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Licensing and Commercialization Agreement
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Licensing and Commercialization Agreement Licensing and Commercialization Agreements
Zimura License Agreement with Archemix Corp.

In September 2011, the Company entered into an amended and restated exclusive license agreement with Archemix Corp. ("Archemix") relating to anti-C5 aptamers (as amended, the "C5 License Agreement"). The C5 License Agreement superseded a July 2007 agreement between the Company and Archemix. Under the C5 License Agreement, the Company holds exclusive worldwide licenses, subject to certain pre–existing rights, under specified patents and technology owned or controlled by Archemix to develop, make, use, sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale, import and export pharmaceutical products comprised of or derived from an anti-C5 aptamer, including Zimura, for the prevention, treatment, cure or control of human indications, diseases, disorders or conditions of the eye, adnexa of the eye, orbit and optic nerve, other than certain expressly excluded applications.

In connection with the C5 License Agreement, the Company paid Archemix an upfront licensing fee of $1.0 million and issued to Archemix an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of its series A-1 preferred stock and 500,000 shares of its series B-1 preferred stock. The Company has paid Archemix an aggregate of $9.0 million in fees based on its achievement of specified clinical milestone events under the C5 License Agreement, including two milestone payments of $1.0 million and $6.0 million, respectively, triggered by the positive 12-month data from, and by completion of, the GATHER1 trial, which the Company paid in March 2020 and October 2020, respectively.

Under the C5 License Agreement, for each anti-C5 aptamer product that the Company may develop under the agreement, including Zimura, it is obligated to make additional payments to Archemix of up to an aggregate of $50.5 million if it achieves specified development, clinical and regulatory milestones, with $24.5 million of such payments relating to a first indication, $23.5 million of such payments relating to second and third indications and $2.5 million of such payments relating to sustained delivery applications. Under the C5 License Agreement, it is also obligated to make additional payments to
Archemix of up to an aggregate of $22.5 million if it achieves specified commercial milestones based on net product sales of all anti-C5 products licensed under the agreement. It is also obligated to pay Archemix a double-digit percentage of specified non-royalty payments it may receive from any sublicensee of its rights under the C5 License Agreement. The Company is not obligated to pay Archemix a running royalty based on net product sales in connection with the C5 License Agreement.

Unless earlier terminated, the C5 License Agreement will expire upon the latest of 12 years after the first commercial sale in any country of the last licensed product, the expiration of the last-to-expire valid claim of the licensed patents that covers a licensed product, and the date on which no further payments of sublicensing income are to be received by the Company.

Either the Company or Archemix may terminate the C5 License Agreement if the other party materially breaches the agreement and the breach remains uncured for a specified period. Archemix may also terminate the C5 License Agreement, or may convert the Company's exclusive license under the agreement to a non-exclusive license, if the Company challenges or assists a third party in challenging the validity or enforceability of any of the patents licensed under the agreement. The Company may terminate the agreement at any time and for any or no reason effective at the end of a specified period following its written notice of termination to Archemix.

IC-100 Agreements with the University of Florida Research Foundation and the University of Pennsylvania
    In June 2018, the Company entered into an exclusive global license agreement (the "RHO-adRP License Agreement") with the University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated ("UFRF") and the University of Pennsylvania ("Penn" and collectively with UFRF, the "Licensors"). Under the agreement, the Licensors granted the Company a worldwide, exclusive license under specified patent rights and a worldwide, non-exclusive license under specified know-how, including specified preclinical data, to manufacture, develop and commercialize certain AAV gene therapy products for the treatment of rhodopsin-mediated diseases. The rights granted under the RHO-adRP License Agreement included certain patent rights covering IC-100, the Company's novel AAV gene therapy product candidate intended to treat RHO-adRP.
    In June 2018, the Company paid UFRF, on behalf of both Licensors, a $0.5 million upfront license issuance fee in connection with entry into the agreement, which was recorded as a research and development expense, as well as accrued patent prosecution expenses of approximately $30 thousand, which was recorded as a general and administrative expense. Under the agreement, the Company agreed to pay an annual license maintenance fee in the low double-digit thousands of dollars, which will be payable on an annual basis until the first commercial sale of a licensed product. In addition, the Company agreed to reimburse UFRF for the costs and expenses of patent prosecution and maintenance related to the licensed patent rights.
    The Company further agreed to pay UFRF, on behalf of both Licensors, up to an aggregate of $23.5 million if the Company achieves specified clinical, marketing approval and reimbursement approval milestones with respect to a licensed product and additionally, up to an aggregate of $70.0 million if the Company achieves specified commercial sales milestones with respect to a licensed product.
    The Company is also obligated to pay UFRF, on behalf of both Licensors, royalties at a low single-digit percentage of net sales of licensed products. Such royalties are subject to customary reductions for lack of patent coverage and loss of regulatory exclusivity. In addition, such royalties with respect to any licensed product in any country may be offset by a specified portion of any royalty payments actually paid by the Company in such country under third-party licenses for patent rights or other intellectual property rights that are necessary to manufacture, develop and commercialize the licensed product in such country. The Company's obligation to pay royalties under the RHO-adRP License Agreement will continue on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis until the latest of:
the expiration of the last-to-expire licensed patent rights covering a licensed product in the country of sale;
the expiration of regulatory exclusivity covering a licensed product in the country of sale; and
ten years from the first commercial sale of the applicable licensed product in the country of sale.
Beginning on the earlier of (i) the calendar year following the first commercial sale of a licensed product and (ii) the first business day of 2031, the Company is also obligated to pay certain minimum royalties, not to exceed an amount in the low
hundreds of thousands of dollars on an annual basis, which minimum royalties are creditable against the Company's royalty obligation with respect to net sales of licensed products due for the year in which the minimum royalty is paid.
    In addition, if the Company or an affiliate sublicenses any of the licensed patent rights to a third party, the Company will be obligated to pay UFRF, on behalf of both Licensors, a low double-digit percentage of the consideration received in exchange for such sublicense. If the Company receives a rare pediatric disease priority review voucher from the FDA in connection with obtaining marketing approval for a licensed product and the Company subsequently uses such priority review voucher in connection with a different product candidate, the Company will be obligated to pay UFRF, on behalf of both Licensors, aggregate payments in the low double-digit millions of dollars based on certain marketing approval and commercial sales milestones with respect to such other product candidate. If the Company sells such priority review voucher to a third party, it will be obligated to pay UFRF, on behalf of both licensors, a low double-digit percentage of any consideration received from such third party in connection with such sale.
    Unless earlier terminated by the Company, the RHO-adRP License Agreement will expire upon the expiration of the Company’s obligation to pay royalties to UFRF on net sales of licensed products. The Company may terminate the agreement at any time for any reason upon prior written notice to UFRF. Penn or UFRF may terminate the RHO-adRP License Agreement in the event of certain breaches by the Company or in the event of certain insolvency events regarding the Company.    
    In addition to the exclusive license agreement, the Company and Penn also entered into to a Master-Sponsored Research Agreement (the "RHO-adRP MSRA"), facilitated by the Penn Center for Innovation. Under the RHO-adRP MSRA, the Company and Penn conducted several preclinical studies of IC-100, as well as a natural history study of RHO-adRP patients. The total amount of funding for the sponsored research covered by statements of work under the RHO-adRP MSRA that the Company has committed to date and is expecting to commit to is in the low single-digit millions of dollars.
IC-200 Agreements with University of Pennsylvania and University of Florida Research Foundation

    In April 2019, the Company entered into an exclusive global license agreement (the "BEST1 License Agreement") with Penn and UFRF. The Company entered into the BEST1 License Agreement by exercising its exclusive option rights under an option agreement that it previously entered into with Penn and UFRF in October 2018. Under the BEST1 License Agreement, Penn and UFRF granted the Company a worldwide, exclusive license under specified patent rights and specified know-how and a worldwide, non-exclusive license under other specified know-how to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize certain AAV gene therapy products, including IC-200, for the treatment of Best disease and other BEST1-related IRDs.

In May 2019, the Company paid Penn, for the benefit of the Licensors, a $0.2 million upfront license issuance fee, which was recorded as a research and development expense, and the Company paid UFRF accrued patent prosecution expenses of approximately $18 thousand, which was recorded as a general and administrative expense. The Company has also agreed to pay Penn, for the benefit of the Licensors, an annual license maintenance fee in the low double-digit thousands of dollars, which will be payable on an annual basis until the first commercial sale of a licensed product. In addition, the Company have agreed to pay Penn, for the benefit of the Licensors, a one-time patent grant fee in the low triple-digit thousands of dollars, upon the issuance of a U.S. patent that claims inventions disclosed in the licensed patent rights or know-how or inventions generated under certain related sponsored research agreements with Penn or UFRF, and that is exclusively licensed to the Company. Furthermore, it has agreed to reimburse Penn and UFRF for the costs and expenses of patent prosecution and maintenance related to the licensed patent rights.

The Company has further agreed to pay Penn, for the benefit of the Licensors, up to an aggregate of $15.7 million if it achieves specified clinical, marketing approval and reimbursement approval milestones with respect to one licensed product, and up to an aggregate of an additional $3.1 million if it achieves these same milestones with respect to a different licensed product. In addition, it has agreed to pay Penn, for the benefit of the Licensors, up to an aggregate of $48.0 million if it achieves specified commercial sales milestones with respect to one licensed product, and up to an aggregate of an additional $9.6 million if it achieves these same milestones with respect to a different licensed product.
 
The Company is also obligated to pay Penn, for the benefit of the Licensors, royalties at a low single-digit percentage of net sales of licensed products. Such royalties are subject to customary deductions, credits, and reductions for lack of patent coverage and loss of regulatory exclusivity. In addition, such royalties with respect to any licensed product in any country may be offset by a specified portion of any royalty payments actually paid by the Company in such country under third-party licenses to patent rights or other intellectual property rights that are necessary to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize the licensed product in such country. Its obligation to pay royalties under the BEST1 License Agreement will continue on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis until the latest of:
the expiration of the last-to-expire licensed patent rights covering the sale of the applicable licensed product in the country of sale;
the expiration of regulatory exclusivity covering the applicable licensed product in the country of sale; and
10 years from the first commercial sale of the applicable licensed product in the country of sale.
Beginning on the earlier of the calendar year following the first commercial sale of a licensed product and calendar year 2032, the Company is also obligated to pay certain minimum royalties, not to exceed an amount in the mid tens of thousands of dollars on an annual basis, which minimum royalties are creditable against its royalty obligation with respect to net sales of licensed products due in the year the minimum royalty is paid.
If the Company or any of its affiliates sublicense any of the licensed patent rights to a third party, it will be obligated to pay Penn, for the benefit of the Licensors, a high single-digit to a mid ten's percentage of the consideration received in exchange for such sublicense, with the applicable percentage based upon the stage of development of the sublicensed product at the time it or the applicable affiliate enters into the sublicense.
 
If the Company receives a rare pediatric disease priority review voucher from the FDA in connection with obtaining marketing approval for a licensed product and the Company subsequently uses such priority review voucher in connection with a different product candidate outside the scope of the BEST1 License Agreement, it will be obligated to pay Penn, for the benefit of the Licensors, aggregate payments in the low double-digit millions of dollars based on certain approval and commercial sales milestones with respect to such other product candidate. In addition, if it sells such a priority review voucher to a third party, it will be obligated to pay Penn, for the benefit of the Licensors, a high single-digit percentage of any consideration received from such third party in connection with such sale.

The BEST1 License Agreement, unless earlier terminated by the Company or Penn or UFRF, will expire upon the expiration of the Company's obligation to pay royalties on net sales of licensed products. Before the effectiveness of an IND for a licensed product, the Company may terminate the BEST1 License Agreement with respect to such licensed product or in its entirety, at any time for any reason upon prior written notice to Penn and UFRF. Following the effectiveness of an IND for a licensed product, it may terminate the BEST1 License Agreement with respect to such licensed product by providing Penn prior written notice and a certification that it is ceasing all use, research and development and commercialization of such licensed product, subject to certain limited exceptions. It may also terminate the BEST1 License Agreement if Penn or UFRF materially breaches the BEST1 License Agreement and does not cure such breach within a specified cure period.

Penn or UFRF may terminate the BEST1 License Agreement if the Company materially breaches the BEST1 License Agreement and does not cure such breach within a specified cure period, if it experiences a specified insolvency event, if it ceases to carry on the entirety of its business related to the licensed patent rights, if it ceases for more than four consecutive quarters to make any payment of earned royalties on net sales of licensed products following the commencement of commercialization thereof, unless such cessation is based on safety concerns that the Company is actively attempting to address, or if it, any of its affiliates or any of its sublicensees challenges or assists a third party in challenging the validity, scope, patentability, and/or enforceability of the licensed patent rights. If it materially breaches certain diligence obligations under the BEST1 License Agreement with respect to only one licensed product, then Penn and UFRF may only terminate its rights and licenses under the BEST1 License Agreement for such licensed product, but not for other licensed products.
    In addition to the exclusive license agreement, the Company and Penn also entered into a Master-Sponsored Research Agreement (the "BEST1 MSRA"), facilitated by the Penn Center for Innovation. Under the BEST1 MSRA, the Company and
Penn are conducting preclinical studies of IC-200, as well as natural history studies of patients with BEST1-related IRDs. The total amount of funding for the sponsored research covered by statements of work under the BEST1 MSRA that the Company has committed to date and expects to commit to is in the low single-digit millions of dollars.
License Agreement with University of Massachusetts for the miniCEP290 Program
    In July 2019, the Company entered into the miniCEP290 License Agreement with UMass by exercising its exclusive option rights under an option agreement and a sponsored research agreement that it previously entered into with UMass in February 2018. Under the miniCEP290 License Agreement, UMass granted it a worldwide, exclusive license under specified patent rights and specified biological materials and a non-exclusive license under specified know-how to make, have made, use, offer to sell, sell, have sold and import products for the treatment of diseases associated with mutations in the CEP290 gene, including LCA10.

In July 2019, the Company issued to UMass 75,000 shares of its common stock following execution of the miniCEP290 License Agreement pursuant to an exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. In September 2019, it paid UMass a $0.4 million upfront license fee, which was recorded as a research and development expense, and it paid UMass accrued patent prosecution expenses of approximately $18 thousand, which was recorded as a general and administrative expense.

The Company has also agreed to pay UMass an annual license maintenance fee in the low double-digit thousands of dollars, which will be payable on an annual basis until the expiration of the royalty term for the licensed products. Furthermore, it has agreed to reimburse UMass for the costs and expenses of patent prosecution and maintenance related to the licensed patent rights.

The Company has further agreed to pay UMass up to an aggregate of $14.75 million in cash and issue up to 75,000 shares of its common stock if it achieves specified clinical and regulatory milestones with respect to a licensed product. In addition, the Company has agreed to pay UMass up to an aggregate of $48.0 million if it achieves specified commercial sales milestones with respect to a licensed product.

The Company is also obligated to pay UMass royalties at a low single-digit percentage of net sales of licensed products. Its obligation to pay royalties under the miniCEP290 License Agreement will continue on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis until the later of: (a) the expiration of the last-to-expire licensed patent rights covering the sale of the applicable licensed product in the country of sale, or (b) 10 years from the first commercial sale of the applicable licensed product in the country of sale. Beginning with the calendar year following receipt of marketing approval for a licensed product, it is also obligated to pay certain minimum royalties, not to exceed an amount in the mid-double-digit thousands of dollars on an annual basis, which minimum royalties are creditable against its royalty obligation with respect to net sales of licensed products due in the year the minimum royalty is paid.

If the Company or any of its affiliates sublicenses any of the licensed patent rights or know-how to a third party, it will be obligated to pay UMass a high single-digit to a mid-tens percentage of the consideration received in exchange for such sublicense, with the applicable percentage based upon the stage of development of the licensed products at the time it or the applicable affiliate enters into the sublicense.

If the Company receives a rare pediatric disease priority review voucher from the FDA in connection with obtaining marketing approval for a licensed product, and it subsequently uses such priority review voucher in connection with a different product candidate outside the scope of the miniCEP290 License Agreement, it will be obligated to pay UMass a low-tens percentage of the fair market value of the priority review voucher at the time of approval of such product candidate and a low-twenties percentage of the fair market value of the priority review voucher at the time of achievement of a specified commercial sales milestone for such other product candidate. In addition, if it sells such a priority review voucher to a third party, it will be obligated to pay UMass a low-thirties percentage of any consideration received from such third party in connection with such sale.
The miniCEP290 License Agreement, unless earlier terminated by the Company or UMass, will expire upon the expiration of its obligation to pay royalties to UMass on net sales of licensed products.  The Company may terminate the miniCEP290 License Agreement at any time for any reason upon prior written notice to UMass. It may also terminate the miniCEP290 License Agreement if UMass materially breaches the miniCEP290 License Agreement and does not cure such breach within a specified cure period.

UMass may terminate the miniCEP290 License Agreement if the Company materially breaches the miniCEP290 License Agreement and does not cure such breach within a specified cure period.