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Commitments and Contingencies
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
8.
Commitments and Contingencies

We have contractual obligations to make payments on leases of office, manufacturing, and corporate housing space as follows:

Years Ending December 31,
 
Operating
Leases
 
     
2012
 $1,879,000 
2013
  1,913,000 
2014
  1,766,000 
2015
  1,821,000 
2016
  1,867,000 
2017
  1,590,000 
Total
 $10,836,000 

Rent expense, which includes common area maintenance, for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $2,524,000, $2,186,000 and $2,198,000, respectively.
 
We have entered into agreements with various research organizations for pre-clinical and clinical development studies, which have provisions for cancellation. Under the terms of these agreements, the vendors provide a variety of services including conducting research, enrolling patients, recruiting patients, monitoring studies and data analysis. Payments under these agreements typically include fees for services and reimbursement of expenses. The timing of payments due under these agreements was estimated based on current schedules of pre-clinical and clinical studies in progress. As of December 31, 2011, we have pre-clinical research study obligations of $60,000 (all of which are expected to be complete within a year) and clinical research study obligations of $13,800,000 ($3,250,000 of which are expected to be complete within a year). Should the timing of the pre-clinical and clinical trials change, the timing of the payment of these obligations would also change.

During 2008, we entered into a supply agreement with a minimum purchase requirements clause. As of December 31, 2011, we have minimum purchase obligations of $2,191,000 ($1,341,000 of which are expected to be paid within a year).

We are subject to various claims and contingencies related to legal proceedings. Due to their nature, such legal proceedings involve inherent uncertainties including, but not limited to, court rulings, negotiations between affected parties and governmental actions. Management assesses the probability of loss for such contingencies and accrues a liability and/or discloses the relevant circumstances, as appropriate. Management believes that any liability to us that may arise as a result of currently pending legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity, or results of operations as a whole.

Refer to note 3 for a discussion of our commitments and contingencies related to our transactions with Olympus, including (a) our obligation to the Joint Venture in future periods and (b) certain put and call rights embedded in the arrangements with Olympus.

Refer to note 6 for a discussion of our commitments and contingencies related to our arrangements with Senko.

Refer to note 9 for a discussion of our commitments and contingencies related to our long-term obligations.