Goodwill and other intangible assets

Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill were as follows (in millions):



	Years ended December 31,
	2018			2017
Beginning balance	$	14,761		$	14,751
Addition from K-A acquisition	6			—
Currency translation adjustments	(68		)	10
Ending balance	$	14,699		$	14,761

Other intangible assets

Other intangible assets consisted of the following (in millions):



	December 31,
	2018							2017
	Gross carrying amounts		Accumulated amortization			Other intangible assets, net		Gross carrying amounts		Accumulated amortization			Other intangible assets, net
Finite-lived intangible assets:
Developed-product-technology rights	$	12,573	$	(7,479	)	$	5,094	$	12,589	$	(6,796	)	$	5,793
Licensing rights	3,772		(2,032		)	1,740		3,275		(1,601		)	1,674
Marketing-related rights	1,297		(1,019		)	278		1,319		(920		)	399
R&D technology rights	1,148		(872		)	276		1,161		(804		)	357
Total finite-lived intangible assets	18,790		(11,402		)	7,388		18,344		(10,121		)	8,223
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
IPR&D	55		—			55		386		—			386
Total other intangible assets	$	18,845	$	(11,402	)	$	7,443	$	18,730	$	(10,121	)	$	8,609

Developed-product-technology rights consist of rights related to marketed products acquired in business combinations. Licensing rights consist primarily of contractual rights acquired in business combinations to receive future milestone, royalty and profit-sharing payments; capitalized payments to third parties for milestones related to regulatory approvals to commercialize products; and upfront payments associated with royalty obligations for marketed products. Licensing rights increased in 2018 due to the K-A share acquisition. See Note 3, Business combinations. Marketing-related rights assets consist primarily of rights related to the sale and distribution of marketed products. R&D technology rights consist of technology used in R&D with alternative future uses.

IPR&D consists of R&D projects acquired in a business combination that are not complete at the time of acquisition due to remaining technological risks and/or lack of receipt of required regulatory approvals. During 2018, we discontinued the internal development of a non-key program, resulting in an impairment charge of $330 million, which was recognized in Other operating expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income and included in Other items, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

All IPR&D projects have major risks and uncertainties associated with the timely and successful completion of the development and commercialization of product candidates, including our ability to confirm safety and efficacy based on data from clinical trials, our ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals and our ability to successfully complete these tasks within budgeted costs. We are not permitted to market a human therapeutic without obtaining regulatory approvals, and such approvals require the completion of clinical trials that demonstrate that a product candidate is safe and effective. In addition, the availability and extent of coverage and reimbursement from third-party payers, including government healthcare programs and private insurance plans as well as competitive product launches, affect the revenues a product can generate. Consequently, the eventual realized value, if any, of acquired IPR&D projects may vary from their estimated fair values. We review IPR&D projects for impairment annually, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable and upon the establishment of technological feasibility or regulatory approval.

During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, we recognized amortization expenses associated with our finite-lived intangible assets of $1.3 billion, $1.3 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively. Amortization of intangible assets is included primarily in Cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The total estimated amortization expenses for our finite-lived intangible assets for each of the next five years are $1.3 billion, $1.2 billion, $1.0 billion, $0.9 billion and $0.9 billion in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively.