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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., or GAAP. Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, and Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB.
Principles of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements herein.
Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenue and expenses, classification of the expenses, assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of and during the reported period. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates. Management bases its estimates and assumptions on historical experience when available and on various factors, including expected business and operational changes, sensitivity and volatility associated with the assumption that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of the assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. In certain circumstances, management must apply significant judgment in this process. The estimation process often may yield a range of potentially reasonable estimates of the ultimate future outcomes, and management selects an amount that falls within that range of reasonable estimates. Although, the Company regularly assesses these estimates, actual results could differ materially from these estimates. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period they become known.
Significant estimates and judgments reflected in these consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to: accrued expenses, other long-term liabilities, a liability related to settlement royalties, revenues, including various rebates, returns and provisions related to product sales, inventories, classification of expenses between cost of goods sold, R&D and selling, general and administrative, long-term assets, including the Company's right-of-use assets and goodwill.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
In determining its cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, the Company considers only those highly liquid investments, readily convertible to cash within 90 days from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2025, cash and cash equivalents primarily included cash on hand and money market funds.
Restricted cash represents amounts required to secure the outstanding letter of credit in connection with the Company’s office and laboratory space in Cambridge, Massachusetts, or the Cambridge Lease. Restricted cash is included in "prepaid expenses and other current assets" in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2025 and in “other long-term assets” in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required to be recorded at fair value, management considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability. ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. To the extent the valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable in the market, the determination of fair values requires more judgment. A financial instrument categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are:
Level 1 – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities to the reporting entity at     the measurement date.
Level 2 – quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
Level 3 – unobservable inputs for the asset or liability used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts Receivable
The Company’s accounts receivable represent amounts due to the Company from product sales and from its collaboration, license and other agreements. Royalties that have not been invoiced as of the balance sheet date are recorded as unbilled accounts receivable. Accounts receivable arising from product sales primarily represent amounts due from the Company's customers, net of allowances for customer discounts and chargebacks. The Company deducts trade allowances for prompt payment, among other certain discounts or chargebacks, from its accounts receivable based on its experience that the Company’s customers will earn these discounts and fees.
Concentrations of Risk and Off-Balance Sheet Risk
Concentrations of Risk and Off-Balance Sheet Risk
Credit Risk
Cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable are the only financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk. The Company maintains cash accounts principally at two financial institutions in the U.S., which at times, may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's limits. The Company has not experienced any losses from cash balances in excess of the insurance limit. The Company's management does not believe the Company is exposed to significant credit risk at this time due to the financial condition of the financial institutions where its cash is held.
The Company makes judgments as to its ability to collect outstanding receivables and provides an allowance for receivables when collection becomes doubtful. Provisions are made based upon a specific review of all significant outstanding receivables and the overall quality and age of those invoices not specifically reviewed as well as historical payment patterns and existing economic factors. The Company believes that credit risks associated with its customers and collaboration partners are not significant.
Off-Balance Sheet Accounts
The Company has no significant off-balance sheet concentrations of credit risk, such as foreign currency exchange contracts, option contracts or other hedging arrangement. See Note 9, Leases, for further details.
Manufacturing and Distribution Risk
The Company is dependent on third-party manufacturers, logistics companies and distributors to supply products for commercial activities associated with its products and product candidates, as applicable. In particular, the Company relies and expects to continue to rely on a small number of manufacturers to supply it with its requirements for the active pharmaceutical ingredients, or APIs, and formulated drugs related to the Company's product and product candidate activities. These activities, including the commercialization of Auryxia and Vafseo, could be adversely affected by a significant interruption in the supply of APIs and formulated drugs or distribution of finished product to the market.
Inventories, including Pre-Launch Inventories
Inventories, including Pre-Launch Inventories
The Company values its inventories at the lower-of-actual cost or net realizable value. The Company determines the cost of its inventories, which includes amounts related to materials, manufacturing services and overhead, on a first-in, first-out basis. Inventory expected to be utilized beyond one year is recorded in inventories, long-term on the consolidated balance sheets.
Prior to obtaining regulatory approval for an investigational product candidate, the Company expenses costs relating to production of pre-launch inventory as R&D expense in its consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss in the period incurred. After regulatory approval has been received, the Company capitalizes such inventory costs. Products used in clinical trials are expensed as R&D expense in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss. 
The Company performs an assessment of the recoverability of capitalized inventory during each reporting period, and writes down any excess or obsolete inventory to its net realizable value in the period in which the impairment is identified through cost of product and other revenue in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Additionally, the Company’s product is subject to strict quality control and monitoring that is performed throughout the manufacturing process, including release of work-in-process to finished goods. In the event that certain batches or units of product do not meet quality specifications, the Company will record a write-down of any potential unmarketable inventory to its estimated net realizable value and record the expense as cost of product and other revenue in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
The Company prepays for certain manufacturing costs, including raw materials and drug substance, to its CMOs which are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
Property and Equipment
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Depreciation expense is recognized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives, which are typically:
Asset Category
Estimated Useful Life
Computer equipment and software3 years
Furniture and fixtures5 years-7 years
Laboratory and other equipment
7 years
Leasehold improvementsShorter of the useful life or remaining lease term
Maintenance and repairs to an asset that do not improve or extend its life are charged to operations. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the assets and related accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the Company's consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Intangible Asset
Intangible Asset
The Company maintained a definite-lived intangible asset related to developed product rights for Auryxia. The intangible asset was initially recorded at fair value and was stated net of accumulated amortization. The Company amortized its intangible asset that had a finite life using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of six years.
Goodwill
Goodwill
Goodwill reflects the excess purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired in a business combination.
Goodwill is evaluated for impairment on an annual basis, and more frequently if indicators are present or changes in circumstances suggest that impairment may exist. The Company compares the fair value of its reporting unit to its carrying value. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of its reporting unit, the Company would record an impairment loss equal to the difference. The Company operates in one operating segment which the Company considers to be the only reporting unit.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Intangible Asset Subject to Amortization
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Intangible Asset Subject to Amortization
Long-lived assets primarily include property and equipment, right of use assets and an intangible asset. The Company evaluates its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such asset groups may not be recoverable. The recoverability of asset groups to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset group to the future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group. If such asset groups are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds the fair value of the asset group.
Leases
Leases
The Company made an accounting policy election not to recognize leases with an initial term of twelve months or less within its consolidated balance sheets and to recognize those lease payments as an expense on a straight-line basis in its consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The Company also made the accounting policy election not to separate the non-lease components from the lease components for its building leases and, rather, account for each non-lease component and lease component as a single component.
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. An arrangement is determined to contain a lease if the contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified property, plant or equipment for a period of time in exchange for consideration. If the Company can benefit from the various underlying assets of a lease on their own or together with other resources that are readily available, or if the various underlying assets are neither highly dependent on nor highly interrelated with other underlying assets in the arrangement, they are considered to be a separate lease component. In the event multiple underlying assets are identified, the lease consideration is allocated to the various components based on each of the component’s relative fair value.
Operating lease assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and operating lease liabilities represent its obligation to make lease payments arising from the leasing arrangement. The right-of-use asset and operating lease liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The Company uses the implicit rate when readily determinable and uses an estimate of its incremental borrowing rate when the implicit rate is not readily determinable based upon the available information at the commencement date of lease inception. The incremental borrowing rate is determined using a credit rating scoring model to estimate the Company’s credit rating, adjusted for collateralization. The calculation of the right-of-use asset includes any lease payments made and excludes any lease incentives. If a lease includes an option to extend or terminate the lease, the Company reflects the option in the lease term if it is reasonably certain the Company will exercise the option.
The Company’s operating leases are reflected in operating right-of-use assets, accrued expenses and other current liabilities and long-term operating lease liabilities in its consolidated balance sheets.
Liability Related to Sale of Future Royalties
Liability Related to Sale of Future Royalties
The Company accounts for the liability related to sale of future royalties as a debt financing, amortized under the effective interest rate method over the estimated life of the related expected royalty stream. The liability related to sale of future royalties and the debt amortization are based on the Company’s current estimates of future royalties expected to be paid over the life of the arrangement. The Company will periodically assess the expected royalty payments. To the extent the Company’s estimates of future royalty payments are greater or less than previous estimates or the estimated timing of such payments is materially different than previous estimates, the Company will adjust the effective interest rate and recognize related non-cash interest expense on a prospective basis. In the event the Company's estimates of future royalties are less than the proceeds from the sale of future royalties, the Company will not recognize related non-cash interest expense. Non-cash royalty revenue is reflected as royalty revenue within license, collaboration and other revenue, and non-cash amortization of debt is reflected as interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Working Capital Fund Liability
Working Capital Fund Liability (Previously Referred to as Refund Liability to Customer)
The Company accounts for the Working Capital Fund liability as a debt arrangement, which is recorded at net present value. When the funds were received, the Company recorded an initial discount on the Working Capital Fund liability and a corresponding deferred gain to the Working Capital Fund liability. The discount on the Working Capital Fund liability is being amortized to interest expense on the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss and the deferred gain is being amortized to other income on the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss over the expected term of the arrangement. On a quarterly basis, the Company reassesses the effective rate and will adjust the rate prospectively, if needed.
Liability Related to Settlement Royalties
Liability Related to Settlement Royalties
The Company accounts for the liability related to settlement royalties as a liability, amortized using the effective interest method over the term of the arrangement. The liability related to settlement royalties and the amortization are based on the Company’s current estimates of future royalties expected to be paid over the life of the arrangement. To the extent the Company’s estimates of future royalty payments are greater or less than previous estimates or the estimated timing of such payments is materially different than previous estimates, the Company will adjust the effective interest rate and recognize related non-cash interest expense on a prospective basis.
Warrant Liability
Warrant Liability
The Company accounts for the warrant liability under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, as it could potentially require net cash settlement outside of the Company’s control. The warrant liability is measured at fair value each reporting period and when a warrant is exercised, with changes in fair value presented within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Excess Firm Purchase Commitment Liability
Excess Firm Purchase Commitment Liability
At each reporting period, the Company assesses whether there are excess firm non-cancelable purchase commitment liabilities, resulting from supply agreements with third-party CMOs. The determination of excess firm purchase commitment liabilities requires judgment, including consideration of many factors, such as estimates of future product demand, current and future market conditions, impact of the Company's loss of exclusivity, expiration and utilization of drug substance under firm purchase commitments, and contractual minimums. Any changes in the firm purchase commitment liability are recorded in cost of product and other revenue in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, or ASC 606, which applies to all contracts with customers, except for contracts that are within the scope of other standards. Under ASC 606, the Company recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that the Company determines are within the scope of ASC 606, it performs the following five steps:
(i)identify the contract(s) with a customer;
(ii)identify the performance obligations in the contract;
(iii)determine the transaction price;
(iv)allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and
(v)recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. 
The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the entity will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations, and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. 
The Company does not include a financing component to its estimated transaction price at contract inception unless it estimates that certain performance obligations will not be satisfied within one year. Additionally, the Company recognizes the incremental costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset that the Company otherwise would have recognized is one year or less.
Product Revenue, Net
The Company recognizes product revenues on sales of Auryxia and Vafseo primarily attributable to a limited number of customers, including dialysis organizations, wholesale distributors, certain specialty pharmacy providers and its authorized generic distribution partner, in the U.S., which accounts for the largest portion of the Company's total revenue. These customers resell the Company’s product to health care providers and patients. In addition to distribution agreements with customers, the Company enters into arrangements with health care providers and payors that provide for government-mandated and/or privately-negotiated rebates, chargebacks and discounts with respect to the purchase of the Company’s products. The Company’s payment terms are consistent with prevailing practice in the respective markets in which the Company does business. Most of the Company’s customers make payments based on contract terms, which are not affected by contingent events that could impact the transaction price. Payment terms fall within the one-year guidance for the practical expedient, which allows the Company to forgo adjustment of the contractual payment amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component.
The Company recognizes revenue on product sales when the customer obtains control of the Company’s products, which occurs at a point in time, typically upon receipt of the product by the Company's customer. The Company expenses incremental costs of obtaining a contract, such as sales commissions, as and when incurred, if the expected amortization period of the asset that it would have recognized is one year or less. Sales commissions are recorded in selling, general and administrative expense in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Revenue from product sales is recorded at the net sales price, or Transaction Price, which includes estimates of variable consideration for which provisions are established and which result from discounts, returns, chargebacks, rebates, co-pay assistance and other allowances offered within contracts between the Company and its customers, health care providers, payors and other indirect customers relating to the Company’s sales of its products. When appropriate, these estimates take into consideration a range of possible outcomes which are probability-weighted in accordance with the expected value method in ASC 606 for relevant factors such as the Company’s historical experience, current contractual and statutory requirements, specific known market events and trends, industry data and forecasted customer buying and payment patterns.
The amount of variable consideration that is included in the Transaction Price may be constrained, and is included in the net sales price only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of the cumulative revenue recognized will not occur in a future period. Actual amounts of consideration ultimately received may differ from the Company’s estimates. The provisions are classified as reductions to accounts receivable, net of payable, if the trade discount and/or allowance will be credited to the customer or accrued expenses and other current liabilities or other long-term liabilities, if payable to a third-party in the consolidated balance sheets.
Commercial Rebates—The Company contracts with dialysis organizations, wholesale distributors and certain specialty pharmacy providers for the payment of rebates with respect to utilization of Auryxia and Vafseo. The Company estimates commercial rebates based upon customers' actual purchase level during the quarterly or annual rebate purchase period, and the corresponding contractual rebate tier each customer is expected to achieve. The Company estimates these rebates and records such estimates in the same period the related revenue is recognized, resulting in a reduction of product revenue and the establishment of an accrued liability.
Trade Discounts and Allowances—The Company generally provides customers with prompt pay discounts and pays fees for sales order management, data and distribution services, which are explicitly stated in its contracts. Trade discounts and allowances are recorded as a reduction of revenue within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss in the period the related product revenue is recognized. The Company estimates that, based on its
experience, its customers will earn these discounts and fees, and the Company will deduct the full amount of these discounts and fees from its gross product revenues and accounts receivable at the time such revenues are recognized.
Product Returns—Consistent with industry practice, subject to certain caps for certain customers, the Company generally offers customers a limited right of return which allows for the product to be returned when the product expiry is within an allowable window, when the quantity delivered is different than quantity ordered, the product is damaged in transit prior to receipt by the customer or is subject to a recall. This right of return generally lapses once the product is provided to a patient or generally, if the bottle has been opened. The Company estimates the amount of its product sales that may be returned and records this estimate as a reduction of revenue in the period the related product revenue is recognized. The Company currently estimates product return provision using its own historical return information as well as recent trends on lots still subject to the return window. In addition, certain customers are subject to an annual cap on returns of 2% of gross sales in any given year.
Provider Chargebacks and Discounts—Chargebacks for fees and discounts to providers represent the estimated obligations resulting from contractual commitments to sell products to qualified healthcare providers at prices lower than the list prices charged to customers who directly purchase the product from the Company. Customers charge the Company for the difference between what they pay for the product and the ultimate selling price to the qualified healthcare providers. These provisions are established in the same period that the related revenue is recognized, resulting in a reduction of product revenue and accounts receivable. Chargeback amounts are generally determined at the time of resale to the qualified healthcare provider by customers, and the Company generally issues credits for such amounts within a few weeks of the customer’s resale of the product. Provisions for chargebacks consist of credits that the Company expects to issue for units that remain in the distribution channel at each reporting period end that the Company expects will be sold to qualified healthcare providers, and chargebacks that customers have claimed but for which the Company has not yet issued a credit.
Government Rebates—The Company is subject to discount obligations under state Medicaid programs and other government programs. The Company estimates its Medicaid and other government programs rebates based upon a range of possible outcomes that are probability-weighted for the estimated payor mix. These provisions are recorded in the same period the related revenue is recognized, resulting in a reduction of product revenue and the establishment of a current liability which is included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. For Medicare, the Company also estimates the number of patients in the prescription drug coverage gap for whom the Company will owe an additional liability under the Medicare Part D program. The Company’s liability for these rebates consists of invoices received for claims from prior quarters that have not been paid or for which an invoice has not yet been received, estimates of claims for the current quarter, and estimated future claims that will be made for product that has been recognized as revenue, but which remains in the distribution channel at the end of each reporting period.
Other Incentives—The Company offers a voluntary patient co-pay assistance program, which provides financial assistance to qualified commercially insured patients with prescription drug co-payments required by payors. The calculation of the accrual for co-pay assistance is based on actual claims processed during a given period plus an estimate of the amount the Company expects to pay based on historical utilization rates for the product that has been recognized as revenue but is estimated to be remaining in in the distribution channel at the end of each reporting period.
License, Collaboration and Other Revenues
The Company enters into license and collaboration agreements within the scope of ASC 606, under which it licenses certain rights to its product candidates to third parties. The terms of these arrangements typically include the following: (i) non-refundable, up front licenses fees associated with the licensing of intellectual property; (ii) development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments; (iii) drug product the Company supplies in connection with certain license and collaboration agreements and (iv) royalties earned on net sales of licensed products.
In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as the Company fulfills its obligations under each of its agreements, the Company implements the five-step model noted above. As part of the accounting for these arrangements, the Company develops assumptions that require judgment to determine whether the individual promises should be accounted for as separate performance obligations or as a combined performance obligation, and to determine the stand-alone selling price for each performance obligation identified in the contract. A deliverable represents a separate performance obligation if both of the following criteria are met: (i) the customer can benefit from the good or service either on its own or together with other resources that are readily available to the customer, and (ii) the entity’s promise to transfer the good or service to the customer is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. The Company uses key assumptions to determine the stand-alone selling price, which may include forecasted revenues, development timelines, reimbursement rates for personnel costs, discount rates and probabilities of technical and regulatory success.
Licenses of Intellectual Property
If the license to the Company’s intellectual property is determined to be distinct from the other performance obligations identified in the arrangement, the Company recognizes revenue from non-refundable, up-front fees allocated to the license when the license is transferred to the customer and the customer is able to use and benefit from the license. For licenses that are bundled with other promises, the Company utilizes judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenue from non-refundable, up-front fees. The Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of performance and related revenue recognition.
Milestone Payments
At the inception of each arrangement that includes development milestone payments, the Company evaluates whether the milestones are considered probable of being reached and estimates the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. The Company evaluates factors such as the scientific, clinical, regulatory, commercial and other risks that must be overcome to assess the milestone as probable of being achieved. There is considerable judgment involved in determining whether a milestone is probable of being reached at each specific reporting period. Milestone payments that are not within the control of the Company or the customer, such as regulatory approvals, are not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur, the associated milestone value is included in the transaction price. The transaction price is then allocated to each performance obligation on a relative stand-alone selling price basis, for which the Company recognizes revenues as, or when, the performance obligations under the contract are satisfied. At the end of each subsequent reporting period, the Company re-evaluates the probability of achievement of such development milestones and any related constraint, and if necessary, adjusts its estimate of the overall transaction price. Any such adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which would affect collaboration, license and other revenue in the period of adjustment. 
Drug Product Supply
Collaboration and license arrangements that include a promise for future supply of drug substance or drug product for either clinical development or commercial supply at the licensee’s discretion are generally considered as options. The Company assesses if these options provide a material right to the licensee and if so, they are accounted for as a separate performance obligation. If the Company is entitled to additional payments when the licensee exercises these options, any payments are recorded in license, collaboration and other revenues when the licensee obtains control of the goods, which is generally upon delivery.
Royalties
The Company will recognize sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on the level of net sales, at the later of (i) when the related sales occur, or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied (or partially satisfied).
Collaborative Arrangements
The Company records the elements of its collaboration agreements that represent joint operating activities in accordance with ASC Topic 808, Collaborative Arrangements, or ASC 808. Accordingly, the elements of the collaboration agreements that represent activities in which both parties are active participants and to which both parties are exposed to the significant risks and rewards that are dependent on the commercial success of the activities are recorded as collaborative arrangements. The Company considers the guidance in ASC 606-10-15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers – Scope and Scope Exceptions, in determining the appropriate treatment for the transactions between the Company and its collaborative partners and the transactions between the Company and third parties. Generally, the classification of transactions under the collaborative arrangements is determined based on the nature and contractual terms of the arrangement along with the nature of the operations of the participants. To the extent product revenue is generated from the collaboration, the Company recognizes its share of the net sales on a gross basis if the Company is deemed to be the principal in the transactions with customers, or on a net basis if the Company is instead deemed to be the agent in the transactions with customers, consistent with the guidance in ASC 606.
Cost of Goods Sold
Cost of Product and Other Revenue
Cost of product and other revenue includes costs closely correlated or directly related to the costs to manufacture commercial products, including costs paid to the Company's contract manufacturing organizations, or CMOs, as well as indirect costs. Direct and indirect costs include fees for packaging, shipping, insurance and quality assurance, idle capacity charges, routine testing costs, routine ongoing efforts to improve existing commercial products, reserves for excess inventory, write-offs for inventory that fails to meet specifications or is otherwise no longer suitable for commercial sale, including scrap,
changes in firm purchase commitment liability and royalties due to the licensor of Auryxia related to U.S. and Japan product sales recognized during the period. In addition, cost of product and other revenue includes the amortization of development product rights for the Auryxia intangible asset. The Company also includes personnel-related costs, including salaries and bonuses, employee benefits and stock-based compensation attributable to employees in particular functions and associated directly with the manufacturing of our commercial products.
Further, the Company includes in cost of product and other revenue costs to manufacture drug product provided to customers for which it has a license agreement or authorized generic distribution and supply agreement. Cost of goods sold for a newly launched product may not include the full cost of manufacturing until the initial pre-launch inventory is depleted, and additional inventory is manufactured and sold.
Until the Company received regulatory approval for Vafseo in the U.S. in March 2024, the Company recorded expenses incurred for the manufacture of pre-launch inventory that would support a U.S. launch as R&D expense. The costs associated with the pre-launch inventory for the Medice Territory were expensed to R&D through April 2023 when marketing authorization was received.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and Development Expenses
R&D costs are expensed as incurred. Internal R&D expenses are comprised of costs incurred in providing R&D activities, including salaries and bonuses, employee benefits, stock-based compensation for personnel engaged in R&D activities. In addition, they include facility costs, including the laboratory and an allocation of office space for utilization by R&D staff, depreciation expense on the laboratory equipment as well as other direct costs such as lab supplies and equipment.
External R&D costs include development of potential new manufacturing processes and methods for both commercial and non-commercial products, conceptual formulation and design of possible product and process alternatives, research compounds and clinical manufacturing costs, costs incurred for consultants and other outside services, such as data management and statistical analysis support and materials and supplies used in support of the clinical and preclinical programs and costs paid to clinical resource organizations, or CRO, including investigative sites that conduct the Company's clinical trials.
Non-refundable advance payments for goods and services are recorded in prepaid and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets and expensed when the activity is performed or when the goods are received. In addition, the costs associated with pre-launch inventory, including the cost of raw materials, costs paid to contract manufacturers for inventory manufacturing, freight and custom charges for Vafseo were expensed as R&D prior to regulatory approval.
Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses/Patent Costs
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative, or SG&A, expenses consist primarily of compensation for personnel, including stock-based compensation related to commercial, marketing, executive, finance and accounting, information technology, corporate and business development and human resource functions. Other SG&A expenses include costs for marketing initiatives for the Company's commercial products, market research and analysis on the Company's commercial products and potential product candidates, conferences and trade shows, travel expenses, professional services fees (including legal, patent, accounting, audit, tax, and consulting fees), insurance costs, general corporate expenses and allocated facilities-related expenses, including rent and maintenance of facilities. Costs associated with advertising are expensed in the period incurred and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. For the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, advertising expenses totaled $7.6 million, $4.6 million and $1.0 million, respectively.
Patent Costs
All patent-related costs incurred in connection with filing and prosecuting patent applications are expensed as incurred due to the uncertainty about the recovery of the expenditure. Such amounts incurred are classified as SG&A expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company’s stock-based compensation program allows for grants of common stock options, restricted stock awards, performance-based restricted stock units, or PSUs, stock appreciation rights, or SARs and restricted stock units. Grants are awarded to employees and non-employees, including directors.
The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation awards in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, or ASC 718. ASC 718 requires all stock-based payments to employees and non-employees, including modifications to existing stock awards, to be recognized in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss based on their fair values. The Company estimates the fair value of options granted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, or Black-Scholes. The Company uses the market price at the time of grant to determine the fair value of restricted stock awards and performance-based restricted stock awards.
The Black-Scholes option pricing model requires the input of certain subjective assumptions, including (a) the expected stock price volatility, (b) the calculation of expected term of the award, (c) the risk-free interest rate and (d) expected dividends. Prior to 2017, due to the lack of company-specific historical and implied volatility data for trading the Company’s stock in the public market, the Company had based its estimate of expected volatility on the historical volatility of a group of similar companies that are publicly traded. The historical volatility was calculated based on a period of time commensurate with the expected term assumption. The Company uses the simplified method as prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, Share-Based Payment, to calculate the expected term for options granted to employees as it does not have sufficient historical exercise data to provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate the expected term. The expected term is applied to the stock option grant group as a whole, as the Company does not expect substantially different exercise or post-vesting termination behavior among its employee population. For options granted to non-employees, the Company utilizes the contractual term of the arrangement as the basis for the expected term assumption. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury securities with a maturity date commensurate with the expected term of the associated award. The expected dividend yield is assumed to be zero as the Company has never paid dividends and has no current plans to pay any dividends on its common stock. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur.
The Company’s stock-based awards are subject to either service or performance-based vesting conditions. Compensation expense related to awards to employees and non-employees with service-based vesting conditions is recognized on a straight-line basis based on the grant date fair value over the associated service period of the award, which is generally the vesting term, and is adjusted for pre-vesting forfeitures in the period in which the forfeitures occur. Compensation expense related to awards to employees and non-employees with performance-based vesting conditions is recognized based on the grant date fair value over the requisite service period using the accelerated attribution method to the extent achievement of the performance condition is probable.
For awards with performance conditions in which the award does not vest unless the performance condition is met, the Company recognizes expense if, and to the extent that, the Company estimates that achievement of the performance condition is probable. If the Company concludes that vesting is probable, it recognizes expense from the date it reaches this conclusion through the estimated vesting date.
For market-based awards, the Company recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, regardless of whether the market condition has been satisfied. Market-based performance stock unit awards vest upon the achievement of the performance target. Forfeitures are accounted for as incurred. The Company estimates the fair value of these awards as of the grant date using a Monte Carlo simulation that incorporates option-pricing inputs. This simulation covers the period from the grant date through the end of the derived requisite service period. Volatility as of the grant date is estimated based on historical daily volatility of the Company's common stock over a period of time, which is equivalent to the expected term of the award. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury Note rate, as of the week the award is issued, with a duration that most closely resembles the expected term of the award.
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
Income taxes are recorded in accordance with FASB Topic 740, Income Taxes, or ASC 740, which provides for deferred taxes using an asset and liability approach. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided, if, based upon the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. All deferred taxes as of December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 are classified as non-current within the income tax provision. See Note 15, Income Taxes, for further information.
The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740. When uncertain tax positions exist, the Company recognizes the tax benefit of tax positions to the extent that the benefit will more likely than not be realized. The determination as to whether the tax benefit will more likely than not be realized is based upon the technical merits of the tax position, as well as consideration of the available facts and circumstances. As of December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, the Company does not have any significant uncertain tax positions. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.
Business Combinations and Asset Acquisitions
Business Combinations and Asset Acquisitions
The Company evaluates acquisitions of assets and other similar transactions to assess whether or not the transaction should be accounted for as a business combination or asset acquisition by first applying a screen test to determine if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets. If the screen test is met, the transaction is accounted for as an asset acquisition. If the screen test is not met, further determination is required as to whether or not the Company has acquired inputs and processes that have the ability to create
outputs which would meet the requirements of a business. If determined to be an asset acquisition, the Company accounts for the transaction under ASC 805-50, which requires the acquiring entity in an asset acquisition to recognize assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on the cost to the acquiring entity on a relative fair value basis, which includes transaction costs in addition to consideration given. Goodwill is not recognized in an asset acquisition and any excess consideration transferred over the fair value of the net assets acquired is allocated to the identifiable assets based on relative fair values. In-process research and development, or IPR&D, projects with no alternative future use are recorded in R&D expense upon acquisition, and contingent consideration obligations incurred in connection with an asset acquisition are recorded when it is probable that they will occur and they can be reasonably estimated.
Net Loss per Share
Net Loss per Share
Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted-average shares outstanding during the period, without consideration for common stock equivalents. Diluted net loss per share is calculated by adjusting weighted-average shares outstanding for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents outstanding for the period, determined using the treasury-stock method. For purposes of the diluted net loss per share calculation, common stock options, stock appreciation rights, warrants and RSUs as well as restricted stock, if the Company was to issue any, are considered to be common stock equivalents, but have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share, as their effect would be anti-dilutive for all periods presented. Therefore, basic and diluted net loss per share were the same for all periods presented. Diluted net income per share is calculated by dividing the net income by the weighted-average common shares outstanding for the period, including any dilutive effect from outstanding options, warrants, restricted stock and RSUs using the treasury stock method.
Segment Information
Segment Information
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or CODM, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company operates its business in a single segment and as one reporting unit, which is how its chief operating decision maker (who is the Company's president and chief executive officer) reviews financial performance and allocates resources. The Company views its operations as and manages its business in one operating segment.
New Accounting Pronouncements - Recently Adopted and Not Yet Adopted
New Accounting Pronouncements - Recently Adopted
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. ASU 2023-09 requires public companies to annually (i) disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation and (ii) provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold (if the effect of those reconciling items is equal to or greater than 5 percent of the amount computed by multiplying pretax income or loss by the applicable statutory income tax rate). ASU 2023-09 is effective for the annual reporting periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. See Note 15, Income Taxes, for further information.
New Accounting Pronouncements - Not Yet Adopted
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, which requires new tabular disclosures in the notes to consolidated financial statements, disaggregating certain cost and expense categories within relevant captions on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The prescribed cost and expense categories requiring disaggregated disclosures include purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation and intangible asset amortization, along with certain other expense disclosures already required by U.S. GAAP that would need to be integrated within the new tabular disaggregated expense disclosures. Additionally, the amendments also require the disclosure of total selling expenses and an entity's definition of those expenses. ASU 2024-03 will be effective for annual reporting periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods in fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2027. Early adoption is permitted and the amendments should be applied on a prospective basis. Retrospective application is permitted. The Company is currently reviewing the impact that the adoption of ASU 2024-03 may have on its expense disclosures in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
In July 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-05, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses for Accounts Receivable and Contract Assets. ASU 2025-05 provides a practical expedient that all entities can use when estimating expected credit losses for current accounts receivable and current contract assets arising from transactions accounted for under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Under this practical expedient, an entity is allowed to assume that the current conditions it has applied in determining credit loss allowances for current accounts receivable and current contract assets remain unchanged for the remaining life of those assets. ASU 2025-05 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2025, and interim reporting periods in those years. Entities that elect the practical expedient and, if applicable, make the accounting policy election are required to apply the amendments prospectively. The Company is
currently evaluating ASU 2025-05 and does not expect it to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software, which removes all references to prescriptive and sequential software development stages (referred to as "project stages"). An entity will be required to start capitalizing software costs when (i) management has authorized and committed to funding the software project and (ii) it is probable that the project will be completed and the software will be used to perform the function intended (referred to as the "probable-to-complete recognition threshold"). ASU 2025-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, and interim reporting periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of the annual reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating ASU 2025-06 and does not expect it to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.