factors, including but not limited to:

 

   

the progress of our research and development programs;

 

   

the timing and results of preclinical testing and clinical studies;

 

   

the receipt and timing of regulatory approvals, if any;

 

   

determinations as to the commercial potential of our proposed products;

 

   

the status of competitive products;

 

   

our ability to establish and maintain collaborative arrangements with others for the purpose of funding certain research and development programs;

 

   

the acquisition of technologies or drug candidates; and

 

   

our participation in the manufacture, sale and marketing of any approved drugs.

We received net proceeds of $53.4 million from our initial public offering. As of September 30, 2007 approximately $26.3 million of the net proceeds of the offering had been used to fund operations, including:

 

   

approximately $7.6 million of elvucitabine direct costs;

 

   

approximately $3.0 million of ACH-702 direct costs;

 

   

approximately $2.1 million of ACH-806 and ACH-1095 direct costs;

 

   

approximately $9.0 million related to indirect research and development costs; and

 

   

approximately $4.6 million related to general and administrative costs.

 

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Additionally, approximately $68,000 was used for the purchase of fixed assets and approximately $3.3 million was used for debt repayments. The remaining net proceeds are invested in U.S. government and agency securities.

We anticipate that we will augment our cash balance through financing transactions, including the issuance of debt or equity securities and further corporate alliances. No arrangements have been entered into for any future financing, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain adequate levels of additional funding or favorable terms, if at all. If adequate funds are not available, we may be required to:

 

   

delay, reduce the scope of or eliminate our research and development programs;

 

   

reduce our planned commercialization efforts;

 

   

obtain funds through arrangements with collaborators or others on terms unfavorable to us or that may require us to relinquish rights to certain drug candidates that we might otherwise seek to develop or commercialize independently; and/or

 

   

pursue merger or acquisition strategies.

Additionally, any future equity funding may dilute the ownership of our equity investors.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements or relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No.157, Fair Value Measurements. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. We do not believe that its adoption in the first quarter of 2008 will have a material impact on our financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. SFAS No. 159 permits an entity to elect to report many financial assets and liabilities at fair value. Entities electing the fair value option would be required to recognize changes in fair value in earnings and are required to distinguish, on the face of the statement of financial position, the fair value of assets and liabilities for which the fair value option has been elected and similar assets and liabilities measured using another measurement attribute. The initial adjustment to reflect the difference between the fair value and the carrying amount would be accounted for as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the date of initial adoption. SFAS No. 159 is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2007. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, of FAS 159 on our Financial Statements.

In June 2007, the EITF reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 07-03, Accounting for Nonrefundable Advance Payments for Goods or Services to Be Used in Future Research and Development Activities. EITF 07-03 concludes that non-refundable advance payments for future research and development activities should be deferred and capitalized until the goods have been delivered or the related services have been performed. If an entity does not expect the goods to be delivered or services to be rendered, the capitalized advance payment should be charged to expense. This consensus is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier adoption is not permitted. The effects of applying the consensus is prospectively for new contracts entered into on or after that date. We do not believe that our adoption in the first quarter of 2008 will have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk. Our exposure to market risk is confined to our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. We invest in high-quality financial instruments, primarily money market funds, federal agency notes, asset backed securities, corporate debt securities and U.S. treasury notes, with the effective duration of the portfolio less than six months and no security with an effective duration in excess of 12 months, which we believe are subject to limited credit risk. We currently do not hedge interest rate exposure. Due to the short-term nature of our investments, we do not believe that we have any material exposure to interest rate risk arising from our investments.

Capital Market Risk. We currently have no product revenues and depend on funds raised through other sources. One source of funding is through further equity offerings. Our ability to raise funds in this manner depends upon capital market forces affecting our stock price.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2007. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2007, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a–15(d) and 15d–15(d) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2007 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the risks described below in addition to the other information contained in this report, before making an investment decision. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be harmed by any of these risks. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks not currently known to us or other factors not perceived by us to present significant risks to our business at this time also may impair our business operations.

 

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Risks Related to Our Business

We have a limited operating history and have incurred a cumulative loss since inception. If we do not generate significant revenues, we will not be profitable.

We have incurred significant losses since our inception in August 1998. At September 30, 2007, our accumulated deficit was approximately $145 million. We have not generated any revenue from the sale of drug candidates to date. We expect that our annual operating losses will increase substantially over the next several years as we expand our research, development and commercialization efforts, including:

 

   

completing the phase II clinical trials for elvucitabine and, if supported by favorable data from the phase II clinical trials, moving into pivotal phase III clinical trials;

 

   

advancing ACH-702 through preclinical testing, submitting an IND application to the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and beginning a phase I clinical trial;

 

   

advancing ACH-1095 through preclinical testing and completion of proof-of-concept; and

 

   

continuing to advance our other research and discovery programs in HIV and HCV, and identifying other infectious disease drug candidates.

To become profitable, we must successfully develop and obtain regulatory approval for our drug candidates and effectively manufacture, market and sell any drug candidates we develop. Accordingly, we may never generate significant revenues and, even if we do generate significant revenues, we may never achieve profitability.

We will need substantial additional capital to fund our operations, including drug candidate development, manufacturing and commercialization. If we do not have or cannot raise additional capital when needed, we will be unable to develop and commercialize our drug candidates successfully, and our ability to operate as a going concern may be adversely affected.

We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to support our current operating plan through at least the next twelve months. However, our operating plan may change as a result of many factors, including:

 

   

the costs involved in the preclinical and clinical development and manufacturing of elvucitabine and ACH-702;

 

   

the costs involved in the preclinical and clinical development of NS4A antagonists, certain portions of which we share with Gilead Sciences;

 

   

the costs involved in obtaining regulatory approvals for our drug candidates;

 

   

the scope, prioritization and number of programs we pursue;

 

   

the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, enforcing and defending patent and other intellectual property claims;

 

   

the costs associated with manufacturing our drug candidates;

 

   

our ability to enter into corporate collaborations and the terms and success of these collaborations;

 

   

our acquisition and development of new technologies and drug candidates; and

 

   

competing technological and market developments currently unknown to us.

 

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If our operating plan changes, we may need additional funds sooner than planned. Such additional financing may not be available when we need it or may not be available on terms that are favorable to us. In addition, we may seek additional capital due to favorable market conditions or strategic considerations, even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. If adequate funds are not available to us on a timely basis, or at all, we may be required to:

 

   

terminate or delay preclinical studies, clinical trials or other development activities for one or more of our drug candidates; or

 

   

delay our establishment of sales and marketing capabilities or other activities that may be necessary to commercialize our drug candidates, if approved for sale.

We may seek additional financing through a combination of private and public equity offerings, debt financings and collaboration, strategic alliance and licensing arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, our stockholders’ ownership interest will be diluted, and the terms may include adverse liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights stockholders. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we raise additional funds through collaboration, strategic alliance and licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies or drug candidates, or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us.

We depend heavily on the success of our most advanced drug candidate, elvucitabine, for the treatment of HIV infection, which is still under development.

We have invested a significant portion of our efforts and financial resources in the development of our most advanced drug candidate, elvucitabine, for the treatment of HIV infection. Our ability to generate revenues will depend heavily on the successful development and commercialization of this drug candidate. The commercial success of elvucitabine will depend on several factors, including the following:

 

   

our ability to provide acceptable evidence of its safety and efficacy in current and future clinical trials;

 

   

receipt of marketing approvals from the FDA and similar foreign regulatory authorities;

 

   

establishing commercial manufacturing arrangements with third-party manufacturers;

 

   

launching commercial sales of the drug, whether alone or in collaboration with others; and

 

   

acceptance of the drug in the medical community and with third-party payors.

We are currently studying elvucitabine in two phase II clinical trials. One or both of these clinical trials may not be successful, and the results of our phase II clinical trials, even if positive, may not be necessarily indicative of the results we will obtain in our planned phase III or other subsequent clinical trials that may be required for regulatory approval of this drug candidate. If we are not successful in commercializing elvucitabine, or are significantly delayed in doing so, our business will be materially harmed.

Our market is subject to intense competition. If we are unable to compete effectively, our drug candidates may be rendered noncompetitive or obsolete.

We are engaged in segments of the pharmaceutical industry that are highly competitive and rapidly changing. Many large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic institutions, governmental agencies and other public and private research organizations are pursuing the development of

 

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novel drugs that target infectious diseases. We face, and expect to continue to face, intense and increasing competition as new products enter the market and advanced technologies become available. In addition to currently approved drugs, there are a significant number of drugs that are currently under development and may become available in the future for the treatment of HIV infection, chronic hepatitis C and serious hospital-based bacterial infections. We would expect elvucitabine, ACH-702 and our next generation NS4A antagonist to compete with the following approved drugs and drug candidates currently under development:

 

   

Elvucitabine. If approved, we would expect elvucitabine to compete with currently approved drugs for the treatment of HIV infection, including Epivir (3TC), Retrovir (AZT) and Ziagen (abacavir), marketed by GlaxoSmithKline, Emtriva (FTC) and Viread (tenofovir), marketed by Gilead Sciences, and Zerit (d4T) and Videx (ddI), marketed by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Elvucitabine may also compete with NRTI drug candidates currently in clinical development by other companies such as Avexa, Medivir, Pharmasset and Koronis, as well as other classes of drugs currently in clinical development by companies such as Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Panacos, Pfizer, Roche, Schering-Plough, Trimeris and Vertex.

 

   

ACH-702. If approved, we would expect ACH-702 to compete with currently approved drugs for the treatment of bacterial infections, including Cubicin (daptomycin), marketed by Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Zyvox (linezolid), marketed by Pfizer, and Synercid (dalfopristin + quinupristin), marketed by King Pharmaceuticals. ACH-702 may also compete with drug candidates currently in clinical development by other companies such as Intermune, Theravance, Basilea and Johnson & Johnson.

 

   

NS4A Antagonist. If approved, we would expect our next generation NS4A antagonist, including ACH-1095, to compete with currently approved drugs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, including Pegasys and Roferon-A, marketed by Roche, and Intron-A and Peg-Intron, marketed by Schering-Plough. Our NS4A antagonists may also compete with drug candidates currently in clinical development by other companies such as Abbott, Anadys, Arrow Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Human Genome Sciences, Intermune, Johnson & Johnson, Medivir, Merck, Novartis, Panacos, Pfizer, Pharmasset, Roche, Schering-Plough, Trimeris, Valeant and Vertex.

Many of our competitors have:

 

   

significantly greater financial, technical and human resources than we have and may be better equipped to discover, develop, manufacture and commercialize drug candidates;

 

   

more extensive experience in preclinical testing and clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and manufacturing and marketing pharmaceutical products;

 

   

drug candidates that have been approved or are in late-stage clinical development; and/or

 

   

collaborative arrangements in our target markets with leading companies and research institutions.

Competitive products may render our products obsolete or noncompetitive before we can recover the expenses of developing and commercializing our drug candidates. Furthermore, the development of new treatment methods and/or the widespread adoption or increased utilization of any vaccine for the diseases we are targeting could render our drug candidates noncompetitive, obsolete or uneconomical. If we successfully develop and obtain approval for our drug candidates, we will face competition based on the safety and effectiveness of our drug candidates, the timing of their entry into the market in relation to competitive products in development, the availability and cost of supply, marketing and sales capabilities,

 

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reimbursement coverage, price, patent position and other factors. If we successfully develop drug candidates but those drug candidates do not achieve and maintain market acceptance, our business will not be successful.

If we are not able to attract and retain key management and scientific personnel and advisors, we may not successfully develop our drug candidates or achieve our other business objectives.

We depend upon our senior management and scientific staff for our business success. Key members of our senior team include Michael Kishbauch, our president and chief executive officer and Dr. Milind Deshpande, our executive vice president and chief scientific officer. Many of our employment agreements with our senior management employees are terminable without notice by the employee. The loss of the service of any of the key members of our senior management may significantly delay or prevent the achievement of drug development and other business objectives. Our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, consultants and advisors is critical to our success. We face intense competition for qualified individuals from numerous pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, universities, governmental entities and other research institutions. We may be unable to attract and retain these individuals, and our failure to do so would adversely affect our business.

Our business has a substantial risk of product liability claims. If we are unable to obtain appropriate levels of insurance, a product liability claim could adversely affect our business.

Our business exposes us to significant potential product liability risks that are inherent in the development, manufacturing and sales and marketing of human therapeutic products. Although we do not currently commercialize any products, claims could be made against us based on the use of our drug candidates in clinical trials. Product liability claims could delay or prevent completion of our clinical development programs. We currently have clinical trial insurance in an amount equal to up to $9.0 million in the aggregate and will seek to obtain product liability insurance prior to the sales and marketing of any of our drug candidates. However, our insurance may not provide adequate coverage against potential liabilities. Furthermore, clinical trial and product liability insurance is becoming increasingly expensive. As a result, we may be unable to maintain current amounts of insurance coverage or obtain additional or sufficient insurance at a reasonable cost to protect against losses that could have a material adverse effect on us. If a claim is brought against us, we might be required to pay legal and other expenses to defend the claim, as well as uncovered damages awards resulting from a claim brought successfully against us. Furthermore, whether or not we are ultimately successful in defending any such claims, we might be required to direct significant financial and managerial resources to such defense, and adverse publicity is likely to result.

Risks Related to the Development of Our Drug Candidates

All of our drug candidates are still in the early stages of development and remain subject to clinical testing and regulatory approval. If we are unable to successfully develop and test our drug candidates, we will not be successful.

To date, we have not commercially marketed, distributed or sold any drug candidates. The success of our business depends primarily upon our ability to develop and commercialize our drug candidates successfully. Our most advanced drug candidate is elvucitabine, which is currently in phase II clinical trials. Our other drug candidates are in various stages of preclinical development. Our drug candidates must satisfy rigorous standards of safety and efficacy before they can be approved for sale. To satisfy these standards, we must engage in expensive and lengthy testing and obtain regulatory approval of our drug candidates. Despite our efforts, our drug candidates may not:

 

   

offer therapeutic or other improvement over existing, comparable drugs;

 

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be proven safe and effective in clinical trials;

 

   

have the desired effects or may include undesirable effects or the drug candidates may have other unexpected characteristics;

 

   

meet applicable regulatory standards;

 

   

be capable of being produced in commercial quantities at acceptable costs; or

 

   

be successfully commercialized.

In addition, we may experience numerous unforeseen events during, or as a result of, preclinical testing and the clinical trial process that could delay or prevent our ability to receive regulatory approval or commercialize our drug candidates, including:

 

   

regulators or Institutional Review Boards, or IRBs, may not authorize us to commence a clinical trial or conduct a clinical trial at a prospective trial site;

 

   

our pre-clinical tests or clinical trials may produce negative or inconclusive results, and we may decide, or regulators may require us, to conduct additional pre-clinical testing or clinical trials, or we may abandon projects that we expect to be promising;

 

   

enrollment in our clinical trials may be slower than we currently anticipate or participants may drop out of our clinical trials at a higher rate than we currently anticipate, resulting in significant delays;

 

   

our third party contractors may fail to comply with regulatory requirements or meet their contractual obligations to us in a timely manner;

 

   

we might have to suspend or terminate our clinical trials if the participants are being exposed to unacceptable health risks;

 

   

IRBs or regulators, including the FDA, may require that we hold, suspend or terminate clinical research for various reasons, including noncompliance with regulatory requirements; and

 

   

the supply or quality of our drug candidates or other materials necessary to conduct our clinical trials may be insufficient or inadequate.

We, and a number of other companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, have suffered significant setbacks in late-stage clinical trials even after achieving promising results in early-stage development. In February 2007, we announced that we were discontinuing further clinical development of ACH-806 (also known as GS-9132) which was determined to have positive antiviral effect in a proof-of-concept clinical trial in HCV infected patients, but also to elevate serum creatinine levels, a marker of kidney function. Accordingly, the results from the completed preclinical studies and clinical trials and ongoing clinical trials for elvucitabine, ACH-702 and our other drug candidates may not be predictive of the results we may obtain in later stage trials. We do not expect any of our drug candidates to be commercially available for at least several years.

If we are unable to obtain U.S. and/or foreign regulatory approval, we will be unable to commercialize our drug candidates.

Our drug candidates are subject to extensive governmental regulations relating to among other things, research, testing, development, manufacturing, safety, efficacy, record keeping, labeling, marketing and distribution of drugs. Rigorous preclinical testing and clinical trials and an extensive regulatory

 

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approval process are required in the United States and in many foreign jurisdictions prior to the commercial sale of our drug candidates. Satisfaction of these and other regulatory requirements is costly, time consuming, uncertain and subject to unanticipated delays. It is possible that none of the drug candidates we are developing will obtain marketing approval. In connection with the clinical trials for elvucitabine, ACH-702 and any other drug candidate we may seek to develop in the future, we face risks that:

 

   

the drug candidate may not prove to be efficacious;

 

   

the drug may not prove to be safe;

 

   

the results may not confirm the positive results from earlier preclinical studies or clinical trials; and

 

   

the results may not meet the level of statistical significance required by the FDA or other regulatory agencies.

We have limited experience in conducting and managing the clinical trials necessary to obtain regulatory approvals, including approval by the FDA. The time required to complete clinical trials and for FDA and other countries’ regulatory review processes is uncertain and typically takes many years. Our analysis of data obtained from preclinical and clinical activities is subject to confirmation and interpretation by regulatory authorities, which could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. We may also encounter unanticipated delays or increased costs due to government regulation from future legislation or administrative action or changes in FDA policy during the period of product development, clinical trials and FDA regulatory review.

Any delay in obtaining or failure to obtain required approvals could materially adversely affect our ability to generate revenues from the particular drug candidate. Furthermore, any regulatory approval to market a product may be subject to limitations on the indicated uses for which we may market the product and affect reimbursement by third-party payors. These limitations may limit the size of the market for the product. We are also subject to numerous foreign regulatory requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials, manufacturing and marketing authorization, pricing and third-party reimbursement. The foreign regulatory approval process includes all of the risks associated with FDA approval described above as well as risks attributable to the satisfaction of foreign regulations. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities outside the United States. Foreign jurisdictions may have different approval procedures than those required by the FDA and may impose additional testing requirements for our drug candidates.

If clinical trials for our drug candidates are prolonged or delayed, we may be unable to commercialize our drug candidates on a timely basis, which would require us to incur additional costs and delay our receipt of any product revenue.

We cannot predict whether we will encounter problems with any of our completed, ongoing or planned clinical trials that will cause us or regulatory authorities to delay, suspend or terminate clinical trials, or delay the analysis of data from our completed or ongoing clinical trials. Any of the following could delay the clinical development of our drug candidates:

 

   

ongoing discussions with the FDA or comparable foreign authorities regarding the scope or design of our clinical trials;

 

   

delays in receiving, or the inability to obtain, required approvals from institutional review boards or other reviewing entities at clinical sites selected for participation in our clinical trials;

 

   

delays in enrolling volunteers and patients into clinical trials;

 

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a lower than anticipated retention rate of volunteers and patients in clinical trials;

 

   

the need to repeat clinical trials as a result of inconclusive or negative results or unforeseen complications in testing;

 

   

inadequate supply or deficient quality of drug candidate materials or other materials necessary to conduct our clinical trials;

 

   

unfavorable FDA inspection and review of a clinical trial site or records of any clinical or preclinical investigation;

 

   

serious and unexpected drug-related side effects experienced by participants in our clinical trials; or

 

   

the placement by the FDA of a clinical hold on a trial.

Our ability to enroll patients in our clinical trials in sufficient numbers and on a timely basis will be subject to a number of factors, including the size of the patient population, the nature of the protocol, the proximity of patients to clinical sites, the availability of effective treatments for the relevant disease and the eligibility criteria for the clinical trial. Delays in patient enrollment may result in increased costs and longer development times. For example, we experienced delays in patient enrollment in connection with our phase II trial of elvucitabine in HIV infected patients who have failed a highly active anti retroviral therapy, or HAART, regimen which included Epivir (3TC) due to the strict entry criteria for this trial. As a result, we expanded the number of sites at which the trial will be conducted, changed the protocol of the trial to include additional treatment with elvucitabine after the initial 14 days of treatment and reduced the required number of patients to be enrolled. In addition, subjects may drop out of our clinical trials, and thereby impair the validity or statistical significance of the trials.

We, the FDA or other applicable regulatory authorities or IRBs may suspend clinical trials of a drug candidate at any time if we or they believe the subjects or patients participating in such clinical trials are being exposed to unacceptable health risks or for other reasons.

We cannot predict whether any of our drug candidates will encounter problems during clinical trials which will cause us or regulatory authorities to delay or suspend these trials, or which will delay the analysis of data from these trials. In addition, it is impossible to predict whether legislative changes will be enacted, or whether FDA regulations, guidance or interpretations will be changed, or what the impact of such changes, if any, may be. If we experience any such problems, we may not have the financial resources to continue development of the drug candidate that is affected or the development of any of our other drug candidates.

In addition, we, along with our collaborators or subcontractors, may not employ, in any capacity, persons who have been debarred under the FDA’s Application Integrity Policy. Employment of such a debarred person (even if inadvertently) may result in delays in FDA’s review or approval of our products, or the rejection of data developed with the involvement of such persons.

Even if we obtain regulatory approvals, our drug candidates will be subject to ongoing regulatory review. If we fail to comply with continuing U.S. and applicable foreign regulations, we could lose those approvals, and our business would be seriously harmed.

Even if we receive regulatory approval of any drugs we are developing or may develop, we will be subject to continuing regulatory review, including the review of clinical results which are reported after our drug candidates become commercially available approved drugs. As greater numbers of patients use a drug following its approval, side effects and other problems may be observed after approval that were not seen or anticipated during pre-approval clinical trials. In addition, the manufacturer, and the manufacturing

 

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facilities we use to make any approved drugs, will also be subject to periodic review and inspection by the FDA. The subsequent discovery of previously unknown problems with the drug, manufacturer or facility may result in restrictions on the drug, manufacturer or facility, including withdrawal of the drug from the market. If we fail to comply with applicable continuing regulatory requirements, we may be subject to fines, suspension or withdrawal of regulatory approval, product recalls and seizures, operating restrictions and criminal prosecutions.

Any product promotion and advertising is also subject to regulatory requirements and continuing regulatory review. In particular, the marketing claims we will be permitted to make in labeling or advertising regarding our marketed products will be limited by the terms and conditions of the FDA-approved labeling. We must submit copies of our advertisements and promotional labeling to the FDA at the time of initial publication or dissemination. If the FDA believes these materials or statements promote our products for unapproved indications, or with unsubstantiated claims, or if we fail to provide appropriate safety-related information, the FDA could allege that our promotional activities misbrand our products. Specifically, the FDA could issue an untitled letter or warning letter, which may demand, among other things, that we cease such promotional activities and issue corrective advertisements and labeling. The FDA also could take enforcement action including seizure of allegedly misbranded product, injunction or criminal prosecution against us and our officers or employees. If we repeatedly or deliberately fail to submit such advertisements and labeling to the agency, the FDA could withdraw our approvals. Moreover, the Department of Justice can bring civil or criminal actions against companies that promote drugs or biologics for unapproved uses, based on the False Claims Act and other federal laws governing reimbursement for such products under the Medicare, Medicaid and other federally supported healthcare programs. Monetary penalties in such cases have often been substantial, and civil penalties can include costly mandatory compliance programs and exclusion from federal healthcare programs.

If we do not comply with laws regulating the protection of the environment and health and human safety, our business could be adversely affected.

Our research and development efforts involve the controlled use of hazardous materials, chemicals and various radioactive compounds. Although we believe that our safety procedures for the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposing of these materials comply with the standards prescribed by federal, state and local laws and regulations, the risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials cannot be eliminated. If an accident occurs, we could be held liable for resulting damages, which could be substantial. We are also subject to numerous environmental, health and workplace safety laws and regulations, including those governing laboratory procedures, exposure to blood-borne pathogens and the handling of biohazardous materials. Additional federal, state and local laws and regulations affecting our operations may be adopted in the future. Although we maintain workers’ compensation insurance to cover us for costs we may incur due to injuries to our employees resulting from the use of these materials, this insurance may not provide adequate coverage against potential liabilities. Due to the small amount of hazardous materials that we generate, we have determined that the cost to secure insurance coverage for environmental liability and toxic tort claims far exceeds the benefits. Accordingly, we do not maintain any insurance to cover pollution conditions or other extraordinary or unanticipated events relating to our use and disposal of hazardous materials. We may incur substantial costs to comply with, and substantial fines or penalties if we violate, any of these laws or regulations.

Risks Related to Commercialization of Our Drug Candidates

If we are unable to establish sales and marketing capabilities or enter into agreements with third parties to market and sell our drug candidates, we may not generate product revenue.

We have no commercial products, and we do not currently have an organization for the sales and marketing of pharmaceutical products. In order to successfully commercialize any drugs that may be

 

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approved in the future by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities, we must build our sales and marketing capabilities or make arrangements with third parties to perform these services. For certain drug candidates in selected indications where we believe that an approved product could be commercialized by a specialty sales force in North America that calls on a limited but focused group of physicians, we intend to commercialize these products ourselves. However, in therapeutic indications that require a large sales force selling to a large and diverse prescribing population and for markets outside of North America, we plan to enter into arrangements with other companies for commercialization. For example, we have entered into an agreement with Gilead Sciences for the development and commercialization of certain of our HCV candidates involving NS4A antagonism. If we are unable to establish adequate sales, marketing and distribution capabilities, whether independently or with third parties, we may not be able to generate product revenue and may not become profitable.

If physicians and patients do not accept our future drugs, we may be unable to generate significant revenue, if any.

Even if elvucitabine and ACH-702, or any other drug candidates we may develop or acquire in the future, obtain regulatory approval, they may not gain market acceptance among physicians, health care payors, patients and the medical community. Factors that we believe could materially affect market acceptance of our product candidates include:

 

   

the timing of market introduction of competitive drugs;

 

   

the demonstrated clinical safety and efficacy of our product candidates compared to other drugs;

 

   

the cost-effectiveness of our product candidates;

 

   

the availability of reimbursement from managed care plans and other third-party payors;

 

   

the convenience and ease of administration of our product candidates;

 

   

the existence, prevalence and severity of adverse side effects;

 

   

other potential advantages of alternative treatment methods; and

 

   

the effectiveness of marketing and distribution support.

If our approved drugs fail to achieve market acceptance, we would not be able to generate significant revenue.

If third-party payors do not adequately reimburse patients for any of our drug candidates that are approved for marketing, they might not be purchased or used, and our revenues and profits will not develop or increase.

Our revenues and profits will depend significantly upon the availability of adequate reimbursement for the use of any approved drug candidates from governmental and other third-party payors, both in the United States and in foreign markets. Reimbursement by a third party may depend upon a number of factors, including the third-party payor’s determination that use of a product is:

 

   

a covered benefit under its health plan;

 

   

safe, effective and medically necessary;

 

   

appropriate for the specific patient;

 

   

cost effective; and

 

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neither experimental nor investigational.

Obtaining reimbursement approval for a product from each third-party and government payor is a time-consuming and costly process that could require us to provide supporting scientific, clinical and cost-effectiveness data for the use of any approved drugs to each payor. We may not be able to provide data sufficient to gain acceptance with respect to reimbursement. There also exists substantial uncertainty concerning third-party reimbursement for the use of any drug candidate incorporating new technology, and even if determined eligible, coverage may be more limited than the purposes for which the drug is approved by the FDA. Moreover, eligibility for coverage does not imply that any drug will be reimbursed in all cases or at a rate that allows us to make a profit or even cover our costs. Interim payments for new products, if applicable, may also not be sufficient to cover our costs and may not be made permanent. Reimbursement rates may vary according to the use of the drug and the clinical setting in which it is used, may be based on payments allowed for lower-cost products that are already reimbursed, may be incorporated into existing payments for other products or services, and may reflect budgetary constraints and/or imperfections in Medicare or Medicaid data used to calculate these rates. Net prices for products may be reduced by mandatory discounts or rebates required by government health care programs or by any future relaxation of laws that restrict imports of certain medical products from countries where they may be sold at lower prices than in the United States.

There have been, and we expect that there will continue to be, federal and state proposals to constrain expenditures for medical products and services, which may affect payments for any of our approved products. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services frequently change product descriptors, coverage policies, product and service codes, payment methodologies and reimbursement values. Third-party payors often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own reimbursement rates and may have sufficient market power to demand significant price reductions. As a result of actions by these third-party payors, the health care industry is experiencing a trend toward containing or reducing costs through various means, including lowering reimbursement rates, limiting therapeutic class coverage and negotiating reduced payment schedules with service providers for drug products.

Our inability to promptly obtain coverage and profitable reimbursement rates from government-funded and private payors for any approved products could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and our overall financial condition.

Recent federal legislation will increase the pressure to reduce prices of pharmaceutical products paid for by Medicare, which could adversely affect our revenues, if any.

The Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, or MMA, changes the way Medicare will cover and pay for pharmaceutical products. The legislation expanded Medicare coverage for drug purchases by the elderly and eventually will introduce a new reimbursement methodology based on average sales prices for drugs. In addition, this legislation provides authority for limiting the number of drugs that will be covered in any therapeutic class. As a result of this legislation and the expansion of federal coverage of drug products, we expect that there will be additional pressure to contain and reduce costs. These cost reduction initiatives and other provisions of this legislation could decrease the coverage and price that we receive for any approved products and could seriously harm our business. While the MMA applies only to drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, private payors often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own reimbursement rates, and any reduction in reimbursement that results from the MMA may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors.

 

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Risks Related to Our Dependence on Third Parties

We may not be able to execute our business strategy if we are unable to enter into alliances with other companies that can provide capabilities and funds for the development and commercialization of our drug candidates. If we are unsuccessful in forming or maintaining these alliances on favorable terms, our business may not succeed.

We have entered into a collaboration arrangement with Gilead Sciences for the development and commercialization of certain of our HCV compounds involving NS4A antagonism, and we may enter into additional collaborative arrangements in the future. For example, we may enter into alliances with major biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies to jointly develop specific drug candidates and to jointly commercialize them if they are approved. In such alliances, we would expect our biotechnology or pharmaceutical collaborators to provide substantial funding, as well as significant capabilities in clinical development, regulatory affairs, marketing and sales. We may not be successful in entering into any such alliances on favorable terms, if at all. Even if we do succeed in securing such alliances, we may not be able to maintain them if, for example, development or approval of a drug candidate is delayed or sales of an approved drug are disappointing. Furthermore, any delay in entering into collaboration agreements could delay the development and commercialization of our drug candidates and reduce their competitiveness even if they reach the market. Any such delay related to our collaborations could adversely affect our business.

If a collaborative partner terminates or fails to perform its obligations under agreements with us, the development and commercialization of our drug candidates could be delayed or terminated.

If Gilead Sciences or another, future collaborative partner does not devote sufficient time and resources to collaboration arrangements with us, we may not realize the potential commercial benefits of the arrangement, and our results of operations may be adversely affected. In addition, if any existing or future collaboration partner were to breach or terminate its arrangements with us, the development and commercialization of the affected drug candidate could be delayed, curtailed or terminated because we may not have sufficient financial resources or capabilities to continue development and commercialization of the drug candidate on our own. Under our collaboration agreement with Gilead Sciences, Gilead Sciences may terminate the collaboration for any reason at any time upon 120 days notice. If Gilead Sciences were to exercise this right, the development and commercialization of our HCV compounds would be adversely affected.

Much of the potential revenue from our existing and future collaborations will consist of contingent payments, such as payments for achieving development milestones and royalties payable on sales of drugs developed. The milestone and royalty revenues that we may receive under these collaborations will depend upon our collaborator’s ability to successfully develop, introduce, market and sell new products. In addition, our collaborators may decide to enter into arrangements with third parties to commercialize products developed under our existing or future collaborations using our technologies, which could reduce the milestone and royalty revenue that we may receive, if any. In many cases we will not be involved in these processes and accordingly will depend entirely on our collaborators. Our collaboration partners may fail to develop or effectively commercialize products using our products or technologies because they:

 

   

decide not to devote the necessary resources due to internal constraints, such as limited personnel with the requisite scientific expertise, limited cash resources or specialized equipment limitations, or the belief that other drug development programs may have a higher likelihood of obtaining regulatory approval or may potentially generate a greater return on investment;

 

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do not have sufficient resources necessary to carry the drug candidate through clinical development, regulatory approval and commercialization; or

 

   

cannot obtain the necessary regulatory approvals.

In addition, a collaborator may decide to pursue a competitive drug candidate developed outside of the collaboration. In particular, Gilead Sciences, our collaborator for our chronic hepatitis C program, currently is developing other products for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, and the results of its development efforts could affect its commitment to our drug candidate. If our collaboration partners fail to develop or effectively commercialize drug candidates or drugs for any of these reasons, we may not be able to replace the collaboration partner with another partner to develop and commercialize a drug candidate or drugs under the terms of the collaboration. We may also be unable to obtain, on terms acceptable to us, a license from such collaboration partner to any of its intellectual property that may be necessary or useful for us to continue to develop and commercialize a drug candidate.

We rely on third parties to conduct our clinical trials, and those third parties may not perform satisfactorily, including failing to meet established deadlines for the completion of such trials.

We do not have the ability to independently conduct clinical trials for our drug candidates, and we rely on third parties such as contract research organizations, medical institutions and clinical investigators to enroll qualified patients and conduct our clinical trials. Our reliance on these third parties for clinical development activities reduces our control over these activities. Accordingly, these third-party contractors may not complete activities on schedule, or may not conduct our clinical trials in accordance with regulatory requirements or our trial design. To date, we believe our contract research organizations and other similar entities with which we are working have performed well. However, if these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or meet expected deadlines, we may be required to replace them. Although we believe that there are a number of other third-party contractors we could engage to continue these activities, it may result in a delay of the affected trial. Accordingly, our efforts to obtain regulatory approvals for and commercialize our drug candidates may be delayed.

We currently depend on third-party manufacturers to produce our preclinical and clinical drug supplies and intend to rely upon third-party manufacturers to produce commercial supplies of any approved drug candidates. If in the future we manufacture any of our drug candidates, we will be required to incur significant costs and devote significant efforts to establish and maintain these capabilities.

We have relied upon third parties to produce material for preclinical and clinical testing purposes and intend to continue to do so in the future. We also expect to rely upon third parties to produce materials required for the commercial production of our drug candidates if we succeed in obtaining necessary regulatory approvals. If we are unable to arrange for third-party manufacturing, or to do so on commercially reasonable terms, we may not be able to complete development of our drug candidates or market them. Reliance on third-party manufacturers entails risks to which we would not be subject if we manufactured drug candidates ourselves, including reliance on the third party for regulatory compliance and quality assurance, the possibility of breach of the manufacturing agreement by the third party because of factors beyond our control and the possibility of termination or nonrenewal of the agreement by the third party, based on its own business priorities, at a time that is costly or damaging to us. In addition, the FDA and other regulatory authorities require that our drug candidates be manufactured according to current good manufacturing practice regulations. Any failure by us or our third-party manufacturers to comply with current good manufacturing practices and/or our failure to scale up our manufacturing processes could lead to a delay in, or failure to obtain, regulatory approval of any of our drug candidates. In addition, such failure could be the basis for action by the FDA to withdraw approvals for drug candidates previously granted to us and for other regulatory action.

 

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We currently rely on a single manufacturer for the preclinical and clinical supplies of each of our drug candidates and do not currently have relationships for redundant supply or a second source for any of our drug candidates. To date, our third-party manufacturers have met our manufacturing requirements, but we cannot assure you that they will continue to do so. Any performance failure on the part of our existing or future manufacturers could delay clinical development or regulatory approval of our drug candidates or commercialization of any approved products. If for some reason our current contract manufacturers cannot perform as agreed, we may be required to replace them. Although we believe there are a number of potential replacements as our manufacturing processes are not manufacturer specific, we may incur added costs and delays in identifying and qualifying any such replacements. Furthermore, although we generally do not begin a clinical trial unless we believe we have a sufficient supply of a drug candidate to complete the trial, any significant delay in the supply of a drug candidate for an ongoing trial due to the need to replace a third-party manufacturer could delay completion of the trial.

We may in the future elect to manufacture certain of our drug candidates in our own manufacturing facilities. If we do so, we will require substantial additional funds and need to recruit qualified personnel in order to build or lease and operate any manufacturing facilities.

Risks Related to Patents and Licenses

If we are unable to adequately protect our drug candidates, or if we infringe the rights of others, our ability to successfully commercialize our drug candidates will be harmed.

As of September 30, 2007, our patent portfolio included a total of 212 patents and patent applications worldwide. We own or hold exclusive licenses to a total of 7 U.S. issued patents and 21 U.S. pending patent applications, as well as 157 pending PCT applications and foreign counterparts to many of these patents and patent applications. Our success depends in part on our ability to obtain patent protection both in the United States and in other countries for our drug candidates. Our ability to protect our drug candidates from unauthorized or infringing use by third parties depends in substantial part on our ability to obtain and maintain valid and enforceable patents. Due to evolving legal standards relating to the patentability, validity and enforceability of patents covering pharmaceutical inventions and the scope of claims made under these patents, our ability to maintain, obtain and enforce patents is uncertain and involves complex legal and factual questions. Accordingly, rights under any issued patents may not provide us with sufficient protection for our drug candidates or provide sufficient protection to afford us a commercial advantage against competitive products or processes. In addition, we cannot guarantee that any patents will issue from any pending or future patent applications owned by or licensed to us. Even if patents have issued or will issue, we cannot guarantee that the claims of these patents are or will be valid or enforceable or will provide us with any significant protection against competitive products or otherwise be commercially valuable to us. Patent applications in the United States are maintained in confidence for up to 18 months after their filing. In some cases, however, patent applications remain confidential in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which we refer to as the U.S. Patent Office, for the entire time prior to issuance as a U.S. patent. Similarly, publication of discoveries in the scientific or patent literature often lag behind actual discoveries. Consequently, we cannot be certain that we or our licensors or co-owners were the first to invent, or the first to file patent applications on, our drug candidates or their use as anti-infective drugs. In the event that a third party has also filed a U.S. patent application relating to our drug candidates or a similar invention, we may have to participate in interference proceedings declared by the U.S. Patent Office to determine priority of invention in the United States. The costs of these proceedings could be substantial and it is possible that our efforts would be unsuccessful, resulting in a loss of our U.S. patent position. Furthermore, we may not have identified all U.S. and foreign patents or published applications that affect our business either by blocking our ability to commercialize our drugs or by covering similar technologies that affect our drug market.

The laws of some foreign jurisdictions do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as in the United States and many companies have encountered significant difficulties in protecting and defending such rights in foreign jurisdictions. If we encounter such difficulties in protecting or are otherwise precluded from effectively protecting our intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions, our business prospects could be substantially harmed.

 

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We license patent rights from third-party owners. If such owners do not properly maintain or enforce the patents underlying such licenses, our competitive position and business prospects will be harmed.

We are party to a number of licenses that give us rights to third-party intellectual property that is necessary or useful for our business. In particular, we have obtained a sublicense from Vion Pharmaceuticals and a license from Emory University with respect to elvucitabine. We have also obtained a license from the University of Maryland for drug discovery technology. We may enter into additional licenses to third-party intellectual property in the future. Our success will depend in part on the ability of our licensors to obtain, maintain and enforce patent protection for their intellectual property, in particular, those patents to which we have secured exclusive rights. Our licensors may not successfully prosecute the patent applications to which we are licensed. Even if patents issue in respect of these patent applications, our licensors may fail to maintain these patents, may determine not to pursue litigation against other companies that are infringing these patents, or may pursue such litigation less aggressively than we would. In addition, our licensors may terminate their agreements with us in the event we breach the applicable license agreement and fail to cure the breach within a specified period of time. Without protection for the intellectual property we license, other companies might be able to offer substantially identical products for sale, which could adversely affect our competitive business position and harm our business prospects.

Litigation regarding patents, patent applications and other proprietary rights may be expensive and time consuming. If we are involved in such litigation, it could cause delays in bringing drug candidates to market and harm our ability to operate.

Our success will depend in part on our ability to operate without infringing the proprietary rights of third parties. Although we are not currently aware of any litigation or other proceedings or third-party claims of intellectual property infringement related to our drug candidates, the pharmaceutical industry is characterized by extensive litigation regarding patents and other intellectual property rights. Other parties may obtain patents in the future and allege that the use of our technologies infringes these patent claims or that we are employing their proprietary technology without authorization. Likewise, third parties may challenge or infringe upon our existing or future patents. Under our license agreements with Vion Pharmaceuticals and The University of Maryland, we have the right, but not an obligation, to bring actions against an infringing third party. If we do not bring an action within a specified number of days, the licensor may bring an action against the infringing party. Pursuant to our license agreement with Emory University and our research collaboration and license agreement with Gilead Sciences, Emory and Gilead Sciences have the primary right, but not an obligation, to bring actions against an infringing third party. However, if Gilead Sciences or Emory elects not to bring an action, we may bring an action against the infringing party.

Proceedings involving our patents or patent applications or those of others could result in adverse decisions regarding:

 

   

the patentability of our inventions relating to our drug candidates; and/or

 

   

the enforceability, validity or scope of protection offered by our patents relating to our drug candidates.

Even if we are successful in these proceedings, we may incur substantial costs and divert management time and attention in pursuing these proceedings, which could have a material adverse effect on us. If we are unable to avoid infringing the patent rights of others, we may be required to seek a license, defend an infringement action or challenge the validity of the patents in court. Patent litigation is costly and

 

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time consuming. We may not have sufficient resources to bring these actions to a successful conclusion. In addition, if we do not obtain a license, develop or obtain non-infringing technology, fail to defend an infringement action successfully or have infringed patents declared invalid, we may:

 

   

incur substantial monetary damages;

 

   

encounter significant delays in bringing our drug candidates to market; and/or

 

   

be precluded from participating in the manufacture, use or sale of our drug candidates or methods of treatment requiring licenses.

Confidentiality agreements with employees and others may not adequately prevent disclosure of trade secrets and other proprietary information and may not adequately protect our intellectual property.

We rely on trade secrets to protect our technology, especially where we do not believe patent protection is appropriate or obtainable. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect. In order to protect our proprietary technology and processes, we also rely in part on confidentiality and intellectual property assignment agreements with our corporate partners, employees, consultants, outside scientific collaborators and sponsored researchers and other advisors. These agreements may not effectively prevent disclosure of confidential information nor result in the effective assignment to us of intellectual property, and may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure of confidential information or other breaches of the agreements. In addition, others may independently discover our trade secrets and proprietary information, and in such case we could not assert any trade secret rights against such party. Enforcing a claim that a party illegally obtained and is using our trade secrets is difficult, expensive and time consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, courts outside the United States may be less willing to protect trade secrets. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to seek to enforce and determine the scope of our proprietary rights, and failure to obtain or maintain trade secret protection could adversely affect our competitive business position.

Risks Relating to Our Common Stock

Our stock price is likely to be volatile, and the market price of our common stock may decline in value in the future.

The market price of our common stock could be subject to significant fluctuations. Market prices for securities of early stage pharmaceutical, biotechnology and other life sciences companies have historically been particularly volatile. Some of the factors that may cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate include:

 

   

the results of our current phase II and any future clinical trials for elvucitabine;

 

   

the results of our research and candidate selection in our HCV program;

 

   

the results of ongoing preclinical studies and planned clinical trials of our preclinical drug candidates, including ACH-702;

 

   

the entry into, or termination of, key agreements, in particular our collaboration agreement with Gilead Sciences or our sublicense agreement with Vion Pharmaceuticals;

 

   

the results of regulatory reviews relating to the approval of our drug candidates;

 

   

the initiation of, material developments in, or conclusion of litigation to enforce or defend any of our intellectual property rights;

 

   

failure of any of our drug candidates, if approved, to achieve commercial success;

 

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general and industry-specific economic conditions that may affect our research and development expenditures;

 

   

the results of clinical trials conducted by others on drugs that would compete with our drug candidates;

 

   

the failure or discontinuation of any of our research programs;

 

   

issues in manufacturing our drug candidates or any approved products;

 

   

the introduction of technological innovations or new commercial products by us or our competitors;

 

   

changes in estimates or recommendations by securities analysts, if any, who cover our common stock;

 

   

future sales of our common stock;

 

   

changes in the structure of health care payment systems; and

 

   

period-to-period fluctuations in our financial results.

The stock markets in general have experienced substantial volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of individual companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.

In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, stockholders have often instituted class action securities litigation against those companies. Such litigation, if instituted, could result in substantial costs and diversion of management attention and resources, which could significantly harm our profitability and reputation.

Our executive officers, directors and principal stockholders own a large percentage of our voting common stock and could limit our stockholders’ influence on corporate decisions or could delay or prevent a change in corporate control.

Our directors, executive officers and current holders of more than 5% of our outstanding common stock, together with their affiliates and related persons, beneficially own, in the aggregate, approximately 35% of our outstanding common stock. As a result, these stockholders, if acting together, have substantial influence on the outcome of all matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election and removal of directors and any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets and other extraordinary transactions. The interests of this group of stockholders may not always coincide with our corporate interests or the interest of other stockholders, and they may act in a manner with which you may not agree or that may not be in the best interests of other stockholders. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of:

 

   

delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company;

 

   

entrenching our management and/or board;

 

   

impeding a merger, consolidation, takeover or other business combination involving our company; or

 

   

discouraging a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company.

 

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Our management is required to devote substantial time and incur additional expense to comply with public company regulations. Our failure to comply with such regulations could subject us to public investigations, fines, enforcement actions and other sanctions by regulatory agencies and authorities and, as a result, our stock price could decline in value.

As a private company with limited resources, we maintained a small finance and accounting staff. As a public company, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related rules and regulations of the SEC, as well as the rules of the Nasdaq Global Market, now require us to implement additional corporate governance practices and adhere to a variety of reporting requirements and complex accounting rules. Compliance with these public company obligations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and place significant additional demands on our finance and accounting staff and on our financial, accounting and information systems.

In particular, as a public company, our management will be required to conduct an annual evaluation of our internal controls over financial reporting and include a report of management on our internal controls in our annual reports on Form 10-K. In addition, we will be required to have our independent public accounting firm attest to and report on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. Under current rules, we will be subject to these requirements beginning with our annual report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2007. If we are unable to conclude that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting or, if our independent auditors are unable to provide us with an attestation and an unqualified report as to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, investors could lose confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, which could result in a decrease in the value of our common stock.

We do not anticipate paying cash dividends, and accordingly stockholders must rely on stock appreciation for any return on their investment in us.

We anticipate that we will retain our earnings, if any, for future growth and therefore do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the future. As a result, only appreciation of the price of our common stock will provide a return to stockholders.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

In our initial public offering, or IPO, we sold 5,175,000 shares of common stock pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-132921) that was declared effective by the SEC on October 25, 2006. We received aggregate net proceeds of approximately $53.4 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of approximately $4.2 million and expenses of the offering of approximately $1.9 million. The underwriters of the offering were Cowen and Company, LLC, CIBC World Markets and JMP Securities. The net proceeds have been allocated for general corporate purposes and capital expenditures. As of September 30, 2007 approximately $26.3 million of the net proceeds of the offering had been used to fund operations, including:

 

   

approximately $7.6 million of elvucitabine direct costs;

 

   

approximately $3.0 million of ACH-702 direct costs;

 

   

approximately $2.1 million of ACH-806 and ACH-1095 direct costs;

 

   

approximately $9.0 million related to indirect research and development costs; and

 

   

approximately $4.6 million related to general and administrative costs.

Additionally, approximately $68,000 was used for the purchase of fixed assets and approximately $3.3 million was used for debt repayments. The remaining net proceeds are invested in U.S. government and agency securities.

 

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On September 26, 2007, we issued an aggregate of 490 shares of common stock to Pacific Growth Equities, LLC, pursuant to the exercise of two warrants held by Pacific Growth Equities, LLC. The warrants were exercised pursuant to a cashless exercise feature by which an aggregate of 877 shares of common stock originally issuable under the warrants were cancelled as payment for the aggregate purchase price. The exercise prices, number of shares originally issuable and the number of shares actually issued under the two individual warrants are set forth below:

 

Warrant Issuance Date

   Exercise
Price
   Number of shares
originally issuable
   Number of shares
issued

July 13, 2004

   $ 4.00    547    196

October 28, 2004

   $ 4.00    820    294
            

Total

      1,367    490

The securities described above were issued in reliance upon exemptions from the registration provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, set forth in Section 4(2) and Regulation D promulgated thereunder relative to sales by an issuer not involving any public offering. Pacific Growth Equities, LLC represented to us in connection with its purchase that it was an accredited investor and was acquiring the shares for investment and not distribution, that it could bear the risks of the investment and could hold the securities for an indefinite period of time.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

31.1    Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer of Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
32.1    Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer of Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.
32.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

  ACHILLION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Date: November 2, 2007  

/s/ Michael D. Kishbauch

  President and Chief Executive Officer
  (Principal Executive Officer)
Date: November 2, 2007  

/s/ Mary Kay Fenton

  Chief Financial Officer
  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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