XML 24 R10.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.3.0.15
License Agreements
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
License Agreements 
License Agreements

4. License Agreements

 

Meda AB

 

In January 2010, the Company entered into an exclusive commercialization agreement for Ceplene® with Meda AB (“Meda”), a leading international specialty pharmaceutical company based in Stockholm, Sweden.  Under the terms of the agreement, the Company granted Meda the right to market Ceplene® in Europe and several other countries including Japan, China, and Australia.  The Company received a $3.0 million fee on signing and an additional $2.0 million milestone payment in May 2010 upon the first commercial sale of Ceplene® in a major European market, which have been deferred and are being recognized as revenue ratably over the life of the commercialization agreement with Meda.  Additional potential payments include a $5 million payment upon achievement of a regulatory milestone and up to $30 million in sales-based milestones that commence upon attainment of at least $50 million in annual sales. The Company will also receive an escalating percentage royalty on net sales in the covered territories ranging from the low teens to the low twenties and is responsible for Ceplene®’s commercial supply.  The initial term of this agreement is ten years and is subject to automatic two year extensions at Meda’s option. The agreement can be terminated at any time by Meda upon six months prior written notice.  The agreement can also be terminated by mutual agreement or for cause.  The Company recognized revenue from Meda relating to the signing fee and milestone payment of approximately $0.1 million for each of the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 and approximately $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.  For the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company recognized revenue relating to commercial sales of Ceplene® of approximately $34,000 and $16,000, respectively.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company recognized revenue relating to commercial sales of Ceplene® of approximately $35,000 and $0.1 million, respectively.

 

Myrexis, Inc.

 

In connection with its merger with Maxim Pharmaceuticals on January 4, 2006, EpiCept acquired a license agreement with Myrexis Inc. (“Myrexis”) under which the Company licensed the MX90745 series of caspase-inducer anti-cancer compounds to Myrexis. Under the terms of the agreement, Maxim granted to Myrexis a research license to develop and commercialize any drug candidates from the series of compounds during the Research Term (as defined in the agreement) with a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license, without the right to sublicense the technology. Myrexis is responsible for the worldwide development and commercialization of any drug candidates from the series of compounds. Maxim also granted to Myrexis a worldwide royalty bearing development and commercialization license with the right to sublicense the technology. The agreement requires that Myrexis make licensing, research and milestone payments to the Company totaling up to $27 million, of which $3.0 million was paid and recognized as revenue by Maxim prior to the merger on January 4, 2006, assuming the successful commercialization of the compound for the treatment of cancer, as well as pay an escalating mid to high single digit percentage royalty on product sales.   In March 2008, the Company received a milestone payment of $1.0 million following dosing of the first patient in a Phase II registration sized clinical trial, which has been deferred and is being recognized as revenue ratably over the life of the last to expire patent that expires in July 2024.  In September 2011 Myrexis announced that it has suspended development of Azixa™ in order to focus its resources on its early stage compounds.   The Company is currently evaluating its options related to the continued development of AzixaTM.  For each of the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded revenue from Myrexis of approximately $15,000.  For each of the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded revenue from Myrexis of approximately $46,000.

 

DURECT Corporation (DURECT)

 

In December 2006, the Company entered into a license agreement with DURECT Corporation (“DURECT”), pursuant to which it granted DURECT the exclusive worldwide rights to certain of its intellectual property for a transdermal patch containing bupivacaine for the treatment of back pain. Under the terms of the agreement, EpiCept received a $1.0 million payment which has been deferred and is being recognized as revenue ratably over the life of the last to expire patent that expires in March 2020. In September 2008, the Company amended its license agreement with DURECT.  Under the terms of the amended agreement, the Company granted DURECT royalty-free, fully paid up, perpetual and irrevocable rights to the intellectual property licensed as part of the original agreement in exchange for a cash payment of $2.25 million from DURECT, which has also been deferred and is being recognized as revenue ratably over the life of the last to expire patent.  The Company recorded revenue from DURECT of approximately $68,000 for each of the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and approximately $0.2 million for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.

 

Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Endo)

 

In December 2003, the Company entered into a license agreement with Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Endo”) under which it granted Endo (and its affiliates) the exclusive (including as to the Company and its affiliates) worldwide right to commercialize LidoPAIN BP. The Company also granted Endo worldwide rights to use certain of its patents for the development of certain other non-sterile, topical lidocaine containing patches, including Lidoderm®, Endo’s topical lidocaine-containing patch for the treatment of chronic lower back pain.  Under the terms of the license agreement, the Company is responsible for continuing and completing the development of LidoPAIN BP, including the conduct of all clinical trials and the supply of the clinical products necessary for those trials and the preparation and submission of the NDA in order to obtain regulatory approval for LidoPAIN BP. Endo remains responsible for continuing and completing the development of Lidoderm® for the treatment of chronic lower back pain, including the conduct of all clinical trials and the supply of the clinical products necessary for those trials.  No progress in the development of LidoPAIN BP or Lidoderm with respect to back pain has been reported. Accordingly, the Company does not expect to receive any further cash compensation pursuant to this license agreement.  For the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded revenue from Endo of approximately $10,000 and $5,000, respectively.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded revenue from Endo of approximately $29,000 and $13,000, respectively.