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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Lexicon and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation. In 2009, the consolidated financial statements also include the accounts of one variable interest entity, Symphony Icon, Inc. ("Symphony Icon"), for which the Company was the primary beneficiary and therefore had consolidated the financial condition and results of operations of Symphony Icon. Upon the adoption of a new accounting pronouncement regarding variable interest entities on January 1, 2010, Lexicon determined that it was no longer the primary beneficiary of Symphony Icon, and therefore did not include the financial condition and results of operations of Symphony Icon in its consolidated financial statements for the period from January 1, 2010 through the exercise of the Purchase Option (as defined in Note 10) on July 30, 2010. Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U. S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments: Lexicon considers all highly-liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, short-term investments consist of U.S. treasury bills and certificates of deposit. The certificates of deposits are classified as available-for-sale securities and are carried at fair value, based on quoted market prices of the securities. The Company views its available-for-sale securities as available for use in current operations regardless of the stated maturity date of the security. Unrealized gains and losses on such securities are reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Net realized gains and losses, interest and dividends are included in interest income. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. Restricted Cash and Investments: Lexicon is required to maintain restricted cash or investments to collateralize standby letters of credit for the lease on its office and laboratory facilities in Hopewell, New Jersey (see Note 11). As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, restricted cash and investments were $0.4 million. Accounts Receivable: Lexicon records trade accounts receivable in the normal course of business related to the sale of products or services. The allowance for doubtful accounts takes into consideration such factors as historical write-offs, the economic climate and other factors that could affect collectibility. Write-offs are evaluated on a case by case basis. Concentration of Credit Risk: Lexicon's cash equivalents, investments and accounts receivable represent potential concentrations of credit risk. The Company attempts to minimize potential concentrations of risk in cash equivalents and investments by placing investments in high-quality financial instruments. The Company’s accounts receivable are unsecured and are concentrated in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies located in the United States and Europe. The Company has not experienced any significant credit losses to date. In 2011, customers in the United States represented 100% of revenue. In 2010, customers in the United States and Europe represented 94% and 6% of revenue, respectively. In 2009, customers in the United States and Europe represented 75% and 25% of revenue, respectively. At December 31, 2011, management believes that the Company has no significant concentrations of credit risk. Segment Information and Significant Customers: Lexicon operates in one business segment, which primarily focuses on the discovery of the functions and pharmaceutical utility of genes and the use of those gene function discoveries in the discovery and development of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of human disease. Substantially all of the Company’s revenues have been derived from drug discovery alliances, target validation collaborations for the development and, in some cases, analysis of the physiological effects of genes altered in knockout mice, technology licenses, subscriptions to its databases, government grants and contracts and compound library sales. In 2011, Taconic Farms, Inc., Texas A&M Institute for Genomic Medicine and United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity represented 46%, 20% and 20% of revenues, respectively. In 2010, Taconic Farms and United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity represented 35% and 23% of revenues, respectively. In 2009, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, N.V. Organon and Taconic Farms represented 31%, 23% and 21% of revenues, respectively. Property and Equipment: Property and equipment are carried at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the assets which ranges from three to 40 years. Maintenance, repairs and minor replacements are charged to expense as incurred. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the estimated useful life or the remaining lease term. Significant renewals and betterments are capitalized. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets: Long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangible assets to be held and used are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Determination of recoverability is based on an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. In the event that such cash flows are not expected to be sufficient to recover the carrying amount of the assets, the assets are written down to their estimated fair values. Goodwill Impairment: Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested at least annually for impairment at the reporting unit level. The Company has determined that the reporting unit is the single operating segment disclosed in its current financial statements. Impairment is the condition that exists when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value. The first step in the impairment process is to determine the fair value of the reporting unit and then compare it to the carrying value, including goodwill. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, no further action is required and no impairment loss is recognized. Additional impairment assessments may be performed on an interim basis if the Company encounters events or changes in circumstances that would indicate that, more likely than not, the carrying value of goodwill has been impaired. There was no impairment of goodwill in 2011, 2010 or 2009. Revenue Recognition: Revenues are recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the price is fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured. Payments received in advance under these arrangements are recorded as deferred revenue until earned. Revenues are earned from drug discovery and development collaborations, target validation collaborations, database subscriptions, technology licenses, and government grants and contracts. Revenues generated from third parties under collaborative arrangements are recorded on a gross basis on the consolidated statements of operations as Lexicon is the principal participant for these transactions for the purpose of accounting for these arrangements. Upfront fees under drug discovery and development collaborations are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the estimated period of service, generally the contractual research term, as this period is Lexicon’s best estimate of the period over which the services will be rendered, to the extent they are non-refundable. Lexicon has determined that the level of effort it performs to meet its obligations is fairly constant throughout the estimated periods of service. As a result, Lexicon has determined that it is appropriate to recognize revenue from such agreements on a straight-line basis, as management believes this reflects how the research is provided during the initial period of the agreement. When it becomes probable that a collaborator will extend the research period, Lexicon adjusts the revenue recognition method as necessary based on the level of effort required under the agreement for the extension period. Research funding under these alliances is recognized as services are performed to the extent they are non-refundable, either on a straight-line basis over the estimated service period, generally the contractual research term, or as contract research costs are incurred. Milestone-based fees are recognized upon completion of specified milestones according to contract terms. Payments received under target validation collaborations and government grants and contracts are recognized as revenue as Lexicon performs its obligations related to such research to the extent such fees are non-refundable. Non-refundable technology license fees are recognized as revenue upon the grant of the license when performance is complete and there is no continuing involvement. The Company analyzes its multiple element arrangements to determine whether the elements can be separated and accounted for individually as separate units of accounting. An element of a contract can be accounted for separately if the delivered elements have standalone value to the collaborator and the fair value of any undelivered elements is determinable through objective and reliable evidence. If an element is considered to have standalone value but the fair value of any of the undelivered items cannot be determined, all elements of the arrangement are recognized as revenue over the period of performance for such undelivered items or services. Research and Development Expenses: Research and development expenses consist of costs incurred for company-sponsored as well as collaborative research and development activities. These costs include direct and research-related overhead expenses and are expensed as incurred. Technology license fees for technologies that are utilized in research and development and have no alternative future use are expensed when incurred. Substantial portions of the Company's preclinical and clinical trials are performed by third-party laboratories, medical centers, contract research organizations and other vendors. For preclinical studies, the Company accrues expenses based upon estimated percentage of work completed and the contract milestones remaining. For clinical studies, expenses are accrued based upon the number of patients enrolled and the duration of the study. The Company monitors patient enrollment, the progress of clinical studies and related activities to the extent possible through internal reviews of data reported to the Company by the vendors and clinical site visits. The Company's estimates depend on the timeliness and accuracy of the data provided by the vendors regarding the status of each program and total program spending. The Company periodically evaluates the estimates to determine if adjustments are necessary or appropriate based on information it receives. Stock-Based Compensation: The Company recognizes compensation expense in its statement of operations for share-based payments, including stock options and restricted stock units issued to employees, based on their fair values on the date of the grant, with the compensation expense recognized over the period in which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the stock award. Stock-based compensation expense for awards without performance conditions is recognized on a straight-line basis. Stock-based compensation expense for awards with performance conditions is recognized over the period from the date the performance condition is determined to be probable of occurring through the time the applicable condition is met. As of December 31, 2011, stock-based compensation cost for all outstanding unvested options and restricted stock units was $9.4 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.3 years. The fair value of stock options is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes method. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires the input of subjective assumptions. Because the Company’s employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management’s opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its employee stock options. For purposes of determining the fair value of stock options, the Company segregates its options into two homogeneous groups, based on exercise and post-vesting employment termination behaviors, resulting in a change in the assumptions used for expected option lives and forfeitures. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility in the Company’s stock price. The following weighted-average assumptions were used for options granted in the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively:
| Expected Volatility |  | Risk-free Interest Rate |  | Expected Term |  | Dividend Rate
December 31, 2011: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Employees | 88% |  | 2.2% |  | 5 |  | 0%
Officers and non-employee directors | 78% |  | 3.2% |  | 8 |  | 0%
December 31, 2010: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Employees | 86% |  | 2.3% |  | 5 |  | 0%
Officers and non-employee directors | 80% |  | 3.3% |  | 8 |  | 0%
December 31, 2009: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Employees | 78% |  | 1.9% |  | 5 |  | 0%
Officers and non-employee directors | 77% |  | 2.7% |  | 8 |  | 0%
Net Loss per Common Share: Net loss per common share is computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Shares associated with stock options, restricted stock units and warrants are not included because they are antidilutive. Comprehensive Loss: Comprehensive loss is comprised of net loss and unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities. Comprehensive loss is reflected in the consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity. There were unrealized gains of $16,000, $5,000 and none in the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

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