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Investments in Variable Interest Entities | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
Investments in Variable Interest Entities [Abstract] |
Investments in Variable Interest Entities | Investments in Variable Interest Entities Consolidated Variable Interest Entities Our consolidated financial statements include the financial results of variable interest entities in which we are the primary beneficiary. The following are our significant variable interest entities. Neurimmune In November 2007 we entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Neurimmune Subone AG (Neurimmune) for the development and commercialization of antibodies for the treatment of AD. We are responsible for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of all collaboration products. This agreement is effective for the longer of the duration of certain patents relating to a licensed product, or 12 years from the first commercial sale of any product using such a licensed compound. Our anti-amyloid beta antibody, aducanumab, for the treatment of AD resulted from this collaboration. We consolidate the results of Neurimmune as we determined that we are the primary beneficiary of Neurimmune because we have the power through the collaboration to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and we are required to fund 100% of the research and development costs incurred in support of the collaboration. Under this agreement, we are also required to pay royalties on sales of any resulting commercial products and make payments upon the achievement of certain milestone events. In October 2017 we amended the terms of our collaboration and license agreement with Neurimmune. Under the amended agreement, we made a $150.0 million payment to Neurimmune in exchange for a 15% reduction in royalty rates payable on products developed under the agreement, including on potential commercial sales of aducanumab. Our royalty rates payable on products developed under the agreement, including on potential commercial sales of aducanumab, will now range from the high single digits to low teens. As we consolidate the results of Neurimmune, we recognized this payment as a charge to noncontrolling interest in the fourth quarter of 2017 and treated it as a distribution. Under the amended agreement, we also have an option that will expire in April 2018 to further reduce our royalty rates payable on products developed under the agreement, including on potential commercial sales of aducanumab, by an additional 5% in exchange for a $50.0 million payment to Neurimmune. Research and development costs for which we reimburse Neurimmune are reflected in research and development expense in our consolidated statements of income. During the years ending December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 amounts reimbursed were immaterial. In September 2015 we recognized a $60.0 million milestone payable to Neurimmune upon enrollment of the first patient in a Phase 3 trial for aducanumab. We recognized this payment as a charge to noncontrolling interest. Based upon our current development plans for aducanumab, we may pay Neurimmune up to $275.0 million in remaining milestone payments. Future milestone payments and royalties, if any, will be reflected in our consolidated statements of income as a charge to noncontrolling interest, net of tax when such milestones are achieved. The assets and liabilities of Neurimmune are not significant to our consolidated financial position or results of operations as it is a research and development organization. We have provided no financing to Neurimmune other than previously contractually required amounts. Under the terms of our October 2017 collaboration agreement with Eisai for the joint development and commercialization of aducanumab, Eisai may elect to share in the benefit and cost associated with the royalty reductions discussed above. Eisai has elected to not share in the benefit and cost of the October 2017 royalty reduction. For additional information on our collaboration arrangement with Eisai, please read Note 20, Collaborative and Other Relationships, to these consolidated financial statements. Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities We have relationships with other variable interest entities that we do not consolidate as we lack the power to direct the activities that significantly impact the economic success of these entities. These relationships include investments in certain biotechnology companies and research collaboration agreements. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the carrying value of our investments in biotechnology companies totaled $48.3 million and $47.4 million, respectively. Our maximum exposure to loss related to these variable interest entities is limited to the carrying value of our investments. We have also entered into research collaboration agreements with certain variable interest entities where we are required to fund certain development activities. These development activities are included in research and development expense in our consolidated statements of income, as they are incurred. We have provided no financing to these variable interest entities other than previously contractually required amounts.

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- Definition Investments In Variable Interest Entities. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The entire disclosure for a variable interest entity (VIE), including but not limited to, judgments and assumptions in determining whether to consolidate and in identifying the primary beneficiary, gain (loss) recognized on the initial consolidation of the VIE, terms of arrangements, amounts and classification of the VIE's assets and liabilities, and the entity's maximum exposure to loss. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2197479 + Details
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