NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BUSINESS RISKS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BUSINESS RISKS

(1) NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BUSINESS RISKS

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (the Company or BioMarin), a Delaware corporation, develops and commercializes innovative biopharmaceuticals for serious diseases and medical conditions. BioMarin selects product candidates for diseases and conditions that represent a significant unmet medical need, have well-understood biology and provide an opportunity to be first-to-market or offer a significant benefit over existing products. The Company’s product portfolio consists of five approved products and multiple clinical and pre-clinical product candidates. The Company’s approved products are Vimizim (elosulfase alfa), Naglazyme (galsulfase), Kuvan (sapropterin dihydrochloride), Aldurazyme (laronidase) and Firdapse (amifampridine phosphate).

The Company expects to continue to finance future cash needs that exceed its operating activities primarily through its current cash, cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments, and to the extent necessary, through proceeds from equity or debt financings, loans and collaborative agreements with corporate partners. If the Company elects to increase its spending on development programs significantly above current long-term plans or enters into potential licenses and other acquisitions of complementary technologies, products or companies, the Company may need additional capital.

The Company is subject to a number of risks, including: the financial performance of Vimizim, Naglazyme, Kuvan, Aldurazyme and Firdapse; the potential need for additional financings; the Company’s ability to successfully commercialize its approved product candidates; the uncertainty of the Company’s research and development (R&D) efforts resulting in future successful commercial products; the Company’s ability to successfully obtain regulatory approval for new products; significant competition from larger organizations; reliance on the proprietary technology of others; dependence on key personnel; uncertain patent protection; dependence on corporate partners and collaborators; and possible restrictions on reimbursement from governmental agencies and healthcare organizations, as well as other changes in the health care industry.