Preclinical Collaboration

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Preclinical Collaboration

Preclinical Collaboration

15. Preclinical Collaboration

In December 2012, the Company agreed to form GBO, an entity owned by the Company and GVK. The purpose of GBO was to collaborate on and develop two programs through filing of an investigational new drug application and/or conducting proof of concept studies using the Company’s technology platform.

During 2013, GVK made an initial capital contribution of $500,000 in exchange for a 10% interest in GBO, and the Company made an initial capital contribution of a sublicense to all the intellectual property controlled by the Company related to the two specified programs in exchange for a 90% interest. Under the terms of the agreement, GVK made additional capital contributions. The GVK percentage interest in GBO could have changed from the initial 10% to up to 50%, depending on the amount of its total capital contributions. During November 2014, GVK made an additional capital contribution of $500,000 which increased its interest in GBO to 17.5%. The Company evaluated its variable interests in GBO on a quarterly basis and determined that it was the primary beneficiary.

GVK had operational control of GBO and the Company had strategic and scientific control. The two preclinical programs sublicensed to GBO were not developed to clinical stage as initially hoped, and GBO was dissolved in June 2018. The dissolution resulted in a gain of $693,000 to the Company, primarily as a result of forgiveness of GBO payables to GVK. Upon consolidation of GBO, the $693,000 gain and $(163,000) non-controlling interest portion were recorded by the Company in the quarter ended June 30, 2018.