2. Summary of significant accounting policies

Financial Statement Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Management considers many factors in selecting appropriate financial accounting policies, and in developing the estimates and assumptions that are used in the preparation of the financial statements. Management must apply significant judgment in this process. The more significant estimates reflected in these accompanying financial statements involve assessing long-lived assets for impairment, accrued expenses, including clinical study expenses, valuation of forward purchase contracts, valuation of the facility financing obligation, commitment asset, milestone rights, valuation of stock-based compensation and the determination of the provision for income taxes and corresponding deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against net deferred tax assets.

License and Collaboration and Supply agreements — Pursuant to the Sanofi License Agreement and the Sanofi Supply Agreement, we granted to Sanofi exclusive, worldwide licenses to certain of our patents, trademarks and know-how for the development and commercialization of AFREZZA and retained the right to be the exclusive manufacturer and supplier of AFREZZA until specified conditions are met upon which a portion of the manufacturing activities may be assumed by Sanofi. The terms of the Sanofi License Agreement provide for consideration to us in the form of a non-refundable up-front payment, product sales, manufacturing, regulatory and sales milestone payments and profit and loss sharing.

We analyze consideration received under the provisions of ASC 605, Revenue Recognition, to determine whether the consideration, or a portion thereof, could be recognized as revenue. ASC 605 provides that revenue is recognized when there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the price is fixed or determinable and collection is reasonably assured.

In arrangements involving the delivery of more than one element, each required deliverable is evaluated to determine whether it qualifies as a separate unit of accounting. This determination is generally based on whether the deliverable has “stand-alone value” to the customer. The arrangement’s consideration that is fixed and determinable is then allocated to each separate unit of accounting based on the relative selling price of each deliverable. The estimated selling price of each deliverable is determined using the following hierarchy of values: (i) vendor-specific objective evidence of fair value, (ii) third-party evidence of selling price and (iii) best estimate of selling price (BESP). The BESP reflects our best estimate of what the selling price would be if the deliverable was regularly sold by us on a stand-alone basis. In general, the consideration allocated to each unit of accounting is recognized as the related goods or services are delivered, limited to the consideration that is not contingent upon future deliverables.

The assessment of multiple element arrangements requires judgment in order to determine the appropriate units of accounting and the points in time that, or periods over which, revenue should be recognized. Given that, as of December 31, 2014, we did not have the ability to estimate the amount of costs that would potentially be incurred under the loss share provision related to the Sanofi License Agreement and the Sanofi Supply Agreement, we believe the fixed and determinable fee requirement for revenue recognition was not met.

Cash and Cash Equivalents — The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original or remaining maturities of 90 days or less at the time of purchase, that are readily convertible into cash to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, cash equivalents were comprised of cash and money market accounts with maturities less than 90 days from the date of purchase.

Concentration of Credit Risk — Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist of interest-bearing accounts, which are regularly monitored by management and held in high credit quality institutions.

State Research and Development Credit Exchange Receivable — The State of Connecticut provides certain companies with the opportunity to exchange certain research and development income tax credit carryforwards for cash in exchange for foregoing the carryforward of the research and development credits. The program provides for an exchange of research and development income tax credits for cash equal to 65% of the value of corporation tax credit available for exchange. Estimated amounts receivable under the program are recorded as a reduction of research and development expenses.

Prepaid expenses and other current assets — Prepaid expenses and other current assets primarily consist of prepaid expenses for goods and services to be received. As of December 31, 2014, prepaid and other current assets had a balance of $20.2 million, mainly comprised of a $15.0 million prepayment for 2015 quantities of insulin, and prepaid insurance.

On July 31, 2014, the Company entered into a Supply Agreement (the “Supply Agreement”) with Amphastar France Pharmaceuticals S.A.S., a French corporation (“Amphastar”), pursuant to which Amphastar will manufacture for and supply to the Company certain quantities of recombinant human insulin for use in AFREZZA. Under the terms of the Supply Agreement, Amphastar will be responsible for manufacturing the insulin in accordance with the Company’s specifications and agreed-upon quality standards. The Company has agreed to purchase annual minimum quantities of insulin under the Supply Agreement of an aggregate total of approximately €120.1 million for calendar years 2015 through 2019. The remaining annual minimum quantities will be €23.2 million for 2015 and €23.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 through 2019. The Company may request to purchase additional quantities of insulin over such annual minimum quantities. As part of the Supply Agreement, the Company paid a $15.0 million deposit to Amphastar as prepayment for 2015 quantities of insulin.

Unless earlier terminated, the term of the Insulin Supply Agreement expires on December 31, 2019 and can be renewed for additional, successive two year terms upon 12 months’ written notice given prior to the end of the initial term or any additional two year term. The Company and Amphastar each have normal and customary termination rights, including termination for material breach that is not cured within a specific time frame or in the event of liquidation, bankruptcy or insolvency of the other party. In addition, the Company may terminate the Supply Agreement upon two years’ prior written notice to Amphastar without cause or upon 30 days’ prior written notice to Amphastar if a controlling regulatory authority withdraws approval for AFREZZA, provided, however, in the event of a termination pursuant to either of the latter two scenarios, the provisions of the Supply Agreement require the Company to pay the full amount of all unpaid purchase commitments due over the initial term within 60 calendar days of the effective date of such termination.

Sale of intellectual property — On July 18, 2014, the Company entered into an assignment agreement with a third party whereby the third party acquired all proprietary rights, technology and know-how that related to a small molecule inhibitor compound and all pre-clinical data and results related thereto. Under the terms of the assignment agreement, the Company received total consideration of $9.3 million and incurred $1.4 million in expense for a net amount of $7.9 million recorded as other income.

Milestone Rights — On July 1 2013, in conjunction with the execution of the Facility Agreement, the Company issued Milestone Rights to Deerfield whereby the Company agreed to provide Deerfield with pre-specified Milestone Payments upon the achievement of 13 specific Milestone Events related to the commercial release and future cumulative net sales of AFREZZA^®. The Company analyzed the Milestone Rights under the provisions of ASC 815 and determined that the agreement does not meet the definition of a freestanding derivative. Since the Company has not elected to apply the fair value option to the Milestone Rights Purchase Agreement, the Company recorded the Milestone Rights at their estimated fair value and accounted for the Milestone Rights as a liability by applying the indexed debt guidance contained in paragraphs ASC 470-10-25-3 and 35-4.

The initial fair value estimate of the Milestone Rights was calculated using the income approach in which the cash flows associated with the specified contractual payments were adjusted for both the expected timing and the probability of achieving the milestones and discounted to present value using a selected market discount rate. The expected timing and probability of achieving the milestones was developed with consideration given to both internal data, such as progress made to date and assessment of criteria required for achievement, and external data, such as market research studies. The discount rate was selected based on an estimation of required rate of returns for similar investment opportunities using available market data. The Milestone Rights liability will be remeasured as the specified milestone events are achieved. Specifically, as each milestone event is achieved, the portion of the initially recorded Milestone Rights liability that pertains to the milestone event being achieved, will be remeasured to the amount of the specified related milestone payment. The resulting change in the balance of the Milestone Rights liability due to remeasurement will be recorded in our Statement of Operations as interest expense. Furthermore, the Milestone Rights liability will be reduced upon the settlement of each milestone payment. As a result, each milestone payment would be effectively allocated between a reduction of the recorded Milestone Rights liability and an expense representing a return on a portion of the Milestone Rights liability paid to the investor for the achievement of the related milestone event (see Note 17).

Commitment Asset — In connection with the issuance of the Tranche 1 notes and the Milestone Rights, the Company recorded a commitment asset (the “Commitment Asset”) on July 1, 2013. As a result of the First Amendment, the Company recorded an additional Tranche B notes commitment asset (the “Tranche B Commitment Asset”) with an estimated fair value equal to $2.9 million. The Commitment Asset is derecognized and recorded as a debt discount on the 2019 notes and Tranche B notes, when issued and amortized, using the effective interest rate method over the life of the respective notes. Prior to derecognition occurring, the Company monitors the Commitment Asset on an ongoing basis to determine whether an impairment indicator is present that would result in a full or partial write down of the Commitment Asset as a result of events that may lead to the subsequent tranches of notes not being issued. At December 31, 2014, Deerfield had purchased all four tranches of 2019 notes in the aggregate principal amount of $160.0 million, purchased $20.0 million aggregate principal amount of Tranche B notes in accordance with the provisions of the Facility Agreement, and wrote off the remaining portion of the Tranche B Commitment Asset. At December 31, 2014 the carrying value of the Commitment Assets was zero.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments — The Company utilizes fair value measurement guidance prescribed by GAAP to value its financial instruments. The guidance includes a definition of fair value, prescribes methods for measuring fair value, establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to measure fair value and expands disclosures about the use of fair value measurements. The valuation techniques utilized are based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect internal market assumptions. These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:

Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.

Level 3 – Significant inputs to the valuation model are unobservable.

The carrying amounts reflected in the consolidated balance sheets for cash equivalents, other current assets, accounts payable, and accrued expenses and other current liabilities, approximate fair value due to their relatively short maturities.

Inventories — Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The Company determines the cost of inventory using the first-in, first-out, or FIFO, method. The Company capitalizes inventory costs associated with the Company’s products based on management’s judgment that future economic benefit is expected to be realized; otherwise, such costs are expensed as research and development. The Company periodically analyzes its inventory levels to identify inventory that may expire or has a cost basis in excess of its estimated realizable value, and writes-down such inventories as appropriate. In addition, the Company’s products are subject to strict quality control and monitoring which the Company performs throughout the manufacturing process. If certain batches or units of product no longer meet quality specifications or become obsolete due to expiration, the Company will record a charge to write down such unmarketable inventory to its estimated realizable value.

Property and Equipment — Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the term of the lease or the service lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Assets under construction are not depreciated until placed into service.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets — The Company evaluates long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable in accordance with ASC 360-10-35 Property Plant and Equipment. Assets are considered to be impaired if the carrying value may not be recoverable based upon management’s assessment of the following events or changes in circumstances:

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significant changes in the Company’s strategic business objectives and utilization of the assets;

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a determination that the carrying value of such assets cannot be recovered through undiscounted cash flows;

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loss of legal ownership or title to the assets;

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a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate that could affect the value of a long-lived asset (asset group), including an adverse action or assessment by a regulator; or

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the impact of significant negative industry or economic trends.

If the Company believes an asset to be impaired, the impairment recognized is the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Any write-downs would be treated as permanent reductions in the carrying amount of the asset and an operating loss would be recognized. No asset impairment was recognized during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.

Income Taxes — The provisions for federal, foreign, state, and local income taxes are calculated on pre-tax income based on current tax law and include the cumulative effect of any changes in tax rates from those used previously in determining deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the year in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce net deferred income tax assets to amounts that are more likely than not to be realized.

Income tax positions are considered for uncertainty in accordance with ASC 740-10-25 Income Taxes, The Company believes that its income tax filing positions and deductions will be sustained on audit and does not anticipate any adjustments that will result in a material change to its financial position. Therefore, no liabilities for uncertain income tax positions have been recorded. If a tax position does not meet the minimum statutory threshold to avoid payment of penalties, the Company recognizes an expense for the amount of the penalty in the period the tax position is claimed in the tax return of the Company. The Company recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense, if any. Penalties, if probable and reasonably estimable, are recognized as a component of income tax expense.

Significant management judgment is involved in determining the provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets, deferred tax liabilities, and any valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets. Due to uncertainties related to the realization of the Company’s deferred tax assets as a result of its history of operating losses, a valuation allowance has been established against the total deferred tax asset balance. The valuation allowance is based on management’s estimates of taxable income by jurisdiction in which the Company operates and the period over which deferred tax assets will be recoverable. In the event that actual results differ from these estimates or the Company adjusts these estimates in future periods, a change in the valuation allowance may be needed, which could materially impact the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

Contingencies — Contingencies are recorded in accordance with ASC 450 Contingencies. Accordingly, the Company records a loss contingency for a liability when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. These accruals represent management’s best estimate of probable loss. Disclosure also is provided when it is reasonably possible that a loss will be incurred or when it is reasonably possible that the amount of a loss will exceed the recorded provision. On a quarterly basis, the Company reviews the status of each significant matter and assesses its potential financial exposure. Significant judgment is required in both the determination of probability and the determination as to whether an exposure is reasonably estimable. Because of uncertainties related to these matters, accruals are based only on the best information available at the time. As additional information becomes available, the Company reassesses the potential liability related to pending claims and litigation and may revise its estimates. These revisions in the estimates of the potential liabilities could have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations and financial position.

Stock-Based Compensation — As of December 31, 2014, the Company had three active stock-based compensation plans, which are described more fully in Note 12. The Company accounts for all share-based payments to employees, including grants of stock awards and the compensatory elements of the employee stock purchase plan in accordance with ASC 718. ASC 718 Compensation — Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of stock options, restricted stock units, performance-based awards and the compensatory elements of employee stock purchase plans, to be recognized in the statement of operations based upon the fair value of the awards at the grant date. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to estimate the grant date fair value of employee stock options and the compensatory elements of employee stock purchase plans. Option valuation models require the input of assumptions, including the expected life of the stock-based awards, the estimated stock price volatility, the risk-free interest rate, and the expected dividend yield. Beginning in the third quarter of 2014, the Company began to assess both historical and implied volatility in order to determine its estimated volatility rate. Implied volatility is now considered due to the change in the Company’s business, which occurred with the approval for the sale of AFREEZA. The expected volatility assumption is based on an assessment of the historical volatility and the implied volatility of the Company’s common stock, derived from an analysis of historical traded and quoted options on the Company’s common stock. Restricted stock units are valued based on the market price on the grant date. The Company evaluates stock awards with performance conditions as to the probability that the performance conditions will be met and estimates the date at which the performance conditions will be met in order to properly recognize stock-based compensation expense over the requisite service period.

Warrants — The Company has issued warrants to purchase shares of its common stock. Warrants have been accounted for within equity in accordance with the provisions of ASC 815-40, Contracts in an Entity’s Own Stock, previously EITF Issue No. 00-19: Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock.

Forward Contracts — The Company has entered into agreements with The Mann Group whereby the Company agreed to sell and The Mann Group agreed to purchase common stock and/or warrants. These agreements have been accounted for as forward contracts, having met the definition of derivative instruments in accordance with the provisions of ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging. The Company determines the fair value of the forward contract upon its issuance, records fair value adjustments of the forward contract to Other income (expense) during the reporting period and through the settlement of the forward contract, and reclassifies the forward contract to equity upon settlement of the forward contract. In the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, there were no forward purchase contracts.

Comprehensive Loss — Other comprehensive loss is recorded in accordance with ASC 220-10-45 Comprehensive Income, which requires that all components of comprehensive loss be reported in the financial statements in the period in which they are recognized. Other comprehensive loss includes certain changes in stockholders’ equity that are excluded from net income. Specifically, the Company includes unrealized gains and losses on its available-for-sale securities and cumulative translation gains and losses in other comprehensive loss.

Research and Development Expenses — Research and development expenses consist of costs associated with the clinical trials of the Company’s product candidates, manufacturing supplies and other development materials, including raw material purchases of insulin, compensation and other expenses for research and development personnel, costs for consultants and related contract research, facility costs, and depreciation. Research and development costs, which are net of any tax credit exchange recognized for the Connecticut state research and development credit exchange program, are expensed as incurred consistent with ASC 730-10 Research and Development. The Company began commercial manufacturing in the latter part of the fourth quarter of 2014. As such, commercial manufacturing costs incurred in the fourth quarter and included in research and development as expenses are immaterial for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Clinical Trial Expenses — Clinical trial expenses, which are reflected in research and development expenses in the accompanying statements of operations, result from obligations under contracts with vendors, consultants, and clinical site agreements in connection with conducting clinical trials. The financial terms of these contracts are subject to negotiations which vary from contract to contract and may result in payment flows that do not match the periods over which materials or services are provided to the Company under such contracts. The appropriate level of trial expenses are reflected in the Company’s financial statements by matching period expenses with period services and efforts expended. These expenses are recorded according to the progress of the trial as measured by patient progression and the timing of various aspects of the trial. Clinical trial accrual estimates are determined through discussions with internal clinical personnel and outside service providers as to the progress or state of completion of trials, or the services completed. Service provider status is then compared to the contractually obligated fee to be paid for such services. During the course of a clinical trial, the Company may adjust the rate of clinical expense recognized if actual results differ from management’s estimates.

Interest Expense — Interest costs are expensed as incurred, except to the extent such interest is related to construction in progress, in which case interest is capitalized. Interest expense, net of interest capitalized, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $20.4 million, $21.5 million, and $21.6 million, respectively. Interest costs capitalized for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 were $0.8 million, $0.4 million, and $0.3 million, respectively.

Net Loss Per Share of Common Stock — Basic net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per common share is computed by dividing the net loss by the sum of the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus the potential dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock units, warrants, and shares that could be issued upon conversion of the senior convertible notes outstanding during the period calculated in accordance with the treasury stock method, but are excluded if their effect is anti-dilutive. Because the impact of these items is anti-dilutive during periods of net loss, there was no difference between basic and diluted loss per common share for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards — From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) or other standard setting bodies that are adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, we believe that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations upon adoption.

In May 2014, a new standard was issued related to revenue recognition, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The new standard will replace most of the existing revenue recognition standards in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective on January 1, 2017. Early adoption is not permitted. The new standard allows for either “full retrospective” adoption, whereby the new standard is applied to each prior reporting period presented or “modified retrospective” adoption, whereby the new standard is only applied to the most current period presented with the cumulative effect of the change recognized at the date of the initial application. The Company is assessing the potential impact of the new standard on its consolidated statements of financial position and results of operations and comprehensive income (loss) and has not yet selected a transition method.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-10, Development Stage Entities (Topic 915): Elimination of Certain Financial Reporting Requirements, Including an Amendment to Variable Interest Entities Guidance in Topic 810, Consolidation. The amendments in this ASU remove all incremental financial reporting requirements from GAAP for development stage entities, including the removal of Topic 915, Development Stage Entities, from the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. In addition, the ASU: (a) adds an example disclosure in Topic 275, Risks and Uncertainties, to illustrate one way that an entity that has not begun planned principal operations could provide information about the risks and uncertainties related to the company’s current activities; and (b) removes an exception provided to development stage entities in Topic 810, Consolidation, for determining whether an entity is a variable interest entity. The presentation and disclosure requirements in Topic 915 will no longer be required for the first annual period beginning after December 15, 2014. The revised consolidation standards are effective one year later, in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Company early adopted ASU 2014-10 resulting in the elimination of certain presentation and disclosure requirements previously required by topic 915.

On August 27, 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, which provides guidance on determining when and how reporting entities must disclose going-concern uncertainties in their financial statements. The new standard requires management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date of issuance of the entity’s financial statements (or within one year after the date on which the financial statements are available to be issued, when applicable). Further, an entity must provide certain disclosures if there is “substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern.” The ASU is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and interim periods thereafter; early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2014-15 will have on its consolidated financial statements.