UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 7, 2016

ARDELYX, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 
 	 	 	 	 	
Delaware	 	001-36485	 	26-1303944	
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)	 	(Commission
File Number)	 	(IRS Employer
Identification Number)	
34175 Ardenwood Blvd., Suite 100
Fremont, CA 94555
(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (510) 745-1700

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)	
 
☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)	
 
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))	
 
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))	

 

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On November 7, 2016, Ardelyx, Inc. (the “Company”) announced its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. The full text of the press release issued in connection with the announcement is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
The information furnished under this Item 2.02 shall not be considered “filed” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, unless the Company expressly sets forth in such future filing that such information is to be considered “filed” or incorporated by reference therein.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d)	Exhibits.	

Exhibit No.	  	Description	
 	 	
99.1	  	Press release of Ardelyx, Inc.	

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: November 7, 2016	 	 	 	ARDELYX, INC.	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	By:	 	/s/ Mark Kaufmann	
 	 	 	 	 	 	Mark Kaufmann	
 	 	 	 	 	 	Chief Financial Officer	

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	  	Description	
 	 	
99.1	  	Press release of Ardelyx, Inc.	

Exhibit 99.1

 	  	 	  	        34175 Ardenwood Blvd
        Fremont, CA 94555
        (510) 745-1700 – Tele
        www.ardelyx.com	
Ardelyx Reports Third Quarter 2016 Financial Results and Recent Progress
Enrollment Completed in Phase 3 Trial of Tenapanor for Hyperphosphatemia in Patients with ESRD on Dialysis
Conference call to be held today at 4:05 p.m. ET
FREMONT, Calif., November 07, 2016 — Ardelyx, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARDX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on gastrointestinal and cardio-renal diseases, today reported an update on recent progress and financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016.
“We have made substantial progress throughout 2016, both as a company and through the advancement of our clinical programs,” said Mike Raab, president and chief executive officer of Ardelyx. “We have advanced our three ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials for tenapanor, are on-track to initiate Phase 3 development for our second product candidate, RDX227675, in patients with hyperkalemia before the end of the year and have further progressed our earlier-stage pipeline of novel therapies. As we look ahead, 2017 is set to be a transformational year for Ardelyx, with results from our Phase 3 clinical trial of tenapanor in patients with hyperphosphatemia expected in the first quarter and results from our T3MPO-1 and T3MPO-2 Phase 3 clinical trials of tenapanor in patients with IBS-C expected mid-year and at the end of the year, respectively.”
Recent Highlights
 
 	•	 	Ardelyx reported today that its Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating tenapanor for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on dialysis is fully enrolled and results are expected in the first quarter of 2017.	
 
 	•	 	In October, positive, global endpoint data from the completed Phase 2b trial of tenapanor in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) were presented at the American College of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting. These pre-specified analyses build off of positive efficacy findings on the study’s primary and key secondary endpoints in the same patient population, as previously announced in October 2014, and further validate the 50 milligram, twice-daily dose chosen for the ongoing Phase 3 trials of tenapanor in patients with IBS-C.	
 
 	•	 	Ardelyx strengthened its management team with the appointment of Reginald Seeto, MBBS, to the newly created position of chief operating officer.	
Upcoming Milestones
Ardelyx has multiple clinical and pipeline milestones expected in the fourth quarter of 2016 and throughout 2017, including:

 	•	 	Initiation of an onset-of-action clinical trial and a Phase 3 clinical trial with RDX227675 for the treatment of patients with hyperkalemia expected in the fourth quarter of 2016;	
 
 	•	 	Investigational new drug application submission for RDX98940, Ardelyx’s lead TGR5 agonist, expected in the fourth quarter of 2016;	
 
 	•	 	Results from the ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial of tenapanor for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in ESRD patients on dialysis expected in the first quarter 2017;	
 
 	•	 	Results from the RDX227675 onset-of-action clinical trial expected in the first half of 2017;	
 
 	•	 	Initiation of the second Phase 3 clinical trial of tenapanor for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in ESRD patients on dialysis expected during the first half of 2017;	
 
 	•	 	Results from T3MPO-1, the ongoing 12-week Phase 3 clinical trial of tenapanor in patients with IBS-C expected in mid-2017; and,	
 
 	•	 	Results from T3MPO-2, the ongoing 6-month Phase 3 clinical trial of tenapanor in patients with IBS-C expected by the end of 2017.	
Third Quarter 2016 Financial Results
 
 	•	 	Net Loss: Net loss for the third quarter of 2016 was $29.0 million, or $0.65 per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $18.1 million, or $0.70 per basic and diluted share for the third quarter of 2015.	
 
 	•	 	Cash Position: As of September 30, 2016, Ardelyx had cash and cash equivalents of $160.4 million and short-term investments of $69.7 million, for total capital resources including cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $230.1 million. Cash and cash equivalents were $160.4 million as of September 30, 2016 compared with $107.0 million as of December 31, 2015. The increase was primarily the result of the completion of an underwritten public offering and a private placement of common stock in January 2016, which yielded approximately $80.8 million in net proceeds and the completion of a private placement transaction in July 2016, which yielded approximately $109.7 million in net proceeds. This was offset by purchases of short-term investments of $69.7 million and capital equipment of $2.1 million, as well as $65.3 million in cash required for operating and other activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.	
 
 	•	 	R&D Expenses: Research and development expense for the third quarter of 2016 increased to $24.9 million from $14.7 million for the third quarter of 2015. The increase was primarily due to expenses incurred for clinical development activities associated with tenapanor, including clinical trial expenses for the two Phase 3 clinical trials in IBS-C and the Phase 3 clinical trial in hyperphosphatemia, as well as clinical manufacturing and process development activities associated with tenapanor, RDX227675 and RDX98940.	
 
 	•	 	G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $4.3 million for the third quarter of 2016 as compared to $3.4 million for the third quarter of 2015. The increase was primarily due to an increase in professional services fees, including fees for market research and pre-commercialization activities, systems implementation and intellectual property management, as well as an increase in personnel-related expenses and facility costs.	
 
Page 2 of 5 Pages

Conference Call Information
Ardelyx will host a conference call and audio webcast today at 4:05 p.m. Eastern Time to provide a business update and discuss third quarter 2016 financial results. To participate in the conference call, please dial (855) 296-9612 (domestic) or (920) 663-6277 (international) and refer to conference ID 11901928. The webcast can be accessed under “Events and Presentations” in the Investor Center section of the company’s website at www.ardelyx.com.
About Ardelyx, Inc.
Ardelyx is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative, minimally-systemic, small molecule therapeutics that work exclusively in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to treat GI and cardio-renal diseases. Ardelyx has developed a proprietary drug discovery and design platform enabling it, in a rapid and cost-efficient manner, to discover and design novel drug candidates. Utilizing this platform, Ardelyx has discovered and designed tenapanor, which it is evaluating for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis. In addition to tenapanor, Ardelyx is developing RDX227675, a non-absorbed polymer for the treatment of hyperkalemia, or high potassium, a problem prevalent in patients with kidney and heart disease. Ardelyx is also advancing several research programs focused in GI and cardio-renal diseases. Ardelyx is located in Fremont, Calif. For more information, please visit Ardelyx’s website at www.ardelyx.com.
Forward Looking Statements
To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding Ardelyx, they are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor of the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995, including the potential of tenapanor in the treatment of IBS-C, the expected timing for the receipt of the results from Ardelyx’s two on-going Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating tenapanor for the treatment of IBS-C, the potential for tenapanor in treating hyperphosphatemia in ESRD patients on dialysis, the expected timing of the results of the ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating tenapanor for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in ESRD patients on dialysis, the expected timing of the initiation of the second Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating tenapanor for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia, the potential for RDX227675 in treating hyperkalemia, the expected timing of the initiation of the onset-of-action and Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating RDX227675 in treating hyperkalemia and the expected timing of the results of the onset-of-action clinical trial, the expected timing for the filing of an investigational new drug (IND) application for RDX98940 and the potential of Ardelyx’s drug discovery and design platform. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause the development of tenapanor, RDX227675, RDX98940 or Ardelyx’s future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include,
 
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among others, the uncertainties inherent in research and the clinical development process and the uncertainties in the manufacture of clinical trial material, including process development, and scale up. Ardelyx undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to Ardelyx’s business in general, please refer to Ardelyx’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 7, 2016, and its future current and periodic reports to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investor Contact:	  	Media Contact:	
Monique Allaire	  	Alicia Davis	
President & Executive Leader	  	Director, Corporate Communications	
THRUST IR	  	THRUST IR	
781-631-0759
monique@thrustir.com	  	910-620-3302
alicia@thrustir.com	
SOURCE Ardelyx, Inc.
Ardelyx, Inc.
Condensed Balance Sheets
(In thousands)

 	  	September 30,
2016	 	  	December 31,
2015	 	
 	  	(Unaudited)	 	  	(1)	 	
Assets	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	  	$	160,360	  	  	$	107,004	  	
Short-term investments	  	 	69,726	  	  	 	—  	  	
Property and equipment, net	  	 	6,969	  	  	 	4,711	  	
Prepaid and other assets	  	 	4,262	  	  	 	5,231	  	
 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Total Assets	  	$	241,317	  	  	$	116,946	  	
 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	  	$	17,635	  	  	$	7,723	  	
Other liabilities	  	 	789	  	  	 	322	  	
Stockholders’ equity	  	 	222,893	  	  	 	108,901	  	
 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	  	$	241,317	  	  	$	116,946	  	

(1)	Derived from the audited financial statements included on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.	
 
Page 4 of 5 Pages

Ardelyx, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 	  	Three Months Ended
September 30,	 	 	Nine Months Ended
September 30,	 	
 	  	2016	 	 	2015	 	 	2016	 	 	2015	 	
 	  	(Unaudited)	 	 	(Unaudited)	 	 	(Unaudited)	 	 	(Unaudited)	 	
Revenue:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Licensing revenue	  	$	—  	  	 	$	—  	  	 	$	—  	  	 	$	21,611	  	
Collaborative development revenue	  	 	—  	  	 	 	—  	  	 	 	—  	  	 	 	2,415	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	  	 	—  	  	 	 	—  	  	 	 	—  	  	 	 	24,026	  	
Operating expenses:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Research and development	  	 	24,863	  	 	 	14,705	  	 	 	67,951	  	 	 	27,101	  	
General and administrative	  	 	4,337	  	 	 	3,374	  	 	 	13,469	  	 	 	9,438	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total operating expenses	  	 	29,200	  	 	 	18,079	  	 	 	81,420	  	 	 	36,539	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Loss from operations	  	 	(29,200	) 	 	 	(18,079	) 	 	 	(81,420	) 	 	 	(12,513	) 	
Other income (expense)	  	 	169	  	 	 	(77	) 	 	 	307	  	 	 	(138	) 	
Provision for income taxes	  	 	—  	  	 	 	30	  	 	 	—  	  	 	 	30	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net loss	  	$	(29,031	) 	 	$	(18,126	) 	 	$	(81,113	)	 	$	(12,621	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net loss per common share, basic & diluted	  	$	(0.65	) 	 	$	(0.70	) 	 	$	(2.15	) 	 	$	(0.58	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Shares used in computing basic net loss per share, basic and diluted	  	 	44,935,126	  	 	 	25,930,928	  	 	 	37,706,045	  	 	 	21,859,383	  	

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