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Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements |
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] |
2. | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation The accompanying audited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Heron Therapeutics, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Heron Therapeutics B.V., which was organized in the Netherlands in March 2015. Heron Therapeutics B.V. has no operations and no material assets or liabilities and there have been no significant transactions related to Heron Therapeutics B.V. since its inception. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and disclosures made in the accompanying notes to the financial statements. Our critical accounting policies that involve significant judgment and estimates include accrued clinical liabilities, income taxes and stock-based compensation. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly liquid investments with original maturities from purchase date of three months or less. Our bank accounts have been placed under a control agreement in accordance with our Senior Secured Convertible Notes (“Convertible Notes”). Short-term investments consist of securities with maturities from purchase date of greater than three months. We have classified our short-term investments as available-for-sale securities in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Available-for-sale securities are stated at fair market value, with unrealized gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income (loss) and realized gains and losses included in interest income. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific-identification method. Interest and dividends on securities classified as available-for-sale are included in interest income. Fair Value of Financial Instruments Financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, receivables, prepaid expenses, other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses, are carried at cost, which is considered to be representative of their respective fair values because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. Short-term available-for-sale investments are carried at fair value (see Note 3 for further details regarding the fair value of financial instruments) . Our Convertible Notes outstanding at December 31, 2015 do not have a readily available ascertainable market value, however, the carrying value is considered to approximate its fair value. Concentration of Credit Risk Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments are financial instruments which potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk. We deposit our cash in financial institutions. At times, such deposits may be in excess of insured limits. We may also invest our excess cash in money market funds, corporate debt securities and commercial paper. We have established guidelines relative to our diversification of our cash investments and their maturities in an effort to maintain safety and liquidity. These guidelines are periodically reviewed and modified to take advantage of trends in yields and interest rates. Property and Equipment Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets (primarily five years). Leasehold improvements are stated at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the lease term. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets If indicators of impairment exist, we assess the recoverability of the affected long-lived assets by determining whether the carrying value of such assets can be recovered through undiscounted future operating cash flows. If impairment is indicated, we measure the amount of such impairment by comparing the carrying value of the asset to the fair value of the asset and records the impairment as a reduction in the carrying value of the related asset with a corresponding charge to operating results. Estimating the undiscounted future cash flows associated with long-lived assets requires judgment and assumptions that could differ materially from actual results. Accrued Clinical Liabilities We review and accrue clinical costs based on work performed, which relies on estimates of the progress of the trials and the related expenses incurred. Clinical trial-related contracts vary significantly in duration, and may be for a fixed amount, based on the achievement of certain contingent events or deliverables, a variable amount based on actual costs incurred, capped at a certain limit, or contain a combination of these elements. Revisions are charged to expense in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known. Historically, revisions have not resulted in material changes to research and development costs, however, a modification in the protocol of a clinical trial or cancellation of a trial could result in a charge to our results of operations. Research and Development Expenses All costs of research and development are expensed in the period incurred. Research and development costs primarily consist of salaries and related expenses for personnel, stock-based compensation, fees paid to outside service providers and consultants, facilities costs and materials used in the clinical and preclinical trials and research and development. Patent Costs We incur outside legal fees in connection with filing and maintaining our various patent applications. All patent costs are expensed as incurred and are included in general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. Stock-Based Compensation Expense We estimate the fair value of stock-based payment awards using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. This fair value is then amortized using the straight-line single-option method of attributing the value of stock-based compensation to expense over the requisite service periods of the awards. The Black-Scholes option pricing model requires the input of highly complex and subjective assumptions, including each option’s expected life and price volatility of the underlying stock. As stock-based compensation expense is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Forfeitures are estimated based on historical experience. Warrants We have issued warrants to purchase shares of our common stock in conjunction with certain equity financings. The terms of the warrants were evaluated to determine the appropriate classification as equity or a liability. Income Taxes Accounting Standard Codification No. 740, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes , clarifies the accounting for uncertain tax positions. This provision requires that we recognize the impact of a tax position in our consolidated financial statements if the position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination and on the technical merits of the position. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would affect other tax accounts, primarily deferred taxes in future periods, and would not affect our effective tax rate since we maintain a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets (see Note 8 for further details). Comprehensive Income (Loss) Comprehensive income (loss) is defined as the change in equity during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are included in other comprehensive net loss and represent the difference between our net loss and comprehensive net loss for all periods presented. Earnings per Share Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period, without consideration of common share equivalents. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury stock method. For purposes of this calculation, stock options, warrants and common stock underlying Convertible Notes are considered to be common stock equivalents and are only included in the calculation of diluted EPS when their effect is dilutive. Because we have incurred a net loss for all periods presented in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, outstanding stock options, warrants and common stock underlying Convertible Notes are not included in the computation of net loss per share because their effect would be anti-dilutive. The following table includes the number of outstanding stock options, warrants and common stock underlying Convertible Notes not included in the computation as of the dates shown below (in thousands):
|  | As of December 31 , |
|  | 2015 |  |  | 2014 |  |  | 2013 |
Stock options outstanding |  |  | 8,435 |  |  |  | 7,918 |  |  |  | 6,356 |
Warrants outstanding |  |  | 3,565 |  |  |  | 4,108 |  |  |  | 3,969 |
Common stock underlying Convertible Notes outstanding |  |  | 7,087 |  |  |  | 6,677 |  |  |  | 6,291 |
Recent Accounting Pronouncements In November 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-17 , Income Taxes - Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (“ASU 2015-17). ASU 2015-17 simplifies the classification of deferred tax assets and liabilities. ASU 2015-17 requires that all deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with any related valuation allowance, be classified as noncurrent on the balance sheet. ASU 2015-17 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and allows for early adoption using a full retrospective method or a prospective method. We plan to adopt the provisions of ASU 2015-17 in 2017. We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2015-17 to have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition. In January 2015, FASB issued ASU No. 2015- 01 , Income Statement—Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20) (“ASU 2015-01”). ASU 2015-01 eliminates the concept of extraordinary items from GAAP. FASB concluded that ASU 2015-01 will not result in a loss of information because although ASU 2015-01 will eliminate the requirements in Subtopic 225-20 for reporting entities to consider whether an underlying event or transaction is extraordinary, the presentation and disclosure guidance for items that are unusual in nature or occur infrequently will be retained and will be expanded to include items that are both unusual in nature and infrequently occurring. The amendments in ASU 2015-01 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. A reporting entity may apply the amendments prospectively. A reporting entity also may apply the amendments retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. We adopted the provisions of ASU 2015-01 in the first quarter of 2015, which did not have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition. In August 2014, FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40) (“ASU 2014-15”). ASU 2014-15 requires management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern by incorporating and expanding upon certain principles that are currently in U.S. auditing standards. Specifically, the amendments (1) provide a definition of the term substantial doubt, (2) require an evaluation every reporting period, including interim periods, (3) provide principles for considering the mitigating effect of management’s plans, (4) require certain disclosures when substantial doubt is alleviated as a result of consideration of management’s plans, (5) require an express statement and other disclosures when substantial doubt is not alleviated, and (6) require an assessment for a period of one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (or available to be issued). The amendments in ASU 2014-15 are effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. We plan to adopt the provisions of ASU 2014-15 in 2016. We do not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition. In June 2014, FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) (“ASU 2014-12”). ASU 2014-12 requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. ASU 2014-12 is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Earlier adoption is permitted. The amendments in ASU 2014-12 may either be applied (a) prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date or (b) retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earlier annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. We plan to adopt the provisions of ASU 2014-12 in the first quarter of 2016. We do not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.

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