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Durect Corp.

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FY2011 Annual Report · Durect Corp.
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UNITED STATES  
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION  
Washington, D.C. 20549  

Form 10-K  

(Mark One)  
  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934  

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011  

OR  
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934  

 

For the transition period from             to               

Commission file number: 000-31615  

DURECT CORPORATION  
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)  

Delaware 
(State or other jurisdiction of 
incorporation or organization) 

94-3297098 
(I.R.S. Employer 
Identification No.) 

10260 Bubb Road  
Cupertino, CA 95014  
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)  
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (408) 777-1417  

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:  

Title of Each Class 
Common Stock $0.0001 par value per share 
Preferred Share Purchase Rights 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered 
The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC 
(NASDAQ Global Market) 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  
None  

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities 

Act.    YES      NO    

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15 of the 

Act.    YES      NO    

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period than the registrant was required to file such reports), and 
(2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    YES      NO    

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive 
Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months 
(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    YES      NO     

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be 

contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this 
Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of 

“large accelerated filer” and “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):  
Large accelerated filer   

Non-accelerated filer    

Accelerated filer    

Smaller reporting company    

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    YES      NO    
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $167,868,268 as of June 30, 
2011 based upon the closing sale price on the NASDAQ Global Market reported for such date. Shares of Common Stock held by each officer 
and director and by each person who may be deemed to be an affiliate have been excluded. This determination of affiliate status is not 
necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.  

There were 87,547,149 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock issued and outstanding as of February 29, 2012.  

Part III incorporates information by reference from the definitive Proxy Statement for the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders, which is 

expected to be filed not later than 120 days after the Registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.  

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
  
    
DURECT CORPORATION 
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K  
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011  

TABLE OF CONTENTS  

ITEM 1. 

PART I 
Business .....................................................................................................................................................................

Page  

1   

ITEM 1A.  Risk Factors ...............................................................................................................................................................

    27   

ITEM 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments ......................................................................................................................................

    48   

ITEM 2. 

ITEM 3. 

Properties ...................................................................................................................................................................

Legal Proceedings......................................................................................................................................................

    49   

    49   

ITEM 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures ............................................................................................................................................

    49   

PART II 

ITEM 5.  Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity 

Securities...............................................................................................................................................................

ITEM 6. 

Selected Financial Data .............................................................................................................................................

    50   

    52   

ITEM 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ....................................

    53   

ITEM 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk ...................................................................................

    67   

ITEM 8. 

ITEM 9. 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data ..........................................................................................................

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure ....................................

    69   

    101   

ITEM 9A.  Controls and Procedures ............................................................................................................................................

    101   

ITEM 9B.  Other Information ......................................................................................................................................................

    103   

PART III 

ITEM 10.  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance .........................................................................................

    103   

ITEM 11.  Executive Compensation ...........................................................................................................................................

    103   

ITEM 12. 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters ..................

    103   

ITEM 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence ...........................................................

    103   

ITEM 14. 

Principal Accountant Fees and Services ....................................................................................................................

    103   

ITEM 15.  Exhibits, and Financial Statement Schedules  ...........................................................................................................

      103 

Signatures  ......................................................................................................................................................................................

    111   

PART IV 

   
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
Item  1. 
Overview  

Business.  

PART I 

We are a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of pharmaceutical products based on our proprietary 

drug delivery technology platforms. Our product pipeline currently consists of seven investigational drug candidates in clinical 
development, with one program the subject of a New Drug Application (NDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 
for which a Complete Response Letter was received in June 2011, one program in Phase III, two programs in Phase II and three 
programs in Phase I. The more advanced programs are in the field of pain management and we believe that each of these targets large 
market opportunities with product features that are differentiated from existing therapeutics. We have other programs underway in 
fields outside of pain management, including several efforts underway which seek to improve the administration of biotechnology 
agents such as proteins and peptides.  

A central aspect of our business strategy involves advancing multiple product candidates at one time, which is enabled by 
leveraging our resources with those of corporate collaborators. Thus, certain of our programs are currently licensed to corporate 
collaborators on terms which typically call for our collaborator to fund all or a substantial portion of future development costs and 
then pay us milestone payments based on specific development or commercial achievements plus a royalty on product sales. At the 
same time, we have retained the rights to other programs, which are the basis of future collaborations and over time may provide a 
pathway for us to develop our own commercial, sales and marketing organization.  

Product Research and Development Programs  

Our development efforts are focused on the application of our pharmaceutical systems technologies to potential products in a 

variety of chronic and episodic disease areas including pain, central nervous system (CNS) disorders, cardiovascular disease and other 
chronic diseases. Our more advanced product research and development efforts in these areas are set forth in the following table:  

Product Candidate 

Disease/Indication 

Collaborator 

Technology Platform 

Stage 

•  Remoxy (Oral 

controlled release 
oxycodone) 

•  Chronic Pain 

•  Pfizer/Pain 

Therapeutics 
(worldwide) 

•  ORADUR 

•  NDA resubmitted in 

December 2010 but not 
approved/ Complete 
Response Letter received 
in June 2011 

•  POSIDUR 

•  Post-Operative Pain 

•  Hospira (U.S. and 

•  SABER 

•  Phase III 

(Controlled release 
injection of 
bupivacaine) 

•  ELADUR 

(Transdermal 
bupivacaine) 

•  TRANSDUR-
Sufentanil 
(Transdermal 
sufentanil) 

•  Pain 

•  Chronic Pain 

Canada); DURECT 
retains rights in rest of 
world 

•  DURECT retains 
worldwide rights 

•  DURECT retains 
worldwide rights 

•  TRANSDUR 

•  Phase II 

•  TRANSDUR 

•  Phase II 

NOTE: POSIDUR™, SABER™, TRANSDUR®, ORADUR®, ELADUR®, DURIN®, CHRONOGESIC®, MICRODUR™, ALZET® 

and LACTEL® are trademarks of DURECT Corporation. Other trademarks referred to belong to their respective owners.  

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Product Candidate 

Disease/Indication 

Collaborator 

Technology Platform 

Stage 

•  ORADUR-based 

opioid (hydrocodone) 

•  Pain 

•  ORADUR-based 

opioid 
(hydromorphone) 

•  Pain 

•  Pfizer/Pain 

Therapeutics 
(worldwide) 
•  Pfizer/Pain 

Therapeutics 
(worldwide) 

•  ORADUR 

•  Phase I 

•  ORADUR 

•  Phase I 

•  ORADUR-ADHD 

•  Attention Deficit 

•  Orient Pharma 

•  ORADUR 

•  Phase I 

Hyperactivity Disorder 
(ADHD) 

•  ORADUR-based 

•  Pain 

opioid 
(oxymorphone) 

•  Relday (risperidone) 

•  Various 

•  Schizophrenia/biopolar 

disorder 

•  Biologics 

Programs/Research 
Programs in other 
Therapeutic Categories 

(defined Asian and 
South Pacific 
countries); DURECT 
retains development 
and commercialization 
rights in North 
America, Europe, 
Japan and all other 
countries 

•  Pfizer/Pain 

Therapeutics 
(worldwide) 

•  ORADUR 

•  IND accepted by the FDA 

•  Zogenix (worldwide) 

•  SABER 

•  Preclinical 

•  SABER/ DURIN  •  Preclinical/ Research Stage 

•  DURECT retains 
worldwide rights, 
except for certain 
feasibility projects 
whereby our 
collaborator generally 
has an option on rights 

Remoxy (ORADUR-Oxycodone)  

Market Opportunity.    Chronic pain is usually the result of an ongoing condition or significant problem associated with chronic 
diseases, including cancer, various neurological and skeletal disorders and other ailments such as severe arthritis or a debilitating back 
injury. As the condition gets worse, the pain often gets worse. Also, long-lasting pain can affect the nervous system to the point where 
pain persists even if the condition that originally caused the pain is stabilized or improved. This is one reason patients often need 
stronger pain medication even if their underlying condition has been treated. Chronic pain affects as many as 50 million Americans 
annually. OxyContin®, a brand name extended-release oral oxycodone-based painkiller, accounted for over $3.0 billion in worldwide 
sales in 2010.  

Development Strategy.    Remoxy is an oral, long-acting oxycodone gelatin capsule under development with Pain Therapeutics, 

Inc. (Pain Therapeutics) to which we have licensed exclusive, worldwide, development and commercialization rights under a 
development and license agreement entered into in December 2002. Subsequently, Pain Therapeutics has sublicensed the worldwide 
commercialization rights of Remoxy (except for Australia and New Zealand) to King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (King) and, as of March 
2009, we began working directly with King on further development of Remoxy. In February 2011, Pfizer Inc (Pfizer) acquired King 
and thereby assumed the rights and obligations of King with respect to Remoxy. Remoxy is formulated with our ORADUR 
technology and incorporates several abuse-deterrent properties with the convenience of twice-a-day dosing. Oxycodone is also the 
active drug ingredient in OxyContin, a brand name extended-release oral  

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painkiller, which achieved annual worldwide sales of greater than $3.0 billion in 2010. Under the agreement with Pain Therapeutics, 
subject to and upon the achievement of predetermined development and regulatory milestones, we are entitled to receive milestone 
payments of up to $9.3 million in the aggregate for Remoxy and other licensed ORADUR-based opioids. As of December 31, 2011, 
we had received $1.7 million in cumulative milestone payments. We also receive reimbursement for our research and development 
efforts on Remoxy and a manufacturing profit on our supply of key product excipients for use in Remoxy. In addition, if 
commercialized, we will receive royalties for Remoxy and other licensed products which do not contain an opioid antagonist of 
between 6.0% to 11.5% of net sales depending on sales volumes.  

Clinical Program.    In December 2007, Pain Therapeutics and King announced that the pivotal Phase III trial for Remoxy 

successfully met its primary endpoint (p<0.01) that was prospectively defined by the FDA during the Special Protocol Assessment 
process. In addition, the study achieved statistically significant results in secondary endpoints such as Quality of Analgesia (p<0.01) 
and Global Assessment (p<0.01). Pain Therapeutics submitted an NDA for Remoxy to the FDA in June 2008, and in August 2008 the 
FDA accepted the NDA and granted priority review. In December 2008, Pain Therapeutics received a Complete Response Letter for 
its NDA for Remoxy in which the FDA determined that the NDA was not approved. According to Pain Therapeutics, the FDA 
indicated that additional non-clinical data would be required to support the approval of Remoxy, but the FDA has not requested or 
recommended additional clinical efficacy studies prior to approval. King assumed responsibility for further development of Remoxy 
from Pain Therapeutics in March 2009. In July 2009, King met with the FDA to discuss the Complete Response Letter. According to 
King and Pain Therapeutics, the outcome of that meeting provided King with a clearer path forward to resubmit the Remoxy NDA and 
to address all FDA comments in the Complete Response Letter. King took over the NDA from Pain Therapeutics and resubmitted the 
NDA in December of 2010. On June 23, 2011, a Complete Response Letter from the FDA was received by Pfizer on the resubmission 
to the NDA for REMOXY. The FDA’s June 2011 Complete Response Letter raised concerns related to, among other matters, the 
Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls section of the NDA for REMOXY. Pfizer has efforts underway to resolve these issues. 
Sufficient information does not yet exist to accurately assess the time required to resolve the concerns raised in the FDA’s Complete 
Response Letter. On January 31, 2012, Pfizer stated that it intended to conduct two bioavailability studies in the second quarter of 
2012 and anticipated meeting with the FDA during the third quarter to discuss next steps.  

Additional ORADUR-Opioid Products in Development  

Since 2006, we also worked with Pain Therapeutics and King on the development of three additional ORADUR abuse-resistant 

opioid drug candidates which would address the chronic pain market. Phase I clinical trials have been conducted for two of these 
ORADUR-based products (hydrocodone and hydromorphone), and an IND has been accepted by the FDA for the third ORADUR-
based opioid (oxymorphone).  

POSIDUR  

Market Opportunity.    According to data published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 

72 million ambulatory and inpatient surgical procedures performed annually in the U.S. Epidemiological studies indicate that up to 
100% of surgical patients experience postoperative pain, with 50-75% reporting inadequate pain relief. The current standard of care 
for post-surgical pain includes oral opiate and non-opiate analgesics and muscle relaxants. While systemic opioids can effectively 
control post-surgical pain, they commonly cause side effects including drowsiness, constipation, nausea and vomiting and cognitive 
impairment. Effective pain management can be compromised if patients fail to adhere to recommended dosing regimens because they 
are suffering from these side effects. Post-surgical pain also can be treated effectively with local anesthetics; however, the usefulness 
of current conventional medications is limited by their short duration of action.  

3 

 
Development Strategy.    We are developing POSIDUR, a sustained-release formulation of bupivacaine, using our SABER 

delivery system for the treatment of post-surgical pain. Bupivacaine is a local anesthetic agent currently used in the hospital for 
anesthesia and analgesia and for which the patent covering the chemical entity has expired. The physician would administer 
POSIDUR at the time of surgery to the surgical site. This formulation is designed to provide sustained regional analgesia from a single 
dose. We believe that by delivering effective amounts of a potent analgesic to the location from which the pain originates, improved 
pain control can be achieved with minimal exposure to the remainder of the body and reduced need for systemic analgesics, thus 
minimizing side effects. POSIDUR is intended to provide local analgesia for up to 3 days, which we believe coincides with the time 
period of greatest need for post-surgical pain control in most patients.  

POSIDUR is the subject of a collaboration agreement with Hospira, Inc. (Hospira) to develop and commercialize POSIDUR in 

the U.S. and Canada. POSIDUR was also the subject of a collaboration agreement with Nycomed Danmark ApS (Nycomed) to 
develop and commercialize POSIDUR in the European Union (E.U.) and certain other countries. In January 2012 Nycomed (now 
owned by Takeda) gave notice that its rights with respect to POSIDUR were being returned to us. Please see “Third Party 
Collaborations” for additional information.  

Clinical Program.    Our POSIDUR clinical development program has been devised to establish the safety and efficacy of 
POSIDUR for the treatment of post-surgical pain for up to 3 days. Toward that end, we have conducted 13 clinical studies in a variety 
of surgical models including hernia, appendectomy, shoulder surgery and various abdominal procedures. We have dosed over 1,000 
humans with either POSIDUR or SABER-placebo, of which over 680 patients received POSIDUR. Leveraging on the well established 
history of use of bupivacaine, our strategy is to pursue a section 505(b)2 NDA application.  

Phase IIb Inguinal Hernia Trial  

Design  
The POSIDUR Phase IIb clinical trial was designed to evaluate the tolerability, activity, dose response and pharmacokinetics of 

POSIDUR in patients undergoing open inguinal hernia repair. The trial was conducted in Australia and New Zealand as a multi-
center, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study in 122 patients. Study patients were randomized into three treatment 
groups: patients that were treated with POSIDUR 2.5 mL (n=43), POSIDUR 5 mL (n=47) and placebo (n=32). The co-primary 
efficacy endpoints for the study were Mean Pain Intensity on Movement area under the curve (AUC), a measure of pain over a period 
of 1-72 hours post-surgery, and the proportion of patients requiring supplemental opioid analgesic medication during the study. 
Secondary efficacy endpoints included Mean Pain Intensity on Movement AUC over the period 1-48 hours post-surgery, mean total 
consumption of supplemental opioid analgesic medication, and time to first use of supplemental opioid analgesic medication. The 
threshold for statistical significance was considered to be at the p<0.05 level.  

Results  
Pain Control  
In relation to the co-primary endpoint of pain reduction as measured by Mean Pain Intensity on Movement AUC 1-72 hours 
post-surgery, the patient group treated with POSIDUR 5 mL reported thirty-one percent (31%) less pain versus placebo (p=0.0033). A 
secondary endpoint measure reported a thirty-five percent (35%) reduction of pain as measured by Mean Pain Intensity on Movement 
AUC for the period 1-48 hours post-surgery between the POSIDUR 5 mL treatment group versus placebo (p=0.0007).  

Consumption of Supplemental Opioid Analgesic Medication  
Fifty-three percent (53%) of the study patients in the POSIDUR 5 mL group took supplemental opioid analgesic medications 

versus seventy-two percent (72%) of the placebo patients (p=0.0909). Although this  

4 

 
positive trend for this co-primary endpoint in favor of the POSIDUR 5 mL group was not statistically significant, both secondary 
endpoints measuring opioid analgesic medication consumption were met at a statistically significant level. During the periods of 1-24 
hours, 24-48 hours and 48-72 hours after surgery, placebo patients consumed approximately 3.5 (p=0.0009), 2.9 (p=0.0190) and 3.6 
(p=0.0172) times more supplemental opioid analgesic medications (mean total daily consumption of opioid analgesic medication in 
morphine equivalents), respectively, than the POSIDUR 5 mL treatment group. In addition, the median time to first use of 
supplemental opioid analgesic medication after surgery for the placebo patients was 2.7 hours versus >72 hours for the POSIDUR 5 
mL treatment group (p=0.0197).  

Dose Finding  
POSIDUR administered at the dose of 5 mL showed statistically significant activity relative to placebo whereas POSIDUR 

administered at 2.5 mL showed a positive trend relative to placebo on certain parameters but the results were not statistically 
significant.  

Safety  
The patient groups treated with POSIDUR 5 mL and POSIDUR 2.5 mL showed comparable safety profiles as the patient groups 
treated with placebo, and the drug administration appeared well tolerated. The side effects commonly observed with opioid medication 
use were less frequent in the POSIDUR 5 mL and 2.5 mL treatment groups compared to placebo.  

Other Phase II Clinical Trials  

In addition to the Phase IIb clinical trial described above, we have also conducted smaller exploratory Phase II studies in hernia, 

shoulder arthroscopy and appendectomy surgeries to evaluate different application techniques, clinical design and conduct as well as 
other investigational factors. These trials have been conducted in multiple cohorts, generally consisting of approximately 6 to 21 
patients in each treatment group. In all the exploratory studies, patient groups treated with POSIDUR 5 mL and POSIDUR 2.5 mL 
showed comparable safety profiles as the patient groups treated with placebo, and the drug administration appeared well tolerated. 
Some treatment groups from these exploratory studies utilizing POSIDUR have shown positive activity as measured by reduction of 
pain or consumption of supplemental opioid analgesic medication versus placebo, while other treatment groups have not. We have 
evaluated these studies to understand the different results observed, and have applied our learnings in the design of our Phase III 
program.  

In December 2009, we announced results from a 60 patient Phase IIb clinical trial of POSIDUR in patients undergoing 
arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Top line results showed a consistent reduction of pain scores (as measured by mean pain intensity on 
movement AUC, time normalized under the curve, during the period 0 to 72 hours post-surgery) in parallel with a reduction of opioid 
use (as measured by the amount of opioids taken in the three days post-surgery) in favor of POSIDUR versus placebo. These 
reductions were not statistically significant given the size of the study. In addition, there was a comparable safety profile between the 
two groups in this study and POSIDUR appeared well tolerated.  

In June 2010, we announced results from a European Phase IIb hysterectomy clinical trial conducted by Nycomed of POSIDUR. 

In this study, 115 patients were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups prior to undergoing open hysterectomy surgery: 
POSIDUR at a dose of 5 mL, an active comparator (commercially available bupivacaine HCI solution) or SABER-Placebo (SABER 
vehicle without drug). All patients were given a background pain treatment consisting of a daily dose of two or four grams (depending 
on the patient’s weight) of paracetamol (acetaminophen). In addition, each patient was provided supplemental opioid rescue 
medication, if needed. With respect to efficacy, the primary endpoints of the study were to demonstrate: (1) non-inferiority of 
POSIDUR to SABER-Placebo (with all groups taking the background and supplemental pain treatment as  

5 

 
described above) in terms of pain intensity on movement area under the curve (AUC) during the period 1-72 hours post-surgery, and 
(2) superiority of POSIDUR against SABER-Placebo in the total use of opioid rescue analgesia 0-72 hours post-surgery. Results from 
this study show that the first primary efficacy endpoint was met. With respect to the second primary efficacy endpoint, no statistically 
significant difference was shown in opioid use between the POSIDUR and SABER-Placebo groups. Secondary comparisons were 
performed towards the active comparator group with similar results. In this study, patients in all treatment groups only took a 
meaningful amount of opioids during a shorter period of time after surgery than was expected. In this study, there were no indications 
of systemic safety issues. The plasma concentration profiles were consistent with previous studies, confirming the sustained release 
profile of the product. Local observations (most commonly coded as post procedural haematomas) at the surgical site were observed 
with frequency in the POSIDUR and SABER-Placebo groups and not observed in the active comparator group. These events were 
temporary and resolved without treatment.  

In February 2011, we announced results from a European Phase IIb shoulder clinical trial conducted by Nycomed of POSIDUR. 
In this study, 107 patients were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups prior to undergoing elective arthroscopic shoulder 
surgery: POSIDUR at a dose of 5 mL, an active comparator (commercially available bupivacaine HCI solution) or SABER-Placebo 
(SABER vehicle without drug). All patients were given a background pain treatment consisting of a daily dose of two or four grams 
(depending on the patient’s weight) of paracetamol (acetaminophen). In addition, each patient was provided supplemental opioid 
rescue medication, if needed. With respect to efficacy, the primary endpoints of the study were to demonstrate: (1) non-inferiority of 
POSIDUR to SABER-Placebo (with all groups taking the background and supplemental pain treatment as described above) in terms 
of pain intensity on movement area under the curve (AUC) during the period 1–72 hours post-surgery, and (2) superiority of 
POSIDUR against SABER-Placebo in the total use of opioid rescue analgesia 0–72 hours post-surgery. Results from this study 
demonstrate that the POSIDUR group experienced a statistically significant reduction in pain intensity of approximately 19% 
(p=0.0219) versus SABER-Placebo. The results of the pre-specified primary analysis indicated a clear clinically relevant trend in 
opioid sparing for POSIDUR compared to SABER-placebo and the pre-specified sensitivity analysis showed a statistically significant 
reduction of approximately 67% (p=0.013) in median opioid use in favor of POSIDUR. No statistical differences were found when 
POSIDUR was compared to the active comparator arm. Overall there was a comparable safety profile between the three groups in this 
study and POSIDUR appeared well tolerated.  

U.S. Phase III Program  

In January 2012, we announced top-line results for BESST (Bupivacaine Effectiveness and Safety in SABER Trial), a Phase III 

clinical trial in the U.S. BESST was an international, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial evaluating the safety, 
efficacy, effectiveness, and pharmacokinetics of POSIDUR in 305 patients undergoing a variety of general abdominal surgical 
procedures. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to one of three cohorts:  

Cohort 1: An active comparator cohort in which patients were randomized to receive either POSIDUR 5.0 mL or commercially 
available Bupivacaine HCl solution after laparotomy.  
Cohort 2: An active comparator cohort in which patients were randomized to receive either POSIDUR 5.0 mL or commercially 
available Bupivacaine HCl solution after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.  
Cohort 3: A double blind, placebo controlled cohort in which patients were randomized to receive either POSIDUR 5.0 mL or 
SABER-Placebo after laparoscopically-assisted colectomy.  

Efficacy evaluation in the BESST trial encompassed a number of parameters. The two co-primary efficacy endpoints for Cohort 
3 were mean pain intensity on movement (normalized) Area Under the Curve (AUC) during the period 0-72 hours post-dose and mean 
total morphine equivalent opioid dose for supplemental analgesia during the period 0-72 hours post-dose. The purpose of Cohorts 1 
and 2 was to give us additional experience with the use of POSIDUR in a broader group of surgeries and patients.  

6 

 
Results  

Primary Endpoints—Cohort 3 (POSIDUR versus SABER-Placebo, laparoscopically-assisted colectomy)  

With respect to the co-primary efficacy endpoint of pain reduction as measured by mean pain intensity on movement 

(normalized) Area Under the Curve (AUC) during the period 0-72 hours post-dose, the patient group treated with POSIDUR 5.0 mL 
(660 mg) reported a mean pain reduction in pain scores of approximately 7% (p=0.1466). The statistical analysis plan included pain on 
movement as recorded at scheduled times through an electronic diary plus pain scores reported whenever supplemental opioids were 
administered with such scores attributed as if they were pain on movement. In the prespecified sensitivity analysis (which includes 
only scheduled pain assessment on movement scores as collected on the electronic diary), the patient group treated with POSIDUR 5.0 
mL reported approximately 10% less pain versus placebo (p=0.0410). In relation to the co-primary efficacy endpoint of median total 
morphine-equivalent opioid dose for supplemental analgesia during the period 0-72 hours post-dose, the patient group treated with 
POSIDUR reported approximately 16% less opioids consumed versus the placebo group (p=0.5897). The prespecified level for 
statistical significance is p<0.05, unless one of the co-primary efficacy endpoints is not met in which case the standard for statistical 
significance for the remaining endpoint is p<0.025.  

Cohorts 1 and 2 (POSIDUR versus commercially available Bupivacaine HCl solution after laparotomy and after 

laparoscopic cholecystectomy, respectively)  

Cohorts 1 and 2 were prespecified to be pooled due to their small sample size. For Cohorts 1 and 2 (pooled), the mean reduction 

in pain on movement was approximately 20% (p=0.0111) for the POSIDUR group compared to the patient group treated with 
bupivacaine HCl. The median total morphine-equivalent opioid dose for supplemental analgesia during the period 0-72 hours post-
dose for Cohorts 1 and 2 (pooled), the patient group treated with POSIDUR reported approximately 18% less opioids consumed 
compared to the bupivacaine HCl group (p=0.5455).  

Safety  
Overall, the POSIDUR patient groups showed a similar systemic safety profile as the patient groups treated with SABER-
Placebo and active comparator. There were no signs of systemic safety issues. Local site reactions were observed more frequently in 
the POSIDUR and SABER-Placebo groups than in the active comparator groups; most of these observations were discolorations, the 
majority of which resolved without treatment during the trial. No negative safety signal has been seen in the initial cardiac and 
neurologic safety assessment in BESST; however further analysis is underway.  

Next Steps  
After a complete analysis of the BESST data and preparation of integrated safety and efficacy summeries combining our 
previous well controlled studies, we intend to hold a pre-NDA meeting with the FDA which we expect to occur in mid-2012, with a 
potential NDA submission under section 505(b)2 later this year.  

ELADUR  

Market Opportunity.    Pain can arise from a variety of diseases and conditions, and in many instances, pain originates from a 

localized point in the body and can benefit from treatments which are administered and act locally as opposed to in a systemic fashion. 
One such example is post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN or post-shingles pain), a debilitating complication of herpes zoster, which is 
usually defined as the presence of pain at the site of eruption that lasts more than a month after the onset of a zoster eruption. The 
prevalence of PHN (including PHN lasting more than one year) is estimated to be approximately 144,000 people in the U.S. In 
addition to PHN, there are a number of other widely prevalent chronic and acute local pain conditions (e.g., neuropathic pain, sprains, 
strains, and contusions) that could benefit from a locally acting pain product.  

7 

 
  
Development Strategy.    Our transdermal bupivacaine patch (ELADUR) under development is intended to provide continuous 

delivery of bupivacaine for up to three days from a single application, as compared to a wearing time limited to 12 hours with 
currently available lidocaine patches. We anticipate that ELADUR will have several potential differentiating attributes compared with 
currently marketed lidocaine patches, including extended duration of action and better wearability. During 2008, we received Orphan 
Drug Designation for bupivacaine for relief of persistent pain associated with PHN, such that if ELADUR is the first bupivacaine 
product approved for PHN, ELADUR would be eligible to receive seven years of data exclusivity following its approval by the FDA. 
There can be no assurance that ELADUR will be the first bupivacaine product approved for PHN, and therefore ELADUR may not be 
entitled to the seven year data exclusivity period for orphan drugs. Effective October 2008, we licensed the worldwide development 
and commercialization rights for ELADUR to Alpharma Ireland Limited (Alpharma), which was acquired by King in December 2008. 
In February 2011, Pfizer acquired King and thereby assumed the rights and obligations of King with respect to ELADUR. In February 
2012, Pfizer gave notice that its rights with respect to ELADUR were being returned to us. We intend to initiate discussions with other 
potential partners regarding licensing development and commercialization rights to this program. Please see “Third Party 
Collaborations” for additional information.  

Clinical Program.    In 2007, we reported positive results from a 60 patient Phase IIa clinical trial for ELADUR. In this study of 

patients suffering from PHN, ELADUR showed improved pain control versus placebo during the 3-day continuous treatment period. 
In addition, ELADUR appeared well tolerated overall, and patients treated with ELADUR and placebo exhibited similar safety 
profiles. In 2008, we conducted manufacturing scale-up and processing studies to secure additional supplies for Phase II and Phase III 
clinical trials, and developed our clinical and regulatory strategy for further development of this program. We reported top line data 
from a Phase II clinical trial conducted by King for ELADUR in April 2011. In this study of 263 patients suffering from chronic low 
back pain, the primary efficacy endpoint of demonstrating a positive treatment difference for the mean change in pain intensity scores 
from baseline to the mean of weeks 11 and 12 between ELADUR as compared to placebo was not met.  

TRANSDUR-Sufentanil Patch  

Market Opportunity.    Chronic pain affects as many as 50 million Americans annually. One major class of drugs utilized to treat 

chronic pain is comprised of oral opioids, such as OxyContin, a branded extended-release oral oxycodone-based painkiller which 
accounted for over $3.0 billion in worldwide sales in 2010. Another major class of drugs utilized to treat chronic pain is transdermally 
delivered opioids such as Duragesic®, a leading transdermal fentanyl product which accounted for approximately $750 million in 
worldwide sales in 2010. It is our belief that a best-in-class sufentanil patch could compete effectively in both the transdermal fentanyl 
patch market and in the oral opioid market.  

Development Strategy.    Our transdermal sufentanil patch (TRANSDUR-Sufentanil) under development is based on our 
proprietary TRANSDUR transdermal technology and is intended to provide continuous delivery of sufentanil for up to seven days 
from a single application, as compared to the two to three days of relief provided by currently available fentanyl patches. Sufentanil is 
a highly potent opioid that is currently used in hospitals as an analgesic for which the patent covering the chemical entity has expired. 
We anticipate that the small size of our sufentanil patch (potentially as small as 1/5th the size of currently marketed transdermal 
fentanyl patches for a therapeutically equivalent dose) and longer duration of delivery may offer improved convenience and 
compliance for patients.  

In March 2005, we entered into an agreement with Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Endo) granting Endo exclusive rights to 
develop, market and commercialize TRANSDUR-Sufentanil in the U.S. and Canada. In February 2009, Endo notified us that it was 
terminating the license agreement with us, and thereby returning Endo’s rights to develop and commercialize TRANSDUR-Sufentanil 
in the U.S. and Canada to us effective August 26, 2009. We are in discussions with potential collaborators regarding licensing 
development and commercialization rights to this program to which we hold worldwide rights.  

8 

 
  
Clinical Program.    In 2008, Endo successfully completed a Phase II clinical trial for TRANSDUR-Sufentanil in which they 
evaluated the conversion of patients on oral and transdermal opioids to TRANSDUR-Sufentanil. This Phase II trial met its primary 
and secondary objectives of establishing a successful dose-titration regimen and dose potency relationships, demonstrating safety and 
tolerability at the therapeutic dose, and achieving effective analgesic pain control. The Phase II data, extensive non-clinical data that 
had been generated by Endo and a potential regulatory pathway for the Phase III program were reviewed with the FDA at an end-of-
Phase II meeting on February 19, 2009. It is our expectation that future development of this product candidate will follow a 505(b)2 
pathway as discussed with FDA, which would allow us to reference third-party data, potentially reducing time and expense.  

ORADUR-ADHD Program  

Market Opportunity.    Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral condition that is estimated to 

affect approximately 8% of U.S. children ages 4-17, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“the CDC”). 
The principal characteristics of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The condition presents itself in childhood and 
can be life long as 65% of children with ADHD continue to present symptoms as adults. Over 50% of children with ADHD are 
currently treated with stimulants such as amphetamine or methylphenidate and sales of ADHD treatments were approximately $5.8 
billion in 2010. The National Survey on Drug Use & Health estimates that 1.4 million Americans over the age of 12 abuse stimulants 
for euphoric highs and increased performance or wakefulness.  

Development Strategy.    We are developing a drug candidate (ORADUR-ADHD) based on DURECT’s ORADUR Technology 
for the treatment of ADHD. This drug candidate is intended to provide once-a-day dosing with added tamper resistant characteristics 
to address common methods of abuse and misuse of these types of drugs. In August 2009, we entered into a development and license 
agreement with Orient Pharma Co., Ltd., a diversified multinational pharmaceutical, healthcare and consumer products company with 
headquarters in Taiwan, under which we granted to Orient Pharma development and commercialization rights in certain defined Asian 
and South Pacific countries to ORADUR-ADHD. DURECT retains rights to North America, Europe, Japan and all other countries not 
specifically licensed to Orient Pharma. Under our agreement with Orient Pharma, the parties will collaborate to perform a clinical 
development program through a Phase II study intended to produce a data package suitable for further development of the drug 
candidate by us as well as Orient Pharma in their respective territories. We will be responsible for formulation and study design of the 
Phase I and Phase II clinical program which Orient Pharma has agreed to fund and execute. Orient Pharma would be responsible for 
all remaining development and commercialization activities for ORADUR-ADHD in the licensed territory. If commercialized, we will 
be entitled to receive a royalty on sales of ORADUR-ADHD by Orient Pharma. Orient Pharma has committed to supply a portion of 
DURECT’s commercial requirements in all territories other than the U.S. for ORADUR-ADHD. In 2010 and 2011, we conducted 
several Phase I clinical trials in this program with multiple formulations. Based on information from these trials, we are continuing to 
evaluate the lead formulations and are planning next steps in our ORADUR-ADHD program.  

Relday  

Market Opportunity.    Risperidone is one of the most widely prescribed medications used to treat the symptoms of 

schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder in adults and teenagers 13 years of age and older. Relday is being developed to address unmet 
clinical needs in this large patient population. The existing long-acting injectable risperidone product, which achieved global net sales 
of $1.5 billion in 2010, requires twice monthly, 2 mL intramuscular injections with a 21 gauge or larger needle. We and Zogenix 
expect that, if approved, Relday will be the first once-monthly, subcutaneous antipsychotic product available in a needle-free delivery 
system to enter the long-acting injectable antipsychotic market. We and Zogenix also expect that, if approved, Relday will provide a 
new long-acting treatment option for patients that currently use daily oral antipsychotic products. The combined market for oral and 
injectable antipsychotic products is estimated at more than $16 billion in 2010. We and Zogenix believe the SABER controlled-release 
technology combined with Zogenix’s DosePro technology  

9 

 
  
will allow Relday to be delivered subcutaneously without a needle on a once-monthly basis with a simplified dosing regimen, 
improved pharmacokinetic profile and significant reduction in injection volume.  

Development Strategy.    Under the development and license agreement entered into in July 2011 after working together since 

October 2007 under a feasibility agreement, Zogenix will be responsible for the clinical development and commercialization of a 
proprietary, long-acting injectable formulation of risperidone using our SABER controlled-release formulation technology in 
combination with Zogenix’s DosePro needle-free, subcutaneous drug delivery system. We will share non-clinical development 
responsibilities. Zogenix expects to initiate clinical studies for the new product candidate, Relday, in patients with schizophrenia in 
2012 following filing of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application.  

Biologics Programs  

The proteins and genes identified by the biotechnology industry are large, complex, intricate molecules, and many are unsuitable 

as drugs. If these molecules are given orally, they are often digested before they can have an effect; if given by injection, they may be 
destroyed by the body’s natural processes before they can reach their intended sites of action. The body’s natural elimination 
processes require frequent, high dose injections that may result in unwanted side effects. As a result, the development of 
biotechnology molecules for the treatment of human diseases has been limited, and advanced drug delivery systems such as we 
possess are required to realize the full potential of many of these protein and peptide drugs. We have active programs underway to 
apply our drug delivery systems to various biotechnology drugs and drug candidates, and have entered into a number of feasibility 
studies with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to test their products in our systems.  

Research Programs in other Therapeutic Categories  

We have underway a number of research programs covering medical diseases and conditions other than pain. Such programs 

include various diseases and disorders including schizophrenia and cancer. In conducting our research programs and determining 
which particular efforts to prioritize for formal development, we employ a rigorous opportunity assessment process that takes into 
account the unmet medical need, commercial opportunity, technical feasibility, clinical viability, intellectual property considerations, 
and the development path including costs to achieve various critical milestones.  

Industry Background  

Chronic Diseases and Conditions  

Although the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries have played key roles in increasing life expectancy 

and improving health, many chronic, debilitating diseases continue to be inadequately addressed with current drugs or medical 
devices. Cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, arthritis, epilepsy and other chronic diseases claim the 
lives of millions of Americans each year. These illnesses are prolonged, are rarely cured completely, and pose a significant societal 
burden in mortality, morbidity and cost. The CDC estimates that the major chronic diseases are responsible for approximately 
1.7 million deaths annually, or 70% of all deaths in the U.S. Chronic diseases cause major limitations in daily living for more than 
25 million Americans. These diseases account for more than 70% of the cost of health care each year in the U.S. Demographic trends 
suggest that, as the U.S. population ages, the cost of treating chronic diseases will increase.  

Current Approaches to Treatment  

Drugs are available to treat many chronic diseases, but harmful side effects can limit prolonged treatment. In addition, patients 

with chronic diseases commonly take multiple medications, often several times a day, for the remainder of their lives. If patients fail to 
take drugs as prescribed, they often do not receive the intended benefits or may experience side effects, which are harmful or decrease 
quality of life. These problems become more  

10 

 
common as the number of drugs being taken increases, the regimen of dosing becomes more complicated, or the patient ages or 
becomes cognitively impaired. It is estimated that only half of prescribed medicines are taken correctly.  

The Pharmaceutical Industry.    The pharmaceutical industry has traditionally focused on the chemical structure of small 
molecules to create drugs that can treat diseases and medical conditions. The ability to use these molecules as drugs is based on their 
potency, safety and efficacy. Therapeutic outcome and ultimately the suitability of a molecule as a drug depends to a large extent on 
how it gets into the body, distributes throughout the body, reacts with its intended site of action and is eliminated from the body. 
However, small molecules can act in diverse tissues throughout the body resulting in unwanted side effects.  

Most drugs require a minimum level in blood and tissues to have significant therapeutic effects. Above a maximum level, 
however, the drug becomes toxic or has some unwanted side effects. These two levels define the therapeutic range of the drug. With 
conventional oral dosing and injections, typically a large quantity of drug is administered to the patient at one time, which results in 
high blood levels of drug immediately after dosing. Because of these high levels, the patient can be over-medicated during the period 
immediately following dosing, resulting in wasted drug and possible side effects. Due to distribution processes and drug clearance, the 
blood level of drug falls as time elapses from the last dose. For some duration, the patient is within the desired therapeutic range of 
blood levels. Eventually, the blood level of drug falls sufficiently such that the patient becomes under-medicated and experiences little 
or no drug effect until the next dose is administered.  

The Biotechnology Industry.    Over the past twenty-five years, the biotechnology revolution and the expanding field of 

genomics have led to the discovery of huge numbers of proteins and genes. Tremendous resources have been committed in the hope of 
developing drug therapies that would better mimic the body’s own processes and allow for greater therapeutic specificity than is 
possible with small molecule drugs. Unfortunately, this huge effort has led to only a limited number of therapeutic products. The 
proteins and genes identified by the biotechnology industry are large, complex, intricate molecules, and many are unsuitable as drugs. 
If these molecules are given orally, they are often digested before they can have an effect; if given by injection, they may be destroyed 
by the body’s natural processes before they can reach their intended sites of action. The body’s natural elimination processes require 
frequent, high dose injections that may result in unwanted side effects. As a result, the development of biotechnology molecules for 
the treatment of human diseases has been limited.  

The Drug Delivery Industry.    In the last forty years, a multibillion dollar drug delivery industry has developed on the basis that 

medicine can be improved by delivering drugs to patients in a precise, controlled fashion. Several commercially successful oral 
controlled release products, transdermal controlled release patches, and injectable controlled release formulations have been 
developed. These products demonstrate that the delivery system can be as important to the ultimate therapeutic value of a 
pharmaceutical product as the active molecule or compound itself. However, drug delivery products on the market today can still be 
improved, for example, by providing reduced abuse potential, targeted delivery to minimize systemic effects and longer delivery 
durations where useful. Furthermore, traditional drug delivery products are generally not capable of administering biotechnology 
agents such as proteins and peptides.  

The DURECT Solution: Pharmaceutical Systems  

We are developing and commercializing pharmaceutical systems that will deliver the right drug to the right place, in the right 

amount and at the right time to treat chronic and episodic diseases and conditions. Our pharmaceutical systems enable optimized 
therapy for a given disease or patient population by controlling the rate and duration of drug administration. In addition, if 
advantageous for the therapy, our pharmaceutical systems can target the delivery of the drug to its intended site of action.  

  The Right Drug: By precisely controlling the dosage or targeting delivery to a specific site, we can expand the therapeutic 
use of compounds that would otherwise be too potent to be administered systemically, do not remain in the body long 
enough to be effective, or have significant side effects  

11 

 
when administered systemically. This flexibility allows us to work with a variety of drug candidates including small 
molecules, proteins, peptides or genes.  

  The Right Place: In addition to enabling systemic delivery, if advantageous for the therapy, with precise placement of our 
proprietary catheters or biodegradable drug delivery formulations, we can design our pharmaceutical systems to deliver 
drugs directly to the intended site of action. This can ensure that the drug reaches the target tissue in effective 
concentrations, eliminate many side effects caused by delivery of the drug to unintended sites in the body, and reduce the 
total amount of drug administered to the body.  

  The Right Amount: Our pharmaceutical systems can automatically deliver drug dosages continuously within the desired 

therapeutic range for the duration of the treatment period, from days to up to months, without the fluctuations in drug levels 
typically associated with conventional pills or injections. This can reduce side effects, eliminate gaps in drug therapy, 
conveniently ensure accurate dosing and patient compliance, and may reduce the total amount of drug administered to the 
body.  

  The Right Time: Our pharmaceutical systems technologies are designed to minimize the need for intervention by the patient 

or care-giver and to enhance dosing compliance. In addition to reducing the cost of care, continuous drug therapy frees the 
patient from repeated treatment or hospitalization, improving convenience and quality of life. Our systems are well-suited 
to deliver drug for the right period of time for the intended indication, whether for hours or days for acute indications or 
months or years for treating chronic, debilitating diseases such as chronic pain, cancer, heart disease, and neurodegenerative 
diseases. We believe that it is more effective to treat chronic diseases with continuous, long-term therapy than with 
alternatives such as multiple conventional injections or oral dosage forms that create short-term effects.  

DURECT Pharmaceutical Systems Technology  

Our pharmaceutical systems combine engineering with proprietary small molecule pharmaceutical and biotechnology drug 

formulations to yield proprietary delivery technologies and products. Through this combination, we are able to control the rate and 
duration of drug administration, as well as, when desired, target the delivery of the drug to its intended site of action, allowing our 
pharmaceutical systems to meet the special challenges associated with treating medical conditions over an extended period of time. 
Our pharmaceutical systems can enable new drug therapies or optimize existing therapies based on a broad range of compounds, 
including small molecule pharmaceuticals as well as biologics such as proteins, peptides and genes.  

Our pharmaceutical systems are suitable for providing long-term drug therapy because they store highly concentrated, stabilized 
drugs in a small volume and can protect the drug from degradation by the body. This, in combination with our ability to continuously 
deliver precise and accurate doses of a drug, allows us to extend the therapeutic value of a wide variety of drugs, including those 
which would otherwise be ineffective, too unstable, too potent or cause adverse side effects. In some cases, delivering the drug 
directly to the intended site of action can improve efficacy while minimizing unwanted side effects elsewhere in the body, which often 
limit the long-term use of many drugs. Our pharmaceutical systems can thus provide better therapy for chronic diseases or conditions, 
or for certain acute conditions where longer drug dosing is required or advantageous, by replacing multiple injection therapy or oral 
dosing, improving drug efficacy, reducing side effects and ensuring dosing compliance. Our pharmaceutical systems can improve 
patients’ quality of life by eliminating more repetitive treatments, reducing dependence on caregivers and allowing patients to lead 
more independent lives.  

We currently have five major technology platforms:  

The SABER Delivery System  

The SABER system is a patented controlled-release technology that can be formulated for systemic or local administration of 

active agents via the parenteral or oral route. We are researching and developing a variety of  

12 

 
controlled-release products based on the SABER technology. These include injectable controlled release products for systemic and 
local delivery and oral products. We believe that our SABER system can provide the basis for the development of a state-of-the-art 
biodegradable, controlled-release injectable. The SABER system uses a high-viscosity base component, such as sucrose acetate 
isobutyrate (SAIB), to provide controlled release of a drug. When the high viscosity SAIB is formulated with drug, biocompatible 
excipients and other additives, the resulting formulation is liquid enough to inject easily with standard syringes and needles. After 
injection of a SABER formulation, the excipients diffuse away, leaving a viscous depot. Depending on how it is formulated, the 
SABER system can successfully deliver therapeutic levels of a wide spectrum of drugs from one day to three months from a single 
injection. Based on research and development work to date, our SABER technology has shown the following advantages:  

  Peptide/Protein Delivery—The chemical nature of the SABER system tends to repel water and body enzymes from its 

interior and thereby stabilizes proteins and peptides. For this reason, we believe that the SABER system is well suited as a 
platform for biotechnology therapeutics based on proteins and peptides.  

  Less Burst—Typically, controlled release injections are associated with an initial higher release of drug immediately after 

injection (also called “burst”). Animal and human studies have shown that injectables based on the SABER technology can 
be associated with less post-injection burst than is typically associated with other commercially available injectable 
controlled release technologies.  

  High Drug Concentration—Drug concentration in a SABER formulation can be as high as 30%, considerably greater than 
is typical with other commercially available injectable controlled release technologies. As a result, smaller injection 
volumes are possible with this technology.  

  Ease of Administration—Prior to injection, SABER formulations are fairly liquid and therefore can be injected through 

 

small needles. Additionally, because of the higher drug concentration of SABER formulations, less volume is required to be 
injected. Small injection volumes and more liquid solutions are expected to result in easier, less painful administration.  
Strong Patent Protection—The SABER system, SABER-like materials, and various applications of this technology to 
pharmaceuticals, medical devices and drug delivery are covered by United States and foreign patents. See “Patents, 
Licenses and Proprietary Rights” below.  

  Ease of Manufacture—Compared to microspheres and other polymer-based controlled release injectable systems, SABER 

is readily manufacturable at low cost.  

The SABER Technology is the basis of POSIDUR, which recently completed a Phase III clinical trial in the U.S. In our clinical 

studies thus far, SABER formulations have been observed to be safe and well-tolerated, and no significant side effects or adverse 
events were reported.  

The SABER Technology is also the basis for SucroMate™ Equine, an injectable animal health drug utilizing our SABER™ 
technology to deliver the peptide deslorelin. This is the first FDA approved SABER injectable product and it was launched in 2011 by 
our collaborator, CreoSalus, Inc.  

The TRANSDUR Transdermal Delivery System  

Our TRANSDUR technology is a proprietary transdermal delivery system that enables delivery of drugs continuously for up to 
7 days. The TRANSDUR technology is the basis for TRANSDUR-Sufentanil for which we have conducted Phase II clinical trials and 
for which we hold worldwide development and commercialization rights. The TRANSDUR technology is also the basis for 
ELADUR, for which we have conducted two Phase II clinical trials and for which we hold worldwide development and 
commercialization rights.  

13 

 
The ORADUR Sustained Release Gel Cap Technology  

We are developing ORADUR sustained release oral technology based on our SABER technology. We believe that ORADUR 

can transform short-acting oral capsule dosage forms into sustained release oral products. Products based on our ORADUR 
technology can take the form of an easy to swallow gelatin capsule that uses a high-viscosity base component such as sucrose acetate 
isobutyrate (SAIB) to provide controlled release of active ingredients for a period of 12 to 24 hours of drug delivery. Oral dosage 
forms based on the ORADUR gel-cap may also have the added benefit of being less prone to abuse (e.g., by crushing or alcohol or 
water extraction) than other controlled release dosage forms on the market today. These properties have the potential to make 
ORADUR-based products an attractive option for pharmaceutical companies that seek to develop abuse deterrent oral products.  

The ORADUR technology is the basis of Remoxy, a novel long-acting oral formulation of the opioid oxycodone which is 

targeted to decrease the potential for oxycodone abuse. Since 2006, we also worked with Pain Therapeutics and King on the 
development of three additional ORADUR abuse-resistant opioid drug candidates which would address the chronic pain market. 
Phase I clinical trials have been conducted for two of these ORADUR-based products (hydrocodone and hydromorphone), and an IND 
has been accepted by the FDA for the third ORADUR-based opioid (oxymorphone). We also have an ORADUR-ADHD program for 
which we and Orient Pharma have conducted several Phase I clinical trials with multiple formulations in 2010 and 2011.  

The DURIN Biodegradable Implant Technology  

Our DURIN technology is a proprietary biodegradable implant that enables parenteral delivery of drugs from several weeks to 

six months or more using our LACTEL brand polymers and co-polymers of lactic and glycolic acid. The DURIN technology can 
deliver a wide variety of drugs including small and large molecule compounds. Our proprietary implant design allows for a variety of 
possible delivery profiles including constant rate delivery. Because DURIN implants are biodegradable, at the end of its delivery life, 
what remains of the DURIN implant is absorbed by the body.  

The MICRODUR Biodegradable Microparticulate Technology  

Our MICRODUR technology is a patented biodegradable microparticulate depot injectable. We have experience in 

microencapsulation of a broad spectrum of drugs using our LACTEL brand polymers and co-polymers of lactic and glycolic acid. In 
our MICRODUR process, both standard and proprietary polymers are used to entrap an active agent in solid matrices or capsules 
comprising particles generally between 10 and 125 microns in diameter. Through a suitable choice of polymers and processing, 
sustained release from a few days to many months can be achieved. As with the DURIN technology, MICRODUR particles degrade 
fully in the body after the active agent is released. Our range of experience extends from the manufacturing of the polymer raw 
material to process and product development, scale-up and cGMP manufacturing.  

DURECT Strategy  

Our objective is to become a specialty pharmaceutical company by developing, and in the future, commercializing 

pharmaceutical systems that address significant medical needs and improve patients’ quality of life. To achieve this objective, our 
strategy includes the following key elements:  

Focus on Chronic Debilitating Medical Conditions and Certain Local Pain Conditions.    Many of the diseases that present the 

greatest challenges to medicine are chronic, debilitating diseases such as chronic pain, CNS disorders, cardiovascular disorders, cancer 
and degenerative neurological diseases. In addition, we have identified certain local and acute pain conditions that we believe can be 
addressed by improved therapeutics. Our initial efforts will focus on using our versatile drug delivery platform technologies to 
develop products that address these medical conditions.  

14 

 
  
Minimize Product Development Risk.    Initially, we intend to minimize product development risk by using our drug delivery 

platform technologies to administer drugs for which medical data on efficacy and safety are available. This strategy reduces much of 
the development risk that is inherent in traditional pharmaceutical product discovery. We anticipate that we can expand the medical 
usefulness of existing well-characterized drugs in several ways:  

 
 

 

 
 

expand uses or create new uses for existing drugs by delivering drugs continuously for convenient long dosing intervals;  
create new uses for drugs which were previously considered to be too potent to be used safely by precisely controlling 
dosing;  
deliver drugs by injection or transdermally to eliminate the first pass effect whereby the efficacy of the active agent is 
impacted by digestion and deactivation;  
enhance drug performance by minimizing side effects; and  
expand uses of drugs by delivering them to the target site.  

We anticipate that our pharmaceutical systems can be more rapidly developed at lower cost than comparable products that are 
developed purely based on chemical solutions to the problems of efficacy, side effects, stability and delivery of the active agent. We 
believe that our ability to innovate more rapidly will allow us to respond more quickly to market feedback to optimize our existing 
pharmaceutical systems or develop line extensions that address new market needs.  

Enable the Development of Pharmaceutical Systems Based on Biotechnology and Other New Compounds.    We believe there is 
a significant opportunity for pharmaceutical systems to add value to therapeutic medicine by administering biologics, such as proteins, 
peptides and genes. We believe our technologies will improve the specificity, potency, convenience and cost-effectiveness of proteins, 
peptides, genes and other newly discovered drugs. Our systems can enable these compounds to be effectively administered, thus 
allowing them to become viable medicines. We can address the stability and storage needs of these compounds through our advanced 
formulation technology and package them in a suitable pharmaceutical system for optimum delivery. Through continuous 
administration, the SABER, DURIN and MICRODUR technology platforms may eliminate or reduce the need for multiple injections 
of these drugs. In addition, through precise placement of our proprietary biodegradable drug formulations, proteins and genes can be 
delivered to specific tissues for extended periods of time, thus ensuring that large molecule agents are present at the desired site of 
action and minimizing the potential for adverse side effects elsewhere in the body.  

Diversify Risk by Pursuing Multiple Programs in Development.    In order to reduce the risks inherent in pharmaceutical product 

development, we have diversified our product pipeline such that, between our own programs and those where we have collaborated, 
we presently have one program for which a New Drug Application has been filed and a Complete Response Letter has been received, 
and six different disclosed programs in clinical development, including three oral drug candidates, two transdermal patch candidates 
and one injectable drug candidate. We believe that having multiple programs in development helps mitigate the negative consequences 
to us of any setbacks or delays in any one of our programs.  

Enable Product Development Through Strategic Collaborations.    We believe that entering into selective collaborations with 
respect to our product development programs can enhance the success of our product development and commercialization, mitigate 
our risk and enable us to better manage our operating costs. Additionally, such collaborations enable us to leverage investment by our 
collaborators and reduce our net cash burn, while retaining significant economic rights.  

Build Our Own Commercial Organization.    In the future, we may elect to build our own commercial, sales and marketing 

capability in order to capture more of the economic value of certain products that we may  

15 

 
  
develop. If we choose to enter into third-party collaborations to commercialize our pharmaceutical systems, we may in the future enter 
into these alliances under circumstances that allow us to participate in the sales and marketing of these products.  

Third-Party Collaborations  

We have entered into the following agreements in connection with our third party collaborations:  
Zogenix, Inc.    On July 11, 2011, we and Zogenix, Inc., (Zogenix), entered into a Development and License Agreement (the 

License Agreement). We and Zogenix had previously been working together under a feasibility agreement pursuant to which our 
research and development costs were reimbursed by Zogenix. Under the License Agreement, Zogenix will be responsible for the 
clinical development and commercialization of a proprietary, long-acting injectable formulation of risperidone using our SABER 
controlled-release formulation technology in combination with Zogenix’s DosePro® needle-free, subcutaneous drug delivery system. 
We will be responsible for non-clinical, formulation and CMC development activities. We will be reimbursed by Zogenix for our 
research and development efforts on the product. Zogenix paid a non-refundable upfront fee to us of $2.25 million in July 2011. 
Zogenix is obligated to pay us up to $103 million in total future milestone payments with respect to the product subject to and upon 
the achievement of various development, regulatory and sales milestones. Of these potential milestones, $28 million are development-
based milestones (none of which has been achieved as of December 31, 2011), and $75 million are sales-based milestones (none of 
which has been achieved as of December 31, 2011). Zogenix is also required to pay a mid single-digit to low double-digit percentage 
patent royalty on annual net sales of the product determined on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis. The patent royalty term is equal to 
the later of the expiration of all DURECT technology patents or joint patent rights in a particular jurisdiction, the expiration of 
marketing exclusivity rights in such jurisdiction, or 15 years from first commercial sale in such jurisdiction. After the patent royalty 
term, Zogenix will continue to pay royalties on annual net sales of the product at a reduced rate for so long as Zogenix continues to 
sell the product in the jurisdiction. Zogenix is also required to pay to us a tiered percentage of fees received in connection with any 
sublicense of the licensed rights.  

We granted to Zogenix an exclusive worldwide license, with sub-license rights, to the intellectual property rights related to the 
proprietary polymeric and non-polymeric controlled-release formulation technology to make and have made, use, offer for sale, sell 
and import risperidone products, where risperidone is the sole active agent, for administration by injection in the treatment of 
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or other psychiatric related disorders in humans. We retain the right to supply Zogenix’s Phase 3 
clinical trial and commercial product requirements on the terms set forth in the License Agreement. We retain the right to terminate 
the License Agreement with respect to specific countries if Zogenix fails to advance the development of the product in such country, 
either directly or through a sublicensee. In addition, either party may terminate the License Agreement upon insolvency or bankruptcy 
of the other party, upon written notice of a material uncured breach or if the other party takes any act impairing such other party’s 
relevant intellectual property rights. Zogenix may terminate the License Agreement upon written notice if during the development or 
commercialization of the product, the product becomes subject to one or more serious adverse drug experiences or if either party 
receives notice from a regulatory authority, independent review committee, data safety monitoring board or other similar body 
alleging significant concern regarding a patient safety issue. Zogenix may also terminate the License Agreement with or without 
cause, at any time upon prior written notice. As of December 31, 2011, the cumulative aggregate payments received by us under this 
agreement were $3.4 million.  

Hospira, Inc.    In June 2010, we entered into a license agreement with Hospira to develop and commercialize POSIDUR in the 

U.S. and Canada. Under terms of the agreement, Hospira made an upfront payment of $27.5 million, with the potential for up to an 
additional $185 million in performance milestone payments based on the successful development, approval and commercialization of 
POSIDUR in the U.S. and Canada. Of these potential milestones, $35 million are development-based milestones (none of which has 
been achieved as of December 31, 2011), and $150 million are sales-based milestones (none of which has been achieved as of 
December 31, 2011). For the U.S. and Canada, the two companies will jointly direct and equally  

16 

 
fund the remaining development costs for POSIDUR, while Hospira will have exclusive commercialization rights upon regulatory 
approval with sole funding responsibility for commercialization activities. In addition, the Company has also granted to Hospira the 
right to develop and commercialize in the U.S. and Canada, at Hospira’s sole cost, other specified local anesthetic products, if any, 
based on the SABER technology, which come into existence under the Agreement. Hospira will be responsible for commercial 
manufacture of licensed products under the Agreement, provided that the Company will supply to Hospira a specified excipient for 
use in the manufacture of licensed products pursuant to a supply agreement entered into by the parties. On a product by product basis, 
Hospira will pay us a royalty on sales of each licensed product commercialized under the Agreement for a defined period, after which 
the license granted to Hospira for such product shall convert to a fully paid-up, non-royalty bearing and perpetual license. The term of 
the agreement shall be for the duration of Hospira’s obligation to pay royalties for product sales under the Agreement. The agreement 
provides each party with specified termination rights, including the right of Hospira to terminate at will after a specified period and 
each party to terminate the agreement upon material breach of the agreement by the other party. The agreement also contains terms 
and conditions customary for this type of arrangement, including representations, warranties and indemnities. As of December 31, 
2011, the cumulative aggregate payments received by us under this agreement were $38.3 million.  

Alpharma Ireland Limited (acquired in December 2008 by King which subsequently was acquired by Pfizer in February 
2011).    In September 2008, we and Alpharma entered into a development and license agreement granting Alpharma the exclusive 
worldwide rights to develop and commercialize ELADUR, our investigational transdermal bupivacaine patch. The agreement became 
effective in October 2008. Under the terms of the agreement, Alpharma paid us an upfront license fee of $20 million. As a result of the 
acquisition of Alpharma by King in December 2008, King assumed Alpharma’s rights and obligations under the agreement. In 
February 2011, Pfizer acquired King and thereby assumed the rights and obligations of King with respect to ELADUR. In February 
2012, Pfizer notified us that they are returning their worldwide development and commercialization rights to ELADUR. As of 
December 31, 2011, the cumulative aggregate payments received by us under this agreement were $29.0 million.  

Nycomed Danmark ApS.    In November 2006, we entered into a collaboration agreement with Nycomed, and this agreement 
was amended in February 2010 and February 2011. Under the terms of the 2010 amended agreement, we licensed to Nycomed the 
exclusive commercialization rights to POSIDUR for the European Union (E.U.) and certain other countries. Nycomed paid us an 
upfront license fee of $14.0 million in 2006 and an $8.0 million milestone payment in 2007 triggered by achievement of a clinical 
development milestone. Nycomed also paid a portion of development expenses. In January 2012, Nycomed (acquired by Takeda in 
October 2011) notified us that it was terminating the license agreement with us, and thereby returning their right to develop and 
commercialize POSIDUR (SABER™-Bupivacaine) in Europe and their other licensed territories to us effective April 26, 2012. As of 
December 31, 2011, the cumulative aggregate payments received by us under this agreement were $37.3 million. In addition, the 
cumulative aggregate payments paid by us under this agreement to Nycomed were $9.0 million as of December 31, 2011.  

Pain Therapeutics, Inc.    In December 2002, we entered into an exclusive agreement with Pain Therapeutics to develop and 

commercialize on a worldwide basis oral sustained release, abuse deterrent opioid products incorporating four specified opioid drugs 
using our ORADUR technology. The agreement also provides Pain Therapeutics with the exclusive right to commercialize products 
developed under the agreement on a worldwide basis. In connection with the execution of the agreement, Pain Therapeutics paid us an 
upfront fee. In November 2005, Pain Therapeutics sublicensed the worldwide commercialization rights (except for Australia and New 
Zealand) to certain products developed under the agreement (including Remoxy) to King. In February 2011 Pfizer acquired King and 
thereby assumed the rights and obligations of King with respect to the sublicense agreement. In December 2005, we amended our 
agreement with Pain Therapeutics in order to specify our obligations with respect to the supply of key excipients for use in the 
licensed products. Under the amended agreement, we are responsible for formulation development, supply of selected key excipients 
used in the manufacture of licensed product and other specified tasks. We receive reimbursement for our research and development 
efforts on the licensed products  

17 

 
and a manufacturing profit on our supply of key product excipients to Pain Therapeutics for use in the licensed products. Under the 
agreement with Pain Therapeutics, subject to and upon the achievement of predetermined development and regulatory milestones for 
the four drug candidates currently in development, we are entitled to receive milestone payments of up to $9.3 million in the 
aggregate. As of December 31, 2011, we had received $1.7 million in cumulative milestone payments. In addition, if commercialized, 
we will receive royalties for Remoxy and other licensed products which do not contain an opioid antagonist of between 6.0% to 11.5% 
of net sales of the product depending on the sales volumes. This agreement can be terminated by either party for material breach by 
the other party and by Pain Therapeutics without cause. As of December 31, 2011, the cumulative aggregate payments received by us 
from Pain Therapeutics under this agreement were $32.8 million.  

In March 2009, King assumed the responsibility for further development of Remoxy from Pain Therapeutics. As a result of this 

change, we will continue to perform Remoxy related activities in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the license 
agreement between us and Pain Therapeutics, but with King substituted in lieu of Pain Therapeutics with respect to interactions with 
us in our performance of those activities including the obligation to pay us with respect to all Remoxy related costs incurred by us. 
The cumulative aggregate payments received by us from King as of December 31, 2011 were $6.3 million under this agreement.  

During 2008, we began to manufacture commercial lots of certain key excipients that are included in Remoxy to meet the 
anticipated requirements for these components. In addition, during the second, third and fourth quarters of 2008 and the first quarter of 
2009, we made shipments of these materials to meet the production requirements of King, which has rights to commercialize Remoxy 
upon approval by the FDA. During these periods, all product revenue and associated cost of goods sold was deferred pending the 
establishment of definitive final terms and conditions even though cash receipts and expenditures occurred during these periods.  

Long Term Supply Agreement with King (now Pfizer). In August 2009, we entered into an exclusive long term excipient supply 

agreement with respect to REMOXY with King. In February 2011, Pfizer acquired King and thereby assumed the rights and 
obligations of King with respect to the long term excipient supply agreement. This agreement stipulates the terms and conditions 
under which we will supply to King, based on our manufacturing cost plus a specified percentage mark-up, two key excipients used in 
the manufacture of REMOXY. The term of the agreement commenced on August 5, 2009 and will continue in effect until the earlier 
of the expiration of all licenses granted under the development and license agreement between us and Pain Therapeutics or the 
termination or expiration of the 2005 development and license agreement between Pain Therapeutics and King, unless the agreement 
is terminated earlier in accordance with its terms. The agreement provides each party with specified termination rights, which include, 
but are not limited to, the right of King to terminate the agreement in the event that governmental action requires the withdrawal of 
REMOXY from all countries in the territory or results in the withdrawal of required manufacturing approvals, or upon a change of 
control of us, in which case termination will be effective one year after notice by King. We may terminate the agreement if we are 
unable to procure suitable and sufficient quantities of certain raw materials required to produce the excipient ingredients. Each party 
may terminate the agreement upon material breach of the agreement by, or the bankruptcy or insolvency of, the other party, in each 
case subject to a cure period. The agreement further specifies the rights and obligations of us and King with respect to plant allocation, 
adding additional production capacity and sourcing of raw materials, as well as other terms and conditions customary for this type of 
agreement, including those regarding forecasting, purchasing, invoicing, representations, warranties and indemnities. Revenue 
attributable to these key components aggregating $3.0 million and cost of goods sold aggregating $2.0 million related to shipments to 
King that occurred in 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 was recognized in the third quarter of 2009 upon the execution of a long term 
supply agreement with King such that final terms and conditions of the sales were established.  

In 2010, we recognized $551,000 of product revenue for shipments made in 2008 and 2009 related to a price settlement after all 

criteria of revenue recognition were met. The price settlement related to additional manufacturing cost incurred by us and certain 
mark-ups for the goods produced and shipped in 2008 and 2009  

18 

 
pursuant to the long term excipient supply agreement. In addition, we also recognized $410,000 of product revenue related to the 
shipment of another excipient that is included in Remoxy upon shipment to King in 2010. Total revenue recognized related to these 
excipients was $961,000 and $3.0 million in 2010 and 2009, respectively and the associated cost of goods sold was $315,000 and $2.0 
million in 2010 and 2009, respectively.  

In 2011, we recognized $490,000 of product revenue related to key excipients for Remoxy and the associated cost of goods sold 

was $302,000.  

Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TRANSDUR-Sufentanil).    In March 2005, we entered into a license agreement with Endo under 

which we granted to Endo the exclusive right to develop, market and commercialize TRANSDUR-Sufentanil in the U.S. and Canada. 
We received an initial payment of $10.0 million in connection with the execution of the agreement. In February 2009, Endo notified 
us that it was terminating the license agreement with us, and thereby returned their right to develop and commercialize TRANSDUR-
Sufentanil in the U.S. and Canada to us effective August 26, 2009. As of December 31, 2011, the cumulative aggregate payments 
received by us under this agreement were $21.5 million.  

Commercial Product Lines  

ALZET  

The ALZET product line consists of miniature, implantable osmotic pumps and accessories used for experimental research in 
mice, rats and other laboratory animals. These pumps are neither approved nor intended for human use. ALZET pumps continuously 
deliver drugs, hormones and other test agents at controlled rates from one day to four weeks without the need for external connections, 
frequent handling or repeated dosing. In laboratory research, these infusion pumps can be used for systemic administration when 
implanted under the skin or in the body. They can be attached to a catheter for intravenous, intracerebral, or intra-arterial infusion or 
for targeted delivery, where the effects of a drug or test agent are localized in a particular tissue or organ. The wide use and 
applications of the ALZET product line is evidenced by the more than 12,000 scientific references that now exist.  

We acquired the ALZET product line and assets used primarily in the manufacture, sale and distribution of this product line 

from ALZA in April 2000. We believe that the ALZET business provides us with innovative design and application opportunities for 
potential new products.  

LACTEL Absorbable Polymers  

We currently design, develop and manufacture a wide range of standard and custom biodegradable polymers based on lactide, 
glycolide and caprolactone under the LACTEL brand for pharmaceutical and medical device clients for use as raw materials in their 
products. These materials are manufactured and sold by us directly from our facility in Alabama and are used by us and our third-party 
customers for a variety of controlled-release and medical-device applications, including several FDA-approved commercial products.  

Marketing and Sales  

Historically, we have established strategic distribution and marketing alliances for our pharmaceutical systems to leverage the 

established sales organizations that certain pharmaceutical companies have in markets we are targeting. In the future, we may elect to 
build our own commercial, sales and marketing capability in order to capture more of the economic value of certain products that we 
may develop. If we choose to enter into third-party collaborations to commercialize our pharmaceutical systems, we may in the future 
enter into these alliances under circumstances that allow us to participate in the sales and marketing of these products. We will 
continue to pursue strategic alliances and collaborators from time to time consistent with our strategy to leverage the established sales 
organizations of third-party collaborators to achieve greater market penetration for some of our  

19 

 
products than we could on our own. If we choose to enter into third-party collaborations to commercialize our pharmaceutical 
systems, we believe we have the flexibility to enter into these alliances under circumstances that allow us to retain greater economic 
participation because our pharmaceutical systems combine drugs for which medical data on efficacy and safety are available with 
proven technology platforms.  

We market and sell our ALZET and LACTEL product lines through a direct sales force in the U.S. and through a network of 

distributors outside of the U.S.  

Suppliers  

We purchase sucrose acetate isobutyrate, a raw material for our ORADUR and SABER-based pharmaceutical systems, 
including POSIDUR, Remoxy and other ORADUR-based drug candidates, pursuant to a supply agreement with Eastman Chemical 
Company. We purchase sufentanil for TRANSDUR-Sufentanil pursuant to a supply agreement with Mallinckrodt, Inc. We have 
entered into a supply agreement with Corium International, Inc. for clinical and commercial supplies of ELADUR and a supply 
agreement with Hospira Worldwide, Inc. for clinical and commercial supplies of POSIDUR.  

Our supply agreement with Eastman Chemical Company requires us to purchase a certain portion of our requirements for 

sucrose acetate isobutyrate from Eastman Chemical and obligates us to pay a fee per annum if our purchases do not meet specified 
sales targets. The agreement may be terminated by either party under certain circumstances, including any material uncured breach by, 
or the insolvency, liquidation or bankruptcy of, or similar proceedings involving, the other party.  

Our supply agreement with Mallinckrodt, Inc. requires us to purchase a certain portion of our requirements for sufentanil from 
Mallinckrodt, and has no other minimum purchase requirements or exclusivity provisions. The initial term of the agreement expired 
on September 30, 2009 and is subject to automatic renewal for additional one-year terms unless either party provides one year notice 
of its intention not to renew the agreement. In addition, either party may terminate the Mallinckrodt agreement on 30 days notice for 
any material uncured breach by, or the bankruptcy of or similar proceedings involving, the other party. Finally, we may terminate the 
Mallinckrodt agreement on 60 days notice if we reasonably determine that the price being charged by Mallinckrodt is higher than the 
prevailing price for similar quantities of like grade or quality, or if we cease to develop or commercialize any products incorporating 
the products we purchase from Mallinckrodt.  

We believe that these agreements will provide a sufficient supply of these raw materials and drug product to meet our needs for 

the foreseeable future. We do not have in place long term supply agreements with respect to all of the components of any of our 
pharmaceutical systems, however, and are subject to the risk that we may not be able to procure all required components in adequate 
quantities with acceptable quality, within acceptable time frames or at reasonable cost.  

Customers  

Our product revenues are derived from sale of the ALZET and LACTEL product lines as well as from the sale of certain key 

excipients that are included in Remoxy to our customer (Pfizer). Until such time that we are able to bring our pharmaceutical systems 
to market, if at all, we expect these to be our principal sources of product revenue. We also receive revenue from collaborative 
research and development arrangements with our third-party collaborators. In 2011, Hospira and Pfizer accounted for 34% and 16% of 
the Company’s total revenues, respectively. In 2010, Pfizer (King) and Hospira accounted for 33% and 18% of the Company’s total 
revenues, respectively. In 2009, Pfizer (King) accounted for 41% of our total revenues and no other customers accounted for more 
than 10% of total revenues.  

At December 31, 2011, Hospira, Pfizer and Pain Therapeutics accounted for 27%, 22% and 22% of our net accounts receivable, 

respectively. At December 31, 2010, Hospira, Pfizer (King) and Pain Therapeutics accounted for 33%, 19% and 15% of our net 
accounts receivable, respectively.  

20 

 
Manufacturing  

The process for manufacturing our pharmaceutical systems is technically complex, requires special skills, and must be 
performed in a qualified facility. We have contracted with Hospira Worldwide and Corium International to manufacture clinical and 
commercial supplies of POSIDUR and ELADUR, respectively. In addition, we have a small multi-discipline manufacturing facility in 
California that we have used to manufacture research and clinical supplies of several of our pharmaceutical systems under GMP, 
including POSIDUR, Remoxy, TRANSDUR-Sufentanil, and ELADUR. In the future, we intend to develop additional manufacturing 
capabilities for our pharmaceutical systems and components to meet our demands and those of our third party collaborators by 
contracting with third party manufacturers and by construction of additional manufacturing space at our current facilities in California 
and Alabama. We manufacture our ALZET product line and certain key components for Remoxy at one of our California facilities 
and our LACTEL product line at our Alabama facility.  

Patents, Licenses and Proprietary Rights  

Our success depends in part on our ability to obtain patents, to protect trade secrets, to operate without infringing upon the 

proprietary rights of others and to prevent others from infringing on our proprietary rights. Our policy is to seek to protect our 
proprietary position by, among other methods, filing U.S. and foreign patent applications related to our proprietary technology, 
inventions and improvements that are important to the development of our business. As of February 21, 2012, we held 41 issued U.S. 
patents and 314 issued foreign patents (which include granted European patent rights that have been validated in various EU member 
states). In addition, we have 56 pending U.S. patent applications and have filed 107 patent applications under the Patent Cooperation 
Treaty, from which 178 national phase applications are currently pending in Europe, Australia, Japan, Canada and other countries. Our 
patents expire at various dates starting in 2012.  

Proprietary rights relating to our planned and potential products will be protected from unauthorized use by third parties only to 

the extent that they are covered by valid and enforceable patents or are effectively maintained as trade secrets. Patents owned by or 
licensed to us may not afford protection against competitors, and our pending patent applications now or hereafter filed by or licensed 
to us may not result in patents being issued. In addition, the laws of certain foreign countries may not protect our intellectual property 
rights to the same extent as do the laws of the U.S.  

The patent positions of biopharmaceutical companies involve complex legal and factual questions and, therefore, their 
enforceability cannot be predicted with certainty. Our patents or patent applications, or those licensed to us, if issued, may be 
challenged, invalidated or circumvented, and the rights granted thereunder may not provide proprietary protection or competitive 
advantages to us against competitors with similar technology. Furthermore, our competitors may independently develop similar 
technologies or duplicate any technology developed by us. Because of the extensive time required for development, testing and 
regulatory review of a potential product, it is possible that, before any of our products can be commercialized, any related patent may 
expire or remain in existence for only a short period following commercialization, thus reducing any advantage of the patent, which 
could adversely affect our ability to protect future product development and, consequently, our operating results and financial position.  

Because patent applications in the U.S. are maintained in secrecy for at least 18 months after filing and since publication of 
discoveries in the scientific or patent literature often lag behind actual discoveries, we cannot be certain that we were the first to make 
the inventions covered by each of our issued or pending patent applications or that we were the first to file for protection of inventions 
set forth in such patent applications.  

Our planned or potential products may be covered by third-party patents or other intellectual property rights, in which case we 
would need to obtain a license to continue developing or marketing these products. Any required licenses may not be available to us 
on acceptable terms, if at all. If we do not obtain any required  

21 

 
licenses, we could encounter delays in product introductions while we attempt to design around these patents, or could find that the 
development, manufacture or sale of products requiring such licenses is foreclosed. Litigation may be necessary to defend against or 
assert such claims of infringement, to enforce patents issued to us, to protect trade secrets or know-how owned by us, or to determine 
the scope and validity of the proprietary rights of others. In addition, interference proceedings declared by the U.S. Patent and 
Trademark Office (USPTO) may be necessary to determine the priority of inventions with respect to our patent applications. 
Litigation or interference proceedings could result in substantial costs to and diversion of effort by us, and could have a material 
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. These efforts by us may not be successful.  

We may rely, in certain circumstances, on trade secrets to protect our technology. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect. 

We seek to protect our proprietary technology and processes, in part, by confidentiality agreements with our employees and certain 
contractors. There can be no assurance that these agreements will not be breached, that we will have adequate remedies for any 
breach, or that our trade secrets will not otherwise become known or be independently discovered by competitors. To the extent that 
our employees, consultants or contractors use intellectual property owned by others in their work for us, disputes may also arise as to 
the rights in related or resulting know-how and inventions.  

Government Regulation  

The Food and Drug Administration.    The FDA and comparable regulatory agencies in state and local jurisdictions and in 
foreign countries impose substantial requirements upon the clinical development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceutical 
products. These agencies and other federal, state and local entities regulate research and development activities and the testing, 
manufacture, quality control, safety, effectiveness, labeling, storage, distribution, record keeping, approval, advertising and promotion 
of our products. We believe that our initial pharmaceutical systems will be regulated as drugs by the FDA rather than as biologics or 
devices.  

The process required by the FDA under the new drug provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act (the Act) before 

our initial pharmaceutical systems may be marketed in the U.S. generally involves the following:  

 
 

 

preclinical laboratory and animal tests;  
submission of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application which must become effective before clinical trials may 
begin;  
adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of the proposed pharmaceutical in our 
intended use; and  

  FDA approval of a new drug application.  

Section 505 of the Act describes three types of new drug applications: (1) an application that contains full reports of 

investigations of safety and effectiveness (section 505(b)(1)); (2) an application that contains full reports of investigations of safety 
and effectiveness but where at least some of the information required for approval comes from studies not conducted by or for the 
applicant and for which the applicant has not obtained a right of reference (section 505(b)(2)); and (3) an application that contains 
information to show that the proposed product is identical in active ingredient, dosage form, strength, route of administration, labeling, 
quality, performance characteristics and intended use, among other things, to a previously approved product (section 505(j)). A 
supplement to an application is a new drug application. We expect that most of our drug candidates will be approved by submission of 
a new drug application under section 505(b)(2).  

The testing and approval process requires substantial time, effort, and financial resources, and we cannot be certain that any 

approval will be granted on a timely basis, if at all. Even though several of our pharmaceutical systems utilize active drug ingredients 
that are commercially marketed in the United States in other dosage forms, we need to establish safety and effectiveness of those 
active ingredients in the formulation and dosage forms that we are developing.  

22 

 
Preclinical tests include laboratory evaluation of the product, its chemistry, formulation and stability, as well as animal studies 

to assess the potential safety and efficacy of the pharmaceutical system. We then submit the results of the preclinical tests, together 
with manufacturing information and analytical data, to the FDA as part of an IND, which must become effective before we may begin 
human clinical trials. Each subsequent new clinical protocol must also be submitted to the IND. An IND automatically becomes 
effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless the FDA, within the 30-day time period, raises concerns or questions about the 
conduct of the trials as outlined in the IND and imposes a clinical hold. In such a case, the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any 
outstanding concerns before clinical trials can begin. Our submission of an IND may not result in FDA authorization to commence 
clinical trials. Further, an independent Institutional Review Board at each medical center proposing to conduct the clinical trials must 
review and approve any clinical study as well as the related informed consent forms and authorization forms that permit us to use 
individually identifiable health information of study participants.  

Human clinical trials are typically conducted in three sequential phases which may overlap:  
  Phase I:    The drug is initially introduced into healthy human subjects or patients and tested for safety, dosage tolerance, 

absorption, metabolism, distribution and excretion.  

  Phase II:    Involves clinical trials in a limited patient population to identify possible adverse effects and safety risks, to 

determine the efficacy of the product for specific targeted diseases and to determine dosage tolerance and optimal dosage.  
  Phase III:    When Phase II clinical trials demonstrate that a dosage range of the product is effective and has an acceptable 
safety profile, Phase III clinical trials are undertaken to further evaluate dosage, clinical efficacy and to further test for 
safety in an expanded patient population, at multiple, geographically dispersed clinical study sites.  

In the case of products for severe diseases, such as chronic pain, or life-threatening diseases such as cancer, the initial human 

testing is often conducted in patients with disease rather than in healthy volunteers. Since these patients already have the target disease 
or condition, these studies may provide initial evidence of efficacy traditionally obtained in Phase II trials, and thus these trials are 
frequently referred to as Phase I/II clinical trials. We cannot be certain that we will successfully complete Phase I, Phase II or Phase 
III clinical trials of our pharmaceutical systems within any specific time period, if at all. Furthermore, the FDA or the Institutional 
Review Board or the sponsor may suspend clinical trials at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the subjects or 
patients are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk. During the clinical development of products, sponsors frequently meet and 
consult with the FDA in order to ensure that the design of their studies will likely provide data both sufficient and relevant for later 
regulatory approval; however, no assurance of approvability can be given by the FDA.  

The results of product development, preclinical studies and clinical studies are submitted to the FDA as part of a new drug 
application, or NDA, for approval of the marketing and commercial shipment of the product. Submission of an NDA requires the 
payment of a substantial user fee to the FDA, and although the agency has defined user fee goals for the time in which to respond to 
sponsor applications, we cannot assure you that the FDA will act in any particular timeframe. The FDA may deny a new drug 
application if the applicable regulatory criteria are not satisfied or may require additional clinical data. Even if such data is submitted, 
the FDA may ultimately decide that the new drug application does not satisfy the criteria for approval. Once issued, the FDA may 
withdraw product approval if compliance with regulatory standards is not maintained or if safety problems occur after the product 
reaches the market. Requirements for additional Phase IV studies (post approval marketing studies) to confirm safety and 
effectiveness in a broader commercial use population may be imposed as a condition of marketing approval. In addition, the FDA 
requires surveillance programs to monitor approved products which have been commercialized, and the agency has the power to 
require changes in labeling or to prevent further marketing of a product based on the results of these post-marketing programs. Any 
comparative claims that we would like to make for our products vis-à-vis other dosage forms or products will need to be substantiated 
generally by two adequate and well-controlled head-to-head clinical trials.  

23 

 
  
Satisfaction of FDA requirements or similar requirements of state, local and foreign regulatory agencies typically takes several 

years and the actual time required may vary substantially, based upon the type, complexity and novelty of the pharmaceutical product. 
Government regulation may delay or prevent marketing of potential products for a considerable period of time and impose costly 
procedures upon our activities. We cannot be certain that the FDA or any other regulatory agency will grant approval for any of our 
pharmaceutical systems under development on a timely basis, if at all. Success in preclinical or early stage clinical trials does not 
assure success in later stage clinical trials. Data obtained from preclinical and clinical activities is not always conclusive and may be 
susceptible to varying interpretations which could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. Evolving safety concerns can result in 
the imposition of new requirements for expensive and time consuming tests, such as for QT interval cardiotoxicity testing. Even if a 
product receives regulatory approval, the approval may be significantly limited to specific indications. Further, even after regulatory 
approval is obtained, later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product may result in restrictions on the product or even 
complete withdrawal of the product from the market. Any pharmaceutical systems that we may develop and obtain approval for would 
also be subject to adverse findings of the active drug ingredients being marketed in different dosage forms and formulations. Delays in 
obtaining, or failures to obtain regulatory approvals would have a material adverse effect on our business. Marketing our 
pharmaceutical systems abroad will require similar regulatory approvals and is subject to similar risks. In addition, we cannot predict 
what adverse governmental regulations may arise from future U.S. or foreign governmental action.  

Any pharmaceutical systems manufactured or distributed by us pursuant to FDA approvals are subject to pervasive and 
continuing regulation by the FDA, including record-keeping requirements and reporting of adverse experiences with the drug. Drug 
manufacturers and their subcontractors are required to register their establishments with the FDA and state agencies, and are subject to 
periodic unannounced inspections by the FDA and state agencies for compliance with good manufacturing practices, which impose 
procedural and documentation requirements upon us and our third party manufacturers. We cannot be certain that we or our present or 
future suppliers will be able to comply with the GMP regulations and other FDA regulatory requirements.  

The FDA regulates drug labeling and promotion activities. The FDA has actively enforced regulations prohibiting the marketing 
of products for unapproved uses, and federal and state authorities are also actively litigating against sponsors who promote their drugs 
for unapproved uses under various fraud and abuse and false claims act statutes. We and our pharmaceutical systems are also subject 
to a variety of state laws and regulations in those states or localities where our pharmaceutical systems are or will be marketed. Any 
applicable state or local regulations may hinder our ability to market our pharmaceutical systems in those states or localities. We are 
also subject to numerous federal, state and local laws relating to such matters as safe working conditions, manufacturing practices, 
environmental protection, fire hazard control, and disposal of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances. We may incur significant 
costs to comply with such laws and regulations now or in the future.  

The FDA’s policies may change and additional government regulations may be enacted which could prevent or delay regulatory 

approval of our potential pharmaceutical systems. Moreover, increased attention to the containment of health care costs in the U.S. 
and in foreign markets could result in new government regulations that could have a material adverse effect on our business. We 
cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of adverse governmental regulation that might arise from future legislative or 
administrative action, either in the U.S. or abroad.  

On February 6, 2009, the FDA sent letters to manufacturers of certain opioid drug products, indicating that these drugs will be 
required to have a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) to ensure that the benefits of the drugs continue to outweigh the 
risks. The affected opioid drugs include brand name and generic products and are formulated with the active ingredients fentanyl, 
hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, and oxymorphone. The FDA has authority to require a REMS under the Food and 
Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 (FDAAA) when necessary to ensure that the benefits of a drug outweigh the risks.  

24 

 
  
On April 19, 2011, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) released the Obama Administration’s Epidemic: 
Responding to America’s Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis—a comprehensive action plan to address the national prescription drug 
abuse epidemic. This plan includes action in four major areas to reduce prescription drug abuse: education, monitoring, proper 
disposal, and enforcement. In support of the action plan, the FDA announced the elements of a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation 
Strategy (REMS) that will require all manufacturers of long-acting and extended-release opioids to ensure that training is provided to 
prescribers of these medications and to develop information that prescribers can use when counseling patients about the risks and 
benefits of opioid use. The FDA wants drug makers to work together to develop a single system for implementing the REMS 
strategies.  

Many of our drug candidates including Remoxy, our other ORADUR-based opioid drug candidates and TRANSDUR-
Sufentanil are subject to the REMS requirement. Until the contours of required REMS programs are established by the FDA and 
understood by drug developers and marketers such as ourselves and our collaborators, there may be delays in marketing approvals for 
these drug candidates. In addition, there may be increased cost, administrative burden and potential liability associated with the 
marketing and sale of these types of drug candidates subject to the REMS requirement, which could negatively impact the commercial 
benefits to us and our collaborators from the sale of these drug candidates.  

The Drug Enforcement Administration.    The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulates chemical compounds as 
Schedule I, II, III, IV or V substances, with Schedule I substances considered to present the highest risk of substance abuse and 
Schedule V substances the lowest risk. Certain active ingredients in TRANSDUR-Sufentanil, and Remoxy and our other ORADUR-
based opioid drug candidates, are listed by the DEA as Schedule II under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Consequently, their 
manufacture, research, shipment, storage, sale and use are subject to a high degree of oversight and regulation. For example, all 
Schedule II drug prescriptions must be signed by a physician, physically presented to a pharmacist and may not be refilled without a 
new prescription. Furthermore, the amount of Schedule II substances we can obtain for clinical trials and commercial distribution is 
limited by the DEA and our quota may not be sufficient to complete clinical trials or meet commercial demand. There is a risk that 
DEA regulations may interfere with the supply of the drugs used in our clinical trials, and, in the future, our ability to produce and 
distribute our products in the volume needed to meet commercial demand.  

Competition  

We may face competition from other companies in numerous industries including pharmaceuticals, medical devices and drug 

delivery. POSIDUR, TRANSDUR-Sufentanil, ELADUR, Relday, REMOXY and other ORADUR-based drug candidates, if 
approved, will compete with currently marketed oral opioids, transdermal opioids, local anesthetic patches, anti-psychotics, 
stimulants, implantable and external infusion pumps which can be used for infusion of opioids and local anesthetics. Products of these 
types are marketed by Purdue Pharma, Knoll, Janssen, Medtronic, Endo, AstraZeneca, Arrow International, Tricumed, I-Flow 
(Kimberly-Clark), Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, NeurogesX, Covidien, Shire, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Novartis and 
others. Our ORADUR-ADHD product candidates, if approved, will compete with currently marketed products by Shire, Johnson & 
Johnson, UCB, Novartis, Noven, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Medice and others. Relday, if approved, will compete with currently marketed 
products by Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb and others. Numerous companies are applying 
significant resources and expertise to the problems of drug delivery and several of these are focusing or may focus on delivery of 
drugs to the intended site of action, including Alkermes, Pacira Pharmaceuticals, EpiCept, Innocoll, Nektar, I-Flow (Kimberly-Clark), 
NeurogesX, Flamel, Alexza, Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Hospira, Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Egalet, Acura and others. Some of 
these competitors may be addressing the same therapeutic areas or indications as we are. Our current and potential competitors may 
succeed in obtaining patent protection or commercializing products before us. Many of these entities have significantly greater 
research and development capabilities than we do, as well as substantially more marketing, manufacturing, financial and managerial 
resources. These entities represent significant competition for us. Acquisitions of, or investments in, competing pharmaceutical or 
biotechnology  

25 

 
  
companies by large corporations could increase such competitors’ financial, marketing, manufacturing and other resources.  

Any products we develop using our pharmaceutical systems technologies will compete in highly competitive markets. Many of 
our potential competitors in these markets have greater development, financial, manufacturing, marketing, and sales resources than we 
do and we cannot be certain that they will not succeed in developing products or technologies which will render our technologies and 
products obsolete or noncompetitive. In addition, many of those potential competitors have significantly greater experience than we do 
in their respective fields.  

Corporate History, Headquarters and Website Information  

We were incorporated in Delaware in February 1998. We completed our initial public offering on September 28, 2000. Our 

principal executive offices are located at 10260 Bubb Road, Cupertino, California, 95014. Our telephone number is (408) 777-1417, 
and our web site address is www.durect.com. We make our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current 
reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to these reports available free of charge on our web site as soon as reasonably practicable after 
we file these reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our Code of Ethics can be found on our website.  

Employees  

As of February 29, 2012 we had 106 employees, including 57 in research and development, 23 in manufacturing and 26 in 
selling, general and administrative. From time to time, we also employ independent contractors to support our research, development 
and administrative organizations. None of our employees are represented by a collective bargaining unit, and we have never 
experienced a work stoppage. We consider our relations with our employees to be good.  

Executive Officers of the Registrant  

Our executive officers and their ages as of February 29, 2012 are as follows:  

Name 
Felix Theeuwes, D.Sc. ...........................................
James E. Brown, D.V.M. .......................................
Matthew J. Hogan, M.B.A. ....................................
Su Il Yum, Ph.D. ....................................................

Age  

Position 

    74   Chairman, Chief Scientific Officer and Director 
    55   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director 
    52   Chief Financial Officer 
    72   Executive Vice President, Pharmaceutical Systems Research and 

Development 

Felix Theeuwes, D.Sc. co-founded DURECT in February 1998 and has served as our Chairman, Chief Scientific Officer and a 

Director since July 1998. Prior to that, Dr. Theeuwes held various positions at ALZA Corporation, including President of New 
Ventures from August 1997 to August 1998, President of ALZA Research and Development from 1995 to August 1997, President of 
ALZA Technology Institute from 1994 to April 1995 and Chief Scientist from 1982 to June 1997. Dr. Theeuwes holds a D.Sc. degree 
in Physics from the University of Leuven (Louvain), Belgium. He also served as a post-doctoral fellow and visiting research assistant 
professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Kansas and has completed the Stanford Executive Program.  

James E. Brown, D.V.M. co-founded DURECT in February 1998 and has served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and 

a Director since June 1998. He previously worked at ALZA Corporation as Vice President of Biopharmaceutical and Implant 
Research and Development from June 1995 to June 1998. Prior to that, Dr. Brown held various positions at Syntex Corporation, a 
pharmaceutical company, including Director of Business Development from May 1994 to May 1995, Director of Joint Ventures for 
Discovery Research from  

26 

 
   
 
 
  
  
  
April 1992 to May 1995, and held a number of positions including Program Director for Syntex Research and Development from 
October 1985 to March 1992. Dr. Brown holds a B.A. from San Jose State University and a D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) 
from the University of California, Davis where he also conducted post-graduate work in pharmacology and toxicology.  

Matthew J. Hogan, M.B.A. has served as our Chief Financial Officer since September 2006. He was the Chief Financial Officer 
at Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. from 2000 to 2006, and a consultant from March 2006. Prior to joining Ciphergen, Mr. Hogan was the 
Chief Financial Officer at Avocet Medical, Inc. from 1999 to 2000. From 1996 to 1999, Mr. Hogan was the Chief Financial Officer at 
Microcide Pharmaceuticals, Inc. From 1986 to 1996, he held various positions in the investment banking group at Merrill Lynch & 
Co., most recently as a Director focusing on the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. Mr. Hogan holds a B.A. in economics 
from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration.  

Su Il Yum, Ph.D. has served as our Executive Vice President of Pharmaceutical Systems Research and Development since 
January 2007 and as our Senior Vice President of Pharmaceutical Systems Research and Development since January 2006. Previously, 
Dr. Yum served as our Senior Vice President, Engineering since December 2003 and as our Vice President of Engineering from 
December 1999 to December 2003. Prior to joining DURECT, Dr. Yum served as Senior Technical Advisor at Amira Medical in 
Scotts Valley, California, where he participated in the development of a pain-free blood glucose detector called AtLast®. Prior to 
joining Amira, he held a number of senior positions in project management and engineering at ALZA Corporation for 27 years. 
Dr. Yum earned his Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, and completed a Post-doctoral research 
in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Utah. Dr. Yum is a Fellow of the AAPS.  

Item 1A.    Risk  Factors.  

In addition to the other information in this Form 10-K, a number of factors may affect our business and prospects. These factors 

include but are not limited to the following, which you should consider carefully in evaluating our business and prospects.  

Risks Related To Our Business  

Development of our pharmaceutical systems is not complete, and we cannot be certain that our pharmaceutical systems will be 
able to be commercialized  

To be profitable, we or our third-party collaborators must successfully research, develop, obtain regulatory approval for, 
manufacture, introduce, market and distribute our pharmaceutical systems under development. For each pharmaceutical system that 
we or our third-party collaborators intend to commercialize, we must successfully meet a number of critical developmental milestones 
for each disease or medical condition targeted, including:  

 

 
 

 
 

 

selecting and developing a drug delivery platform technology to deliver the proper dose of drug over the desired period of 
time;  
determining the appropriate drug dosage for use in the pharmaceutical system;  
developing drug compound formulations that will be tolerated, safe and effective and that will be compatible with the 
system;  
demonstrating the drug formulation will be stable for commercially reasonable time periods;  
demonstrating through clinical trials that the drug and system combination is safe and effective in patients for the intended 
indication; and  
completing the manufacturing development and scale-up to permit manufacture of the pharmaceutical system in 
commercial quantities and at acceptable prices.  

27 

 
The time frame necessary to achieve these developmental milestones for any individual product is long and uncertain, and we 
may not successfully complete these milestones for any of our products in development. We have not yet completed development of 
POSIDUR, TRANSDUR-Sufentanil, ELADUR, Relday, REMOXY and our other ORADUR-based drug candidates, and we have 
limited experience in developing such products. We may not be able to finalize the design or formulation of any of these 
pharmaceutical systems. In addition, we may select components, solvents, excipients or other ingredients to include in our 
pharmaceutical systems that have not been previously approved for use in pharmaceutical products, which may require us or our 
collaborators to perform additional studies and may delay clinical testing and regulatory approval of our pharmaceutical systems. Even 
after we complete the design of a pharmaceutical system, the pharmaceutical system must still complete required clinical trials and 
additional safety testing in animals before approval for commercialization. We are continuing testing and development of our 
pharmaceutical systems and may explore possible design or formulation changes to address issues of safety, manufacturing efficiency 
and performance. We and our collaborators may not be able to complete development of any pharmaceutical systems that will be safe 
and effective and that will have a commercially reasonable treatment and storage period. If we or our third-party collaborators are 
unable to complete development of POSIDUR, TRANSDUR-Sufentanil, ELADUR, Relday, REMOXY and our ORADUR-based 
drug candidates, or other pharmaceutical systems, we will not be able to earn revenue from them, which would materially harm our 
business.  

We or our third-party collaborators must show the safety and efficacy of our drug candidates in animal studies and human clinical 
trials to the satisfaction of regulatory authorities before they can be sold, and the failure to do so according to plan would 
significantly harm our business, prospects and financial condition  

Before we or our third-party collaborators can obtain government approval to sell any of our pharmaceutical systems, we or 
they, as applicable, must demonstrate through laboratory performance studies and safety testing, nonclinical (animal) studies and 
clinical (human) trials that each system is safe and effective for human use for each targeted indication. The clinical development 
status of our most advanced publicly announced development programs is as follows:  

  REMOXY—In December 2010, King resubmitted the NDA in response to a Complete Response Letter received in 

December 2008 by Pain Therapeutics. On June 23, 2011, a Complete Response Letter from the FDA was received by Pfizer 
on the resubmission to the NDA for REMOXY. The FDA’s June 2011 Complete Response Letter raised concerns related 
to, among other matters, the Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls section of the NDA for REMOXY. Pfizer has efforts 
underway to resolve these issues. Sufficient information does not yet exist to accurately assess the time required to resolve 
the concerns raised in the FDA’s Complete Response Letter and they may never be resolved. On January 31, 2012, Pfizer 
stated that it intended to conduct two bioavailability studies in the second quarter of 2012 and anticipated meeting with the 
FDA during the third quarter to discuss next steps. There can be no assurance that these bioavailability studies will achieve 
results that will support product approval or that any regulatory meetings or product approvals will occur.  

  POSIDUR—To date, we have completed multiple Phase II studies in various surgeries and recently completed a Phase III 
study (the BESST trial). BESST was conducted to measure the safety and efficacy of POSIDUR versus placebo in one 
abdominal surgical procedure and versus an active comparator (injections of standard bupivacaine) in two other abdominal 
surgical procedures. The co-primary endpoints were pain intensity as well as the use of opioid analgesics over the first 3 
days following surgery. While the results trended positive for both pain reduction and reduction of supplemental opioid use 
in the first three days after surgery, they did not reach statistical significance. There were no signs of systemic safety issues, 
although local site reactions were observed more frequently in the POSIDUR and SABER-Placebo groups than in the active 
comparator groups. A full safety assessment is not yet available. After a complete analysis of the BESST data and 
preparation of integrated safety and efficacy summaries combining our previous well controlled studies, we intend to hold a 
pre-NDA meeting with the FDA which we expect to occur in mid-2012, with a potential NDA submission under section 
505(b)2 later this year. There can be no assurance that the POSIDUR program has generated data and  

28 

 
  
information that will be sufficient to support an NDA submission or that any such submission will be deemed sufficient for 
marketing approval by the FDA or other regulatory agencies.  

  TRANSDUR-Sufentanil Patch—In February 2009, an end-of-Phase II meeting with the FDA was conducted for this 
program outlining a potential regulatory pathway for the Phase III program and NDA submission. In 2011, we had 
discussions with the FDA and regulatory agencies in several major European countries to better understand development 
requirements for U.S. and European countries. We are in discussions with potential partners regarding licensing 
development and commercialization rights to this program to which we hold worldwide rights. There can be no assurance 
that our planned development program for TRANSDUR-Sufentanil will generate data and information that will be deemed 
sufficient for marketing approval by the FDA or other regulatory agencies or that we will be able to find a collaborator with 
respect to the development and commercialization of this drug candidate.  

  ELADUR—A Phase IIa clinical trial in post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN or post-shingles pain) was completed and positive 

efficacy trends were reported in the fourth quarter of 2007. King, which assumed worldwide development and 
commercialization rights for ELADUR through its acquisition of Alpharma, conducted a Phase II clinical trial to evaluate 
ELADUR for the treatment of chronic low back pain and reported in April 2011 that the primary efficacy endpoint for the 
trial was not met. In February 2012, Pfizer notified us that they are returning their worldwide development and 
commercialization rights to ELADUR. There can be no assurance that our planned development program for ELADUR will 
generate data and information that will be deemed sufficient for marketing approval by the FDA or other regulatory 
agencies or that we will be able to find a collaborator with respect to the development and commercialization of this drug 
candidate.  

  ORADUR-based opioids—Phase I clinical trials have been conducted for two of these ORADUR-based products 

(hydrocodone and hydromorphone), and an IND has been accepted by the FDA for the third ORADUR-based opioid 
(oxymorphone). There can be no assurance that we or our collaborators will be able to successfully develop ORADUR-
based formulations of hydrocodone, hydromorphone or oxymorphone to obtain marketing approval by the FDA or other 
regulatory agencies.  

  ORADUR-ADHD—In 2010 and 2011, we and Orient Pharma conducted several Phase I studies to evaluate multiple 
formulations of ORADUR-ADHD. Based on information from these trials, we are continuing to evaluate the key 
formulations and are planning next steps in the ORADUR-ADHD program. There can be no assurance that we will be able 
to successfully develop ORADUR-ADHD to obtain marketing approval by the FDA or other regulatory agencies.  

We are currently in the clinical, preclinical or research stages with respect to all our other pharmaceutical systems under 

development. We plan to continue extensive and costly tests, clinical trials and safety studies in animals to assess the safety and 
effectiveness of our pharmaceutical systems. These studies include laboratory performance studies and safety testing, clinical trials 
and animal toxicological studies necessary to support regulatory approval of development products in the United States and other 
countries of the world. These studies are costly, complex and last for long durations, and may not yield data supportive of the safety or 
efficacy of our drug candidates or required for regulatory approval.  

Early clinical trial results may not predict the results of later trials or satisfy regulatory agencies  
While some clinical trials of our product candidates have shown indications of safety and efficacy of our product candidates, 

there can be no assurance that these results will be confirmed in subsequent clinical trials. In addition, side effects observed in clinical 
trials, or other side effects that appear in later clinical trials, may adversely affect our or our collaborators’ ability to obtain regulatory 
approval or market our product candidates. For example, in the Phase IIb hysterectomy trial and the BESST Phase III abdominal 
surgery trial of POSIDUR, transient local hematoma-like discolorations were observed near the surgical site. Side effects such as 
these, toxicity or other safety issues associated with the use of our drug candidates could require us to perform additional studies or 
halt development of our drug candidates. We or our collaborators may be required by regulatory agencies to conduct additional animal 
or human studies regarding the safety and efficacy of our  

29 

 
pharmaceutical systems which we have not planned or anticipated. For example, the FDA’s Complete Response Letter raised concerns 
related to, among other matters, the Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls section of the NDA for REMOXY. There can be no 
assurance that Pfizer will resolve these issues to the satisfaction of the FDA in a timely manner or ever, which could harm our 
business, prospects and financial condition. We may also be required to conduct additional clinical trials of POSIDUR, which would 
be expensive and could delay product approval, harming our business, prospects and financial condition.  

Clinical trials and regulatory approval of our product candidates is subject to delay, which could harm our business  
The length of clinical trials will depend upon, among other factors, the rate of trial site and patient enrollment and the number of 

patients required to be enrolled in such studies. We or our third-party collaborators may fail to obtain adequate levels of patient 
enrollment in our clinical trials. Delays in planned patient enrollment may result in increased costs, delays or termination of clinical 
trials, which could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, even if we or our third-party collaborators enroll the number of 
patients we expect in the time frame we expect, such clinical trials may not provide the data necessary to support regulatory approval 
for the pharmaceutical systems for which they were conducted. Additionally, we or our third-party collaborators may fail to 
effectively oversee and monitor these clinical trials, which would result in increased costs or delays of our clinical trials. Even if these 
clinical trials are completed, we or our third-party collaborators may fail to complete and submit a new drug application as scheduled.  

The FDA may not clear any such application in a timely manner or may deny the application entirely. Data already obtained 
from preclinical studies and clinical trials of our pharmaceutical systems do not necessarily predict the results that will be obtained 
from later preclinical studies and clinical trials. Moreover, preclinical and clinical data such as ours are susceptible to varying 
interpretations, which could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. A number of companies in the pharmaceutical industry have 
suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials, even after promising results in earlier trials. The failure to adequately 
demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of a pharmaceutical system under development to the satisfaction of FDA and other 
regulatory agencies could delay or prevent regulatory clearance of the potential pharmaceutical system, resulting in delays to the 
commercialization of our pharmaceutical system, and could materially harm our business. Clinical trials may not demonstrate the 
sufficient levels of safety and efficacy necessary to obtain the requisite regulatory approvals for our pharmaceutical systems, and thus 
our pharmaceutical systems may not be approved for marketing.  

Regulatory action or failure to obtain product approvals could delay or limit development and commercialization of our 
pharmaceutical systems and result in failure to achieve anticipated revenues  

The manufacture and marketing of our pharmaceutical systems and our research and development activities are subject to 
extensive regulation for safety, efficacy and quality by numerous government authorities in the United States and abroad. We or our 
third-party collaborators must obtain clearance or approval from applicable regulatory authorities before we or they, as applicable, can 
perform clinical trials, market or sell our products in development in the United States or abroad. Clinical trials, manufacturing and 
marketing of products are subject to the rigorous testing and approval process of the FDA and equivalent foreign regulatory 
authorities. In particular, recent recalls of and reported adverse side effects of marketed drugs have made regulatory agencies, 
including the FDA, increasingly focus on the safety of drug products. Regulatory agencies are requiring more extensive and ever 
increasing showings of safety at every stage of drug development and commercialization from initial clinical trials to regulatory 
approval and beyond. These rigorous and evolving standards may delay and increase the expenses of our development efforts. The 
FDA or other foreign regulatory agency may, at any time, halt our and our collaborators’ development and commercialization 
activities due to safety concerns, in which case our business will be harmed. In addition, the FDA or other foreign regulatory agency 
may refuse or delay approval of our or our collaborators’ drug candidates for failure to collect sufficient clinical or animal safety data, 
and require us or our collaborators to conduct additional clinical or animal safety studies which may cause lengthy delays and 
increased costs to our programs.  

30 

 
The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and other federal, state and foreign statutes and regulations govern and influence the 

testing, manufacture, labeling, advertising, distribution and promotion of drugs and medical devices. These laws and regulations are 
complex and subject to change. Furthermore, these laws and regulations may be subject to varying interpretations, and we may not be 
able to predict how an applicable regulatory body or agency may choose to interpret or apply any law or regulation to our 
pharmaceutical systems. As a result, clinical trials and regulatory approval can take a number of years to accomplish and require the 
expenditure of substantial resources. We or our third-party collaborators, as applicable, may encounter delays or rejections based upon 
administrative action or interpretations of current rules and regulations. We or our third-party collaborators, as applicable, may not be 
able to timely reach agreement with the FDA on our clinical trials or on the required clinical or animal data we or they must collect to 
continue with our clinical trials or eventually commercialize our pharmaceutical systems.  

We or our third-party collaborators, as applicable, may also encounter delays or rejections based upon additional government 

regulation from future legislation, administrative action or changes in FDA policy during the period of product development, clinical 
trials and FDA regulatory review. We or our third-party collaborators, as applicable, may encounter similar delays in foreign 
countries. Sales of our pharmaceutical systems outside the United States are subject to foreign regulatory standards that vary from 
country to country.  

The time required to obtain approvals from foreign countries may be shorter or longer than that required for FDA approval, and 

requirements for foreign licensing may differ from FDA requirements. We or our third-party collaborators, as applicable, may be 
unable to obtain requisite approvals from the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities, and even if obtained, such approvals may not be 
on a timely basis, or they may not cover the clinical uses that we specify. If we or our third-party collaborators, as applicable, fail to 
obtain timely clearance or approval for our development products, we or they will not be able to market and sell our pharmaceutical 
systems, which will limit our ability to generate revenue.  

Many of our drug candidates under development, including REMOXY, our other ORADUR-based opioids and TRANSDUR-
Sufentanil are subject to mandatory Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) programs, which could delay the approval of 
these drug candidates and increase the cost, burden and liability associated with the commercialization of these drug candidates  
On February 6, 2009, the FDA sent letters to manufacturers of certain opioid drug products, indicating that these drugs will be 
required to have a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) to ensure that the benefits of the drugs continue to outweigh the 
risks. The affected opioid drugs include brand name and generic products and are formulated with the active ingredients fentanyl, 
hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, and oxymorphone.  

On April 19, 2011, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) released the Obama Administration’s Epidemic: 
Responding to America’s Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis—a comprehensive action plan to address the national prescription drug 
abuse epidemic. This plan includes action in four major areas to reduce prescription drug abuse: education, monitoring, proper 
disposal, and enforcement. In support of the action plan, the FDA announced the elements of a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation 
Strategy (REMS) that will require all manufacturers of long-acting and extended-release opioids to ensure that training is provided to 
prescribers of these medications and to develop information that prescribers can use when counseling patients about the risks and 
benefits of opioid use. The FDA wants drug makers to work together to develop a single system for implementing the REMS 
strategies.  

Many of our drug candidates including REMOXY, our other ORADUR-opioid drug candidates and TRANSDUR-Sufentanil are 

subject to the REMS requirement. The FDA’s REMS requirements have been evolving, and until the contours of required REMS 
programs are established by the FDA and understood by drug developers and marketers such as ourselves and our collaborators, there 
may be delays in marketing approvals  

31 

 
  
for these drug candidates. In addition, there may be increased cost, administrative burden and potential liability associated with the 
marketing and sale of these types of drug candidates subject to the REMS requirement, which could negatively impact the commercial 
benefits to us and our collaborators from the sale of these drug candidates.  

We depend to a large extent on third-party collaborators, and we have limited or no control over the development, sales, 
distribution and disclosure for our pharmaceutical systems which are the subject of third-party collaborative or license agreements  

Our performance depends to a large extent on the ability of our third-party collaborators to successfully develop and obtain 
approvals for our pharmaceutical systems. We have entered into agreements with Pain Therapeutics, Hospira, Nycomed (acquired by 
Takeda), Alpharma (acquired by King which in turn has been acquired by Pfizer), Orient Pharma, Zogenix and others under which we 
granted such third parties the right to develop, apply for regulatory approval for, market, promote or distribute REMOXY and other 
ORADUR-based products, POSIDUR, ELADUR, Relday and other product candidates, subject to payments to us in the form of 
product royalties and other payments. We have limited or no control over the expertise or resources that any collaborator may devote 
to the development, clinical trial strategy, regulatory approval, marketing or sale of these pharmaceutical systems, or the timing of 
their activities. Any of our present or future collaborators may not perform their obligations as expected. These collaborators may 
breach or terminate their agreement with us or otherwise fail to conduct their collaborative activities successfully and in a timely 
manner. Enforcing any of these agreements in the event of a breach by the other party could require the expenditure of significant 
resources and consume a significant amount of management time and attention. Our collaborators may also conduct their activities in 
a manner that is different from the manner we would have chosen, had we been developing such pharmaceutical systems ourselves. 
Further, our collaborators may elect not to develop or commercialize pharmaceutical systems arising out of our collaborative 
arrangements or not devote sufficient resources to the development, clinical trials, regulatory approval, manufacture, marketing or sale 
of these pharmaceutical systems. If any of these events occur, we may not recognize revenue from the commercialization of our 
pharmaceutical systems based on such collaborations. In addition, these third parties may have similar or competitive products to the 
ones which are the subject of their collaborations with us, or relationships with our competitors, which may reduce their interest in 
developing or selling our pharmaceutical systems. We may not be able to control public disclosures made by some of our third-party 
collaborators, which could negatively impact our stock price.  

Our near-term revenues depend on collaboration agreements with other companies. These agreements subject us to obligations 
which must be fulfilled and also make our revenues dependent on the performance of such third parties. If we are unable to meet 
our obligations or manage our relationships with our collaborators under these agreements or enter into additional collaboration 
agreements or if our existing collaborations are terminated, our revenues may decrease. Acquisitions of our collaborators can be 
disruptive  

Our near-term revenues are based to a significant extent on collaborative arrangements with third parties, pursuant to which we 
receive payments based on our performance of research and development activities set forth in these agreements. We may not be able 
to fulfill our obligations or attain milestones set forth in any specific agreement, which could cause our revenues to fluctuate or be less 
than anticipated and may expose us to liability for contractual breach. In addition, these agreements may require us to devote 
significant time and resources to communicating with and managing our relationships with such collaborators and resolving possible 
issues of contractual interpretation which may detract from time our management would otherwise devote to managing our operations. 
Such agreements are generally complex and contain provisions that could give rise to legal disputes, including potential disputes 
concerning ownership of intellectual property under collaborations. Such disputes can delay or prevent the development of potential 
new pharmaceutical systems, or can lead to lengthy, expensive litigation or arbitration. In general, our collaboration agreements, 
including our agreements with Pain Therapeutics and King (Pfizer) with respect to REMOXY and other ORADUR-based products  

32 

 
incorporating specified opioids, Hospira and Nycomed (acquired by Takeda) with respect to POSIDUR, Alpharma (acquired by King 
which in turn has been acquired by Pfizer) with respect to ELADUR, Orient Pharma with respect to ORADUR-ADHD and Zogenix 
with respect to Relday, may be terminated by the other party at will or upon specified conditions including, for example, if we fail to 
satisfy specified performance milestones or if we breach the terms of the agreement. From time to time, our licensees may be the 
subject of an acquisition by another company. For example, Alpharma was acquired by King in December 2008, in February 2011 
King was acquired by Pfizer and, in October 2011 Nycomed was acquired by Takeda. Such transactions can lead to turnover of 
program staff, a review of development programs and strategies by the acquirer, and other events that can disrupt a program, resulting 
in program delays or discontinuations.  

If any of our collaborative agreements are terminated or delayed, our revenues may be reduced or not materialize, and our 

products in development related to those agreements may not be commercialized.  

Our cash flows are likely to be less than our reported revenues  
Our revenues will likely differ from our cash flows from revenue-generating activities. Upfront payments received upon 
execution of collaborative agreements are recorded as deferred revenue and recognized on a straight-line basis over the period of our 
continuing involvement with the third-party collaborator pursuant to the applicable agreement. As of December 31, 2011, we have 
$37.5 million of deferred revenue, which will be recognized in future periods and may cause our reported revenues to be greater than 
cash flows from our ongoing revenue-generating activities.  

Our revenues also depend on milestone payments based on achievements by our third-party collaborators. Failure of such 
collaborators to attain such milestones would result in our not receiving additional revenues  

In addition to payments based on our performance of research and development activities, our revenues also depend on the 

attainment of milestones set forth in our collaboration agreements. Such milestones are typically related to development activities or 
sales accomplishments. While our involvement is necessary to the achievement of development-based milestones, the performance of 
our third-party collaborators is also required to achieve those milestones. Under our third-party collaborative agreements, our third 
party collaborators will take the lead in commercialization activities and we are typically not involved in the achievement of sales-
based milestones. Therefore, we are even more dependent upon the performance of our third-party collaborators in achieving sales-
based milestones. To the extent we and our third-party collaborators do not achieve such development-based milestones or our third-
party collaborators do not achieve sales-based milestones, we will not receive the associated revenues, which could harm our financial 
condition and may cause us to defer or cut-back development activities or forego the exploitation of opportunities in certain 
geographic territories, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.  

Our business strategy includes the entry into additional collaborative agreements. We may not be able to enter into additional 
collaborative agreements or may not be able to negotiate commercially acceptable terms for these agreements  

Our current business strategy includes the entry into additional collaborative agreements for the development and 

commercialization of our pharmaceutical systems. The negotiation and consummation of these types of agreements typically involve 
simultaneous discussions with multiple potential collaborators and require significant time and resources from our officers, business 
development, legal, and research and development staff. In addition, in attracting the attention of pharmaceutical and biotechnology 
company collaborators, we compete with numerous other third parties with product opportunities as well the collaborators’ own 
internal product opportunities. We may not be able to consummate additional collaborative agreements, or we may not be able to 
negotiate commercially acceptable terms for these agreements. If we do not consummate additional collaborative agreements, we may 
have to consume money more rapidly on our product development efforts, defer development activities or forego the exploitation of 
certain geographic territories, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.  

33 

 
We may have difficulty raising needed capital in the future  

Our business currently does not generate sufficient revenues to meet our capital requirements and we do not expect that it will 
do so in the near future. We have expended and will continue to expend substantial funds to complete the research, development and 
clinical testing of our pharmaceutical systems. We will require additional funds for these purposes, to establish additional clinical- and 
commercial-scale manufacturing arrangements and facilities and to provide for the marketing and distribution of our pharmaceutical 
systems. Additional funds may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. If adequate funds are unavailable from operations or 
additional sources of financing, we may have to delay, reduce the scope of or eliminate one or more of our research or development 
programs which would materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.  

In July 2010, we entered into an equity line of credit facility with Azimuth under which we may sell to Azimuth, subject to 
certain limitations, up to $50 million of our common stock over a 24-month period. Azimuth will not be obligated to purchase shares 
under the equity line of credit unless specified conditions are met. These include that the price per share of our common stock is 
greater than $1.00. We are currently unable to access this source of financing, and if we are unable to meet the specified conditions 
with respect to any sale of shares under the Azimuth equity line of credit, we may not be able to access this source of financing in the 
future. Azimuth is also permitted to terminate the equity line of credit under certain circumstances.  

We believe that our cash, cash equivalents and investments, will be adequate to satisfy our capital needs for at least the next 12 

months. However, our actual capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

regulatory actions with respect to our product candidates;  
continued progress and cost of our research and development programs;  
the continuation of our collaborative agreements that provide financial funding for our activities;  
success in entering into collaboration agreements and meeting milestones under such agreements;  
progress with preclinical studies and clinical trials;  
the time and costs involved in obtaining regulatory clearance;  
costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and enforcing patent claims;  
costs of developing sales, marketing and distribution channels and our ability and that of our collaborators to sell our 
pharmaceutical systems;  
costs involved in establishing manufacturing capabilities for clinical and commercial quantities of our pharmaceutical 
systems;  
competing technological and market developments;  
 
  market acceptance of our pharmaceutical systems;  
 
 

costs for recruiting and retaining employees and consultants; and  
unexpected legal, accounting and other costs and liabilities related to our business.  

 

We may consume available resources more rapidly than currently anticipated, resulting in the need for additional funding. We 

may seek to raise any necessary additional funds through equity or debt financings, convertible debt financings, collaborative 
arrangements with corporate collaborators or other sources, which may be dilutive to existing stockholders and may cause the price of 
our common stock to decline. In addition, in the event that additional funds are obtained through arrangements with collaborators or 
other sources, we may have to relinquish rights to some of our technologies or pharmaceutical systems that we would otherwise seek 
to develop or commercialize ourselves. If adequate funds are not available, we may be required to significantly reduce or refocus our 
product development efforts, resulting in loss of sales, increased costs, and reduced revenues.  

34 

 
  
We and our third-party collaborators may not be able to manufacture sufficient quantities of our pharmaceutical systems and 
components to support the clinical and commercial requirements of our collaborators and ourselves at an acceptable cost or in 
compliance with applicable government regulations, and we have limited manufacturing experience  

We or our third-party collaborators to whom we have assigned such responsibility must manufacture our pharmaceutical 
systems and components in clinical and commercial quantities, either directly or through third parties, in compliance with regulatory 
requirements and at an acceptable cost. The manufacturing processes associated with our pharmaceutical systems are complex. We 
and our third-party collaborators, where relevant, have not yet completed development of the manufacturing process for any 
pharmaceutical systems or components, including REMOXY and our other ORADUR-based drug candidates, POSIDUR, 
TRANSDUR-Sufentanil, ELADUR, and Relday. If we and our third-party collaborators, where relevant, fail to timely complete the 
development of the manufacturing process for our pharmaceutical systems, we and our third-party collaborators, where relevant, will 
not be able to timely produce product for clinical trials and commercialization of our pharmaceutical systems. We have also 
committed to manufacture and supply pharmaceutical systems or components under a number of our collaborative agreements with 
third-party companies. We have limited experience manufacturing pharmaceutical products, and we may not be able to timely 
accomplish these tasks. If we and our third-party collaborators, where relevant, fail to develop manufacturing processes to permit us to 
manufacture a pharmaceutical system or component at an acceptable cost, then we and our third-party collaborators may not be able to 
commercialize that pharmaceutical system or we may be in breach of our supply obligations to our third-party collaborators.  

Our manufacturing facility in Cupertino is a multi-disciplinary site that we have used to manufacture only research and clinical 

supplies of several of our pharmaceutical systems, including POSIDUR, TRANSDUR-Sufentanil, ELADUR, REMOXY and other 
ORADUR-based drug candidates, and Relday. We have not manufactured commercial quantities of any of our pharmaceutical 
systems. In the future, we intend to develop additional manufacturing capabilities for our pharmaceutical systems and components to 
meet our demands and those of our third-party collaborators by contracting with third-party manufacturers and by construction of 
additional manufacturing space at our facilities in California and Alabama. We have limited experience building and validating 
manufacturing facilities, and we may not be able to accomplish these tasks in a timely manner.  

If we and our third-party collaborators, where relevant, are unable to manufacture pharmaceutical systems or components in a 

timely manner or at an acceptable cost, quality or performance level, and are unable to attain and maintain compliance with applicable 
regulations, the clinical trials and the commercial sale of our pharmaceutical systems and those of our third-party collaborators could 
be delayed. Additionally, we may need to alter our facility design or manufacturing processes, install additional equipment or do 
additional construction or testing in order to meet regulatory requirements, optimize the production process, increase efficiencies or 
production capacity or for other reasons, which may result in additional cost to us or delay production of product needed for the 
clinical trials and commercial launch of our pharmaceutical systems and those of our third-party collaborators.  

We have entered into a supply agreement with Corium International, Inc. for clinical and commercial supplies of ELADUR and 
a supply agreement with Hospira Worldwide, Inc. for clinical and commercial supplies of POSIDUR. These third parties are currently 
our sole source for drug product required for development and commercialization of these drug candidates. Furthermore, we and our 
third-party collaborators, where relevant, may also need or choose to subcontract with additional third-party contractors to perform 
manufacturing steps of our pharmaceutical systems or supply required components for our pharmaceutical systems. Where third party 
contractors perform manufacturing services for us, we will be subject to the schedule, expertise and performance of third parties as 
well as incur significant additional costs. Failure of third parties to perform their obligations could adversely affect our operations, 
development timeline and financial results.  

If we or our third-party collaborators cannot manufacture pharmaceutical systems or components in time to meet the clinical or 

commercial requirements of our collaborators or ourselves or at an acceptable cost, our operating results will be harmed.  

35 

 
  
Failure to comply with ongoing governmental regulations for our pharmaceutical systems could materially harm our business in 
the future  

Marketing or promoting a drug is subject to very strict controls. Furthermore, clearance or approval may entail ongoing 
requirements for post-marketing studies. The manufacture and marketing of drugs are subject to continuing FDA and foreign 
regulatory review and requirements that we update our regulatory filings. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with a 
product, manufacturer or facility, or our failure to update regulatory files, may result in restrictions, including withdrawal of the 
product from the market. Any of the following or other similar events, if they were to occur, could delay or preclude us from further 
developing, marketing or realizing full commercial use of our pharmaceutical systems, which in turn would materially harm our 
business, financial condition and results of operations:  

failure to obtain or maintain requisite governmental approvals;  
failure to obtain approvals for clinically intended uses of our pharmaceutical systems under development; or  

 
 
  FDA required product withdrawals or warnings arising from identification of serious and unanticipated adverse side effects 

in our pharmaceutical systems.  

Manufacturers of drugs must comply with the applicable FDA good manufacturing practice regulations, which include 
production design controls, testing, quality control and quality assurance requirements as well as the corresponding maintenance of 
records and documentation. Compliance with current good manufacturing practices regulations is difficult and costly. Manufacturing 
facilities are subject to ongoing periodic inspection by the FDA and corresponding state agencies, including unannounced inspections, 
and must be licensed before they can be used for the commercial manufacture of our development products. We and/or our present or 
future suppliers and distributors may be unable to comply with the applicable good manufacturing practice regulations and other FDA 
regulatory requirements. We have not been subject to a good manufacturing regulation inspection by the FDA relating to our 
pharmaceutical systems. If we, our third-party collaborators or our respective suppliers do not achieve compliance for our 
pharmaceutical systems we or they manufacture, the FDA may refuse or withdraw marketing clearance or require product recall, 
which may cause interruptions or delays in the manufacture and sale of our pharmaceutical systems.  

We have a history of operating losses, expect to continue to have losses in the future and may never achieve or maintain 
profitability  

We have incurred significant operating losses since our inception in 1998 and, as of December 31, 2011, had an accumulated 

deficit of approximately $355.5 million. We expect to continue to incur significant operating losses over the next several years as we 
continue to incur significant costs for research and development, clinical trials, manufacturing, sales, and general and administrative 
functions. Our ability to achieve profitability depends upon our ability, alone or with others, to successfully complete the development 
of our proposed pharmaceutical systems, obtain the required regulatory clearances, and manufacture and market our proposed 
pharmaceutical systems. Development of pharmaceutical systems is costly and requires significant investment. In addition, we may 
choose to license from third parties either additional drug delivery platform technology or rights to particular drugs or other 
appropriate technology for use in our pharmaceutical systems. The license fees for these technologies or rights would increase the 
costs of our pharmaceutical systems.  

To date, we have not generated significant revenue from the commercial sale of our pharmaceutical systems and do not expect 

to do so in the near future. Our current revenues are from the sale of the ALZET product line, the sale of LACTEL biodegradable 
polymers and certain excipient sales, and from payments under collaborative research and development agreements with third parties. 
We do not expect our product revenues to increase significantly in the near future, and we do not expect that collaborative research 
and development revenues will exceed our actual operating expenses. We do not anticipate meaningful revenues to derive from the 
commercialization and marketing of our pharmaceutical systems in development in the near future, and therefore do not expect to 
generate sufficient revenues to cover expenses or achieve profitability in the near future.  

36 

 
  
We may develop our own sales force to market future products but we have limited sales experience and may not be able to do so 
effectively  

We may choose to develop our own sales force to market in the United States products that we may develop in the future. 
Developing a sales force will require substantial expenditures. We have limited sales and marketing experience, and may not be able 
to effectively recruit, train or retain sales personnel. We may not be able to effectively sell our pharmaceutical systems, if approved, 
and our failure to do so could limit or materially harm our business.  

We and our third-party collaborators may not sell our pharmaceutical systems effectively  

We and our third-party collaborators compete with many other companies that currently have extensive and well-funded 
marketing and sales operations. Our marketing and sales efforts and those of our third-party collaborations may be unable to compete 
successfully against these other companies. We and our third-party collaborators, if relevant, may be unable to establish a sufficient 
sales and marketing organization on a timely basis, if at all. We and our third-party collaborators, if relevant, may be unable to engage 
qualified distributors. Even if engaged, these distributors may:  

 
 
 
 
 
 

fail to satisfy financial or contractual obligations to us;  
fail to adequately market our pharmaceutical systems;  
cease operations with little or no notice to us;  
offer, design, manufacture or promote competing product lines;  
fail to maintain adequate inventory and thereby restrict use of our pharmaceutical systems; or  
build up inventory in excess of demand thereby limiting future purchases of our pharmaceutical systems resulting in 
significant quarter-to-quarter variability in our sales.  

The failure of us or our third-party collaborators to effectively develop, gain regulatory approval for, sell, manufacture and 

market our pharmaceutical systems will hurt our business, prospects and financial results.  

We rely heavily on third parties to support development, clinical testing and manufacturing of our pharmaceutical systems  

We rely on third-party contract research organizations, service providers and suppliers to provide critical services to support 
development, clinical testing, and manufacturing of our pharmaceutical systems. For example, we currently depend on third-party 
vendors to manage and monitor our clinical trials and to perform critical manufacturing steps for our pharmaceutical systems. These 
third parties may not execute their responsibilities and tasks competently in compliance with applicable laws and regulations or in a 
timely fashion. We rely on third-parties to manufacture or perform manufacturing steps relating to our pharmaceutical systems or 
components. We anticipate that we will continue to rely on these and other third-party contractors to support development, clinical 
testing, and manufacturing of our pharmaceutical systems. Failure of these contractors to provide the required services in a competent 
or timely manner or on reasonable commercial terms could materially delay the development and approval of our development 
products, increase our expenses and materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.  

Key components of our pharmaceutical systems are provided by limited numbers of suppliers, and supply shortages or loss of these 
suppliers could result in interruptions in supply or increased costs  

Certain components and drug substances used in our pharmaceutical systems (including POSIDUR, TRANSDUR-Sufentanil, 

ELADUR, REMOXY, our other ORADUR-based drug candidates, and Relday) are currently purchased from a single or a limited 
number of outside sources. In particular, Eastman Chemical is the  

37 

 
  
sole supplier, pursuant to a supply agreement entered into in December 2005, of our requirements of sucrose acetate isobutyrate, a 
necessary component of POSIDUR, REMOXY, our other ORADUR-based drug candidates, Relday and certain other pharmaceuticals 
systems we have under development. The reliance on a sole or limited number of suppliers could result in:  

 
 
 

delays associated with redesigning a pharmaceutical system due to a failure to obtain a single source component;  
an inability to obtain an adequate supply of required components; and  
reduced control over pricing, quality and delivery time.  

We have supply agreements in place for certain components of our pharmaceuticals systems, but do not have in place long term 

supply agreements with respect to all of the components of any of our pharmaceutical system candidates. Therefore the supply of a 
particular component could be terminated at any time without penalty to the supplier. In addition, we may not be able to procure 
required components or drugs from third-party suppliers at a quantity, quality and cost acceptable to us. Any interruption in the supply 
of single source components could cause us to seek alternative sources of supply or manufacture these components internally. 
Furthermore, in some cases, we are relying on our third-party collaborators to procure supply of necessary components. If the supply 
of any components for our pharmaceutical systems is interrupted, components from alternative suppliers may not be available in 
sufficient volumes or at acceptable quality levels within required timeframes, if at all, to meet our needs or those of our third-party 
collaborators. This could delay our ability to complete clinical trials and obtain approval for commercialization and marketing of our 
pharmaceutical systems, causing us to lose sales, incur additional costs, delay new product introductions and could harm our 
reputation.  

If we are unable to adequately protect, maintain or enforce our intellectual property rights or secure rights to third-party patents, 
we may lose valuable assets, experience reduced market share or incur costly litigation to protect our rights or our third-party 
collaborators may choose to terminate their agreements with us  

Our ability to commercially exploit our products will depend significantly on our ability to obtain and maintain patents, 

maintain trade secret protection and operate without infringing the proprietary rights of others.  

The patent status of our lead drug candidates, REMOXY and POSIDUR, are as follows:  
In the U.S., REMOXY is covered by an issued patent expiring in 2015 and two pending patent application families, which if 

granted, would result in patents expiring in 2023 and 2028 respectively, plus any eligible patent term adjustments and extensions. We 
are currently prosecuting the pending U.S. application families, and we recently received four allowances in the family having a non-
adjusted expiration date in 2023. Nonetheless, there can be no assurance that the two pending U.S. patent application families 
covering REMOXY will be granted, in which event we will have no patent coverage after 2015 in the U.S. for REMOXY. In Europe, 
REMOXY is covered by two granted patents expiring in 2016 and in 2023 respectively, plus any eligible patent term extensions.  

In the U.S., POSIDUR is covered by an issued patent expiring in 2015 and one pending patent application family, which if 

granted, will result in patents expiring in 2025 plus any eligible patent term adjustments and extensions. We recently received two 
allowances in the pending U.S. application family. Nonetheless, there can be no assurance that the pending U.S. patent application 
family covering POSIDUR will be granted, in which event we will have no patent coverage after 2015 in the U.S. for POSIDUR. In 
Europe, POSIDUR is covered by two granted patents expiring in 2016 and in 2025 respectively, plus any eligible patent term 
extensions.  

As of February 21, 2012, we held 41 issued U.S. patents and 314 issued foreign patents (which include granted European patent 
rights that have been validated in various EU member states). In addition, we have 56 pending U.S. patent applications and have filed 
107 patent applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, from which 178 national phase applications are currently pending in 
Europe, Australia, Japan, Canada and other countries. Our patents expire at various dates starting in 2012.  

38 

 
The patent positions of pharmaceutical companies, including ours, are uncertain and involve complex legal and factual 

questions. In addition, the coverage claimed in a patent application can be significantly reduced before the patent is issued. 
Consequently, our patent applications or those that are licensed to us may not issue into patents, and any issued patents may not 
provide protection against competitive technologies or may be held invalid if challenged or circumvented. Our competitors may also 
independently develop products similar to ours or design around or otherwise circumvent patents issued to us or licensed by us. In 
addition, the laws of some foreign countries may not protect our proprietary rights to the same extent as U.S. law.  

The patent laws of the U.S. have recently undergone changes through court decisions which may have significant impact on us 

and our industry. Decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court (e.g., KSR v. Teleflex, eBay v. MercExchange) and other courts (e.g., In re 
Seagate) with respect to the standards of patentability, enforceability, availability of injunctive relief and damages may make it more 
difficult for us to procure, maintain and enforce patents. In addition, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (HR 1249) was signed into 
law in September 2011, which among other changes to the U.S. patent laws, changes patent priority from “first to invent” to “first to 
file,” implements a post-grant opposition system for patents and provides for a prior user defense to infringement. These judicial and 
legislative changes have introduced significant uncertainty in the patent law landscape and may potentially negatively impact our 
ability to procure, maintain and enforce patents to provide exclusivity for our products.  

We also rely upon trade secrets, technical know-how and continuing technological innovation to develop and maintain our 

competitive position. We require our employees, consultants, advisors and collaborators to execute appropriate confidentiality and 
assignment-of-inventions agreements with us. These agreements typically provide that all materials and confidential information 
developed or made known to the individual during the course of the individual’s relationship with us is to be kept confidential and not 
disclosed to third parties except in specific circumstances, and that all inventions arising out of the individual’s relationship with us 
will be our exclusive property. These agreements may be breached, and in some instances, we may not have an appropriate remedy 
available for breach of the agreements. Furthermore, our competitors may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary 
information and techniques, reverse engineer our information and techniques, or otherwise gain access to our proprietary technology.  

We may be unable to meaningfully protect our rights in trade secrets, technical know-how and other non-patented technology. 
We may have to resort to litigation to protect our intellectual property rights, or to determine their scope, validity or enforceability. In 
addition, interference proceedings declared by the USPTO may be necessary to determine the priority of inventions with respect to our 
patent applications. Enforcing or defending our proprietary rights is expensive, could cause diversion of our resources and may not 
prove successful. Any failure to enforce or protect our rights could cause us to lose the ability to exclude others from using our 
technology to develop or sell competing products.  

Our collaboration agreements may depend on our intellectual property  
We are party to collaborative agreements with Pfizer, Hospira and Zogenix among others. Our third-party collaborators have 
entered into these agreements based on the exclusivity that our intellectual property rights confer on the products being developed. 
The loss or diminution of our intellectual property rights could result in a decision by our third-party collaborators to terminate their 
agreements with us. In addition, these agreements are generally complex and contain provisions that could give rise to legal disputes, 
including potential disputes concerning ownership of intellectual property and data under collaborations. Such disputes can lead to 
lengthy, expensive litigation or arbitration requiring us to devote management time and resources to such dispute which we would 
otherwise spend on our business. To the extent that our agreements call for future royalties to be paid conditional on our having 
patents covering the royalty-bearing subject matter, the decision by the Supreme Court in the case of MedImmune v. Genentech could 
encourage our licensees to challenge the validity of our patents and thereby seek to avoid future royalty obligations without losing the 
benefit of their license. Should they be successful in such a challenge, our ability to collect future royalties could be substantially 
diminished.  

39 

 
  
We may be sued by third parties which claim that our pharmaceutical systems infringe on their intellectual property rights, 
particularly because there is substantial uncertainty about the validity and breadth of medical patents  

We and our collaborators may be exposed to future litigation by third parties based on claims that our pharmaceutical systems or 

activities infringe the intellectual property rights of others or that we or our collaborators have misappropriated the trade secrets of 
others. This risk is exacerbated by the fact that the validity and breadth of claims covered in medical technology patents and the 
breadth and scope of trade secret protection involve complex legal and factual questions for which important legal principles are 
unresolved. Any litigation or claims against us or our collaborators, whether or not valid, could result in substantial costs, could place 
a significant strain on our financial resources and could harm our reputation. We also may not have sufficient funds to litigate against 
parties with substantially greater resources. In addition, pursuant to our collaborative agreements, we have provided our collaborators 
with the right, under specified circumstances, to defend against any claims of infringement of the third party intellectual property 
rights, and such collaborators may not defend against such claims adequately or in the manner that we would do ourselves. Intellectual 
property litigation or claims could force us or our collaborators to do one or more of the following, any of which could harm our 
business or financial results:  

 

 

 

cease selling, incorporating or using any of our pharmaceutical systems that incorporate the challenged intellectual 
property, which would adversely affect our revenue;  
obtain a license from the holder of the infringed intellectual property right, which license may be costly or may not be 
available on reasonable terms, if at all; or  
redesign our pharmaceutical systems, which would be costly and time-consuming.  

Technologies and businesses which we acquire or license may be difficult to integrate, disrupt our business, dilute stockholder 
value or divert management attention.  

We may acquire technologies, products or businesses to broaden the scope of our existing and planned product lines and 

technologies. Future acquisitions expose us to:  

 

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 
 

increased costs associated with the acquisition and operation of the new businesses or technologies and the management of 
geographically dispersed operations;  
the risks associated with the assimilation of new technologies, operations, sites and personnel;  
the diversion of resources from our existing business and technologies;  
the inability to generate revenues to offset associated acquisition costs;  
the requirement to maintain uniform standards, controls, and procedures; and  
the impairment of relationships with employees and customers or third party collaborators as a result of any integration of 
new management personnel.  

Acquisitions may also result in the issuance of dilutive equity securities, the incurrence or assumption of debt or additional 

expenses associated with the amortization of acquired intangible assets or potential businesses. Past acquisitions, such as our 
acquisitions of IntraEAR, ALZET, SBS and APT, as well as future acquisitions, may not generate any additional revenue or provide 
any benefit to our business.  

Some of our pharmaceutical systems contain controlled substances, the making, use, sale, importation and distribution of which 
are subject to regulation by state, federal and foreign law enforcement and other regulatory agencies  

Some of our pharmaceutical systems currently under development contain, and our products in the future may contain, 

controlled substances which are subject to state, federal and foreign laws and regulations regarding  

40 

 
  
their manufacture, use, sale, importation and distribution. The TRANSDUR-Sufentanil patch, REMOXY and our other ORADUR-
based drug candidates, and other pharmaceutical systems we have under development contain active ingredients which are classified 
as controlled substances under the regulations of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. For our pharmaceutical systems containing 
controlled substances, we and our suppliers, manufacturers, contractors, customers and distributors are required to obtain and maintain 
applicable registrations from state, federal and foreign law enforcement and regulatory agencies and comply with state, federal and 
foreign laws and regulations regarding the manufacture, use, sale, importation and distribution of controlled substances. These 
regulations are extensive and include regulations governing manufacturing, labeling, packaging, testing, dispensing, production and 
procurement quotas, record keeping, reporting, handling, shipment and disposal. These regulations increase the personnel needs and 
the expense associated with development and commercialization of drug candidates including controlled substances. Failure to obtain 
and maintain required registrations or comply with any applicable regulations could delay or preclude us from developing and 
commercializing our pharmaceutical systems containing controlled substances and subject us to enforcement action. In addition, 
because of their restrictive nature, these regulations could limit our commercialization of our pharmaceutical systems containing 
controlled substances. In particular, among other things, there is a risk that these regulations may interfere with the supply of the drugs 
used in our clinical trials, and in the future, our ability to produce and distribute our products in the volume needed to meet 
commercial demand.  

Write-offs related to the impairment of long-lived assets, inventories and other non-cash charges, as well as stock-based 
compensation expenses may adversely impact or delay our profitability  

We may incur significant non-cash charges related to impairment write-downs of our long-lived assets, including goodwill and 
other intangible assets. We will continue to incur non-cash charges related to amortization of other intangible assets. For example, we 
had a $13.5 million non-cash write-down of deferred royalties and commercial rights related to CHRONOGESIC in the fourth quarter 
of 2008. We are required to perform periodic impairment reviews of our goodwill at least annually. To the extent these reviews 
conclude that the expected future cash flows generated from our business activities are not sufficient to recover the cost of our long-
lived assets, we will be required to measure and record an impairment charge to write-down these assets to their realizable values. We 
completed our last review during the fourth quarter of 2011 and determined that goodwill was not impaired as of December 31, 2011. 
However, there can be no assurance that upon completion of subsequent reviews a material impairment charge will not be recorded. If 
future periodic reviews determine that our assets are impaired and a write-down is required, it will adversely impact or delay our 
profitability.  

Inventories include certain excipients that are sold to a customer and included in products awaiting regulatory approval. These 
inventories are capitalized based on management’s judgment of probable sale prior to their expiration date which in turn is based on 
non-binding forecasts from our customer. The valuation of inventory requires us to estimate the value of inventory that may become 
expired prior to use. We may be required to expense previously capitalized inventory costs upon a change in our judgment, due to, 
among other potential factors, a denial or delay of approval of our customer’s product by the necessary regulatory bodies, or new 
information that suggests that the inventory will not be saleable. In addition, these circumstances may cause us to record a liability 
related to minimum purchase agreements that we have in place for raw materials.  

Global credit and financial market conditions could negatively impact the value of our current portfolio of cash equivalents, short-
term investments or long-term investments and our ability to meet our financing objectives  

Our cash and cash equivalents are maintained in highly liquid investments with remaining maturities of 90 days or less at the 

time of purchase. Our short-term investments consist primarily of readily marketable debt securities with original maturities of greater 
than 90 days from the date of purchase but remaining maturities of less than one year from the balance sheet date. Our long-term 
investments consist primarily of readily marketable debt securities with maturities in one year or beyond from the balance sheet date. 
While, as of the date of this  

41 

 
filing, we are not aware of any downgrades, material losses, or other significant deterioration in the fair value of our cash equivalents, 
short-term investments or long-term investments since December 31, 2011, no assurance can be given that deterioration in conditions 
of the global credit and financial markets would not negatively impact our current portfolio of cash equivalents, short-term 
investments or long-term investments or our ability to meet our financing objectives.  

We depend upon key personnel who may terminate their employment with us at any time, and we may need to hire additional 
qualified personnel  

Our success will depend to a significant degree upon the continued services of key management, technical and scientific 
personnel, including Felix Theeuwes, our Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer and James E. Brown, our President and Chief 
Executive Officer. In addition, our success will depend on our ability to attract and retain other highly skilled personnel. Competition 
for qualified personnel is intense, and the process of hiring and integrating such qualified personnel is often lengthy. We may be 
unable to recruit such personnel on a timely basis, if at all. Our management and other employees may voluntarily terminate their 
employment with us at any time. The loss of the services of key personnel, or the inability to attract and retain additional qualified 
personnel, could result in delays to product development or approval, loss of sales and diversion of management resources.  

We may not successfully manage our company through varying business cycles  

Our success will depend on properly sizing our company through growth and contraction cycles caused in part by changing 

business conditions, which places a significant strain on our management and on our administrative, operational and financial 
resources. To manage through such cycles, we must expand or contract our facilities, our operational, financial and management 
systems and our personnel. If we were unable to manage growth and contractions effectively our business would be harmed.  

Our business involves environmental risks and risks related to handling regulated substances  

In connection with our research and development activities and our manufacture of materials and pharmaceutical systems, we 

are subject to federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations and policies governing the use, generation, manufacture, storage, air 
emission, effluent discharge, handling and disposal of certain materials, biological specimens and wastes. Although we believe that we 
have complied with the applicable laws, regulations and policies in all material respects and have not been required to correct any 
material noncompliance, we may be required to incur significant costs to comply with environmental and health and safety regulations 
in the future. Our research and development involves the use, generation and disposal of hazardous materials, including but not limited 
to certain hazardous chemicals, solvents, agents and biohazardous materials. The extent of our use, generation and disposal of such 
substances has increased substantially since we started manufacturing and selling biodegradable polymers. Although we believe that 
our safety procedures for storing, handling and disposing of such materials comply with the standards prescribed by state and federal 
regulations, we cannot completely eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials. We currently contract 
with third parties to dispose of these substances generated by us, and we rely on these third parties to properly dispose of these 
substances in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. If these third parties do not properly dispose of these substances in 
compliance with applicable laws and regulations, we may be subject to legal action by governmental agencies or private parties for 
improper disposal of these substances. The costs of defending such actions and the potential liability resulting from such actions are 
often very large. In the event we are subject to such legal action or we otherwise fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations 
governing the use, generation and disposal of hazardous materials and chemicals, we could be held liable for any damages that result, 
and any such liability could exceed our resources.  

42 

 
Our corporate headquarters, manufacturing facilities and personnel are located in a geographical area that is seismically active  
Our corporate headquarters, primary manufacturing facilities and personnel are located in a geographical area that is known to 

be seismically active and prone to earthquakes. Should such a natural disaster occur, our ability to conduct our business could be 
severely restricted, and our business and assets, including the results of our research, development and manufacturing efforts, could be 
destroyed.  

Risks Related To Our Industry  

The market for our pharmaceutical systems is rapidly changing and competitive, and new products or technologies developed by 
others could impair our ability to grow our business and remain competitive  

The pharmaceutical industry is subject to rapid and substantial technological change. Developments by others may render our 

pharmaceutical systems under development or technologies noncompetitive or obsolete, or we may be unable to keep pace with 
technological developments or other market factors. Technological competition in the industry from pharmaceutical and 
biotechnology companies, universities, governmental entities and others diversifying into the field is intense and is expected to 
increase.  

We may face competition from other companies in numerous industries including pharmaceuticals, medical devices and drug 

delivery. POSIDUR, TRANSDUR-Sufentanil, ELADUR, Relday, REMOXY and other ORADUR-based drug candidates, if 
approved, will compete with currently marketed oral opioids, transdermal opioids, local anesthetic patches, anti-psychotics, 
stimulants, implantable and external infusion pumps which can be used for infusion of opioids and local anesthetics. Products of these 
types are marketed by Purdue Pharma, Knoll, Janssen, Medtronic, Endo, AstraZeneca, Arrow International, Tricumed, I-Flow 
(Kimberly-Clark), Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, NeurogesX, Covidien, Shire, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Novartis and 
others. Our ORADUR-ADHD product candidates, if approved, will compete with currently marketed products by Shire, Johnson & 
Johnson, UCB, Novartis, Noven, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Medice and others. Relday, if approved, will compete with currently marketed 
products by Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb and others. Numerous companies are applying 
significant resources and expertise to the problems of drug delivery and several of these are focusing or may focus on delivery of 
drugs to the intended site of action, including Alkermes, Pacira Pharmaceuticals, EpiCept, Innocoll, Nektar, I-Flow (Kimberly-Clark), 
NeurogesX, Flamel, Alexza, Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Hospira, Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Egalet, Acura and others. Some of 
these competitors may be addressing the same therapeutic areas or indications as we are. Our current and potential competitors may 
succeed in obtaining patent protection or commercializing products before us. Many of these entities have significantly greater 
research and development capabilities than we do, as well as substantially more marketing, manufacturing, financial and managerial 
resources. These entities represent significant competition for us. Acquisitions of, or investments in, competing pharmaceutical or 
biotechnology companies by large corporations could increase such competitors’ financial, marketing, manufacturing and other 
resources.  

We are engaged in the development of novel therapeutic technologies. Our resources are limited and we may experience 
technical challenges inherent in such novel technologies. Competitors have developed or are in the process of developing technologies 
that are, or in the future may be, the basis for competitive products. Some of these products may have an entirely different approach or 
means of accomplishing similar therapeutic effects than our pharmaceutical systems. Our competitors may develop products that are 
safer, more effective or less costly than our pharmaceutical systems and, therefore, present a serious competitive threat to our product 
offerings.  

The widespread acceptance of therapies that are alternatives to ours may limit market acceptance of our pharmaceutical systems 

even if commercialized. Chronic and post-operative pain are currently being treated by oral medication, transdermal drug delivery 
systems, such as drug patches, and implantable drug delivery devices which will be competitive with our pharmaceutical systems. 
These treatments are widely accepted in the medical community and have a long history of use. The established use of these 
competitive products may limit the potential for our pharmaceutical systems to receive widespread acceptance if commercialized.  

43 

 
  
We could be exposed to significant product liability claims which could be time consuming and costly to defend, divert 
management attention and adversely impact our ability to obtain and maintain insurance coverage  

The testing, manufacture, marketing and sale of our pharmaceutical systems involve an inherent risk that product liability claims 
will be asserted against us. Although we are insured against such risks up to an annual aggregate limit in connection with clinical trials 
and commercial sales of our pharmaceutical systems, our present product liability insurance may be inadequate and may not fully 
cover the costs of any claim or any ultimate damages we might be required to pay. Product liability claims or other claims related to 
our pharmaceutical systems, regardless of their outcome, could require us to spend significant time and money in litigation or to pay 
significant damages. Any successful product liability claim may prevent us from obtaining adequate product liability insurance in the 
future on commercially desirable or reasonable terms. In addition, product liability coverage may cease to be available in sufficient 
amounts or at an acceptable cost. An inability to obtain sufficient insurance coverage at an acceptable cost or otherwise to protect 
against potential product liability claims could prevent or inhibit the commercialization of our pharmaceutical systems. A product 
liability claim could also significantly harm our reputation and delay market acceptance of our pharmaceutical systems.  

Acceptance of our pharmaceutical systems in the marketplace is uncertain, and failure to achieve market acceptance will delay our 
ability to generate or grow revenues  

Our future financial performance will depend upon the successful introduction and customer acceptance of our future products, 
including REMOXY and other ORADUR-based drug candidates, POSIDUR, TRANSDUR-Sufentanil, ELADUR and Relday. Even if 
approved for marketing, our pharmaceutical systems may not achieve market acceptance. The degree of market acceptance will 
depend upon a number of factors, including:  

 
 

 

the receipt of regulatory clearance of marketing claims for the uses that we are developing;  
the establishment and demonstration in the medical community of the safety and clinical efficacy of our products and their 
potential advantages over existing therapeutic products, including oral medication, transdermal drug delivery products such 
as drug patches, or external or implantable drug delivery products; and  
pricing and reimbursement policies of government and third-party payors such as insurance companies, health maintenance 
organizations, hospital formularies and other health plan administrators.  

Physicians, patients, payors or the medical community in general may be unwilling to accept, utilize or recommend any of our 

products. If we are unable to obtain regulatory approval, commercialize and market our future products when planned and achieve 
market acceptance, we will not achieve anticipated revenues.  

If users of our products are unable to obtain adequate reimbursement from third-party payors, or if new restrictive legislation is 
adopted, market acceptance of our products may be limited and we may not achieve anticipated revenues  

The continuing efforts of government and insurance companies, health maintenance organizations and other payors of 

healthcare costs to contain or reduce costs of health care may affect our future revenues and profitability, and the future revenues and 
profitability of our potential customers, suppliers and third-party collaborators and the availability of capital. For example, in certain 
foreign markets, pricing or profitability of prescription pharmaceuticals is subject to government control. In the United States, recent 
federal and state government initiatives have been directed at lowering the total cost of health care, and the U.S. Congress and state 
legislatures will likely continue to focus on health care reform, the cost of prescription pharmaceuticals and on the reform of the 
Medicare and Medicaid systems. While we cannot predict whether any such legislative or regulatory proposals will be adopted, the 
announcement or adoption of such proposals could materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.  

44 

 
  
The successful commercialization of our pharmaceutical systems will depend in part on the extent to which appropriate 

reimbursement levels for the cost of our pharmaceutical systems and related treatment are obtained by governmental authorities, 
private health insurers and other organizations, such as HMOs. Third-party payors are increasingly limiting payments or 
reimbursement for medical products and services. Also, the trend toward managed health care in the United States and the concurrent 
growth of organizations such as HMOs, which could control or significantly influence the purchase of health care services and 
products, as well as legislative proposals to reform health care or reduce government insurance programs, may limit reimbursement or 
payment for our products. The cost containment measures that health care payors and providers are instituting and the effect of any 
health care reform could materially harm our ability to operate profitably.  

If we or our third-party collaborators are unable to train physicians to use our pharmaceutical systems to treat patients’ diseases 
or medical conditions, we may incur delays in market acceptance of our products  

Broad use of our pharmaceutical systems will require extensive training of numerous physicians on the proper and safe use of 
our pharmaceutical systems. The time required to begin and complete training of physicians could delay introduction of our products 
and adversely affect market acceptance of our products. We or third parties selling our pharmaceutical systems may be unable to 
rapidly train physicians in numbers sufficient to generate adequate demand for our pharmaceutical systems. Any delay in training 
would materially delay the demand for our pharmaceutical systems and harm our business and financial results. In addition, we may 
expend significant funds towards such training before any orders are placed for our products, which would increase our expenses and 
harm our financial results.  

Potential new accounting pronouncements and legislative actions are likely to impact our future financial position or results of 
operations  

Future changes in financial accounting standards may cause adverse, unexpected fluctuations in the timing of the recognition of 
revenues or expenses and may affect our financial position or results of operations. New pronouncements and varying interpretations 
of pronouncements have occurred with frequency and may occur in the future and we may make changes in our accounting policies in 
the future. Compliance with changing regulation of corporate governance and public disclosure may result in additional expenses. 
Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 
2002, new SEC regulations, PCAOB pronouncements and NASDAQ rules, are creating uncertainty for companies such as ours and 
insurance, accounting and auditing costs are high as a result of this uncertainty and other factors. We are committed to maintaining 
high standards of corporate governance and public disclosure. As a result, we intend to invest all reasonably necessary resources to 
comply with evolving standards, and this investment may result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of 
management time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities.  

Risks Related To Our Common Stock  

Our stock price may not meet the minimum bid price for continued listing on the Nasdaq Global Market. Our ability to publicly or 
privately sell equity securities and the liquidity of our common stock could be adversely affected if we are delisted from The 
Nasdaq Global Market or if we are unable to transfer our listing to another stock market.  

On February 21, 2012, the Company received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market 
(“Nasdaq”) informing the Company that because the closing bid price for the Company’s common stock listed on Nasdaq was below 
$1.00 for 30 consecutive trading days, the Company does not comply with the minimum closing bid price requirement for continued 
listing on the Nasdaq Global Market under Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5450(a)(1).  

The Company has until August 20, 2012 to regain compliance with Nasdaq’s listing requirements by having the closing bid 

price of its common stock listed on Nasdaq be at least $1.00 for at least 10 consecutive trading  

45 

 
  
days. If the Company does not regain compliance within this time period, it may transfer the common stock to The Nasdaq Capital 
Market, provided that the Company (i) meets the applicable market value of publicly held shares requirement for continued listing and 
all other applicable requirements for initial listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market (except for the closing bid price requirement) based 
on the Company’s most recent public filings and market information and (ii) notifies Nasdaq of its intent to cure this deficiency. 
Following a transfer to The Nasdaq Capital Market, the Company would be afforded the remainder of an additional 180 calendar day 
grace period in order to regain compliance with the minimum closing bid price requirement of $1.00 per share under The Nasdaq 
Capital Market, unless it does not appear to NASDAQ that it would be possible for the Company to cure the deficiency.  

If compliance is not demonstrated within the applicable compliance period, Nasdaq will notify the Company that its securities 
will be subject to delisting. The Company may appeal Nasdaq’s determination to delist its securities to a Hearings Panel. During any 
appeal process, shares of the Company’s common stock would continue to trade on the Nasdaq Global Market or Nasdaq Capital 
Market, as applicable.  

There can be no assurance that we will regain and maintain compliance with the requirements for listing our common stock on 

the Nasdaq Global Market or that our common stock would be eligible for transfer to the Nasdaq Capital Market and remain in 
compliance with the requirements for listing on that market. Delisting from Nasdaq could adversely affect our ability to raise 
additional financing through the public or private sale of equity securities, would significantly affect the ability of investors to trade 
our securities and would negatively affect the value and liquidity of our common stock. Delisting could also have other negative 
results, including the potential loss of confidence by employees, the loss of institutional investor interest and fewer business 
development opportunities.  

Our operating history makes evaluating our stock difficult  

Our quarterly and annual results of operations have historically fluctuated and we expect will continue to fluctuate for the 

foreseeable future. We believe that period-to-period comparisons of our operating results should not be relied upon as predictive of 
future performance. Our prospects must be considered in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties encountered by companies with 
no approved pharmaceutical products, particularly companies in new and rapidly evolving markets such as pharmaceuticals, drug 
delivery and biotechnology. To address these risks, we must, among other things, obtain regulatory approval for and commercialize 
our pharmaceutical systems, which may not occur. We may not be successful in addressing these risks and difficulties. We may 
require additional funds to complete the development of our pharmaceutical systems and to fund operating losses to be incurred in the 
next several years.  

Investors may experience substantial dilution of their investment  

Investors may experience dilution of their investment if we raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities or 
convertible debt securities or grant additional stock options to employees and consultants. Any sales in the public market of the 
common stock issuable upon such conversion could adversely affect prevailing market prices for our common stock.  

The price of our common stock may be volatile  

The stock markets in general, and the markets for pharmaceutical stocks in particular, have experienced extreme volatility that 
has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect 
the trading price of our common stock.  

46 

 
Price declines in our common stock could result from general market and economic conditions and a variety of other factors, 

including:  
 

failure of our third-party collaborators to successfully develop and commercialize the respective pharmaceutical systems 
they are developing;  
adverse results (including adverse events or failure to demonstrate safety or efficacy) or delays in our clinical and non-
clinical trials of POSIDUR, TRANSDUR-Sufentanil, ELADUR, REMOXY, our other ORADUR-based drug candidates, 
Relday or other pharmaceutical systems;  
announcements of FDA non-approval of our pharmaceutical systems, or delays in the FDA or other foreign regulatory 
agency review process;  
adverse actions taken by regulatory agencies or law enforcement agencies with respect to our pharmaceutical systems, 
clinical trials, manufacturing processes or sales and marketing activities, or those of our third party collaborators;  
announcements of technological innovations, patents or new products by our competitors;  
regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries;  
any lawsuit involving us or our pharmaceutical systems including intellectual property infringement or product liability 
suits;  
announcements concerning our competitors, or the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries in general;  
developments concerning our strategic alliances or acquisitions;  
actual or anticipated variations in our operating results;  
changes in recommendations by securities analysts or lack of analyst coverage;  
deviations in our operating results from the estimates of analysts;  
sales of our common stock by our executive officers or directors or sales of substantial amounts of common stock by others;  
potential delisting of our common stock from The NASDAQ Global Market;  
loss or disruption of facilities due to natural disasters;  
changes in accounting principles; or  
loss of any of our key scientific or management personnel.  

 

 

 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to factors which are beyond our control. The 
stock market in general has recently experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. In addition, the market prices of securities of 
technology and pharmaceutical companies have also been extremely volatile, and have experienced fluctuations that often have been 
unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. These broad market fluctuations could result in 
extreme fluctuations in the price of our common stock, which could cause a decline in the value of our common stock.  

In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a particular company’s securities, litigation has often been 
brought against that company. If litigation of this type is brought against us, it could be extremely expensive and divert management’s 
attention and our company’s resources.  

We have broad discretion over the use of our cash and investments, and their investment may not always yield a favorable return  
Our management has broad discretion over how our cash and investments are used and may from time to time invest in ways 

with which our stockholders may not agree and that do not yield favorable returns.  

47 

 
  
Executive officers, directors and principal stockholders have substantial control over us, which could delay or prevent a change in 
our corporate control favored by our other stockholders  

Our directors, executive officers and principal stockholders, together with their affiliates, have substantial control over us. The 
interests of these stockholders may differ from the interests of other stockholders. As a result, these stockholders, if acting together, 
could have the ability to exercise control over all corporate actions requiring stockholder approval irrespective of how our other 
stockholders may vote, including:  
the election of directors;  
the amendment of charter documents;  
the approval of certain mergers and other significant corporate transactions, including a sale of substantially all of our 
assets; or  
the defeat of any non-negotiated takeover attempt that might otherwise benefit the public stockholders.  

 
  Our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and Delaware law contain provisions that could discourage another company 

 
 
 

from acquiring us.  

  Provisions of Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage, delay or prevent a merger or 

acquisition that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which you might otherwise receive a 
premium for your shares. These provisions include:  

 
 
 

 
 
 

authorizing the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock without any need for action by stockholders;  
providing for a classified board of directors with staggered terms;  
requiring supermajority stockholder voting to effect certain amendments to our certificate of incorporation and 
bylaws;  
eliminating the ability of stockholders to call special meetings of stockholders;  
prohibiting stockholder action by written consent; and  
establishing advance notice requirements for nominations for election to the board of directors or for proposing 
matters that can be acted on by stockholders at stockholder meetings.  

Item 1B. 

Unresolved Staff Comments.  

None.  

48 

 
  
Item 2.  Properties.  

The following chart indicates the facilities that we lease, the location and size of each such facility and their designated use.  

Location 
Cupertino, CA 

Approximate 
Square Feet  
30,000 sq. ft.  

Cupertino, CA 

20,000 sq. ft.  

Operation 

Expiration 

Office, Laboratory 
and Manufacturing 
Office and Laboratory  Lease expires 2014 (with an option to renew for an 

Lease expires 2014 

Vacaville, CA 

24,634 sq. ft.  

Manufacturing 

Pelham, AL 

9,400 sq. ft.  

Birmingham, AL 

21,540 sq. ft.  

Office, Laboratory and 
Manufacturing 
Office, Laboratory and 
Manufacturing 

additional five years) 
Lease expires 2013 (with an option to renew for an 
additional five years) 
Lease expires March 2012 

Lease expires 2021 (with an option to terminate after 
seven years and nine months and with two options to 
renew the lease term for an additional five years each 
after the current lease expires) 

We believe that our existing facilities are adequate to meet our current and foreseeable requirements or that suitable additional 

or substitute space will be available as needed.  

Item  3. 

Legal Proceedings.  

We are not a party to any material legal proceedings.  

Item 4. 

Mine Safety Disclosures.  

Not applicable.  

49 

 
   
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PART II 

Item  5. 
Price Range of Common Stock  

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matter and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.  

Our common stock has been traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “DRRX” since our initial public offering 

on September 28, 2000. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices for our common stock 
as reported by the NASDAQ Global Market.  

Year ended December 31, 2010 
First Quarter .........................................................................................................................................
Second Quarter ....................................................................................................................................
Third Quarter .......................................................................................................................................
Fourth Quarter .....................................................................................................................................

Year ended December 31, 2011 
First Quarter .........................................................................................................................................
Second Quarter ....................................................................................................................................
Third Quarter .......................................................................................................................................
Fourth Quarter .....................................................................................................................................

Common Stock 
Price  

Low  
   $1.91  
     2.23  
     2.00  
     2.48  

Low  
   $2.90  
     1.76  
     1.32  
     1.12  

High  
$3.09  
  3.14  
  2.58  
  3.69  

High  
$3.65  
  3.77  
  2.28  
  1.90  

The closing sale price of our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market on February 29, 2012 was $0.75 per 

share. As of that date there were approximately 130 holders of record of the common stock. This does not include the number of 
persons whose stock is in nominee or “street name” accounts through brokers. The market price of our common stock has been and 
may continue to be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a number of events and factors, such as progress in our development 
programs, quarterly variations in our operating results, announcements of technological innovations or new products by us or our 
competitors, changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts, the operating and stock performance of other 
companies that investors may deem comparable to us, and news reports relating to trends in our markets. These fluctuations, as well as 
general economic and market conditions, may adversely affect the market price for our common stock.  

Dividend Policy  

We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain any future earnings to fund the 

development and growth of our business. Therefore, we do not currently anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable 
future.  

50 

 
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH 

The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return data for our stock with the cumulative return of (i) The 
NASDAQ Stock Market (U.S.) Index and (ii) the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index since December 31, 2006. The graph assumes that 
$100 was invested on December 31, 2006. The stock price performance on the following graph is not necessarily indicative of future 
stock price performance.  

*  $100 Invested on 12/31/06 in stock or index—including reinvestment of dividends. Fiscal year ending December 31.  

DURECT CORPORATION  

DURECT CORPORATION .................................................
NASDAQ STOCK MARKET (U.S.) ...................................
NASDAQ BIOTECHNOLOGY ...........................................

12/31/06  
    100.00  
    100.00  
    100.00  

12/31/07  
 144.82  
 109.81  
 104.58  

Cumulative Total Return  
12/31/09  
12/31/08  
  55.63  
  76.35  
  93.95  
  65.29  
 105.66  
  91.38  

12/31/10  
  77.70  
 109.84  
 121.52  

12/31/11  
  26.58  
 107.86  
 135.86  

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers  

None.  

51 

 
  
 
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 Item 6.  Selected Financial Data.  

The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with and are qualified by reference to “Management’s 
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and related notes, which are 
included in this Form 10-K. The statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 and the balance 
sheet data at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are derived from, and are qualified by reference to, the audited financial statements 
included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the 
balance sheet data at December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 are derived from our audited statements not included in this Form 10-K. 
Historical operating results are not necessarily indicative of results in the future. See Note 1 of notes to financial statements for an 
explanation of the determination of the shares used in computing net loss per share.  

Statement of Operations Data: 
Collaborative research and development and other revenue 
Product revenue, net......................................................................

Total revenue ................................................................................
Operating expenses: 

Cost of revenue ....................................................................
Research and development ..................................................
Selling, general and administrative .....................................
Write-down of deferred royalties and commercial rights ....

Total operating expenses ...............................................................

Loss from operations.....................................................................
Other income (expense): 

Interest and other income ....................................................
Interest expense ...................................................................
Debt conversion expense .....................................................

Net other income (expense) ..........................................................

Net loss .........................................................................................

Basic and diluted net loss per share ..............................................
Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share .....

Balance Sheet Data: 
Cash, cash equivalents and investments........................................
Working capital .............................................................................
Total assets ....................................................................................
Convertible subordinated notes .....................................................
Other long-term liabilities .............................................................
Stockholders’ equity .....................................................................

2011  

Year Ended December 31,  
2009  
2010  
(in thousands, except per share data) 

2008  

2007  

$  22,360  
    11,127  
    33,487  

$  20,091  
  11,500  
  31,591  

$  12,347  
  12,113  
  24,460  

$  19,770  
8,765  
  28,535  

$  27,379  
8,258  
  35,673  

4,713  
    34,053  
    13,574  
    —    
    52,340  
    (18,853) 

134  
(46) 
    —    
88  
  $ (18,765) 
  $ 
(0.21) 
    87,410  

4,275  
  36,214  
  14,937  
  —    
  55,426  
  (23,835) 

943  
(6) 
  —    
937  
$ (22,898) 
(0.26) 
$ 
  86,868  

5,311  
  34,801  
  15,020  
  —    
  55,132  
  (30,672) 

420  
(36) 
  —    
384  
$ (30,288) 
(0.36) 
$ 
  83,427  

3,365  
  40,845  
  15,510  
  13,480  
  73,200  
  (44,665) 

1,547  
(789) 
  —    
758  
$ (43,907) 
(0.56) 
$ 
  78,332  

3,225  
  43,304  
  13,649  
  —    
  60,178  
  (24,541) 

3,545  
(2,625) 
(718) 
202  
$ (24,339) 
(0.35) 
$ 
  70,483  

2011  

2010  

As of December 31,  
2009  
(in thousands) 

2008  

2007  

  $  30,829  
    22,410  
    49,196  
    —    
738  
3,477  

$  49,572  
  36,936  
  67,560  
  —    
315  
  14,487  

$  41,552  
  34,796  
  58,151  
  —    
508  
  27,843  

$  52,692  
  43,401  
  74,874  
  —    
656  
  37,564  

$  62,016  
  25,700  
  84,020  
  23,559  
1,083  
  34,581  

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 Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.  

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations as of December 31, 2011, 2010 

and 2009 should be read in conjunction with our Financial Statements, including the Notes thereto, and “Risk Factors” section 
included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. This Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. When used in this report or 
elsewhere by management from time to time, the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect” and similar 
expressions are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations.  

 

Forward-looking statements made in this report include, for example, statements about:  
 
 
 
 
 

potential regulatory approval of REMOXY, POSIDUR or any of our other product candidates;  
the progress of our third-party collaborations, including estimated milestones;  
our intention to seek, and ability to enter into strategic alliances and collaborations;  
the potential benefits and uses of our products;  
responsibilities of our collaborators, including the responsibility to make cost reimbursement, milestone, royalty and other 
payments to us, and our expectations regarding our collaborators’ plans with respect to our products;  
our responsibilities to our collaborators, including our responsibilities to conduct research and development, clinical trials, 
protect intellectual property and manufacture products;  
  market opportunities for products in our product pipeline;  
 
 
 

the number of patients enrolled and the timing of patient enrollment in clinical trials;  
the progress and results of our research and development programs;  
requirements for us to purchase supplies and raw materials from third parties, and the ability of third parties to provide us 
with required supplies and raw materials;  
the results and timing of clinical trials and the commencement of future clinical trials;  
conditions for obtaining regulatory approval of our product candidates;  
submission and timing of applications for regulatory approval;  
the impact of FDA, DEA, EMEA and other government regulation on our business;  
the impact of potential Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) on our business;  
uncertainties associated with obtaining and protecting patents and other intellectual property rights, as well as avoiding the 
intellectual property rights of others;  
products and companies that will compete with the products we license to third-party collaborators;  
the possibility we may commercialize our own products and build up our commercial, sales and marketing capabilities and 
other required infrastructure;  
our intention to develop additional manufacturing capabilities;  
our employees, including the number of employees and the continued services of key management, technical and scientific 
personnel;  
our future performance, including our anticipation that we will not derive meaningful revenues from our pharmaceutical 
systems for at least twelve months and our expectations regarding our ability to achieve profitability;  

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 

53 

 
 

 
 

 
 

sufficiency of our cash resources, anticipated capital requirements and capital expenditures and our need for additional 
financing;  
our ability to utilize our equity line of credit facility with Azimuth Opportunity Ltd.;  
our expectations regarding marketing expenses, research and development expenses, and selling, general and administrative 
expenses;  
the composition of future revenues; and  
accounting policies and estimates, including revenue recognition policies.  

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events or 
results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. For a more detailed 
discussion of such forward looking statements and the potential risks and uncertainties that may impact upon their accuracy, see the 
“Risk Factors” section and “Overview” section of this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of 
Operations. These forward-looking statements reflect our view only as of the date of this report. We undertake no obligations to 
update any forward-looking statements. You should also carefully consider the factors set forth in other reports or documents that we 
file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  

Overview  

We are a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of pharmaceutical products based on our proprietary 

drug delivery technology platforms. Our product pipeline currently consists of seven investigational drug candidates in clinical 
development, with one program the subject of a New Drug Application (NDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 
for which a Complete Response Letter was received in June 2011, one program in Phase III, two programs in Phase II and three 
programs in Phase I. The more advanced programs are in the field of pain management and we believe that each of these targets large 
market opportunities with product features that are differentiated from existing therapeutics. We have other programs underway in 
fields outside of pain management, including several efforts underway which seek to improve the administration of biotechnology 
agents such as proteins and peptides.  

A central aspect of our business strategy involves advancing multiple product candidates at one time, which is enabled by 
leveraging our resources with those of corporate collaborators. Thus, certain of our programs are currently licensed to corporate 
collaborators on terms which typically call for our collaborator to fund all or a substantial portion of future development costs and 
then pay us milestone payments based on specific development or commercial achievements plus a royalty on product sales. At the 
same time, we have retained the rights to other programs, which are the basis of future collaborations and which over time may 
provide a pathway for us to develop our own commercial, sales and marketing organization.  

Collaborative Research and Development Revenues  

Collaborative research and development revenues consist of three broad categories: (a) the recognition of upfront license 

payments on a straight-line basis over the period of our continuing involvement with the third party, (b) the reimbursement of 
qualified research expenses by third parties and (c) milestone payments in connection with our collaborative agreements. During the 
last several years, we generated collaborative research and development revenues from collaborative agreements with Pain 
Therapeutics, Nycomed, King, Hospira, Zogenix, Endo and others.  

Product Revenues  

We have historically generated product revenue from the sale of three product lines:  
  ALZET® osmotic pumps for animal research use;  
  LACTEL® biodegradable polymers which are used by our customers as raw materials in their pharmaceutical and medical 

products; and  

54 

 
  
 

certain key excipients that are included in Remoxy.  

In the future, we expect to generate modest revenue related to an animal health product which was approved and launched by 

our licensee in 2011. Because we consider our core business to be developing and commercializing pharmaceutical systems, we do not 
intend to significantly increase our investments in or efforts to sell or market any of our existing product lines. However, we expect 
that we will continue to make efforts to increase our revenue related to collaborative research and development by entering into 
additional research and development agreements with third-party collaborators to develop product candidates based on our drug 
delivery technologies.  

Reduction In Force  

In February 2012, we reduced the size of our workforce by 15 employees or approximately 12% of our headcount. We 
substantially completed this headcount reduction during February 2012, and incurred approximately $336,000 in severance costs for 
the impacted employees in the first quarter of 2012. The goal of this action was to better align our cost structure with anticipated 
revenues and operating expenses, while not compromising our key corporate objectives.  

Operating Results  

Since our inception in 1998, we have had a history of operating losses. At December 31, 2011, we had an accumulated deficit of 

$355.5 million and our net losses were $18.8 million, $22.9 million and $30.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 
and 2009, respectively. These losses have resulted primarily from costs incurred to research and develop our product candidates and to 
a lesser extent, from selling, general and administrative costs associated with our operations and product sales. We expect our research 
and development expenses to decrease in the near future compared to recent quarters. We expect selling, general and administrative 
expenses to decrease modestly in the near future. We do not anticipate meaningful revenues from our pharmaceutical systems, should 
they be approved, for at least the next twelve months. Therefore, we expect to incur continuing losses and negative cash flow from 
operations for the foreseeable future.  

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates  

General  

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to 
make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and 
liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. The 
most significant estimates and assumptions relate to revenue recognition, the recoverability of our long-lived assets, including 
goodwill and other intangible assets, accrued liabilities, contract research liabilities, inventories and stock-based compensation. Actual 
amounts could differ significantly from these estimates.  

Revenue Recognition  

Revenue from the sale of products is recognized when there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, the product is 
shipped and title transfers to customers, provided no continuing obligation on our part exists, the price is fixed or determinable and the 
collectability of the amounts owed is reasonably assured. We enter into license and collaboration agreements under which we may 
receive upfront license fees, research funding and contingent milestone payments and royalties. The accounting standards contain a 
presumption that separate contracts entered into at or near the same time with the same entity or related parties were negotiated as a 
package and should be evaluated as a single agreement.  

55 

 
  
In the first quarter of 2011, we adopted ASU No. 2009-13, Revenue Recognition—Multiple Deliverable Revenue Arrangements 

(ASU 2009-13) for multiple deliverable revenue arrangements, on a prospective basis, for applicable transactions originating or 
materially modified on or subsequent to January 1, 2011. ASU 2009-13 provides application guidance on whether multiple 
deliverables exist, how the deliverables should be separated and how the consideration should be allocated to one or more units of 
accounting. This update changes the requirements for establishing separate units of accounting in a multiple element arrangement and 
establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. The selling price used for each deliverable is 
based on vendor-specific objective evidence, if available, third-party evidence if vendor-specific objective evidence is not available, or 
estimated selling price if neither vendor-specific or third-party evidence is available. Implementation of ASU 2009-13 has had no 
impact on reported revenue as compared to revenue under previous guidance. Under ASU 2009-13, we may be required to exercise 
considerable judgment in determining the estimated selling price of delivered items under new agreements and our revenue under new 
agreements may be more accelerated as compared to the prior accounting standard. For multiple element arrangements entered into 
prior to January 1, 2011, we determined whether the elements had value on a stand-alone basis and whether there was objective and 
reliable evidence of fair value. When the delivered element did not have stand-alone value or there was insufficient evidence of fair 
value for the undelivered element(s), we recognized the consideration for the combined unit of accounting in the same manner as the 
revenue was recognized for the final deliverable, which was generally ratably over the longest period of involvement. For example, 
upfront payments received upon execution of collaborative agreements are recorded as deferred revenue and recognized as 
collaborative research and development revenue based on a straight-line basis over the period of our continuing involvement with the 
third-party collaborator pursuant to the applicable agreement. Such period generally represents the longer of the estimated research 
and development period or other continuing obligation period defined in the respective agreements between us and our third-party 
collaborators. If we determine that the expected timeline for a project and therefore our continuing involvement is materially different 
than we previously assumed, we will adjust the period over which we recognize the deferred revenue. Returns or credits related to the 
sale of products have not had a material impact on our revenues or net loss.  

Research and development revenue related to services performed under the collaborative arrangements with our corporate 
collaborators is recognized as the related research and development services are performed and the collectability of the amounts owed 
is reasonably assured. These research payments received under each respective agreement are not refundable and are generally based 
on reimbursement of qualified expenses, as defined in the agreements. Research and development expenses under the collaborative 
research and development agreements generally approximate or exceed the revenue recognized under such agreements over the term 
of the respective agreements. Deferred revenue may result when we do not expend the required level of effort during a specific period 
in comparison to funds received under the respective agreement. Pursuant to ASC 808-10, Collaborative Arrangements, for joint 
control and funding development activities, we recognize revenue from the net reimbursement of the research and development 
expenses from our collaborators and record the net payment of research and development expenses to our collaborators as additional 
research and development expense.  

Milestone payments under collaborative arrangements are triggered either by the results of our research and development efforts 

or by specified sales activities by a third-party collaborator. Milestones related to our development-based activities may include 
initiation of various phases of clinical trials, successful completion of a phase of development or results from a clinical trial, 
acceptance of a New Drug Application by the FDA or an equivalent filing with an equivalent regulatory agency in another territory, or 
regulatory approval by the FDA or by an equivalent regulatory agency in another territory. Due to the uncertainty involved in meeting 
these development-based milestones, the development-based milestones are considered to be substantial at the inception of the 
collaboration agreement. In addition, the amounts of the payments assigned thereto are considered to be commensurate with the 
enhancement of the value of the delivered intellectual property as a result of our performance. Our involvement is necessary to the 
achievement of development-based milestones. We would account for development-based milestones as revenue upon achievement of 
the substantive milestone events. Milestones related to sales-based activities may be triggered upon events such as the first 
commercial sale  

56 

 
  
of a product or when sales first achieve a defined level. Under our collaborative agreements, our third-party collaborators will take the 
lead in commercialization activities and we are typically not involved in the achievement of sales-based milestones. These milestones 
would be achieved after the completion of our development activities. We would account for the sales-based milestones in the same 
manner as royalties, with revenue recognized upon achievement of the milestone. In addition, upon the achievement of either 
development-based or sales-based milestone events, we have no future performance obligations related to any milestone payments.  

Research and Development Expenses  

Research and development expenses are primarily comprised of salaries, benefits, stock-based compensation and other 

compensation cost associated with research and development personnel, overhead and facility costs, preclinical and non-clinical 
development costs, clinical trial and related clinical manufacturing costs, contract services, and other outside costs. Research and 
development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs paid to third parties under sponsored research 
agreements are recognized as expense as the related services are performed, generally ratably over the period of service. In addition, 
net reimbursements of research and development expenses by our partners incurred are recorded as collaborative research and 
development revenue. Net payments of research and development expenses to our partners are recorded as an addition to our research 
and development expenses in the period incurred.  

Goodwill  

We record intangible assets when we acquire other companies and intellectual property rights. The cost of an acquisition is 
allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including intangible assets, with the remaining amount being classified as 
goodwill.  

Goodwill is periodically assessed for impairment. We assess the impairment of goodwill at least annually and whenever events 

or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors we consider important which could 
trigger an impairment review include the following:  

 
 
 
 
 
 

significant decline in our stock price for a sustained period;  
our market capitalization relative to net book value;  
new information affecting the commercial value of the asset;  
significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results;  
significant changes in the manner of our use of the acquired assets or the strategy for our overall business; and  
significant negative industry or economic trends.  

If we determine that the carrying value of our goodwill may not be recoverable based upon the existence of one or more of the 
above indicators of impairment, we measure any impairment based on a projected discounted cash flow method using a discount rate 
determined by our management to be commensurate with the risk inherent in our current business model. We would also reconcile our 
estimate of total enterprise value to our market capitalization. As of December 31, 2011, the carrying value of goodwill was 
approximately $6.4 million. No impairment of goodwill has been recorded through December 31, 2011. However, there can be no 
assurance that at the time other periodic reviews are completed, a material impairment charge will not be recorded.  

Accrued Liabilities and Contract Research Liabilities  

We incur significant costs associated with third party consultants and organizations for pre-clinical studies, clinical trials, 

contract manufacturing, validation, testing, and other research and development-related services.  

57 

 
We are required to estimate periodically the cost of services rendered but unbilled based on management’s estimates of project status. 
If these good faith estimates are inaccurate, actual expenses incurred could materially differ from our estimates.  

Inventories  

Inventories include certain excipients that are sold to a customer and included in products awaiting regulatory approval. These 
inventories are capitalized based on management’s judgment of probable sale prior to their expiration date which in turn is primarily 
based on non-binding forecasts from our customer as well as management’s internal estimates. The valuation of inventory requires us 
to estimate the value of inventory that may become expired prior to use. We may be required to expense previously capitalized 
inventory costs upon a change in our judgment, due to, among other potential factors, a denial or delay of approval of our customer’s 
product by the necessary regulatory bodies, or new information that suggests that the inventory will not be saleable. In addition, these 
circumstances may cause us to record a liability related to minimum purchase agreements that we have in place for raw materials. As 
of December 31, 2011, we had $816,000 in inventory related to excipients that are included in REMOXY and other programs. In 
addition, we have future purchase commitments totaling $500,000 per year through 2018. In the event that we determine that we will 
not utilize all of these materials, there could be a potential write-off related to this inventory and a reserve for future purchase 
commitments.  

Stock-Based Compensation  

Employee stock-based compensation is estimated at the date of grant based on the employee stock award’s fair value using the 
Black-Scholes option-pricing model and is recognized as expense ratably over the requisite period in a manner similar to other forms 
of compensation paid to employees.  

We estimate the volatility of our common stock at the date of grant based on the historical volatility of our common stock. We 

base the risk-free rate that we use in the Black-Scholes option valuation model on the implied yield in effect at the time of option grant 
on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with equivalent remaining terms. We have never paid any cash dividends on our common stock 
and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Consequently, we use an expected dividend yield of zero 
in the Black-Scholes option valuation model. We estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and revise those estimates in subsequent 
periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. We use historical data to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures and record 
stock-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest. For options granted before January 1, 2006, we 
amortize the fair value on an accelerated basis. For options granted on or after January 1, 2006, we amortize the fair value on a 
straight-line basis. All options are amortized over the requisite service periods of the awards, which are generally the vesting periods. 
We may elect to use different assumptions under the Black-Scholes option valuation model in the future, which could materially affect 
our net income or loss and net income or loss per share.  

Recent Accounting Pronouncements  

In September 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-08 Intangibles— Goodwill and Other 
(Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment. This update simplified how entities test goodwill for impairment. Entities are permitted 
to initially assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its 
carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. We will adopt 
this authoritative guidance in the first quarter of our fiscal year 2012. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a 
material effect on our financial statements.  

58 

 
Results of Operations  

Comparison of years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009  
Collaborative research and development and other revenue  

We recognize revenues from collaborative research and development activities and service contracts. Collaborative research and 

development revenue primarily represents net reimbursement of qualified expenses related to the collaborative agreements with 
various third parties to research, develop and commercialize potential products using our drug delivery technologies, revenue 
recognized from ratable recognition of upfront fees and milestone payments in connection with our collaborative agreements.  

We expect our collaborative research and development revenue to fluctuate in future periods pending our efforts to enter into 

potential new collaborations and our existing third party collaborators’ commitment to and progress in the research and development 
programs. The collaborative research and development and other revenues associated with our major collaborators are as follows (in 
thousands):  

Collaborator 
Hospira Inc. (Hospira) (1) .............................................................................
Pfizer Inc. (Pfizer) (2) ...................................................................................
Zogenix, Inc. (Zogenix) (3) ..........................................................................
Nycomed Danmark ApS (Nycomed) (4) ......................................................
Pain Therapeutics, Inc. (Pain Therapeutics) .................................................
Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Endo) (5) .........................................................
Others ............................................................................................................

Total collaborative research and development and other revenue ................

Year ended December 31,  
2010  

2011  

2009  

  $ 11,419  
    5,203  
    2,928  
    1,235  
750  
    —    
825  
  $ 22,360  

$  5,551  
  9,487  
779  
  2,033  
  1,456  
  —    
785  
$ 20,091  

$  —    
  7,024  
  1,389  
  1,620  
317  
985  
  1,012  
$ 12,347  

(1)  Amounts related to ratable recognition of upfront fees were $3.6 million in 2011, $2.1 million in 2010 and zero in 2009.  
(2)  Amounts related to ratable recognition of upfront fees were $2.7 million in 2011, $3.2 million in 2010 and $3.4 million in 2009. 
In February 2011, Pfizer acquired King and thereby assumed the rights and obligations of King under the agreements we 
formerly had in place with King; accordingly amounts attributed to King are now shown as Pfizer figures. Our agreement with 
Pfizer for ELADUR will terminate effective August 30, 2012.  

(3)  Amounts related to ratable recognition of upfront fees were $147,000 in 2011, and zero in 2010 and 2009. A development and 
license agreement with Zogenix was entered into in July 2011; we and Zogenix had previously been working together under a 
feasibility agreement pursuant to which our research and development costs were reimbursed by Zogenix.  

(4)  Amounts related to ratable recognition of upfront fees were $1.2 million in 2011, $1.2 million in 2010 and $1.5 million in 2009. 
In October 2011, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited acquired Nycomed and thereby assumed the rights and obligations 
of Nycomed under the agreements we formerly had in place with Nycomed. Our agreement with Nycomed will terminate 
effective April 26, 2012.  

(5)  Amounts related to ratable recognition of upfront fees were zero in 2011 and 2010 and $875,000 in 2009. Our agreement with 

Endo terminated effective August 26, 2009.  

We received a $27.5 million upfront fee in connection with the development and license agreement signed with Hospira in June 

2010 relating to POSIDUR. The $27.5 million upfront fee is recognized as collaborative research and development revenue ratably 
over the term of our continuing involvement with Hospira with respect to POSIDUR.  

59 

 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
   
 
 
   
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
We also received a $20.0 million upfront fee in connection with the development and license agreement signed with Alpharma 

(acquired by King which was subsequently acquired by Pfizer) in September 2008 relating to ELADUR. The $20.0 million upfront fee 
is recognized as collaborative research and development revenue ratably over the term of our continuing involvement with Alpharma 
with respect to ELADUR. Our estimate of the remaining term of our continuing involvement was modified in the second quarter of 
2009 as a result of an updated development plan for ELADUR. As a result of the termination of the Pfizer agreement for ELADUR in 
2012, we will record as revenue during 2012 the remaining $9.9 million related to the upfront fee of the development and license 
agreement; this recognition of revenue will not result in additional cash proceeds to us. This amount was recorded as deferred revenue 
on our balance sheet at December 31, 2011.  

We also received a $14.0 million upfront fee in connection with the development and license agreement signed with Nycomed 

in November 2006 relating to POSIDUR. The $14.0 million upfront fee is recognized as collaborative research and development 
revenue ratably over the term of our continuing involvement with Nycomed with respect to POSIDUR. Our estimate of the remaining 
term of our continuing involvement was modified in the first quarter and the fourth quarter of 2009 as a result of updated development 
plans for POSIDUR in Europe. As a result of the termination of the Nycomed agreement in 2012, we will record as revenue during 
2012 the remaining $3.7 million related to the upfront fee of the development and license agreement; this recognition of revenue will 
not result in additional cash proceeds to us. This amount was recorded as deferred revenue on our balance sheet at December 31, 2011.  

We also received a $10.0 million upfront fee in connection with the license agreement signed with Endo in March 2005 relating 

to TRANSDUR-Sufentanil. The $10.0 million upfront fee is recognized as collaborative research and development revenue ratably 
over the term of our continuing involvement with Endo with respect to TRANSDUR-Sufentanil. The term of the continuing 
involvement had been estimated based on the product development plan pursuant to the agreement. Our estimate of the remaining 
term of our continuing involvement was modified as a result of Endo’s termination notice that we received in February 2009. The 
$10.0 million upfront fee from Endo was fully recognized as of March 31, 2009.  

Product revenue  

A portion of our revenues is derived from our product sales, which include our ALZET mini pump product line, our LACTEL 

biodegradable polymer product line and certain excipients that are included in Remoxy. Net product revenues were $11.1 million, 
$11.5 million and $12.1 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  

The decrease in product revenue in 2011 compared to 2010 was primarily attributable to lower product revenue from the sale of 

certain excipients included in REMOXY and our LACTEL polymer product line as a result of lower units sold, partially offset by 
higher product revenue from our ALZET mini pump product line as a result of higher selling prices compared to 2010. Product 
revenues in 2011 included $490,000 of product revenue related to the shipments of excipients included in REMOXY. Product 
revenues in 2010 included $551,000 related to a price settlement for shipments to Pfizer that occurred in 2008 and the first quarter of 
2009 pursuant to the long term supply agreement executed in the third quarter of 2009 as well as $410,000 of product revenue related 
to the shipment of another excipient that is included in REMOXY in 2010.  

The decrease in product revenue in 2010 compared to 2009 was primarily attributable to lower product revenue from the sale of 
certain excipients included in Remoxy to King as discussed below, partially offset by higher product revenue from both the LACTEL 
and ALZET product lines compared to 2009. Product revenue in 2009 included $3.0 million related to shipments to King that occurred 
in 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 but that had been deferred until a long term supply agreement was signed such that final terms 
and conditions of the sales were established. This agreement was executed in the quarter ended September 30, 2009, and all of the 
deferred revenue was recognized as revenue in that period. In 2010, we experienced higher product revenue from our ALZET product 
line as well as from the LACTEL product line primarily as a result of ALZET’s higher average realized prices and higher LACTEL 
unit sales compared with 2009.  

60 

 
  
Cost of product revenues.    Cost of product revenues was $4.7 million, $4.3 million and $5.3 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, 
respectively. Cost of product revenues include the cost of product revenue from our ALZET product line, our LACTEL product line 
and certain excipients that are included in Remoxy.  

The increase in the cost of product revenue in 2011 was primarily the result of higher manufacturing costs associated with our 

ALZET product line, partially offset by lower units sold from our LACTEL product line and slightly lower cost of goods sold 
associated with the sale of certain excipients for Remoxy compared to 2010. Cost of product revenue and gross profit margin will 
fluctuate from period to period depending upon the product mix in a particular period.  

The decrease in the cost of product revenue in 2010 was primarily the result of lower product revenue associated with certain 

excipients for Remoxy, partially offset by higher units sold from our LACTEL product line compared to 2009. Cost of product 
revenue and gross profit margin will fluctuate from period to period depending upon the product mix in a particular period.  

Stock-based compensation expense recognized related to cost of product revenues was $328,000, $341,000 and $433,000 in 

2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  

As of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, we had 24, 25 and 22 manufacturing employees, respectively. As of February 29, 

2012, we had 23 employees in manufacturing, which we expect will remain comparable in the near future.  

Research and Development.    Research and development expenses are primarily comprised of salaries, benefits, stock-based 

compensation and other compensation cost associated with research and development personnel, overhead and facility costs, 
preclinical and non-clinical development costs, clinical trial and related clinical manufacturing costs, contract services, and other 
outside costs. Research and development expenses were $34.1 million, $36.2 million and $34.8 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009. 
Stock-based compensation expense recognized related to research and development personnel was $4.2 million, $4.9 million and $7.2 
million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  

Research and development expenses decreased by $2.2 million in 2011 compared to 2010. The decrease in 2011 was primarily 

attributable to lower development costs associated with Remoxy and other ORADUR-based opioid products licensed to Pain 
Therapeutics, ELADUR, ORADUR-ADHD, our biologics programs, TRANSDUR-Sufentanil and other research programs, partially 
offset by higher development costs associated with POSIDUR and Relday compared to 2010 as more fully discussed below.  

Research and development expenses increased by $1.4 million in 2010 compared to 2009. The increase in 2010 was primarily 
attributable to higher development costs associated with POSIDUR, Remoxy and other ORADUR-based opioid products licensed to 
Pain Therapeutics, and our biologics programs, partially offset by lower development costs associated with ELADUR, ORADUR-
ADHD, TRANSDUR-Sufentanil, Relday and other research programs compared to 2009 as more fully discussed below.  

61 

 
  
Research and development expenses associated with our major development programs approximate the following (in 

thousands):  

POSIDUR(1) ..................................................................................................  
Remoxy and other ORADUR-based opioid products (1) ...............................  
Relday (1) .......................................................................................................  
ELADUR(1) ...................................................................................................  
ORADUR-ADHD ..........................................................................................  
Biologics Programs ........................................................................................  
TRANSDUR-Sufentanil (1) ...........................................................................  
Others .............................................................................................................  
Total research and development expenses .....................................................  

Year Ended December 31,  
2010  
$ 16,017  
  3,710  
853  
  3,420  
  1,382  
  1,675  
871  
  8,286  
$ 36,214  

2011  
$ 18,691  
  2,684  
  2,515  
  1,456  
  1,048  
  1,039  
812  
  5,808  
$ 34,053  

2009  
$ 14,389  
  1,686  
  1,511  
  3,808  
  2,131  
  1,628  
  1,375  
  8,273  
$ 34,801  

(1)  See Note 2 Strategic Agreements in the financial statements for more details about our agreements with Hospira, Nycomed, 

Pfizer, Pain Therapeutics, Zogenix and Endo.  

POSIDUR  

Our research and development expenses for POSIDUR increased to $18.7 million in 2011 from $16.0 million in 2010, primarily 

due to higher costs associated with our Phase III clinical trial and higher employee-related costs for POSIDUR compared to 2010.  

Our research and development expenses for POSIDUR increased to $16.0 million in 2010 from $14.4 million in 2009, primarily 

due to higher costs associated with our Phase III clinical trial and higher employee-related costs for POSIDUR compared to 2009.  

Remoxy and other ORADUR-based opioid products  

Our research and development expenses for Remoxy and other ORADUR-based opioids decreased to $2.7 million in 2011 from 

$3.7 million in 2010, primarily due to decreased activities to support the resubmission of the Remoxy NDA which occurred in 
December 2010.  

Our research and development expenses for Remoxy and other ORADUR-based opioids increased to $3.7 million in 2010 from 

$1.7 million in 2009, primarily due to increased activities to support the resubmission of the Remoxy NDA in December 2010.  

Relday  

Our research and development expenses for Relday increased to $2.5 million in 2011 from $853,000 in 2010 primarily due to 

higher employee-related cost as well as higher costs related to formulation development and non-clinical studies associated with 
Relday in 2011 compared with 2010.  

Our research and development expenses for Relday decreased to $853,000 in 2010 from $1.5 million in 2009 primarily due to 

lower employee-related costs associated with Relday in 2010 compared with 2009.  

ELADUR  

Our research and development expenses for ELADUR decreased to $1.5 million in 2011 from $3.4 million in 2010, primarily 

due to lower employee-related costs and lower contract manufacturing expenses related to this product candidate.  

62 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Our research and development expenses for ELADUR decreased to $3.4 million in 2010 from $3.8 million in 2009, primarily 

due to lower employee-related costs and lower contract manufacturing expenses related to this product candidate.  

ORADUR-ADHD  

Our research and development expenses for ORADUR-ADHD decreased to $1.0 million in 2011 from $1.4 million in 2010, 

primarily due to lower employee-related costs incurred for this program in 2011.  

Our research and development expenses for ORADUR-ADHD decreased to $1.4 million in 2010 from $2.1 million in 2009, 

primarily due to lower employee-related costs incurred for this program in 2010.  

Biologics Programs  

Our research and development expenses for biologics programs decreased to $1.0 million in 2011 from $1.7 million in 2010. 

primarily due to lower external costs and employee-related costs in support of these programs in 2011.  

Our research and development expenses for biologics programs increased to $1.7 million in 2010 from $1.6 million in 2009. 

primarily due to higher external costs and employee-related costs in support of these programs in 2010.  

TRANSDUR-Sufentanil  

Our research and development expenses for TRANSDUR-Sufentanil decreased to $812,000 in 2011 from $871,000 in 2010, 

primarily due to decreased external costs and employee-related costs for this drug candidate in 2011.  

Our research and development expenses for TRANSDUR-Sufentanil decreased to $871,000 in 2010 from $1.4 million in 2009, 

primarily due to decreased external costs and employee-related costs for this drug candidate in 2010.  

Other DURECT Research Programs  

Our research and development expenses for all other activities decreased to $5.8 million in 2011 from $8.3 million in 2010, 

primarily due to lower employee-related costs and decreased formulation and development activities for these programs.  

Our research and development expenses for all other activities were $8.3 million in both 2010 and 2009, primarily due to 

comparable employee-related costs, and formulation and development activities for these programs.  

As of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, we had 72, 76 and 77 research and development employees respectively. As of 

February 29, 2012, we had 57 employees in research and development, which we expect will remain comparable in the near future. 
We expect research and development expenses to decrease in the near future.  

We cannot reasonably estimate the timing and costs of our research and development programs due to the risks and uncertainties 

associated with developing pharmaceutical systems as outlined in the “Risk Factors” section of this report. The duration of 
development of our research and development programs may span as many as ten years or more, and estimation of completion dates 
or costs to complete would be highly speculative and subjective due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with 
developing pharmaceutical products,  

63 

 
  
including significant and changing government regulation, the uncertainties of future preclinical and clinical study results, the 
uncertainties with our collaborators’ commitment to and progress in the programs and the uncertainties associated with process 
development and manufacturing as well as sales and marketing. In addition, with respect to our development programs subject to 
third-party collaborations, the timing and expenditures to complete the programs are subject to the control of our collaborators. 
Therefore, we cannot reasonably estimate the timing and estimated costs of the efforts necessary to complete the research and 
development programs. For additional information regarding these risks and uncertainties, see “Risk Factors” above.  

Selling, General and Administrative.    Selling, general and administrative expenses are primarily comprised of salaries, benefits 

and stock-based compensation associated with finance, legal, business development, sales and marketing and other administrative 
personnel, overhead and facility costs, and other general and administrative costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses were 
$13.6 million, $14.9 million and $15.0 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense recognized 
related to selling, general and administrative personnel was $2.1 million, $2.5 million and $3.8 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, 
respectively.  

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $1.3 million in 2011 compared to 2010, due to lower stock-based 
compensation expenses related to selling, general and administrative personnel as well as lower employee-related costs and patent 
related expenses incurred in 2011 compared to 2010.  

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $83,000 in 2010 compared to 2009, primarily due to lower stock-
based compensation expenses related to selling, general and administrative personnel, partially offset by higher patent and market 
research expenses incurred in 2010 compared to 2009.  

As of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, we had 28, 29 and 28 selling, general and administrative personnel, respectively. As 

of February 29, 2012, we had 26 employees in selling, general and administrative, which we expect will remain comparable in the 
near future. We expect selling, general and administrative expenses to decrease in the near future.  

Other Income (Expense).    Interest and other income was $134,000, $943,000 and $420,000 in 2011, 2010 and 2009, 

respectively. The decrease in interest and other income in 2011 as compared to 2010 was primarily due to not receiving any grants in 
2011 as well as lower interest income generated in 2011. In 2010, we received grants totaling $733,000 under the Patient Protection 
and Affordable Care Act of 2010 for three qualifying therapeutic discovery projects in the fourth quarter of 2010. We did not receive 
any grants in 2011 or 2009.  

Interest expense was $46,000, $6,000 and $36,000 in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The increase in interest expense in 
2011 compared to 2010 was primarily due to higher losses recognized associated with disposal of certain fixed assets in 2011. The 
decrease in interest expense in 2010 compared to 2009 was primarily due to a lower outstanding balance of equipment financing 
obligations in 2010.  

Income taxes.    As of December 31, 2011, we had net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of 

approximately $228.2 million, which expire in the years 2018 through 2030, and federal research and development tax credits of 
approximately $7.4 million, which expire at various dates beginning in 2018 through 2031, if not utilized. As of December 31, 2011, 
we had NOL carryforwards for state income tax purpose of approximately $157.1 million, which expire in the years 2012 through 
2031, and state research and development tax credits of approximately $8.1 million, which do not expire. Utilization of the net 
operating losses may be subject to a substantial annual limitation due to federal and state ownership change limitations. The annual 
limitation may result in the expiration of net operating losses and credits before utilization.  

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, we had net deferred tax assets of $120.9 million and $115.9 million, respectively. Deferred 
tax assets reflect the net tax effects of net operating loss and credit carryforwards and the temporary differences between the carrying 
amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and the  

64 

 
amounts used for income tax purposes. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon future earnings, if any, the timing and 
amount of which are uncertain. Accordingly, the net deferred tax assets have been fully offset by a valuation allowance.  

Because realization of such tax benefits is uncertain, we provided a 100% valuation allowance as of December 31, 2011 and 

2010. Utilization of the NOL and R&D credits carryforwards may be subject to a substantial annual limitation due to ownership 
change limitations that have occurred previously or that could occur in the future provided by Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986, as well as similar state and foreign provisions. These ownership changes may limit the amount of NOL and 
R&D credits carryforwards that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income and tax, respectively. In general, an ownership 
change, as defined by Section 382, results from transactions increasing the ownership of certain shareholders or public groups in the 
stock of a corporation by more than 50 percentage points over a three-year period. Since our formation, we have raised capital through 
the issuance of capital stock on several occasions which, combined with the purchasing shareholders’ subsequent disposition of those 
shares, may have resulted in a change of control, as defined by Section 382, or could result in a change of control in the future upon 
subsequent disposition. In addition, we issued $60.0 million of convertible notes in 2003 and subsequently all of these notes had been 
converted as of December 31, 2008 into our common stock. We also issued approximately 4.4 million shares of our common stock to 
Venrock in connection with an equity financing in September 2009. These transactions may also have resulted in a change of control 
or could result in a change of control in the future upon the subsequent disposition of the shares.  

We have not currently completed a study to assess whether a change in control has occurred or whether there have been multiple 

changes of control since our formation due to the significant complexity and cost associated with such a study and the fact that there 
could be additional changes in the future. If we have experienced a change of control at any time since our formation, utilization of 
our NOL or R&D credits carryforwards would be subject to an annual limitation under Sections 382 and 383 which is determined by 
first multiplying the value of our stock at the time of the ownership change by the applicable long-term tax-exempt rate, and then 
could be subject to additional adjustments, as required. Any limitation may result in expiration of a portion of our NOL or R&D 
credits carryforwards before utilization. Tax years 1998 to 2011 remain subject to future examination by the major tax jurisdictions in 
which we are subject to tax.  

Liquidity and Capital Resources  

We had cash, cash equivalents, and investments totaling $30.8 million and $49.6 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, 
respectively. This includes $868,000 and $933,000 of interest-bearing marketable securities classified as restricted investments on our 
balance sheet as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, which primarily serve as collateral for letters of credit securing our 
leased facilities in California and Alabama. The letter of credit related to the security deposit of the leased facility in California was 
cancelled and the restriction on approximately $367,000 of interest-bearing marketable securities will be released in March 2012 after 
termination of the lease agreement for this facility. The letter of credit related to the security deposit of the leased facility in Alabama 
will expire in July 2021.  

We used $17.4 million cash in operating activities in the year ended December 31, 2011, received $7.8 million of cash in 

operating activities in the year ended December 31, 2010 and used $20.9 million of cash in operating activities in the year ended 
December 31, 2009. Our cash used in operating activities differs from our net loss primarily due to the timing of up-front payments 
under collaborative agreements. Upfront payments received upon execution of collaborative agreements are recorded as deferred 
revenue and recognized on a straight-line basis over the period of our continuing involvement with the third-party collaborator 
pursuant to the applicable agreement. The increase in cash provided by operations in 2010 was primarily attributable to the receipt of a 
$27.5 million upfront payment from Hospira in June 2010. The increase in cash used in operations in 2011 was primarily attributable 
to the increases in prepaid expenses and other assets and accounts receivable, offset by the decreases in accrued liabilities and deferred 
revenue in 2011 compared with 2010.  

65 

 
We generated $14.7 million of cash from investing activities in the year ended December 31, 2011, but used $6.1 million and 

$10.4 million of cash in investing activities in the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The increase in cash 
generated from investing activities in 2011 was primarily due to an increase in net proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale 
securities, partially offset by an increase in purchases of property and equipment compared with 2010. The decrease in cash used in 
investing activities in 2010 was primarily due to a decrease in net purchases of investments and in purchases of equipment compared 
with 2009. We anticipate incurring capital expenditures of approximately $250,000 over the next 12 months. The actual amount and 
timing of other capital expenditures will depend, among other things, on the success of clinical trials for our product candidates and 
our collaborative research and development activities.  

We generated $1.1 million, $517,000 and $10.1 million of cash from financing activities in the years ended December 31, 2011. 
2010 and 2009, respectively. The increase in cash provided by financing activities in 2011 was primarily due to higher proceeds from 
exercises of stock options compared with 2010. The lower amount of cash provided by financing activities in 2010 compared to 2009 
was primarily due to approximately $9.9 million of cash received from an equity financing in 2009. In November 2008, we filed a 
new shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC, which upon being declared effective in May 2009, allowed us to offer up 
to $75 million of securities from time to time in one or more public offerings of our common stock. In September 2009, we completed 
a privately negotiated transaction to sell 4,444,444 shares of our common stock to affiliates of Venrock at a price of $2.25 per share, 
raising total net proceeds of approximately $9.9 million.  

In July 2010, we entered into an equity line of credit facility with Azimuth Opportunity Ltd., or Azimuth, under which we may 

sell to Azimuth, subject to certain limitations, up to $50 million of our common stock over a 24-month period. Azimuth will not be 
obligated to purchase shares under the equity line of credit unless specified conditions are met. These include that the price per share 
of our common stock is greater than $1.00. We are currently unable to access this source of financing, and if we are unable to meet the 
specified conditions with respect to any sale of shares under the Azimuth equity line of credit, we may not be able to access this 
source of financing in the future. Azimuth is also permitted to terminate the equity line of credit under certain circumstances. This line 
of credit has not been drawn as yet.  

Cash used in our operating activities is heavily influenced by the timing and structure of new corporate collaborations. While 

one feature of our business strategy is seeking new corporate collaborations, assuming no new collaborations and no milestone 
payments, we anticipate that cash used in operating activities will increase in the near future as we continue to research, develop, and 
manufacture our pharmaceutical systems. In aggregate, we are required to make future payments pursuant to our existing contractual 
obligations as follows (in thousands):  

Contractual Obligations 
Capital lease(1) .................................................................
Purchase commitments .....................................................
Operating lease obligations ...............................................

Total contractual cash obligations .....................................

2012  

  $ 

14  
500  
    1,622  
  $ 2,136  

2013  
$ 

14  
500  
  1,559  
$ 2,073  

2014  
$  14  
  500  
  454  
$ 968  

2015  
$  14  
  500  
  286  
$ 800  

2016  
$  7  
  500  
  293  
$ 800  

2017 and 
thereafter  
$  —    
  1,000  
  1,441  
$ 2,441  

Total  
63  
$ 
  3,500  
  5,655  
$ 9,218  

(1) 

Includes principal and interest payments.  

We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and investments will be sufficient to fund our planned operations, existing 
debt and contractual commitments and planned capital expenditures through at least the next 12 months. We may consume available 
resources more rapidly than currently anticipated, resulting in the need for additional funding. Additionally, we do not expect to 
generate significant revenues from our pharmaceutical systems currently under development for at least the next twelve months, if at 
all. Depending on whether we enter into additional collaborative agreements in the near term and the extent to which we earn 
milestone revenues, we may be required to raise additional capital through a variety of sources, including:  

 

the public equity markets;  

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 
 
 

private equity financings;  
collaborative arrangements; and/or  
public or private debt.  

There can be no assurance that we will enter into additional collaborative agreements in the near term, will earn milestone 
revenues or additional capital will be available on favorable terms, if at all. If adequate funds are not available, we may be required to 
significantly reduce or refocus our operations or to obtain funds through arrangements that may require us to relinquish rights to 
certain of our products, technologies or potential markets, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, 
financial condition and results of operations. To the extent that additional capital is raised through the sale of equity or convertible 
debt securities, the issuance of such securities would result in ownership dilution to our existing stockholders.  

Our cash and investments policy emphasizes liquidity and preservation of principal over other portfolio considerations. We 
select investments that maximize interest income to the extent possible given these two constraints. We satisfy liquidity requirements 
by investing excess cash in securities with different maturities to match projected cash needs and limit concentration of credit risk by 
diversifying our investments among a variety of high credit-quality issuers.  

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements  

We have not utilized “off-balance sheet” arrangements to fund our operations or otherwise manage our financial position.  

Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.  
Interest Rate Risk  

Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our investment portfolio. Fixed rate securities and 

borrowings may have their fair market value adversely impacted due to fluctuations in interest rates, while floating rate securities may 
produce less income than expected if interest rates fall and floating rate borrowings may lead to additional interest expense if interest 
rates increase. Due in part to these factors, our future investment income may fall short of expectations due to changes in interest rates 
or we may suffer losses in principal if forced to sell securities which have declined in market value due to changes in interest rates.  

Our primary investment objective is to preserve principal while at the same time maximizing yields without significantly 

increasing risk. Our portfolio includes money markets funds, commercial paper, medium-term notes, corporate notes, government 
securities and corporate bonds. The diversity of our portfolio helps us to achieve our investment objectives. As of December 31, 2011, 
approximately 70% of our investment portfolio is composed of investments with original maturities of one year or less and 
approximately 21% of our investment portfolio matures less than 90 days from the date of purchase.  

The following table presents the amounts of our cash equivalents and investments that may be subject to interest rate risk and 

the average interest rates as of December 31, 2011 by year of maturity (dollars in thousands):  

Cash equivalents: 

Fixed rate ..............................................................................................................
Average fixed rate ................................................................................................
Variable rate .........................................................................................................
Average variable rate ............................................................................................

Short-term investments: 

Fixed rate ..............................................................................................................
Average fixed rate ................................................................................................

2012  

   $  2,350  

0.28% 

   $  3,635  

0.01% 

   $ 19,535  

0.33% 

2013  

$ —    
  —    
$ —    
  —    

$ —    
  —    

Total  

$  2,350  

0.28% 

$  3,635  

0.01% 

$ 19,535  

0.33% 

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Long-term investments: 

Fixed rate ..............................................................................................................
Average fixed rate ................................................................................................

Restricted investments: 

Fixed rate ..............................................................................................................
Average fixed rate ................................................................................................

Total investment securities .........................................................................

Average rate ...................................................................................................................

2012  

2013  

Total  

   $  —    
  —    

   $ 

868  
0.11% 

   $ 26,388  

0.30% 

$ 1,530  
  0.53% 

$  —    
  —    
$ 1,530  
  0.53% 

$  1,530  

0.53% 

$ 

868  
0.11% 

$ 27,918  

0.32% 

The following table presents the amounts of our cash equivalents and investments that may be subject to interest rate risk and 

the average interest rates as of December 31, 2010 by year of maturity (dollars in thousands):  

2011  

2012  

Total  

Cash equivalents: 

Fixed rate .............................................................................................................
Average fixed rate ...............................................................................................
Variable rate ........................................................................................................
Average variable rate ...........................................................................................

Short-term investments: 

Fixed rate .............................................................................................................
Average fixed rate ...............................................................................................

Long-term investments: 

Fixed rate .............................................................................................................
Average fixed rate ...............................................................................................

Restricted investments: 

Fixed rate .............................................................................................................
Average fixed rate ...............................................................................................

Total investment securities ........................................................................

Average rate ..................................................................................................................

   $  5,615  

   $ 

0.19% 
502  
0.11% 

   $ 35,005  

0.50% 

   $  —    
     —    

   $ 

933  
0.16% 

   $ 42,055  

0.44% 

$  —    
  —    
$  —    
  —    

$  —    
  —    

$ 3,197  
  0.57% 

$  —    
  —    
$ 3,197  
  0.57% 

$  5,615  

$ 

0.19% 
502  
0.11% 

$ 35,005  

0.50% 

$  3,197  

0.57% 

$ 

933  
0.16% 

$ 45,252  

0.46% 

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Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. 

DURECT CORPORATION  
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ......................................................................................................    

Balance Sheets ...........................................................................................................................................................................    

Statements of Operations ...........................................................................................................................................................    

Statements of Stockholders’ Equity ...........................................................................................................................................    

Statements of Cash Flows ..........................................................................................................................................................    

Notes to Financial Statements ....................................................................................................................................................    

Page No.  

70  

71  

72  

73  

74  

75  

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To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of DURECT Corporation  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of DURECT Corporation as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related 
statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011. Our 
audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a)(2). These financial statements and schedule are 
the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and 
schedule based on our audits.  

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are 
free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the 
financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, 
as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our 
opinion.  

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of 
DURECT Corporation at December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years 
in the period ended December 31, 2011, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the 
related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in 
all material respects the information set forth therein.  

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), 
DURECT Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal 
Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report 
dated March 2, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.  

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP  

Redwood City, California  
March 2, 2012  

70 

 
DURECT CORPORATION 
BALANCE SHEETS  
(in thousands, except per share amounts)  

Current assets: 

A S S E T S 

Cash and cash equivalents ...................................................................................................................
Short-term investments ........................................................................................................................
Short-term restricted investments ........................................................................................................
Accounts receivable (net of allowances of $98 at December 31, 2011 and $107 at December 31, 

2010) ...............................................................................................................................................
Inventories ...........................................................................................................................................
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ...........................................................................................

Total current assets ....................................................................................................................
Property and equipment, net .........................................................................................................................
Goodwill .......................................................................................................................................................
Intangible assets, net .....................................................................................................................................
Long-term investments .................................................................................................................................
Long-term restricted investments ..................................................................................................................
Other long-term assets ..................................................................................................................................

Total assets .................................................................................................................................

L I B I L I T I E S  A N D  S T O C K H O L D E R S’  E Q U I T Y 

Current liabilities: 

Accounts payable ................................................................................................................................
Accrued liabilities................................................................................................................................
Contract research liabilities .................................................................................................................
Deferred revenue, current portion .......................................................................................................

Total current liabilities ...............................................................................................................
Deferred revenue, non-current portion ..........................................................................................................
Other long-term liabilities .............................................................................................................................
Commitments 
Stockholders’ equity: 

Common stock, $0.0001 par value: 200,000 shares authorized; 87,547 and 87,053 shares issued 

and outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively ......................................................
Additional paid-in capital ....................................................................................................................
Accumulated other comprehensive income .........................................................................................
Accumulated deficit ............................................................................................................................

Stockholders’ equity .....................................................................................................................................

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity ...................................................................................

December 31,  

2011  

2010  

   $  8,896  
  19,535  
367  

3,448  
3,252  
1,803  
  37,301  
3,124  
6,399  
53  
1,530  
501  
288  
   $  49,196  

$  10,437  
  35,005  
66  

3,716  
2,836  
2,785  
  54,845  
1,776  
6,399  
71  
3,197  
867  
405  
$  67,560  

   $  1,274  
4,884  
1,361  
7,372  
  14,891  
  30,090  
738  

$ 

981  
6,740  
2,109  
8,079  
  17,909  
  34,849  
315  

9  
  359,006  
5  
  (355,543) 
3,477  
   $  49,196  

8  
  351,251  
6  
  (336,778) 
  14,487  
$  67,560  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.  

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DURECT CORPORATION 
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS  
(in thousands, except per share amounts)  

Collaborative research and development and other revenue .......................................................
Product revenue, net ...................................................................................................................

Total revenues .............................................................................................................................
Operating expenses: 

Cost of product revenues(1) ..............................................................................................
Research and development(1) ...........................................................................................
Selling, general and administrative(1) ...............................................................................

Total operating expenses ............................................................................................................

Loss from operations ..................................................................................................................
Other income (expense): 

Interest and other income ..................................................................................................
Interest expense .................................................................................................................

Net other income (expense) ........................................................................................................

Net loss .......................................................................................................................................

Net loss per share, basic and diluted ...........................................................................................

Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share ...................................................

(1) 

Includes stock-based compensation related to the following: 
Cost of product revenues ...................................................................................................
Research and development ................................................................................................
Selling, general and administrative ...................................................................................

2011  
   $  22,360  
     11,127  
     33,487  

Year ended December 31,  
2010  
$  20,091  
  11,500  
  31,591  

2009  
$  12,347  
  12,113  
  24,460  

4,713  
     34,053  
     13,574  
     52,340  
     (18,853) 

134  
(46) 
88  
   $ (18,765) 
   $ 
(0.21) 
     87,410  

4,275  
  36,214  
  14,937  
  55,426  
  (23,835) 

943  
(6) 
937  
$ (22,898) 
(0.26) 
  86,868  

$ 

5,311  
  34,801  
  15,020  
  55,132  
  (30,672) 

420  
(36) 
384  
$ (30,288) 
(0.36) 
  83,427  

$ 

   $ 

328  
4,181  
2,132  
$  6,641  

$ 

341  
4,941  
2,520  
$  7,802  

$ 

433  
7,159  
3,838  
$  11,430  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.  

72 

 
   
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
  
  
  
    
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
DURECT CORPORATION  
STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY  
(in thousands)  

Balance at December 31, 2008 .............................................................................................
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options and purchases of ESPP  

shares ................................................................................................................................
Stock-based compensation expense from stock options and ESPP shares ............................
Issuance of common stock upon equity financing ................................................................
Net change in unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities .............................................
Net loss .................................................................................................................................

Total comprehensive net loss ................................................................................................

    Common Stock  
Shares  
    82,018  

Amount  
$  8  

293  
     —    
     4,444  
     —    
     —    

 —    
 —    
 —    
 —    
 —    

Additional 
Paid-In 
Capital  
$ 321,067  

528  
  10,236  
9,874  
—    
—    

Balance at December 31, 2009 .............................................................................................
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options and purchases of ESPP  

shares ................................................................................................................................
Stock-based compensation expense from stock options and ESPP shares ............................
Net change in unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities .............................................
Net loss .................................................................................................................................

    86,755  

  8  

  341,705  

298  
     —    
     —    
     —    

 —    
 —    
 —    
 —    

565  
8,981  
—    
—    

Accumulated 
Other 
Comprehensive 
Income  
$ 81  

 —    
 —    
 —    
  (71) 
 —    

  10  

 —    
 —    
(4) 
 —    

Accumulated 
Deficit  
$(283,592) 

—    
—    
—    
—    
  (30,288) 

  (313,880) 

—    
—    
—    
  (22,898) 

Total comprehensive net loss ................................................................................................

Balance at December 31, 2010 .............................................................................................
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options and purchases of ESPP  

shares ................................................................................................................................
Stock-based compensation expense from stock options and ESPP shares ............................
Net change in unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities .............................................
Net loss .................................................................................................................................

Total comprehensive net loss ................................................................................................

    87,053  

  8  

  351,251  

6  

  (336,778) 

494  
     —    
     —    
     —    

  1  
 —    
 —    
 —    

1,125  
6,630  
—    
—    

 —    
 —    
(1) 
 —    

—    
—    
—    
  (18,765) 

Balance at December 31, 2011 .............................................................................................

    87,547  

$  9  

$ 359,006  

$  5  

$(355,543) 

Total 
Stockholders’ 
Equity  
$ 37,564  

528  
  10,236  
  9,874  
(71) 
 (30,288) 
 (30,359) 
  27,843  

565  
  8,981  
(4) 
 (22,898) 
 (22,902) 
  14,487  

  1,126  
  6,630  
(1) 
 (18,765) 
 (18,766) 
$  3,477  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.  

73 

 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
DURECT CORPORATION  
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS  
(in thousands)  

Year ended December 31,  
2010  

2009  

2011  

1,176  
6,641  
  —    
8  
242  

268  
(670) 
1,099  
293  
(1,464) 
(748) 
(5,466) 
1,379  
  (17,386) 

(2,467) 
  (30,320) 
349  
  47,172  
  14,734  

$ (22,898) 

$ (30,288) 

2,251  
7,802  
  —    
74  
249  

(2,016) 
(303) 
(1,405) 
(38) 
2,246  
1,119  
  20,682  
  30,661  
7,763  

(256) 
  (67,150) 
2,207  
  59,069  
(6,130) 

(48) 
  —    
565  
  —    
517  
2,150  
8,287  
$  10,437  

2,506  
  11,430  
383  
  —    
487  

2,355  
190  
341  
1  
(1,534) 
(5) 
(6,760) 
9,394  
  (20,894) 

(294) 
  (46,894) 
1,154  
  35,651  
  (10,383) 

(43) 
(240) 
528  
9,874  
  10,119  
  (21,158) 
  29,445  
$  8,287  

$ 

5  

$ 

27  

Cash flows from operating activities 
Net loss .....................................................................................................................................    $ (18,765) 
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities: 

Depreciation and amortization ........................................................................................   
Stock-based compensation ..............................................................................................   
Asset retirement obligation..............................................................................................   
Loss on impairment and disposal of fixed assets .............................................................   
Inventory write-off ..........................................................................................................   
Changes in assets and liabilities: 

Accounts receivable ...............................................................................................   
Inventories .............................................................................................................   
Prepaid expenses and other assets ..........................................................................   
Accounts payable ...................................................................................................   
Accrued liabilities ..................................................................................................   
Contract research liability ......................................................................................   
Deferred revenue....................................................................................................   
Total adjustments .........................................................................................   
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities......................................   

Cash flows from investing activities 
Purchases of property and equipment .......................................................................................   
Purchases of available-for-sale securities .................................................................................   
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities .................................................................   
Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale securities .........................................................   
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities ......................................   

Cash flows from financing activities 
Payments on equipment financing obligations .........................................................................   
(15) 
Payment on debt obligations .....................................................................................................   
  —    
Net proceeds from issuances of common stock ........................................................................   
1,126  
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with equity financing ................   
  —    
Net cash provided by financing activities .....................................................   
1,111  
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents ...............................................................   
(1,541) 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year ........................................................................   
  10,437  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year ..................................................................................    $  8,896  
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information 
Cash paid for interest ................................................................................................................    $ 

5  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.  

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DURECT CORPORATION 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

1.    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  

Nature of Operations  

DURECT Corporation (the Company) was incorporated in the state of Delaware on February 6, 1998. The Company is a 

pharmaceutical company developing therapies based on its proprietary drug formulations and delivery platform technologies. The 
Company has several products under development by itself and with third party collaborators. The Company also manufactures and 
sells osmotic pumps used in laboratory research, and designs, develops and manufactures a wide range of standard and custom 
biodegradable polymers and excipients for pharmaceutical and medical device clients for use as raw materials in their products. In 
addition, the Company conducts research and development of pharmaceutical products in collaboration with third party 
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.  

Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates  

The Company’s financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. 

GAAP). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and 
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of 
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ 
materially from those estimates. Specifically, management makes estimates when preparing the financial statements including those 
related to goodwill and other intangible assets, accrued liabilities, contract research liabilities, inventories and stock-based 
compensation.  

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments  

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of 90 days or less from the date of purchase to be cash 
equivalents. Investments with original maturities of greater than 90 days from the date of purchase but less than one year from the 
balance sheet date are classified as short-term investments, while investments with maturities in one year or beyond one year from the 
balance sheet date are classified as long-term investments. Management determines the appropriate classification of its cash 
equivalents and investment securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such determination as of each balance sheet date. 
Management has classified the Company’s cash equivalents and investments as available-for-sale securities in the accompanying 
financial statements. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported as a component of 
accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Realized gains and losses are included in interest income. There were no material 
realized gains or losses in the periods presented. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method.  

The Company invests in debt instruments of government agencies and corporations, and money market funds with high credit 

ratings. The Company has established guidelines regarding diversification of its investments and their maturities with the objectives of 
maintaining safety and liquidity, while maximizing yield.  

Concentrations of Credit Risk  

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of interest-bearing investments and 

trade receivables. The Company maintains cash, cash equivalents and investments with various major financial institutions. The 
Company performs periodic evaluations of the relative credit standing of these financial institutions and limits the amount of credit 
exposure with any one institution. In addition, the Company performs periodic evaluations of the relative credit quality of its 
investments.  

75 

 
DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

Pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions account for a substantial portion of the Company’s trade receivables. The 

Company provides credit in the normal course of business to its customers and collateral for these receivables is generally not 
required. The risk associated with this concentration is limited due to the large number of accounts and their geographic dispersion. 
The Company monitors the creditworthiness of its customers to which it grants credit terms in the normal course of business. The 
Company maintains reserves for estimated credit losses and, to date, such losses have been within management’s expectations. At 
December 31, 2011, Hospira, Pfizer and Pain Therapeutics accounted for 27%, 22% and 22% of the Company’s net accounts 
receivable, respectively. At December 31, 2010, Hospira, King and Pain Therapeutics accounted for 33%, 19% and 15% of the 
Company’s net accounts receivable, respectively.  

Customer and Product Line Concentrations  

A portion of the Company’s revenue is derived from its ALZET mini pump product line, LACTEL biodegradable polymer 
product line and the sale of certain excipients for Remoxy. In 2011, revenue from the ALZET product line and the LACTEL product 
line accounted for 22% and 9% of total revenue, respectively. In 2010, revenue from the ALZET product line and the LACTEL 
product line accounted for 22% and 11% of total revenue, respectively. In 2009, revenue from the ALZET mini pump product line, the 
sale of certain excipients included in Remoxy and the LACTEL product line accounted for 26%, 12% and 11% of total revenue, 
respectively.  

In 2011, Hospira and Pfizer accounted for 34% and 16% of the Company’s total revenues, respectively. In 2010, Pfizer (King) 
and Hospira accounted for 33% and 18% of the Company’s total revenues, respectively. In 2009, Pfizer (King) accounted for 41% of 
the Company’s total revenues.  

Total revenue by geographic region for the years 2011, 2010 and 2009 is as follows (in thousands):  

United States ...................................................................................
Europe .............................................................................................
Japan ...............................................................................................
Other ...............................................................................................

Total ......................................................................................

Revenue by geography is determined by the location of the customer.  

2011  
   $ 27,782  
  3,651  
  1,183  
871  
   $ 33,487  

Year ended December 31,  
2010  
$ 25,459  
  4,436  
863  
833  
$ 31,591  

2009  
$ 18,410  
  3,689  
927  
  1,434  
$ 24,460  

Inventories  

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined on a first-in, first-out basis. The Company’s 

inventories consisted of the following (in thousands):  

Raw materials ..............................................................................................................
Work in-process ...........................................................................................................
Finished goods .............................................................................................................

Total inventories .................................................................................................

December 31,  

2011  
$  841  
  1,172  
  1,239  
$3,252  

2010  
$  519  
840  
  1,477  
$2,836  

76 

 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

Property and Equipment  

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation, which is computed using the straight-line method over 

the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from three to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the 
straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, or the terms of the related leases, whichever are shorter.  

Acquired Intangible Assets and Goodwill  

Acquired intangible assets consist of patents, developed technology, trademarks and customer lists related to the Company’s 
acquisitions accounted for using the purchase method. Amortization of these purchased intangibles is calculated on a straight-line 
basis over the respective estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from four to seven years. The Company assesses goodwill for 
impairment at least annually.  

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets  

The Company reviews long-lived assets, including property and equipment, intangible assets, and other long-term assets, for 
impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully 
recoverable. Factors the Company considers important which could trigger an impairment review include, but are not limited to, the 
following:  
 
 
 
 
 

significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results;  
significant changes in the manner of our use of the acquired assets or the strategy for our overall business;  
significant negative industry or economic trends;  
significant decline in our stock price for a sustained period; and  
a significant change in our market capitalization relative to net book value.  

An impairment loss would be recognized when estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the 
asset and its eventual disposition is less than its carrying amount. Impairment, if any, is calculated as the amount by which an asset’s 
carrying value exceeds its fair value, typically using discounted cash flows to determine fair value. Through December 31, 2011, there 
have been no material impairment losses.  

Stock-Based Compensation  

The Company accounts for share-based payments using a fair-value based method for costs related to all share-based payments, 
including stock options and stock issued under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan (ESPP). The Company estimates the fair 
value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. See Note 8 for further information regarding 
stock-based compensation.  

Revenue Recognition  

Revenue from the sale of products is recognized when there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, the product is 

shipped and title transfers to customers, provided no continuing obligation on the Company’s part exists, the price is fixed or 
determinable and the collectability of the amounts owed is reasonably assured. The Company enters into license and collaboration 
agreements under which it may receive upfront  

77 

 
DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

license fees, research funding and contingent milestone payments and royalties. The Company’s deliverables under these 
arrangements typically consist of granting licenses to intellectual property rights and providing research and development services. 
The accounting standards contain a presumption that separate contracts entered into at or near the same time with the same entity or 
related parties were negotiated as a package and should be evaluated as a single agreement.  

In the first quarter of 2011, the Company adopted ASU No. 2009-13, Revenue Recognition—Multiple Deliverable Revenue 

Arrangements (ASU 2009-13) for multiple deliverable revenue arrangements, on a prospective basis, for applicable transactions 
originating or materially modified on or subsequent to January 1, 2011. ASU 2009-13 provides application guidance on whether 
multiple deliverables exist, how the deliverables should be separated and how the consideration should be allocated to one or more 
units of accounting. This update changes the requirements for establishing separate units of accounting in a multiple element 
arrangement and establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. The selling price used for each 
deliverable is based on vendor-specific objective evidence, if available, third-party evidence if vendor-specific objective evidence is 
not available, or estimated selling price if neither vendor-specific nor third-party evidence is available. Implementation of ASU 2009-
13 has had no impact on the Company’s reported revenue as compared to revenue under previous guidance. Under ASU 2009-13, the 
Company may be required to exercise considerable judgment in determining the estimated selling price of delivered items under new 
agreements and the Company’s revenue under new agreements may be more accelerated as compared to the prior accounting standard.  

For multiple element arrangements entered into prior to January 1, 2011, the Company determined whether the elements had 

value on a stand-alone basis and whether there was objective and reliable evidence of fair value. When the delivered element did not 
have stand-alone value or there was insufficient evidence of fair value for the undelivered element(s), the Company recognized the 
consideration for the combined unit of accounting in the same manner as the revenue was recognized for the final deliverable, which 
was generally ratably over the longest period of involvement. For example, upfront payments received upon execution of collaborative 
agreements are recorded as deferred revenue and recognized as collaborative research and development revenue based on a straight-
line basis over the period of the Company’s continuing involvement with the third-party collaborator pursuant to the applicable 
agreement. Such period generally represents the longer of the estimated research and development period or other continuing 
obligation period defined in the respective agreements between the Company and its third-party collaborators. Returns or credits 
related to the sale of products have not had a material impact on the Company’s revenues or net loss.  

Research and development revenue related to services performed under the collaborative arrangements with the Company’s 

third-party collaborators is recognized as the related research and development services are performed. These research payments 
received under each respective agreement are not refundable and are generally based on reimbursement of qualified expenses, as 
defined in the agreements. Research and development expenses under the collaborative research and development agreements 
generally approximate or exceed the revenue recognized under such agreements over the term of the respective agreements. Deferred 
revenue may result when the Company does not expend the required level of effort during a specific period in comparison to funds 
received under the respective agreement. For joint control and funding development activities, the Company recognizes revenue from 
the net reimbursement of the research and development expenses from our collaborators and records the net payment of research and 
development expenses to our collaborators as additional research and development expense.  

Milestone payments under collaborative arrangements are triggered either by the results of the Company’s research and 

development efforts or by specified sales results by a third-party collaborator. Milestones related to  

78 

 
  
DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

the Company’s development-based activities may include initiation of various phases of clinical trials, successful completion of a 
phase of development or results from a clinical trial, acceptance of a New Drug Application by the FDA or an equivalent filing with 
an equivalent regulatory agency in another territory, or regulatory approval by the FDA or by an equivalent regulatory agency in 
another territory. Due to the uncertainty involved in meeting these development-based milestones, the development-based milestones 
are considered to be substantial (i.e. not just achieved through passage of time) at the inception of the collaboration agreement. In 
addition, the amounts of the payments assigned thereto are considered to be commensurate with the enhancement of the value of the 
delivered intellectual property as a result of the Company’s performance. The Company’s involvement is necessary to the 
achievement of development-based milestones. The Company would account for development-based milestones as revenue upon 
achievement of the substantive milestone events. Milestones related to sales-based activities may be triggered upon events such as the 
first commercial sale of a product or when sales first achieve a defined level. Under the Company’s collaborative agreements, the 
Company’s third-party collaborators will take the lead in commercialization activities and the Company is typically not involved in 
the achievement of sales-based milestones. These sales-based milestones would be achieved after the completion of the Company’s 
development activities. The Company would account for the sales-based milestones in the same manner as royalties, with revenue 
recognized upon achievement of the milestone. In addition, upon the achievement of either development-based or sales-based 
milestone events, the Company has no future performance obligations related to any milestone payments.  

Revenue on cost-plus-fee contracts, such as under contracts to perform research and development for others, is recognized as the 

related services are rendered as determined by the extent of reimbursable costs incurred plus estimated fees thereon.  

Research and Development Expenses  

Research and development expenses are primarily comprised of salaries and benefits associated with research and development 
personnel, overhead and facility costs, preclinical and non-clinical development costs, clinical trial and related clinical manufacturing 
costs, contract services, and other outside costs. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development 
costs paid to third parties under sponsored research agreements are recognized as the related services are performed. In addition, net 
reimbursements of research and development expenses incurred by the Company’s partners are recorded as collaborative research and 
development revenue. Net payments of research and development expenses to the Company’s partners are recorded as an addition to 
research and development expenses in the period incurred.  

Comprehensive Loss  

Components of other comprehensive loss comprised entirely of unrealized gains and losses on the Company’s available-for-sale 

securities for all periods presented, are included in total comprehensive loss as follows (in thousands).  

Net loss ...............................................................................................................................
Net change in unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of tax ..........................

Comprehensive loss ............................................................................................................

2011  
   $ (18,765) 
(1) 
   $ (18,766) 

Year Ended December 31,  
2010  
$ (22,898) 
(4) 
$ (22,902) 

2009  
$ (30,288) 
(71) 
$ (30,359) 

Accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 is entirely comprised of unrealized gains or 

losses on available-for-sale securities.  

79 

 
  
   
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

Segment Reporting  

The Company operates in one operating segment, which is the research, development and manufacturing of pharmaceutical 

products.  

Net Loss Per Share  

Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. 

Diluted net loss per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and common stock 
equivalents (i.e., options and warrants to purchase common stock) outstanding during the year, if dilutive, using the treasury stock 
method for options and warrants.  

The computation of diluted net loss per share for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 excludes the impact of options to 

purchase 21.3 million shares of common stock outstanding at December 31, 2011, as such impact would be antidilutive.  

The computation of diluted net loss per share for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 excludes the impact of options to 

purchase 19.6 million shares of common stock, and a warrant to purchase 770 shares of common stock outstanding at December 31, 
2010, as such impact would be antidilutive.  

The computation of diluted net loss per share for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 excludes the impact of options to 

purchase 16.7 million shares of common stock, and a warrant to purchase 770 shares of common stock outstanding at December 31, 
2009, as such impact would be antidilutive.  

Shipping and Handling  

Costs related to shipping and handling are included in cost of revenues for all periods presented.  

Operating Leases  

The Company leases administrative, manufacturing and laboratory facilities under operating leases. Lease agreements may 
include rent holidays, rent escalation clauses and tenant improvement allowances. The Company recognizes scheduled rent increases 
on a straight-line basis over the lease term beginning with the date the Company takes possession of the leased space. The Company 
records tenant improvement allowances as deferred rent liabilities and amortizes the deferred rent over the terms of the lease to rent 
expense on the statements of operations.  

Recent Accounting Pronouncements  

In September 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-08 Intangibles— Goodwill and Other 
(Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment. This update simplified how entities test goodwill for impairment. Entities are permitted 
to initially assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its 
carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The Company 
will adopt this authoritative guidance in the first quarter of its fiscal year 2012. The Company does not expect the adoption of this 
guidance to have a material effect on its financial statements.  

80 

 
DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

2.    Strategic Agreements  

The collaborative research and development and other revenues associated with the Company’s major third-party collaborators 

are as follows (in thousands):  

Collaborator 
Hospira Inc. (Hospira) .............................................................................
Pfizer Inc. (Pfizer) ...................................................................................
Zogenix, Inc. (Zogenix) ...........................................................................
Nycomed Danmark ApS (Nycomed) .......................................................
Pain Therapeutics, Inc. (Pain Therapeutics) ............................................
Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Endo) ..........................................................
Others.......................................................................................................

Total collaborative research and development and other revenue ...........

Year ended December 31,  
2010  

2011  

2009  

$ 11,419  
  5,203  
  2,928  
  1,235  
750  
  —    
825  
$ 22,360  

$  5,551  
  9,487  
779  
  2,033  
  1,456  
  —    
785  
$ 20,091  

$  —    
  7,024  
  1,389  
  1,620  
317  
985  
  1,012  
$ 12,347  

As of February 29, 2012 and reflecting the termination of the Nycomed agreement for POSIDUR in April 2012 and the Pfizer 

agreement for ELADUR in August 2012, we have potential milestones of up to $295.6 million that we may receive in the future under 
our collaborative arrangements, of which $70.6 million are development-based milestones and $225.0 million are sales-based 
milestones. Within the category of development-based milestones, $3.1 million are related to early stage clinical testing (defined as 
Phase 1 or 2 activities), $5.8 million are related to late stage clinical testing (defined as Phase 3 activities), $15.7 million are related to 
regulatory filings, and $46.0 million are related to regulatory approvals.  

Agreement with Zogenix, Inc.  

On July 11, 2011, the Company and Zogenix, Inc., (Zogenix), entered into a Development and License Agreement (the License 

Agreement). The Company and Zogenix had previously been working together under a feasibility agreement pursuant to which the 
Company’s research and development costs were reimbursed by Zogenix. Under the License Agreement, Zogenix will be responsible 
for the clinical development and commercialization of a proprietary, long-acting injectable formulation of risperidone using the 
Company’s SABER controlled-release formulation technology in combination with Zogenix’s DosePro® needle-free, subcutaneous 
drug delivery system. DURECT will be responsible for non-clinical, formulation and CMC development activities. The Company will 
be reimbursed by Zogenix for its research and development efforts on the product.  

Zogenix paid a non-refundable upfront fee to the Company of $2.25 million in July 2011. The Company’s research and 

development services are considered integral to utilizing the licensed intellectual property and, accordingly, the deliverables are 
accounted for as a single unit of accounting. The $2.25 million upfront fee will be recognized as collaborative research and 
development revenue ratably over the term of the Company’s continuing research and development involvement with Zogenix with 
respect to this product candidate. Zogenix is obligated to pay the Company up to $103 million in total future milestone payments with 
respect to the product subject to and upon the achievement of various development, regulatory and sales milestones. Of these potential 
milestones, $28 million are development-based milestones (none of which has been achieved as of December 31, 2011), and $75 
million are sales-based milestones (none of which has been achieved as of December 31, 2011).  

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DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

Zogenix is also required to pay a mid single-digit to low double-digit percentage patent royalty on annual net sales of the product 
determined on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis. The patent royalty term is equal to the later of the expiration of all DURECT 
technology patents or joint patent rights in a particular jurisdiction, the expiration of marketing exclusivity rights in such jurisdiction, 
or 15 years from first commercial sale in such jurisdiction. After the patent royalty term, Zogenix will continue to pay royalties on 
annual net sales of the product at a reduced rate for so long as Zogenix continues to sell the product in the jurisdiction. Zogenix is also 
required to pay to the Company a tiered percentage of fees received in connection with any sublicense of the licensed rights.  

The Company granted to Zogenix an exclusive worldwide license, with sub-license rights, to the Company’s intellectual 
property rights related to the Company’s proprietary polymeric and non-polymeric controlled-release formulation technology to make 
and have made, use, offer for sale, sell and import risperidone products, where risperidone is the sole active agent, for administration 
by injection in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or other psychiatric related disorders in humans. The Company retains 
the right to supply Zogenix’s Phase 3 clinical trial and commercial product requirements on the terms set forth in the License 
Agreement.  

The Company retains the right to terminate the License Agreement with respect to specific countries if Zogenix fails to advance 

the development of the product in such country, either directly or through a sublicensee. In addition, either party may terminate the 
License Agreement upon insolvency or bankruptcy of the other party, upon written notice of a material uncured breach or if the other 
party takes any act impairing such other party’s relevant intellectual property rights. Zogenix may terminate the License Agreement 
upon written notice if during the development or commercialization of the product, the product becomes subject to one or more 
serious adverse drug experiences or if either party receives notice from a regulatory authority, independent review committee, data 
safety monitory board or other similar body alleging significant concern regarding a patient safety issue. Zogenix may also terminate 
the License Agreement with or without cause, at any time upon prior written notice.  

Agreement with Hospira, Inc.  

In June 2010, the Company and Hospira, Inc. (Hospira) entered into a license agreement to develop and market POSIDUR 
(SABER-bupivacaine) in the U.S. and Canada. POSIDUR is the Company’s investigational post-operative pain relief depot currently 
in Phase III clinical development in the U.S. that utilizes the Company’s patented SABER technology to deliver bupivacaine to 
provide up to three days of pain relief after surgery. The Company retains commercialization rights in all other countries not licensed 
to Hospira effective April 26, 2012.  

Under the terms of the agreement, Hospira made an upfront payment of $27.5 million, with the potential for up to an additional 
$185 million in performance milestone payments based on the successful development, approval and commercialization of POSIDUR 
in the U.S. and Canada. Of these potential milestones, $35 million are development-based milestones (none of which has been 
achieved as of December 31, 2011), and $150 million are sales-based milestones (none of which has been achieved as of 
December 31, 2011).  

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DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

The following table provides a summary of amounts comprising the Company’s net share of the research and development costs 

for POSIDUR under the agreement with Hospira (in thousands):  

Research and development expenses reimbursable by Hospira ...............................
Research and development expenses reimbursable by the Company ......................

Net payable to Hospira .............................................................................................

Net receivable from Hospira ....................................................................................

Year Ended December 31,  
2010  
$3,436  
  —    
$  —    
$3,436  

2011  
   $7,792  
  —    
   $  —    
   $7,792  

2009  
$ —    
  —    
$ —    
$ —    

The following table provides a summary of collaborative research and development revenue recognized under the agreement 

with Hospira (in thousands). The cumulative aggregate payments received by the Company as of December 31, 2011 were $38.3 
million under this agreement.  

Ratable recognition of upfront payment(1) ...........................................................
Research and development expenses reimbursable by Hospira ............................

Total collaborative research and development revenue ........................................

Year Ended December 31,  

2011  
   $  3,627  
  7,792  
   $ 11,419  

2010  
$2,115  
  3,436  
$5,551  

2009  
$ —    
  —    
$ —    

(1)  The Company’s estimate of the term of its continuing involvement is based on the later of the research and development period 
and the term of the Company’s manufacturing obligation under the development and license agreement with Hospira.  

Agreement with Alpharma Ireland Limited, an affiliate of Alpharma Inc. (Alpharma) (acquired by King which subsequently 
was acquired by Pfizer)  

Effective October 2008, the Company and Alpharma, entered into a development and license agreement granting Alpharma the 
exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize ELADUR, DURECT’s investigational transdermal bupivacaine patch. As a 
result of the acquisition of Alpharma by King in December 2008, King assumed the rights and obligations of Alpharma under the 
agreement. As a result of the acquisition of King by Pfizer in February 2011, Pfizer assumed the rights and obligations of King under 
the agreement; accordingly, amounts contributed to King are now shown as Pfizer figures.  

Under the terms of the agreement, Alpharma paid the Company an upfront license fee of $20 million, with the potential of an 

additional $243 million in performance milestone payments based on the successful development, approval and commercialization of 
ELADUR in multiple territories and with multiple indications as defined in the agreement. Of these potential milestones, $93 million 
are development-based milestones (none of which has been achieved as of December 31, 2011), and $150 million are sales-based 
milestones (none of which has been achieved as of December 31, 2011). The $20.0 million upfront fee is being recognized as 
collaborative research and development revenue ratably over the term of the Company’s continuing involvement with Pfizer with 
respect to ELADUR. The Company’s estimate of the remaining term of its continuing involvement was adjusted in the third quarter of 
2011 as a result of an updated development plan for ELADUR. In February 2012, Pfizer notified the Company that they are returning 
their worldwide development and commercialization rights to ELADUR.  

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DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

The following table provides a summary of collaborative research and development revenue recognized under the agreement 

with King with regard to ELADUR (in thousands). The cumulative aggregate payments received by the Company as of December 31, 
2011 were $29.0 million under this agreement.  

Ratable recognition of upfront payment(1) ..........................................................
Research and development expenses reimbursable by King ...............................

Total collaborative research and development revenue .......................................

2011  
   $2,708  
  1,150  
   $3,858  

Year Ended December 31,  
2010  
$3,218  
  2,673  
$5,891  

2009  
$3,427  
  2,614  
$6,041  

(1)  The Company’s estimate of the remaining term of its continuing involvement was modified in the second quarter of 2009 as a 
result of an updated development plan. The Company’s agreement with Pfizer will terminate effective August 30, 2012.  

Agreement with Nycomed  

In November 2006, the Company entered into a development and license agreement with Nycomed, which was amended in 

February 2010 and February 2011. Under the terms of the agreement, as amended, the Company licensed to Nycomed the exclusive 
commercialization rights to POSIDUR for the European Union (E.U.) and certain other countries.  

Under the terms of the agreement as amended, Nycomed paid the Company an upfront license fee of $14 million, with the 
potential of an additional $188.5 million in performance milestone payments based on the successful development, approval and 
commercialization of POSIDUR in territories as defined in the agreement. Of these potential milestones, $18 million are development-
based milestones (of which $8 million has been achieved as of December 31, 2011), and $170.5 million are sales-based milestones 
(none of which has been achieved as of December 31, 2011).  

In October 2011, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda) acquired Nycomed and thereby assumed the rights and 

obligations of Nycomed under the agreements the Company formerly had in place with Nycomed. In January 2012, Takeda (through 
Nycomed) notified us that it was terminating the license agreement with us, and thereby returning their right to develop and 
commercialize POSIDUR (SABER™-Bupivacaine) in Europe and their other licensed territories to us effective April 26, 2012.  

For joint control and funding development activities, the Company recognized revenue from the net reimbursement of the 
research and development expenses from Nycomed and recorded the net payment of research and development expenses to Nycomed 
as additional research and development expense. The Company and Nycomed each bore 50% of these agreed upon expenses under the 
collaboration agreement for POSIDUR.  

The following tables provide a summary of the amounts comprising the Company’s net share of the research and development 

costs for POSIDUR under the Company’s agreement with Nycomed (in thousands):  

Research and development expenses reimbursable by Nycomed ..........................
Research and development expenses reimbursable by the Company .....................

Net payable to Nycomed ........................................................................................

Net receivable from Nycomed ...............................................................................

Year Ended December 31,  

2011  
   $ —    
  —    
   $ —    
   $ —    

2010  
$1,466  
(966) 
$  (298) 
$  798  

2009  
$ 3,510  
  (4,674) 
$(1,331) 
$  167  

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DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

The following table provides a summary of collaborative research and development revenue recognized under the agreement 

with Nycomed with regard to POSIDUR (in thousands). The cumulative aggregate payments received by the Company from 
Nycomed as of December 31, 2011 were $37.3 million under this agreement. In addition, the cumulative aggregate payments paid by 
the Company to Nycomed were $9.0 million as of December 31, 2011.  

Ratable recognition of upfront payment(1) ..........................................................
Research and development expenses reimbursable by Nycomed ........................

Total collaborative research and development revenue .......................................

2011  
   $1,235  
  —    
   $1,235  

Year Ended December 31,  
2010  
$1,235  
798  
$2,033  

2009  
$1,453  
167  
$1,620  

(1)  The Company’s estimates of the remaining term of its continuing involvement were modified in the first and fourth quarters of 

2009 as a result of an updated development plan for POSIDUR in Europe. In October 2011, Takeda acquired Nycomed and 
thereby assumed the rights and obligations of Nycomed under the agreements the Company formerly had in place with 
Nycomed. The Company’s agreement with Nycomed will terminate effective April 26, 2012.  

Agreement with Pain Therapeutics, Inc.  

In December 2002, the Company entered into an exclusive agreement with Pain Therapeutics, Inc. (“Pain Therapeutics”) to 

develop and commercialize on a worldwide basis Remoxy and other oral sustained release, abuse deterrent opioid products 
incorporating four specified opioid drugs, using the ORADUR technology. The agreement also provides Pain Therapeutics with the 
exclusive right to commercialize products developed under the agreement on a worldwide basis. In connection with the execution of 
the agreement, Pain Therapeutics paid the Company upfront fees of $900,000 in December 2002 and $100,000 in October 2003. In 
December 2005, the Company amended its agreement with Pain Therapeutics in order to specify its obligations with respect to the 
supply of key excipients for use in the licensed products. Under the agreement, as amended, the Company is responsible for 
formulation development, supply of selected key excipients used in the manufacture of licensed products and other specified tasks. 
Under the agreement with Pain Therapeutics, subject to and upon the achievement of predetermined development and regulatory 
milestones for the four drug candidates currently in development, the Company is entitled to receive milestone payments of up to $9.3 
million in the aggregate. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had received $1.7 million in cumulative milestone payments. In 
addition, if commercialized, the Company will receive royalties for Remoxy and other licensed products which do not contain an 
opioid antagonist of between 6.0% to 11.5% of net sales of the product depending on sales volume. This agreement can be terminated 
by either party for material breach by the other party and by Pain Therapeutics without cause. Under the agreement, Pain Therapeutics 
reimburses the Company for qualified expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the development program.  

The Company recognizes collaborative research and development revenue related to research and development activities for 
Remoxy and other development programs based on reimbursement of qualified expenses as defined in the collaborative agreement 
and related amendment with Pain Therapeutics. Total collaborative research and development revenue recognized under the 
agreements with Pain Therapeutics was $750,000, $1.5 million and $317,000 in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The cumulative 
aggregate payments received by the Company as of December 31, 2011 were $32.8 million under this agreement.  

Under the terms of this agreement, Pain Therapeutics paid the Company an upfront license fee of $1.0 million, with the potential 

for an additional $9.3 million in performance milestone payments based on the  

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DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

successful development and approval of the four ORADUR-based opioids. Of these potential milestones, $9.3 million are 
development-based milestones (of which $1.7 million have been achieved as of December 31, 2011). There are no sales-based 
milestones under the agreement.  

In March 2009, King assumed the responsibility for further development of Remoxy from Pain Therapeutics. As a result of this 

change, the Company continues to perform Remoxy-related activities in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the 
license agreement between the Company and Pain Therapeutics. Now King is substituted in lieu of Pain Therapeutics with respect to 
interactions with the Company in its performance of those activities including the obligation to pay the Company with respect to all 
Remoxy-related costs incurred by the Company. In February 2011, Pfizer acquired King and thereby assumed the rights and 
obligations of King with respect to Remoxy; accordingly, amounts attributed to King are now shown as Pfizer figures.  

Total collaborative research and development revenue recognized for Remoxy-related work performed by the Company for 
Pfizer was $1.3 million, $3.4 million and $983,000 for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Prior to 
March 2009, the Company recognized collaborative research and development revenue for Remoxy related work under the 
agreements with Pain Therapeutics. The cumulative aggregate payments received by the Company from Pfizer as of December 31, 
2011 were $6.3 million under this agreement.  

Long Term Supply Agreement with King (now Pfizer)  

During 2008, the Company began to manufacture commercial lots of certain key excipients that are included in Remoxy to meet 

the anticipated requirements for these components. In addition, during the second, third and fourth quarters of 2008 and the first 
quarter of 2009, the Company made shipments of these materials to meet the production requirements of King, which has rights to 
commercialize Remoxy upon approval by the FDA. During these periods, all product revenue and associated cost of goods sold was 
deferred pending the establishment of definitive final terms and conditions even though cash receipts and expenditures occurred 
during these periods.  

In August 2009, the Company signed an exclusive long term excipient supply agreement with respect to REMOXY with King. 
In February 2011, Pfizer acquired King and thereby assumed the rights and obligations of King with respect to this long term supply 
agreement. This agreement stipulates the terms and conditions under which the Company will supply to King, based on the 
Company’s manufacturing cost plus a specified percentage mark-up, two key excipients used in the manufacture of REMOXY. In the 
third quarter of 2009, the Company recognized $3.0 million of product revenue and $2.0 million of cost of goods sold related to past 
shipments to King upon execution of the long term supply agreement at which point all criteria of revenue recognition were met.  

The term of the agreement commenced on August 5, 2009 and will continue in effect until the earlier of the expiration of all 
licenses granted under the development and license agreement between the Company and Pain Therapeutics or the termination or 
expiration of the 2005 development and license agreement between Pain Therapeutics and King, unless the agreement is terminated 
earlier in accordance with its terms. The agreement provides each party with specified termination rights, which include, but are not 
limited to, the right of King to terminate the agreement in the event that governmental action requires the withdrawal of REMOXY 
from all countries in the territory or results in the withdrawal of required manufacturing approvals, or upon a change of control of the 
Company, in which case termination will be effective one year after notice by King. The Company may terminate the agreement if the 
Company is unable to procure suitable and sufficient quantities of certain raw materials required to produce the excipient ingredients. 
Each party may terminate the agreement upon material breach of the agreement by, or the bankruptcy or insolvency of, the other party, 
in each case subject to a cure  

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DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

period. The agreement further specifies the rights and obligations of the Company and King with respect to plant allocation, adding 
additional production capacity and sourcing of raw materials, as well as other terms and conditions customary for this type of 
agreement, including those regarding forecasting, purchasing, invoicing, representations, warranties and indemnities.  

In 2011, the Company recognized $490,000 of product revenue related to a key excipients for Remoxy and the associated cost 

of goods sold was $302,000.  

In 2010, the Company recognized $551,000 of product revenue for shipments made in 2008 and 2009 related to a price 
settlement after all criteria of revenue recognition were met. The price settlement related to additional manufacturing cost incurred by 
the Company and certain mark-up for the goods produced and shipped in 2008 and 2009 pursuant to the long term excipient supply 
agreement. In addition, the Company also recognized $410,000 of product revenue related to the shipment of another excipient that is 
included in Remoxy upon shipment to King in 2010. Total revenue recognized related to these excipients was $961,000 and $3.0 
million in 2010 and 2009, respectively and the associated cost of goods sold was $315,000 and $2.0 million in 2010 and 2009, 
respectively.  

Agreement with Endo Pharmaceuticals  

On March 10, 2005, the Company entered into a license agreement with Endo under which the Company granted to Endo the 

exclusive right to develop, market and commercialize TRANSDUR-Sufentanil in the U.S. and Canada. The Company received an 
initial payment of $10.0 million in connection with the execution of the agreement. The license agreement was terminated by Endo 
effective August 26, 2009.  

The $10.0 million upfront fee is recognized as revenue ratably over the term of the Company’s obliged continuing involvement 
with Endo with respect to TRANSDUR-Sufentanil. The term of the continuing involvement had been estimated based on the product 
development plan pursuant to the agreement. The Company’s estimate of the remaining term of its continuing involvement was 
modified in the fourth quarter of 2008 as a result of Endo’s termination notice received by the Company in February 2009.  

The Company recognized zero, zero and $875,000, respectively as collaborative research and development revenue from the 

ratable recognition of the $10.0 million upfront fee for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009. Total collaborative 
research and development revenue recognized under this arrangement was zero, zero and $985,000 for the years ended December 31, 
2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The cumulative aggregate payments received by the Company as of December 31, 2011 were 
$21.5 million under this agreement.  

3.    Intangible Assets and Goodwill  

Intangible assets recorded in connection with the Company’s acquisitions consist of the following (in thousands):  

Developed technology ................................................
Patents .........................................................................
Other intangible assets ................................................

Total ............................................................................

Gross 
Intangibles  
  $3,600  
591  
  3,260  
  $7,451  

December 31, 2011  
Accumulated 
Amortization  
$ (3,600) 
(538) 
  (3,260) 
$ (7,398) 

Net 
Intangibles  
$—    
  53  
  —    
$  53  

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DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

Developed technology ....................................................
Patents ............................................................................
Other intangible assets ...................................................

Total ...............................................................................

Gross 
Intangibles  
$ 3,600  
591  
  3,260  
$ 7,451  

December 31, 2010  
Accumulated 
Amortization  
$(3,600) 
(520) 
  (3,260) 
$(7,380) 

Net 
Intangibles  
$—    
  71  
  —    
$  71  

The intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives ranging from four to seven years.  

The net amount of intangible assets at December 31, 2011 was $53,000, which will be amortized as follows: $17,600 in each of 
the years from 2012 to 2014, and $200 in 2015. Should any intangible assets become impaired, the Company will write them down to 
their estimated fair value.  

Goodwill totaled $6.4 million at December 31, 2011. The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment at least annually. In 
2011, 2010 and 2009 goodwill was evaluated and no indicators of impairment were noted. Should goodwill become impaired, the 
Company may be required to record an impairment charge. To date, the Company has not recorded any impairment charge to 
goodwill.  

4.    Financial Instruments  

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the 

principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the 
measurement date. The Company’s valuation techniques used to measure fair value maximize the use of observable inputs and 
minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The Company follows a fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs, of which the 
first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value. These levels of inputs are the 
following:  

  Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.  
  Level 2—Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets 
or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by 
observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.  

  Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of 

the assets or liabilities.  

The Company’s financial instruments are valued using quoted prices in active markets or based upon other observable inputs. 

The following table sets forth the fair-value of the Company’s financial assets that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis as 
of December 31, 2011 (in thousands):  

Money market funds ..................................................................
Certificates of deposit ................................................................
Commercial paper ......................................................................
Corporate debt ...........................................................................
U.S. Government agencies .........................................................

Total .................................................................................

Level 1  
   $3,635  
     —    
     —    
     —    
     —    
   $3,635  

Level 2  
$  —    
  1,720  
  6,987  
808  
  14,768  
$ 24,283  

Level 3  
$ —    
  —    
  —    
  —    
  —    
$ —    

Total  
$  3,635  
  1,720  
  6,987  
808  
  14,768  
$ 27,918  

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DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

The following table sets forth the fair value of our financial assets that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of 

December 31, 2010 (in thousands):  

Money market funds ...................................................................
Certificates of deposit .................................................................
Commercial paper .......................................................................
Corporate debt .............................................................................
U.S. Government agencies ..........................................................

Total ..................................................................................

Level 1  
   $502  
     —    
     —    
     —    
     —    
   $502  

Level 2  
$  —     
1,282   
  11,405   
2,614   
  29,449   
$ 44,750   

Level 3  
$ —    
  —    
  —    
  —    
  —    
$ —    

Total  

502  
$ 
  1,282  
  11,405  
  2,614  
  29,449  
$ 45,252  

The fair value of the Level 2 assets is obtained from pricing sources and is estimated based upon recent trading prices for the 

same security or using pricing models using current observable market information for similar securities.  

The following is a summary of available-for-sale securities as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 (in thousands):  

Money market funds .....................................................   
Certificates of deposit ...................................................   
Commercial paper .........................................................   
Corporate debt ...............................................................   
U.S. Government agencies ............................................   

Reported as: 

Cash and cash equivalents ...................................   
Short-term investments ........................................   
Short-term restricted investments ........................   
Long-term investments ........................................   
Long-term restricted investments ........................   

December 31, 2011  

Amortized 
Cost  
$  3,635  
  1,720  
  6,986  
809  
  14,763  
$ 27,913  

$  5,985  
  19,530  
367  
  1,530  
501  
$ 27,913  

Unrealized 
Gain  
$ —    
1  
1  
  —    
6  
$  8  

$ —    
7  
  —    
1  
  —    
$  8  

Unrealized 
Loss  
$ —    
(1) 
  —    
(1) 
(1) 
$  (3) 

$ —    
(2) 
  —    
(1) 
  —    
$  (3) 

Estimated 
Fair 
Value  
$  3,635  
  1,720  
  6,987  
808  
  14,768  
$ 27,918  

$  5,985  
  19,535  
367  
  1,530  
501  
$ 27,918  

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DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

December 31, 2010  

Money market funds .....................................................  
Certificates of deposit ...................................................  
Commercial paper .........................................................  
Corporate debt ...............................................................  
U.S. Government agencies ............................................  

Reported as: 

Cash and cash equivalents ...................................  
Short-term investments ........................................  
Short-term restricted investments ........................  
Long-term investments ........................................  
Long-term restricted investments ........................  

Amortized 
Cost  

502  
$ 
  1,282  
  11,404  
  2,611  
  29,447  
$ 45,246  

$  6,117  
  34,999  
66  
  3,197  
867  
$ 45,246  

Unrealized 
Gain  
$—    
  —    
1  
3  
  10  
$  14  

$—    
  12  
  —    
2  
  —    
$  14  

Unrealized 
Loss  
$ —    
  —    
  —    
  —    
(8) 
$  (8) 

$ —    
(6) 
  —    
(2) 
  —    
$  (8) 

Estimated 
Fair 
Value  

502  
$ 
  1,282  
  11,405  
  2,614  
  29,449  
$ 45,252  

$  6,117  
  35,005  
66  
  3,197  
867  
$ 45,252  

The following is a summary of the cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale securities at December 31, 2011, by 

contractual maturity (in thousands):  

Mature in one year or less ...................................................................................................
Mature after one year through five years ............................................................................

December 31, 2011  

Amortized 
Cost  
   $ 26,383  
  1,530  
$ 27,913  

Estimated 
Fair 
Value  
$ 26,388  
  1,530  
$ 27,918  

There were no securities that have had an unrealized loss for more than 12 months as of December 31, 2011 or 2010.  

As of December 31, 2011, unrealized losses on available-for-sale investments are not attributed to credit risk and are considered 
to be temporary. The Company believes that it is more-likely-than-not that investments in an unrealized loss position will be held until 
maturity or the recovery of the cost basis of the investment. To date, the Company has not recorded any impairment charges on 
marketable securities related to other-than-temporary declines in market value.  

5.    Property and Equipment  

Property and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):  

Equipment ..........................................................................................................................
Leasehold improvement .....................................................................................................
Construction-in-progress ....................................................................................................

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization ...............................................................

Property and equipment, net ..............................................................................................

December 31,  

2011  
   $  12,303  
9,834  
693  
  22,830  
     (19,706) 
   $  3,124  

2010  
$  14,507  
9,577  
78  
  24,162  
  (22,386) 
$  1,776  

90 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
    
 
    
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

Depreciation expense was $1.2 million, $2.2 million and $2.5 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. At December 31, 

2011 and 2010, no equipment was collateralized as security for equipment financing facilities. Amortization expense was $9,844, 
$39,580 and $39,580 in 2011, 2010 and 2009 for assets held under capital lease assets, respectively. In connection with an early 
termination of a lease in its California location, the Company recorded a disposal of equipment and leasehold improvement of $2.8 
million which were fully depreciated at December 31, 2011.  

As of December 31, 2011, the Company has recorded $558,000 as a liability on its balance sheet for asset retirement obligations 

associated with the estimated restoration cost for its leased buildings.  

6.    Restricted Investments  

In September 2005, the Company deposited $329,000 in the form of a certificate of deposit with a financial institution as a letter 

of credit to secure a lease signed in August 2005 for the Company’s office facility in Cupertino, California. The restriction on these 
funds will be released in March 2012 after the Company terminated the lease effective December 2011.  

In January 2006, the Company deposited $61,000 in the form of a certificate of deposit with a financial institution as a letter of 
credit to secure a lease signed in December 2005 for capital equipment from a third party vendor for a phone system at the Cupertino 
facilities. The installation was completed in April 2006. The restriction on these funds was released upon termination of the lease in 
March 2011.  

In October 2010, the Company deposited $500,000 in the form of a certificate of deposit with a financial institution as a letter of 

credit to secure a lease signed in October 2010 for the Company’s facility in Birmingham, Alabama. The restriction on these funds 
will be released upon termination of the lease in July 2021.  

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company had $868,000 and $933,000, respectively, recorded as restricted investments 

in connection with deposits on letters of credit.  

7.    Long-term Debt and Commitments  

Operating Leases  

In October 2011, the Company signed a lease termination agreement relating to an office facility of 40,560 square feet in 
Cupertino, California which will reduce the Company’s cash rent payment by approximately $800,000 in 2012. The original term of 
the lease ended in December 2012 and it was revised to end in December 2011.  

The Company has several other lease arrangements for its facilities in California and Alabama. Under these leases, the Company 

is required to pay certain maintenance expenses in addition to monthly rent. Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over 
the lease term for leases that have scheduled rental payment increases. Rent expense under all operating leases was $2.0 million, $1.9 
million and $2.1 million, for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  

91 

 
DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

Future minimum payments (including principal and interest) under these noncancelable leases are as follows (in thousands):  

Year ending December 31, 

2012 .........................................................................................................................................................
2013 .........................................................................................................................................................
2014 .........................................................................................................................................................
2015 .........................................................................................................................................................
Thereafter ................................................................................................................................................

Operating 
Leases  
   $1,622  
  1,559  
  454  
  286  
  1,734  
$5,655  

Other Purchase Commitments  

In 2005, the Company entered into a supply agreement with a vendor. The remaining minimum purchase commitments under 

this agreement are $500,000 per year through 2018.  

8.    Stockholders’ Equity  

Common Stock  

In November 2008, the Company filed a new shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC, which upon being declared 

effective by the SEC in May 2009, allows the Company to offer up to $75 million of securities from time to time in one or more 
public offerings of the Company’s common stock.  

In September 2009, the Company completed a privately negotiated transaction to sell 4,444,444 shares of its common stock to 

affiliates of Venrock at a price of $2.25 per share, raising net proceeds to DURECT of approximately $9.9 million.  

In July 2010, the Company entered into an equity line of credit facility with Azimuth Opportunity Ltd., or Azimuth, under 
which the Company may sell to Azimuth, subject to certain limitations, up to $50 million of common stock over a 24-month period. 
Azimuth will not be obligated to purchase shares under the equity line of credit unless specified conditions are met.  

Description of Stock-Based Compensation Plans  
2000 Stock Plan (Incentive Stock Plan)  

In January 2000, the Company’s Board of Directors and stockholders adopted the DURECT Corporation 2000 Stock Plan, 

under which incentive stock options and non-statutory stock options and stock purchase rights may be granted to employees, 
consultants and non-employee directors. The 2000 Stock Plan was amended by written consent of the Board of Directors in March 
2000 and written consent of the stockholders in August 2000.  

In April 2005, the Board of Directors approved certain amendments to the 2000 Stock Plan. At the Company’s annual 
stockholders meeting in June 2005, the stockholders approved the amendments of the 2000 Stock Plan to: (i) expand the types of 
awards that the Company may grant to eligible service providers under the Stock Plan to include restricted stock units, stock 
appreciation rights and other similar types of awards (including other awards under which recipients are not required to pay any 
purchase or exercise price) as well as cash awards; and (ii) include certain performance criteria that may be applied to awards granted 
under the Stock Plan.  

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DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

In April 2010, the Board of Directors approved certain amendments to the 2000 Stock Plan. At the Company’s annual 

stockholders meeting in June 2010, the stockholders approved the amendments of the 2000 Stock Plan to: (i) provide that the number 
of shares that remain available for issuance will be reduced by two shares for each share issued pursuant to an award (other than an 
option or stock appreciation right) granted on or after the date of the 2010 Annual Meeting; (ii) expand the types of transactions that 
might be considered repricings and option exchanges for which stockholder approval is required; (iii) provide that shares tendered or 
withheld in payment of the exercise price of an option or withheld to satisfy a withholding obligation, and all shares with respect to 
which a stock appreciation right is exercised, will not again be available for issuance under the Stock Plan; (iv) require that options 
and stock appreciation rights have an exercise price or base appreciation amount that is at least fair market value on the grant date, 
except in connection with certain corporate transactions, and that stock appreciation rights may not have longer than a 10-year term; 
(v) add new performance goals that may be used to provide “performance-based compensation” under the Stock Plan; (vi) extend the 
term of the Stock Plan to the date that is ten (10) years following the stockholders meeting; and (vii) expand the treatment of 
outstanding awards in connection with certain changes of control of the Company to cover mergers in which the consideration payable 
to stockholders is not solely securities of the successor corporation.  

In March 2011, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to the 2000 Stock Plan. At the Company’s annual stockholders 

meeting in June 2011, the stockholders approved the amendment of the 2000 Stock Plan to increase the number of shares of the 
Company’s common stock available for issuance by 5,500,000 shares. A total of 29,796,500 shares of common stock have been 
reserved for issuance under this plan. The plan expires in June 2020.  

Options granted under the 2000 Stock Plan expire no later than ten years from the date of grant. Options may be granted with 

different vesting terms from time to time not to exceed five years from the date of grant. The option price of an incentive stock option 
granted to an employee or of a nonstatutory stock option granted to any person who owns stock representing more than 10% of the 
total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or any parent or subsidiary) shall be no less than 110% of the fair 
market value per share on the date of grant. The option price of an incentive stock option granted to any other employee shall be no 
less than 100% of the fair market value per share on the date of grant.  

As of December 31, 2011, 7,090,515 shares of common stock were available for future grant and options to purchase 

19,796,064 shares of common stock were outstanding under the 2000 Stock Plan.  

2000 Directors’ Stock Option Plan  

In March 2000, the Board of Directors adopted the 2000 Directors’ Stock Option Plan. A total of 300,000 shares of common 

stock had been reserved initially for issuance under this plan. The directors’ plan provides that each person who becomes a non-
employee director of the Company after the effective date of the Company’s initial public offering will be granted a non-statutory 
stock option to purchase 20,000 shares of common stock on the date on which the optionee first becomes a non-employee director of 
the Company. This plan also provides that each option granted to a new director shall vest at the rate of 33  1/3% per year and each 
annual option of 5,000 shares shall vest in full at the end of one year.  

At the Company’s annual stockholders meeting in June 2002, the stockholders approved an amendment of the 2000 Directors’ 
Stock Option Plan to: (i) increase the number of stock options granted to a non-employee director on the date which such person first 
becomes a director from 20,000 to 30,000 shares of common stock; (ii) increase the number of stock options granted to each non-
employee director on the date of each annual meeting of the stockholders after which the director remains on the Board from 5,000 to 
12,000 shares of  

93 

 
DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

common stock; and (iii) reserve 200,000 additional shares of common stock for issuance under the Directors’ Stock Option Plan so 
that the total number of shares reserved for issuance is 500,000.  

In April 2005, the Board of Directors approved certain amendments to the 2000 Directors’ Stock Option Plan. At the 
Company’s annual stockholders meeting in June 2005, the stockholders approved the amendments of the 2000 Directors’ Stock 
Option Plan to: (i) increase the number of shares of common stock issuable under the Director’s Plan by an additional 425,000 shares, 
to an aggregate of 925,000 shares; (ii) increase the number of option shares issued to nonemployee directors annually in connection 
with their continued service on the Board from 12,000 shares to 20,000 shares; and (iii) modify the vesting of such annual option 
grants so that such shares vest completely on the day before the first anniversary of the date of grant. The plan expired in September 
2010. Awards to our non-employee directors have been granted under the 2000 Stock Plan following that date.  

As of December 31, 2011, no shares of common stock were available for future grant and options to purchase 669,000 shares of 

common stock were outstanding under the 2000 Director’s Stock Option Plan.  

1993 Stock Option Plan of Southern BioSystems, Inc.  

In April 2001, the Company assumed the 1993 Stock Option Plan of Southern BioSystems, Inc. (1993 SBS Plan) in connection 

with the acquisition of Southern BioSystems, Inc. Pursuant to the 1993 SBS Plan, incentive stock options may be granted to 
employees, and nonstatutory stock options may be granted to employees, directors, and consultants, of the Company and its affiliates. 
A total of 662,191 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under this plan at the time the Company assumed the plan. 
Options granted under the 1993 SBS Plan expire no later than ten years from the date of grant. Options may be granted with different 
vesting terms from time to time not to exceed five years from the date of grant.  

As of December 31, 2011, there were no shares of common stock available for future grant and no options to purchase shares of 

common stock were outstanding under the 1993 SBS Plan.  

2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan  

In August 2000, the Company adopted the 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. This purchase plan is implemented by a series 
of overlapping offering periods of approximately 24 months’ duration, with new offering periods, other than the first offering period, 
beginning on May 1 and November 1 of each year and ending April 30 and October 31, respectively, two years later. The purchase 
plan allows eligible employees to purchase common stock through payroll deductions at a price equal to the lower of 85% of the fair 
market value of the Company’s common stock at the beginning of each offering period or at the end of each purchase period. The 
initial offering period commenced on the effectiveness of the Company’s initial public offering.  

In April 2010, the Board of Directors approved certain amendments to the 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. At the 

Company’s annual stockholders meeting in June 2010, the stockholders approved the amendments of the 2000 Employee Stock 
Purchase Plan to: (i) increase the number of shares of our common stock authorized for issuance under the ESPP by 250,000 shares; 
(ii) extend the term of the ESPP to the date that is ten (10) years following the stockholders meeting; (iii) provide for six-month 
consecutive offering periods beginning on November 1, 2010; (iv) revise certain provisions to reflect the final regulations issued under 
Section 423 of the Code by the Internal Revenue Service; and (v) provide for the cash-out of options outstanding under an offering 
period in effect prior to the consummation of certain corporate transactions as an alternative to providing for a final purchase under 
such offering period.  

The plan expires in June 2020. A total of 2,200,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance under this plan. As 

of December 31, 2011, 527,540 shares of common stock were available for future grant and 1,672,460 shares of common stock have 
been issued under the 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  

94 

 
  
DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

As of December 31, 2011, shares of common stock reserved for future issuance consisted of the following:  

Stock options outstanding ........................................................................................................................
Stock options available for grant .............................................................................................................
Employee Stock Purchase Plan ................................................................................................................

December 31, 
2011  
   20,465,064  
    7,090,515  
527,540  
 28,083,119  

A summary of stock option activity under all stock-based compensation plans is as follows:  

Outstanding at December 31, 2008 .........................................
Options granted .......................................................................
Options exercised ....................................................................
Options forfeited .....................................................................
Options expired .......................................................................

Outstanding at December 31, 2009 .........................................
Options granted .......................................................................
Options exercised ....................................................................
Options forfeited .....................................................................
Options expired .......................................................................

Outstanding at December 31, 2010 .........................................
Options granted .......................................................................
Options exercised ....................................................................
Options forfeited .....................................................................
Options expired .......................................................................

Outstanding at December 31, 2011 .........................................

Exercisable at December 31, 2011 ..........................................

Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2011 ................

Number of 
Options  
   13,699,970  
    5,153,930  
(101,849) 
   (1,038,513) 
   (1,085,748) 
   16,627,790  
    3,783,677  
(114,888) 
(436,373) 
(477,072) 
   19,383,134  
    2,931,779  
(300,809) 
(923,172) 
(625,868) 
   20,465,064  
   14,894,825  
   20,171,387  

Weighted 
Average 
Exercise 
Price Per Share  
$ 4.68  
$ 2.69  
$ 1.54  
$ 4.05  
$ 4.81  
$ 4.11  
$ 2.24  
$ 1.99  
$ 3.36  
$ 7.65  
$ 3.68  
$ 3.17  
$ 2.71  
$ 2.91  
$ 7.21  
$ 3.55  
$ 3.73  
$ 3.56  

Weighted 
Average Remaining 
Contractual Term 
(in Years)  
6.61  

Aggregate 
Intrinsic 
Value 
(in millions)  
$  2.9  

6.72  

$  1.5  

6.36  

$10.4  

5.65  
4.70  
5.60  

$  0  
$  0  
$  0  

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pretax intrinsic value (i.e., the difference between the 
Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of 2011 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money 
options) that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on December 31, 2011. 
This amount changes based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock. The total intrinsic value of options exercised 
was $248,000, $110,000 and $101,000 for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  

In January 2010, the Company granted its employees stock options to purchase 921,000 shares of the Company’s common 

stock, which vested immediately on the grant date. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of all options granted with exercise 
prices equal to fair market value was $2.13 in 2011, $1.53 in 2010 and $1.95 in 2009. There were no options granted with exercise 
prices lower than fair market value in 2011, 2010 and 2009.  

95 

 
  
 
 
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

Expenses for non-employee stock options are recorded over the vesting period of the options, with the value determined by the 

Black-Scholes option valuation method and remeasured over the vesting term.  

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had four stock-based employee compensation plans, which are described above. The 

employee stock-based compensation cost that has been included in the statements of operations was $6.6 million, $7.8 million and 
$11.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Because the Company had a net operating loss 
carryforward as of December 31, 2011, no excess tax benefits for the tax deductions related to stock-based compensation expense 
were recognized in our statement of operations. Additionally, no incremental tax benefits were recognized from stock options 
exercised during 2011, which would have resulted in a reclassification to reduce net cash provided by operating activities with an 
offsetting increase in net cash provided by financing activities.  

Determining Fair Value  

Valuation and Expense Recognition.    The Company estimates the fair value of stock options granted using the Black-Scholes 

option valuation model. For options granted before January 1, 2006, the Company recognized the expense on an accelerated basis. For 
options granted on or after January 1, 2006, the Company recognizes the expense on a straight-line basis. The expense for options is 
recognized over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the vesting period.  

Expected Term.    The expected term of options granted represents the period of time that the options are expected to be 

outstanding. In 2009, 2010 and 2011, the Company determined the expected life using historical options experience. This develops the 
expected life by taking the weighted average of the actual life of options exercised and cancelled and assumes that outstanding options 
are exercised uniformly from the current holding period through the end of the contractual life.  

Expected Volatility.    The Company estimates the volatility of its common stock at the date of grant based on the historical 

volatility of the Company’s common stock.  

Risk-Free Rate.    The Company bases the risk-free rate that it uses in the Black-Scholes option valuation model on the implied 

yield in effect at the time of option grant on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with substantially equivalent remaining terms.  

Dividends.    The Company has never paid any cash dividends on its common stock and the Company does not anticipate paying 
any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Consequently, the Company uses an expected dividend yield of zero in the Black-Scholes 
option valuation model.  

The Company used the following assumptions to estimate the fair value of options granted (including fully vested options issued 

in January 2010) and shares purchased under its employee stock plans and stock purchase plan for the years ended December 31, 
2011, 2010 and 2009:  

Stock Options 
Risk-free rate ..........................................................................
Expected dividend yield ..........................................................
Expected term (in years) .........................................................
Volatility .................................................................................
Forfeiture rate .........................................................................

2011  

Year ended December 31,  
2010  

1.16-2.65% 

1.53-2.92% 

—    
6.25  
73-77% 
6.14% 

—    
5.5  
75-87% 
5.33% 

2009  

2.0-3.0% 
—    
6.0  
82-87% 
6.1% 

96 

 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

Employee Stock Purchase Plan 
Risk-free rate ....................................................................................
Expected dividend yield ...................................................................
Expected term (in years) ...................................................................
Volatility ...........................................................................................

2011  

Year ended December 31,  
2010  

2009  

0.05-1.00% 

0.16-1.45% 

0.17-2.37% 

—    
1.25  
50-163% 

—    
1.25  
59-163% 

—    
1.25  
57-150% 

There were 192,997, 183,687 and 191,414 shares purchased under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan during the 

years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Included in the statement of operations for the year ended 
December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $63,000, $307,000 and $392,000, respectively, in stock-based compensation expense related 
to the amortization of expenses related to shares purchased under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan.  

As of December 31, 2011, $6.4 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to nonvested stock options is expected 
to be recognized over the respective vesting terms of each award through 2015. The weighted average term of the unrecognized stock-
based compensation expense is 1.9 years.  

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2011:  

Options Outstanding 

    Options Exercisable  

Range of 
   Exercise Price     
$1.26  –  2.09 
$2.10  –  2.18 
$2.20  –  3.10 
$3.11  –  3.11 
$3.12  –  3.25 
$3.26   
$3.29  –  4.34 
$4.35  –  5.27 
$5.38  –  6.32 
$6.70  –  9.19 
$1.26  –  9.19 

Number of 
Options 
Outstanding  
  2,285,183    
  3,026,080    
  1,629,745    
  2,328,707    
  1,538,395    
  2,212,246    
  2,899,463    
  2,117,543    
  2,111,670    
316,032    
 20,465,064    

Weighted- 
Average 
Remaining 
Contractual Life 
(In years)  
5.39  
7.46  
4.24  
6.63  
2.59  
9.04  
4.87  
4.05  
5.54  
0.16  
5.65  

Weighted- 
Average 
Exercise 
Price  
$1.89  
$2.18  
$2.62  
$3.11  
$3.21  
$3.26  
$4.12  
$5.16  
$5.91  
$8.84  
$3.55  

Number of 
Options 
Exercisable  
  1,637,702  
  1,866,406  
  1,353,937  
  1,647,560  
  1,538,395  
—    
  2,771,588  
  2,099,193  
  1,664,012  
316,032  
14,894,825  

Weighted- 
Average 
Exercise 
Price  
$ 1.86  
$ 2.18  
$ 2.55  
$ 3.11  
$ 3.21  
$ 3.26  
$ 4.15  
$ 5.16  
$ 5.92  
$ 8.84  
$ 3.73  

The Company received $815,000, $229,000 and $157,000 in cash from option exercises under all stock-based compensation 

plans for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  

The Black-Scholes option-pricing model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no 
vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. The Black-Scholes model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions including 
the expected stock price volatility. The Company’s stock-based awards to employees have characteristics significantly different from 
those of traded options. Changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate of stock options and 
other awards.  

Under the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, the Company historically estimated the expected life of options using its best 

estimate of employee exercise behavior at the time. This estimate considered the vesting period for the employee stock options and a 
reasonable assumption about the post-vesting holding period.  

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DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

9.    Income Taxes  

The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method under ASC 740, Income Taxes. Under this method, deferred 

tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences resulting from the different treatment of items for tax and 
financial reporting purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable 
income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to reverse. Additionally, the Company must assess the 
likelihood that deferred tax assets will be recovered as deductions from future taxable income. The Company has provided a full 
valuation allowance on the Company’s deferred tax assets because the Company believes it is more likely than not that its deferred tax 
assets will not be realized. The Company evaluates the realizability of its deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis. Currently, there is no 
provision for income taxes as the Company has incurred losses to date.  

The reconciliation of income tax expenses (benefit) at the statutory federal income tax rate of 34% to net income tax benefit 

included in the statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 is as follows (in thousands):  

U.S. federal taxes (benefit) at statutory rate ..................................................
State taxes .....................................................................................................
Unutilized net operating loss ........................................................................
Non-deductible stock-based compensation ...................................................
Other .............................................................................................................

Total ..............................................................................................................

2011  
   $(6,377) 
  —    
  5,355  
995  
27  
   $  —    

Year Ended December 31,  
2010  
$(7,782) 
  —    
  6,792  
  1,224  
(234) 
$  —    

2008  
$(10,296) 
  —    
8,517  
1,763  
16  
$  —    

Deferred tax assets and liabilities reflect the net tax effects of net operating loss and research and other credit carryforwards and 

the temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and the amounts used for 
income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets are as follows (in thousands):  

Deferred tax assets: 

Net operating loss carryforwards .........................................................................
Research and other credits ...................................................................................
Capitalized research and development expenses .................................................
Deferred revenue .................................................................................................
Stock-based compensation ..................................................................................
Other ....................................................................................................................

Total deferred tax assets ................................................................................................
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets ..................................................................

Net deferred tax assets ..................................................................................................

December 31,  

2011  

2010  

$  86,476  
8,986  
1,778  
14,016  
7,297  
2,386  
  120,939  
  (120,939) 
$  —    

$  87,070  
8,183  
3,702  
6,953  
6,831  
3,125  
  115,864  
  (115,864) 
$  —    

Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon future earnings, if any, the timing and amount of which are uncertain. 

Accordingly, the net deferred tax assets have been fully offset by a valuation allowance. The valuation allowance increased by $5.1 
million, $8.6 million and $10.8 million during 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  

98 

 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of approximately 
$228.2 million, which expire in the years 2018 through 2030 and federal research and development tax credits of approximately $7.4 
million which expire at various dates beginning in 2018 through 2031, if not utilized.  

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards for state income tax purposes of approximately 

$157.1 million, which expire in the years 2012 through 2031, if not utilized, and state research and development tax credits of 
approximately $8.1 million, which do not expire.  

Utilization of the net operating losses may be subject to a substantial annual limitation due to federal and state ownership change 

limitations. The annual limitation may result in the expiration of net operating losses before utilization.  

At December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2011, the Company had unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $4.2 million and 
$4.6 million, respectively (none of which, if recognized, would favorably affect the Company’s effective tax rate). The Company does 
not believe there will be any material changes in its unrecognized tax positions over the next twelve months.  

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):  

Balance at beginning of the year ..................................................................................
Increases (decrease) related to prior year tax positions ......................................
Increases related to current year tax positions ....................................................
Settlements .........................................................................................................
Reductions due to lapse of applicable statute of limitations...............................

Balance at end of the year ..................................................................................

December 31,  

2011  
  $4,229  
    —    
415  
    —    
    —    
  $4,644  

2010  
$3,758  
  —    
471  
  —    
  —    
$4,229  

Interest and penalty costs related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, are classified as a component of interest income and other 

income (expense), net in the accompanying Statements of Operations. The Company did not recognize any interest and penalty 
expense related to unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.  

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. The Company is subject to 

U.S. federal and state income tax examination for calendar tax years ending 1998 through 2011.  

10.    Reduction in Force  

In March 2009, the Company reduced the size of its workforce by 41 employees or approximately 24% of its headcount. The 

goal of this action was to better align its cost structure with anticipated revenues and operating expenses, while not compromising the 
Company’s key corporate objectives for that year. The Company substantially completed this headcount reduction during the first 
quarter of 2009, and incurred approximately $443,000 in severance costs for the impacted employees, of which $384,000 was 
recorded in research and development expenses and $59,000 was recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses in 2009. All 
severance costs were paid during 2009.  

99 

 
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
   
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
DURECT CORPORATION  
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)  

11.    Government Grants  

In the fourth quarter of 2010, DURECT was notified that it had been awarded grants totaling $733,000 under the Patient 
Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 for three qualifying therapeutic discovery projects. The Company received this funding in 
November 2010 and recorded the amount received as other income on its Statements of Operations in the fourth quarter of 2010.  

12.    Unaudited Selected Quarterly Financial Data (in thousands, except per share amounts)  

First Quarter  

2011  

2010  

Second Quarter  
2010  

2011  

Third Quarter  

2011  

2010  

Fourth Quarter  

2011  

2010  

Revenue ..............................................   $  8,604   $  7,666   $  7,833   $  7,313   $  8,115   $  8,116   $  8,935   $  8,496  
Net loss ...............................................   $ (6,357)  $ (6,626)  $ (5,245)  $ (6,309)  $ (5,025)  $ (4,647)  $ (2,138)  $ (5,316) 
Basic and diluted net loss per share ....   $  (0.07)  $  (0.08)  $  (0.06)  $  (0.07)  $  (0.06)  $  (0.05)  $  (0.02)  $  (0.06) 

13.    Subsequent Events  

Termination of POSIDUR Development and License Agreement with Nycomed  

In January 2012, Nycomed notified the Company that Nycomed was terminating, effective April 26, 2012, the Development and 

License Agreement between Nycomed and DURECT dated November 26, 2006, as amended (the “License Agreement”) relating to 
the development and commercialization of POSIDUR (SABER-Bupivacaine) in Europe and their other licensed territories. 
Nycomed’s termination returns to the Company the rights to develop and commercialize POSIDUR in Europe and Nycomed’s other 
licensed territories.  

Termination of ELADUR Development and License Agreement with Pfizer  

In February 2012, Pfizer notified the Company that Pfizer was terminating, effective 2012, the Development and License 
Agreement between Alpharma (acquired by King Pharmaceuticals which subsequently was acquired by Pfizer) and DURECT dated 
September 19, 2008 relating to the development and commercialization of ELADUR. Pfizer’s termination returns to the Company the 
worldwide rights to develop and commercialize ELADUR.  

Reduction in Force  

In February 2012, the Company reduced the size of its workforce by 15 employees or approximately 12% of its headcount. The 
goal of this action was to better align its cost structure with anticipated revenues and operating expenses, while not compromising the 
Company’s key corporate objectives for that year. The Company substantially completed this headcount reduction during February 
2012, and incurred approximately $0.3 million in severance costs for the impacted employees. All severance costs are expected to be 
paid during the first quarter of 2012.  

100 

 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.  

Not applicable.  

Item  9A.  Controls and Procedures.  

Disclosure Controls and Procedures  

As required by paragraph (b) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15, DURECT’s management, including our Chief Executive 
Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report, of the effectiveness of 
DURECT’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e). Based on that evaluation, 
our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that DURECT’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective 
as of the end of the period covered by this report.  

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting  

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term 
is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial 
Officer and with the participation of our management, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over 
financial reporting as of December 31, 2011 based on the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the 
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on that evaluation, our management concluded 
that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2011.  

Our independent registered public accountants, Ernst & Young LLP, audited the financial statements included in this Annual 

Report on Form 10-K and have issued an audit report on our internal control over financial reporting. The report on the audit of 
internal control over financial reporting appears below.  

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting  

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by 

paragraph (d) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected or are 
reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.  

101 

 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of DURECT Corporation  

We have audited DURECT Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria 

established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway 
Commission (the COSO criteria). DURECT Corporation’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over 
financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the 
accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the 
company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.  

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 

Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control 
over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over 
financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of 
internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. 
We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.  

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the 

reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally 
accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that 
(1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the 
assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial 
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being 
made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance 
regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a 
material effect on the financial statements.  

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, 
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of 
changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.  

In our opinion, DURECT Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as 

of December 31, 2011, based on the COSO criteria.  

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the 
balance sheets of DURECT Corporation as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, 
and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011 of DURECT Corporation and the financial 
statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a)(2) and our report dated March 2, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.  

/s/    ERNST & YOUNG LLP  

Redwood City, California  
March 2, 2012  

102 

 
Item 9B.  

Other Information.  

None  

The definitive proxy statement for our 2012 annual meeting of stockholders, when filed, pursuant to Regulation 14A of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, will be incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K pursuant to General Instruction G (3) of Form 
10-K and will provide the information required under Part III (Items 10-14), except for the information with respect to our executive 
officers, which is included in “Part I—Executive Officers of the Registrant.”  

PART III  

PART IV  

Item  15. 

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.  
(a)  The following documents are filed as part of this report:  

(1)  Financial Statements  
Item 8 of this Form 10-K  
See 
(2)  Financial Statement Schedules  
Schedule 

II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts  

Schedules not listed above have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or 

is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.  

(3)  Exhibits are incorporated herein by reference or are filed in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S–K.  

Number 
2.1 

2.2 

3.3 

3.4 

3.5 

3.6 

Description 

Agreement and Plan of Merger dated April 18, 2001, among the Company, Target and Magnolia Acquisition 
Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-31615) filed on 
May 15, 2001). 

Agreement and Plan of Merger dated August 15, 2003, among the Company, Birmingham Polymers, Inc., Absorbable 
Polymer Technologies, Inc. and the Principal Shareholders of Absorbable Polymer Technologies, Inc. (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 2.2 to our Registration Statement on 
Form S-3, as amended (File No. 333-108396), initially filed on August 29, 2003). 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to our 
Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-35316), initially filed on April 20, 2000). 

Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 3.4 to our Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed on July 
1, 2010. 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to our Registration Statement 
on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-35316), initially filed on 
April 20, 2000). 

Certificate of Designation of Rights, Preferences and Privileges of Series A Participating Preferred Stock of DURECT 
Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to our Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-128979) 
initially filed on October 13, 2005). 

103 

 
   
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number 
3.7 

3.8 

4.2 

4.3 

10.1+ 

10.2+ 

10.3+ 

10.4+ 

10.5+ 

10.6** 

10.7** 

10.8 

Description 

Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Designation of Rights, Preferences and Privileges of Series A Participating 
Preferred Stock of DURECT Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.7 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-
Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on August 5, 2010). 

Amendment to Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q 
(File No. 000-31615) filed on August 5, 2011). 

Second Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to our Registration 
Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-35316), initially filed on April 20, 2000). 

Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, dated as of July 6, 2001, between the Company and EquiServe Trust Company, 
N.A. including the form of Certificate of Designation, the form of the Rights Certificate and the Summary of Rights 
attached thereto as Exhibits A, B and C, respectively (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to our Registration 
Statement on Form 8-A 
(File No. 000-31615) filed on July 10, 2001). 

Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Company and each of its Officers and Directors (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-35316), initially filed on 
April 20, 2000). 

1998 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, as 
amended (File No. 333-35316), initially filed on April 20, 2000). 

2000 Stock Plan, as amended and restated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K 
(File No. 000-31615) filed on June 27, 2011). 

2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to our Registration Statement on Form 
S-1, as amended (File No. 333-35316), initially filed on April 20, 2000). 

2000 Directors’ Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, 
as amended (File No. 333-35316), initially filed on April 20, 2000). 

Second Amended and Restated Development and Commercialization Agreement between the Company and ALZA 
Corporation effective April 28, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to our Registration Statement on Form S-
1, as amended (File No. 333-35316), initially filed on April 20, 2000). 

Product Acquisition Agreement between the Company and ALZA Corporation dated as of April 14, 2000 (incorporated 
by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-35316), initially filed 
on April 20, 2000). 

Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement between the Company and Silicon Valley Bank dated as of 
October 28, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended 
(File No. 333-35316), initially filed on April 20, 2000). 

10.9**  Manufacturing and Supply Agreement between Neuro-Biometrix, Inc. and Novel Biomedical, Inc. dated as of 

November 24, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended 
(File No. 333-35316), initially filed on April 20, 2000). 

10.10**  Master Services Agreement between the Company and Quintiles, Inc. dated as of November 1, 1999 (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.10 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-35316), initially filed 
on April 20, 2000). 

10.11 

Modified Net Single Tenant Lease Agreement between the Company and DeAnza Enterprises, Ltd. dated as of 
February 18, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended 
(File No. 333-35316), initially filed on April 20, 2000). 

104 

 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number 
10.12 

10.13** 

10.17 

10.18 

10.19 

10.20** 

10.21 

10.22 

Description 

Sublease Amendment between the Company and Ciena Corporation dated as of November 29, 1999 and Sublease 
Agreement between Company and Lightera Networks, Inc. dated as of March 10, 1999 (incorporated by reference to 
Exhibit 10.12 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-35316), initially filed on April 20, 
2000). 

Project Proposal between the Company and Chesapeake Biological Laboratories, Inc. dated as of October 11, 1999 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to our Registration Statement on 
Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-35316), initially filed on April 20, 2000). 

Common Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and ALZA Corporation dated April 14, 2000 (incorporated 
by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-35316), initially 
filed on April 20, 2000). 

Warrant issued to ALZA Corporation dated April 14, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to our 
Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-35316), initially filed on April 20, 2000). 

Amended and Restated Market Stand-off Agreement between the Company and ALZA Corporation dated as of April 14, 
2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-
35316), initially filed on April 20, 2000). 

Asset Purchase Agreement between the Company and IntraEAR, Inc. dated as of September 24, 1999 (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.20 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-35316), initially filed 
on April 20, 2000). 

Warrant issued to Silicon Valley Bank dated December 16, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to our 
Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-35316), initially filed on April 20, 2000). 

Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement dated as of April 14, 2000 (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.22 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-35316), initially filed 
on April 20, 2000). 

10.23**  Master Agreement between the Company and Pacific Data Designs, Inc. dated as of July 6, 2000 (incorporated by 

reference to Exhibit 10.23 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-35316), initially filed 
on April 20, 2000). 

10.24**  Master Services Agreement between the Company and Clinimetrics Research Associates, Inc. dated as of July 11, 2000 

(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-
35316), initially filed on April 20, 2000). 

10.25** 

10.26 

10.27 

10.28 

Supply Agreement between the Company and Mallinckrodt, Inc. dated as of October 1, 2000 (incorporated by reference 
to Exhibit 10.25 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 000-31615) filed on March 30, 2001). 

Lease between Sobrato Development Companies #850 and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to 
our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on November 13, 2001). 

Southern BioSystems, Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan (as amended) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our 
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-61224) filed on May 18, 2001). 

Southern Research Technologies, Inc. 1995 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan (as amended) (incorporated by reference to 
Exhibit 4.2 to our Registration Statement on Form S-8 
(File No. 333-61224) filed on May 18, 2001). 

105 

 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number 
10.29** 

10.30** 

10.31** 

10.32** 

10.33** 

Description 

Feasibility, Development and Commercialization Agreement between Southern BioSystems, Inc., an Alabama 
corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (now merged into the Company), and Voyager 
Pharmaceutical Corporation dated as of July 22, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to our Quarterly 
Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on November 14, 2002). 

License & Option Agreement and Mutual Release between Southern BioSystems, Inc, an Alabama corporation and 
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (now merged into the Company), and Thorn BioScience LLC dated as of 
July 26, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) 
filed on November 14, 2002). 

Third Amended and Restated Development and Commercialization Agreement between the Company and ALZA 
Corporation dated as of October 1, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to our Quarterly Report on Form 
10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on November 14, 2002). 

Development and License Agreement between the Company, Southern BioSystems, Inc, an Alabama corporation and 
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (now merged into the Company), and BioPartners, GmbH dated as of 
October 18, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 000-31615) 
filed on March 14, 2003). 

Development, Commercialization and Supply License Agreement between the Company and Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. 
dated as of November 8, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 
000-31615) filed on March 14, 2003). 

10.34**†  Development and License Agreement between the Company, Southern BioSystems, Inc., an Alabama corporation and 

wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (now merged into the Company), and Pain Therapeutics, Inc. dated as of 
December 19, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 000-
31615) filed on March 14, 2003). 

10.35 

10.36 

10.37 

10.38 

10.39** 

10.40 

10.41** 

Sublease between the Company and Norian Corporation with commencement date of January 1, 2004 (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.35 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K 
(File No. 000-31615) filed on March 11, 2004). 

Lease between the Company and Renault & Handley Employee Investments Co. with commencement date of January 1, 
2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 000-31615) filed on 
March 11, 2004). 

Amendment to Development, Commercialization and Supply License Agreement between the Company and Endo 
Pharmaceuticals Inc. dated as of January 28, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to our Annual Report on 
Form 10-K (File No. 000-31615) filed on March 11, 2004). 

Indenture of Lease between the Company and the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama dated as of May 1, 
2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on 
August 4, 2004). 

License and Commercial Agreement between the Company and NeuroSystec Corporation dated as of May 13, 2004 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on 
August 4, 2004). 

Commercial Lease between the Company and EWE, Inc. dated as of September 21, 2004 (incorporated by reference to 
Exhibit 10.40 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on November 5, 2004). 

License agreement between the Company and Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. dated as of March 10, 2005 (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.41 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on May 6, 2005). 

106 

 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number 
10.42 

10.43 

10.44 

10.45** 

10.46** 

10.47 

10.48** 

10.49** 

10.50 

10.51 

10.52** 

10.53 

10.54 

10.55** 

10.56 

Description 
Indenture of Lease between the Company and the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama dated as of April 25, 
2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.42 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on 
August 4, 2005). 

Third Addendum to Lease between the Company and Garaventa Properties dated as of July 8, 2005 (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.43 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on October 13, 2005). 

Lease between the Company and RWC, LLC dated as of September 1, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.44 
to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on October 13, 2005). 

Amendment dated December 21, 2005 to Development and License Agreement dated December 19, 2002 between the 
Company and Pain Therapeutics, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.45 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K 
(File No. 000-31615) filed on March 16, 2006). 

Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate Pharmaceutical Grade Supply Agreement between the Company and Eastman Chemical 
Company dated as of December 30, 2005 (incorporated by reference to 
Exhibit 10.46 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 000-31615) filed on March 16, 2006). 

Indenture of Lease between the Company and the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama dated as of 
October 17, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.47 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 000-31615) 
filed on March 15, 2007). 

Development and License Agreement between the Company and NYCOMED Danmark ApS dated as of November 29, 
2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.48 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 000-31615) filed on 
March 15, 2007). 

License Agreement between the Company and EpiCept Corporation dated as of December 20, 2006 (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.49 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 000-31615) filed on March 15, 2007). 

Lease between the Company and KLP Properties dated as of April 23, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.50 
to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on August 8, 2008). 

Amendment No. 1 to License Agreement between the Company and EpiCept Corporation dated as of September 12, 
2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.51 to our Quarterly Report on 
Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on November 4, 2008). 

Development and License Agreement between the Company and Alpharma Ireland Limited dated as of September 19, 
2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.52 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on 
November 4, 2008). 

Amendment to Commercial Lease between the Company and EWE, Inc. effective December 23, 2008 (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.53 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 000-31615) filed with the SEC on March 10, 
2009). 

First Lease Extension between the Company and Renault & Handley Employee Investments Co. effective March 1, 2009 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.54 to our Quarterly Report on 
Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on May 7, 2009). 

Excipient Manufacturing and Supply Agreement between King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and the Company dated as of 
August 5, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.55 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) 
filed on November 2, 2009). 

Second Amendment to Lease between De Anza Enterprises and the Company dated as of August 6, 2009 (incorporated 
by reference to Exhibit 10.56 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on November 2, 2009). 

107 

 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number 
10.57** 

10.58 

10.59** 

10.60 

10.61 

10.62 

10.63 

Description 
Amendment No. 1 to Development and License Agreement between the Company and Nycomed Danmark, ApS dated 
February 18, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.57 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-
31615) filed on May 10, 2010). 

Amendment to Commercial Real Estate Lease between the Company and EWE, Inc. effective May 10, 2010 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.58 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on August 
5, 2010). 

Development and License Agreement between the Company and Hospira, Inc. dated June 1, 2010 (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.59 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q 
(File No. 000-31615) filed on August 5, 2010). 

Supply Agreement between the Company and Hospira, Inc. dated June 1, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 
10.60 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on August 5, 2010). 

Common Stock Purchase Agreement between DURECT Corporation and Azimuth Opportunity Ltd., dated July 1, 2010 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-31615) filed on July 1, 
2010). 

Lease between the Company and DRA/CLP Riverchase Center Birmingham, LLC dated as of October 19, 2010. 

Third Amendment to Lease between De Anza Enterprises and the Company dated as of 
December 21, 2010. 

10.64** 

Amendment No. 2 to Development and License Agreement between DURECT Corporation and Nycomed Danmark, 
APS dated February 8, 2011. 

10.65 

Amendment to Commercial Lease between the Company and EWE, Inc. effective May 23, 2011. 

10.66** 

Development and License Agreement between the Company and Zogenix, Inc. effective July 11, 2011. 

10.67* 

10.68* 

12.1* 

23.1* 

24.1 

31.1* 

31.2* 

32.1* 

32.2* 

Lease Termination Agreement between ECI TWO RESULTS LLC and the Company dated as of October 27, 2011. 

Amendment to Commercial Lease between the Company and EWE, Inc. effective December 19, 2011. 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. 

Power of Attorney (see signature page of this Form 10-K). 

Rule 13a-14(a) Section 302 Certification. 

Rule 13a-14(a) Section 302 Certification. 

Certificate pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 

Certificate pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 

101.INS 

XBRL Instance Document++ 

101.SCH  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document++ 

101.CAL  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document++ 

108 

 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number 
101.DEF  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document++ 

Description 

101.LAB  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document++ 

101.PRE  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document++ 

Filed herewith.  

* 
**  Confidential treatment granted with respect to certain portions of this Exhibit.  
† 

Refiled with additional disclosure previously treated as confidential.  
Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.  

+ 

++  These interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 

12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under these sections.  

109 

 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
SCHEDULE II—VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS 

Year Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009  
(in thousands)  

December 31, 2011 

Allowance for doubtful accounts .............................................................

December 31, 2010 

Allowance for doubtful accounts .............................................................

December 31, 2009 

Allowance for doubtful accounts .............................................................

Balance at 
beginning 
of the year  

 Provision  

Recoveries/ 
Write- 
Offs  

Balance at 
end of the 
year  

$107  

$103  

$113  

$ (23) 

$  8  

$—    

$ 14  

$ (4) 

$(10) 

$  98   

$ 107   

$ 103   

110 

 
   
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this 

report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.  

SIGNATURES 

DURECT CORPORATION 

By: 

/S/     JAMES E. BROWN         
James E. Brown 
President and Chief Executive Officer 

Date: March 2, 2012  

POWER OF ATTORNEY  

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints 
James E. Brown and Felix Theeuwes, jointly and severally, his or her attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, for him or 
her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and 
other documents in connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each 
of said attorneys-in-fact, or his or her substitute or substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.  

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons 

on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.  

Signature 

Title 

Date 

/S/    JAMES E. BROWN         
James E. Brown 

/S/    FELIX THEEUWES         
Felix Theeuwes 

/S/     MATTHEW J. HOGAN         
Matthew J. Hogan 

/S/     SIMON X. BENITO         
Simon X. Benito 

/S/     TERRENCE F. BLASCHKE         
Terrence F. Blaschke 

/S/    MICHAEL D. CASEY         
Michael D. Casey 

/S/     DAVID R. HOFFMANN         
David R. Hoffmann 

/S/ ARMAND P. NEUKERMANS 
Armand P. Neukermans 

/S/     JON S. SAXE         
Jon S. Saxe 

President, Chief Executive Officer and 
Director (Principal Executive Officer) 

March 2, 2012 

Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer 

March 2, 2012 

March 2, 2012 

March 2, 2012 

March 2, 2012 

March 2, 2012 

March 2, 2012 

March 2, 2012 

March 2, 2012 

Chief Financial Officer 
(Principal Accounting Officer) 

Director 

Director 

Director 

Director 

Director 

Director 

111 

 
  
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES  

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):  

Exhibit 12.1  

Earnings: 
Net loss  
Fixed charges 
Total Earnings   
Fixed Charges: 

Interest expense 
Portion of rent expense representative of interest 

Total Fixed Charges 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(1) 

2011  

Year Ended December 31,  
2009  

2008  

2010  

2007  

$ (18,765) 
828  
$ (17,937) 

$ (22,898) 
805  
$ (22,093) 

$ (30,288) 
934  
$ (29,354) 

$ (43,907) 
1,636  
$ (42,271) 

$ (24,339) 
3,456  
$ (20,883) 

$ 

46  
782  
828  
  —    

$ 

$ 

6  
799  
805  
  —    

$ 

$ 

36  
898  
934  
  —    

$ 

$ 

789  
847  
$  1,636  
  —    

$  2,625  
831  
$  3,456  
  —    

(1)  For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of net loss plus fixed charges. Fixed charges 
consist of interest expense, amortization of debt expense and discount or premium related to indebtedness, whether expensed or 
capitalized, and that portion of rental payments under operating leases we believe to be representative of interest. Earnings were 
insufficient to cover fixed charges for these periods. The amount of the coverage deficiency was $18,765, $22,898, $30,288, 
$43,907, and $24,339 for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively.  

 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
Exhibit 23.1  

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM  

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements:  
(1)  Registration Statements (Form S-8 Nos. 333-126990 and 333-98939) pertaining to the DURECT Corporation 2000 

Directors’ Stock Option Plan  

(2)  Registration Statements (Form S-8 Nos. 333-166700, 333-161025, 333-152968, 333-124701 and 333-86110) pertaining to 

the DURECT Corporation 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the DURECT Corporation 2000 Stock Plan  

(3)  Registration Statements (Form S-8 Nos. 333-176113, 333-120405 and 333-108390) pertaining to the 

DURECT Corporation 2000 Stock Plan  

(4)  Registration Statements (Form S-8 No. 333-170349) pertaining to the DURECT Corporation 2000 Employee Stock 

Purchase Plan  

(5)  Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-47400) pertaining to the DURECT Corporation 2000 Employee Stock 

Purchase Plan, the DURECT Corporation 1998 Stock Option Plan, the DURECT Corporation 2000 Stock Plan and the 
DURECT Corporation 2000 Directors’ Stock Option Plan  

(6)  Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-61224) pertaining to the DURECT Corporation 2000 Employee Stock 

Purchase Plan, the DURECT Corporation 2000 Stock Plan, the Southern BioSystems, Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan and 
the Southern Research Technologies, Inc. 1995 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan  

(7)  Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-76622) pertaining to the Southern BioSystems, Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan 

and the Southern Research Technologies, Inc. 1995 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan  

(8)  Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-128979) of DURECT Corporation  
(9)  Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-108398) of DURECT Corporation  
(10)  Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-108396) of DURECT Corporation  
(11)  Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-155042) of DURECT Corporation  

of our reports dated March 2, 2012, with respect to the financial statements and schedule of DURECT Corporation, and the 
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of DURECT Corporation included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of 
DURECT Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2011.  

/S /    ERNST & YOUNG LLP  

Redwood City, California  
March 2, 2012  

 
 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO  
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,  
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO  
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002  

I, James E. Brown, certify that:  

Exhibit 31.1  

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

I have reviewed this report on Form 10-K of DURECT Corporation;  
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material 
fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not 
misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;  
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in 
all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods 
presented in this report;  
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and 
procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as 
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:  
(a) 

designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed 
under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated 
subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report 
is being prepared;  
designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be 
designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and 
the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting 
principles;  
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our 
conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by 
this report based on such evaluation; and  
disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during 
the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that 
has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial 
reporting; and  

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control 
over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or 
persons performing the equivalent functions):  
(a) 

all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial 
reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and 
report financial information; and  
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the 
registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.  

(b) 

March 2, 2012  

/S/    JAMES E. BROWN         
James E. Brown 
Chief Executive Officer 

 
 
   
  
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO  
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,  
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO  
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002  

I, Matthew J. Hogan, certify that:  

Exhibit 31.2  

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

I have reviewed this report on Form 10-K of DURECT Corporation;  
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material 
fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not 
misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;  
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in 
all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods 
presented in this report;  
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and 
procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as 
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:  
(a) 

designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed 
under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated 
subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report 
is being prepared;  
designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be 
designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and 
the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting 
principles;  
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our 
conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by 
this report based on such evaluation; and  
disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during 
the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that 
has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial 
reporting; and  

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control 
over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or 
persons performing the equivalent functions):  
(a) 

all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial 
reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and 
report financial information; and  
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the 
registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.  

(b) 

March 2, 2012  

/S/    MATTHEW J. HOGAN         
Matthew J. Hogan 
Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer 

 
 
   
  
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO  
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,  
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO  
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002  

Exhibit 32.1  

In connection with the Annual Report of DURECT Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the year ended 

December 31, 2011 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, James E. Brown, Chief 
Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 
2002, that:  

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and  

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of 

operations of the Company.  

March 2, 2012  

/S/    JAMES E. BROWN         
James E. Brown 
Chief Executive Officer 

 
 
  
 
  
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO  
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,  
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO  
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002  

Exhibit 32.2  

In connection with the Annual Report of DURECT Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the year ended 

December 31, 2011 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Matthew J. Hogan, 
Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant 
to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:  

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and  

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of 

operations of the Company.  

March 2, 2012  

/S/    MATTHEW J. HOGAN         
Matthew J. Hogan 
Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer