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Note 3 - Collaborative and Other Research and Development Contracts
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements  
Collaborative Arrangement Disclosure [Text Block]
Note 3 — Collaborative and Other Research and Development Contracts
 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“BARDA/HHS”).
In January 2007, BARDA/HHS awarded the Company a $102,661, four-year contract for the advanced development of peramivir for the treatment of influenza. During 2009, peramivir clinical development shifted to focus on intravenous delivery and the treatment of hospitalized patients. To support this focus, a September 2009 contract modification was awarded to extend the i.v. peramivir program and to increase funding by $77,191. On February 24, 2011, the Company announced that BARDA/HHS had awarded it a $55,000 contract modification, intended to fund completion of the Phase 3 development of i.v. peramivir for the treatment of patients hospitalized with influenza. That contract modification brought the total contract award from BARDA/HHS to $234,852 and provided funding to support the filing of an NDA to seek regulatory approval for i.v. peramivir in the U.S. In December 2013, BioCryst submitted an NDA filing for i.v. peramivir to the FDA and the NDA was approved in December 2014. The BARDA/HHS contract expired on June 30, 2014 according to its terms.
 
On March 31, 2015, the Company announced that the Biomedical Research and Development Authority within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response awarded BioCryst a contract for the continued development of BCX4430 as a potential treatment for diseases caused by RNA pathogens, including filoviruses. This BARDA/HHS contract includes a base contract of $13,314 to support BCX4430 drug manufacturing, as well as $22,855 in additional development options that can be exercised by the government, bringing the potential value of the contract to $36,169. As of September 30, 2015, a total of $16,300 has been awarded under exercised options within this contract.
 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (“NIAID/HHS”).
In September 2013, NIAID/HHS contracted with the Company for the development of BCX4430 as a treatment for Marburg virus disease. NIAID/HHS, part of the National Institutes of Health, made an initial award of $5,000 to the Company. The total funding under this contract as of September 30, 2015 could be up to $34,002, if all contract options are exercised by NIAID/HHS, over a five year period. The goals of this contract, including amendments, are to file IND applications for intravenous and intramuscular BCX4430 for the treatment of Marburg virus disease, to study BCX4430 as a treatment for Ebola virus disease and to conduct an initial Phase 1 human clinical trial. As of September 30, 2015, a total of $29,875 has been awarded under exercised options within this contract. BCX4430 is the lead compound in the Company’s BSAV research program.
 
The contracts with BARDA/HHS and NIAID/HHS are cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts. That is, the Company is entitled to receive reimbursement for all costs incurred in accordance with the contracts provisions that are related to the development of peramivir and BCX4430 plus a fixed fee, or profit. BARDA/HHS and NIAID/HHS will make periodic assessments of progress and the continuation of the contract is based on the Company’s performance, the timeliness and quality of deliverables, and other factors. The government has rights under certain contract clauses to terminate these contracts. These contracts are terminable by the government at any time for breach or without cause.
 
Seqirus UK Limited (“SUL”).
On June 16, 2015, the Company and Seqirus UK Limited ("SUL"), a limited company organized under the laws of the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of CSL Limited, a company organized under the laws of Australia, entered into a License Agreement (the "SUL Agreement") granting SUL and its affiliates worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize RAPIVAB (peramivir injection) for the treatment of influenza except for the rights to conduct such activities in Israel, Japan, Korea and Taiwan (the permitted geographies together constituting the "Territory"). RAPIVAB is an intravenous treatment for acute uncomplicated influenza and is currently licensed for use in the United States, Japan and Korea. RAPIVAB is the first and only intravenous influenza treatment in the world and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2014 for the treatment of acute uncomplicated influenza in patients 18 years and older who have been symptomatic for no more than two days. The Company retains all rights and associated economics to procure pandemic stockpiling orders for RAPIVAB from the U.S. Government, while SUL has the right to pursue government stockpiling outside the U.S.
 
Pursuant to the SUL Agreement, RAPIVAB will be commercialized by CSL's subsidiary, SUL, which specializes in influenza prevention through the supply of seasonal and pandemic vaccine to global markets. SUL will manufacture, commercialize and exercise decision-making authority with respect to the development and commercialization of RAPIVAB within the Territory and be responsible for all related costs, including sales and promotion. The Company will exercise sole decision-making authority with regard to the development and commercialization of RAPIVAB outside of the Territory and is responsible for all associated costs.
 
In December 2013, the Company submitted a New Drug Application ("NDA") for RAPIVAB to the FDA. Under the terms of the SUL Agreement, the Company is responsible for fulfilling all post-marketing approval commitments in connection with the FDA's approval of the NDA, and upon fulfillment will transfer ownership of and financial responsibility for the NDA to SUL. Pursuant to potential rights to sell RAPIVAB in Canada and the EU, the Company is also responsible for regulatory filings and interactions with the Health Canada and the European Medicines Agency ("EMA") until marketing approval for RAPIVAB is obtained and assigned to SUL. In accordance with the SUL Agreement, the Company and SUL formed a joint steering committee, composed of an equal number of representatives from each party, to oversee, review and coordinate the conduct and progress of the commercialization of RAPIVAB in the Territory and any additional development.
 
Under the terms of the SUL Agreement, the Company received an upfront payment of $33,740, and may receive up to $12,000 in additional milestone payments related to the successful achievement of regulatory milestones, including marketing approval (i) by the FDA for a pediatric indication, (ii) by the EMA for an adult indication in the EU and (iii) by Health Canada for an adult indication in Canada. The Company is also entitled under the SUL Agreement to receive tiered royalties at a percentage rate beginning in the mid-teens contingent upon meeting minimum thresholds of net sales, as well as a low-thirties percentage of the gross profit from government stockpiling purchases made outside the U.S. Specifically, the Company receives tiered royalties at a percentage rate in the mid-teens to low-forties on net sales in the U.S. during a Contract Year (defined as July 1 - June 30) and tiered royalties at a percentage rate in the mid-teens to mid-twenties on net sales in the Territory, other than in the U.S., during a Calendar Year, each subject to certain downward adjustments for circumstance or events impacting the overall market opportunity. SUL's royalty payment obligations commence on the date of the SUL Agreement and expire, on a country-by-country basis, upon the later of (i) the expiration of legal exclusivity in such country and (ii) ten years from the date of the SUL Agreement (the "Royalty Term"). The Company developed RAPIVAB under a license from UAB and will owe sublicense payments to them on any future milestone payments and/or royalties received by the Company from SUL.
 
The term of the SUL Agreement shall continue on a country-by-country basis until the expiration of the last-to-expire Royalty Term in any such country in the Territory. Either party may terminate the SUL Agreement in its entirety if the other party breaches a payment obligation, otherwise materially breaches the SUL Agreement, subject to applicable cure periods, or if the other party suffers an insolvency event. The Company may also terminate the SUL Agreement if SUL or any of its affiliates seek to challenge the validity of the Company's patents. Termination does not affect a party's rights which have accrued prior thereto, but there are no stated payments in connection with termination other than payments of obligations previously accrued. For all terminations exercised by the Company, the SUL Agreement provides for the termination of any sublicenses granted by SUL to third parties, and in the case of termination by the Company for cause, the ceasing of SUL's activities with respect to RAPIVAB, the discontinued use of all Company intellectual property and the termination of licenses and rights previously granted to SUL. If requested by the Company, SUL shall also promptly sell to the Company all licensed product it then holds in stock, otherwise, SUL may continue to sell such licensed product for designated periods.
 
Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (“Shionogi”).
In February 2007, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement with Shionogi to develop and commercialize peramivir in Japan for the treatment of seasonal and potentially life-threatening human influenza. Under the terms of the agreement, Shionogi obtained rights to injectable formulations of peramivir in Japan. The Company developed peramivir under a license from UAB and will owe sublicense payments to them on any future milestone payments and/or royalties received by the Company from Shionogi. In October 2008, the Company and Shionogi amended the license agreement to expand the territory covered by the agreement to include Taiwan and to provide rights for Shionogi to perform a Phase 3 clinical trial in Hong Kong. Shionogi has commercially launched peramivir under the commercial name RAPIACTA in Japan. Shionogi submitted an NDA to the Taiwan FDA in late 2013.
 
Green Cross Corporation (“Green Cross”).
In June 2006, the Company entered into an agreement with Green Cross to develop and commercialize peramivir in Korea. Under the terms of the agreement, Green Cross will be responsible for all development, regulatory, and commercialization costs in Korea. The Company received a one-time license fee of $250. The license also provides that the Company will share in profits resulting from the sale of peramivir in Korea, including the sale of peramivir to the Korean government for stockpiling purposes. Furthermore, Green Cross will pay the Company a premium over its cost to supply peramivir for development and any future marketing of peramivir products in Korea.
 
Mundipharma International Holdings Limited (“Mundipharma”).
In February 2006, the Company entered into an exclusive, royalty bearing right and license agreement with Mundipharma for the development and commercialization of forodesine, a Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase (“PNP”) inhibitor, for use in oncology. Under the terms of the license agreement, as amended, Mundipharma obtained worldwide rights to forodesine.  
 
Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and Industrial Research, Ltd. (“AECOM” and “IRL” respectively).
In June 2000, the Company licensed a series of potent inhibitors of PNP from AECOM and IRL, (collectively, the “Licensors”). The lead product candidates from this collaboration are forodesine and ulodesine. The Company has obtained worldwide exclusive rights to develop and ultimately distribute these, or any other, product candidates that might arise from research on these inhibitors. The Company has the option to expand the Agreement to include other inventions in the field made by the investigators or employees of the Licensors. The Company agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop these drugs. In addition, the Company has agreed to pay certain milestone payments for each licensed product (which range in the aggregate from $1,400 to almost $4,000 per indication) for future development of these inhibitors, single digit royalties on net sales of any resulting product made by the Company, and to share approximately one quarter of future payments received from other third-party partners, if any. In addition, the Company has agreed to pay annual license fees, which can range from $150 to $500, that are creditable against actual royalties and other payments due to the Licensors. This agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time by giving 60 days advance notice or in the event of material uncured breach by the Licensors.
 
In May 2010, the Company amended the licensee agreement through which the Company obtained worldwide exclusive rights to develop and ultimately distribute any product candidates that might arise from research on a series of PNP inhibitors, including forodesine and ulodesine. Under the terms of the amendment, the Licensors agreed to accept a reduction of one-half in the percentage of future payments received from third-party sub licensees of the licensed PNP inhibitors that must be paid to the Licensors. This reduction does not apply to (i) any milestone payments the Company may receive in the future under its license agreement dated February 1, 2006 with Mundipharma and (ii) royalties received from its sub licensees in connection with the sale of licensed products, for which the original payment rate will remain in effect. The rate of royalty payments to the Licensors based on net sales of any resulting product made by the Company remains unchanged.
 
In consideration for these modifications in 2010, the Company issued to the Licensors shares of its common stock with an aggregate value of $5,911 and paid the Licensors $90 in cash. Additionally, at the Company’s sole option and subject to certain agreed upon conditions, any future non-royalty payments due to be paid by it to the Licensors under the license agreement may be made either in cash, in shares of its common stock, or in a combination of cash and shares.
 
On November 17, 2011, the Company further amended its agreements with the Licensors whereby the Licensors agreed to accept a reduction of one-half in the percentage of Net Proceeds (as defined) received by the Company under its Amended and Restated Agreement with Mundipharma that will be paid to AECOM/IRL.
 
On June 19, 2012, the Company further amended its agreements with AECOM/IRL whereby the parties clarified the definition of the field with respect to PNP inhibition and AECOM/IRL agreed to exclusive worldwide license of BCX4430 to BioCryst for any antiviral use.
 
At its sole option and subject to certain agreed upon conditions, any future non-royalty payments due to be paid by the Company to AECOM/IRL under the license agreement may be made either in cash, in shares of the Company’s common stock, or in a combination of cash and shares.
 
On January 6, 2014, the Carbohydrate Chemistry Research Team from Callaghan Innovation Research Limited, formerly Industrial Research Limited, transferred to Victoria University of Wellington (“VUW”) to establish the Ferrier Research Institute. The intellectual property rights relating to this research team, and the contracts relating to that intellectual property were transferred to a wholly owned subsidiary of VUW, including the contracts to which BioCryst is a party. The parties executed novation agreements in order to effectuate the transfer. Except for a substitution of parties, the terms and conditions of the contracts are substantially the same.
 
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (“UAB”).
The Company currently has agreements with UAB for influenza neuraminidase and complement inhibitors. Under the terms of these agreements, UAB performed specific research for the Company in return for research payments and license fees. UAB has granted the Company certain rights to any discoveries in these areas resulting from research developed by UAB or jointly developed with the Company. The Company has agreed to pay single digit royalties on sales of any resulting product and to share in future payments received from other third-party partners. The Company has completed the research under the UAB agreements. These two agreements have initial 25-year terms, are automatically renewable for five-year terms throughout the life of the last patent and are terminable by the Company upon three months’ notice and by UAB under certain circumstances. Upon termination both parties shall cease using the other parties’ proprietary and confidential information and materials, the parties shall jointly own joint inventions and UAB shall resume full ownership of all UAB licensed products. There is currently no activity between the Company and UAB on these agreements, but when the Company licenses this technology, such as in the case of the Shionogi, Green Cross and SUL agreements, or commercializes products related to these programs, the Company will owe sublicense fees or royalties on amounts it receives.