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Collaboration and License Agreements
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Collaboration And License Agreements [Abstract]  
Collaboration and License Agreements

9. Collaboration and License Agreements

Novartis

In March 2020, the Company entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (the Novartis Agreement) with Novartis Institutes For BioMedical Research, Inc. (Novartis) to collaborate on their research efforts to discover and develop novel TCR-T therapies. Under the Novartis Agreement, the Company will identify and characterize TCRs in accordance with a research plan, transfer data arising from the research plan. Novartis will have the option to license and develop TCRs for up to three novel targets identified in performance of the collaboration during the collaboration period of the Novartis Agreement. Novartis will also have rights of first negotiation for certain additional targets and TCRs identified in performance of the collaboration during a defined collaboration period of the Novartis Agreement and for 180 days after such collaboration period ends (which collaboration period will end no later than March 2023). If during such 180-day right of first negotiation period, the Company notifies Novartis of the Company’s intent to grant a third party a license to a target or TCR identified in the collaboration, then Novartis may obtain the exclusive right to negotiate a license to such target or TCR for an additional 270 days by providing the Company with a term sheet to license such target or TCR within 90 days of the Company’s notice of such intent. The Novartis Agreement provides for payments of an upfront fee of $20.0 million, research funding totaling $10.0 million and potential milestone payments contingent on clinical, regulatory and sales success. In addition to payments upon achievement of certain clinical and regulatory milestones, Novartis will pay the Company mid-single to low double-digit royalties on net sales for each product directed to a target licensed by Novartis. After the end of the collaboration period and the expiration of Novartis’ first right of negotiation, the Company is free to develop TCRs against targets not licensed by Novartis.

The Company concluded that Novartis meets the definition of a customer, as the Company is delivering research and development activities and know-how rights. The Company identified performance obligations for research and development activities, data reporting and participation in joint steering and research committees. The Company determined there is a single performance obligation due to the services being highly interrelated and are therefore not distinct in the context of the contract. The Company combined the pre-option research services and data reporting into a single performance obligation Novartis has an exclusive option to obtain a commercial license for up to three Targets (as defined in the Novartis Agreement) to pursue further development and commercialization of the respective Target. Pursuant to the Novartis Agreement, the option for Novartis to license, develop, and commercialize Targets is not a performance obligation at the outset of the Novartis Agreement as it is a customer option that does not represent a material right.

The Company looked to the promises in the arrangement to determine the method of recognition that best coincides with the pattern of delivery. The Company concluded that the performance of the research services over the expected research term was the predominant promise within the performance obligation. The Company is recognizing the revenue associated with the performance obligation using the input method, according to the actual costs incurred as a percentage of total expected costs to complete the research services. As costs are incurred, the Company will recognize revenue over time. Any change in the estimated percentage complete due to a revised cost forecast will be adjusted in the period in which the change in estimate occurs and the revenue recognition will be updated accordingly. The Company expects the research term to last approximately three years, which is inclusive of the option to extend the arrangement.

The Company determined that the $20.0 million upfront payment, together with the $10.0 million of estimated research costs to be reimbursed by Novartis to be the entirety of the consideration to be included in the transaction price as of the outset of the arrangement. The potential milestone payments that the Company is eligible to receive were excluded from the transaction price, as all milestone amounts were fully constrained based on the assessed probability of achievement. The Company will re-evaluate the transaction price at the end of each reporting period and as uncertain events are resolved or other changes in circumstances occur, and, if necessary, adjust the estimate of the transaction price.

During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized $9.8 million and $0.8 million, respectively of revenue associated with the Novartis Agreement based on performance completed during that period. Additionally, during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company incurred $3.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively of costs associated with the Novartis Agreement that were recorded within research and development expenses in the statements of operations. Additionally, as of December 31, 2021, the Company had current and long-term deferred revenue of $11.4 million and $1.5 million, respectively due to

Novartis Agreement. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had current and long-term deferred revenue of $10.6 million and $8.8 million, respectively due to Novartis Agreement.