On May 3, 2022, Phathom entered into a Revenue Interest Financing Agreement with Initial Investors NQ, Sagard, and Hercules pursuant to which the Company will receive up to $260 million in funding from the Initial Investors. Under the terms of the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement, the Company received $100 million at the initial closing and can receive an additional $160 million upon FDA approval of vonoprazan for treatment of erosive GERD on or before March 31, 2024. At any time prior to December 31, 2022, the Company also has the right to obtain a written commitment from a third party for up to $15 million of funding upon FDA approval of vonoprazan for erosive GERD. In addition, the Company has the right at any time prior to June 30, 2024, to obtain a written commitment from a third party for up to $25 million of funding upon achievement of a sales milestone. The Initial Investors have a right of first offer if the Company seeks to obtain such additional funding. The total amount funded by the Initial Investors and any subsequent investors is referred to herein as the Investment Amount.

On October 31, 2022, the Company entered into a Joinder Agreement with the Initial Investors and CO Finance LVS XXXVII LLC (“the Additional Investor”), and Hercules Capital, Inc. Under the terms of the Joinder Agreement, the Initial Investors waived their rights of first offer regarding the Additional Investor Funding and the Additional Investor joined the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement to extend commitments for the Additional Investor Funding.

Under the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement, the investors are entitled to receive a 10% royalty on net sales of products containing vonoprazan. The royalty rate is subject to a step-down on net sales exceeding certain annual thresholds and if the Company receives FDA approval for vonoprazan for an indication relating to the treatment of heartburn associated with non-erosive GERD. The investors’ right to receive royalties on net sales will terminate when the investors have aggregate payments equal to 200% of the Investment Amount. In addition, at any time after the earlier of (i) April 30, 2024 and (ii) the date that the payment for erosive GERD regulatory approval is made, the Company has the right to make a cap payment equal to 200% of the Investment Amount less any royalties already paid, at which time the agreement will terminate.

If the investors have not received aggregate payments of at least 100% of the Investment Amount by December 31, 2028, and at least 200% of the Investment Amount by December 31, 2037, each a Minimum Amount, then the Company will be obligated to make a cash payment to the investors in an amount sufficient to gross the investors up to the applicable Minimum Amount.

Upon the occurrence of an event of default taking place prior to April 1, 2025, between April 1, 2025, and April 1, 2028, and after April 1, 2028, the Company is obligated to pay 1.30 times Investment Amount, 1.65 times Investment Amount, and 2.0 times investment amount, respectively, less any amounts the Company previously paid pursuant to the agreement.

Upon the occurrence of a change in control event taking place prior to the earlier of April 1, 2024, or FDA approval of vonoprazan for erosive GERD, the Company is obligated to pay 200% of the Investment Amount plus either 15% of the Investment Amount if occurrence prior to May 3, 2023, or plus 30% of the Investment Amount if occurrence thereafter.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company received gross proceeds of $100.0 million before deducting transaction costs of $4.6 million, which resulted in net proceeds of $95.4 million.

The Company has evaluated the terms of the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement and concluded that the features of the Investment Amount are similar to those of a debt instrument. Accordingly, the Company has accounted for the transaction as a debt obligation with interest expense based on an imputed effective rate derived from the initial carrying value of the obligation and the expected future payments. The Company recalculates the effective interest rate each period based on the current carrying value and the revised estimated future payments. Changes in future payments from previous estimates are included in the current and future financing expense. The carrying value of the revenue interest financing liability was $109.5 million as of December 31, 2022.

Total revenue interest financing liability consists of the following (in thousands):


	December 31, 2022
Beginning liability balance	$	—
Proceeds from the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement		100,000
Less: transaction costs		(4,554	)
Less: royalty payments and payables		-
Plus: interest expense		14,079
Ending liability balance	$	109,525

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recognized $14.1 million of interest expense in connection with the revenue interest financing liability.

The Company will record liabilities associated with additional funding upon FDA approval of vonoprazan for erosive GERD and achievement of the sales milestone when such contingent events occur. To determine the accretion of the liability related to the Revenue Interest Financing Agreement, the Company is required to estimate the total amount of future royalty payments and estimated timing of such payments based on the Company’s revenue projections. As royalty payments are made, the balance of the debt obligation will be effectively repaid. Based on the Company’s periodic review, the exact timing of repayment is likely to be different in each reporting period as compared to those estimated in the Company’s initial revenue projections. A significant increase or decrease in actual net sales of vonoprazan compared to the Company’s revenue projections could impact the interest expense associated with the revenue interest financing liability. Also, the Company’s total obligation can vary depending on change in control or default events and the achievement of FDA approval of vonoprazan for erosive GERD and achievement of the sales milestone.