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Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Business and Recent Developments

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. develops medicines that treat intractable diseases by silencing the genes that cause them. Using a broad portfolio of RNA chemistries and efficient modes of delivery, Arrowhead therapies trigger the RNA interference mechanism to induce rapid, deep and durable knockdown of target genes. RNA interference (“RNAi”) is a mechanism present in living cells that inhibits the expression of a specific gene, thereby affecting the production of a specific protein. Arrowhead’s RNAi-based therapeutics leverage this natural pathway of gene silencing. The Company’s pipeline includes ARO-APOC3 for hypertriglyceridemia, ARO-ANG3 for dyslipidemia, ARO-ENaC2 for cystic fibrosis, ARO-DUX4 for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, ARO-COV for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and other possible future pulmonary-borne pathogens, ARO-C3 for complement mediated diseases and ARO-RAGE and ARO-MUC5AC for various muco-obstructive or inflammatory pulmonary conditions. ARO-HSD for liver disease was out-licensed to Glaxosmithkline Intellectual Property (No. 3) Limited (“GSK”) in November 2021.  ARO-XDH is being developed for uncontrolled gout under a collaboration agreement with Horizon Therapeutics Ireland DAC (“Horizon”). JNJ-75220795 (ARO-JNJ1) is being developed by Janssen as a potential treatment for patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). ARO-AAT for liver disease associated with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (“AATD”) was out-licensed to Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. (“Takeda”) in October 2020. JNJ-3989 (formerly referred to as ARO-HBV) for chronic hepatitis B virus was out-licensed to Janssen in October 2018.  Olpasiran (formerly referred to as AMG 890 or ARO-LPA) for cardiovascular disease was out-licensed to Amgen Inc. (“Amgen”) in 2016. While the Company believes that initial ARO-HIF2 Phase 1 clinical data provides proof of concept for the ability to deliver siRNA to RCC tumors, the Company has decided not to pursue further clinical development of ARO-HIF2 based on a number of factors including the evolving competitive landscape for HIF2 inhibitors.

Arrowhead operates lab facilities in Madison, Wisconsin and San Diego, California, where the Company’s research and development activities, including the development of RNAi therapeutics, take place. The Company’s principal executive offices are located in Pasadena, California.

During the first half of fiscal 2022, the Company continued to develop and advance its pipeline and partnered candidates and expanded its facilities to support the Company’s growing pipeline. Several key recent developments include:

 

i)

dosed the first patients in its PALISADE study, a phase 3 clinical study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ARO-APOC3 in adults with familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS);

 

ii)

entered into an exclusive license agreement with GSK for ARO-HSD;

 

iii)

Janssen presented clinical data from REEF-1, a Phase 2b study of different combination regimens, including JNJ-73763989 (JNJ-3989), formerly called ARO-HBV, and/or JNJ-56136379 (JNJ-6379), and a nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection (CHB);

 

iv)

filed for regulatory clearance to begin a Phase 1/2a study of ARO-C3 and subsequently dosed the first subjects in AROC3-1001, a Phase 1/2 clinical study of ARO-C3, the Company’s investigational RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic designed to reduce production of complement component 3 (C3) as a potential therapy for various complement mediated diseases;

 

v)

presented additional interim clinical data from AROHSD1001, AROAAT2002, and AROAPOC31001;

 

vi)

completed the purchase of 13 acres of land in the Verona Technology Park in Verona, Wisconsin, which is planned to be the site of an approximately 140,000 square foot drug manufacturing facility and an approximately 115,000 square foot laboratory and office facility and entered into a lease agreement for a new 144,000 square foot laboratory and office facility in San Diego, California.  Both facilities will provide additional space to support the Company’s continued growth;

 

vii)

completed enrollment in Phase 2b ARCHES-2 study of investigational ARO-ANG3 for patients with mixed dyslipidemia;

 

viii)

filed for regulatory clearance to initiate Phase 1/2a study of ARO-RAGE for treatment of Asthma;

 

ix)

filed for regulatory clearance to initiate Phase 1/2a study of ARO-MUC5AC for treatment of muco-obstructive lung disease;

 

x)

initiated and dosed the first patients in the Phase 2 GATEWAY clinical study of investigational ARO-ANG3 for the treatment of patients with homozygous familial hypercholersterolemia;

 

xi)

decided not to pursue further clinical development of ARO-HIF2 based on a number of factors including the evolving competitive landscape for HIF2 inhibitors.

The Company is actively monitoring the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The financial results for the three and six months ended March 31, 2022 were not significantly impacted by COVID-19. Operationally, the Company has experienced delays in its earlier stage programs due to a shortage in non-human primates, which are critical to the Company’s preclinical programs. Additionally, the Company has experienced delays in enrollment in its clinical trials. The Company’s operations at its research and development facilities in Madison, Wisconsin and San Diego, California, and its corporate headquarters in Pasadena, California have continued with limited impact, other than for enhanced safety measures, including work from home policies and intermittent lab supply shortages. However, the Company cannot predict the impact the progression of COVID-19 will have on future financial and operational results due to a variety of factors, including the ability of the Company’s clinical sites to continue to enroll subjects, the ability of the Company’s suppliers to continue to operate, the continued good health and safety of the Company’s employees and the length and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Liquidity

The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which contemplate the continuation of the Company as a going concern.  Historically, the Company’s primary sources of financing have been through the sale of its securities and revenue from its licensing and collaboration agreements. Research and development activities have required significant capital investment since the Company’s inception and are expected to continue to require significant cash expenditure in the future, particularly as the Company’s pipeline of drug candidates and its headcount have both expanded significantly.  Additionally, significant capital investment will be required as the Company’s pipeline matures into later stage clinical trials, as well as with the Company’s plans to increase its internal manufacturing capabilities, as well as expand its footprint in Verona, Wisconsin and San Diego, California. 

 

At March 31, 2022, the Company had $86.4 million in cash and cash equivalents (including $7.9 million in restricted cash), $192.9 million in short-term investments, $122.6 million in marketable securities and $201.6 million in long-term investments to fund operations.  During the six months ended March 31, 2022, the Company’s cash and investments balance decreased by $9.9 million, which was primarily due to cash being used to fund the Company’s operations, partially offset by the $120.0 million upfront payment received from GSK.  

In total, the Company remains eligible for $4.9 billion in developmental, regulatory and sales milestones and various royalties on net sales from its licensing and collaboration agreements.  The revenue recognition for these collaboration agreements is discussed further in Note 2 below.  

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

There have been no changes to the significant accounting policies disclosed in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements  

There have been no recent accounting pronouncements that have significantly impacted this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, beyond those disclosed in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.