Related Party Transactions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Related Party Transactions

7. Related Party Transactions

During 2005, the Company engaged Paramount to assist in placing shares of Series A Preferred Stock on a “best efforts” basis. Lindsay A. Rosenwald, M.D. is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Paramount. Dr. Rosenwald is also a managing member of Horizon BioMedical Ventures, LLC (“Horizon”). On December 30, 2004, Horizon authorized the distribution of 2,428,911(4,848,376 pre-Merger) shares of the Company’s common stock (such shares, the “Horizon Distributed Shares”), in equal installments of 1,214,456 (2,424,188 pre-Merger) shares of common stock to Mibars, LLC (“Mibars”) and to Dr. Rosenwald and his designees (the “Designated Shares”). The disposition of the Designated Shares will be subject to certain restrictions as agreed to among Dr. Rosenwald and Dr. Rosenwald’s designees. Among other things, under certain circumstances set forth in pledge agreements between Dr. Rosenwald and his designees, Dr. Rosenwald has the right to re-acquire the Designated Shares from his designees. As a result of those rights, Dr. Rosenwald may be deemed to be an affiliate of the Company.

In connection with the December 22, 2004 Option Agreement with Southern Research Institute (“SRI”), the Company entered into a Finders Agreement, dated December 23, 2004, with Paramount pursuant to which the Company has agreed to compensate Paramount, for services in connection with the Company’s introduction to SRI through the payment of (a) a cash fee of $60 thousand and (b) warrants to purchase 62,621 (125,000 pre-Merger) shares of the Company’s common stock at a price equal to $4.75 ($2.38 pre-Merger) per share. The Company has estimated the fair value of such warrants using the Black-Scholes model, using an assumed risk-free rate of 3.93%, and expected life of 7 years, volatility of 134% and dividend yield of 0%. In December 2004, the Company expensed the $60 thousand that was payable to Paramount and recognized compensation expense in the amount of $251 thousand for the issuance of the warrants. These warrants expired on December 23, 2011.

In connection with the Series A Preferred Stock Offering, the Company and Paramount entered into an Introduction Agreement in January 2005, pursuant to which the Company had agreed to compensate Paramount for its services in connection with the Offering through the payment of (a) cash commissions equal to 7% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and (b) placement warrants to acquire a number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock equal to 10% of the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued in the Offering, exercisable for a period of 7 years from the Closing Date at a per Share exercise price equal to 110% of the price per Share sold in the Offering. These commissions are also payable on additional sales by the Company of securities (other than in a public offering) to investors introduced to the Company by Paramount during the twelve (12) month period subsequent to the final closing of the Offering. The Company also agreed to pay to Paramount a non-accountable expense allowance of $50 thousand to reimburse Paramount for its out-of-pocket expenses. Also, for a period of 36 months from the final Closing, Paramount has the right of first refusal to act as the placement agent for the private sale of the Company’s securities. Lastly, the Company has agreed to indemnify Paramount against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

In connection with the 2006 Offering, on May 3, 2006, the Company paid Paramount a cash commission equal to 7% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Shares sold by Paramount in the 2006 Offering, resulting in a cash payment of approximately $1.7 million. In addition, the Company issued 7-year warrants to the 2006 Placement Agents and their designees to purchase an aggregate of 799,126 shares (10 percent of the Shares sold in the Offering) of the Company’s common stock, of which 532,750 were issued to Paramount at an exercise price of $5.09 per share.

On December 18, 2006 the Company paid Paramount a cash settlement of $180 thousand in exchange for Paramount’s agreement to terminate certain of its rights under the 2005 and 2004 agreements. This amount was expensed in the year ended December 31, 2006.

Mr. Timothy McInerney, who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, was a full-time employee of Paramount from 1992 through March 2007. In addition, Michael Weiser, a current member of the Board of Directors of the Company, and David M. Tanen, who was a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, were full-time employees of Paramount from July 1998 through November 2006, and July 1996 through August 2004, respectively. Mr. John Knox, our former Treasurer, was also a full-time Paramount employee.

In connection with the 2007 Offering, on February 23, 2007, the Company paid Paramount cash commissions equal to 6% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the shares sold by Paramount in the 2007 Offering, resulting in a cash payment of approximately $1.0 million. In addition, the Company issued 5-year warrants to the placement agents in the 2007 Offering and their designees to purchase an aggregate of 177,302 shares (3% of the shares sold in the 2007 Offering) of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $5.75 per share, of which 97,536 were issued to Paramount.

During the year ended December 31, 2008, there were no related party transactions.

Mr. Timothy McInerney, who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, has been a Partner at Riverbank Capital Securities, Inc. since June 2007. In connection with the 2009 Private Placement, on September 15, 2009, the Company paid Riverbank Capital Securities, Inc. cash commissions equal to 3.325% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the shares sold by Riverbank Capital Securities, Inc. in the 2009 Private Placement, resulting in a payment of approximately $168 thousand. In addition, the Company issued 5-year warrants to the placement agents in the 2009 Private Placement and their designees to purchase an aggregate of 138,617 shares of the Company’s common stock (5% of the shares sold in the September 2009 Offering) at an exercise price of $2.04 per share, of which 65,843 were issued to Riverbank Capital Securities, Inc.

On January 6, 2011, we entered into an Exclusive Channel Partner Agreement, or the Channel Agreement, with Intrexon (See Note 8). In partial consideration for each party’s execution and delivery of the Channel Agreement, we entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with Intrexon as more fully described in Note 2.

Intrexon’s Chief Executive Officer, Randal J. Kirk, has served on the Company’s Board of Directors since January 12, 2011.

During 2011 the Company paid Intrexon approximately $2.5 million for services under the Channel Agreement and at December 31, 2011 there was approximately $215 thousand in accounts payable and accrued expenses owed to Intrexon.