Research and development expenses were $30.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared to $33.6 million for the same period in 2015. The decrease in research and development expenses for the third quarter of 2016 over the comparable period in 2015 was primarily attributable to a decrease in salary and employee-related costs and a decrease in contract manufacturing costs. The Company expects that operating expenses will continue to decrease in the fourth quarter of 2016 due to the reductions in workforce announced in February and July 2016, the decision to withdraw lomitapide from select global markets or to partner lomitapide in such markets where feasible, and reductions in legal fees following the preliminary agreements in principle with the DOJ and SEC, though the reduction will be partially offset by ongoing transaction-related costs.