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Collaboration Agreement
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Collaboration Agreement  
Collaboration Agreement

7. Collaboration Agreement

 

In October 2016, the Company entered into a Collaboration, Option and License Agreement (the “Collaboration Agreement”) with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  (“Regeneron”) for the development and potential commercialization of products containing the Company’s extended-delivery hydrogel formulation in combination with Regeneron’s large molecule VEGF-targeting compounds for the treatment of retinal diseases.  The Collaboration Agreement does not cover the development of any product candidates that deliver small molecule drugs, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, or TKIs, or deliver large molecule drugs other than those that target VEGF proteins. 

 

Under the terms of the Collaboration Agreement, the Company and Regeneron have agreed to conduct a joint research program with the aim of developing an extended-delivery formulation of aflibercept, currently marketed under the tradename Eylea, that is suitable for advancement into clinical development.  The Company has granted Regeneron an option (the “Option”) to enter into an exclusive, worldwide license to develop and commercialize products containing the Company’s hydrogel in combination with Regeneron’s large molecule VEGF-targeting compounds (“Licensed Products”).  Under the term of the Collaboration Agreement, Regeneron is responsible for funding an initial preclinical tolerability study.

 

If the Option is exercised, Regeneron will conduct further preclinical development and an initial clinical trial under a collaboration plan.  The Company is obligated to reimburse Regeneron for certain development costs incurred by Regeneron under the collaboration plan during the period through the completion of the initial clinical trial, subject to a cap of $25,000, which cap may be increased by up to $5,000 under certain circumstances.  If Regeneron elects to proceed with further development following the completion of the collaboration plan, it will be solely responsible for conducting and funding further development and commercialization of product candidates.  If the Option is exercised, Regeneron is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to research, develop and commercialize at least one Licensed Product.  Such efforts shall include initiating the dosing phase of a subsequent clinical trial within specified time periods following the completion of the first-in-human clinical trial or the initiation of preclinical toxicology studies, subject to certain extensions.  Through March 31, 2020, the Option has not been exercised, and no payments have been made.

 

Under the terms of the Collaboration Agreement, Regeneron has agreed to pay the Company $10,000 upon the exercise of the Option.  The Company is also eligible to receive up to $145,000 per Licensed Product upon the achievement of specified development and regulatory milestones, $100,000 per Licensed Product upon first commercial sale of such Licensed Product and up to $50,000 based on the achievement of specified sales milestones for all Licensed Products.  In addition, the Company is entitled to tiered, escalating royalties, in a range from a high-single digit to a low-to-mid teen percentage of net sales of Licensed Products.   

 

In December 2017, the Company delivered to Regeneron a proposed final formulation for the initial preclinical tolerability study.  Regeneron initiated the preclinical study in early 2018.  The Company and Regeneron have subsequently reached an understanding that the proposed formulation was not final and have ceased development of it.  The Company is currently in discussions with Regeneron, in accordance with the terms of the Collaboration Agreement, regarding the development of an alternative formulation.