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Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Contingencies Contingencies
From time to time, the Company has been and may again become involved in legal proceedings arising in the course of its business, including product liability, intellectual property, securities, civil tort, and commercial litigation, and environmental or other regulatory matters.
Patent-Related Litigation
Indivior Inc., Indivior UK Ltd., and Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. v. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories S.A. and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Inc.,
On February 7, 2018, the Company and Indivior Inc. and Indivior UK Ltd. (collectively, “Indivior”) initiated a lawsuit against Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories S.A. and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Inc. (collectively, “Dr. Reddy’s”) asserting infringement of U.S. Patent No. 9,855,221 (the "221 patent”). On April 3, 2018, the Company and Indivior initiated a separate lawsuit against Dr. Reddy’s asserting infringement of U.S. Patent No. 9,931,305 (the “’305 patent”). On May 29, 2018, the lawsuits regarding the ’221 and ’305 patents were consolidated which was originally initiated by Indivior against Dr. Reddy’s asserting infringement of U.S. Patent No. 9,687,454 (the “’454 patent”). On February 19, 2019, the Court granted the parties’ agreed stipulation to drop the ’221 patent from the case. On January 8, 2020, the Court entered a stipulated order of non-infringement of the ’305 patent based on the Court’s claim construction ruling, and the Company and Indivior preserved its rights to appeal the claim construction ruling. On June 28, 2022, pursuant to a settlement agreement between the parties, the Court entered a Stipulation and Order of Dismissal, dismissing all claims and counterclaims with prejudice in the lawsuit.
Indivior Inc., Indivior UK Ltd., and Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
On February 7, 2018, the Company and Indivior initiated a lawsuit against Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. (“Teva”) asserting infringement of the ’221 patent. On April 3, 2018, the Company and Indivior initiated a separate lawsuit against Teva asserting infringement of the ’305 patent. On May 29, 2018, the lawsuits regarding the ’221 and ’305 patents were consolidated with a suit originally initiated by Indivior against Teva asserting infringement of the ’454 patent. The parties agreed that the case would be governed by the final judgment against Dr. Reddy’s (described above). On January 31, 2024, the Court entered a Stipulation and Order of Dismissal, dismissing all claims and counterclaims with prejudice in the lawsuit.

Indivior Inc., Indivior UK Ltd., and Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. v. Alvogen Pine Brook LLC
On September 14, 2017, Indivior initiated a lawsuit against Alvogen Pine Brook LLC (“Alvogen”) asserting infringement of the ’454 patent. On February 7, 2018, the Company and Indivior filed an Amended Complaint, adding the Company as a plaintiff and asserting infringement of the’221 patent. On April 3, 2018, the Company and Indivior initiated a separate lawsuit against Alvogen asserting infringement of the ’305 patent. On May 29, 2018, the cases were consolidated. On February 26, 2019, the court granted the parties’ agreed stipulation to drop the ’221 patent from the case. On January 9, 2020,
the court entered a stipulated order of non-infringement of the ’305 patent based on the court’s claim construction ruling, and the Company and Indivior preserved the right to appeal the claim construction ruling.
On November 21, 2019, Alvogen filed an amended answer and counterclaims asserting monopolization, attempted monopolization, and conspiracy to monopolize against the Company and Indivior under federal and New Jersey antitrust laws. The court denied the Company’s motion to dismiss Alvogen’s counterclaims on August 24, 2020. On November 2, 2020, Alvogen filed a second amended answer and counterclaims, removing its allegations of monopolization and attempted monopolization against the Company and asserting only conspiracy to monopolize against the Company. On November 9, 2023, pursuant to a settlement agreement between the parties, the Court entered a Stipulation and Order of Dismissal, dismissing all claims and counterclaims with prejudice in the lawsuit.
Patent Litigation Settlement with BDSI
The Company reached a settlement effective March 3, 2023 in the patent infringement lawsuits related to the sale of BDSI’s Bunavail and Belbuca drug film products in the United States. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, all pending patent claims have been resolved between BDSI and Aquestive, as well as Indivior Inc., co-plaintiff in the Belbuca lawsuit, in exchange for a one-time, lump-sum payment of $8,500 to the Company. This settlement continues the Company's focus on resolving outstanding litigation matters, where possible and appropriate. The payment is included in Interest income and other income, net on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.
Kentucky Litigation - Humana
Humana Inc. v. Indivior Inc, Indivior Solutions Inc., Indivior PLC, Reckitt Benckiser Group plc, Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (UK) Ltd., and Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.
On August 20, 2021, Humana filed a complaint in state court in Kentucky, alleging conspiracy to violate the RICO Act, fraud under state law, unfair and deceptive trade practices under state law, insurance fraud, and unjust enrichment against the Company relating to Indivior’s launch of Suboxone Sublingual Film in 2010. The Humana action was stayed pending related litigation, and the stay was lifted on October 30, 2023. No schedule has been set in the action and there is no trial date set. The Company is not able to determine or predict the ultimate outcome of the state court action in Kentucky by Humana, or provide a reasonable estimate or range of estimates of the possible outcome or loss, if any, in this matter.
California Litigation
Neurelis, Inc. v. Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.
On December 5, 2019, Neurelis Inc. filed a lawsuit against the Company in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego alleging the following three causes of action: (1) Unfair Competition under California Business and Professional Code § 17200 (“UCL”); (2) Defamation; and (3) Malicious Prosecution. Neurelis filed a First Amended Complaint on December 9, 2019, alleging the same three causes of action. The Company filed a Motion to Strike Neurelis’s Complaint under California’s anti-SLAPP (“strategic lawsuit against public participation”) statute on January 31, 2020, which Neurelis opposed. On August 6, 2020, the Court issued an order granting in part and denying in part the Company’s anti-SLAPP motion. The parties cross-appealed the ruling to the California Court of Appeal. The appeals court held oral argument on the appeal on October 14, 2021, and issued its ruling on November 17, 2021. Under the ruling, the court struck the entirety of the malicious prosecution claim and struck portions of the UCL and defamation claims. On April 12, 2022, Neurelis filed a Second Amended Complaint in response to the Court of Appeal’s decision. The Second Amended Complaint also added a cause of action for Trade Libel. On May 3, 2022, the Company filed a "demurrer" challenge to the sufficiency of the allegations of the Second Amended Complaint. Oral argument on the Company’s motion for attorney fees related to the anti-SLAPP motion and on the Second Amended Complaint and demurer challenge was held on June 17, 2022. The Court entered an order granting the Company’s motion for attorney fees, awarding $156 and ordering Neurelis to pay the fees within 60 days of June 17, 2022. The Court denied the Company’s demurrer and the parties proceeded with discovery on the claims in the Second Amended Complaint. The plaintiff filed a motion to file a third amended complaint. which the Court granted on November 17, 2023. The Third Amended Complaint alleges additional facts but includes the same claims as the Second Amended Complaint. Trial in this matter is scheduled for October 25, 2024. The Company is not able to determine or predict the ultimate outcome of this proceeding or provide a reasonable estimate or range of estimates of the possible outcome or loss, if any, in this matter.
Federal Securities Class Action
Deanna Lewakowski v. Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc., et al.
On March 1, 2021, a securities class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey alleging that the Company and certain of its officers engaged in violations of the federal securities laws relating to public statements made by the Company regarding the FDA approval of Libervant. Following the court’s appointment of a lead plaintiff, an amended complaint was filed by the plaintiffs on June 25, 2021. Defendants filed a motion to dismiss on August 16, 2021, which became fully briefed as of November 1, 2021. On March 14, 2023, the Court entered an order granting
Defendants’ motion to dismiss without prejudice and permitting plaintiffs leave to file a final, Second Amended Complaint by April 14, 2023. On April 7, 2023, the parties filed a Stipulation of Voluntary Dismissal stating that plaintiffs determined not to file an amended complaint and agreed to dismiss the action as to them with prejudice. On April 10, 2023, the Court so-ordered the stipulation and terminated the lawsuit.
Shareholder Derivative Litigation
Loreen Niewenhuis v. Keith Kendall, et al.
On December 15, 2021, a purported Aquestive shareholder instituted a derivative action captioned Loreen Niewenhuis v. Keith Kendall, et al. in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, purportedly on behalf of the Company, against certain current and former officers and directors of the Company. The case was designated as related to the pending federal securities class action Deanna Lewakowski v. Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc., referenced above, and accepted by the same judge presiding over the securities class action. The complaint in this matter alleges claims for breach of fiduciary duty and contribution. The factual allegations that form the basis of these claims are similar to the disclosure-related allegations asserted in the class action. On April 4, 2022, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint asserting the same claims against the same defendants. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on April 25, 2022, which became fully briefed as of June 27, 2022. On April 20, 2023, the parties filed a Stipulation of Voluntary Dismissal stating that plaintiff agreed to dismiss the action as to her with prejudice. On April 21, 2023, the Court so-ordered the stipulation and terminated the lawsuit.
Commercial Agreements
Amendment to the Indivior Commercial Exploitation Agreement
Effective as of March 2, 2023, the Company and Indivior entered into Indivior Amendment 11. The Indivior Amendment 11 was entered into for the primary purpose of amending the Indivior License Agreement, dates as of August 15, 2008 as follows: (i) extending the term of the Indivior License Agreement until August 16, 2026 and thereafter providing for automatic renewal terms of successive one year periods unless Indivior delivers notice to the Company, at least twelve months prior to the expiration of the then current term, of Indivior’s intent not to renew, subject to the earlier termination rights of the parties under the Indivior License Agreement, and providing that the Indivior License Agreement will not automatically renew for any renewal term beginning after the expiration of the last to expire of the product patents; and (ii) agreeing to transfer pricing and payment terms for supplied product. In addition, Indivior agreed to pay the Company reimbursable amounts due to the Company under the Invidior License Agreement. In consideration of the agreements between the parties, the Company received a payment of $11,482 from Indivior, of which amount $5,482 represents: (a) payment of the portion of a 2022 price increase that had not been previously paid and (b) an estimated payment in 2023 for certain price increases. The $5,482 payment is included in Manufacture and supply revenue and $6,000 is included in Interest income and other income, net on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.