(3) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Except as detailed below, there have been no material changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies during the six months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to the significant accounting policies disclosed in Note 3 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the provisions of ASC 606 using the modified retrospective method for all contracts not completed as of the date of adoption. For contracts that were modified before the effective date, the Company reflected the aggregate effect of all modifications when identifying performance obligations and allocating transaction price in accordance with available practical expedients. The reported results for 2018 reflect the application of ASC 606 guidance, while the reported results for 2017 were prepared under the guidance of ASC 605, Revenue Recognition (ASC 605), which is also referred to herein as "previous guidance."

Under ASC 606, the Company recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that are within the scope of ASC 606, the Company performs the following five steps:

(i)

identification of the promised goods or services in the contract;

(ii)

determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract;

(iii)

measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration;

(iv)

allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations based on estimated selling prices; and

(v)

recognition of revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligation. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer, and is the unit of account in ASC 606.

Net Product Revenues

In the U.S., the Company’s commercial products are generally sold to specialty pharmacies or end-users, such as hospitals, which act as retailers. Outside the U.S., the Company’s commercial products are sold to its authorized distributors or directly to government purchasers or hospitals, which act as the end-users. Revenues from product sales are recognized when the customer obtains control of the Company’s product, which occurs at a point in time, typically upon shipment to the customer. Amounts collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities, which primarily consist of value-added taxes related to product sales in foreign jurisdictions, are presented on a net basis in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), in that taxes billed to customers are not included as a component of Net Product Revenues.

For Aldurazyme revenues, the Company receives a payment ranging from 39.5% to 50% on worldwide net Aldurazyme sales by Genzyme Corporation (Genzyme) depending on sales volume, which is included in Net Product Revenues in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). Under the previous guidance the Company only recognized a portion of this amount as product transfer revenue when the product was released to Genzyme because all of the Company’s performance obligations were fulfilled at that point, the prices were substantially fixed or determinable and title to, and risk of loss for, the product had transferred to Genzyme. The product transfer revenue only represented the fixed amount per unit of Aldurazyme that Genzyme was required to pay the Company if the product was unsold by Genzyme. The amount of product transfer revenue was eventually deducted from the calculated royalty recognized when the product was subsequently sold by Genzyme. The Company recorded the Aldurazyme revenues based on net sales information provided by Genzyme and recorded product transfer revenues based on the fulfillment of Genzyme purchase orders in accordance with the terms of the related agreements with Genzyme.

Under ASC 606, the Company recognizes its best estimate of the entire revenue that it expects to receive when the product is released and control is transferred to Genzyme. The Company records Aldurazyme net product revenues based on the estimated variable consideration payable when the product is sold through by Genzyme. Actual amounts of consideration ultimately received may differ from the Company’s estimates, however the Company does not expect any such difference to be material. If actual results in the future vary from the Company’s estimates, the Company will make adjustments, which would affect Net Product Revenues and earnings in the period such variances become known.

Revenue Reserves

Revenues from product sales are recorded at the net sales price (transaction price), which includes estimates of variable consideration for which reserves are established and which result from government rebates, sales returns, and other incentives that are offered within contracts between the Company and its customers, as such specialty pharmacies, hospitals, authorized distributors and government purchasers. These reserves are based on the amounts earned or to be claimed on the related sales and are classified as reductions of accounts receivable (if the amount is payable to the customer) or a current liability (if the amount is payable to a party other than a customer). Where appropriate, these estimates take into consideration a range of possible outcomes which are probability-weighted for relevant factors such as the Company’s historical experience, current contractual and statutory requirements, specific known market events and trends, industry data and forecasted customer buying and payment patterns. Overall, these reserves reflect the Company’s best estimates of the amount of consideration to which it is entitled based on the terms of the contract. The amount of variable consideration that is included in the transaction price may be constrained, and is included in the net sales price only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of the cumulative revenue recognized will not occur in a future period. Actual amounts of consideration ultimately received may differ from the Company’s estimates. If actual results in the future vary from the Company’s estimates, the Company will adjust its estimates, which would affect net product revenue and earnings in the period such variances become known.

Government Rebates: The Company records reserves for rebates payable under Medicaid and other government programs as a reduction of revenue at the time product revenues are recorded. The Company’s reserve calculations require estimates, including estimates of customer mix, to determine which sales will be subject to rebates and the amount of such rebates. The Company updates its estimates and assumptions on a quarterly basis and records any necessary adjustments to its reserves.

Sales Returns: The Company records allowances for product returns, if appropriate, as a reduction of revenue at the time product sales are recorded. Several factors are considered in determining whether an allowance for product returns is required, including market exclusivity of the products based on their orphan drug status, the patient population, the customers’ limited return rights and the Company’s historical experience with returns. Because of the pricing of the Company’s commercial products, the limited number of patients and the customers’ limited return rights, most customers and retailers carry a limited inventory. The Company relies on historical return rates to estimate returns. Based on these factors and the fact that the Company has not experienced significant product returns to date, management has concluded that product returns will be minimal. In the future, if any of these factors and/or the history of product returns change, an allowance for product returns may be required.

Other Incentives: Other incentives include fees paid to the Company’s distributors, discounts for prompt payment and the estimated costs of the Company’s patient co-payment assistance programs. Beginning in 2018, the Company also offers a branded co-pay assistance program for eligible patients with commercial insurance in the U.S. who are on Kuvan or Brineura therapy. The branded co-pay assistance programs assist commercially insured patients who have coverage for Kuvan or Brineura and are intended to reduce each participating patient’s portion of the financial responsibility for Kuvan’s or Brineura’s purchase price up to a specified dollar amount of assistance. The Company records fees paid to distributors, cash discounts and amounts paid under the branded specific co-pay assistance program for each patient as a reduction of revenue.

Royalty and Other Revenues

Royalties: For arrangements that include the receipt of sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on the level of sales when the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate, the Company recognizes revenue at the later of (a) when the related sales occur, or (b) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied (or partially satisfied).

Licenses of intellectual property: If the license to the Company’s intellectual property is determined to be distinct from the other performance obligations identified in the arrangement, the Company recognizes revenues from non-refundable, up-front fees allocated to the license when the license is transferred to the customer and the customer is able to use and benefit from the license. For licenses that are bundled with other promises, the Company utilizes judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenue from non-refundable, up-front fees. The Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of performance and related revenue recognition.

Milestone payments: At the inception of each arrangement that includes developmental, regulatory or commercial milestone payments, the Company evaluates whether achieving the milestones is considered probable and estimates the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur, the value of the associated milestone (such as a regulatory submission by the Company) is included in the transaction price. Milestone payments that are not within the control of the Company, such as approvals from regulators or where attainment of the specified event is dependent on the development activities of a third-party, are not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received or the specified event occurs. Revenue is recognized from the satisfaction of performance obligations in the amount billable to the customer.