Blueprint
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
____________________________
FORM 10-Q
☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE
|
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
|
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2018
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OR
|
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE
|
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
|
For the transition period from to
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Commission File Number 000-30929
___________________
TG THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization)
|
36-3898269
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification No.)
|
|
2 Gansevoort Street, 9th
Floor
New York, New York 10014
(Address
including zip code of principal executive offices)
(212) 554-4484
(Registrant's
telephone number, including area code)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such
shorter period that the registrant was required to file such
reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days.
Yes
☒ No ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically
and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive
Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405
of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to submit and post such files).
☒
Yes ☐ No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer,
an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting
company, or an emerging growth company. See definition of
“large accelerated filer,” “accelerated
filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and
“emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act.
Large
accelerated filer ☐
|
Accelerated
filer ☒
|
Non-accelerated
filer ☐ (Do not check if smaller reporting
company)
|
Smaller
reporting company ☐
|
|
Emerging growth
company ☐
|
If an
emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant
has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided
pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate
by checkmark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined
in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes
☐ No ☒
There
were 82,818,608 shares of the registrant’s common stock,
$0.001 par value, outstanding as of August 3, 2018.
TG THERAPEUTICS, INC.
FORM 10-Q
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2018
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SPECIAL
CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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3
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|
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PART I
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FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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4
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|
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Item
1
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Financial
Statements:
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4
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|
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|
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Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2018 (unaudited) and
December 31, 2017
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4
|
|
|
|
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Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months
ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 (unaudited)
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5
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|
|
|
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Condensed
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the six
months ended June 30, 2018 (unaudited)
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6
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|
|
|
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Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June
30, 2018 and 2017 (unaudited)
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7
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|
|
|
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Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited)
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8
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|
|
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Item
2
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Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
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21
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|
|
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Item
3
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Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
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33
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|
|
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Item
4
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Controls
and Procedures
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33
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PART II
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OTHER INFORMATION
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33
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|
|
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Item
1
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Legal
Proceedings
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33
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|
|
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Item
1A
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Risk
Factors
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33
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|
|
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Item
6
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Exhibits
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56
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2
SPECIAL CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
Certain
matters discussed in this report, including matters discussed under
the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” may
constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act,
and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause our actual results, performance or
achievements to be materially different from the future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe,"
"estimate," "may," "expect," “plan,”
“intend” and similar expressions are generally intended
to identify forward-looking statements. Our actual results may
differ materially from the results anticipated in these
forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including,
without limitation, those discussed under the captions “Risk
Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and
elsewhere in this report, as well as other factors which may be
identified from time to time in our other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, or in the documents
where such forward-looking statements appear. All written or oral
forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly
qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Such
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
statements about our:
●
expectations for
increases or decreases in expenses;
●
expectations for
the clinical and pre-clinical development, manufacturing,
regulatory approval, and commercialization of our pharmaceutical
product candidates or any other products we may acquire or
in-license;
●
use of clinical
research centers and other contractors;
●
expectations as
to the timing of commencing or completing pre-clinical and clinical
trials and the expected outcomes of those
trials;
●
expectations for
incurring capital expenditures to expand our research and
development and manufacturing capabilities;
●
expectations for
generating revenue or becoming profitable on a sustained
basis;
●
expectations or
ability to enter into marketing and other partnership
agreements;
●
expectations or
ability to enter into product acquisition and in-licensing
transactions;
●
expectations or
ability to build our own commercial infrastructure to manufacture,
market and sell our drug candidates;
●
expectations for
the acceptance of our products by doctors, patients or
payors;
●
ability to
compete against other companies and research
institutions;
●
ability to secure
adequate protection for our intellectual
property;
●
ability to
attract and retain key personnel;
●
abilit yto obtain
reimbursement for our products;
●
estimates of the
sufficiency of our existing cash and cash equivalents and
investments to finance our operating requirements, including
expectations regarding the value and liquidity of our
investments;
●
stock price
volatility; and
●
expectations for
future capital requirements.
The
forward-looking statements contained in this report reflect our
views and assumptions only as of the date this report is signed.
Except as required by law, we assume no responsibility for updating
any forward-looking statements.
We
qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary
statements. In addition, with respect to all of our forward-looking
statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for
forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
3
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
TG Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in
thousands, except share and per share amounts)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
Current
assets:
|
|
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
$105,672
|
$56,718
|
Short-term
investment securities
|
20,573
|
27,999
|
Interest
receivable
|
87
|
108
|
Prepaid research
and development
|
8,890
|
8,056
|
Other current
assets
|
816
|
437
|
Total current
assets
|
136,038
|
93,318
|
Restricted
cash
|
1,237
|
587
|
Leasehold interest,
net
|
2,376
|
2,429
|
Equipment,
net
|
265
|
248
|
Goodwill
|
799
|
799
|
Total
assets
|
$140,715
|
$97,381
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
and stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
Current
liabilities:
|
|
|
Accounts payable
and accrued expenses
|
$35,394
|
$25,877
|
Accrued
compensation
|
1,182
|
1,800
|
Current portion of
deferred revenue
|
152
|
152
|
Notes
payable
|
210
|
128
|
Total current
liabilities
|
36,938
|
27,957
|
Deferred
rent
|
1,411
|
1,364
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Deferred revenue,
net of current portion
|
990
|
1,067
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Total
liabilities
|
39,339
|
30,388
|
Commitments and
contingencies
|
|
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Stockholders’
equity:
|
|
|
Preferred stock,
$0.001 par value per share (10,000,000 shares authorized, none
issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2018 and December 31,
2017)
|
--
|
--
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Common stock,
$0.001 par value per share (150,000,000 shares authorized,
82,539,417 and 73,181,750 shares issued, 82,498,108 and 73,140,441
shares outstanding at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017,
respectively)
|
82
|
73
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Additional paid-in
capital
|
542,062
|
422,017
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Treasury stock, at
cost, 41,309 shares at June 30, 2018 and December 31,
2017
|
(234)
|
(234)
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Accumulated
deficit
|
(440,534)
|
(354,863)
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Total
stockholders’ equity
|
101,376
|
66,993
|
Total liabilities
and stockholders’ equity
|
$140,715
|
$97,381
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed
consolidated financial statements.
4
TG Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in
thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
|
Three
months ended June 30,
|
Six
months ended June 30,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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License
revenue
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$38
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$38
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$76
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$76
|
|
|
|
|
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Costs and
expenses:
|
|
|
|
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Research and
development:
|
|
|
|
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Non-cash
stock expense associated with in–licensing
agreements
|
3,000
|
-
|
4,000
|
-
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Noncash
compensation
|
888
|
1,266
|
3,747
|
3,573
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Other research and
development
|
34,812
|
25,440
|
65,971
|
45,815
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Total research and
development
|
38,700
|
26,706
|
73,718
|
49,388
|
|
|
|
|
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General and
administrative:
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|
|
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Noncash
compensation
|
3,375
|
223
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7,854
|
3,913
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Other general and
administrative
|
2,308
|
1,534
|
4,426
|
2,867
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Total general and
administrative
|
5,683
|
1,757
|
12,280
|
6,780
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs and
expenses
|
44,383
|
28,463
|
85,998
|
56,168
|
|
|
|
|
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Operating
loss
|
(44,345)
|
(28,425)
|
(85,922)
|
(56,092)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other (income)
expense:
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
income
|
(189)
|
(50)
|
(333)
|
(95)
|
Other (income)
expense
|
(14)
|
(22)
|
82
|
84
|
Total other income,
net
|
(203)
|
(72)
|
(251)
|
(11)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
$(44,142)
|
$(28,353)
|
$(85,671)
|
$(56,081)
|
|
|
|
|
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Basic and diluted
net loss per common share
|
$(0.59)
|
$(0.45)
|
$(1.18)
|
$(0.96)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average
shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per common
share
|
74,256,348
|
63,288,269
|
72,456,657
|
58,251,045
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed
consolidated financial statements.
5
TG Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity
(in
thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at January
1, 2018
|
73,181,750
|
$73
|
$422,017
|
41,309
|
$(234)
|
$(354,863)
|
$66,993
|
Issuance of
restricted stock
|
1,420,511
|
1
|
(1)
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Forfeiture of
restricted stock
|
(130,661)
|
*
|
*
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Issuance of common
stock in At-the-Market offerings (net of offering costs of $1.9
million)
|
7,733,949
|
8
|
104,445
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
104,453
|
Compensation in
respect of restricted stock granted to employees, directors and
consultants
|
--
|
--
|
11,601
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
11,601
|
Shares issued in
connection with in-licensing agreements
|
333,868
|
*
|
4,000
|
|
|
|
4,000
|
Net
loss
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
(85,671)
|
(85,671)
|
Balance at June 30,
2018
|
82,539,417
|
$82
|
$542,062
|
41,309
|
$(234)
|
$(440,534)
|
$101,376
|
* Amount less than one thousand dollars.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed
consolidated financial statements.
6
TG Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in
thousands)
(Unaudited)
|
Six months ended
June 30,
|
|
|
|
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
$(85,671)
|
$(56,081)
|
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to
net cash used in operating activities:
|
|
|
Noncash stock compensation
expense
|
11,601
|
7,485
|
Noncash licensing
expense
|
4,000
|
--
|
Depreciation
|
41
|
41
|
Amortization of premium on
investment securities
|
(9)
|
45
|
Change
in fair value of notes payable
|
82
|
84
|
Changes in assets and
liabilities:
|
|
|
Increase in other
current assets
|
(1,213)
|
(4,252)
|
Decrease in leasehold
interest
|
53
|
75
|
Decrease in accrued interest
receivable
|
22
|
41
|
Decrease in other
assets
|
--
|
395
|
Increase in accounts payable and
accrued expenses
|
8,898
|
3,068
|
Increase in deferred
rent
|
46
|
45
|
Decrease in deferred
revenue
|
(76)
|
(76)
|
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
(62,226)
|
(49,130)
|
|
|
|
CASH
FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
Purchases of
equipment
|
(58)
|
(2)
|
Investment in held-to-maturity
securities
|
(6,965)
|
--
|
Proceeds from maturity of short-term
securities
|
14,400
|
11,000
|
Net
cash provided by investing activities
|
7,377
|
10,998
|
|
|
|
CASH
FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
Proceeds from the exercise of
warrants
|
--
|
2,143
|
Proceeds from sale of common stock,
net
|
104,453
|
88,562
|
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
104,453
|
90,705
|
|
|
|
NET INCREASE IN CASH, CASH
EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH
|
49,604
|
52,573
|
|
|
|
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND
RESTRICTED CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
|
57,305
|
25,614
|
|
|
|
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND
RESTRICTED CASH AT END OF PERIOD
|
$106,909
|
$78,187
|
|
|
|
Reconciliation to amounts on
consolidated balance sheets:
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$105,672
|
$77,602
|
Restricted
Cash
|
1,237
|
585
|
Total
cash, cash equivalents and restricted
cash
|
$106,909
|
$78,187
|
|
|
|
NONCASH
TRANSACTIONS
|
|
|
Accrued financing
cost
|
$--
|
$234
|
Reclassification of
deferred financing costs to additional paid-in
capital
|
$--
|
$(3)
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed
consolidated financial statements.
7
TG Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited)
Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this report to
“TG,” the “Company,” “we,”
“us” and “our” refer to TG Therapeutics,
Inc. and our subsidiaries.
NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING
POLICIES
Description of Business
We are
a biopharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, development
and commercialization of novel treatments for B-cell malignancies
and autoimmune diseases. Currently, we are developing two therapies
targeting hematologic malignancies. TG-1101 (ublituximab) is a
novel, glycoengineered monoclonal antibody that targets a unique
epitope on the CD20 antigen found on mature B-lymphocytes. We are
also developing TGR-1202 (umbralisib), an orally available PI3K
delta inhibitor. The delta isoform of PI3K is strongly expressed in
cells of hematopoietic origin and is believed to be important in
the proliferation and survival of B-lymphocytes. Both TG-1101 and
TGR-1202, or the combination of which is referred to as "U2," are
in Phase 3 clinical development for patients with hematologic
malignancies, with TG-1101 also in Phase 3 clinical development for
Multiple Sclerosis. Additionally, we have recently brought our
anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody into Phase 1 development and aim to
bring additional pipeline assets into the clinic in the
future.
We also
actively evaluate complementary products, technologies and
companies for in-licensing, partnership, acquisition and/or
investment opportunities. To date, we have not received approval
for the sale of any of our drug candidates in any market and,
therefore, have not generated any product sales from our drug
candidates.
The
accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles, or GAAP, for interim financial information and with the
instructions to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Article 10 of
Regulation S-X of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, they may not
include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for
complete financial statements. All adjustments that are, in the
opinion of management, of a normal recurring nature and are
necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated
financial statements have been included. Nevertheless, these
condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in
conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements
contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2017. The accompanying condensed consolidated December
31, 2017 balance sheet has been derived from these statements. The
results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 are
not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for
the entire fiscal year or any other interim period.
Certain reclassifications have been made to the
prior period unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
to conform to the current period presentation,
including:
●
Presentation of
restricted cash on the condensed consolidated statements of cash
flows for the six months ended June 30, 2017, as a result of the
adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-18 in the first
quarter of 2018.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have
incurred operating losses since our inception and expect to
continue to incur operating losses for the foreseeable future and,
may never become profitable. As of June 30, 2018, we have an
accumulated deficit of approximately $440.5 million.
Our
major sources of cash have been proceeds from the private placement
and public offering of equity securities. We have not yet
commercialized any of our drug candidates and cannot be sure if we
will ever be able to do so. Even if we commercialize one or more of
our drug candidates, we may not become profitable. Our ability to
achieve profitability depends on many factors, including our
ability to obtain regulatory approval for our drug candidates;
successfully completing any post-approval regulatory obligations;
and successfully commercializing our drug candidates alone or in
partnership. We may continue to incur substantial operating losses
even if we begin to generate revenues from our drug
candidates.
As of
June 30, 2018, we had approximately $126.3 million in cash, cash
equivalents, investment securities, and interest receivable. The
Company believes its cash, cash equivalents, investment securities,
and interest receivable on hand as of June 30, 2018 combined with
the proceeds raised subsequent to the quarter end will be
sufficient to fund the Company’s planned operations into the
fourth quarter of 2019. The actual amount of cash that we will need
to operate is subject to many factors, including, but not limited
to, the timing, design and conduct of clinical trials for our drug
candidates. We are dependent upon significant future financing to
provide the cash necessary to execute our current strategic plan,
including the commercialization of any of our drug candidates (see
Note 5 for further details).
Our
common stock is listed on the Nasdaq
Capital Market and trades under the symbol
“TGTX.”
8
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In
July 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-11,
“Leases - Targeted Improvements” (“ASU
2018-11”) as an update to ASU 2016-02, Leases (“ASU
2016-02” or “Topic 842”) issued on February 25,
2016. ASU 2016-02 is effective for public business entities for
fiscal years beginning January 1, 2019. ASU 2016-02 required
companies to adopt the new leases standard at the beginning of the
earliest period presented in the financial statements, which is
January 1, 2017, using a modified retrospective transition method
where lessees must recognize lease assets and liabilities for all
leases even though those leases may have expired before the
effective date of January 1, 2017. Lessees must also provide the
new and enhanced disclosures for each period presented, including
the comparative periods.
ASU
2018-11 provides an entity with an additional (and optional)
transition method to adopt the new leases standard. Under this new
transition method, an entity initially applies the new leases
standard at the adoption date and recognizes a cumulative-effect
adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the
period of adoption. Consequently, an entity’s reporting for
the comparative periods presented in the financial statements in
which it adopts the new leases standard will continue to be in
accordance with current GAAP (Topic 840, Leases). An entity that
elects this additional (and optional) transition method must
provide the required Topic 840 disclosures for all periods that
continue to be in accordance with Topic 840. The amendments do not
change the existing disclosure requirements in Topic 840. An entity
shall apply the effects of modification using one of the following
two methods:
●
Retrospectively
to each prior reporting period presented in the financial
statements with the cumulative effect of initially applying ASU
2018-11 recognized at the beginning of the earliest comparative
period presented. Under this transition method, the application
date shall be the later of the beginning of the earliest period
presented in the financial statements and the commencement date of
the lease.
●
Retrospectively
at the beginning of the period of adoption through a
cumulative-effect adjustment. Under this transition method, the
application date shall be the beginning of the reporting period in
which the entity first applies ASU 2018-11.
ASU 2018-11 is effective for public business
entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and
interim periods within those fiscal years, with earlier adoption
permitted. We
are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of
ASU 2018-11 will have on our consolidated
financial statements.
In
June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, “Improvements to
Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting” (“ASU
2018-07”). ASU 2018-07 expands the scope of FASB Topic 718,
Compensation – Stock Compensation (“Topic 718”)
to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and
services from nonemployees. An entity should only remeasure
equity-classified awards for which a measurement date has not been
established through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained
earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. Upon
transition, the entity is required to measure these nonemployee
awards at fair value as of the adoption date. The entity must not
remeasure assets that are completed. Disclosures required at
transition include the nature of and reason for the change in
accounting principle and, if applicable, quantitative information
about the cumulative effect of the change on retained earnings or
other components of equity.
ASU 2018-07 is effective for
public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December
15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. Early
adoption is permitted, but no earlier than an entity’s
adoption date of Topic 606. We
are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of
ASU 2018-07
will have on our consolidated
financial statements.
9
In
May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, “Scope of
Modification Accounting” (“ASU 2017-09”). ASU
2017-09 provides guidance about which changes to the terms or
conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to
apply modification accounting. An entity should account for the
effects of a modification unless all the following are
met:
●
The
fair value (or calculated value or intrinsic value, if such an
alternative measurement method is used) of the modified award is
the same as the fair value (or calculated value or intrinsic value,
if such an alternative measurement method is used) of the original
award immediately before the original award is modified. If the
modification does not affect any of the inputs to the valuation
technique that the entity uses to value the award, the entity is
not required to estimate the value immediately before and after the
modification.
●
The
vesting conditions of the modified award are the same as the
vesting conditions of the original award immediately before the
original award is modified.
●
The
classification of the modified award as an equity instrument or a
liability instrument is the same as the classification of the
original award immediately before the original award is
modified.
ASU
2017-09 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning on or
after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted for public
business entities for reporting periods for which financial
statements have not yet been issued, and all other entities for
reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been
made available for issuance. The amendments should be applied
prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date.
The Company adopted ASU 2017-09 on January 1, 2018. The adoption of
ASU 2017-09 did not have a material effect on our consolidated
financial statements as of June 30, 2018.
In
January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, “FASB
Clarifies the Definition of a Business” (“ASU
2017-01”). ASU 2017-01 clarifies the definition of a business
in ASC 805. The amendments in ASU 2017-01 are intended to make
application of the guidance more consistent and cost-efficient. The
amendments in ASU 2017-01:
●
Provide
a screen to determine when a set of assets and activities is not a
business. The screen requires that when substantially all of the
fair value of the gross assets acquired (or disposed of) is
concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar
identifiable assets, the set is not a business. This screen reduces
the number of transactions that need to be further
evaluated.
●
Provide
that if the screen is not met, (1) to be considered a business, a
set must include, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process
that together significantly contribute to the ability to create
output and (2) remove the evaluation of whether a market
participant could replace missing elements. The amendments provide
a framework to assist entities in evaluating whether both an input
and a substantive process are present. The framework includes two
sets of criteria to consider that depend on whether a set has
outputs. Although outputs are not required for a set to be a
business, outputs generally are a key element of a business;
therefore, the Board has developed more stringent criteria for sets
without outputs.
●
Narrow
the definition of the term output so that the term is consistent
with how outputs are described in Topic 606.
ASU
2017-01 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after
December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted for transactions
that occurred before the issuance date or effective date of the
standard if the transactions were not reported in financial
statements that have been issued or made available for issuance.
The Company adopted ASU 2017-01 on January 1, 2018. The adoption of
ASU 2017-01 did not have a material effect on our consolidated
financial statements as of June 30, 2018.
In
November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, “Statement of
Cash Flows – Restricted Cash” (“ASU
2016-18”). ASU 2016-18 requires that a statement of cash
flows explain the change during the period for the total of cash,
cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted
cash or restricted cash equivalents. ASU 2016-18 does not provide a
definition of restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents, and
does not change the balance sheet presentation for such items. The
Company adopted ASU 2016-18 on January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU
2016-18 did not have a material effect on our consolidated
financial statements as of June 30, 2018.
10
In
May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue
from Contracts with Customers” (Topic 606) (“ASU
2014-09” or “ASC 606”), which supersedes all
existing revenue recognition requirements, including most
industry-specific guidance. ASU 2014-09 provides a single set of
criteria for revenue recognition among all industries. The new
standard requires a company to recognize revenue when it transfers
goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the
consideration that the Company expects to receive for those goods
or services.
ASU
2014-09 includes guidance for determining whether a license
transfers to a customer at a point in time or over time based on
the nature of the entity’s promise to the customer. To
determine whether the entity’s promise is to provide a right
to access its intellectual property or a right to use its
intellectual property, the entity should consider the nature of the
intellectual property to which the customer will have
rights.
ASU
2014-09 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2017. The standard allows for two transition
methods - full retrospective, in which the standard is applied to
each prior reporting period presented, or modified retrospective,
in which the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard
is recognized at the date of initial adoption. The Company adopted
ASU 2014-09 on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective
approach. The adoption of ASU 2014-09 did not have a material
effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements as of
June 30, 2018.
Other
pronouncements issued by the FASB or other authoritative accounting
standards with future effective dates are either not applicable or
not significant to our consolidated financial
statements.
Use of Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP
requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during
the applicable reporting period. Actual results could differ from
those estimates. Such differences could be material to the
consolidated financial statements.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
We
treat liquid investments with original maturities of three months
or less when purchased as cash and cash equivalents.
Restricted Cash
We
record cash pledged or held in trust as restricted cash. As of June
30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we have approximately $1.2 million
and $0.6 million, respectively, of restricted cash pledged to secure a line of credit as a security
deposit for an Office Agreement
(see Note 8).
11
Investment Securities
Investment
securities at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 consist of
short-term government securities. We classify these securities as
held-to-maturity. Held-to-maturity securities are those securities
in which we have the ability and intent to hold the security until
maturity. Held-to-maturity securities are recorded at amortized
cost, adjusted for the amortization or accretion of premiums or
discounts. Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted over
the life of the related held-to-maturity security as an adjustment
to yield using the effective interest method.
A
decline in the market value of any investment security below cost,
that is deemed to be other than temporary, results in a reduction
in the carrying amount to fair value. The impairment is charged to
operations and a new cost basis for the security is established.
Other-than-temporary impairment charges would be included in
interest and other (income) expense, net. Dividend and interest
income are recognized when earned.
Credit Risk
Financial
instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations
of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and
short-term investments. The Company maintains its cash and cash
equivalents and short-term investments with high-credit quality
financial institutions. At times, such amounts may exceed
federally-insured limits.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize license revenue in accordance with
the revenue recognition guidance of ASC 606. We analyze each
element of our licensing agreement to determine the appropriate
revenue recognition. The terms of the license agreement may include
payments to us of non-refundable up-front license fees, milestone
payments if specified objectives are achieved, and/or royalties on
product sales. We recognize revenue from upfront payments over the
period of significant involvement under the related agreements
unless the fee is in exchange for a promise to transfer more than
one good or service to the customer, in which case the Company
would account for each promised good or service as a performance
obligation only if it is (1) distinct or (2) a series of distinct
goods or services that are substantially the same and have the same
pattern of transfer. For each performance obligation, the Company
would determine whether we satisfy the performance obligation over
time by transferring control of a good or service over
time. To determine whether the Company’s promise
is to provide a right to access its intellectual property or a
right to use its intellectual property, the Company would consider
the nature of the intellectual property to which the customer will
have rights. The Company has symbolic intellectual property,
derived from its association with the Company’s ongoing
activities, including its ordinary business activities. We
recognize milestone payments as revenue upon the achievement of
specified milestones only if (1) the milestone payment is
non-refundable, (2) substantive effort is involved in
achieving the milestone, (3) the amount of the milestone is
reasonable in relation to the effort expended or the risk
associated with achievement of the milestone, and (4) the
milestone is at risk for both parties. If any of these conditions
are not met, we defer the milestone payment and recognize it as
revenue over the estimated period of performance under the
contract.
Research and Development Costs
Generally, research
and development costs are expensed as incurred. Non-refundable
advance payments for goods or services that will be used or
rendered for future research and development activities are
deferred and amortized over the period that the goods are delivered
or the related services are performed, subject to an assessment of
recoverability. We make estimates of costs incurred in relation to
external clinical research organizations, or CROs, and clinical
site costs. We analyze the progress of clinical trials, including
levels of patient enrollment, invoices received and contracted
costs when evaluating the adequacy of the amount expensed and the
related prepaid asset and accrued liability. Significant judgments
and estimates must be made and used in determining the accrued
liability balance and expense in any accounting period. We review
and accrue CRO expenses and clinical trial study expenses based on
work performed and rely upon estimates of those costs applicable to
the stage of completion of a study. Accrued CRO costs are subject
to revisions as such trials progress to completion. Revisions are
charged to expense in the period in which the facts that give rise
to the revision become known. With respect to clinical site costs,
the financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation
and vary from contract to contract. Payments under these contracts
may be uneven, and depend on factors such as the achievement of
certain events, the successful recruitment of patients, the
completion of portions of the clinical trial or similar conditions.
The objective of our policy is to match the recording of expenses
in our financial statements to the actual services received and
efforts expended. As such, expense accruals related to clinical
site costs are recognized based on our estimate of the degree of
completion of the event or events specified in the specific
clinical study or trial contract.
Prepaid
research and development in our consolidated balance sheets
includes, among other things, costs related to agreements with
CRO’s, certain costs to third party service providers related
to development and manufacturing services as well as clinical
development. These agreements often require payments in advance of
services performed or goods received. Accordingly, as of June 30,
2018 and December 31, 2017, we recorded approximately $8.9 million
and $8.1 million, respectively, in prepaid research and development
related to such advance agreements.
12
Income Taxes
Income
taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future
tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the
financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and
liabilities and their respective tax bases, operating losses and
tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are
measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable
income in the years in which those temporary differences are
expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax
assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in
operations in the period that includes the enactment date. If the
likelihood of realizing the deferred tax assets or liability is
less than “more likely than not,” a valuation allowance
is then created.
Stock-Based
Compensation
We
recognize all share-based payments to employees and non-employee
directors (as compensation for service) as noncash compensation
expense in the condensed consolidated financial statements based on
the fair values of such payments. Stock-based compensation expense
recognized each period is based on the value of the portion of
share-based payment awards that is ultimately expected to vest
during the period. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant
and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual
forfeitures differ from those estimates.
For
share-based payments to consultants and other third-parties
(including related parties), noncash compensation expense is
determined at the “measurement date.” The expense is
recognized over the vesting period of the award. Until the
measurement date is reached, the total amount of compensation
expense remains uncertain. We record compensation expense based on
the fair value of the award at the reporting date. The awards to
consultants and other third-parties (including related parties) are
then revalued, or the total compensation is recalculated based on
the then current fair value, at each subsequent reporting
date.
In
addition, because some of the restricted stock issued to employees,
consultants and other third-parties vest upon achievement of
certain milestones, the total expense is uncertain. Compensation
expense for such awards that vest upon the achievement of
milestones is recognized when the achievement of such milestones
becomes probable.
Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Common Share
Basic
net loss per share of our common stock is calculated by dividing
net loss applicable to the common stock by the weighted-average
number of our common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted net
loss per share of common stock is the same as basic net loss per
share of common stock since potentially dilutive securities from
stock options, stock warrants and convertible preferred stock would
have an antidilutive effect either because we incurred a net loss
during the period presented or because such potentially dilutive
securities were out of the money and the Company realized net
income during the period presented. The following outstanding shares of common stock
equivalents were excluded from the computation of net loss per
share attributable to common stockholders for the periods presented
because including them would have been
antidilutive:
|
Three and Six Months Ended June
30,
|
|
|
|
Unvested restricted
shares
|
4,589,940
|
4,275,762
|
Stock
options
|
560,000
|
--
|
Shares issuable
upon note conversion
|
15,950
|
15,181
|
Total
|
5,165,890
|
4,290,943
|
Long-Lived Assets and Goodwill
Long-lived assets
are reviewed for potential impairment when circumstances indicate
that the carrying value of long-lived tangible and intangible
assets with finite lives may not be recoverable. Management’s
policy in determining whether an impairment indicator exists, a
triggering event, comprises measurable operating performance
criteria as well as qualitative measures. If an analysis is
necessitated by the occurrence of a triggering event, we make
certain assumptions in determining the impairment amount. If the
carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash
flows, an impairment charge is recognized.
Goodwill is
reviewed for impairment annually, or earlier when events arise that
could indicate that an impairment exists. We test for goodwill
impairment using a two-step process. The first step compares the
fair value of the reporting unit with the unit's carrying value,
including goodwill. When the carrying value of the reporting unit
is greater than fair value, the unit’s goodwill may be
impaired, and the second step must be completed to measure the
amount of the goodwill impairment charge, if any. In the second
step, the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill
is compared with the carrying amount of the unit’s goodwill.
If the carrying amount is greater than the implied fair value, the
carrying value of the goodwill must be written down to its implied
fair value. We will continue to perform impairment tests annually,
at December 31, and whenever events or changes in circumstances
suggest that the carrying value of an asset may not be
recoverable.
Rent Expense and Deferred Rent
Rent
expense and lease incentives, including landlord construction
allowances, are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease
term, commencing generally on the date the Company takes possession
of the leased property. The Company records lease incentives as
deferred rent and recognizes the lease incentives as reductions of
rental expense. The unamortized portion of deferred rent is
included in deferred rent in the condensed consolidated balance
sheets.
13
NOTE 2 – CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
The
following tables summarize our cash and cash equivalents at June
30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
(in
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Checking and bank
deposits
|
$96,995
|
$55,682
|
Money market
funds
|
8,677
|
1,036
|
Total
|
$105,672
|
$56,718
|
NOTE 3 – INVESTMENT SECURITIES
Our
investments as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are
classified as held-to-maturity. Held-to-maturity investments are
recorded at amortized cost.
The
following tables summarize our investment securities at June 30,
2018 and December 31, 2017:
|
|
|
Amortized
cost, as adjusted
|
Gross
unrealized holding gains
|
Gross
unrealized holding losses
|
|
Short-term
investments:
|
|
|
|
|
Obligations of
domestic governmental agencies (maturing between July 2018 and
April 2019) (held-to-maturity)
|
$20,573
|
$--
|
$17
|
$20,556
|
Total short-term
investment securities
|
$20,573
|
$--
|
$17
|
$20,556
|
|
|
|
Amortized
cost, as adjusted
|
Gross
unrealized holding gains
|
Gross
unrealized holding losses
|
|
Short-term
investments:
|
|
|
|
|
Obligations of domestic governmental agencies
(maturing between January 2018 and November 2018) (held-to-maturity)
|
$27,999
|
--
|
$35
|
$27,964
|
Total short-term
investment securities
|
$27,999
|
--
|
$35
|
$27,964
|
NOTE 4 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
We
measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a
recurring basis in the condensed consolidated financial statements.
The fair value hierarchy ranks the quality and reliability of
inputs, or assumptions, used in the determination of fair value and
requires financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value to
be classified and disclosed in one of the following three
categories:
●
|
Level 1 – quoted prices in
active markets for identical assets and
liabilities;
|
●
|
Level 2 – inputs other than
Level 1 quoted prices that are directly or indirectly observable;
and
|
●
|
Level 3 – unobservable inputs
that are not corroborated by market data.
|
14
As of
June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the fair values of cash and
cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts payable, and notes and
interest payable, approximate their carrying value.
At the time of our merger (we were then known as Manhattan
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Manhattan”)) with Ariston
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Ariston”) in March 2010,
Ariston issued $15.5 million of five-year 5% notes payable (the
“5% Notes”) in satisfaction of several note payable
issuances. The 5% Notes and accrued and unpaid interest thereon are
convertible at the option of the holder into common stock at the
conversion price of $1,125 per share. Ariston agreed to make
quarterly payments on the 5% Notes equal to 50% of the net product
cash flow received from the exploitation or commercialization of
Ariston’s product candidates, AST-726 and AST-915. We have no
obligations under the 5% Notes aside from (a) 50% of the net
product cash flows from Ariston’s product candidates, if any,
payable to noteholders; and (b) the conversion feature, discussed
above.
The cumulative
liability including accrued and unpaid interest of the 5% Notes was
approximately $17.9 million at June 30, 2018 and $17.5 million at
December 31, 2017. No payments have been made on the 5%
Notes as of June 30, 2018.
In
December 2011, we elected the fair value option for valuing the 5%
Notes. The fair value option was elected in order to reflect in our
financial statements the assumptions that market participants use
in evaluating these financial instruments.
As of
December 31, 2013, as a result of expiring intellectual property
rights and other factors, it was determined that net product cash
flows from AST-726 were unlikely. As we have no other obligations
under the 5% Notes aside from the net product cash flows and the
conversion feature, the conversion feature was used to estimate the
5% Notes’ fair value as of June 30, 2018 and December 31,
2017. The assumptions, assessments and projections of future
revenues are subject to uncertainties, difficult to predict, and
require significant judgment. The use of different assumptions,
applying different judgment to inherently subjective matters and
changes in future market conditions could result in significantly
different estimates of fair value and the differences could be
material to our condensed consolidated financial
statements.
The
following tables provide the fair value measurements of applicable
financial liabilities as of June 30, 2018 and December 31,
2017:
(in
thousands)
|
Financial
liabilities at fair value as of June 30, 2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5%
Notes
|
$--
|
$--
|
$210
|
$210
|
Total
|
$--
|
$--
|
$210
|
$210
|
|
Financial
liabilities at fair value as of December 31, 2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5%
Notes
|
$--
|
$--
|
$128
|
$128
|
Total
|
$--
|
$--
|
$128
|
$128
|
The
Level 3 amounts above represent the fair value of the 5% Notes and
related accrued interest.
15
The
following table summarizes the changes in Level 3 instruments
during the six months ended June 30, 2018:
(in
thousands)
|
|
|
|
Fair value at
December 31, 2017
|
$128
|
Interest accrued on
face value of 5% Notes
|
436
|
Change in fair
value of Level 3 liabilities
|
(354)
|
Fair value at June
30, 2018
|
$210
|
The
change in the fair value of the Level 3 liabilities is reported in
other (income) expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated
statements of operations.
NOTE 5 - STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred Stock
Our
amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the
issuance of up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par
value, with rights senior to those of our common stock,
issuable in
one or more series. Upon issuance, we can determine the rights,
preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof. These rights,
preferences and privileges could include dividend rights,
conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation
preferences, sinking fund terms and the number of shares
constituting any series or the designation of such series, any or
all of which may be greater than the rights of common
stock.
Common Stock
Our
amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the
issuance of up to 150,000,000 shares of $0.001 par value common
stock.
In May
2017, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (the
"2017 S-3"), which was declared effective in June 2017, replacing
the 2015 S-3. Under the 2017 S-3, the Company may sell up to a
total of $300 million of its securities. In connection with the
2017 S-3, we entered into an At-the-Market Issuance Sales Agreement
(the "2017 ATM") with Jefferies LLC, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.,
FBR Capital Markets & Co., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.,
Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Ladenburg Thalmann & Co.
Inc. and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (each a "2017 Agent" and
collectively, the "2017 Agents"), relating to the sale of shares of
our common stock. Under the 2017 ATM we pay the 2017 Agents a
commission rate of up to 3.0% of the gross proceeds from the sale
of any shares of common stock.
In July
2018, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (the
“2018 S-3”) pursuant to the Joint Venture and License
Option Agreement, dated June 18, 2018, by and between TG
Therapeutics, Inc. and Novimmune S.A. (“Novimmune”),
pursuant to which we issued 216,294 common shares to Novimmune. The
2018 S-3 was declared effective in July 2018.
During
the six months ended June 30, 2018, we sold a total of 7,733,949
shares of common stock under the 2017 ATM for aggregate total gross
proceeds of approximately $106.3 million at an average selling
price of $13.75 per share, resulting in net proceeds of
approximately $104.5 million after deducting commissions and other
transactions costs.
Subsequent to the
second quarter, from July 1, 2018 through August 7, 2018, we sold
an aggregate of 358,000 shares of common stock pursuant to the 2017
ATM for total gross proceeds of approximately $4.7 million at an
average selling price of $13.00 per share, resulting in net
proceeds of approximately $4.6 million after deducting commissions
and other transactions costs.
The
2017 S-3 is currently our only active shelf registration statement,
pursuant to which we can issue shares in an offering. After
deducting shares already sold there is approximately $145.9 million
of common stock that remains available for sale under the 2017 S-3.
We may offer the securities under the 2017 S-3 from time to time in
response to market conditions or other circumstances if we believe
such a plan of financing is in the best interests of our
stockholders. We believe that the 2017 S-3 provides us with the
flexibility to raise additional capital to finance our operations
as needed.
16
Equity Incentive Plans
The TG
Therapeutics, Inc. Amended and Restated 2012 Incentive Plan
(“2012 Incentive Plan”) was approved by stockholders in
June 2018. Pursuant to this
amendment, 6,000,000 shares were added to the 2012 Incentive
Plan. As of June 30, 2018, 560,000 options were outstanding
and up to an additional 4,654,278 shares may be issued under the
2012 Incentive Plan.
Effective as of
January 1, 2017, we entered into an amendment (the
“Amendment”) to the employment agreement entered as of
December 15, 2011 (together with the Amendment, the
“Employment Agreement”) with Michael S. Weiss, our
Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and President of the
Company. Under the Amendment, Mr. Weiss will remain as Chief
Executive Officer and President, removing the interim status.
Simultaneously, we entered into a Strategic Advisory Agreement (the
“Advisory Agreement”) with Caribe BioAdvisors, LLC (the
“Advisor”) owned by Mr. Weiss to provide the services
of Mr. Weiss as Chairman of the Board and as Executive Chairman. As
part of the Amendment, Mr. Weiss also agreed to forfeit 3,381,866
restricted shares previously granted under the Employment Agreement
that were predominantly subject to time-based vesting over the next
three years. Simultaneously, (i) Mr. Weiss was issued 418,371
restricted shares under the Employment Agreement that vest in 2018
and 2019 and (ii) the Advisor was issued 2,960,000 restricted
shares under the Advisory Agreement that vested on market
capitalization thresholds ranging from $375 million to $750
million. In accordance with GAAP, there was no incremental stock
compensation
expense recognition as a result of the modification.
Stock Options
The
fair value of stock options granted is estimated at the date of
grant using the Black-Scholes pricing model. The expected term of
options granted is derived from historical data and the expected
vesting period. Expected volatility is based on the historical
volatility of our common stock. The risk-free interest rate is
based on the U.S. Treasury yield for a period consistent with the
expected term of the option in effect at the time of the grant. We
have assumed no expected dividend yield, as dividends have never
been paid to stock or option holders and will not be paid for the
foreseeable future. We granted 560,000 and zero stock options
during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017,
respectively.
The
following table summarizes stock option activity for the three
months ended June 30, 2018:
|
|
Weighted-
average
exercise
price
|
Weighted-
average
Contractual
Term
|
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at
December 31, 2017
|
--
|
$--
|
--
|
$--
|
Granted
|
560,000
|
11.56
|
|
|
Exercised
|
--
|
--
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
--
|
--
|
|
|
Expired
|
--
|
--
|
|
|
Outstanding at June
30, 2018
|
560,000
|
$11.56
|
9.65
|
$897,250
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable at June
30, 2018
|
--
|
$11.56
|
--
|
$--
|
As of
June 30, 2018, the stock options outstanding include options
granted to both employees and non-employees which are
milestone-based and vest upon certain corporate milestones.
Stock-based compensation will be recorded if and when a milestone
occurs.
17
Restricted Stock
Certain employees, directors and consultants have
been awarded restricted stock. The restricted stock vesting
consists of milestone and time-based vesting. The following
table summarizes restricted share activity for the six months ended
June 30, 2018:
|
|
Weighted
Average Grant Date Fair Value
|
Outstanding at
December 31, 2017
|
6,321,643
|
$7.17
|
Granted
|
1,420,511
|
13.32
|
Vested
|
(1,521,550)
|
9.46
|
Forfeited
|
(130,661)
|
8.30
|
Outstanding at June
30, 2018
|
6,089,943
|
$8.01
|
Total
expense associated with restricted stock grants was approximately
$4.3 million and $1.5 million during the three months ended June
30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $11.6 million, and $7.5
million during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017,
respectively. As of June 30, 2018, there was approximately $11.0
million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested
time-based restricted stock, which is expected to be recognized
over a weighted-average period of 1.2 years. The unrecognized
compensation amount does not include, as of June 30, 2018,
1,128,011 shares of restricted stock outstanding which are
milestone-based and vest upon certain corporate milestones; and
2,224,167 shares of restricted stock outstanding issued to
non-employees, the expense for which is determined each reporting
period at the measurement date. The expense for non-employee awards
is recognized over the vesting period of the award. Until the
measurement date is reached, the total amount of compensation
expense remains uncertain. We record compensation expense based on
the fair value of the award at the reporting date.
NOTE 6 – NOTES PAYABLE
The
following is a summary of notes payable:
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible 5%
Notes Payable
|
$210
|
$-
|
$210
|
$128
|
$-
|
$128
|
Total
|
$210
|
$-
|
$210
|
$128
|
$-
|
$128
|
18
Convertible 5% Notes Payable
The 5%
Notes and accrued and unpaid interest thereon are convertible at
the option of the holder into common stock at the conversion price
of $1,125 per share. We have no obligation under the 5% Notes aside
from (a) 50% of the net product cash flows from Ariston’s
product candidates, if any, payable to noteholders; and (b) the
conversion feature, discussed above. Interest accrues monthly, is
added to principal on an annual basis, every March 8, and is
payable at maturity, which was March 8, 2015 (see Note 4 for
further details).
The
cumulative liability including accrued and unpaid interest of these
notes was approximately $17.9 million at June 30, 2018 and $17.5
million at December 31, 2017. No payments have been made on the 5%
Notes as of June 30, 2018.
In
December 2011, we elected the fair value option for valuing the 5%
Notes. The fair value option was elected in order to reflect in our
financial statements the assumptions that market participants use
in evaluating these financial instruments (see Note 4 for further
details).
NOTE 7 – LICENSE AGREEMENTS
TG-1101
In
November 2012, we entered into an exclusive (within the territory)
sublicense agreement with Ildong relating to the development and
commercialization of TG-1101 in South Korea and Southeast Asia.
Under the terms of the sublicense agreement, Ildong has been
granted a royalty bearing, exclusive right, including the right to
grant sublicenses, to develop and commercialize TG-1101 in South
Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand,
Philippines, Vietnam, and Myanmar.
An
upfront payment of $2.0 million, which was received in December
2012, net
of $0.3 million of income tax withholdings, is being
recognized as license revenue on a straight-line basis over the
life of the agreement, which is through the expiration of the last
licensed patent right or 15 years after the first commercial sale
of a product in such country, unless the agreement is earlier
terminated, and represents the estimated period over which we will
have certain ongoing responsibilities under the sublicense
agreement. We recorded license revenue of approximately $38,000 for
each of the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, and $76,000
for each of the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 and, at
June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, have deferred revenue of
approximately $1.1 million and $1.2 million, respectively,
associated with this $2.0 million payment (approximately $152,000
of which has been classified in current liabilities at June 30,
2018 and December 31, 2017).
We may
receive up to an additional $5.0 million in payments upon the
achievement of pre-specified milestones. In addition, upon
commercialization, Ildong will make royalty payments to us on net
sales of TG-1101 in the sublicense territory.
TG-1701: BTK
In
January 2018, we entered into a global exclusive license agreement
with Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co. (“Jiangsu”), to
acquire worldwide intellectual property rights, excluding Asia but
including Japan, and for the research, development, manufacturing,
and commercialization of products containing or comprising of any
of Jiangsu’s Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors
containing the compounds of either TG1701 (SHR1459 or EBI1459) or
TG1702 (SHR1266 or EBI1266). Pursuant to the agreement, in April
2018, we paid Jiangsu an upfront fee of $1.0 million in our common
stock. Jiangsu is eligible to receive milestone payments totaling
approximately $350 million upon and subject to the achievement of
certain milestones. Various provisions allow for payments in
conjunction with the agreement to be made in cash or our common
stock, while others limit the form of payment. Royalty payments in
the low double digits are due on net sales of licensed products and
revenue from sublicenses.
TG-1801: anti-CD47/anti-CD19
In June 2018, we entered into a Joint Venture and
License Option Agreement with Novimmune SA
(“Novimmune”) to collaborate on the development and
commercialization of Novimmune’s novel first-in-class
anti-CD47/anti-CD19 bispecific antibody known as TG-1801
(previously NI-1701). The companies will jointly develop the
product on a worldwide basis, focusing on indications in the area
of hematologic B-cell malignancies. We serve as the primary
responsible party for the development, manufacturing and
commercialization of the product. Pursuant to the agreement, in
June 2018 we paid Novimmnue an upfront payment of $3.0 million in
our common stock. Further milestone payments will
be paid based on early clinical development, and the Company will
be responsible for the costs of clinical development of the product
through the end of the Phase 2 clinical trials, after which the
Company and Novimmune will be jointly responsible for all
development and commercialization costs. The Company and Novimmune
will each maintain an exclusive option, exercisable at specific
times during development, for the Company to license the rights to
TG-1801, in which case Novimmune is eligible to receive additional
milestone payments totaling approximately $185 million as well as
tiered royalties on net sales in the high single to low double
digits upon and subject to the achievement of certain
milestones.
19
NOTE
8 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
LFB Biotechnologies
On
January 30, 2012, we entered into an exclusive license agreement
with LFB Biotechnologies, GTC Biotherapeutics and LFB/GTC LLC, all
wholly-owned subsidiaries of LFB Group, relating to the development
of ublituximab (the “LFB License Agreement”). In
connection with the LFB License Agreement, LFB Group was issued
5,000,000 shares of common stock, and a warrant to purchase
2,500,000 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $0.001 per
share.
Under
the terms of the LFB License Agreement, we utilize LFB Group for
certain development and manufacturing services. We incurred
expenses of approximately $38,000 and $400,000 during the three
months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $0.2 million
and $0.5 million during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and
2017, respectively, which have been included in other research and
development expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated
statements of operations. As of June 30, 2018 and December 31,
2017, we had approximately $37,000 and zero, respectively, recorded
in accounts payable related to the LFB License
Agreement.
Other Parties
In October 2014, we
entered into an agreement (the “Office Agreement”) with
Fortress Biotech, Inc. (“FBIO”), to occupy
approximately 45% of the 24,000 square feet of New York City office
space leased by FBIO, which is now our corporate headquarters. The
Office Agreement requires us to pay our respective share of the
average annual rent and other costs of the 15-year lease. We
approximate an average annual rental obligation of $1.1 million
under the Office Agreement. We began to occupy this new space in
April 2016, with rental payments beginning in the third quarter of
2016. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, we
recorded rent expense of approximately $0.3 million and $0.7
million, respectively, and at June 30, 2018, have deferred rent of
approximately $1.4 million. As of June 30, 2018 and December
31, 2017, we have approximately $1.2 million and $0.6 million,
respectively, of restricted cash pledged to secure a line of credit as a security
deposit related to the Office Agreement. Mr.
Weiss, our Executive Chairman and CEO, is also Executive Vice
Chairman of FBIO.
Under the Office Agreement, we agreed to pay FBIO
our portion of the build out costs, which have been allocated to us
at the 45% rate mentioned above. The allocated buildout costs have
been recorded in Leasehold Interest and will be amortized over the
15 year term of the Office Agreement. After an initial commitment
of the 45% rate for a period of three (3) years, we and FBIO will
determine actual office space utilization annually and if our
utilization differs from the amount we have been billed, we will
either receive credits or be assessed incremental utilization
charges. As of June 30, 2018, we had approximately $0.4 million
recorded in accounts payable related to FBIO, none of which
related to rent and build-out costs.
In July 2015, we
entered into a Shared Services Agreement (the “Shared
Services Agreement”) with FBIO to share the cost of certain
services such as facilities use, personnel costs and other overhead
and administrative costs. This Shared Services Agreement requires
us to pay our respective share of services utilized. In connection
with the Shared Services Agreement, we incurred expenses of
approximately $1.1
million and $0.7 million for shared services for the six months
ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and expenses of
approximately $0.7 million and $0.4 million for the three months
ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, primarily related to shared
personnel.
In
May 2016, as part of a broader agreement with Jubilant Biosys
(“Jubilant”), an India-based biotechnology
company, we entered into a sublicense agreement (“JBET
Agreement”) with Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc.
(“Checkpoint”), a subsidiary of FBIO, for the
development and commercialization of Jubilant’s novel BET
inhibitor program in the field of hematological malignancies.
We paid Checkpoint an up-front
licensing fee of $1.0 million in July 2016 and incurred expenses of
$0.2 million in March 2017 for the first milestone achievement as
part of the JBET Agreement which is recorded in other research and
development in the accompanying consolidated statement of
operations. As of June 30, 2018 and 2017, we had
approximately $0.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively, recorded
in accounts payable, related mostly to the JBET Agreement. Mr.
Weiss is also the Executive Chairman of
Checkpoint.
20
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The
following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking
statements about our plans and expectations of what may happen in
the future. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of
assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to
significant risks and uncertainties, and our results could differ
materially from the results anticipated by our forward-looking
statements as a result of many known or unknown factors, including,
but not limited to, those factors discussed in “Risk
Factors.” See also the “Special Cautionary Notice
Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” set forth at the
beginning of this report.
You
should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction
with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, and
the related footnotes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this report,
and in conjunction with management’s discussion and analysis
and the audited consolidated financial statements included in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2017.
OVERVIEW
We are
a biopharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, development
and commercialization of novel treatments for B-cell malignancies
and autoimmune diseases. Currently, we are developing two therapies
targeting hematologic malignancies. TG-1101 (ublituximab) is a
novel, glycoengineered monoclonal antibody that targets a unique
epitope on the CD20 antigen found on mature B-lymphocytes. We are
also developing TGR-1202 (umbralisib), an orally available PI3K
delta inhibitor. The delta isoform of PI3K is strongly expressed in
cells of hematopoietic origin and is believed to be important in
the proliferation and survival of B-lymphocytes. Both TG-1101 and
TGR-1202, or the combination which is referred to as "U2," are in
Phase 3 clinical development for patients with hematologic
malignancies, with TG-1101 also in Phase 3 clinical development for
patients with multiple sclerosis. Additionally, we have recently
brought our anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody into Phase 1 development
and aim to bring additional pipeline assets into the clinic in the
future.
We also
actively evaluate complementary products, technologies and
companies for in-licensing, partnership, acquisition and/or
investment opportunities. To date, we have not received approval
for the sale of any of our drug candidates in any market and,
therefore, have not generated any product sales from our drug
candidates.
TG-1101 (ublituximab)
Overview
TG-1101
(ublituximab) is a chimeric, glycoengineered monoclonal antibody
that targets a unique epitope on the CD20 antigen found on the
surface of B-lymphocytes developed to aid in the depletion of
circulating B-cells. We hold exclusive worldwide rights to develop
and commercialize TG-1101 for all indications, except for the
territories of France and Belgium which have been retained by LFB
Biotechnologies, and South Korea and Southeast Asia which were
licensed by us to Ildong in November 2012.
Generally,
anti-CD20 antibodies are believed to exert their B-cell depleting
effects through three primary mechanisms: antibody dependent
cell-mediated cytotoxicity (“ADCC”), complement
dependent cytotoxicity (“CDC”), and direct or
programmed cell death (“DCD” or “PCD”).
TG-1101 has been specifically glycoengineered to enhance ADCC
activity, which should enhance its ability to deplete B-cells and
may improve its anti-cancer effects when compared to Rituxan®,
the leading anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, which had worldwide
sales in 2016 of more than $7 billion.
Clinical Trials Overview and Recent Developments
Two
single-agent, dose-escalation, Phase I studies were undertaken with
TG-1101 to establish an optimal dose in patients with
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (“NHL”) and Chronic
Lymphocytic Leukemia (“CLL”). A two part first-in-human
Phase I clinical trial was first completed in France in which
TG-1101 was evaluated in relapsed or refractory CLL. Subsequently,
a single-agent Phase I study was undertaken in the US enrolling
patients with both NHL and CLL. In both studies, single agent
therapy with TG-1101 was deemed well tolerated by treating
investigators and displayed promising clinical activity in relapsed
and refractory patients.
21
In
oncology settings, anti-CD20 therapy is generally used in
combination with other anti-cancer agents where it demonstrates
maximum activity as opposed to single agent usage. As a result,
subsequent clinical development for TG-1101 has focused on
combination therapy. Currently, our priority combination trials for
TG-1101 are:
●
The
GENUINE Trial – a randomized controlled Phase 3 trial
evaluating TG-1101 in combination with ibrutinib, for previously
treated CLL patients with high risk cytogenetics;
●
The
UNITY-CLL Trial – a randomized controlled Phase 3 trial under
Special Protocol Assessment ("SPA") evaluating TG-1101 in
combination with TGR-1202, the Company’s development stage
PI3K delta inhibitor, for patients with front line and previously
treated CLL;
●
The
UNITY-NHL Trial – registration-directed Phase 2b clinical
study evaluating TGR-1202 alone and in combination with TG-1101
with or without bendamustine, in patients with previously treated
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma ("NHL"); and
●
TG-1101
+ TGR-1202 + Pembrolizumab for patients with CLL.
In
non-oncology settings, anti-CD20 therapy has generally been used as
monotherapy. In addition to the above oncology studies, TG-1101 is
being evaluated in a Phase 2 study for the treatment of Multiple
Sclerosis ("MS") and in an investigator initiated Phase 1 study for
the treatment of acute neuromyelitis optica ("NMO") relapses, with
additional autoimmune related indications planned to be studied. On
August 1, 2017, we announced we had reached an agreement with the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") regarding an SPA on the
design of two global Phase 3 clinical trials for TG-1101, referred
to as the ULTIMATE I and ULTIMATE II Phase 3 clinical
trials.
Manufacturing of
TG-1101 is currently performed by a contract manufacturer based in
the US.
Further
details on our priority ongoing trials for TG-1101 are as
follows:
TG-1101 + Ibrutinib Phase 3 Study Program – The GENUINE
Trial
The
GENUINE trial is a randomized controlled clinical trial in patients
with previously treated CLL with specific high-risk cytogenetic
abnormalities, with patients randomized to receive either TG-1101
plus ibrutinib or ibrutinib alone. In October 2016, we announced
revisions to the design of the GENUINE study to accelerate its
completion. Initially the study was being conducted pursuant to an
SPA with the FDA, and was designed to enroll approximately 330
patients, with a two-part analysis of both overall response rate
("ORR") and progression-free survival ("PFS"). The trial was
amended in October 2016 to enroll approximately 120 patients, with
the PFS analysis component removed. Following the revisions, the
sole primary endpoint of the study is ORR, and the SPA is no longer
in effect.
In June
2017, the positive results from our Phase 3 GENUINE trial were
presented by Dr. Jeff Sharman, Medical Director, Hematology
Research, US Oncology in an oral session during the 53rd American
Society of Clinical Oncology ("ASCO") Annual Meeting in Chicago,
IL.
This
presentation included data from the GENUINE Phase 3 trial, a
multicenter, randomized trial, which assessed the efficacy and
safety of TG-1101 plus ibrutinib versus ibrutinib alone in patients
with high risk CLL. For the trial, high-risk was defined as having
any one or more of the following centrally confirmed features: 17p
deletion, 11q deletion or p53 mutation. The GENUINE study was
designed to demonstrate the value of adding TG-1101 to ibrutinib
monotherapy in high-risk CLL, and was powered to show a
statistically significant improvement in ORR of 30%, with a minimal
absolute detectable difference between the two arms of
approximately 20%.
We
continue to follow patients in the GENUINE study for safety and
efficacy including Overall Response, MRD and Progression Free
Survival ("PFS"). We are currently working on preparing a Biologics
License Application for a potential accelerated approval filing for
TG-1101 in combination with ibrutinib in previously treated CLL
patients with high-risk cytogenetics, which filing could occur in
2018.
TG-1101 in Combination with TGR-1202 Phase 3 Study Program –
The UNITY-CLL Trial
In
September 2015, we reached an agreement with the FDA regarding an
SPA on the design, endpoints and statistical analysis approach of a
Phase 3 clinical trial for the proprietary combination of TG-1101
plus TGR-1202, for the treatment of CLL. The SPA provides agreement
that the Phase 3 trial design adequately addresses objectives that,
if met, would support the regulatory submission for drug approval
of both TG-1101 and TGR-1202 in combination.
22
The
Phase 3 trial, called the UNITY-CLL trial, is a randomized
controlled clinical trial that includes two key objectives: first,
to demonstrate contribution of each agent in the TG-1101 + TGR-1202
regimen (the combination sometimes referred to as "U2"), and
second, to demonstrate superiority in Progression Free Survival
(PFS) over the standard of care to support the submission for full
approval of the combination. The study will randomize patients into
four treatment arms: TG-1101 + TGR-1202, TG-1101 alone, TGR-1202
alone, and an active control arm of obinutuzumab (GAZYVA®) +
chlorambucil. An early interim analysis will assess contribution of
each single agent in the TG-1101 + TGR-1202 combination regimen,
which, if successful, will allow early termination of both single
agent arms. A second interim analysis will be conducted following
full enrollment into the study, which, if positive, we plan to
utilize for accelerated approval.
In
September 2017, we announced that target enrollment in the
UNITY-CLL trial was met and that we were extending enrollment until
October 2017 for any additional identified study patients to be
allowed in the trial. We expect top-line ORR data from this study
to be reported in 2018.
TG-1101 in Combination with TGR-1202 with or without bendamustine
Phase 2b Registration-Directed Program – The UNITY-NHL
Trial
In June
2016, we commenced a registration-directed UNITY-DLBCL Phase 2b
clinical study evaluating TG-1101 in combination with TGR-1202, as
well as TGR-1202 alone, in patients with previously treated DLBCL.
In mid-2017, this study was expanded to allow enrollment of
patients with follicular lymphoma (FL), small lymphocytic lymphoma
(SLL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL),
as well as to add a cohort evaluating the triplet regimen of
TG-1101 + TGR-1202 + bendamustine which has previously been
explored in Phase 1. The cohorts of DLBCL, FL/SLL, MCL, and MZL are
each being enrolled to and evaluated independently.
The
updated study, called UNITY-NHL, is entitled "A Phase 2b Randomized
Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of the Combination of
Ublituximab + TGR-1202 with or without bendamustine and TGR-1202
alone in Patients with Previously Treated Non-Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma.” The DLBCL component is being led by Owen A.
O'Connor, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine and Experimental
Therapeutics, and Director of the Center for Lymphoid Malignancies
at Columbia University Medical Center, while the indolent NHL
component of the study is being led by Nathan H. Fowler, MD,
Associate Professor, Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma at the
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the MCL
component of the study is being led by Michael Wang MD, Director of
Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) Program of Excellence and Co-Director of
Clinical Trials at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer
Center. The primary objective of the study is to assess the
efficacy of TGR-1202 alone, in combination with TG-1101, or in
combination with TG-1101 and bendamustine in patients with
previously treated NHL as measured by Overall Response Rate (ORR).
The study will also provide important information as to the
contribution of each agent, TGR-1202 and TG-1101, to the
combination regimen of both agents, as well as the contribution of
bendamustine to the combination regimen of both
agents.
Single Agent TG-1101 in Relapsing Forms of Multiple
Sclerosis
In
May 2016, we commenced our first study of TG-1101 in patients with
relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a chronic
demyelinating disease of the central nervous system
(CNS).
The
study, entitled "A Placebo-Controlled Multi-Center Phase 2 Dose
Finding Study of Ublituximab, a Third-Generation Anti-CD20
Monoclonal Antibody, in Patients with Relapsing Forms of Multiple
Sclerosis," is being led by Edward Fox, MD, PhD, Director of the
Multiple Sclerosis Clinic of Central Texas and Clinical Assistant
Professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Round Rock,
TX. The primary objective of the study is to determine the optimal
dosing regimen for TG-1101 with a focus on accelerating infusion
times. In addition to monitoring for safety and tolerability at
each dosing cohort, B-cell depletion and established MS efficacy
endpoints will also be evaluated.
Data
from this study was most recently presented at the 4th Congress of the
European Academy of Neurology (EAN) in Lisbon, Portugal and at the
American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 70th Annual Meeting in Los
Angeles, California Additional data presentations are to be
expected at upcoming medical conferences.
TG-1101 in relapsing forms of Multiple Sclerosis Phase 3 Study
Program – The ULITIMATE I and ULTIMATE II Trial
In
August 2017, we reached an agreement with the FDA regarding an SPA
on the design of two Phase 3 clinical trials for TG-1101, for the
treatment of relapsing forms of Multiple Sclerosis (RMS). The SPA
provides agreement that the two Phase 3 trial designs adequately
address objectives that, if met, would support the regulatory
submission for approval of TG-1101.
The RMS
Phase 3 program consists of two trials, called the ULTIMATE I and
ULTIMATE II trials. Each trial is a global, randomized,
multi-center, double-blinded, double-dummy, active-controlled study
comparing TG-1101 (ublituximab) to teriflunomide in subjects with
RMS. The primary endpoint for each study is Annualized Relapse Rate
(ARR) following 96 weeks of treatment. Each trial is ongoing and
was designed to enroll approximately 440 subjects, randomized in a
1:1 ratio.
In
August 2018, we announced that target enrollment into the ULTIMATE
I and II trials has been achieved, and that enrollment would
continue into September 2018 to allow identified patients to
participate in the study.
23
TGR-1202
Overview
The
phosphoinositide-3-kinases (“PI3Ks”) are a family of
enzymes involved in various cellular functions, including cell
proliferation and survival, cell differentiation, intracellular
trafficking, and immunity. There are four isoforms of PI3K (alpha,
beta, delta, and gamma), of which the delta isoform is strongly
expressed in cells of hematopoietic origin, and often implicated in
B-cell related lymphomas.
TGR-1202 (also
referred to as umbralisib) is an orally available PI3K delta
inhibitor with nanomolar potency to the delta isoform and high
selectivity over the alpha, beta, and gamma isoforms. TGR-1202 has
demonstrated activity in several pre-clinical models and primary
cells from patients with hematologic malignancies.
We hold
exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize TGR-1202
for all indications worldwide, except for India which has been
retained by Rhizen Pharmaceuticals S A.
The
Company’s Investigational New Drug (“IND”)
application for TGR-1202 was accepted by the FDA in December 2012
and a first in-human Phase I clinical trial was initiated in
January 2013.
Clinical Trials Overview and Recent Developments
Initial
clinical development of TGR-1202 was focused on establishing
preliminary safety and efficacy in a wide variety of hematologic
malignancies. Upon identification of safe and active doses of
TGR-1202, a combination clinical trial program was opened,
exploring TGR-1202 in combination with a variety of agents. In
addition to the previously described study in combination with
TG-1101 with or without the BTK inhibitor, ibrutinib, our current
priority clinical trials for TGR-1202 include:
●
TGR-1202
as a single agent in CLL patients who are intolerant to prior BTK
inhibitor or PI3K-delta inhibitor therapy;
●
TGR-1202
in combination with the BTK inhibitor, ibrutinib, in patients with
previously treated CLL and MCL; and
●
TGR-1202
in combination with the JAK inhibitor, ruxolitinib (JAKAFI®),
in patients with previously treated Myelofibrosis or Polycythemia
Vera.
Single Agent TGR-1202 in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory
Hematologic Malignancies
In
January 2013, the Company initiated a Phase I, open label,
multi-center, first-in-human clinical trial of TGR-1202 in patients
with hematologic malignancies. The study entitled TGR-1202-101, "A
Phase I Dose Escalation Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of
TGR-1202 in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Hematologic
Malignancies," is being run in collaboration with the Sarah Cannon
Research Institute in Nashville, TN with Howard “Skip”
Burris, MD, Executive Director, Drug Development as the acting
Study Chair. Enrollment is open to patients with relapsed or
refractory NHL, CLL, and other select hematologic malignancies. As
of February 2016, this study has closed to enrollment
Data
from this ongoing Phase I study was published in full in The Lancet Oncology
in February 2018, including safety and
efficacy information from 90 patients with relapsed or refractory
b-cell malignancies, including patients with CLL and various forms
of lymphoma treated with single agent
umbralisib.
TGR-1202 Long-term Follow-up Integrated Analysis in Patients with
Relapsed/Refractory Hematologic Malignancies
In
December 2017, at the 59th
American Society of Hematology ("ASH") Annual Meeting, the Company
presented integrated data with long term follow-up from 347
patients exposed to TGR-1202 across 5 studies, which continued to
demonstrate high response rates in CLL, and FL coupled with a
favorable safety profile distinct from other PI3K delta
inhibitors.
24
In June 2018, an update on the data was presented
at the 23rd Congress of the European Hematology Association
(EHA). The presentation included data pooled from 4
completed or ongoing Phase 1 or 2 studies containing umbralisib,
focusing on 177 patients who have been on daily umbralisib for a
minimum of 6 months. Patients were heavily pretreated, with 45% of
patients having seen 3 or more prior lines of therapy. Umbralisib
continued to exhibit a differentiated safety profile compared to
prior generation PI3K delta inhibitors. Serious adverse events
occurring in >1% of patients after 6 months on therapy were
limited to pneumonia (3%), diarrhea (2%), and cellulitis (2%) with
only 2% of patients discontinuing umbralisib as a result of
diarrhea/colitis after being on umbralisib for more than 6
months.
TGR-1202 TKI Intolerance Study
In June
2018, at the 23rd Congress of the
European Hematology Association (EHA), the Company presented data
from 47 patients with CLL who were intolerant to prior BTK or PI3K
delta inhibitor therapy who were then treated with single agent
TGR-1202. TGR-1202 appeared to demonstrate a favorable safety
profile in patients intolerant to prior ibrutinib (BTK) or
idelalisib (PI3K) with only 13% discontinuing due to an adverse
event, of which only one patient discontinued due to a recurrent
adverse event (AE) also experienced with prior kinase inhibitor
therapy. The median progression free survival (PFS) and overall
survival has not been reached with a median follow-up of 9.5
months. Enrollment is now closed with patients continuing to be
followed.
TGR-1202 Combination Trials
TGR-1202 is being
evaluated in combination with the anti-CD30 antibody drug
conjugate, brentuximab vedotin, in patients with relapsed or
refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma; in combination with the BTK
inhibitor, ibrutinib, in patients with CLL and MCL; and in
combination with the JAK inhibitor, ruxolitinib, in patients with
Myelofibrosis or Polycythemia Vera. Additional investigator sponsored trials are also
underway which are combining TGR-1202 with other approved agents
for the treatment of B-cell malignancies.
It is
anticipated that updated results from these studies will be
presented or updated at future medical conferences.
TGR-1202 in Solid Tumors
In
addition to the exploration of TGR-1202 in various hematologic
malignancies, a study was opened in October 2015 to evaluate
TGR-1202 as a single agent as well as in combination with various
chemotherapies for the treatment of select solid tumors. The study,
entitled TGR-1202-102, “A Phase I Study Evaluating the Safety
and Efficacy of TGR-1202 Alone and in Combination with either
nab-paclitaxel + Gemcitabine or with FOLFOX in Patients with Select
Relapsed or Refractory Solid Tumors” is being run in
collaboration with the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in
Nashville, TN with Johanna Bendell, MD, Director of GI Oncology
Research as the acting study chair. The study is currently closed
to enrollment with patients continuing to be followed for safety
and efficacy.
IRAK4
We
hold global rights to develop and commercialize the IRAK4 program,
which was licensed from Ligand Pharmaceuticals. Our IRAK4 program
is currently in pre-clinical development.
PD-L1 and GITR
In
March 2015, we entered into a global collaboration agreement for
the development and commercialization of anti-PD-L1 and anti-GITR
antibody research programs in the field of hematological
malignancies. Our anti-PD-L1 recently entered the clinic and our
anti-GITR program is currently in pre-clinical development, with
pre-clinical data most recently presented at the American
Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting in March
2017.
In
October 2017, we announced that the first patient has been dosed in
a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the safety and tolerability of
our anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, enrolling patients across sites
in Australia and New Zealand.
BET
In
May 2016, as part of a broader agreement with Jubilant Biosys
(“Jubilant”), an India-based biotechnology company, we
entered into a sub-license agreement (“JBET Agreement”)
with Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc. (“Checkpoint”), a
subsidiary of FBIO, for the development and commercialization of
Jubilant’s novel BET inhibitor program in the field of
hematological malignancies. The BET inhibitor program is the
subject of a family of patents covering compounds that inhibit
BRD4, a member of the BET (Bromodomain and Extra Terminal) domain
for cancer treatment. Our BET inhibitor program is currently in
pre-clinical development.
In
April 2018, pre-clinical data for TG-1601, the BET inhibitor, was
announced at the American Association for Cancer Research ("AACR")
Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL.
In
January 2018, we entered into a global exclusive license agreement
with Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., or Jiangsu (“BTK
Agreement”), pursuant to which we obtained worldwide rights,
excluding Asia but including Japan, for the development of
Hengrui's Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase ("BTK") inhibitor program,
including lead candidate TG-1701 (known in China as SHR-1459), as
monotherapy and in combination with TG-1101 and TGR-1202. In
addition to TG-1701, the global license agreement covers TG-1702
(SHR-1266), another BTK inhibitor in pre-clinical development. BTK
is an essential component of the B-cell receptor signaling pathways
that regulate the survival, activation, proliferation, and
differentiation of B lymphocytes. Targeting BTK with small molecule
inhibitors has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment
option for B-cell lymphomas and autoimmune diseases.
In June
2018, pre-clinical data for TG-1701, the BTK inhibitor, was
presented at the 23rd Congress of the
European Hematology Association in Stockholm, Sweden. TG-1701 is
expected to enter the clinic in the second half of
2018.
TG-1801: anti-CD47/anti-CD19
In June 2018, we entered into a Joint Venture and
License Option Agreement with Novimmune SA
(“Novimmune”) to collaborate on the development and
commercialization of Novimmune’s novel first-in-class
anti-CD47/anti-CD19 bispecific antibody known as TG-1801
(previously NI-1701). The companies will jointly develop the
product on a worldwide basis, focusing on indications in the area
of hematologic B-cell malignancies.
GENERAL CORPORATE
Our
license revenues currently consist of license fees arising from our
agreement with Ildong. We recognize upfront license fee revenues
ratably over the estimated period in which we will have certain
significant ongoing responsibilities under the sublicense
agreement, with unamortized amounts recorded as deferred
revenue.
We have
not earned any revenues from the commercial sale of any of our drug
candidates.
Our
research and development expenses consist primarily of expenses
related to in-licensing of new product candidates, fees paid to
consultants and outside service providers for clinical and
laboratory development, facilities-related and other expenses
relating to the design, development, manufacture, testing and
enhancement of our drug candidates and technologies. We expense our
research and development costs as they are incurred.
Our
general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries
and related expenses for executive, finance and other
administrative personnel, recruitment expenses, professional fees
and other corporate expenses, including investor relations, legal
activities and facilities-related expenses.
Our
results of operations include non-cash compensation expenses as a
result of the grants of stock options and restricted stock.
Compensation expense for awards of options and restricted stock
granted to employees and directors represents the fair value of the
award recorded over the respective vesting periods of the
individual awards. The expense is included in the respective
categories of expense in the condensed consolidated statements of
operations. We expect to continue to incur significant non-cash
compensation expenses.
For
awards of options and restricted stock to consultants and other
third-parties, compensation expense is determined at the
“measurement date.” The expense is recognized over the
vesting period of the award. Until the measurement date is reached,
the total amount of compensation expense remains uncertain. We
record compensation expense based on the fair value of the award at
the reporting date. The awards to consultants and other
third-parties are then revalued, or the total compensation is
recalculated based on the then current fair value, at each
subsequent reporting date. This results in a change to the amount
previously recorded in respect of the equity award grant, and
additional expense or a reversal of expense may be recorded in
subsequent periods based on changes in the assumptions used to
calculate fair value, such as changes in market price, until the
measurement date is reached and the compensation expense is
finalized.
In
addition, certain restricted stock issued to employees vest upon
the achievement of certain milestones; therefore, the total expense
is uncertain until the milestone is probable.
Our
clinical trials will be lengthy and expensive. Even if these trials
show that our drug candidates are effective in treating certain
indications, there is no guarantee that we will be able to record
commercial sales of any of our drug candidates in the near future.
In addition, we expect losses to continue as we fund in-licensing
and development of new drug candidates. As we further our
development efforts, we may enter into additional third-party
collaborative agreements and incur additional expenses, such as
licensing fees and milestone payments. In addition, we may need to
establish a commercial infrastructure required to manufacture,
market and sell our drug candidates following approval, if any, by
the FDA or a foreign health authority, which would result in
incurring additional expenses. As a result, our quarterly results
may fluctuate and a quarter-by-quarter comparison of our operating
results may not be a meaningful indication of our future
performance.
26
For
awards of options and restricted stock to consultants and other
third-parties, compensation expense is determined at the
“measurement date.” The expense is recognized over the
vesting period of the award. Until the measurement date is reached,
the total amount of compensation expense remains uncertain. We
record compensation expense based on the fair value of the award at
the reporting date. The awards to consultants and other
third-parties are then revalued, or the total compensation is
recalculated based on the then current fair value, at each
subsequent reporting date. This results in a change to the amount
previously recorded in respect of the equity award grant, and
additional expense or a reversal of expense may be recorded in
subsequent periods based on changes in the assumptions used to
calculate fair value, such as changes in market price, until the
measurement date is reached and the compensation expense is
finalized.
In
addition, certain restricted stock issued to employees vest upon
the achievement of certain milestones; therefore, the total expense
is uncertain until the milestone is probable.
Our
clinical trials will be lengthy and expensive. Even if these trials
show that our drug candidates are effective in treating certain
indications, there is no guarantee that we will be able to record
commercial sales of any of our drug candidates in the near future.
In addition, we expect losses to continue as we continue to fund
in-licensing and development of new drug candidates. As we continue
our development efforts, we may enter into additional third-party
collaborative agreements and may incur additional expenses, such as
licensing fees and milestone payments. In addition, we may need to
establish the commercial infrastructure required to manufacture,
market and sell our drug candidates following approval, if any, by
the FDA, which would result in us incurring additional expenses. As
a result, our quarterly results may fluctuate and a
quarter-by-quarter comparison of our operating results may not be a
meaningful indication of our future performance.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017
License Revenue. License revenue was
approximately $38,000 for each of the three months ended June 30,
2018 and 2017. License revenue is related to the amortization of an
upfront payment of $2.0 million received in 2012 associated with
our license agreement with Ildong. The upfront payment from Ildong
will be recognized as license revenue on a straight-line basis
through December 2025, which represents the estimated period over
which the Company will have certain ongoing responsibilities under
the sublicense agreement.
Noncash Stock Expense Associated with
In-Licensing Agreement (Research and Development). Noncash
stock expense associated with in-licensing agreement (research and
development) amounted to $3.0 million for the three months ended
June 30, 2018, as compared to zero during the comparable period in
2017. The expense during the three months ended June 30, 2018 was
recorded in conjunction with the stock issued to Novimmune as an
upfront payment for the license to the CD47/CD-19
program.
Noncash Compensation Expense (Research and
Development). Noncash compensation expense (research and
development) related to equity incentive grants totaled $0.9
million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to
$1.3 million during the comparable period in 2017. The decrease in
noncash compensation expense was primarily related to a decrease in
the measurement date fair value of certain consultant restricted
stock during the period ended June 30, 2018.
Other Research and Development
Expenses. Other research and
development expenses increased by $9.4 million to $34.8 million for
the three months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to $25.4 million
for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The increase was mainly due to the
ongoing clinical development programs and related manufacturing
costs for TG-1101 and TGR-1202 during the three months ended June
30, 2018. We expect our other research and development costs to
remain relatively consistent for the remainder of 2018 as we
complete enrollment in our registration directed clinical trials
and we prepare for potential commercialization.
Noncash Compensation Expense (General and
Administrative). Noncash
compensation expense (general and administrative) related to equity
incentive grants increased by $3.2 million to $3.4 million
for the three months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to $0.2 million for the three
months ended June 30, 2017. The
increase in noncash compensation expense was primarily related to
greater compensation expense during the three months ended June 30,
2018 related to restricted stock granted to executive
personnel.
Other General and Administrative
Expenses. Other general and
administrative expenses increased by $0.8 million to $2.3
million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to $1.5 million for the three
months ended June 30, 2017.
The increase was due primarily to rent related
expenses of our office space, as well as increased personnel and
other general and administrative costs. We expect our other general
and administrative expenses to remain at a comparable level for the
remainder of 2018.
Other (Income) Expense. Other income
increased by approximately $0.1 million to approximately $0.2
million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to approximately $70,000 for
the three months ended June 30, 2017. The increase is mainly due to
an increase in interest income for the three months ended June 30,
2018.
27
Six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017
License Revenue. License revenue was
approximately $0.1 million for each of the six months ended June
30, 2018 and 2017. License revenue for the six months ended June
30, 2018 and 2017 was related to the amortization of an upfront
payment of $2.0 million received in 2012 associated with our
license agreement with Ildong.
Noncash Stock Expense Associated with
In-Licensing Agreement (Research and Development). Noncash
stock expense associated with in-licensing agreement (research and
development) amounted to $4.0 million for the six months ended June
30, 2018, as compared to zero during the comparable period in 2017.
The expense during the six months ended June 30, 2018 was recorded
in conjunction with the stock issued to Novimmune and Jiangsu
Hengrui as upfront payments for the licenses to the CD47/CD19 and
BTK programs, respectively.
Noncash Compensation Expense (Research and
Development). Noncash compensation expense (research and
development) related to equity incentive grants remained consistent
between the two periods totaling $3.7 million for the six months
ended June 30, 2018, as compared to $3.6 million during the
comparable period in 2017.
Other Research and Development
Expenses. Other research and development
expenses increased by $20.2 million to $66.0 million for the six
months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to $45.8 million for the
six months ended June 30, 2017. The increase in other research and
development expenses was due primarily to new and ongoing clinical
development programs and related manufacturing costs for TG-1101
and TGR-1202 during the six months ended June 30, 2018. We expect
our other research and development costs to remain relatively
consistent for the remainder of 2018 as we complete enrollment in
our registration directed clinical trials and we prepare for
potential commercialization.
Noncash Compensation Expense (General and
Administrative). Noncash
compensation expense (general and administrative) related to equity
incentive grants increased by $4.0 million to $7.9 million for the six months ended
June 30, 2018, as compared to $3.9
million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The increase in noncash compensation
expense was primarily related to greater compensation expense during the six
months ended June 30, 2018 related to restricted stock granted to
executive personnel.
Other General and Administrative
Expenses. Other general and
administrative expenses increased by $1.5 million to $4.4
million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to $2.9
million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The increase was due primarily to rent related
expenses of our new office space, as well as increased personnel
and other general and administrative costs. We expect our other general and administrative
expenses to remain at a comparable level for the remainder of
2018.
Other (Income) Expense. Other income
increased by $0.2 million to approximately $0.3 million for the six
months ended June 30, 2018, as
compared to approximately $11,000 for the six months ended
June 30, 2017. The increase is mainly due to an increase in
interest income for the six months ended June 30,
2018.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our
primary sources of cash have been from the sale of equity
securities, warrant and option exercises, and the upfront payment
from our Sublicense Agreement with Ildong. We have not yet
commercialized any of our drug candidates and cannot be sure if we
will ever be able to do so. Even if we commercialize one or more of
our drug candidates, we may not become profitable. Our ability to
achieve profitability depends on a number of factors, including our
ability to obtain regulatory approval for our drug candidates,
successfully complete any post-approval regulatory obligations and
successfully commercialize our drug candidates alone or in
partnership. We may continue to incur substantial operating losses
even if we begin to generate revenues from our drug
candidates.
As of
June 30, 2018, we had approximately $126.3 million in cash, cash
equivalents, investment securities, and interest receivable. The
Company believes its cash, cash equivalents, investment securities,
and interest receivable on hand as of June 30, 2018 combined with the additional capital raised in
the third quarter of 2018 will be sufficient to fund the
Company’s planned operations into the fourth quarter of 2019.
The actual amount of cash that we will need to operate is subject
to many factors, including, but not limited to, the timing, design
and conduct of clinical trials for our drug candidates. We are
dependent upon significant financing to provide the cash necessary
to execute our current operations, including the commercialization
of any of our drug candidates.
Cash
used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2018
was $62.2 million as compared to $49.1 million for the six months
ended June 30, 2017. The increase in cash used in operating
activities was due primarily to increased expenditures associated
with our clinical development programs for TG-1101 and
TGR-1202.
For the
six months ended June 30, 2018, net cash provided by investing
activities was $7.4 million as compared to $11.0 million for the
six months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease in net cash provided
by investing activities was primarily due to greater investment in treasury securities during
the six months ended June 30, 2018.
For the
six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, net cash provided by
financing activities of $104.5 million and $90.7 million,
respectively, related primarily to proceeds from the issuance of
common stock as part of our ATM program.
28
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
We have
not entered into any transactions with unconsolidated entities
whereby we have financial guarantees, subordinated retained
interests, derivative instruments or other contingent arrangements
that expose us to material continuing risks, contingent
liabilities, or any other obligations under a variable interest in
an unconsolidated entity that provides us with financing,
liquidity, market risk or credit risk support.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The
discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of
operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements,
which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles. The preparation of these consolidated
financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments
that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and
related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
of our financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues
and expenses during the applicable period. Actual results may
differ from these estimates under different assumptions or
conditions.
We
define critical accounting policies as those that are reflective of
significant judgments and uncertainties and which may potentially
result in materially different results under different assumptions
and conditions. In applying these critical accounting policies, our
management uses its judgment to determine the appropriate
assumptions to be used in making certain estimates. These estimates
are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. Our critical
accounting policies include the following:
Revenue Recognition. We recognize license revenue in accordance with
the revenue recognition guidance of ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from
Contracts with Customers” (Topic 606)
(“ASC 606”). We
analyze each element of our licensing agreement to determine the
appropriate revenue recognition. The terms of the license agreement
may include payments to us of non-refundable up-front license fees,
milestone payments if specified objectives are achieved, and/or
royalties on product sales. We recognize revenue from upfront
payments over the period of significant involvement under the
related agreements unless the fee is in exchange for a promise to
transfer more than one good or service to the customer, in which
case we would account for each promised good or service as a
performance obligation only if it is (1) distinct or (2) a series
of distinct goods or services that are substantially the same and
have the same pattern of transfer. For each performance obligation,
we would determine whether we satisfy the performance obligation
over time by transferring control of a good or service over
time. To determine whether our promise is to provide a
right to access its intellectual property or a right to use its
intellectual property, we would consider the nature of the
intellectual property to which the customer will have rights. We
have symbolic intellectual property, derived from our association
with ongoing activities, including our ordinary business
activities. We recognize milestone payments as revenue upon the
achievement of specified milestones only if (1) the milestone
payment is non-refundable, (2) substantive effort is involved
in achieving the milestone, (3) the amount of the milestone is
reasonable in relation to the effort expended or the risk
associated with achievement of the milestone, and (4) the
milestone is at risk for both parties. If any of these conditions
are not met, we defer the milestone payment and recognize it as
revenue over the estimated period of performance under the
contract.
Stock-Based Compensation. We have
granted stock options and restricted stock to employees, directors
and consultants, as well as warrants to other third parties. For
employee and director grants, the value of each option award is
estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes
option-pricing model. The Black-Scholes model takes into account
volatility in the price of our stock, the risk-free interest rate,
the estimated life of the option, the closing market price of our
stock and the exercise price. We base our estimates of our stock
price volatility on the historical volatility of our common stock
and our assessment of future volatility; however, these estimates
are neither predictive nor indicative of the future performance of
our stock. For purposes of the calculation, we assumed that no
dividends would be paid during the life of the options and
warrants. The estimates utilized in the Black-Scholes calculation
involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management
judgment. In addition, we are required to estimate the expected
forfeiture rate and only recognize expense for those equity awards
expected to vest. As a result, if other assumptions had been used,
our recorded stock-based compensation expense could have been
materially different from that reported. In addition, because some
of the options and warrants issued to employees, consultants and
other third-parties vest upon the achievement of certain
milestones, the total expense is uncertain.
Total
compensation expense for options and restricted stock issued to
consultants is determined at the “measurement date.”
The expense is recognized over the vesting period for the options
and restricted stock. Until the measurement date is reached, the
total amount of compensation expense remains uncertain. We record
stock-based compensation expense based on the fair value of the
equity awards at the reporting date. These equity awards are then
revalued, or the total compensation is recalculated based on the
then current fair value, at each subsequent reporting date. This
results in a change to the amount previously recorded in respect of
the equity award grant, and additional expense or a reversal of
expense may be recorded in subsequent periods based on changes in
the assumptions used to calculate fair value, such as changes in
market price, until the measurement date is reached and the
compensation expense is finalized.
29
Accruals for Clinical Research Organization
and Clinical Site Costs. We make estimates of costs incurred
in relation to external clinical research organizations, or CROs,
and clinical site costs. We analyze the progress of clinical
trials, including levels of patient enrollment, invoices received
and contracted costs when evaluating the adequacy of the amount
expensed and the related prepaid asset and accrued liability.
Significant judgments and estimates must be made and used in
determining the accrued balance and expense in any accounting
period. We review and accrue CRO expenses and clinical trial study
expenses based on work performed and rely upon estimates of those
costs applicable to the stage of completion of a study. Accrued CRO
costs are subject to revisions as such trials progress to
completion. Revisions are charged to expense in the period in which
the facts that give rise to the revision become known. With respect
to clinical site costs, the financial terms of these agreements are
subject to negotiation and vary from contract to contract. Payments
under these contracts may be uneven, and depend on factors such as
the achievement of certain events, the successful recruitment of
patients, the completion of portions of the clinical trial or
similar conditions. The objective of our policy is to match the
recording of expenses in our financial statements to the actual
services received and efforts expended. As such, expense accruals
related to clinical site costs are recognized based on our estimate
of the degree of completion of the event or events specified in the
specific clinical study or trial contract.
We are
required to perform impairment tests annually, at December 31, and
whenever events or changes in circumstances suggest that the
carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. For all of our
acquisitions, various analyses, assumptions and estimates were made
at the time of each acquisition that were used to determine the
valuation of goodwill and intangibles. In future years, the
possibility exists that changes in forecasts and estimates from
those used at the acquisition date could result in impairment
indicators.
Accounting For Income Taxes. In
preparing our condensed consolidated financial statements, we are
required to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions
in which we operate. This process involves management estimation of
our actual current tax exposure and assessment of temporary
differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and
accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax
assets and liabilities. We must then assess the likelihood that our
deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income
and, to the extent we believe that recovery is not likely, we must
establish a valuation allowance. To the extent we establish a
valuation allowance or increase this allowance in a period, we must
include an expense within the tax provision in the consolidated
statements of operations. Significant management judgment is
required in determining our provision for income taxes, our
deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance
recorded against our net deferred tax assets. We have fully offset
our deferred tax assets with a valuation allowance. Our lack of
earnings history and the uncertainty surrounding our ability to
generate taxable income prior to the reversal or expiration of such
deferred tax assets were the primary factors considered by
management in maintaining the valuation allowance.
Fair Value of 5% Notes Payable. We
measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a
recurring basis in the financial statements. The hierarchy ranks
the quality and reliability of inputs, or assumptions, used in the
determination of fair value and requires financial assets and
liabilities carried at fair value to be classified and disclosed in
one of three categories.
We
elected the fair value option for valuing the 5% Notes. We elected
the fair value option in order to reflect in our financial
statements the assumptions that market participants use in
evaluating these financial instruments.
30
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In
July 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-11,
“Leases - Targeted Improvements” (“ASU
2018-11”) as an update to ASU 2016-02, Leases (“ASU
2016-02” or “Topic 842”) issued on February 25,
2016. ASU 2016-02 is effective for public business entities for
fiscal years beginning January 1, 2019. ASU 2016-02 required
companies to adopt the new leases standard at the beginning of the
earliest period presented in the financial statements, which is
January 1, 2017, using a modified retrospective transition method
where lessees must recognize lease assets and liabilities for all
leases even though those leases may have expired before the
effective date of January 1, 2017. Lessees must also provide the
new and enhanced disclosures for each period presented, including
the comparative periods.
ASU
2018-11 provides an entity with an additional (and optional)
transition method to adopt the new leases standard. Under this new
transition method, an entity initially applies the new leases
standard at the adoption date and recognizes a cumulative-effect
adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the
period of adoption. Consequently, an entity’s reporting for
the comparative periods presented in the financial statements in
which it adopts the new leases standard will continue to be in
accordance with current GAAP (Topic 840, Leases). An entity that
elects this additional (and optional) transition method must
provide the required Topic 840 disclosures for all periods that
continue to be in accordance with Topic 840. The amendments do not
change the existing disclosure requirements in Topic 840. An entity
shall apply the effects of modification using one of the following
two methods:
●
Retrospectively
to each prior reporting period presented in the financial
statements with the cumulative effect of initially applying ASU
2018-11 recognized at the beginning of the earliest comparative
period presented. Under this transition method, the application
date shall be the later of the beginning of the earliest period
presented in the financial statements and the commencement date of
the lease.
●
Retrospectively
at the beginning of the period of adoption through a
cumulative-effect adjustment. Under this transition method, the
application date shall be the beginning of the reporting period in
which the entity first applies ASU 2018-11.
ASU 2018-11 is effective for public business
entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and
interim periods within those fiscal years, with earlier adoption
permitted. We
are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of
ASU 2018-11 will have on our consolidated
financial statements.
In
June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, “Improvements to
Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting” (“ASU
2018-07”). ASU 2018-07 expands the scope of FASB Topic 718,
Compensation – Stock Compensation (“Topic 718”)
to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and
services from nonemployees. An entity should only remeasure
equity-classified awards for which a measurement date has not been
established through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained
earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. Upon
transition, the entity is required to measure these nonemployee
awards at fair value as of the adoption date. The entity must not
remeasure assets that are completed. Disclosures required at
transition include the nature of and reason for the change in
accounting principle and, if applicable, quantitative information
about the cumulative effect of the change on retained earnings or
other components of equity.
ASU 2018-07 is effective for
public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December
15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. Early
adoption is permitted, but no earlier than an entity’s
adoption date of Topic 606. We
are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of
ASU 2018-07
will have on our consolidated
financial statements.
In
May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, “Scope of
Modification Accounting” (“ASU 2017-09”). ASU
2017-09 provides guidance about which changes to the terms or
conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to
apply modification accounting. An entity should account for the
effects of a modification unless all the following are
met:
●
The
fair value (or calculated value or intrinsic value, if such an
alternative measurement method is used) of the modified award is
the same as the fair value (or calculated value or intrinsic value,
if such an alternative measurement method is used) of the original
award immediately before the original award is modified. If the
modification does not affect any of the inputs to the valuation
technique that the entity uses to value the award, the entity is
not required to estimate the value immediately before and after the
modification.
●
The
vesting conditions of the modified award are the same as the
vesting conditions of the original award immediately before the
original award is modified.
●
The
classification of the modified award as an equity instrument or a
liability instrument is the same as the classification of the
original award immediately before the original award is
modified.
31
ASU
2017-09 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning on or
after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted for public
business entities for reporting periods for which financial
statements have not yet been issued, and all other entities for
reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been
made available for issuance. The amendments should be applied
prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date.
The Company adopted ASU 2017-09 on January 1, 2018. The adoption of
ASU 2017-09 did not have a material effect on our consolidated
financial statements as of June 30, 2018.
In
January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, “Simplifying
the Test for Goodwill Impairment” (“ASU
2017-04”). ASU 2017-04 removes the requirement to compare the
implied fair value of goodwill with its carrying amount as part of
step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. As a result, under ASU
2017-04, an entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill
impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit
with its carrying amount and should recognize an impairment charge
for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting
unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not
exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting
unit. In addition, ASU 2017-04:
●
Clarifies
the requirements for excluding and allocating foreign currency
translation adjustments to reporting units in connection with an
entity’s testing of reporting units for goodwill
impairment.
●
Clarifies
that an entity should consider income tax effects from any tax
deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit
when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if
applicable.
●
Makes
minor changes to the overview and background sections of certain
ASC subtopics and topics as part of the Board’s initiative to
unify and improve those sections throughout the
Codification.
ASU
2017-04 is effective prospectively for annual and interim periods
beginning on or after December 15, 2019, and early adoption is
permitted on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU
2017-04 to have a material impact on the Company’s condensed
consolidated financial statements.
In
January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, “FASB
Clarifies the Definition of a Business” (“ASU
2017-01”). ASU 2017-01 clarifies the definition of a business
in ASC 805. The amendments in ASU 2017-01 are intended to make
application of the guidance more consistent and cost-efficient. The
amendments in ASU 2017-01:
●
Provide
a screen to determine when a set of assets and activities is not a
business. The screen requires that when substantially all of the
fair value of the gross assets acquired (or disposed of) is
concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar
identifiable assets, the set is not a business. This screen reduces
the number of transactions that need to be further
evaluated.
●
Provide
that if the screen is not met, (1) to be considered a business, a
set must include, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process
that together significantly contribute to the ability to create
output and (2) remove the evaluation of whether a market
participant could replace missing elements. The amendments provide
a framework to assist entities in evaluating whether both an input
and a substantive process are present. The framework includes two
sets of criteria to consider that depend on whether a set has
outputs. Although outputs are not required for a set to be a
business, outputs generally are a key element of a business;
therefore, the Board has developed more stringent criteria for sets
without outputs.
●
Narrow
the definition of the term output so that the term is consistent
with how outputs are described in Topic 606.
ASU
2017-01 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after
December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted for transactions
that occurred before the issuance date or effective date of the
standard if the transactions were not reported in financial
statements that have been issued or made available for issuance.
The Company adopted ASU 2017-01 on January 1, 2018. The adoption of
ASU 2017-01 did not have a material effect on our consolidated
financial statements as of June 30, 2018.
In
November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, “Statement of
Cash Flows – Restricted Cash” (“ASU
2016-18”). ASU 2016-18 requires that a statement of cash
flows explain the change during the period for the total of cash,
cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted
cash or restricted cash equivalents. ASU 2016-18 does not provide a
definition of restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents, and
does not change the balance sheet presentation for such items. The
Company adopted ASU 2016-18 on January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU
2016-18 did not have a material effect on our consolidated
financial statements as of June 30, 2018.
In
May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue
from Contracts with Customers” (Topic 606) (“ASU
2014-09” or “ASC 606”), which supersedes all
existing revenue recognition requirements, including most
industry-specific guidance. ASU 2014-09 provides a single set of
criteria for revenue recognition among all industries. The new
standard requires a company to recognize revenue when it transfers
goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the
consideration that the Company expects to receive for those goods
or services.
32
ASU
2014-09 includes guidance for determining whether a license
transfers to a customer at a point in time or over time based on
the nature of the entity’s promise to the customer. To
determine whether the entity’s promise is to provide a right
to access its intellectual property or a right to use its
intellectual property, the entity should consider the nature of the
intellectual property to which the customer will have
rights.
ASU
2014-09 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2017. The standard allows for two transition
methods - full retrospective, in which the standard is applied to
each prior reporting period presented, or modified retrospective,
in which the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard
is recognized at the date of initial adoption. The Company adopted
ASU 2014-09 on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective
approach. The adoption of ASU 2014-09 did not have a material
effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements as of
June 30, 2018.
Other
pronouncements issued by the FASB or other authoritative accounting
standards with future effective dates are either not applicable or
not significant to our consolidated financial
statements.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET
RISK
The
primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve
principal while maximizing our income from investments and
minimizing our market risk. We invest in government and
investment-grade corporate debt in accordance with our investment
policy. Some of the securities in which we invest have market risk.
This means that a change in prevailing interest rates, and/or
credit risk, may cause the fair value of the investment to
fluctuate. For example, if we hold a security that was issued with
a fixed interest rate at the then-prevailing rate and the
prevailing interest rate later rises, the fair value of our
investment will probably decline. As of June 30, 2018, our
portfolio of financial instruments consists of cash equivalents,
including bank deposits, and investments. Due to the short-term
nature of our investments, we believe there is no material exposure
to interest rate risk, and/or credit risk, arising from our
investments.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of
June 30, 2018, management carried out, under the supervision and
with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design
and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Our
disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide
reasonable assurance that information we are required to disclose
in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is
recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time
periods specified in applicable rules and forms. Based upon that
evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
concluded that, as of June 30, 2018, our disclosure controls and
procedures were effective.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There
were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting
during the quarter ended June 30, 2018 that have materially
affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our
internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We, and
our subsidiaries, are not a party to, and our property is not the
subject of, any material pending legal proceedings.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
You
should carefully consider the following risks and uncertainties. If
any of the following occurs, our business, financial condition or
operating results could be materially harmed. These factors could
cause the trading price of our common stock to decline, and you
could lose all or part of your investment.
33
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
Because we have in-licensed our product candidates from third
parties, any dispute with or non-performance by our licensors will
adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize the
applicable product candidates.
Because we license our intellectual property from
third parties and we expect to continue to in-license additional
intellectual property rights, if there is any dispute between us
and our licensor regarding our rights under a license
agreement, our ability to develop and
commercialize our product candidates may be adversely affected.
Disputes may arise with the third parties from whom we license our
intellectual property rights from for a variety of reasons,
including:
●
the
scope of rights granted under the license agreement and other
interpretation-related issues;
●
the
extent to which our technology and processes infringe on
intellectual property of the licensor that is not subject to the
license agreement;
●
the
sublicensing of patent and other rights under our collaborative
development relationships and obligations associated with
sublicensing;
●
our
diligence obligations under the license agreement and what
activities satisfy those diligence obligations;
●
the
ownership of inventions and know-how resulting from the joint
creation or use of intellectual property by our licensors and us
and our partners; and
●
the
priority of invention of patented technology.
In addition, the agreements under which we
currently license intellectual property or technology from third
parties are complex, and
certain provisions in such agreements may be susceptible to
multiple interpretations, or may conflict in such a way that puts
us in breach of one or more agreements, which would make us
susceptible to lengthy and expensive disputes with one or more of
our licensing partners. The resolution of any contract
interpretation disagreement that may arise could narrow what we
believe to be the scope of our rights to the relevant intellectual
property or technology, or increase what we believe to be our
financial or other obligations under the relevant agreement, either
of which could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.
Moreover, if disputes over intellectual property that we have
licensed prevent or impair our ability to maintain our current
licensing arrangements on commercially acceptable terms, we may be
unable to successfully develop and commercialize the affected
product candidates, which could have a material adverse effect on
our business, financial conditions, results of operations, and
prospects.
We do not have full internal development capabilities, and are thus
reliant upon our partners and third parties to generate clinical,
preclinical and quality data necessary to support the regulatory
applications needed to conduct clinical trials and file for
marketing approval.
In
order to submit and maintain an Investigational New Drug
application (“IND”), Biologics License Application
(“BLA”), or New Drug Application (“NDA”) to
the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”),
it is necessary to submit all information on the clinical,
non-clinical, chemistry, manufacturing, controls and quality
aspects of the product candidate. We rely on our third party
contractors and our licensing partners to provide a significant
portion of this data. If we are unable to obtain this data, or the
data is not sufficient to meet the regulatory requirements, we may
experience significant delays in our development programs.
Additionally, an IND must be active in each division in which we
intend to conduct clinical trials. Currently we do not have an
active IND for any of the IRAK4, BTK, or BET inhibitors, nor for
our anti-GITR or anti-CD47/ anti-CD-19 antibodies. Additionally,
there can be no assurance given that any of the molecules under
development in our IRAK4, BTK, or BET inhibitor program or in our
anti-GITR or anti-CD47/
anti-CD-19 antibody research programs will demonstrate
sufficient pharmacologic properties during pre-clinical evaluation
to advance to IND enabling studies, or that such IND enabling
studies, if any are conducted, will provide data sufficient to
support the filing of an IND, or that such IND, if filed, would be
accepted by any FDA division under which we would seek to develop
any product candidate. While we maintain an active IND for TG-1101
and TGR-1202 enabling the conduct of studies in the FDA’s
Division of Hematology and Oncology, and an active IND for TG-1101
under the FDA’s Division of Neurology, there can be no
assurance that we will be successful in obtaining an active IND for
these drugs in any other division under whose supervision we may
seek to develop our product candidates, or that the FDA will allow
us to continue the development of our product candidates in those
divisions where we maintain an active IND.
34
We are highly dependent on the success of our product candidates
and cannot give any assurance that these or any future product
candidates will be successfully commercialized.
We are
a development-stage biopharmaceutical company, and do not currently
have any commercial products that generate revenues or any other
sources of revenue. We may never be able to successfully develop
marketable products. Our pharmaceutical development methods are
unproven and may not lead to commercially viable products for any
of several reasons.
If we
are unable to develop, or receive regulatory approval for or
successfully commercialize any of our product candidates, we will
not be able to generate product revenues. Even if we are able to
develop or receive regulatory approval for or successfully
commercialize any of our product candidates, we may not be able to
gain market acceptance for our product candidates and future
products and may never become profitable.
Because the results of preclinical studies and early clinical
trials are not necessarily predictive of future results, any
product candidate we advance into clinical trials may not have
favorable results in later clinical trials, if any, or receive
regulatory approval.
Pharmaceutical
development has inherent risk. We will be required to demonstrate
through adequate and well-controlled clinical trials that our
product candidates are effective with a favorable benefit-risk
profile for use in diverse populations for their target indications
before we can seek regulatory approvals for their commercial sale.
Success in early clinical trials does not mean that later clinical
trials will be successful because product candidates in later-stage
clinical trials may fail to demonstrate sufficient safety or
efficacy despite having progressed through initial clinical
testing. Companies frequently suffer significant setbacks in
advanced clinical trials, even after earlier clinical trials have
shown promising results. In addition, there is typically an
extremely high rate of failure of pharmaceutical candidates
proceeding through clinical trials.
We plan
on conducting additional Phase I, II and III clinical trials for
TG-1101 and TGR-1202. Early clinical results seen with TG-1101 and
TGR-1202 in a small number of patients may not be reproduced in
expanded or larger clinical trials. Additionally, individually
reported outcomes of patients treated in clinical trials may not be
representative of the entire population of treated patients in such
studies. Further, larger scale Phase III studies, which are often
conducted internationally, are inherently subject to increased
operational risks compared to earlier stage studies, including the
risk that the results could vary on a region to region, or country
to country basis which could materially adversely affect the
study’s outcome or the opinion of the validity of the study
results by applicable regulatory agencies. Early clinical trial
results from interim analysis or from the review of a Data Safety
Monitoring Board (“DSMB”) or similar safety committee
may not be reflective of the results of the entire study, when
completed. Additionally, many of the results reported in our early
clinical trials rely on local investigator assessed safety and
efficacy outcomes which may differ from results assessed in a
blinded, independent, centrally reviewed manner, often required of
adequate and well controlled registration directed clinical trials
which may be undertaken at a later date. If the results from
expansion cohorts or later trials are different from those found in
the earlier studies of TG-1101 and TGR-1202, we may need to
terminate or revise our clinical development plan, which could
extend the time for conducting our development program and could
have a material adverse effect on our business. Our IRAK4, BTK,
BET, anti-CD47/
anti-CD-19, and anti-GITR programs are all in pre-clinical
development and no assurance can be given that they will advance
into clinical development. If the results from additional
pre-clinical studies or early clinical trials differ from those
found in earlier studies, our clinical development plans and
timelines for this program could be adversely affected which could
have a material adverse effect on our business. Many drugs fail in
the early stages of clinical development for safety and
tolerability issues and accordingly if our pre-clinical assets
advance into clinical development, no assurance can be made that a
safe and efficacious dose can be found.
If we are unable to successfully complete our clinical trial
programs, or if such clinical trials take longer to complete than
we project, our ability to execute our current business strategy
will be adversely affected.
Whether
or not and how quickly we complete clinical trials is dependent in
part upon the rate at which we are able to engage clinical trial
sites and, thereafter, the rate of enrollment of patients, and the
rate we collect, clean, lock and analyze the clinical trial
database. Patient enrollment is a function of many factors,
including the size of the patient population, the proximity of
patients to clinical sites, the eligibility criteria for the study,
the existence of competitive clinical trials, and whether existing
or new drugs are approved for the indication we are studying. We
are aware that other companies are currently conducting or planning
clinical trials that seek to enroll patients with the same diseases
that we are studying. Certain clinical trials are designed to
continue until a pre-determined number of events have occurred in
the patients enrolled. Trials such as this are subject to delays
stemming from patient withdrawal and from lower than expected event
rates. They may also incur additional costs if enrollment is
increased in order to achieve the desired number of events. If we
experience delays in identifying and contracting with sites and/or
in patient enrollment in our clinical trial programs, we may incur
additional costs and delays in our development programs, and may
not be able to complete our clinical trials in a cost-effective or
timely manner. In addition, conducting multi-national studies adds
another level of complexity and risk. We are subject to events
affecting countries outside the United States. Negative or
inconclusive results from the clinical trials we conduct or
unanticipated adverse medical events could cause us to have to
repeat or terminate the clinical trials.
35
In
September 2015 we announced a Phase 3 clinical trial for the
combination of TG-1101 + TGR-1202 for patients with Chronic
Lymphocytic Leukemia (“CLL”), which is being conducted
pursuant to a Special Protocol Assessment (“SPA”) with
the FDA and in August 2017 we announced an SPA for our registration
program for TG-1101 in relapsing forms of Multiple Sclerosis
(“MS”). Many companies which have been granted SPAs
and/or the right to utilize the FDA’s Fast Track or
accelerated approval process have ultimately failed to obtain final
approval to market their drugs. Since we are seeking approvals
under SPAs for some of our product registration strategies, based
on protocol designs negotiated with the FDA, we may be subject to
enhanced scrutiny. Further, any changes or amendments to a protocol
that is being conducted under SPA will have to be reviewed and
approved by the FDA to verify that the SPA agreement is still
valid. Even if the primary endpoint in a Phase 3 clinical trial is
achieved, a SPA does not guarantee approval. The FDA may raise
issues of safety, study conduct, bias, deviation from the protocol,
statistical power, patient completion rates, changes in scientific
or medical parameters or internal inconsistencies in the data prior
to making its final decision. The FDA may also seek the guidance of
an outside advisory committee prior to making its final
decision.
The sufficiency of our GENUINE trial results for approval are
subject to FDA’s discretion.
Obtaining
accelerated approval for an agent requires demonstration of
meaningful benefit over available therapies. While we believe we
have an understanding of what is considered available therapy
today, ultimately the determination of what constitutes available
therapy is wholly up to the FDA and is subject to change. In
October 2017, we announced the outcome of a meeting with the FDA
regarding the use of the results from the GENUINE Phase 3 trial to
support a BLA filing for accelerated approval of TG-1101 in
combination with ibrutinib. As part of the discussion, the FDA also
guided that if one or more agents obtained full approval before we
could obtain accelerated approval, those agents could be considered
available therapy, and we would need to show meaningful benefit
over those agents as well. No assurance can be given that other
agents will not receive full approval prior to our potential
receipt of accelerated approval. If that were to occur, no
assurance can be given that we would be successful in proving
meaningful benefit over those later approved drugs. If we were
unable to prove meaningful benefit over any such agents, we would
be effectively blocked from receiving accelerated
approval.
While
we wait to see if any drugs receive full approval and can evaluate
the data associated with any such agents, we are continuing to make
preparations for a BLA filing for accelerated approval. Whether or
not we ultimately file such application will be subject to multiple
factors and no assurance can be given that a filing will be made.
If a filing is made, the FDA acceptance of such a filing will
depend on the FDA’s views on the adequacy of the filing, and
further even if the filing is accepted, approval of such a filing
is a question wholly within the FDA’s discretion to
determine. In addition, if we were to receive accelerated approval,
we would be required to conduct a post-market confirmatory study,
which we may not complete, or if completed, may prove unsuccessful.
In such instance, the FDA can remove the product from the
market.
The
GENUINE study in its final form was not powered for
progression-free survival (“PFS”). There can be no
assurance given that we will reach agreement with the FDA on an
acceptable use of PFS data from GENUINE to support approval of
TG-1101, or even if an agreement is reached, that the PFS results
of TG-1101 will be positive and/or sufficient to support a
regulatory approval of TG-1101.
Any product candidates we may advance through clinical development
are subject to extensive regulation, which can be costly and time
consuming, cause unanticipated delays or prevent the receipt of the
required approvals or “fast track” or “priority
review” status to commercialize our product
candidates.
The
clinical development, manufacturing, labeling, storage,
record-keeping, advertising, promotion, import, export, marketing
and distribution of our product candidates or any future product
candidates are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA in the
United States and by comparable health authorities worldwide. In
the United States, we are not permitted to market our product
candidates until we receive approval of a BLA or NDA from the FDA.
The process of obtaining BLA and NDA approval is expensive, often
takes many years and can vary substantially based upon the type,
complexity and novelty of the products involved. Approval policies
or regulations may change and the FDA has substantial discretion in
the pharmaceutical approval process, including the ability to
delay, limit or deny approval of a product candidate for many
reasons. Even with “fast track” or “priority
review” status which we intend to seek for our product
candidates, where possible, including with regard to TG-1101, such
designations do not necessarily mean a faster development process
or regulatory review process or necessarily confer any advantage
with respect to approval compared to conventional FDA procedures.
In addition, the FDA may require post-approval clinical trials or
studies which also may be costly. The FDA approval for a limited
indication or approval with required warning language, such as a
boxed warning, could significantly impact our ability to
successfully market our product candidates. Finally, the FDA may
require adoption of a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy
(“REMS”) requiring prescriber training, post-market
registries, or otherwise restricting the marketing and
dissemination of these products. Despite the time and expense
invested in clinical development of product candidates, regulatory
approval is never guaranteed. Assuming successful clinical
development, we intend to seek product approvals in countries
outside the United States. As a result, we would be subject to
regulation by the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”), as
well as the other regulatory agencies in these
countries.
36
Approval
procedures vary among countries and can involve additional product
testing and additional administrative review periods. The time
required to obtain approval in other countries might differ from
that required to obtain FDA approval. Regulatory approval in one
country does not ensure regulatory approval in another, but a
failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approval in one country
may negatively impact the regulatory process in others. As in the
United States, the regulatory approval process in Europe and in
other countries is a lengthy and challenging process. The FDA, and
any other regulatory body around the world can delay, limit or deny
approval of a product candidate for many reasons,
including:
●
the FDA
or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with the
design or implementation of our clinical trials;
●
we may
be unable to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA or
comparable foreign regulatory authorities that a product candidate
is safe and effective for any indication;
●
the FDA
may not accept clinical data from trials which are conducted by
individual investigators or in countries where the standard of care
is potentially different from the United States;
●
the
results of clinical trials may not meet the level of statistical
significance required by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory
authorities for approval;
●
we may
be unable to demonstrate that a product candidate's clinical and
other benefits outweigh its safety risks;
●
the FDA
or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with our
interpretation of data from preclinical studies or clinical
trials;
●
the
data collected from clinical trials of our product candidates may
not be sufficient to support the submission of a BLA, NDA or other
submission or to obtain regulatory approval in the United States or
elsewhere;
●
the FDA
or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may fail to approve
the manufacturing processes or facilities of third-party
manufacturers with which we or our collaborators contract for
clinical and commercial supplies; or
●
the
approval policies or regulations of the FDA or comparable foreign
regulatory authorities may significantly change in a manner
rendering our clinical data insufficient for approval.
In
addition, raising questions about the safety of marketed
pharmaceuticals may result in increased cautiousness by the FDA and
other regulatory authorities in reviewing new pharmaceuticals based
on safety, efficacy or other regulatory considerations and may
result in significant delays in obtaining regulatory approvals.
Regulatory approvals for our product candidates may not be obtained
without lengthy delays, if at all. Any delay in obtaining, or
inability to obtain, applicable regulatory approvals would prevent
us from commercializing our product candidates.
Any product candidate we advance into clinical trials may cause
unacceptable adverse events or have other properties that may delay
or prevent their regulatory approval or commercialization or limit
their commercial potential.
Unacceptable
adverse events caused by any of our product candidates that we take
into clinical trials could cause either us or regulatory
authorities to interrupt, delay, modify or halt clinical trials and
could result in the denial of regulatory approval by the FDA or
other regulatory authorities for any or all targeted indications.
This, in turn, could prevent us from commercializing the affected
product candidate and generating revenues from its
sale.
We have
not completed testing of any of our product candidates for the
treatment of the indications for which we intend to seek product
approval in humans, and we currently do not know the extent that
adverse events, if any, will be observed in patients who receive
any of our product candidates. To date, clinical trials using
TG-1101 and TGR-1202 have demonstrated a toxicity profile that was
deemed acceptable by the investigators performing such studies.
Such interpretation may not be shared by future investigators or by
the FDA and in the case of TG-1101 and TGR-1202, even if deemed
acceptable for oncology applications, it may not be acceptable for
diseases outside the oncology setting, and likewise for any other
product candidates we may develop. Additionally, the severity,
duration and incidence of adverse events may increase in larger
study populations. With respect to both TG-1101 and TGR-1202, the
toxicity when manufactured under different conditions and in
different formulations is not known, and it is possible that
additional and/or different adverse events may appear upon the
human use of those formulations and those adverse events may arise
with greater frequency, intensity and duration than in the current
formulation. Should we not be able to adequately demonstrate
analytical comparability between drug product manufactured under
different conditions, the introduction of such new drug product
into ongoing trials also has the potential to confound the
interpretation of the results or complicate the statistical
analysis of such trial. Further, with respect to TGR-1202, although
approximately one thousand patients have been dosed amongst all
ongoing TGR-1202 studies, the full adverse effect profile of
TGR-1202 is not known. It is also unknown as additional patients
are exposed for longer durations to TGR-1202, whether greater
frequency and/or severity of adverse events are likely to occur.
Common toxicities of other drugs in the same class as TGR-1202
include high levels of liver toxicity, infections and colitis, the
latter of which notably has presented with later onset, with
incidence increasing with duration of exposure. To date, the
incidence of these events has been limited for TGR-1202, however no
assurance can be given that this safety and tolerability profile
will continue to be demonstrated in the future as higher doses,
longer durations of exposure, and multiple drug combinations are
explored. If any of our product candidates cause unacceptable
adverse events in clinical trials, we may not be able to obtain
marketing approval and generate revenues from its sale, or even if
approved for sale may lack differentiation from competitive
products, which could have a material adverse impact on our
business and operations.
37
Additionally, in
combination clinical development, there is an inherent risk of
drug-drug interactions between combination agents which may affect
each component’s individual pharmacologic properties and the
overall efficacy and safety of the combination regimen. Both
TG-1101 and TGR-1202 are being evaluated in combination together,
as well as with a variety of other active anti-cancer agents, which
may cause unforeseen toxicity, or impact the severity, duration,
and incidence of adverse events observed compared to those seen in
the single agent studies of these agents. Further, with multi-drug
combinations, it is often difficult to interpret or properly assign
attribution of an adverse event to any one particular agent,
introducing the risk that toxicity caused by a component of a
combination regimen could have a material adverse impact on the
development of our product candidates. There can be no assurances
given that the combination regimens being studied will display
tolerability or efficacy suitable to warrant further testing or
produce data that is sufficient to obtain marketing
approval.
If any
of our product candidates receives marketing approval and we, or
others, later identify unacceptable adverse events caused by the
product, a number of significant negative consequences could
result, including:
●
regulatory
authorities may withdraw their approval of the affected
product;
●
regulatory
authorities may require a more significant clinical benefit for
approval to offset the risk;
●
regulatory
authorities may require the addition of labeling statements that
could diminish the usage of the product or otherwise limit the
commercial success of the affected product;
●
we may
be required to change the way the product is administered or,
conduct additional clinical trials;
●
we may
choose to discontinue sale of the product;
●
we
could be sued and held liable for harm caused to
patients;
●
we may
not be able to enter into collaboration agreements on acceptable
terms and execute on our business model; and
●
our
reputation may suffer.
Any one
or a combination of these events could prevent us from obtaining or
maintaining regulatory approval and achieving or maintaining market
acceptance of the affected product or could substantially increase
the costs and expenses of commercializing the affected product,
which in turn could delay or prevent us from generating any
revenues from the sale of the affected product.
We may experience delays in the commencement of our clinical trials
or in the receipt of data from preclinical and clinical trials
conducted by third parties, which could result in increased costs
and delay our ability to pursue regulatory approval.
Delays
in the commencement of clinical trials and delays in the receipt of
data from preclinical or clinical trials conducted by third parties
could significantly impact our product development costs. Before we
can initiate clinical trials in the United States for our product
candidates, we need to submit the results of preclinical testing,
usually in animals, to the FDA as part of an IND, along with other
information including information about product chemistry,
manufacturing and controls and its proposed clinical trial protocol
for our product candidates.
We plan
to rely on preclinical and clinical trial data from third parties,
if any, for the IND submissions for our product candidates. If
receipt of that data is delayed for any reason, including reasons
outside of our control, it will delay our plans for IND filings,
and clinical trial plans. This, in turn, will delay our ability to
make subsequent regulatory filings and ultimately, to commercialize
our products if regulatory approval is obtained. If those third
parties do not make this data available to us, we will likely, on
our own, have to develop all the necessary preclinical and clinical
data which will lead to additional delays and increase the costs of
our development of our product candidates.
Before
we can test any product candidate in human clinical trials the
product candidate enters the preclinical testing stage. Preclinical
tests include laboratory evaluations of product chemistry, toxicity
and formulation, as well as in-vitro and animal studies to assess
the potential safety and activity of the pharmaceutical product
candidate. The conduct of the preclinical tests must comply with
federal regulations and requirements including good laboratory
practices (“GLP”).
We must
submit the results of the preclinical tests, together with
manufacturing information, analytical data, any available clinical
data or literature and a proposed clinical protocol, to the FDA as
part of the IND. The IND automatically becomes effective 30 days
after receipt by the FDA, unless the FDA places the IND on a
clinical hold within that 30-day time period. In such a case, we
must work with the FDA to resolve any outstanding concerns before
the clinical trials can begin. The FDA may also impose clinical
holds on a product candidate at any time before or during clinical
trials due to safety concerns or non-compliance. Accordingly, we
cannot be sure that submission of an IND will result in the FDA
allowing clinical trials to begin, or that, once begun, issues will
not arise that suspend or terminate such clinical
trial.
38
The FDA
may require that we conduct additional preclinical testing for any
product candidate before it allows us to initiate the clinical
testing under any IND, which may lead to additional delays and
increase the costs of our preclinical development.
Even
assuming an active IND for a product candidate, we do not know
whether our planned clinical trials for any such product candidate
will begin on time, or at all. The commencement of clinical trials
can be delayed for a variety of reasons, including delays
in:
●
obtaining
regulatory clearance to commence a clinical trial;
●
identifying,
recruiting and training suitable clinical
investigators;
●
reaching
agreement on acceptable terms with prospective contract research
organizations (“CROs”) and trial sites, the terms of
which can be subject to extensive negotiation, may be subject to
modification from time to time and may vary significantly among
different CROs and trial sites;
●
obtaining
sufficient quantities of a product candidate for use in clinical
trials;
●
obtaining
institutional review board (“IRB”) or ethics committee
approval to conduct a clinical trial at a prospective
site;
●
identifying,
recruiting and enrolling patients to participate in a clinical
trial;
●
retaining
patients who have initiated a clinical trial but may withdraw due
to adverse events from the therapy, insufficient efficacy, fatigue
with the clinical trial process or personal issues;
and
●
unexpected
safety findings.
Any
delays in the commencement of our clinical trials will delay our
ability to pursue regulatory approval for our product candidates.
In addition, many of the factors that cause, or lead to, a delay in
the commencement of clinical trials may also ultimately lead to the
denial of regulatory approval of a product candidate.
Delays in the completion of clinical testing could result in
increased costs and delay our ability to generate product
revenues.
Once a
clinical trial has begun, patient recruitment and enrollment may be
slower than we anticipate. Clinical trials may also be delayed as a
result of ambiguous or negative interim results. Further, a
clinical trial may be suspended or terminated by us, an IRB, an
ethics committee or a DSMC overseeing the clinical trial, any of
our clinical trial sites with respect to that site or the FDA or
other regulatory authorities due to a number of factors,
including:
●
failure
to conduct the clinical trial in accordance with regulatory
requirements or our clinical protocols;
●
inspection
of the clinical trial operations or clinical trial site by the FDA
or other regulatory authorities resulting in the imposition of a
clinical hold;
●
unforeseen
safety issues or any determination that the clinical trial presents
unacceptable health risks; and
●
lack of
adequate funding to continue the clinical trial.
Changes
in regulatory requirements and guidance also may occur and we may
need to amend clinical trial protocols to reflect these changes.
Amendments may require us to resubmit our clinical trial protocols
to IRBs for re-examination, which may impact the costs, timing and
successful completion of a clinical trial. If we experience delays
in the completion of, or if we must terminate, any clinical trial
of any product candidate that we advance into clinical trials, our
ability to obtain regulatory approval for that product candidate
will be delayed and the commercial prospects, if any, for the
product candidate may be harmed. In addition, many of these factors
may also ultimately lead to the denial of regulatory approval of a
product candidate. Even if we ultimately commercialize any of our
product candidates, other therapies for the same indications may
have been introduced to the market during the period we have been
delayed and such therapies may have established a competitive
advantage over our product candidates.
We intend to rely on third parties to help conduct our planned
clinical trials. If these third parties do not meet their deadlines
or otherwise conduct the trials as required, we may not be able to
obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize our product
candidates when expected or at all.
We
intend to use CROs to assist in the conduct of our planned clinical
trials and will rely upon medical institutions, clinical
investigators and contract laboratories to conduct our trials in
accordance with our clinical protocols. Our future CROs,
investigators and other third parties may play a significant role
in the conduct of these trials and the subsequent collection and
analysis of data from the clinical trials.
There
is no guarantee that any CROs, investigators and other third
parties will devote adequate time and resources to our clinical
trials or perform as contractually required. If any third parties
upon whom we rely for administration and conduct of our clinical
trials fail to meet expected deadlines, fail to adhere to its
clinical protocols or otherwise perform in a substandard manner,
our clinical trials may be extended, delayed or terminated, and we
may not be able to commercialize our product
candidates.
39
If any
of our clinical trial sites terminate for any reason, we may
experience the loss of follow-up information on patients enrolled
in our ongoing clinical trials unless we are able to transfer the
care of those patients to another qualified clinical trial site. In
addition, principal investigators for our clinical trials may serve
as scientific advisors or consultants to us from time to time and
receive cash or equity compensation in connection with such
services. If these relationships and any related compensation
result in perceived or actual conflicts of interest, the integrity
of the data generated at the applicable clinical trial site may be
jeopardized.
As all of our product candidates are still under development,
manufacturing and process improvements implemented in the
production of those product candidates may affect their ultimate
activity or function.
Our
product candidates are in the initial stages of development and are
currently manufactured in small batches for use in pre-clinical and
clinical studies. Process improvements implemented to date have
changed, and process improvements in the future may change, the
activity profile of the product candidates, which may affect the
safety and efficacy of the products. No assurance can be given that
the material manufactured from any of the optimized processes will
perform comparably to the product candidates as manufactured to
date and used in currently available pre-clinical data and or in
early clinical trials reported in this or any previous filing.
Additionally, future clinical trial results will be subject to the
same level of uncertainty if, following such trials, additional
process improvements are made. In addition, we have engaged a
secondary manufacturer for TG-1101 to meet our current clinical and
future commercial needs and anticipate engaging additional
manufacturing sources for TGR-1202 to meet expanded clinical trial
and commercial needs. While material produced from this secondary
manufacturer for TG-1101 has to date demonstrated acceptable
comparability to enable introduction into our clinical trials, no
assurance can be given that any additional manufacturers will be
successful or that material manufactured by the additional
manufacturers will perform comparably to TG-1101 or TGR-1202 as
manufactured to date and used in currently available pre-clinical
data and or in early clinical trials reported in this or any
previous filing, or that the relevant regulatory agencies will
agree with our interpretation of comparability. If a secondary
manufacturer is not successful in replicating the product or
experiences delays, or if regulatory authorities impose unforeseen
requirements with respect to product comparability from multiple
manufacturing sources, we may experience delays in clinical
development.
If we fail to adequately understand and comply with the local laws
and customs as we expand into new international markets, these
operations may incur losses or otherwise adversely affect our
business and results of operations.
We
expect to operate a portion of our business in certain countries
through subsidiaries or through supply and marketing arrangements.
In those countries, where we have limited experience in operating
subsidiaries and in reviewing equity investees, we will be subject
to additional risks related to complying with a wide variety of
national and local laws, including restrictions on the import and
export of certain intermediates, drugs, technologies and multiple
and possibly overlapping tax laws. In addition, we may face
competition in certain countries from companies that may have more
experience with operations in such countries or with international
operations generally. We may also face difficulties integrating new
facilities in different countries into our existing operations, as
well as integrating employees hired in different countries into our
existing corporate culture. If we do not effectively manage our
operations in these subsidiaries and review equity investees
effectively, or if we fail to manage our alliances, we may lose
money in these countries and it may adversely affect our business
and results of our operations. In all interactions with foreign
regulatory authorities, we are exposed to liability risks under the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or similar anti-bribery
laws.
If our competitors develop treatments for the target indications
for which any of our product candidates may be approved, and they
are approved more quickly, marketed more effectively or
demonstrated to be more effective than our product candidates, our
commercial opportunity will be reduced or eliminated.
We
operate in a highly competitive segment of the biotechnology and
biopharmaceutical market. We face competition from numerous
sources, including commercial pharmaceutical and biotechnology
enterprises, academic institutions, government agencies, and
private and public research institutions. Many of our competitors
have significantly greater financial, product development,
manufacturing and marketing resources. Large pharmaceutical
companies have extensive experience in clinical testing and
obtaining regulatory approval for drugs. Additionally, many
universities and private and public research institutes are active
in cancer research, some in direct competition with us. We may also
compete with these organizations to recruit scientists and clinical
development personnel. Smaller or early-stage companies may also
prove to be significant competitors, particularly through
collaborative arrangements with large and established
companies.
The
cancer indications for which we are developing our products have a
number of established therapies with which we will compete. Most
major pharmaceutical companies and many biotechnology companies are
aggressively pursuing new cancer development programs for the
treatment of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (“NHL”), CLL,
and other B-cell proliferative malignancies, including both
therapies with traditional, as well as novel, mechanisms of action.
Additionally, numerous established therapies exist for the
autoimmune disorders for which we are developing TG-1101, including
and in particular, MS.
If
approved, we expect TG-1101 to compete directly with Roche
Group’s Rituxan® (rituximab) and Gazyva®
(obinutuzumab or GA-101), and Novartis’ Arzerra®
(ofatumumab) among others, each of which is currently approved for
the treatment of various diseases including NHL and CLL. In
addition, a number of pharmaceutical companies are developing
antibodies targeting CD20, CD19, and other B-cell associated
targets, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (“CAR-T”)
immunotherapy, and other B-cell ablative therapy which, if
approved, would potentially compete with TG-1101 both in oncology
settings as well as in autoimmune disorders. In 2017, the Roche
Group’s anti-CD20 antibody ocrelizumab was approved for the
treatment of MS. Genmab and GSK’s (ofatumumab) is also under
clinical development for patients with MS. New developments,
including the development of other pharmaceutical technologies and
methods of treating disease, occur in the pharmaceutical and life
sciences industries at a rapid pace.
40
With
respect to TGR-1202, there are several PI3K delta targeted
compounds both approved, such as Gilead’s Zydelig® (idelalisib) and Bayer’s
Aliqopa™ (copanlisib), and in development, including, but not
limited to, Verastem’s duvelisib which if approved we would
expect to compete directly with TGR-1202. In addition, there are
numerous other novel therapies targeting similar pathways to
TGR-1202 that are both approved and in development, which could
also compete with TGR-1202 in similar indications, such as the BTK
inhibitor, ibrutinib (FDA approved for MCL, CLL, Marginal Zone
Lymphoma and WM and marketed by AbbVie and Janssen), the BTK
inhibitor acalabrutinib (FDA approved for MCL and marketed by
AstraZeneca), or the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax (FDA approved for
CLL and marketed by AbbVie and Roche).
These
developments may render our product candidates obsolete or
noncompetitive. Compared to us, many of our potential competitors
have substantially greater:
●
research
and development resources, including personnel and
technology;
●
pharmaceutical
development, clinical trial and pharmaceutical commercialization
experience;
●
experience
and expertise in exploitation of intellectual property rights;
and
As a
result of these factors, our competitors may obtain regulatory
approval of their products more rapidly than us or may obtain
patent protection or other intellectual property rights that limit
our ability to develop or commercialize our product candidates. Our
competitors may also develop products for the treatment of
lymphoma, CLL, or other B-cell and autoimmune related disorders
that are more effective, better tolerated, more useful and less
costly than ours and may also be more successful in manufacturing
and marketing their products. Our competitors may succeed in
obtaining approvals from the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities
for their product candidates sooner than we do for our
products.
We will
also face competition from these third parties in recruiting and
retaining qualified personnel, establishing clinical trial sites
and enrolling patients for clinical trials and in identifying and
in-licensing new product candidates.
We rely completely on third parties to manufacture our preclinical
and clinical pharmaceutical supplies and we intend to rely on third
parties to produce commercial supplies of any approved product
candidate, and the commercialization of any of our product
candidates could be stopped, delayed or made less profitable if
those third parties fail to obtain approval of the FDA, fail to
provide us with sufficient quantities of pharmaceutical product or
fail to do so at acceptable quality levels or prices.
The
facilities used by our contract manufacturers to manufacture our
product candidates must be approved by the FDA pursuant to
inspections that will be conducted only after we submit a BLA or
NDA to the FDA, if at all. We do not control the manufacturing
process of our product candidates and are completely dependent on
our contract manufacturing partners for compliance with the
FDA’s requirements for manufacture of finished pharmaceutical
products (good manufacturing practices, or “GMP”). If
our contract manufacturers cannot successfully manufacture material
that conforms to our target product specifications, patent
specifications, and/or the FDA’s strict regulatory
requirements of safety, purity and potency, we will not be able to
secure and/or maintain FDA approval for our product candidates. In
addition, we have no control over the ability of our contract
manufacturers to maintain adequate quality control, quality
assurance and qualified personnel. If our contract manufacturers
cannot meet FDA standards, we may need to find alternative
manufacturing facilities, which would significantly impact our
ability to develop, obtain regulatory approval for or market our
product candidates. No assurance can be given that a long-term,
scalable manufacturer can be identified or that they can make
clinical and commercial supplies of our product candidates that
meets the product specifications of previously manufactured
batches, or is of a sufficient quality, or at an appropriate scale
and cost to make it commercially feasible. If they are unable to do
so, it could have a material adverse impact on our
business.
In
addition, we do not have the capability to package finished
products for distribution to hospitals and other customers. Prior
to commercial launch, we intend to enter into agreements with one
or more alternate fill/finish pharmaceutical product suppliers so
that we can ensure proper supply chain management once we are
authorized to make commercial sales of our product candidates. If
we receive marketing approval from the FDA, we intend to sell
pharmaceutical product finished and packaged by such suppliers. We
have not entered into long-term agreements with our current
contract manufacturers or with any fill/finish suppliers, and
though we intend to do so prior to commercial launch of our product
candidates in order to ensure that we maintain adequate supplies of
finished product, we may be unable to enter into such an agreement
or do so on commercially reasonable terms, which could have a
material adverse impact upon our business.
41
In most
cases, our manufacturing partners are single source suppliers. It
is expected that our manufacturing partners will be sole source
suppliers from single site locations for the foreseeable future.
Given this, any disruption of supply from these partners could have
a material, long-term impact on our ability to supply products for
clinical trials or commercial sale. If our suppliers do not deliver
sufficient quantities of our product candidates on a timely basis,
or at all, and in accordance with applicable specifications, there
could be a significant interruption of our supply, which would
adversely affect clinical development and commercialization of our
products. In addition, if our current or future supply of any or
our product candidates should fail to meet specifications during
its stability program there could be a significant interruption of
our supply of drug, which would adversely affect the clinical
development and commercialization of the product.
Our
product candidates may compete with other product candidates and
products for access to manufacturing facilities. There are a
limited number of manufacturers that operate under cGMP regulations
and that might be capable of manufacturing for us. Any performance
failure on the part of our existing or future manufacturers could
delay clinical development or marketing approval. We do not
currently have arrangements in place for redundant supply or a
second source for bulk drug substance. If our current contract
manufacturers cannot perform as agreed, we may be required to
replace such manufacturers. We may incur added costs and delays in
identifying and qualifying any replacement
manufacturers.
Our
current and anticipated future dependence upon others for the
manufacture of our product candidates or products may adversely
affect our future profit margins and our ability to commercialize
any products that receive marketing approval on a timely and
competitive basis.
We
also expect to rely on other third parties to store and distribute
drug supplies for our clinical trials. Any performance failure on
the part of our distributors could delay clinical development or
marketing approval of any future product candidates or
commercialization of our products, producing additional losses and
depriving us of potential product revenue.
We currently have no marketing and sales organization and no
experience in marketing pharmaceutical products. If we are unable
to establish sales and marketing capabilities or fail to enter into
agreements with third parties to market and sell any products we
may develop, we may not be able to effectively market and sell our
products and generate product revenue.
We do
not currently have the infrastructure for the sales, marketing and
distribution of our biotechnology products, and we must build this
infrastructure or make arrangements with third parties to perform
these functions in order to commercialize our products. We plan to
either develop internally or enter into collaborations or other
commercial arrangements to develop further, promote and sell all or
a portion of our product candidates.
The
establishment and development of a sales force, either by us or
jointly with a development partner, or the establishment of a
contract sales force to market any products we may develop will be
expensive and time-consuming and could delay any product launch,
and we cannot be certain that we or our development partners would
be able to successfully develop this capability. If we or our
development partners are unable to establish sales and marketing
capability or any other non-technical capabilities necessary to
commercialize any products we may develop, we will need to contract
with third parties to market and sell such products. We currently
possess limited resources and may not be successful in establishing
our own internal sales force or in establishing arrangements with
third parties on acceptable terms, if at all.
We may seek to establish additional collaborations and, if we are
not able to establish them on commercially reasonable terms, we may
have to alter our development and commercialization
plans.
Any future product candidate development programs
and the potential commercialization of our product candidates will require substantial
additional cash to fund expenses. For any current or
future product candidates, we may
decide to collaborate with additional pharmaceutical and
biotechnology companies for the development and potential
commercialization of those product candidates.
We
face significant competition in seeking appropriate collaborators.
Whether we reach a definitive agreement for any additional
collaborations will depend, among other things, upon our assessment
of the collaborator’s resources and expertise, the terms and
conditions of the proposed collaboration and the proposed
collaborator’s evaluation of a number of factors. Those
factors may include the design or results of clinical trials, the
likelihood of approval by FDA or similar regulatory authorities
outside the United States, the potential market for the subject
product candidate, the costs and complexities of manufacturing and
delivering such product candidate to patients, the potential of
competing drugs, the existence of uncertainty with respect to our
ownership of technology, which can exist if there is a challenge to
such ownership without regard to the merits of the challenge and
industry and market conditions generally. The collaborator may also
consider alternative product candidates or technologies for similar
indications that may be available to collaborate on and whether
such a collaboration could be more attractive than the one with us
for any future product candidate. The terms of any additional
collaborations or other arrangements that we may establish may not
be favorable to us.
We
may not be able to negotiate additional collaborations on a timely
basis, on acceptable terms, or at all. Collaborations are complex
and time-consuming to negotiate and document. In addition, there
have been a significant number of recent business combinations
among large pharmaceutical companies that have resulted in a
reduced number of potential future collaborators. If we are unable
to negotiate and enter into new collaborations, we may have to
curtail the development of the product candidate for which we are
seeking to collaborate, reduce or delay its development program or
reduce or delay any other future development programs.
42
If conflicts arise between us and our future collaborators or
strategic partners, these parties may act in a manner adverse to us
and could limit our ability to implement our
strategies.
If
conflicts arise between our future corporate or academic
collaborators or strategic partners and us, the other party may act
in a manner adverse to us and could limit our ability to implement
our strategies. Future collaborators or strategic partners, may
develop, either alone or with others, products in related fields
that are competitive with the products or potential products that
are the subject of these collaborations. Competing products, either
developed by the collaborators or strategic partners or to which
the collaborators or strategic partners have rights, may result in
the withdrawal of partner support for any future product
candidates. Our current or future collaborators or strategic
partners may preclude us from entering into collaborations with
their competitors, fail to obtain timely regulatory approvals,
terminate their agreements with us prematurely, or fail to devote
sufficient resources to the development and commercialization of
products. Any of these developments could harm any future product
development efforts.
We will need to obtain FDA approval of any proposed product brand
names, and any failure or delay associated with such approval may
adversely impact our business.
A pharmaceutical product candidate cannot be
marketed in the United States or other countries until we have
completed a rigorous and extensive regulatory review processes,
including approval of a brand name. Any brand names we intend to
use for TG-1101, TGR-1202 or
any future product candidates will require approval from the FDA
regardless of whether we have secured a formal trademark
registration from the United States Patent and Trademark
Office(“USPTO”). The FDA typically conducts a review of
proposed product brand names, including an evaluation of potential
for confusion with other product names. The FDA may also object to
a product brand name if it believes the name inappropriately
implies medical claims. If the FDA objects to any of our proposed
product brand names, we may be required to adopt an alternative brand name for
TG-1101, TGR-1202 or any future
product candidates. If we adopt an alternative brand name, we would
lose the benefit of our existing trademark applications for such
product candidate and may be required to expend significant
additional resources in an effort to identify a suitable product
brand name that would qualify under applicable trademark laws, not
infringe the existing rights of third parties and be acceptable to
the FDA. We may be unable to build a successful brand identity for
a new trademark in a timely manner or at all, which would limit our
ability to commercialize TG-1101, TGR-1202, or any future product
candidates.
If any product candidate that we successfully develop does not
achieve broad market acceptance among physicians, patients,
healthcare payors, and the medical community, the revenues that we
generate from its sales will be limited.
Even if
our product candidates receive regulatory approval, they may not
gain market acceptance among physicians, patients, healthcare
payors, and the medical community. Coverage and reimbursement of
our product candidates by third-party payors, including government
payors, generally is also necessary for commercial success. The
degree of market acceptance of any of our approved products will
depend on a number of factors, including:
●
the
efficacy and safety as demonstrated in clinical
trials;
●
the
clinical indications for which the product is
approved;
●
acceptance
by physicians, major operators of cancer clinics and patients of
the product as a safe and effective treatment;
●
the
potential and perceived advantages of product candidates over
alternative treatments;
●
the
safety of product candidates seen in a broader patient group,
including its use outside the approved indications;
●
the
cost of treatment in relation to alternative
treatments;
●
the
availability of adequate reimbursement and pricing by third parties
and government authorities;
●
relative
convenience and ease of administration;
●
the
prevalence and severity of adverse events; and
●
the
effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts.
If any
product candidate is approved but does not achieve an adequate
level of acceptance by physicians, hospitals, healthcare payors and
patients, we may not generate sufficient revenue from these
products and we may not become or remain profitable.
If the market opportunities for our product candidates are smaller
than we believe they are, even assuming approval of a drug
candidate, our business may suffer.
Our projections of both the number of people who
are affected by disease within our target indications, as well as
the subset of these people who have the potential to benefit from
treatment with our product
candidates, are based on our beliefs and estimates. These estimates
have been derived from a variety of sources, including the
scientific literature, healthcare utilization databases and market
research, and may prove to be incorrect. Further, new studies may
change the estimated incidence or prevalence of these diseases. The
number of patients may turn out to be lower than expected.
Likewise, the potentially addressable patient population for each
of our product candidates may
be limited or may not be amenable to treatment with our
product candidates, and new patients
may become increasingly difficult to identify or gain access to,
which would adversely affect our results of operations and our
business.
43
If product liability lawsuits are brought against us, we may incur
substantial liabilities and may be required to limit
commercialization of our product candidates.
We face
an inherent risk of product liability exposure related to the
testing of our product candidates in human clinical trials, and
will face an even greater risk if we sell our product candidates
commercially. Although we are not aware of any historical or
anticipated product liability claims against us, if we cannot
successfully defend ourselves against product liability claims, we
may incur substantial liabilities or be required to cease clinical
trials of our drug candidates or limit commercialization of any
approved products. An individual may bring a liability claim
against us if one of our product candidates causes, or merely
appears to have caused, an injury. If we cannot successfully defend
our self against product liability claims, we will incur
substantial liabilities. Regardless of merit or eventual outcome,
liability claims may result in:
●
decreased
demand for our product candidates;
●
impairment
to our business reputation;
●
withdrawal
of clinical trial participants;
●
costs
of related litigation;
●
distraction
of management’s attention from our primary
business;
●
substantial
monetary awards to patients or other claimants;
●
the
inability to commercialize our product candidates; and
We
believe that we have obtained sufficient product liability
insurance coverage for our clinical trials. We intend to expand our
insurance coverage to include the sale of commercial products if
marketing approval is obtained for any of our product candidates.
However, we may be unable to obtain this product liability
insurance on commercially reasonable terms and with insurance
coverage that will be adequate to satisfy any liability that may
arise. On occasion, large judgments have been awarded in class
action or individual lawsuits relating to marketed pharmaceuticals.
A successful product liability claim or series of claims brought
against us could cause our stock price to decline and, if judgments
exceed our insurance coverage, could decrease our cash and
adversely affect our business.
Reimbursement may be limited or unavailable in certain market
segments for our product candidates, which could make it difficult
for us to sell our products profitably.
We
intend to seek approval to market our future products in both the
United States and in countries and territories outside the United
States. If we obtain approval in one or more foreign countries, we
will be subject to rules and regulations in those countries
relating to our product. In some foreign countries, particularly in
the European Union, the pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals and
biologics is subject to governmental control. In these countries,
pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take
considerable time after the receipt of marketing approval for a
product candidate. In addition, market acceptance and sales of our
product candidates will depend significantly on the availability of
adequate coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors for any
of our product candidates and may be affected by existing and
future healthcare reform measures.
Government
authorities and third-party payors, such as private health insurers
and health maintenance organizations, decide which pharmaceuticals
they will pay for and establish reimbursement levels. Reimbursement
by a third-party payor may depend upon a number of factors,
including the third-party payor’s determination that use of a
product is:
●
a
covered benefit under its health plan;
●
safe,
effective and medically necessary;
●
appropriate
for the specific patient;
●
neither
experimental nor investigational.
Obtaining coverage
and reimbursement approval for a product from a government or other
third-party payor is a time consuming and costly process that could
require that we provide supporting scientific, clinical and
cost-effectiveness data for the use of our products to the payor.
We may not be able to provide data sufficient to gain acceptance
with respect to coverage and reimbursement. If reimbursement of our
future products is unavailable or limited in scope or amount, or if
pricing is set at unsatisfactory levels, we may be unable to
achieve or sustain profitability. Additionally, while we may seek
approval of our products in combination with each other, there can
be no guarantee that we will obtain coverage and reimbursement for
any of our products together, or that such reimbursement will
incentivize the use of our products in combination with each other
as opposed to in combination with other agents which may be priced
more favorably to the medical community.
44
In both
the United States and certain foreign countries, there have been a
number of legislative and regulatory changes to the healthcare
system that could impact our ability to sell our products
profitably. In particular, the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003
revised the payment methodology for many products reimbursed by
Medicare, resulting in lower rates of reimbursement for many types
of drugs, and added a prescription drug benefit to the Medicare
program that involves commercial plans negotiating drug prices for
their members. Since 2003, there have been a number of other
legislative and regulatory changes to the coverage and
reimbursement landscape for pharmaceuticals.
Most
recently, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as
amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of
2010, collectively, the “ACA,” was enacted. The ACA and
any revisions or replacements of that Act, any substitute
legislation, and other changes in the law or regulatory framework
could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Among
the provisions of the ACA of importance to our potential product
candidates are:
●
an
annual, nondeductible fee on any entity that manufactures or
imports specified branded prescription drugs and biologic agents,
apportioned among these entities according to their market share in
certain government healthcare programs;
●
an
increase in the statutory minimum rebates a manufacturer must pay
under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program to 23.1% and 13.0% of the
average manufacturer price for branded and generic drugs,
respectively;
●
expansion
of healthcare fraud and abuse laws, including the federal False
Claims Act and the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, new government
investigative powers and enhanced penalties for
non-compliance;
●
a new
Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program, in which
manufacturers must agree to offer 50% point-of-sale discounts off
negotiated prices of applicable brand drugs to eligible
beneficiaries during their coverage gap period, as a condition for
a manufacturer’s outpatient drugs to be covered under
Medicare Part D;
●
extension
of a manufacturer’s Medicaid rebate liability to covered
drugs dispensed to individuals who are enrolled in Medicaid managed
care organizations;
●
expansion
of eligibility criteria for Medicaid programs by, among other
things, allowing states to offer Medicaid coverage to additional
individuals and by adding new mandatory eligibility categories for
certain individuals with income at or below 138% of the federal
poverty level, thereby potentially increasing a
manufacturer’s Medicaid rebate liability;
●
expansion
of the entities eligible for discounts under the 340B Drug Pricing
Program;
●
the new
requirements under the federal Open Payments program and its
implementing regulations;
●
a new
requirement to annually report drug samples that manufacturers and
distributors provide to physicians;
●
a new
regulatory pathway for the approval of biosimilar biological
products, all of which will impact existing government healthcare
programs and will result in the development of new programs;
and
●
a new
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee, identify
priorities in, and conduct comparative clinical effectiveness
research, along with funding for such research.
The
Supreme Court upheld the ACA in the main challenge to the
constitutionality of the law in 2012. The Supreme Court also upheld
federal subsidies for purchasers of insurance through federally
facilitated exchanges in a decision released in June 2015. Any
remaining legal challenges to the ACA are viewed generally as not
significantly impacting the implementation of the law if the
plaintiffs prevail.
President Trump ran
for office on a platform that supported the repeal of the ACA, and
one of his first actions after his inauguration was to sign an
Executive Order instructing federal agencies to waive or delay
requirements of the ACA that impose economic or regulatory burdens
on states, families, the health-care industry and others.
Modifications to or repeal of all or certain provisions of the ACA
have been attempted in Congress as a result of the outcome of the
recent presidential and congressional elections, consistent with
statements made by the incoming administration and members of
Congress during the presidential and congressional campaigns and
following the election. In January 2017, Congress voted to adopt a
budget resolution for fiscal year 2017, or the Budget Resolution,
that authorizes the implementation of legislation that would repeal
portions of the ACA. The Budget Resolution is not a law. However,
it is widely viewed as the first step toward the passage of
legislation that would repeal certain aspects of the ACA. In March
2017, following the passage of the budget resolution for fiscal
year 2017, the United States House of Representatives passed
legislation known as the American Health Care Act of 2017, which,
if enacted, would amend or repeal significant portions of the ACA.
Attempts in the Senate in 2017 to pass ACA repeal legislation,
including the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, so far have
been unsuccessful.
There
have been, and likely will continue to be, legislative and
regulatory proposals at the federal and state levels directed at
broadening the availability of healthcare and containing or
lowering the cost of healthcare products and services. We cannot
predict the initiatives that may be adopted in the future. The
continuing efforts of the government, insurance companies, managed
care organizations and other payors of healthcare services to
contain or reduce costs of healthcare may adversely
affect:
●
the
demand for any products for which we may obtain regulatory
approval;
●
our
ability to set a price that we believe is fair for our
products;
●
our
ability to generate revenues and achieve or maintain
profitability;
●
the
level of taxes that we are required to pay; and
●
the
availability of capital.
In
addition, governments may impose price controls, which may
adversely affect our future profitability.
45
We will need to increase the size of our organization and the scope
of our outside vendor relationships, and we may experience
difficulties in managing this growth.
As of
August 1, 2018, we had 96 full and part time employees. Over time,
we will need to expand our managerial, operational, financial and
other resources in order to manage and fund our operations and
clinical trials, continue research and development activities, and
commercialize our product candidates. Our management and scientific
personnel, systems and facilities currently in place may not be
adequate to support our future growth. Our need to effectively
manage our operations, growth, and various projects requires that
we:
●
manage
our clinical trials effectively;
●
manage
our internal development efforts effectively while carrying out our
contractual obligations to licensors, contractors and other third
parties;
●
continue
to improve our operational, financial and management controls and
reporting systems and procedures; and
●
attract
and retain sufficient numbers of talented employees.
We may
utilize the services of outside vendors or consultants to perform
tasks including clinical trial management, statistics and analysis,
regulatory affairs, formulation development, chemistry,
manufacturing, controls, and other pharmaceutical development
functions. Our growth strategy may also entail expanding our group
of contractors or consultants to implement these tasks going
forward. Because we rely on a substantial number of consultants,
effectively outsourcing many key functions of our business, we will
need to be able to effectively manage these consultants to ensure
that they successfully carry out their contractual obligations and
meet expected deadlines. However, if we are unable to effectively
manage our outsourced activities or if the quality or accuracy of
the services provided by consultants is compromised for any reason,
our clinical trials may be extended, delayed or terminated, and we
may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for our product
candidates or otherwise advance its business. There can be no
assurance that we will be able to manage our existing consultants
or find other competent outside contractors and consultants on
economically reasonable terms, or at all. If we are not able to
effectively expand our organization by hiring new employees and
expanding our groups of consultants and contractors, we may be
unable to successfully implement the tasks necessary to further
develop and commercialize our product candidates and, accordingly,
may not achieve our research, development and commercialization
goals.
We may not be successful in our efforts to identify or discover
additional product candidates and may fail to capitalize on
programs or product candidates that may present a greater
commercial opportunity or for which there is a greater likelihood
of success.
The
success of our business depends upon our ability to identify,
develop and commercialize product candidates based on our programs.
If we do not successfully develop and eventually commercialize
products, we will face difficulty in obtaining product revenue in
future periods, resulting in significant harm to our financial
position and adversely affecting our share price. Research programs
to identify new product candidates require substantial technical,
financial and human resources.
Additionally,
because we have limited resources, we may forego or delay pursuit
of opportunities with certain programs or product candidates or for
indications that later prove to have greater commercial potential.
Our estimates regarding the potential market for a product
candidate could be inaccurate, and our spending on current and
future research and development programs may not yield any
commercially viable products. If we do not accurately evaluate the
commercial potential for a particular product candidate, we may
relinquish valuable rights to that product candidate through
strategic collaboration, licensing or other arrangements in cases
in which it would have been more advantageous for us to retain sole
development and commercialization rights to such product candidate.
Alternatively, we may allocate internal resources to a product
candidate in a therapeutic area in which it would have been more
advantageous to enter into a partnering arrangement.
If
any of these events occur, we may be forced to abandon or delay our
development efforts with respect to a particular product candidate
or fail to develop a potentially successful product candidate,
which could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, results of operations and
prospects.
If we fail to attract and keep key management and clinical
development personnel, we may be unable to successfully develop or
commercialize our product candidates.
We will
need to expand and effectively manage our managerial, operational,
financial and other resources in order to successfully pursue our
clinical development and commercialization efforts for our product
candidates and future product candidates. We are highly dependent
on the development, regulatory, commercial and financial expertise
of the members of our senior management. The loss of the services
of any of our senior management could delay or prevent the further
development and potential commercialization of our product
candidates and, if we are not successful in finding suitable
replacements, could harm our business. We do not maintain
“key man” insurance policies on the lives of these
individuals. We will need to hire additional personnel as we
continue to expand our manufacturing, research and development
activities.
Our
success depends on our continued ability to attract, retain and
motivate highly qualified management and scientific personnel and
we may not be able to do so in the future due to the intense
competition for qualified personnel among biotechnology,
pharmaceutical and other businesses. Our industry has experienced a
high rate of turnover of management personnel in recent years. If
we are not able to attract and retain the necessary personnel to
accomplish our business objectives, we may experience constraints
that will impede significantly the achievement of our development
objectives, our ability to raise additional capital, and our
ability to implement our business strategy.
46
If we fail to comply with healthcare regulations, we could face
substantial penalties and our business, operations and financial
condition could be adversely affected.
In
addition to FDA restrictions on the marketing of pharmaceutical and
biotechnology products, several other types of state and federal
laws have been applied to restrict certain marketing practices in
the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, as well as
consulting or other service agreements with physicians or other
potential referral sources and regulate the use and disclosure of
identifiable patient information. These laws include anti-kickback
statutes and false claims statutes that prohibit, among other
things, knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting or
receiving remuneration to induce, or, in return for, purchasing,
leasing, ordering, recommending or arranging for the purchase,
lease or order of any healthcare item or service reimbursable under
Medicare, Medicaid or other federally-financed healthcare programs,
and knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, a false claim
for payment to the federal government, or knowingly making, or
causing to be made, a false statement to get a false claim paid.
The majority of states also have statutes or regulations similar to
the federal anti-kickback law and false claims laws, which apply to
items and services reimbursed under Medicaid and other state
programs, or, in several states, apply regardless of the payor.
Although there are a number of statutory exemptions and regulatory
safe harbors protecting certain common activities from prosecution,
the exemptions and safe harbors are drawn narrowly, and any
practices we adopt may not, in all cases, meet all of the criteria
for safe harbor protection from anti-kickback liability. Sanctions
under these federal and state laws may include civil monetary
penalties, exclusion of a manufacturer’s products from
reimbursement under government programs, criminal fines and
imprisonment. Any challenge to its business practices under these
laws could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, and results of operations. Finally, the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as amended by
the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health
Act of 2009, or (“HITECH”), their respective
implementing regulations and similar state laws and regulations,
impose obligations on covered healthcare providers, health plans,
and healthcare clearinghouses, as well as their business associates
that create, receive, maintain or transmit individually
identifiable health information for or on behalf of a covered
entity, with respect to safeguarding the privacy, security and
transmission of individually identifiable health information. In
the event our operations result in our receiving such information,
we could become subject to the requirements of these laws and
regulations, including potential civil and criminal
penalties.
Our employees, consultants, or third party partners may engage in
misconduct or other improper activities, including noncompliance
with regulatory standards and requirements, which could have a
material adverse effect on our business.
We are exposed to the risk of employee fraud or
other misconduct. Misconduct by employees, consultants, or third
party partners could include intentional failures to comply with
FDA regulations, provide accurate information to the FDA, comply
with manufacturing standards we have established, comply with
federal and state healthcare fraud and abuse laws and regulations,
report financial information or data accurately or disclose
unauthorized activities to us. In particular, sales, marketing and business arrangements in
the healthcare industry are subject to extensive laws and
regulations intended to prevent fraud, kickbacks, self-dealing and
other abusive practices. These laws and regulations may restrict or
prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, marketing and
promotion, sales commission, customer incentive programs and other
business arrangements. Employee, consultant, or third party
misconduct could also involve the improper use of information
obtained in the course of clinical trials, which could result in
regulatory sanctions and serious harm to our reputation. The
precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be
effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in
protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or
lawsuits stemming from a failure to be in compliance with such laws
or regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and
we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our
rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our
business and results of operations, including the imposition of
significant fines or other sanctions.
We use biological and hazardous materials, and any claims relating
to improper handling, storage or disposal of these materials could
be time consuming or costly.
We use
hazardous materials, including chemicals and biological agents and
compounds, which could be dangerous to human health and safety or
the environment. Our operations also produce hazardous waste
products. Federal, state and local laws and regulations govern the
use, generation, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of
these materials and wastes. Compliance with applicable
environmental laws and regulations may be expensive, and current or
future environmental laws and regulations may impair our
pharmaceutical development efforts.
In
addition, we cannot entirely eliminate the risk of accidental
injury or contamination from these materials or wastes. If one of
our employees was accidentally injured from the use, storage,
handling or disposal of these materials or wastes, the medical
costs related to his or her treatment would be covered by our
workers’ compensation insurance policy. However, we do not
carry specific biological or hazardous waste insurance coverage and
our property and casualty and general liability insurance policies
specifically exclude coverage for damages and fines arising from
biological or hazardous waste exposure or contamination.
Accordingly, in the event of contamination or injury, we could be
held liable for damages or penalized with fines in an amount
exceeding our resources, and our clinical trials or regulatory
approvals could be suspended, or operations otherwise
affected.
47
All product candidate development timelines and projections in this
report are based on the assumption of further
financing.
The
timelines and projections in this report are predicated upon the
assumption that we will raise additional financing in the future to
continue the development of our product candidates. In the event we
do not successfully raise subsequent financing, our product
development activities will necessarily be curtailed commensurate
with the magnitude of the shortfall. If our product development
activities are slowed or stopped, we would be unable to meet the
timelines and projections outlined in this filing. Failure to
progress our product candidates as anticipated will have a negative
effect on our business, future prospects, and ability to obtain
further financing on acceptable terms, if at all, and the value of
the enterprise.
We incur significant increased costs as a result of operating as a
public company, and our management is required to devote
substantial time to compliance initiatives.
As
a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other
expenses under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules
subsequently implemented by the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”), and the rules of any stock exchange on which
we may become listed. These rules impose various requirements on
public companies, including requiring establishment and maintenance
of effective disclosure and financial controls and appropriate
corporate governance practices. Our team has devoted and will
continue to devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance
initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations increase our
legal and financial compliance costs and make some activities more
time-consuming and costly. For example, these rules and regulations
make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director
and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept
reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher
costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. As a result, it may
be more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to
serve on our Board of Directors, our Board committees or as
executive officers.
The
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires, among other things, that we
maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and
disclosure controls and procedures. As a result, we are required to
periodically perform an evaluation of our internal control over
financial reporting to allow management to report on the
effectiveness of those controls, as required by Section 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Additionally, our independent auditors are
required to perform a similar evaluation and report on the
effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.
These efforts to comply with Section 404 will require the
commitment of significant financial and managerial resources. While
we anticipate maintaining the integrity of our internal control
over financial reporting and all other aspects of Section 404, we
cannot be certain that a material weakness will not be identified
when we test the effectiveness of our control systems in the
future. If a material weakness is identified, we could be subject
to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory
authorities, which would require additional financial and
management resources, costly litigation or a loss of public
confidence in our internal control, which could have an adverse
effect on the market price of our stock.
Risks Relating to Acquisitions
Acquisitions, investments and strategic alliances that we may make
in the future may use significant resources, result in disruptions
to our business or distractions of our management, may not proceed
as planned, and could expose us to unforeseen
liabilities.
We may
seek to expand our business through the acquisition of, investments
in and strategic alliances with companies, technologies, products,
and services. Acquisitions, investments and strategic alliances
involve a number of special problems and risks, including, but not
limited to:
●
difficulty
integrating acquired technologies, products, services, operations
and personnel with the existing businesses;
●
diversion
of management’s attention in connection with both negotiating
the acquisitions and integrating the businesses;
●
strain
on managerial and operational resources as management tries to
oversee larger operations;
●
difficulty
implementing and maintaining effective internal control over
financial reporting at businesses that we acquire, particularly if
they are not located near our existing operations;
●
exposure
to unforeseen liabilities of acquired companies;
●
potential
costly and time-consuming litigation, including stockholder
lawsuits;
●
potential
issuance of securities to equity holders of the company being
acquired with rights that are superior to the rights of holders of
our common stock or which may have a dilutive effect on our
stockholders;
●
risk of
loss of invested capital;
●
the
need to incur additional debt or use cash; and
●
the
requirement to record potentially significant additional future
operating costs for the amortization of intangible
assets.
As a
result of these or other problems and risks, businesses we acquire
may not produce the revenues, earnings, or business synergies that
we anticipated, and acquired products, services, or technologies
might not perform as we expected. As a result, we may incur higher
costs and realize lower revenues than we had anticipated. We may
not be able to successfully address these problems and we cannot
assure you that the acquisitions will be successfully identified
and completed or that, if acquisitions are completed, the acquired
businesses, products, services, or technologies will generate
sufficient revenue to offset the associated costs or other negative
effects on our business.
Any of
these risks can be greater if an acquisition is large relative to
our size. Failure to effectively manage our growth through
acquisitions could adversely affect our growth prospects, business,
results of operations, financial condition and cash
flows.
48
Risks Relating to Our Intellectual Property
Our success depends upon our ability to protect our intellectual
property and proprietary technologies, and the intellectual
property protection for our product candidates depends
significantly on third parties.
Our
commercial success depends on obtaining and maintaining patent
protection and trade secret protection in the United States and
other countries with respect to our product candidates or any
future product candidate that we may license or acquire, their
formulations and uses and the methods we use to manufacture them,
as well as successfully defending these patents against third-party
challenges. We seek to protect our proprietary position by filing
patent applications in the United States and abroad related to our
novel technologies and product candidates, and by maintenance of
our trade secrets through proper procedures. We will only be able
to protect our technologies from unauthorized use by third parties
to the extent that valid and enforceable patents or trade secrets
cover them in the market they are being used or developed. If any
of our licensors or partners fails to appropriately prosecute and
maintain patent protection for these product candidates, our
ability to develop and commercialize these product candidates may
be adversely affected and we may not be able to prevent competitors
from making, using and selling competing products. This failure to
properly protect the intellectual property rights relating to these
product candidates could have a material adverse effect on our
financial condition and results of operations.
Currently, the
composition of matter patent and several method of use patents for
TG-1101 and TGR-1202 in various indications and settings have been
applied for but have not yet been issued, or have been issued in
certain territories but not under all jurisdictions in which such
applications have been filed. While composition of matter patents
have been granted in the United States for TG-1101 and TGR-1202, no
patents to date have been issued for our IRAK4 inhibitor, BET
inhibitor, BTK inhibitor and anti-PD-L1 and anti-GITR programs.
There can be no guarantee that any of these patents for which an
application has already been filed, nor any patents filed in the
future for our product candidates will be granted in any or all
jurisdictions in which there were filed, or that all claims
initially included in such patent applications will be allowed in
the final patent that is issued. The patent application process is
subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, and there can be no
assurance that we or our partners will be successful in protecting
our product candidates by obtaining and defending
patents.
These
risks and uncertainties include the following:
●
the
patent applications that we or our partners file may not result in
any patents being issued;
●
patents
that may be issued or in-licensed may be challenged, invalidated,
modified, revoked or circumvented, or otherwise may not provide any
competitive advantage;
●
as of
March 16, 2013, the United States converted from a “first to
invent” to a “first to file” system. If we do not
win the filing race, we will not be entitled to inventive
priority;
●
our
competitors, many of which have substantially greater resources
than we do, and many of which have made significant investments in
competing technologies, may seek, or may already have obtained,
patents that will limit, interfere with, or eliminate its ability
to make, use, and sell our potential products either in the United
States or in international markets;
●
there
may be significant pressure on the United States government and
other international governmental bodies to limit the scope of
patent protection both inside and outside the United States for
disease treatments that prove successful as a matter of public
policy regarding worldwide health concerns; and
●
countries
other than the United States may have less restrictive patent laws
than those upheld by United States courts, allowing foreign
competitors the ability to exploit these laws to create, develop,
and market competing products.
If
patents are not issued that protect our product candidates, it
could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and
results of operations. The patent prosecution process is expensive
and time-consuming, and we may not be able to file and prosecute
all necessary or desirable patent applications at a reasonable cost
or in a timely manner. It is also possible that we will fail to
identify any patentable aspects of our research and development
output and methodology, and, even if we do, an opportunity to
obtain patent protection may have passed. Given the uncertain and
time-consuming process of filing patent applications and
prosecuting them, it is possible that our product(s) or process(es)
originally covered by the scope of the patent application may have
changed or been modified, leaving our product(s) or process(es)
without patent protection. If our licensors or we fail to obtain or
maintain patent protection or trade secret protection for one or
more product candidates or any future product candidate we may
license or acquire, third parties may be able to leverage our
proprietary information and products without risk of infringement,
which could impair our ability to compete in the market and
adversely affect our ability to generate revenues and achieve
profitability. Moreover, should we enter into other collaborations
we may be required to consult with or cede control to collaborators
regarding the prosecution, maintenance and enforcement of licensed
patents. Therefore, these patents and applications may not be
prosecuted and enforced in a manner consistent with the best
interests of our business.
49
The
patent position of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies
generally is highly uncertain, involves complex legal and factual
questions, and has in recent years been the subject of much
litigation. In addition, no consistent policy regarding the breadth
of claims allowed in pharmaceutical or biotechnology patents has
emerged to date in the United States. The patent situation outside
the United States is even more uncertain. The laws of foreign
countries may not protect our rights to the same extent as the laws
of the United States , and we may fail to seek or obtain patent
protection in all major markets. For example, European patent law
restricts the patentability of methods of treatment of the human
body more than United States law does. Our pending and future
patent applications may not result in patents being issued which
protect our technology or products, in whole or in part, or which
effectively prevent others from commercializing competitive
technologies and products. Changes in either the patent laws or
interpretation of the patent laws in the United States and other
countries may diminish the value of our patents or narrow the scope
of our patent protection. For example, the federal courts of the
United States have taken an increasingly dim view of the patent
eligibility of certain subject matter, such as naturally occurring
nucleic acid sequences, amino acid sequences and certain methods of
utilizing same, which include their detection in a biological
sample and diagnostic conclusions arising from their detection.
Such subject matter, which had long been a staple of the
biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industry to protect their
discoveries, is now considered, with few exceptions, ineligible in
the first instance for protection under the patent laws of the
United States. Accordingly, we cannot predict the breadth of claims
that may be allowed or enforced in our patents or in those licensed
from a third-party.
Recent
patent reform legislation could increase the uncertainties and
costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and
the enforcement or defense of our issued patents. On September 16,
2011, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act was signed into law. The
Leahy-Smith Act includes a number of significant changes to United
States patent law. These include changes to transition from a
“first-to-invent” system to a
“first-to-file” system and to the way issued patents
are challenged. The formation of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board
now provides a quicker and less expensive process for challenging
issued patents.
We may
be subject to a third-party pre-issuance submission of prior art to
the USPTO, or become involved in opposition, derivation,
reexamination, inter parties review, post-grant review or
interference proceedings challenging our patent rights or the
patent rights of others. The costs of these proceedings could be
substantial and it is possible that our efforts to establish
priority of invention would be unsuccessful, resulting in a
material adverse effect on our United States patent position. An
adverse determination in any such submission, patent office trial,
proceeding or litigation could reduce the scope of, render
unenforceable, or invalidate, our patent rights, allow third
parties to commercialize our technology or products and compete
directly with us, without payment to us, or result in our inability
to manufacture or commercialize products without infringing
third-party patent rights. In addition, if the breadth or strength
of protection provided by our patents and patent applications is
threatened, it could dissuade companies from collaborating with us
to license, develop or commercialize current or future product
candidates.
Even if
our patent applications issue as patents, they may not issue in a
form that will provide us with any meaningful protection, prevent
competitors from competing with us or otherwise provide us with any
competitive advantage. Our competitors may be able to circumvent
our owned or licensed patents by developing similar or alternative
technologies or products in a non-infringing manner.
The
issuance of a patent does not foreclose challenges to its
inventorship, scope, validity or enforceability. Therefore, our
owned and licensed patents may be challenged in the courts or
patent offices in the United States and abroad. Such challenges may
result in loss of exclusivity or in patent claims being narrowed,
invalidated or held unenforceable, in whole or in part, which could
limit our ability to stop others from using or commercializing
similar or identical technology and products, or limit the duration
of the patent protection of our technology and products. Given the
amount of time required for the development, testing and regulatory
review of new product candidates, patents protecting such product
candidates might expire before or shortly after such product
candidates are commercialized. As a result, our owned and licensed
patent portfolio may not provide us with sufficient rights to
exclude others from commercializing products similar or identical
to ours.
In
addition to patents, we and our partners also rely on trade secrets
and proprietary know-how, technology and other proprietary
information, to maintain our competitive position, particularly
where we do not believe patent protection is appropriate or
obtainable. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect.
Although we have taken steps to protect our trade secrets and
unpatented know-how, including entering into confidentiality
agreements with third parties, and confidential information and
inventions agreements with employees, consultants and advisors,
third parties may still obtain this information or we may be unable
to protect its rights. If any of these events occurs, or we
otherwise lose protection for our trade secrets or proprietary
know-how, the value of this information may be greatly reduced and
we may not be able to obtain adequate remedies for such breaches.
Enforcing a claim that a party illegally disclosed or
misappropriated a trade secret is difficult, expensive and
time-consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, some
courts inside and outside the United States are less willing or
unwilling to protect trade secrets. Moreover, if any of our trade
secrets were to be lawfully obtained or independently developed by
a competitor, we would have no right to prevent them, or those to
whom they communicate it, from using that technology or information
to compete with us. If any of our trade secrets were to be
disclosed to or independently developed by a competitor, our
competitive position would be harmed.
Patent
protection and other intellectual property protection are crucial
to the success of our business and prospects, and there is a
substantial risk that such protections will prove
inadequate.
50
If we or our partners are sued for infringing intellectual property
rights of third parties, it will be costly and time consuming, and
an unfavorable outcome in that litigation would have a material
adverse effect on our business.
Our
commercial success also depends upon our ability and the ability of
any of our future collaborators to develop, manufacture, market and
sell our product candidates without infringing the proprietary
rights of third parties. Numerous United States and foreign issued
patents and pending patent applications, which are owned by third
parties, exist in the fields in which we are developing products,
some of which may be directed at claims that overlap with the
subject matter of our intellectual property. For example, Roche has
the Cabilly patents in the United States that block the
commercialization of antibody products derived from a single cell
line, like TG-1101. Also, Roche, Biogen Idec, and Genentech hold
patents for the use of anti-CD20 antibodies utilized in the
treatment of CLL in the United States. While these patents have
been challenged, to the best of our knowledge, those matters were
settled in a way that permitted additional anti-CD20 antibodies to
be marketed for CLL. If those patents are still enforced at the
time we are intending to launch TG-1101, then we will need to
either prevail in a litigation to challenge those patents or
negotiate a settlement agreement with the patent holders. If we are
unable to do so we may be forced to delay the launch of TG-1101 or
launch at the risk of litigation for patent infringement, which may
have a material adverse effect on our business and results of
operations.
In
addition, because patent applications can take many years to issue,
there may be currently pending applications, unknown to us, which
may later result in issued patents that our product candidates or
proprietary technologies may infringe. Similarly, there may be
issued patents relevant to our product candidates of which we are
not aware. Publications of discoveries in the scientific literature
often lag behind the actual discoveries, and patent applications in
the United States and other jurisdictions are typically not
published until 18 months after a first filing, or in some cases
not at all. Therefore, we cannot know with certainty whether we or
our licensors were the first to make the inventions claimed in
patents or pending patent applications that we own or licensed, or
that we or our licensors were the first to file for patent
protection of such inventions.
There
is a substantial amount of litigation involving patent and other
intellectual property rights in the biotechnology and
biopharmaceutical industries generally. If a third party claims
that we or any collaborators of ours infringe their intellectual
property rights, we may have to:
●
obtain
licenses, which may not be available on commercially reasonable
terms, if at all;
●
abandon
an infringing product candidate or redesign its products or
processes to avoid infringement;
●
pay
substantial damages, including treble damages and attorneys’
fees, which we may have to pay if a court decides that the product
or proprietary technology at issue infringes on or violates the
third party’s rights;
●
pay
substantial royalties, fees and/or grant cross licenses to our
technology; and/or
●
defend
litigation or administrative proceedings which may be costly
whether we win or lose, and which could result in a substantial
diversion of our financial and management resources.
No
assurance can be given that patents issued to third parties do not
exist, have not been filed, or could not be filed or issued, which
contain claims covering its products, technology or methods that
may encompass all or a portion of our products and methods. Given
the number of patents issued and patent applications filed in our
technical areas or fields, we believe there is a risk that third
parties may allege they have patent rights encompassing our
products or methods.
Other
product candidates that we may in-license or acquire could be
subject to similar risks and uncertainties.
We may need to license certain intellectual property from third
parties, and such licenses may not be available or may not be
available on commercially reasonable terms.
A third
party may hold intellectual property, including patent rights that
are important or necessary to the development and commercialization
of our products. It may be necessary for us to use the patented or
proprietary technology of third parties to commercialize our
products, in which case we would be required to obtain a license
from these third parties, whom may or may not be interested in
granting such a license, on commercially reasonable terms, or our
business could be harmed, possibly materially.
We may be involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce our patents or
the patents of our licensors, which could be expensive, time
consuming and unsuccessful.
Competitors may
infringe our patents or the patents of our licensors. To counter
infringement or unauthorized use, we may be required to file
infringement claims, which typically are very expensive,
time-consuming and disruptive of day-to-day business operations.
Any claims we assert against accused infringers could provoke these
parties to assert counterclaims against us alleging that we
infringe their patents; or provoke those parties to petition the
USPTO to institute inter parties review against the asserted
patents, which may lead to a finding that all or some of the claims
of the patent are invalid. In addition, in an infringement
proceeding, a court may decide that a patent of ours or our
licensors is not valid or is unenforceable, or may refuse to stop
the other party from using the technology at issue on the grounds
that our patents do not cover the technology in question. An
adverse result in any litigation or defense proceedings could put
one or more of our patents at risk of being invalidated, held
unenforceable, or interpreted narrowly. Furthermore, adverse
results on United States patents may affect related patents in our
global portfolio. The adverse result could also put related patent
applications at risk of not issuing.
Interference
proceedings provoked by third parties or brought by the USPTO may
be necessary to determine the priority of inventions with respect
to our patents or patent applications or those of our collaborators
or licensors. An unfavorable outcome could require us to cease
using the related technology or to attempt to license rights to it
from the prevailing party. The costs of these proceedings could be
substantial. As a result, the issuance, scope, validity,
enforceability and commercial value of our patent rights are highly
uncertain. Our business could be harmed if the prevailing party
does not offer us a license on commercially reasonable terms.
Litigation or interference proceedings may fail and, even if
successful, may result in substantial costs and distract our
management and other employees. We may not be able to prevent,
alone or with our licensors, misappropriation of our trade secrets
or confidential information, particularly in countries where the
laws may not protect those rights as fully as in the United
States.
Furthermore,
because of the substantial amount of discovery required in
connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk
that some of our confidential information could be compromised by
disclosure during this type of litigation. In addition, there could
be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or
other interim proceedings or developments. If securities analysts
or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a
substantial adverse effect on the price of our common
stock.
We may be subject to claims that our consultants or independent
contractors have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets
of their other clients or former employers to it.
As is
common in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, we engage
the services of consultants to assist us in the development of our
product candidates. Many of these consultants were previously
employed at, may have previously been, or are currently providing
consulting services to, other biotechnology or pharmaceutical
companies, including our competitors or potential competitors.
Although no claims against us are currently pending, we may be
subject to claims that these consultants or we have inadvertently
or otherwise used or disclosed trade secrets or other proprietary
information of their former employers or their former or current
customers. Even if frivolous or unsubstantiated in nature,
litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. Even if
we are successful in defending against these claims, litigation
could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to
management, day-to-day business operations, and the implicated
employee(s).
Risks Relating to Our Finances and Capital
Requirements
We will need to raise additional capital to continue to operate our
business.
As of June 30, 2018, we had approximately $126.3
million in cash, cash
equivalents, investment securities, and interest receivable, which
in addition to the capital raised in the third quarter of 2018,
will be sufficient to fund our planned operations into the fourth
quarter of 2019. As a result, we will need additional capital to
continue our operations beyond that time. Required additional
sources of financing to continue our operations in the future might
not be available on favorable terms, if at all. If we do not
succeed in raising additional funds on acceptable terms, we might
be unable to complete planned preclinical and clinical trials or
obtain approval of any of our product candidates from the FDA or
any foreign regulatory authorities. In addition, we could be forced
to discontinue product development, reduce or forego sales and
marketing efforts and forego attractive business opportunities. Any
additional sources of financing will likely involve the issuance of
our equity securities, which would have a dilutive effect to
stockholders.
Currently, none of
our product candidates have been approved by the FDA or any foreign
regulatory authority for sale. Therefore, for the foreseeable
future, we will have to fund all of our operations and capital
expenditures from cash on hand and amounts raised in future
offerings or financings.
We have a history of operating losses, expect to continue to incur
losses, and are unable to predict the extent of future losses or
when we will become profitable, if ever.
We have
not yet applied for or demonstrated an ability to obtain regulatory
approval for or commercialize a product candidate. Our short
operating history makes it difficult to evaluate our business
prospects and consequently, any predictions about our future
performance may not be as accurate as they could be if we had a
history of successfully developing and commercializing
pharmaceutical or biotechnology products. Our prospects must be
considered in light of the uncertainties, risks, expenses and
difficulties frequently encountered by companies in the early
stages of operations and the competitive environment in which we
operate.
We have
never been profitable and, as of June 30, 2018, we had an
accumulated deficit of $440.5 million. We have generated operating
losses in all periods since we were incorporated. We expect to make
substantial expenditures resulting in increased operating costs in
the future and our accumulated deficit will increase significantly
as we expand development and clinical trial efforts for our product
candidates. Our losses have had, and are expected to continue to
have, an adverse impact on our working capital, total assets and
stockholders’ equity. Because of the risks and uncertainties
associated with product development, we are unable to predict the
extent of any future losses or when we will become profitable, if
ever. Even if we achieve profitability, we may not be able to
sustain or increase profitability on an ongoing basis.
52
We have not generated any revenue from our product candidates and
may never become profitable.
Our
ability to become profitable depends upon our ability to generate
significant continuing revenues. To obtain significant continuing
revenues, we must succeed, either alone or with others, in
developing, obtaining regulatory approval for and manufacturing and
marketing our product candidates (or utilize early access programs
to generate such revenue). To date, our product candidates have not
generated any revenues, and we do not know when, or if, we will
generate any revenue. Our ability to generate revenue depends on a
number of factors, including, but not limited to:
●
successful
completion of preclinical studies of our product
candidates;
●
successful
commencement and completion of clinical trials of our product
candidates and any future product candidates we advance into
clinical trials;
●
achievement
of regulatory approval for our product candidates and any future
product candidates we advance into clinical trials (unless we
successfully utilize early access programs which allow for revenue
generation prior to approval);
●
manufacturing
commercial quantities of our products at acceptable cost levels if
regulatory approvals are obtained;
●
successful
sales, distribution and marketing of our future products, if any;
and
●
our
entry into collaborative arrangements or co-promotion agreements to
market and sell our products.
If we
are unable to generate significant continuing revenues, we will not
become profitable and we may be unable to continue our operations
without continued funding.
We will need substantial additional funding and may be unable to
raise capital when needed, which would force us to delay, reduce or
eliminate our development programs or commercialization
efforts.
We will
require substantial additional funds to support our continued
research and development activities, as well as the anticipated
costs of preclinical studies and clinical trials, regulatory
approvals, and eventual commercialization. We anticipate that we
will incur operating losses for the foreseeable future. We have
based these estimates, however, on assumptions that may prove to be
wrong, and we could expend our available financial resources much
faster than we currently expect. Further, we will need to raise
additional capital to fund our operations and continue to conduct
clinical trials to support potential regulatory approval of
marketing applications. Future capital requirements will also
depend on the extent to which we acquire or in-license additional
product candidates. We currently have no commitments or agreements
relating to any of these types of transactions.
The
amount and timing of our future funding requirements will depend on
many factors, including, but not limited to, the
following:
●
the
progress of our clinical trials, including expenses to support the
trials and milestone payments that may become payable under our
license agreements;
●
the
costs and timing of regulatory approvals;
●
the
costs and timing of clinical and commercial manufacturing supply
arrangements for each product candidate;
●
the
costs of establishing sales or distribution
capabilities;
●
the
success of the commercialization of our products;
●
our
ability to establish and maintain strategic collaborations,
including licensing and other arrangements;
●
the
costs involved in enforcing or defending patent claims or other
intellectual property rights; and
●
the
extent to which we in-license or invest in other indications or
product candidates.
Raising additional funds by issuing securities or through licensing
or lending arrangements may cause dilution to our existing
stockholders, restrict our operations or require us to relinquish
proprietary rights.
We may
raise additional funds through public or private equity offerings,
debt financings or licensing arrangements. To the extent that we
raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, the share
ownership of existing stockholders will be diluted. Any future debt
financing we enter into may involve covenants that restrict our
operations, including limitations on our ability to incur liens or
additional debt, pay dividends, redeem our stock, make certain
investments and engage in certain merger, consolidation or asset
sale transactions, among other restrictions.
In
addition, if we raise additional funds through licensing
arrangements, it may be necessary to relinquish potentially
valuable rights to our product candidates, or grant licenses on
terms that are not favorable to us. If adequate funds are not
available, our ability to achieve profitability or to respond to
competitive pressures would be significantly limited and we may be
required to delay, significantly curtail or eliminate the
development of one or more of our product candidates.
53
Our tax position could be affected by recent changes in United
States federal income tax laws.
On
December 22, 2017, legislation commonly referred to as the
“Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” was signed into law and is
generally effective after December 31, 2017. The Tax Cuts and Jobs
Act makes significant changes to the United States federal income
tax rules for taxation of individuals and business entities. Most
of the changes applicable to individuals are temporary and apply
only to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before
January 1, 2026. For corporations, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
reduces the top corporate income tax rate to 21% and repeals the
corporate alternative minimum tax, limits the deduction for net
interest expense, limits the deduction for net operating losses and
eliminates net operating loss carrybacks, modifies or repeals many
business deductions and credits, shifts the United States toward a
more territorial tax system, and imposes new taxes to combat
erosion of the United States federal income tax base. The Tax Cuts
and Jobs Act makes numerous other large and small changes to the
federal income tax rules that may affect potential investors and
may directly or indirectly affect us. We continue to examine the
impact this tax reform legislation may have on our business.
However, the effect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on us and our
affiliates, whether adverse or favorable, is uncertain, and may not
become evident for some period of time. This document does not
discuss such legislation or the manner in which it might affect us
or purchasers of our common stock. Prospective investors are urged
to consult with their legal and tax advisors with respect to the
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and any other regulatory or administrative
developments and proposals, and their potential effects on them
based on their unique circumstances.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
We are controlled by current officers, directors and principal
stockholders.
Our
directors, executive officers, their affiliates, and our principal
stockholders beneficially own approximately 37% of our outstanding
voting stock, including shares underlying outstanding options and
warrants. Our directors, officers and principal stockholders, taken
as a whole, have the ability to exert substantial influence over
the election of our Board of Directors and the outcome of issues
submitted to our stockholders.
Our stock price is, and we expect it to remain, volatile, which
could limit investors’ ability to sell stock at a
profit.
The
trading price of our common stock is likely to be highly volatile
and subject to wide fluctuations in price in response to various
factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors
include:
●
publicity
regarding actual or potential clinical results relating to products
under development by our competitors or us;
●
delay
or failure in initiating, completing or analyzing nonclinical or
clinical trials or the unsatisfactory design or results of these
trials;
●
achievement
or rejection of regulatory approvals by our competitors or
us;
●
announcements
of technological innovations or new commercial products by our
competitors or us;
●
developments
concerning proprietary rights, including patents;
●
developments
concerning our collaborations;
●
regulatory
developments in the United States and foreign
countries;
●
economic
or other crises and other external factors;
●
period-to-period
fluctuations in our revenues and other results of
operations;
●
changes
in financial estimates by securities analysts; and
●
sales
of our common stock.
We will
not be able to control many of these factors, and we believe that
period-to-period comparisons of our financial results will not
necessarily be indicative of our future performance.
In
addition, the stock market in general, and the market for
biotechnology companies in particular, has experienced extreme
price and volume fluctuations that may have been unrelated or
disproportionate to the operating performance of individual
companies. These broad market and industry factors may seriously
harm the market price of our common stock, regardless of our
operating performance.
54
We have not paid dividends in the past and do not expect to pay
dividends in the future, and any return on investment may be
limited to the value of your stock.
We have
never paid dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate
paying any dividends for the foreseeable future. You should not
rely on an investment in our stock if you require dividend income.
Further, you will only realize income on an investment in our stock
in the event you sell or otherwise dispose of your shares at a
price higher than the price you paid for your shares. Such a gain
would result only from an increase in the market price of our
common stock, which is uncertain and unpredictable.
Certain anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and
Delaware law could make a third-party acquisition of us difficult.
This could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the
future for our common stock.
Provisions in our
amended and restated certificate of incorporation and restated
bylaws could have the effect of making it more difficult for a
third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from
attempting to acquire, or control us. These factors could limit the
price that certain investors might be willing to pay in the future
for shares of our common stock. Our amended and restated
certificate of incorporation allows us to issue preferred stock
without the approval of our stockholders. The issuance of preferred
stock could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available
for distribution to the holders of our common stock or could
adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of
such holders. In certain circumstances, such issuance could have
the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock. Our
restated bylaws eliminate the right of stockholders to call a
special meeting of stockholders, which could make it more difficult
for stockholders to effect certain corporate actions. Any of these
provisions could also have the effect of delaying or preventing a
change in control.
On July
18, 2014, the Board of Directors declared a distribution of one
right for each outstanding share of common stock. The rights may
have certain anti-takeover effects. The rights will cause
substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire
us on terms not approved by the Board of Directors unless the offer
is conditioned on a substantial number of rights being acquired.
However, the rights should not interfere with any merger, statutory
share exchange or other business combination approved by the Board
of Directors since the rights may be terminated by us upon
resolution of the Board of Directors. Thus, the rights are intended
to encourage persons who may seek to acquire control of the Company
to initiate such an acquisition through negotiations with the Board
of Directors. However, the effect of the rights may be to
discourage a third party from making a partial tender offer or
otherwise attempting to obtain a substantial equity position in the
equity securities of, or seeking to obtain control of, the Company.
To the extent any potential acquirers are deterred by the rights,
the rights may have the effect of preserving incumbent management
in office.
We may become involved in securities class action litigation that
could divert management’s attention and harm our
business.
The stock markets have from time to time experienced
significant price and volume fluctuations that have affected the
market prices for the common stock of biotechnology and
pharmaceutical companies. These broad market fluctuations may cause
the market price of our stock to decline. In the past, securities
class action litigation has often been brought against a company
following a decline in the market price of its securities. This
risk is especially relevant for us because biotechnology and
biopharmaceutical companies have experienced significant stock
price volatility in recent years. We may become involved in this
type of litigation in the future. Litigation often is expensive and
diverts management’s attention and resources, which could
adversely affect our business.
55
ITEM
6. EXHIBITS
The
exhibits listed on the Exhibit Index are included with this
report.
|
|
License Agreement
between TG Therapeutics, Inc. and Novimmune S.A., dated June 18,
2018. *
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as
adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
dated August 9, 2018.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as
adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
dated August 9, 2018.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
dated August 9, 2018.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
dated August 9, 2018.
|
|
|
|
|
101
|
The
following financial information from the Company’s Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2018, formatted
in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated
Statements of Operations, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated
Statement of Stockholders’ Equity, (iv) the Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) Notes to the
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (filed
herewith).
|
|
|
|
*
Subject to a request for confidential treatment.
56
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
|
|
|
|
TG
THERAPEUTICS, INC.
|
|
|
|
Date:
August 9, 2018
|
By:
|
/s/
Sean A. Power
|
|
Sean A.
Power
Chief
Financial Officer
Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer
|
57
test.htm
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document have
been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
JOINT VENTURE AND LICENSE OPTION AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
TG THERAPEUTICS, INC.
AND
NOVIMMUNE S.A.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
This JOINT VENTURE
AND LICENSE OPTION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is
entered into on June 18, 2018 (the “Effective Date”)
between Novimmune SA, a
Swiss company having an address at 14 ch. des Aulx, 1228
Plan-Les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland (“NOVIMMUNE”) and
TG Therapeutics, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, with a place of business at 2 Gansevoort
Street | 9th Floor, New York,
NY, USA (“TGTX”). Novimmune and TGTX are
sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Party”
and collectively as the “Parties”.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, NOVIMMUNE
is a pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and
development of antibody-based drugs for the treatment of
inflammatory diseases, immune-related disorders and
cancer.
WHEREAS, TGTX is a
biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development, manufacturing
and marketing of pharmaceutical products directed toward the
treatment of B-cell proliferative diseases;
WHEREAS, NOVIMMUNE
and TGTX desire to establish a contractual Joint Venture (the
“JV”) with an aim for broad collaboration under this
Agreement for the joint development and commercialization of the
Product (as defined below) on a worldwide basis, for the treatment
of B-cell proliferative diseases and such other indications as the
Parties may jointly or unilaterally develop with TGTX serving as
the primary responsible Party for the development, manufacturing
and commercialization;
WHEREAS, TGTX will
be responsible for the manufacture or will have manufactured
clinical and commercial supplies of the Finished Product, in
addition to the *g of
ready-to-be-labelled Product initially supplied by NOVIMMUNE (the
“Novimmune Initial Drug Supply”) for use by TGTX
according to the Development Plan, as described below;
WHEREAS, TGTX will
be responsible for the development and commercialization of the
Product in the Territory (see section 1.89) and the Parties shall
share equally (subject to adjustment as more fully described in
this Agreement) in the costs and expense of and in the profits
resulting from marketing and sales of the Product in the Territory
in accordance with the terms set forth below; and
WHEREAS, NOVIMMUNE
desires to grant to TGTX exclusive rights to the Product for the
joint development and commercialization of the Product, under this
Agreement, and TGTX desires to obtain such rights for the joint
development and commercialization of the Product in each case on
the terms set forth below;
NOW THEREFORE, in
consideration of the foregoing premises and mutual promises,
covenants and conditions contained in this Agreement, the Parties
agree as follows:
* Confidential material
redacted and filed separately with the Commission
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
ARTICLE
I. ARTICLE
1
SECTION
1.01 DEFINITIONS
The terms in this Agreement
with initial letters capitalized, whether used in the singular or
the plural, shall have the meaning set forth below or, if not
listed below, the meaning designated in places throughout this
Agreement.
1.1
“Adverse
Event” means any untoward medical occurrence in a human
clinical trial subject or in a patient who is administered a
Product, whether or not considered related to the Product,
including any undesirable sign (including abnormal laboratory
findings of clinical concern), symptom or disease associated with
the use of a Product, as defined more fully in 21 CFR
§312.32.
1.2
“Affiliate”
means, with respect to a particular Party, a person, corporation,
partnership, or other entity that controls, is controlled by or is
under common control with such Party. For the purposes
of this definition, the word “control” (including, with
correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by” or
“under the common control with”) means the actual
power, either directly or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, to direct or cause the direction of the management
and policies of such entity, whether by the ownership of fifty
percent (50%) or more of the voting stock of such entity, or by
contract or otherwise.
1.3
“Alliance
Representative” has the meaning set forth in Section
2.4.
1.4
“Bulk
API” means the Product in bulk form.
1.5
“Business
Day” means any day other than (i) Saturday or Sunday or (ii)
any other day on which banks in New York, New York, United States
or Geneva, Switzerland are permitted or required to be
closed.
1.6
“Cause”
means, for purposes of Section 13.2(b), any failure of TGTX,
following good-faith efforts, to get clearance from the appropriate
Regulatory Authority to commence Phase 1 Clinical Trials under an
active IND or CTA or any unfavorable result (interim or final) from
a Clinical Trial (or non-clinical toxicology study) that, as
reasonably determined by TGTX, causes material concerns regarding
the tolerability, safety or effectiveness of the
Product.
1.7
“Change of
Control” means (i) the acquisition, directly or indirectly,
by any person, entity or “group” (within meaning of
Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended) by means of a transaction or series of related
transactions, of (a) beneficial ownership of fifty percent (50%) or
more of the outstanding voting securities of a Party (or the
surviving entity, as applicable, whether by merger, consolidation,
reorganization, tender offer or other similar means), or (b) all,
or substantially all, of the assets of a Party; or (ii) any
consolidation or merger of a Party with or into any Third Party, or
any other corporate reorganization involving a Third Party, in
which those persons or entities that are stockholders of the Party
immediately prior to such consolidation, merger or reorganization
(or prior to any series of related transactions leading up to such
event) own fifty (50%) or less of the surviving entity’s
voting power immediately after such consolidation, merger or
reorganization
1.8
“Claims”
has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.
1.9
“Clinical
Trial” means, collectively, any Phase I Clinical Trial, Phase
II Clinical Trial, Phase III Clinical Trial, or Phase IV Clinical
Trial using the Product, as applicable.
1.10
“CTA”
means an application for Clinical Trial Authorization filed with a
Regulatory Authority in the Territory to undertake clinical trials
of an investigational new drug, the filing of which is necessary to
commence or conduct clinical testing of a pharmaceutical product in
humans in the Territory outside the U.S.
1.11
“Commercial
Expenses” means those expenses incurred for the purpose of
the Commercialization of the Finished Product which are consistent
with the budget set forth in the Commercialization Plan
and are specifically attributable to the Commercialization of
Finished Products, and shall consist of (i) Cost of
Goods Sold, (ii) Pre-Marketing Expenses, (iii) Marketing Expenses,
(iv) Distribution Expenses, (v) Clinical Phase IV and Related
Expenses, (vi) Regulatory Expenses, (vii) the Launch Expenses,
(viii) Medical Science Liaison Expenses, and (ix) amounts paid to
Third Party licensors as described in Section 8.4 (as such terms
are defined in Exhibit H). Commercial Expenses shall
exclude Development Expenses, even if incurred after the first
commercial launch of a Finished Product, and shall exclude any
costs that are deductible from Net Sales under the definition
thereof (e.g., distributor
fees). For avoidance of doubt, any cost deducted in the
calculation of Net Sales shall not be included in the calculation
of the Commercial Expenses.
1.12
“Commercialization”,
with a correlative meaning for “Commercialize”, means
all activities undertaken before and after obtaining Regulatory
Approval relating specifically to the pre-marketing, launch,
promotion, marketing, sale, and distribution of a pharmaceutical
product, including: (a) strategic marketing, sales force detailing,
advertising, medical education and liaison, and market and product
support; and (b) any Phase IV Clinical Trials, and (c) all customer
support and Product distribution, invoicing and sales
activities.
1.13
“Combination”
shall mean a co-administration of Product combined with any other
active pharmaceutical ingredient.
1.14
“Commercialization
Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section
5.2(b).
1.15
“Confidential
Information” means, with respect to a Party, all confidential
Information of such Party that is disclosed to the other Party
under this Agreement, which may include, but is not limited to
specifications, know-how, trade secrets, legal information,
technical information, drawings, models, business information,
inventions, discoveries, methods, procedures, formulae, protocols,
techniques, data, and unpublished patent applications, in each case
whether disclosed in oral, written, graphic, or electronic
form. All Confidential Information disclosed by either
Party pursuant to the Mutual Confidential Disclosure Agreement
between the Parties dated February 15, 2018 shall be deemed to be
such Party’s Confidential Information disclosed
hereunder.
1.16
“Control”
means, with respect to any material, Information, or intellectual
property right, that a Party owns or has a license to such
material, Information, or intellectual property right and has the
ability to grant to the other Party access, a license, or a
sublicense (as applicable) to such material, Information, or
intellectual property right on the terms and conditions set forth
herein without violating the terms of any agreement or other
arrangement with any Third Party existing at the time such Party
would be first required hereunder to grant to the other Party such
access, license, or sublicense.
1.17
“Detail”
or “Detailing” means, with respect to the Product, the
communication by a Sales Representative during a sales call (a)
involving face-to-face contact, (b) describing in a fair and
balanced manner the Regulatory Authority-approved indicated uses
and other relevant characteristics of the Product, (c) using
promotional materials in an effort to increase the prescribing
and/or hospital ordering preferences of the Product for its
approved indicated uses, and (d) made at such medical
professional’s office, in a hospital, at marketing meetings
sponsored by a Party for the Product or other appropriate venues
conducive to pharmaceutical product informational communication
where the principal objective is to place an emphasis, either
primary or secondary, on the Product with such medical
professional.
1.18
“Develop”
or “Development” means all activities relating to
preparing and conducting preclinical testing, toxicology testing,
human clinical studies and regulatory affairs for obtaining the
Regulatory Approvals, process development for manufacture and
associated validation, quality assurance and quality control
activities (including qualification lots). Development
shall exclude all Phase IV Clinical Trials.
1.19
“Development
Budget” means the budget of Development Expenses expected to
be incurred by the Parties in connection with the performance of
the Development Plan.
1.20
“Development
Expenses” means (i) any amounts payable by a Party for the
Development or Manufacturing of Finished Product (excluding the
cost of the NOVIMMUNE Initial Drug Supply), (ii) any amounts
payable by a Party for obligation to a third party for non-clinical
studies and Clinical Trials, (iii) the cost of supply of Finished
Product or bulk API used for the Development of the Product as well
as the freight, postage, shipping, transportation, insurance,
warehousing and handling charges paid with regard to
such Finished Product or Bulk API.
1.21
“Development
Plan” means the plan for Development in the
Territory. The initial Development Plan is attached
hereto as Exhibit D and covers through the completion of the Phase
I clinical study. Exhibit D may be from time to time
added or modified by the Joint Steering Committee (JSC), as per
section 2.2.
1.22
“Diligent
Efforts” means, with respect to a Party’s obligation
under this Agreement to Develop or Commercialize a Product, the
level of efforts and resources required to carry out such
obligation in a sustained manner consistent with the efforts and
resources a similarly situated biopharmaceutical company devotes to
a product of similar market potential, profit potential or
strategic value within its portfolio, based on conditions then
prevailing i.e. it shall mean the efforts required in order to
carry out a task or objective in a diligent and sustained manner
without undue interruption, pause or delay, which level is at least
commensurate with the level of efforts that a pharmaceutical
company would devote to a product of similar potential and having
similar commercial and scientific advantages and disadvantages as
compared to the Product hereunder. Diligent Efforts requires
(without limitation) that the Party exerting such efforts (i)
promptly assign responsibility for its obligations to specific
employee(s) or contractor(s) who are held accountable for progress
and monitor such progress, on an ongoing basis, (ii) set and
continue to seek to achieve specific and meaningful objectives for
carrying out such obligations, and (iii) consistently make and
implement decisions and allocate resources designed to advance
progress with respect to such objectives, in each case in a
diligent manner.
1.23
“Dollar”
means a U.S. dollar, and “$” shall be interpreted
accordingly.
1.24
“EMA”
means the European Medicines Agency, or any successor thereto,
which is responsible for coordinating the centralized system for
Regulatory Approval of pharmaceutical products in the European
Union and the European Economic Area and recommending to the
European Commission (the “EC”) that the EC grant
Regulatory Approval of certain pharmaceutical products in the EU
and EEA under such centralized system.
1.25
“European
Union” or “EU” means all of the European Union
member states as of the applicable time during the
Term.
1.26
“FDA”
means the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or its
successor.
1.27
“FD&C
Act” means the U.S. Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as
amended.
1.28
“Field" means
the prevention, diagnosis, treatment or amelioration of any disease
or condition in humans or animals.
1.29
“Finished
Manufacture” means the manufacture (and all reasonably
necessary testing, including release and, as appropriate, stability
testing) of Finished Product from Bulk API.
1.30
“Finished
Product” means a Product that has been filled into vials,
syringes or manufactured into other pharmaceutical presentations
for administration; finished and labeled for use in clinical trials
or for commercial purposes in accordance with the applicable
specifications and legal requirements.
1.31
“Financial
Force Majeure” shall mean any situation outside of either
Party’s control that causes either Party to be unable to
raise capital to continue the Development of the Product for some
period of time, including without limitation, poor financing
environment for biotech companies, product failure or delay or any
similar factors forcing a delay in appropriate financing for either
Party.
1.32
“First
Commercial Sale” means, with respect to a particular country,
the first sale to a Third Party of the Product in such country
after Regulatory Approval has been obtained in such
country.
1.33
“Fiscal
Year” means the twelve (12)-month period commencing on
January 1 of a given year and ending on December 31 of the same
year.
1.34
“Biosimilar
Product” means a biologic product that (i) is highly similar
to the active ingredient in the Product where the Product is the
reference-listed biologic, and (ii) is approved by a Governmental
Authority pursuant to a Biosimilar License Application an
application under 42 U.S.C. §262(k), or similar
application.
1.35
“Good
Clinical Practices” or “GCP” means the
then-current good clinical practice standards, practices and
procedures promulgated or endorsed by the FDA as set forth in the
guidelines entitled “Guidance for Industry E6 Good Clinical
Practice: Consolidated Guidance,” including related
regulatory requirements imposed by the FDA, and comparable
regulatory standards, practices and procedures in jurisdictions
outside the U.S., in each case as they may be updated from time to
time.
1.36
“Good
Laboratory Practices” or “GLP” means the
then-current good laboratory practice standards promulgated or
endorsed by the FDA as defined in 21 C.F.R. Part 58, and comparable
regulatory standards in jurisdictions outside the U.S., in each
case as they may be updated from time to time.
1.37
“Good
Manufacturing Practices” or “GMP” means the
then-current good manufacturing practices required by the FDA, as
set forth in the FD&C Act and the regulations promulgated
thereunder, for the manufacture and testing of pharmaceutical and
biological materials, and comparable Laws applicable to the
manufacture and testing of pharmaceutical and biological materials
in jurisdictions outside the U.S., including without limitation 21
CFR 211 (Current Good Manufacturing Practice for Finished
Pharmaceuticals) and the guideline promulgated by the International
Conference on Harmonization designated ICH Q7A, entitled “Q7A
Good Manufacturing Practice Guidance for Active Pharmaceutical
Ingredients” and associated guidelines and regulations, in
each case as they may be updated from time to
time.
1.38
“Governmental
Authority” means any multi-national, federal, state, local,
municipal or other government authority of any nature (including
any governmental division, subdivision, department, agency, bureau,
branch, office, commission, council, court or other
tribunal).
1.39
“IND”
means (a) an Investigational New Drug application as defined in the
FD&C Act and applicable regulations promulgated thereunder by
the FDA or any successor application or procedure required to
initiate clinical testing of a Product in humans in the Territory;
and (b) all supplements and amendments to the
foregoing.
1.40
“IND/CTA
Filing Conditions” means the delivery to TGTX by Novimmune of
all the data and reports necessary and required to file an IND in
the United States, with the exception of the Investigator’s
Brochure. The Parties will work together diligently to
ensure that all such data and reports are indeed delivered to TGTX,
including a reasonable search by Novimmune of specific items
believed to be in the possession of Novimmune at the request of
TGTX.
1.41
“IND/CTA
Filing Deadline” means the date that is the greater of twelve
months from the Effective date or six months from the delivery of
the thirteen week toxicity report, subject to a reasonable
extension of up to an additional twelve months in the discretion of
the JSC.
1.42
“Information”
means any data, results, technology, business information, and
information of any type whatsoever, in any tangible or intangible
form, including, without limitation, know-how, trade secrets,
practices, techniques, methods, processes, inventions,
developments, specifications, formulations, formulae, materials or
compositions of matter of any type or kind (patentable or
otherwise), software, algorithms, marketing reports, expertise,
technology, test data (including pharmacological, biological,
chemical, biochemical, toxicological, preclinical and clinical test
data), analytical and quality control data, stability data, other
study data and procedures.
1.43
“Internal
Expenses” means any costs for employees, overhead, or other
internal handling incurred by a Party.
1.44
“Joint
Know-How”: shall mean all Know-How developed or acquired by
either Party in performing its obligations pursuant to this
Agreement that is necessary or useful for the Development,
manufacture or Commercialization of the
Product.
1.45
“Joint
Steering Committee” or “JSC” means the committee
formed by the Parties as described in Section
2.2.
1.46
“Joint
Inventions” has the meaning set forth in Section
9.1.
1.47
“Joint
Patent” has the meaning set forth in Section
9.3(c).
1.48
“Laws”
means all relevant laws, statutes, rules, regulations, guidelines
having the binding effect of law, ordinances and other
pronouncements having the effect of law of any federal, national,
multinational, state, provincial, county, city or other political
subdivision, domestic or foreign.
1.49
“License
Options” shall collectively refer to the TGTX License Option
and to the NOVIMMUNE License Option.
1.50
“Major
Market(s)”: shall mean any of the following countries or
groups of countries: (i) the *; (ii) *; (iii) *, *, *, *,
and the * (each, a “
* ”); (iv) *; and (v)
*, * or * (each, a “
* ”).
1.51
“Manufacturing
Costs” shall mean Manufacturing Development Expenses plus any
costs incurred by TGTX to supply clinical trial material and
commercial supply (excluding the cost of the Novimmune Initial Drug
Supply).
1.52
“Manufacturing
Development” means any of the following with respect to Bulk
API or Finished Product: manufacturing process development and
validation, process improvements, associated analytical development
and validation and the manufacture and testing of clinical and
stability or consistency lots (including process development,
qualification, QA, and test batches).
1.53
“Manufacturing
Development Expenses” means any costs incurred by a Party to
a Third Party after the Effective Date for the Manufacturing
Development.
1.54
“Marketing
Authorization Application” or “MAA” means an
application for Regulatory Approval (but excluding Pricing
Approval) in any particular jurisdiction other than the
U.S.
1.55
“Minimum
Phase 1 Patients” shall mean the lesser of (i) * patients
enrolled into the Phase I Clinical Trial or (ii) the maximum number
of patients that are enrolled at the time the quantity of
ready-to-be-labeled Product that NOVIMMUNE has supplied runs
out.
1.56
“BLA”
means a “Biologics License Application” (as more fully
defined in 21 C.F.R. 601 et
seq.) filed with the FDA or the equivalent application filed
with any other Regulatory Authority to obtain Regulatory Approval
for a Product in a country or jurisdiction in the
Territory.
1.57
“Net
Sales” means, with respect to a particular time period, the
total amounts received or invoiced by TGTX and its Affiliates and
Subcontractors for sales of Finished Product made during such time
period to unaffiliated Third Parties, less the following deductions
to the extent actually allowed or incurred with respect to such
sales:
(a)
discounts,
including cash, trade, and quantity discounts, retroactive price
reductions, charge-back payments, and rebates actually granted or
administrative fees actually paid to trade customers, patients
(including those in the form of a coupon or voucher), managed
health care organizations, pharmaceutical benefit managers, group
purchasing organizations, federal, state, or local government and
the agencies, purchasers and reimbursers of managed health
organizations, pharmaceutical benefit managers, group purchasing
organizations, or federal, state or local
government;;
(b)
credits or
allowances actually granted upon prompt payment or losses actually
incurred as a result of damaged goods, rejections or returns of
such Product, including in connection with recalls, and all other
reasonable and customary allowances and adjustments actually
credited to customers.
(c)
packaging, freight,
postage, shipping, transportation, warehousing, handling and
insurance charges, credit card processing fees and any customary
payments with respect to the Products actually made to wholesalers
or other distributors, in each case actually allowed or paid for
distribution and delivery of Product, to the extent billed or
recognized; and
(d)
taxes, including
sales taxes, excise taxes, value-added taxes, and other taxes
(other than income taxes), duties, tariffs or other governmental
charges levied on the sale of such Product, including, without
limitation, value-added and sales taxes.
Notwithstanding the
foregoing, amounts received or invoiced by TGTX and its Affiliates,
and Subcontractors for the sale of Finished Product among TGTX, its
Affiliates and Subcontractors shall not be included in the
computation of Net Sales hereunder. In any event, any
amounts received or invoiced by TGTX and its Affiliates, or their
Subcontractors shall be accounted for only once. Net
Sales shall be accounted for in accordance with US Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) consistently
applied. Net Sales shall exclude any samples of Product
transferred or disposed of at no cost for promotional or
educational purposes, and the cost for such samples transferred or
disposed of shall be deemed to be included in the Commercial
Expenses.
Further, the
Parties agree to negotiate in good faith for an equitable
determination of the Net Sales of the Product in the event TGTX or
its Affiliates or its Subcontractors sells the Product in such a
manner that gross sales of the Product are not readily identifiable
(e.g., for Product to be
sold as a Combination product or bundling with other
products). In addition, for purposes of this Agreement,
“sale” shall mean any transfer or other distribution or
disposition, but shall not include transfers or other distributions
or dispositions of Product at no charge for academic research,
preclinical, clinical, or regulatory purposes (including the use of
a Product in Clinical Trials) or in connection with patient
assistance programs or other charitable purposes or to physicians
or hospitals for promotional purposes (including free samples to a
level and in an amount which is customary in the industry and/or
which is reasonably proportional to the market for such
Product).
1.58
“
“Patents” means (a) pending patent applications,
including provisional patents, issued patents, utility models and
designs; and (b) extensions, reissues, substitutions,
confirmations, registrations, validations, re-examinations,
additions, continuations, continued prosecution applications,
requests for continued examination, continuations-in-part, or
divisions of or to any patents, patent applications, utility models
or designs.
1.59
“Patent Term
Extension” means any term extensions, supplementary
protection certificates and equivalents thereof offering patent
protection beyond the initial term with respect to any issued
patents.
1.60
“Patient”
means any subject enrolled into any Phase I, II, or III Clinical
Trial and administered at least one dose of the
Product.
1.61
“Phase I
Clinical Trial” means a small scale trial of a pharmaceutical
product on subjects that generally provides for the first
introduction into humans of such product with the primary purpose
of determining safety, metabolism and pharmacokinetic properties,
clinical pharmacology and any other properties of such product as
per the study protocol design, as required by 21 C.F.R. 312(a) or a
similar study in other countries.
1.62
“Phase II
Clinical Trial” means a small scale clinical trial of a
pharmaceutical product on patients, including possibly
pharmacokinetic studies, the principal purposes of which are to
make a preliminary determination that such product is safe for its
intended use and to obtain sufficient information about such
product’s efficacy to permit the design of further clinical
trials, as required by 21 C.F.R. 312(b) or a similar study in other
countries.
1.63
“Phase III
Clinical Trial” means one or more clinical trials on
sufficient numbers of patients, which trial(s) are designed to (a)
establish that a drug is safe and efficacious for its intended use;
(b) define warnings, precautions and adverse reactions that are
associated with the drug in the dosage range to be prescribed; and
(c) support Regulatory Approval of such drug, as required by 21
C.F.R. 312(c) or a similar study in other
countries.
1.64
“Phase IV
Clinical Trial” means a clinical trial of a Product, possibly
including pharmacokinetic studies, which trial is (a) not required
in order to obtain Regulatory Approval; (b) required by the
Regulatory Authority as mandatory to be conducted on or after the
Regulatory Approval, and (c) conducted voluntarily by a Party to
enhance marketing or scientific knowledge of the Product
(e.g., providing additional
drug profile, safety data or marketing support information, or
supporting expansion of Product Labeling) or conducted due to a
request or requirement of a Regulatory
Authority.
1.65
“Pivotal
Data” shall mean results from any Phase II Clinical Trial or
Phase III Clinical Trial that is designed to form the primary basis
to support Regulatory Approval for the Product.
1.66
“Pivotal
Trial” shall mean any Phase II Clinical Trial or Phase III
Clinical Trial designed to yield Pivotal Data.
1.67
“P/L Share
Percentage” shall be the percentage that each Party
contributes to Development Expenses and Commercial Expenses and
shares in Product Profit/Loss, pursuant to Section 3.4(a) and
Section 8.2.
1.68
“Pricing
Approval” means such approval, agreement, determination or
governmental decision establishing prices for the Product that can
be charged to consumers and shall be reimbursed by Governmental
Authorities in regulatory jurisdictions where the Governmental
Authorities or Regulatory Authorities approve or determine pricing
of pharmaceutical products for reimbursement or
otherwise.
1.69
“Product”
means a pharmaceutical preparation in any formulation that contains
the anti-CD47/anti-CD19 bispecific antibody, NI-1701 (whose
sequence is depicted in Exhibit C), or any antibody sequence that
shares at least * % or greater
sequence identity to all the complementarity determining regions
(CDRs) in the sequence in Exhibit C, as an active
ingredient.
1.70
“Product
Infringement” has the meaning set forth in Section
9.5(b).
1.71
“Product
Labeling” means (a) the full prescribing information for the
Product approved by the applicable Regulatory Authority, and (b)
all labels and other written, printed or graphic information
included in or placed upon any container, wrapper or package insert
used with or for the Product.
1.72
“Product
Profit/Loss” means the profits or losses resulting from the
Commercialization of the Product in the Territory and shall be
equal to Net Sales of the Product in the Territory less Commercial
Expenses. For avoidance of doubt, any cost deducted in the
calculation of Net Sales shall not be included in the calculation
of the Commercial Expenses.
1.73
“Regulatory
Approvals” means all approvals (including without limitation
supplements, amendments, and Pricing Approvals), licenses,
registrations or authorizations of any national, supra-national,
regional, state or local regulatory agency, department, bureau,
commission, council or other governmental entity, necessary for the
manufacture, storage, import, transport, distribution, marketing,
use or sale of a pharmaceutical product in a given regulatory
jurisdiction.
1.74
“Regulatory
Authority” means, in a particular country or jurisdiction,
any applicable Governmental Authority involved in granting
Regulatory Approval in such country or jurisdiction, including
without limitation, in the U.S., the FDA and any other applicable
Governmental Authority in the U.S. having jurisdiction over the
Product, and, in the European Union, the EMA and any other
applicable Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the
Product.
1.75
“Regulatory
Materials” means regulatory applications, submissions,
notifications, registrations, Regulatory Approvals or other
submissions made to or with a Regulatory Authority that are
necessary or reasonably desirable in order to develop, manufacture,
market, sell or otherwise commercialize the Product in a particular
country, territory or possession. Regulatory Materials
include, without limitation, INDs, CTAs and MAAs, BLAs, and
amendments and supplements for any of the foregoing, and
applications for Pricing Approvals.
1.76
“NOVIMMUNE
Know-How”: shall mean (i) all Know-How that is Controlled by
NOVIMMUNE or its Affiliates on the Effective Date and during the
Term, and (ii) NOVIMMUNE’S interest in any Joint Know-How, in
each case that is necessary or useful for the Development,
manufacture or Commercialization of the Product. For
clarity, NOVIMMUNE Know-How excludes the NOVIMMUNE
Patents.
1.77
“NOVIMMUNE
License Option” means the one time option that NOVIMMUNE has
to supplant this Agreement with a Licensing Agreement in favor of
TGTX in a form as substantially shown in Exhibit F (attached
hereto), and as further described in Section 6.3,
below.
1.78
“NOVIMMUNE
Product Patent” means any Patent, including NOVIMMUNE’S
interest in any Joint Patent, that (a) is Controlled by NOVIMMUNE
or its Affiliates at any time during the Term, and (b) specifically
claims the Product or its specific manufacture or specific use. The
list of NOVIMMUNE Product Patents as of the Effective Date is
attached hereto as Exhibit B(1), and shall be from time to time
amended and updated during the Term to incorporate the then-current
NOVIMMUNE Product Patents.
1.79
“NOVIMMUNE
Platform Patent” means any Patent, including
NOVIMMUNE’S interest in any Joint Patent, that (a) is
Controlled by NOVIMMUNE or its Affiliates at any time during the
Term, and (b) generically claims the Product or its manufacture or
use, or any other invention that is otherwise necessary for the
Development, Finished Manufacture or Commercialization of the
Product. The list of NOVIMMUNE Platform Patents as of the Effective
Date is attached hereto as Exhibit B(2), and shall be from time to
time amended and updated during the Term to incorporate the
then-current NOVIMMUNE Platform Patents.
1.80
“NOVIMMUNE
Technology” means the NOVIMMUNE Platform Patents and
NOVIMMUNE Know-How.
1.81
“Sales
Representative” means a pharmaceutical sales representative
conducting Detailing and other promotional efforts with respect to
the Product, including through a contract sales
organizations.
1.82
“Subcontractor”:
means a Third Party service provider engaged by TGTX to perform
contract services on behalf of TGTX or its Affiliates, where TGTX
retains a meaningful participatory role in the overall development
and commercialization of the Product (e.g., contract research or development
organizations, clinical sites performing clinical trials,
universities and scientific institutes, distributors in certain
countries in the Territory, or contract manufacturing
organizations).
1.83
“Sole
Inventions” has the meaning set forth in Section
9.1.
1.84
“Territory”
means worldwide.
1.85
“TGTX
Know-How”: shall mean (i) all Know-How that is Controlled by
TGTX or its Affiliates on the Effective Date and during the Term,
and (ii) TGTX’s interest in the Joint Know-How, in each case
that is necessary or useful for the Development, manufacture or
Commercialization of the Product. For clarity, TGTX
Know-How excludes TGTX Patents.
1.86
“TGTX
Patent” means any Patent, including TGTX’s interest in
any Joint Patent, that (a) is Controlled by TGTX or its Affiliates
at any time during the Term, and (b) claims the Product or
its
manufacture or use , or any invention
that is otherwise necessary for the Development, Finished
Manufacture or Commercialization of the Product. The list of TGTX
Patents as of the Effective Date is attached hereto as Exhibit B,
and shall be from time to time amended and updated during the Term
to incorporate the then-current TGTX Patents.
1.87
“TGTX
Technology” means the TGTX Patents and TGTX
Know-How.
1.88
“Term”
means the term of this Agreement, as determined in accordance with
Article 13.
1.89
“Third
Party” means any entity other than NOVIMMUNE or TGTX or an
Affiliate of either of them.
1.90
“TGTX License
Option” means the one time option that TGTX has to supplant
this Agreement with a Licensing Agreement in favor of TGTX in a
form as substantially shown in Exhibit F (attached hereto), and as
further described in Section 6.2, below.
1.91
“U.S.”
means the United States of America and its possessions and
territories.
1.92
“Valid
Claim” means (a) any claim of an issued unexpired patent that
(i) has not been permanently revoked, held invalid, or declared
unpatentable or unenforceable in a decision of a court or other
body of competent jurisdiction that is unappealable or unappealed
within the time allowed for appeal, and (ii) is not lost through an
interference proceeding that is unappealable or unappealed within
the time allowed for appeal; or (b) provided there is no Biosimilar
Product available in the market, a claim of a pending Patent
application, which claim has not been abandoned or finally
disallowed without the possibility of appeal or which has not been
pending for more than * years from its
filing date.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
ARTICLE
II. ARTICLE
2
SECTION
2.01 MANAGEMENT
Collaboration Overview. The
Parties desire and intend to form this JV to collaborate with
respect to the Development and Commercialization of the Product as
a single agent and/or as a Combination in the Territory, as and to
the extent set forth in this Agreement in two steps: (i) the First
Step shall be from the date hereof up to the start of a Phase III
Clinical Trial, i.e. first patient dosed, and (ii) the Second Step
being the continuation of the JV, unless and until one of the
Parties exercises its License Option (as set forth in
Article 6). During the First Step, TGTX shall carry-out
the activities set forth in Exhibit D at its own cost and expense
under the supervision and guidance of the JSC. Following
the completion of the First Step and prior to either Party
exercising its License Option, the Parties shall participate in the
joint development of the Product as set forth in this Agreement,
including sharing of Development and Commercial Expenses incurred
in connection with the performance of the Development Plan in
accordance with Article 3.
TGTX shall be
responsible for obtaining and maintaining Regulatory Approval of
the Product in the Territory. TGTX also shall be
responsible for Commercializing the Product in the Territory and
share Product Profits/Losses based on each Party’s P/L Share
Percentage.
2.1
Commitment to Development and
Commercialization. Each Party agrees and
acknowledges that, by entering into this Agreement, it shall fund,
as and to the extent set forth in this Agreement, the Development
Expenses and Commercial Expenses, and shall use Diligent Efforts to
conduct the activities assigned to such Party in this Agreement and
in the Development Plan, with the JSC overseeing the implementation
of such plan.
2.2
Joint
Steering Committee.
(a)
Formation and Role. The
Parties hereby establish a Joint Steering Committee (sometimes
referred to hereinafter as “JSC”) that shall monitor
and coordinate communication regarding the Parties’
performance under this Agreement to Develop, obtain Regulatory
Approval for and Commercialize the Product. The role of
the JSC shall be:
(i)
to discuss and
agree upon the Development Plan and Commercialization Plan, and any
proposed changes or amendments thereto that are not inconsistent
with this Agreement;
(ii)
to review the
overall strategy for Developing and seeking Regulatory Approval
for, manufacturing of, and Commercializing the Product in the
Territory;
(iii)
to facilitate the
exchange of information between the Parties with respect to the
activities hereunder for the Territory and to establish procedures
for the efficient sharing of information and materials necessary
for each Party’s Development, Product Development and
Commercialization of the Product hereunder, consistent with this
Agreement;
(iv)
to review the plan
and the summary budget for the Development with respect to the
applicable countries in the Territory and provide comments
regarding the content and implementation of such
plans;
(v)
to monitor the
Parties’ performance against the then-current Development
Plan and Commercialization Plans;
(vi)
to inform the other
Party of up-coming material internal events and decisions related
to the Product and its Development;
(vii)
to discuss material
submissions to FDA and any other Regulatory
Authorities;
(viii)
to create
subcommittees as the JSC may find necessary or desirable from time
to time for implementation of the Development and Commercialization
hereunder;
(ix)
to oversee the
activities of subcommittees created under this Agreement, and to
seek to resolve any issues that such subcommittees cannot
resolve;
(x)
to provide a
forum to evaluate strategies for obtaining, maintaining and
enforcing patent and trademark protection for the Product in the
Territory; and
(xi)
to perform such
other functions as appropriate to further the purposes of this
Agreement, as determined by the Parties.
(b)
Powers. The JSC shall have
only the powers assigned expressly to it in this Article 2 and
elsewhere in this Agreement. The JSC shall not have any power to
amend, modify or waive compliance with this
Agreement.
(c)
JSC Membership. Each Party
shall have an equal number of representatives on the JSC, who
initially shall be * ( * )
individuals. The JSC may change its size from time to
time by mutual consent of the Parties, provided that the JSC shall
at all times consist of an equal number of representatives of each
of Party. Either Party may designate substitutes for its
representatives if * ( * ) or more of such Party’s designated
representatives are unable to be present at a
meeting. From time to time each Party may replace its
representatives by written notice to the other Party specifying the
prior representative(s) and their replacement(s). TGTX
shall select * ( * ) of its representatives as the initial
chairperson of the JSC. The chairperson shall be
responsible for (i) calling meetings, and (ii) preparing and
circulating an agenda for the upcoming meeting, but shall have no
special authority over the other members of the JSC, and shall have
no additional voting rights.
2.3
JSC Meetings, Decisions and
Actions.
(a)
Meetings. The JSC shall hold at least *
( * ) meetings per year during the First Step and * (* ) meetings
per year during the Second Step (at least * (* ) of which shall be
held in person) on such dates at such times each year as it
elects. Meetings of the JSC shall be effective only if
at least * (* ) representatives of each Party are present or
participating. Each Party shall bear the expense of its
respective members’ participation in JSC
meetings. The Chairperson of the JSC shall be
responsible for preparing and issuing minutes of each such meeting
within *
(* ) days thereafter. Such minutes shall not be
finalized until each Party reviews and confirms the accuracy of
such minutes in writing; provided that any minutes shall be deemed
approved unless a member of the JSC objects to the accuracy of such
minutes within * ( * ) days after the circulation of the minutes by
the Chairperson. With the prior consent of both
Parties’ representatives (such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed), other representatives of each Party or Third
Parties involved with the Products may attend meetings as nonvoting
participants, subject to appropriate agreements of confidentiality.
All final JSC minutes must be signed by both
Parties.
(b)
Decision Making. Except as
expressly provided in this Section 2.3, actions to be taken by the
JSC shall be taken only following * vote during the Second Step,
with each Party having * ( * ) vote, with the caveat that during
the First Step, in the event of disagreement, * shall have the
final decision.
(c)
Disputes. If the members of
the JSC cannot reach a unanimous decision with respect to matters
delegated to it under this Article 2 for a period in excess of * (
* ) days from the discussion at the JSC, unless the Parties agree
to prolong such time period, the matter shall be referred to *
appropriately qualified senior executive officers of the Parties,
who shall attempt resolution by good faith negotiations for at
least * ( * ) days after such referral. If
the senior executive officers designated by the Parties are not
able to resolve such dispute within such * ( * ) day period, then
such dispute shall be finally decided by an independent advisory
board to the JSC, the members of which shall be agreed upon by both
Parties at the time of the dispute. Notwithstanding
anything else to the contrary herein, any decision with respect to
the Development Plan or the Commercialization Plan that
disproportionately allocates a burden to or disproportionately
limits the profits of one Party relative to the other Party (e.g.,
one Party is required to bear more than * % of the cost) shall not
be made without the consent of the disproportionately burdened
Party.
(d)
Location of in-person
meetings. Meetings to be held in person shall be
held either (i) in a US city which is hosting a medical conference
that the Parties are otherwise attending or (ii) alternating
between home cities of each of the Parties.
2.4
Alliance
Representative. Each Party will appoint an
appropriate employee to facilitate communication and coordination
of the Parties’ activities under this Agreement relating to
the Product and to provide support and guidance to the JSC (each,
an “Alliance Representative”). From time to
time each Party may replace its Alliance Representative by prior
written notice to the other Party specifying the
replacement.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
ARTICLE
III. ARTICLE
3
SECTION
3.01 CLINICAL
AND NON-CLINICAL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Overview. TGTX shall Develop the Product
in the Territory as provided in this Article 3 and in accordance
with the then-current Development Plan. The initial
Development Plan sets forth the Development activities to be
performed by TGTX under this Agreement during the First Step and,
for which the Development plan up to the end of Phase I is attached
hereto as Exhibit D. Within * days following the
completion of Phase I, TGTX shall provide the JSC with an updated
Development Plan and any future updates thereof shall be submitted
to the JSC for review and approval in accordance with Article
2.
3.1
Development Plan. The initial
Development Plan through end of Phase I has been agreed upon by the
Parties and is attached hereto as Exhibit D and incorporated herein
by reference. TGTX will be responsible for conducting
the activities in the Development Plan. Upon the completion of
Phase I, the Development Plan will be updated and presented to the
JSC and shall contain the following information for the Product, to
the extent such information is available:
(a)
the proposed
overall plan for further Development for the Product to support
Regulatory Approval in the *, * and *;
(b)
the Development
Budget, which shall include a * ( * )-year rolling budget of
Development Expenses (including a detailed budget for the first
year thereof and an estimated budget for the subsequent year based
on the then-current Development Plan);
(c)
scope and target
timelines for the Parties’ performance of all Clinical Trials
and activities within the Development, including without
limitation, clinical trial protocols, additional preclinical tests
(including any and all carcinogenicity and toxicology studies),
Finished Product stability studies, enrollment numbers and
submission dates; and
(d)
TGTX forecast for
clinical supply of such Finished Product and/or Bulk
API.
3.2
Updates to Development Plan and Development
Budget. The JSC shall review the Development Plan
on an ongoing basis and may update the Development Plan as the JSC
determines consistent with article 2 hereof. As early as necessary
in each year, beginning with the first full Fiscal Year after the
completion of the First Step, the JSC shall update and prepare the
Development Plan and Development Budget for the Product for the
following Fiscal Year to take into account completion, commencement
or cessation of Development activities not contemplated by the
then-current Development Plan, and submit such proposed Development
Plan to the JSC no later than November 1 of such
year. The JSC shall endeavor to finalize the updated *,
* and * Development Plans by December 15 of each year. As necessary
throughout the Fiscal Year, the JSC shall review the Development
Plan and any changes thereto proposed by either Party through the
JSC, and the JSC shall decide on such changes as set forth in
Article 2 hereof.
3.3
Development
Expenses.
(a)
The Parties shall
share any and all Development Expenses as
follows:
(i)
During the First
Step, all expenses and activities are the responsibility of
*, as
per the Development Plan described in Exhibit D, and subsequent
activities required to complete the First Step;
(ii)
After the First
Step, total Development Expenses shall be borne based on each
Parties P/L Share Percentage;
The initial P/L
Share Percentages of the Parties are as follows:
TGTX: *
%
NOVIMMUNE: *
%
If either party
fails to pay their proportionate share of Development Expenses and
Commercial Expenses prior to First Commercial Sale, then the P/L
Share Percentages shall be adjusted as set forth herein in Sections
3.3(a)(vi). The adjustment of such Party’s P/L Share
Percentages shall be the sole remedy for such failure.
(iii)
Each Party shall
calculate and maintain records of all relevant Development Expenses
incurred by it for the Development of the Product, in accordance
with procedures to be agreed upon between the
Parties. The Parties understand and agree that Internal
Expenses shall not be shared, subject to Section
3.3(a)(vii).
(iv)
Within * (* )
Business Days following the end of each calendar quarter, * shall
submit to * a written report setting forth in reasonable detail the
Development Expenses it has incurred in such calendar
quarter. Within * (* ) Business Days following the end
of each calendar quarter, * shall submit to * a written report
setting forth in reasonable detail the Development Expenses it has
incurred in such calendar quarter.
(v)
Within * ( * )
Business Days following the end of each calendar quarter, * shall
submit to * a written report setting forth in reasonable detail the
calculation of all Development Expenses for the Product, and the
calculation of any net amount owed by NOVIMMUNE to TGTX or by TGTX
to NOVIMMUNE, as the case may be, in order to ensure the
appropriate sharing of Development Expenses in accordance with the
provisions of Section 3.3(a) (ii). The net amount
payable shall be paid to the other Party, as the case may be,
within * ( * ) days following the receipt of the written report;
provided, that, in the event of a dispute, any amounts not in
dispute shall be paid and the disputing Party shall provide written
notice without undue delay after receipt of the written report in
question to the other, specifying such dispute and explaining the
basis of the dispute. The Parties shall promptly
thereafter meet and negotiate in good faith a resolution to such
dispute and, promptly upon resolution of such dispute, the
applicable Party shall make the agreed-upon payment. If
such dispute is not resolved within * ( * ) days after
delivery of a notice of dispute with respect thereto to the other
Party, the disputing Party may audit the other Party in accordance
with the provisions of Section 8.7. For clarity, nothing
in this Section 3.3(a) (v) shall serve to limit a Party’s
ability to seek recourse for billing errors discovered after
payment is made.
(vi)
If hereunder,
either Party fails to contribute their portion of the Development
Expenses or Commercial Expenses, such Party’s P/L Share
Percentage shall be reduced pro rata to the extent of the
Development Expenses or Commercial Expenses that they do not fund
as a percentage of the cumulative Development Expenses and
Commercial Expenses to date, however, in no event shall
NOVIMMUNE’S P/L Share Percentage be reduced below *
%. In the event of failure to pay allocated Development
Expenses or Commercial Expenses on time as set forth above, each
party shall be afforded * ( * ) months to make a
catch-up payment. However, upon receipt of Pivotal Data
for the Product and any time thereafter, no catch-up payments will
be allowed by either Party.
(vii)
The Parties
acknowledge and agree that Internal Expenses * be reimbursed or
shared except as set forth in this Section
3.3(a). However, in connection with the Development,
either Party may refer to the JSC to provide certain specified
Development activities using internal resources as opposed to
out-sourcing such activity to a Third Party and to include such
Internal Expenses as the Development Expenses to be shared
hereunder. Any such referral shall include a
sufficiently detailed description of the proposed Development
activities, the associated Internal Expenses, and, where possible,
the costs and expenses to be paid to Third Party contractors if the
same Development activities were contracted out to
them. If the JSC approves (which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld) such Internal Expenses as the Development
Expenses, then the proposing Party shall obtain reimbursement as
the Development Expenses for the Internal Expenses actually
incurred (in an amount not to exceed any approved amount) in
performing such Development activities for the
Product.
(b)
Any reimbursement
payments made pursuant to this Section 3.3 shall be subject to the
general payment procedures set forth in Sections 8.5 and
8.6.
3.4
Performance;
Diligence.
(a)
Each Party shall
devote Diligent Efforts to the Development of the Product
consistent with the then-current Development Plan and in accordance
with this Agreement.
(b)
Without limiting
the generality of Section 3.4(a), TGTX shall devote Diligent
Efforts to obtaining Regulatory Approval of the Product in the
Territory.
(c)
TGTX shall conduct
its Development activities under this Agreement in a good
scientific manner and in compliance with all applicable Laws,
including without limitation applicable GCP, GLP, and
GMP.
3.5
Records, Reports and
Information. Each Party shall maintain complete,
current and accurate records of all work conducted by it under the
Development Plan and all data and other Information resulting from
such work. Such records shall fully and properly reflect
all work done and results achieved in the performance of the
Development Plan in sufficient detail and in a good scientific
manner appropriate for patent and regulatory
purposes. Each Party shall have the right to review such
records maintained by the other Party at reasonable times, upon
written request. Each Party shall provide written
reports in English to the JSC on its Development and regulatory
activities with the Product pursuant to the Development Plan on a *
basis at the end of each calendar * , at a level of
detail reasonably sufficient to enable the other Party to determine
the reporting Party’s compliance with its Diligent Efforts
obligation pursuant to Section 3.4.
3.6
Manufacturing
Development.
(a)
Duties. * shall be responsible for the
Manufacturing Development for the Bulk API and Finished Product,
(except with regard to the Novimmune Initial Drug Supply), itself
or through a Third Party contract manufacturer.
(b)
Comparator Drugs. * shall be
responsible for procuring all comparator drugs or placebos
necessary for conducting non-clinical studies and Clinical Trials
and the cost of these agents up to the end of the First Step. After
which, the costs and expenses related to the Comparator Drugs or
placebos for the Development shall be included in the Development
Expenses.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
ARTICLE
IV. ARTICLE
4
SECTION
4.01 REGULATORY
MATTERS
4.1
Transfer
of Data and Regulatory Materials.
(a)
Existing Data. Within
* ( * ) of
the Effective Date, NOVIMMUNE shall provide copies of all
preclinical, non-clinical data and manufacturing reports (Exhibit
G), for Product as a single agent, relevant to an IND or CTA
submission. * shall have the full right, without any
additional consideration, to use any and all such data and reports
to support collaborations on their bispecific antibody platform
using their anti-CD47 platform arm. * shall have the full right on
behalf of JV, without any additional consideration, to use any and
all such data and reports in connection with the Development and/or
Commercialization of the Product in the Territory, including the
incorporation of such data or reports in any regulatory
submissions, including MAA and BLA submissions.
(b)
Future Data. Novimmune shall,
in a timely manner and compliant with requirements of the FDA, the
EMA, and any other applicable Regulatory Authority, provide to TGTX
copies of all preclinical, non-clinical, analytical, manufacturing,
and clinical data relating to the Product either as single agent or
in Combination, generated by or on behalf of Novimmune that is
related to the Product. TGTX shall provide to Novimmune
all completed clinical study reports and Novimmune shall have the
right to use these reports solely for the purposes of decision
making on Novimmune other programs. Novimmune will treat
these reports as TGTX Confidential Information. TGTX
shall have the full right, without any additional consideration, to
use any and all such data and reports in connection with the
Development and/or the Commercialization of the Product in the
Territory, including the incorporation of such data or reports in
any regulatory submissions including MAA and/or BLA
submissions.
4.2
Regulatory
Submissions and Approvals.
(a)
In General. The Parties
intend to seek Regulatory Approval in the first instance in
the * , * and * thereafter the remainder of
the Territory wherein the JSC determines it is worthwhile to
Develop and Commercialize the Product. Subject to the terms of this
Article 4:
(i)
*, in consultation
with JSC, shall be responsible for assembling, submitting and
maintaining any source regulatory submission components and
compiled submissions of the Regulatory Materials to be used in
support of Regulatory Approval for the Product in the Territory in
accordance with such regulatory strategy, including without
limitation BLAs, MAAs and associated documents;
(1)
* shall have
primary responsibility for providing components of Regulatory
Materials relating to Bulk API and Finished Product in support of Regulatory
Approval;
(2)
* shall have primary
responsibility for providing the content of Regulatory Materials
relating to clinical data supporting Regulatory
Approval;
(ii)
*, in consultation
with JSC, shall be primarily responsible for preparing and
submitting to Regulatory Authorities INDs, CTAs and all associated
submissions (e.g., IMPDs,
safety alerts, protocol submissions, etc.) for the Product and for
carrying out clinical protocols in support of Regulatory Approval
in the Territory under said INDs and CTAs in
the *, * and * in accordance with
such regulatory strategy.
(b)
Costs and Expenses. Until
completion of the First Step, all expenses associated with
preparation, submission and maintenance of regulatory materials for
the Territory will be borne by *. Following the First
Step, any Development Expenses to the extent required for the
Parties to prepare, submit and maintain all Regulatory Materials in
the Territory shall be treated as Development Expenses
and * in accordance with Section
3.3.
4.3
Rights of Reference to Regulatory
Materials. Each Party hereby grants to the
other Party a right of reference to all Regulatory Materials filed
by such Party for Product as follows: The right of
reference granted to * herein shall be solely for the
purpose of * obtaining Regulatory Approval for the
Product in the Territory.
4.4
Reporting
and Review.
(a)
Each Party shall
provide the other Party, in a timely manner, with copies of all
Regulatory Approvals it receives for the
Product.
(b)
Each Party shall
provide the other Party, in a timely manner, with copies of any
notices of non-compliance with Laws in connection with the Product
or its activities related to the Product (e.g., warning letters or other notices
of alleged non-compliance), audit notices, notices of initiation by
Regulatory Authorities of investigations, inspections, detentions,
seizures or injunctions concerning the Product (or its manufacture,
distribution, or facilities connected thereto), notice of violation
letters (i.e., an untitled
letter), warning letters, service of process or other inquiries and
copies of any communication in response to the Regulatory
Authority.
4.5
Regulatory
Inspection or Audit.
(i)
If a Regulatory
Authority desires to conduct an inspection or audit of TGTX’s
facility, or a facility under contract with TGTX, with regard to
Bulk API or the Finished Product, TGTX shall promptly notify
NOVIMMUNE and permit and cooperate with such inspection or audit,
and shall cause the contract facility to permit and cooperate with
such Regulatory Authority during such inspection or
audit. NOVIMMUNE shall have the right to have a
representative observe such inspection or audit and NOVIMMUNE
shall, if requested by TGTX, assist TGTX in preparing for,
facilitating or enabling such inspection or
audit. Following receipt of the inspection or audit
observations of such Regulatory Authority (a copy of which TGTX
shall immediately provide to NOVIMMUNE), TGTX shall prepare a draft
response to any such observations in English, in consultation with
NOVIMMUNE, and TGTX shall prepare and file the final response with
such Regulatory Authority, and shall provide a copy of such
response to NOVIMMUNE.
(ii)
If a Regulatory
Authority desires to conduct an inspection or audit of
NOVIMMUNE’S facility, or a facility under contract with
NOVIMMUNE, with regard to the Bulk API or Finished Product,
NOVIMMUNE shall promptly notify TGTX and permit and cooperate with
such inspection or audit, and shall cause the contract facility to
permit and cooperate with such Regulatory Authority during such
inspection or audit. TGTX shall have the right to have a
representative observe such inspection or audit and TGTX shall, if
requested by NOVIMMUNE, assist NOVIMMUNE in preparing for,
facilitating or enabling such inspection or
audit. Following receipt of the inspection or audit
observations of such Regulatory Authority (a copy of which
NOVIMMUNE shall immediately provide to TGTX), NOVIMMUNE shall
prepare a draft response to any such observations in English, in
consultation with TGTX, and NOVIMMUNE shall prepare and file the
final response with such Regulatory Authority, and shall provide a
copy of such response to TGTX provided, however, if it is a
Regulatory Authority in the Territory and the audit is specific to
the Product or the Bulk API, then TGTX shall prepare, with the
assistance of NOVIMMUNE, and file the final response and provide a
copy to NOVIMMUNE.
(c)
Audit Procedures. In any event, each
Party shall notify the other Party, in writing, within
* (
* ) hours of receipt of notification from a Regulatory Authority of
the intention of such Regulatory Authority to audit or inspect
facilities being used to conduct manufacture of Bulk API or
Finished Manufacture of the Finished Product. Each Party
shall also provide the other Party with copies of any written
communications received from Regulatory Authorities with respect to
such facilities within * ( * ) hours of
receipt.
4.6
Recalls and Voluntary
Withdrawals. JSC shall assign
responsibility to * for providing its internal standard
operating procedures (“SOPs”) for conducting any
recall, field alert, product withdrawal or other field action
relating to the finished product reasonably in advance of the First
Commercial Sale of any Product in the Territory to the other
party. If either Party becomes aware of information
relating to any Product that indicates that a unit or batch of
Finished Product or Bulk API may not conform to the specifications
therefor, or that potential adulteration, misbranding, or other
issues have arisen that relate to the safety or efficacy of the
Product, it shall promptly so notify the other
Party. The JSC shall meet to discuss such circumstances
and to consider and decide appropriate courses of action, which
shall be consistent with the internal SOP
of *, * shall have the
right and responsibility to control any product recall, field
correction, or withdrawal of any Product in the Territory that is
required by Regulatory Authorities in the Territory, and the
allocation of reasonable expenses incurred in connection with such
recall between the Parties shall be made as follows: (i) if the
recall is primarily due to a failure by * to comply with
its obligation under this Agreement or the commercial supply
agreement, including with respect to the labeling, possession,
storage or distribution of the finished product, then *
shall bear all such expenses, and (ii) otherwise, such expenses
shall be treated as Commercial Expenses. In addition, *
shall have the right, at its discretion, to conduct any product
recall, field correction or withdrawal of any Product in the
Territory that is not so required by such Regulatory Authorities
but that * deems to be
appropriate, and the allocation of expenses incurred in connection
with such recall between the Parties shall be as set forth in the
immediately preceding sentence. * shall maintain
complete and accurate records of any recall in the Territory for
such periods as may be required by applicable Laws, but in no event
for less than * ( * ) *.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
ARTICLE
V. ARTICLE
5
SECTION
5.01 COMMERCIALIZATION
5.1
Commercialization in the
Territory. * shall have the
sole right and responsibility for Commercializing the Product in
the Territory, as provided in this Article 5. * shall
book all sales of the Product in the Territory. The
Parties shall * all Commercial Expenses
incurred by the Parties in connection with such Commercialization
in accordance with the procedures described in Section 8. * shall
use Diligent Efforts to minimize Commercial
Expenses.
5.2
Commercialization Plans. The
strategy for the commercial launch of the Product in the Territory
shall be described in a comprehensive plan that describes the
pre-launch, launch and subsequent Commercialization activities and
budget for the Product (including, if available, advertising,
education, planning, marketing, sales force training and
allocation, distribution, pricing, and reimbursement) (the
“Commercialization Plan”). * shall present
an initial Commercialization Plan to the JSC at least *
( * ) months prior to the then current date of expected Regulatory
Approval for such Product in the Territory (the “Approval
Date”). The initial Commercialization Plan and
subsequent revisions thereto, which revisions shall be reviewed and
approved by the JSC from time to time, shall contain such
information as the JSC believes necessary for the successful
commercial launch of such Product and shall generally conform to
the level of detail utilized by the Parties in preparation of their
own product commercialization plans. The
Commercialization Plan shall be deemed Confidential Information of
both Parties, and each Party shall use such Commercialization Plan
only to the extent necessary to carry out its Commercialization
activities for the Product. From time to time as
reasonably necessary during the term of Commercialization of a
Product in the Territory, the JSC shall update the
Commercialization Plan subject to the provisions of article 2 and 3
hereof.
5.3
Pricing Approvals;
Pricing. TGTX shall have the responsibility to
determine all pricing of the Product in the Territory provided
NOVIMMUNE has an opportunity to review and comment upon
TGTX’s proposed price of the Product or any material
modification thereof and shall consider NOVIMMUNE’S comments
in good faith. TGTX shall use its Diligent Efforts to
maximize Net Sales in the aggregate. Any discounts on
sales where the Product is bundled with other products will be
apportioned among all of the products in the bundle such that the
discount on the Product is not more than the average discount
provided to all the products. Both the parties shall
keep reasonably informed on an ongoing basis of current Product
pricing by regular reports to the JSC no less frequently than such
committee is required to meet pursuant to Section 2.3.
5.4
Sales and Distribution. * shall be solely responsible for
handling all returns, order processing, invoicing and collection,
distribution, and inventory and receivables for the Product
throughout the Territory. * shall have the right and
responsibility for establishing and modifying the terms and
conditions with respect to the sale of the Product throughout the
Territory, including any terms and conditions relating to or
affecting the price at which the Product shall be sold, discounts
available to any third party payers (including, without limitation,
managed care providers, indemnity plans, unions, self-insured
entities, and government payer, insurance or contracting programs
such as Medicare, Medicaid, or the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs),
any discount attributable to payments on receivables, distribution
of the Product, and credits, price adjustments, or other discounts
and allowances to be granted or refused provided that NOVIMMUNE had
the opportunity to review and comment on such modifications, within
a period of * days, thereof, and TGTX shall consider
NOVIMMUNE’S comments in good faith.
5.5
TGTX
Performance; Diligence.
(a)
Level of Efforts in the Territory. TGTX
shall devote Diligent Efforts to obtaining Regulatory Approval and
thereafter Commercializing the Product in the
Territory. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, TGTX shall devote Diligent Efforts to Commercialize the
Product in the Territory in accordance with the Commercialization
Plan.
(b)
Time to Launch Product. In
addition to the requirements under Section 5.5(a), TGTX shall
achieve First Commercial Sale of each Product within a reasonable
time after, but in no event more than * months after, the
date on which Pricing Approval is granted for such Product in
the * , * and *, provided that
such Pricing Approval is deemed by *, in consultation
with the JSC, to be sufficiently profitable for Commercialization
in such country. If, however, despite using diligent efforts it
becomes difficult for TGTX to comply with the above-mentioned time
limitations, then TGTX shall, without delay, inform NOVIMMUNE of
the fact and explain the cause of such delay, and, such time
limitations shall be extended to a reasonable extent as agreed
between the Parties.
(c)
Territory Reports. Following
First Commercial Sale, TGTX shall present a written report to
NOVIMMUNE at least * (and no later than *
and * of each *) summarizing *
’s overall Commercialization activities undertaken with
respect to the Product in or for the Territory pursuant to this
Agreement, covering subject matter at a level of detail reasonably
sufficient to enable NOVIMMUNE to determine TGTX’s compliance
with its Diligent Efforts obligation pursuant to this Section
5.5.
5.6
Compliance. Each Party shall comply with
all applicable Laws relating to activities performed or to be
performed by such Party (or its Affiliates, contractor(s) or
sublicensee(s)) under or in relation to the Commercialization of
the Product pursuant to this Agreement. Each Party
represents, warrants and covenants to the other Party that, as of
the Effective Date and during the Term, such Party and its
Affiliates have adequate procedures in place: (i) to ensure their
compliance with such Laws; (ii) to bring any noncompliance
therewith by any of the foregoing entities to its attention; and
(iii) to promptly remedy any such noncompliance. TGTX shall be
responsible for ensuring that all government reporting, sales,
marketing and promotional practices with respect to the Product
comply with applicable Laws. All promotional materials
and labeling used by or on behalf of TGTX for the Product shall
comply with applicable Laws and regulations.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
ARTICLE
VI. ARTICLE
6
SECTION
6.01 LICENSE
AND LICENSE OPTIONS
Licenses to TGTX under NOVIMMUNE
Technology. Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, NOVIMMUNE hereby grants TGTX an exclusive
license under the NOVIMMUNE Product Patents and a non-exclusive
license under NOVIMMUNE Technology, without the right to sublicense
except as expressly permitted by Section 6.4 hereof, to Develop,
manufacture, use, sell and offer for sale, and import the Product
in the Territory, in accordance with this Agreement.
6.1
No Implied Licenses. Except
as explicitly set forth in this Agreement, neither Party grants any
license, express or implied, under its intellectual property rights
to the other Party.
6.2
TGTX License Option. Any time
prior to the start of *, TGTX shall have
the exclusive right to convert this Agreement into a License
Agreement. If TGTX exercises this Option, then both Parties will
automatically enter into a licensing agreement under the same terms
and conditions as set forth in Exhibit F, provided however that the
terms of Section 6 of the form of Licensing Agreement shall remain
unchanged unless mutually agreed by the
Parties.
6.3
Novimmune License
Option. Within * ( * ) days of the
start of a Phase III Clinical Trial where the Product is used
either as a single agent or in Combination with another active
pharmaceutical ingredient, NOVIMMUNE shall have the exclusive right
to convert this Agreement into a License Agreement. If
NOVIMMUNE exercises this Option, then the Parties will
automatically enter into a licensing agreement under the same terms
and conditions as set forth in Exhibit F, provided however that the
terms of Section 6 of the form of Licensing Agreement shall remain
unchanged unless mutually agreed by the
Parties.
6.4
Sublicensing and Subcontracting: The license granted to TGTX by
NOVIMMUNE hereunder includes the right for TGTX to grant
sublicenses to its Affiliates and to Subcontractors in connection
with such Subcontractors’ performance of subcontracted
activities, provided that such subcontracted activities shall be
subject to and subordinate to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. TGTX’s execution of a subcontracting agreement
with any Subcontractor shall not relieve TGTX of any of its
obligations under this Agreement. TGTX shall remain
directly liable to NOVIMMUNE for any performance or non-performance
of a Subcontractor that would be a breach of this Agreement if
performed or omitted by TGTX, and TGTX shall be deemed to be in
breach of this Agreement as a result of such performance or
non-performance of such Subcontractor. TGTX shall use
Diligent Efforts to include in any agreement with a Subcontractor
express permission to assign all of the rights and obligations
under such agreement to NOVIMMUNE without consent from the
Subcontractor. TGTX agrees to take Diligent Efforts to
enforce the terms of each subcontractor agreement to prevent a
breach of any such agreement that would constitute a breach of this
Agreement if performed or omitted by TGTX. Any
sublicensing under the license granted to TGTX hereunder to any
Third Party that is not a Subcontractor is expressly prohibited
unless permitted by the JSC (i) following the expiration of the
option rights pursuant to Sections 6.2 and 6.3 hereof and (ii) an
agreement of the parties on the equitable sharing of any resulting
revenues.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
ARTICLE
VII. ARTICLE
7
SECTION
7.01 MANUFACTURE
AND SUPPLY
7.1
Roles
of the Parties.
NOVIMMUNE shall
supply * g of
ready-to-be-labeled Product to the JV to support the Phase I
Clinical Trial ("Novimmune Initial Drug Supply”) within a
maximum of * months after of the Effective Date. TGTX
and NOVIMMUNE shall work together to secure a manufacturing slot
with * in * (or the next available date), at *
expense. If Novimmune secures the manufacturing slot,
then on receipt of an invoice from *, * shall
invoice * and * shall pay * in
full for any payment in connection therewith within * (
* ) business days from receipt of an invoice from * for
such payment. Thereafter *, at *
expense, shall be responsible to supply, or cause to be supplied
through its Third Party contract manufacturers, in a timely manner
consistent with a relevant supply agreement between the parties,
JV’s entire requirements of Bulk API and Finished Product, in
addition to the Product supplied by NOVIMMUNE, for the Development
and Commercialization of the Product as a single agent by the
Parties in or for the Territory in accordance with this Article
7.
7.2
Clinical Supply. In addition
to the NOVIMMUNE Initial Drug Supply to be used in the Phase I
Clinical Trial, TGTX by itself or through its Third Party contract
manufacturers, will use Diligent Efforts to supply all remaining
Product required to complete Phase I and Phase II Clinical Trials.
After completion of the First Step, the JV will be responsible for
supplying all quantities of Finished Product or Bulk API required
by TGTX to Develop the Product in the Territory pursuant to the
Development Plan. Such quantities of Finished Product,
and the schedule for such supply, shall be confirmed and if
necessary updated by the JSC in a manner consistent with the
Development Plan.
(a)
The Parties shall
establish an appropriate facility or contract manufacturing
organization for handling Finished Manufacture as
follows: * shall be responsible for selecting
manufacturer(s) to supply the Finished Product required to complete
the Phase I and Phase II Clinical Trials, in addition to the
quantity of ready-to-be-labeled Product supplied by NOVIMMUNE. This
will involve negotiating the applicable supply agreement, and
effecting the technology transfer as necessary to establish and
qualify Bulk API and Finished Product
manufacturers.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
ARTICLE
VIII. ARTICLE
8
SECTION
8.01 COMPENSATION
(a)
As initiation fee
for the JV, concomitantly with the delivery of the preclinical,
non-clinical and manufacturing reports (Exhibit G) as per Section
4.1, TGTX shall pay to NOVIMMUNE a fee of Three Million US Dollars
($3,000,000) in its equivalent of TGTX shares (the
“Initiation Fee”). In addition, NOVIMMUNE
shall supply TGTX with the Novimmune Initial Drug Supply within a
maximum of * ( * ) months as of the Effective
Date.
(b)
Furthermore,
within * ( * ) days following
written notification by TGTX (the “Notification Date”)
that the * patient has entered into the Phase
I Clinical Trial or at a time that the quantity of
ready-to-be-labeled Product that NOVIMMUNE has supplied runs out,
whichever is the earliest, TGTX shall pay to NOVIMMUNE an
additional collaboration fee of * US Dollars ($ * ) in
its equivalent in TGTX shares (the “Milestone
Payment”), provided that this Agreement has not been
terminated pursuant to Section 13.
(c)
Such collaboration
fees once paid shall be fully earned, non-refundable and
non-creditable against any other payments due
hereunder.
(d)
For payments made
in TGTX Shares pursuant to this Section 8.1, the number of shares
of Common Stock of TGTX owed shall equal a fraction where the
numerator is the * and the denominator is
the *. For purposes of this Section 8.1, the
“ * ” means the * (or, * ) for
the * ( * ) trading days prior to the Effective Date (in
the case of the Initiation Fee) or the Notification Date (in the
case of the Milestone Payment); provided, however, that in the
event that TGTX effects a stock split, combination or stock
dividend at any time during such * trading days or
subsequent thereto and prior to the issuance of the TGTX Shares,
the number of shares of TGTX Common Stock issuable shall be
appropriately adjusted to give effect to such
action. TGTX shall issue to Novimmune certificates
representing the TGTX Shares as required by Sections 8.1(a) and
(b). Within * ( * ) business days
of the issuance of such certificates for the TGTX shares, TGTX
shall file a resale registration statement covering such shares and
shall use Diligent Efforts to make such resale registration
statement effective as quickly as possible. TGTX
covenants to use Diligent Efforts to keep such registration
statement continuously effective until such time as such shares can
be sold without restriction under Rule 144.
8.2
* of Commercial Expenses and Product
Profit/Loss. During the Term but post the
First Step, assuming none of the License Options have been
exercised, the Parties shall * Product Profit/Loss for
each Finished Product based on their respective P/L Sharing
Percentage. Within * ( * ) Business Days of
the end of each calendar * following the First
Commercial Sale of the Finished Product, * shall report to the JSC
its revenues and Commercial Expense items (with appropriate
supporting information) involved in the computation of Product
Profit/Loss and accrued during such quarter with respect to each
such Finished Product (the “* P/L
Report”). Such * P/L reports shall be
in such form as the Parties may agree from time to
time. In addition, TGTX shall provide NOVIMMUNE with
a * statement of the amount of gross sales of Product by
country in the Territory. The Parties shall calculate
and * such Product Profit/Losses based on each
Party’s respective P/L Sharing Percentage on a
calendar * basis and shall make reconciliation, if
necessary, for this purpose of sharing such Product Profit/Losses,
within * ( * ) Business Days after * provides
its * report to the JSC. For the avoidance of
doubt, if Commercial Expenses exceed Net Sales, then each party
shall reimburse the other party for such Commercial Expenses such
that each party’s share of the Commercial Expenses is equal
to its P/L Sharing Percentage. If either Party fails to contribute
their portion of the Product Profit/Loss and Commercial Expenses,
such Party’s P/L Share Percentage shall be reduced pro rata
to the extent of the Product Profit/Loss and Commercial Expenses
that they do not fund as a percentage of the total accumulated
Commercial Expenses and Product Profit/Loss to date, however, in no
event shall NOVIMMUNE’S P/L Share Percentage be reduced
below * %. Such adjustment to a party’s
P/L share % shall be the * remedy hereunder for such
failure. Additionally, with regard to Commercial Expenses incurred
by either Party before the First Commercial Sale, such expenses
shall be included in Development Expenses and shared pursuant to
Section 3.4. Alternately, both Parties may devise a
feasible legal structure to address Product Profit/Loss for
simplified obligations with regard to maintenance of financial
records and audits of either party, including tax benefits, if any,
and if agreed to by both Parties.
8.3
The *
P/L Report will be subject to a true-up adjustment to take into
account deductions under the definition of Net Sales either (a)
allowed during a calendar quarter that were not accrued during such
calendar quarter, or (b) accrued during a calendar quarter but not
taken or later subject to a reversal following the end of such
calendar quarter (each of (a) and (b), a “True-up
Adjustment”). Each * P/L Report
provided by TGTX shall set forth the amount of any True-up
Adjustment applicable to any prior calendar
quarter.
(a)
Cooperation and
Coordination. The Parties acknowledge and agree
that it is their mutual objective and intent to minimize, to the
extent feasible and legal, taxes payable with respect to their
collaborative efforts under this Agreement and that they shall use
all commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate and coordinate
with each other to achieve such objective.
(b)
Payment of Tax. A Party
receiving a payment pursuant to this Article 8 shall pay any and
all taxes levied on such payment. If applicable Law
requires that taxes be deducted and withheld from a payment made
pursuant to this Article 8, the remitting Party shall promptly
notify the other Party and provide all relevant information
available to it and (i) deduct those taxes from the payment; (ii)
pay the taxes to the proper taxing authority; and (iii) send
evidence of the obligation together with proof of payment to the
other Party within * ( * ) days following that
payment.
(c)
Tax Residence Certificate. A
Party (including any entity to which this Agreement may be
assigned, as permitted under Section 15.5) receiving a payment
pursuant to this Article 8 shall provide the remitting Party
appropriate certification from relevant revenue authorities that
such Party is a tax resident of that jurisdiction (a “Tax
Residence Certificate”), if such receiving Party wishes to
claim the benefits of an income tax treaty to which that
jurisdiction is a party. Upon the receipt thereof, any
deduction and withholding of taxes shall be made at the appropriate
treaty tax rate.
(d)
Assessment. Either Party may,
at its own expense, protest any assessment, proposed assessment, or
other claim by any Governmental Authority for any additional amount
of taxes, interest or penalties or seek a refund of such amounts
paid if permitted to do so by applicable Law. The
Parties shall cooperate with each other in any protest by providing
records and such additional information as may reasonably be
necessary for a Party to pursue such protest.
8.5
Foreign Exchange. The rate of
exchange to be used in computing the amount of currency equivalent
in Dollars owed to a Party under this Agreement shall be made at
the period-end rate of exchange quoted on the last day of the
applicable calendar quarter by Citibank in New York
City.
8.6
Late Payments. If a Party
does not receive payment of any sum due to it on or before the due
date, simple interest shall thereafter accrue on the sum due to
such Party until the date of payment at the per annum rate
of * % over the then-current LIBOR, or the maximum rate
allowable by applicable Law, whichever is
lower.
8.7
Records; Audits. Each Party
shall maintain complete and accurate records in sufficient detail
to permit the other Party to confirm the accuracy of the
calculation of payments to the other Party under this
Agreement. Upon reasonable prior notice, such records
shall be available during regular business hours of audited Party
for a period of * ( * ) years from
the creation of individual records for examination at auditing
Party’s expense, and not more often than once each Fiscal
Year, by an independent certified public accountant selected by
auditing Party and reasonably acceptable to audited Party, for the
sole purpose of verifying the accuracy of the financial reports
furnished pursuant to this Agreement. Any such auditor
shall not disclose audited Party’s Confidential Information,
except to the extent such disclosure is necessary to verify the
accuracy of the financial reports furnished by audited Party or the
amount of payments due by audited Party under this
Agreement. Any amounts shown to be owed but unpaid shall
be paid within * ( * ) days from the accountant’s
report, plus interest (as set forth in Section 8.6) from the
original due date. Any amounts determined to be overpaid
shall be refunded within * ( * ) days from the
accountant’s report. The auditing Party shall bear
the full cost of such audit unless such audit discloses an
underpayment of the amount actually owed during the applicable
Fiscal Year of more than * %, in which case audited
Party shall bear the full cost of such audit.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
ARTICLE
IX. ARTICLE
9
SECTION
9.01 INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY MATTERS
9.1
Ownership of Inventions and Know
How. Any new information, discovery, or invention
observed, conceived or made pertaining to the Product, its
manufacture, or use during the term of this Agreement will be owned
either solely by one Party (“Sole Know-How” or
“Sole Invention”) or jointly by both Parties
(“Joint Know-How” or “Joint Invention”)
according to a proper determination of inventorship based on U.S.
patent laws. Sole or Joint ownership flows to the Party
that employs, or otherwise contracts with, a properly named
inventor or co-inventor.
Sole Know-How and
Sole inventions owned by TGTX and TGTX’s interest in all
Joint Know-How and Inventions shall be included in the TGTX
Technology. Sole Know-How and Sole Inventions owned by
NOVIMMUNE and NOVIMMUNE’S interest in all Joint Know-How and
Inventions shall be included in the NOVIMMUNE Know-How, NOVIMMUNE
Product Patent, or NOVIMMUNE Platform Patent, as the case might be,
except that NOVIMMUNE”s interest in a Joint Invention shall
be designated as a NOVIMMUNE Product Patent or as a NOVIMMUNE
Platform Patent according to the claimed subject matter, provided
that if the claimed subject matter includes a claim specifically
directed to the Product, NOVIMMUNE’s interest in a Joint
Invention shall be included in the NOVIMMUNE Product Patent
regardless of the presence in the same patent or patent application
of claimed subject matter providing generic Product
coverage.
9.2
Disclosure of
Inventions. Each Party shall promptly disclose to
the other any invention disclosures, or other similar documents,
submitted to it by its employees, agents or independent contractors
describing inventions that may be either Sole Inventions or Joint
Inventions, and all Information relating to such
inventions. Any Novimmune Know-How, TGTX Know-How,
Novimmune Product Patents or TGTX Patents generated or discovered
during the term of this Agreement shall * in this
Agreement.
9.3
Prosecution
of Patents.
(a)
NOVIMMUNE Product Patents Other than Joint
Patents. Except as otherwise provided in this
Section 9.3(a), NOVIMMUNE shall have the sole right, authority and
obligation to file, prosecute and maintain the NOVIMMUNE Product
Patents and NOVIMMUNE Platform Patents (other than Joint Patents
which shall be prosecuted and maintained in accordance with Section
9.3(b)) on a worldwide basis. NOVIMMUNE shall provide
TGTX reasonable opportunity to review and comment on prosecution
efforts regarding such NOVIMMUNE Product Patents in the
Territory. NOVIMMUNE shall provide TGTX with a copy of
material communications from any patent authority in the Territory
regarding such NOVIMMUNE Product Patents, and shall provide TGTX
with drafts of any material filings or responses to be made to such
patent authorities a reasonable amount of time in advance of
submitting such filings or responses. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if NOVIMMUNE desires to abandon or not maintain any
NOVIMMUNE Product Patent in the Territory, then NOVIMMUNE shall
provide TGTX with * ( * )
days prior written notice of such desire (or such longer period of
time as reasonably necessary to allow TGTX to assume such
responsibilities) and, if TGTX so requests, shall provide TGTX with
the opportunity to prosecute and maintain such NOVIMMUNE Product
Patent in the Territory in place of NOVIMMUNE. If TGTX
desires NOVIMMUNE to file, in the Territory, a patent application
that claims priority from a NOVIMMUNE Product Patent, other than a
Joint Patent, in the Territory, TGTX shall provide written notice
to NOVIMMUNE requesting that NOVIMMUNE file such patent application
in the Territory. If TGTX provides such written notice
to NOVIMMUNE, NOVIMMUNE shall either (i) file and prosecute such
patent application and maintain any patent issuing thereon in the
Territory or (ii) notify TGTX that NOVIMMUNE does not desire to
file such patent application and provide TGTX with the opportunity
to file and prosecute such patent application and maintain any
patent issuing thereon in the Territory in place of
NOVIMMUNE. Any patent controlled by or taken over by
TGTX under this Section 9.3(a) shall henceforth be automatically
assigned by NOVIMMUNE in favor of TGTX.
(b)
Joint Patents. Except as
otherwise provided in this Section 9.3(b), the JSC shall entrust
one Party the right and authority, to prosecute and maintain the
Joint Patents on a worldwide basis at its sole discretion herein
referred to as an “Entrusted
Party” (subject to this Section
9.3(b)). The Entrusted Party shall provide the other
Party reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such
prosecution efforts regarding such Joint Patents. The
Entrusted Party shall provide the other Party with a copy of
material communications from any patent authority regarding such
Joint Patents, and shall provide the other Party with drafts of any
material filings or responses to be made to such patent authorities
a reasonable amount of time in advance of submitting such filings
or responses. If one Party determines in its sole
discretion to abandon or not maintain any Patent within the Joint
Patents anywhere in the world, then the one Party shall provide the
other Party with * ( * ) days’ prior written
notice of such determination (or such longer period of time
reasonably necessary to allow the other Party to assume such
responsibilities) and shall provide the other Party with the
opportunity to prosecute and maintain such Patent in place of the
one Party at such other Party’s * expense, and if
the other Party so requests, the one Party shall assign such Patent
to the other Party (if the other Party is NOVIMMUNE in which case
such Patent shall be included in the NOVIMMUNE Product Patents or
NOVIMMUNE Platform Patents, as appropriate, or if the other Party
is TGTX, in which case such Patent shall be included in the TGTX
patents). If the other Party desires the Entrusted Party
to file, in a particular jurisdiction, a patent application that
claims priority from a Patent within the Joint Patents, the other
Party shall provide written notice to the Entrusted Party
expressing its desire to file such patent application in such
jurisdiction. If the other Party provides such written
notice to the Entrusted Party, the Entrusted Party shall either (i)
express its agreement in writing to the other Party and the
Entrusted Party shall file and prosecute such patent application
and maintain any patent issuing thereon in such jurisdiction at its
expense, or (ii) notify the other Party that the Entrusted Party
does not desire to file such patent application and provide the
other Party with the opportunity to file and prosecute such patent
application and maintain any patent issuing thereon at it’s
sole expense in place of the Entrusted Party, in which case the
Entrusted Party shall assign such patent application to the other
Party (and in which case such Patent shall be included in the other
Party’s Patents).
(c)
Cooperation in
Prosecution. Each Party shall provide the other
Party all reasonable assistance and cooperation in the Patent
prosecution efforts of the other Party’s Patents and Joint
Patents including providing any necessary powers of attorney and
executing any other required documents or instruments for such
prosecution.
(d)
Costs of Prosecution. The
costs to prosecute and maintain the Patents related to the Product
shall be considered Development Expenses and shared according to
Section 3.4; provided, however, if either of the License Options
are exercised then the cost of prosecution of any NOVIMMUNE Product
Patent, shall be borne by *, and the cost of prosecution
of any TGTX Patent, shall be borne by *.
9.4
Patent Term Extensions in the
Territory. Each Party shall discuss and recommend
to the JSC which, if any, of the NOVIMMUNE Product Patents, TGTX
Patents, or Joint Patents the Parties should seek Patent Term
Extensions in the Territory, following which the JSC shall
recommend to either of the parties which of the NOVIMMUNE Product
Patents, TGTX Patents, or Joint Patents should be the subject of
such Patent Term Extension application; provided, however, that JSC
shall have the final decision-making authority with respect to
applying for any such Patent Term Extensions in the Territory. Each
party shall cooperate fully with the other in making such filings
or actions, for example and without limitation, making available
all required regulatory data and information and executing any
required authorizations to apply for such Patent Term
Extension. All activities and expenses thereof of the
Parties pursuant to this Section 9.4 for the Territory shall be
deemed Development Expenses, unless either of the License Options
have been exercised then such expenses shall be borne solely by
TGTX.
9.5
Infringement
of Patents by Third Parties.
(a)
Notification. Each Party
shall promptly notify the other Party in writing of any existing or
threatened infringement of the NOVIMMUNE Product Patents, Joint
Patents or TGTX Patents of which it becomes aware, and shall
provide evidence in such Party’s possession demonstrating
such infringement.
(b) Infringement
of Patents in the Territory.
(i)
If a Party becomes
aware that a Third Party infringes any NOVIMMUNE Product Patent,
TGTX Patent, or Joint Patent in the Territory by making, using,
importing, offering for sale or selling the Product or any similar
anti-CD47/anti-CD19 bispecific antibody covered by any of such
Patents (such activities, “Product Infringement”), then
such Party shall so notify the other Party as provided in Section
9.5(a), which such notice shall include all Information available
to the notifying Party regarding such alleged
infringement.
(ii)
In the Territory,
TGTX shall have the first right, but not the obligation, to bring
an appropriate suit or other action against any person or entity
engaged in such Product Infringement, subject to Section
9.5(b)(iii), below, the cost and expense of which will be included
in Commercial Expenses (except as otherwise expressly provided in
this Section 9.5(b)(ii)); provided, however, if either of the
License Options is exercised then the cost and expense will be
borne by TGTX. TGTX shall have a period of * ( * )
days (or shorter period, if required by the nature of the proceeding) after
notification by NOVIMMUNE or providing notification to NOVIMMUNE
pursuant to section 9.5(a), to elect to so enforce such
Patent. In the event TGTX does not so elect, it shall so
notify NOVIMMUNE in writing during such * ( * )
day time period (or the above-mentioned shorter period), and
NOVIMMUNE shall have the right, but not the obligation, to commence
a suit or take action to enforce the applicable Patent against such
Third Party perpetrating such Product Infringement at its sole cost
and expense (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Section
9.5(b)(ii). Each Party shall provide to the Party
enforcing any such rights under this Section 9.5(b)(ii) reasonable
assistance in such enforcement, at such enforcing Party’s
request, including joining such action as a party plaintiff if
required by applicable Law to pursue such action. The
enforcing Party shall keep the other Party regularly informed of
the status and progress of such enforcement efforts, and shall
reasonably consider the other Party’s comments on any such
efforts. Any recoveries obtained from a suit or an
action commenced by TGTX hereunder shall first be applied to the
recovery of expenses incurred by TGTX and NOVIMMUNE in bringing the
suit or action; and the remaining amounts, if any, shall be shared
by the Parties according to Section 8.2; provided, however, if
either License Option is exercised, then any recoveries obtained
from a suit or an action commenced by TGTX hereunder shall first be
applied to the recovery of expenses incurred by TGTX in bringing
the suit or action and the remaining amounts, if any, shall be
deemed additional Net Sales; provided, further, however, if
NOVIMMUNE proceeds with the enforcement after TGTX decides not to
move forward, then any amounts recovered shall belong solely to
NOVIMMUNE.
(iii)
The Party not
bringing an action with respect to Product Infringement in the
Territory under Section 9.5(b) shall be entitled to separate
representation in such matter by counsel of its own choice and at
its own expense, but such Party shall at all times cooperate fully
with the Party bringing such action. Additionally, the Party not
bringing an action under this Section 9.5(b) may have an
opportunity to participate in such action to the extent that the
Parties may mutually agree at the time the other Party elects to
bring an action hereunder.
(c)
Settlement. TGTX shall not
settle any claim, suit or action that it brings under this Section
9.5 involving NOVIMMUNE Product Patents (excluding Joint Patents)
in any manner that would negatively impact NOVIMMUNE Product
Patents anywhere in the world, or that would limit or restrict the
ability of either Party to manufacture, use, sell, offer for sale
or import the Product anywhere in the world, without the prior
written consent of NOVIMMUNE. NOVIMMUNE shall not settle
any claim, suit or action that it brings under this Section 9.5
involving TGTX Patents (excluding Joint Patents) in any manner that
would negatively impact the TGTX Patents or that would limit or
restrict the ability of either Party to manufacture, use, sell,
offer for sale or import the Product anywhere in the world, without
the prior written consent of TGTX. Neither Party shall
settle any claim, suit or action that it brings under this Section
9.5 involving Joint Patents in any manner that would negatively
impact the Joint Patents or that would limit or restrict the
ability of either Party to manufacture, use, sell, offer for sale
or import the Product anywhere in the world, without the prior
written consent of such other Party.
9.6
Infringement
of Third Party Rights in the Territory.
(a)
Notice. If any Product
manufactured, used or sold by either Party, its Affiliates,
licensees or sublicensees becomes the subject of a Third
Party’s claim or assertion of infringement of a Patent
granted by a jurisdiction within the Territory relating to the
manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale or importation of the
Product, the Party first having notice of the claim or assertion
shall promptly notify the JSC, and the Parties shall promptly meet
to consider the claim or assertion and the appropriate course of
action for an approval by the JSC.
(b)
Defense. The Parties, working
through the JSC, shall cooperate to defend any such claims under
the strategy, terms and conditions as may be authorized by the
JSC. Unless otherwise agreed, TGTX shall be the leading
Party for such defense. The Parties shall make decisions
with regard to such actions covered by this Section 9.6 jointly
through the JSC in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2.3,
provided that any unresolved disputes shall not be subject to
settlement by expedited arbitration and, in the case of any
unresolved dispute, each Party named as a defendant in such action
shall be entitled upon written notice to defend itself in such
matter independently by counsel of its own choice and at its own
expense; provided, that each Party shall inform the other Party of
the progress of such defense and, if reasonably requested by the
other Party, shall reasonably cooperate with the other
Party. For so long as the Parties continue to pursue
such matter jointly through the JSC, all costs and expenses of any
defense actions under this Section 9.6(b) shall be considered
Commercial Expenses and shared as in Section 8.2. In any
action pursued jointly by the Parties through the JSC, the
non-leading Party shall reasonably cooperate with the leading
Party, including if required to conduct such defense, furnishing a
power of attorney. The non-leading Party shall have the
right to confer, through the JSC, with the leading Party in any
such defense and the leading Party shall consider in good faith
such input from the non-leading Party.
(c)
Settlement. Neither Party
shall enter into any settlement of any claim described in this
Section 9.6 that affects the other Party’s rights or
interests without such other Party’s written consent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or
delayed.
(d)
Settlement Payment. Any
amounts that either Party becomes obligated to pay as a result of
any settlement of or decision rendered in any defense pursuant to
this Section 9.6 with respect to the manufacture, use, sale, offer
for sale or import of the Product in or for the Territory shall be
shared as provided in Section 8.2.
9.7
Patent Oppositions and Other
Proceedings. If either Party desires to bring an
opposition, action for declaratory judgment, nullity action,
interference, declaration for non-infringement, reexamination or
other attack upon the validity, title or enforceability of a Patent
owned or controlled by a Third Party that covers, in the Territory,
the Product, or the manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale or
importation of the Product (except insofar as such action is a
counterclaim to or defense of, or accompanies a defense of, a Third
Party’s claim or assertion of infringement under Section 9.6,
in which case the provisions of Section 9.6 shall govern), such
Party shall so notify the JSC and the Parties shall promptly confer
to determine whether to bring such action or the manner in which to
settle such action for the approval by the JSC. The
Parties working jointly through the JSC shall cooperate to assert
any such claims under the strategy, terms and conditions as may be
authorized by the JSC. Unless otherwise agreed, the JSC
shall designate * as the leading
Party for such claims. The Parties shall make decisions
jointly through the JSC in accordance with the provisions of
Sections 2.3. For so long as the Parties continue to
pursue such matter jointly through the JSC, all costs and expenses
of any actions or settlement efforts under this Section 9.7 shall
be shared pursuant to Section 8.2. In any action pursued
jointly by the Parties through the JSC, the non-leading Party shall
cooperate fully with the leading Party, including, if required, to
conduct such defense, furnishing a power of
attorney. The non-leading Party shall have the right to
confer with the leading Party, and the leading Party shall consider
in good faith input from the non-leading Party. Any
awards or amounts received in bringing any such action, if any,
shall be first allocated to reimburse the Parties’ respective
expenses in such action, and any remaining amounts shall be shared
pursuant to Section 8.2; provided, however, if either of the
License Options is exercised then the entire cost of the action
shall be borne by *, who shall have the final decision
making authority over such action, and any awards or amounts
received in bringing such action shall first be allocated to
reimburse * for their expenses in such action and any
remaining amounts shall be deemed additional Net
Sales.
9.8
Parties’ Patent
Rights. If a NOVIMMUNE Product Patent, Joint
Patent or TGTX Patent becomes the subject of any proceeding
commenced by a Third Party within the Territory in connection with
an opposition, reexamination request, action for declaratory
judgment, nullity action, interference or other attack upon the
validity, title or enforceability thereof (except insofar as such
action is a counterclaim to or defense of, or accompanies a defense
of, an action for infringement against a Third Party under Section
9.5, in which case the provisions of Section 9.5 shall govern),
then the Party owning or otherwise Controlling such Patent shall
promptly notify the other Party of such effect and discuss with the
other Party how to defend such proceedings. The Party
owning or otherwise Controlling such Patent shall, in close
communication and discussion with the other Party, control such
defense and shall solely bear the costs of such defense;
provided that if such
action relates to a Joint Patent, the Parties shall confer and
determine which Party shall control such action and bear the
associated costs. The controlling Party shall permit the
non-controlling Party to participate in the proceeding to the
extent permissible under applicable Law, and to be represented by
its own counsel in such proceeding, at the non-controlling
Party’s expense. Any awards or amounts received in
defending any such Third-Party action, if any, shall be first
allocated to reimburse the Controlling Party’s expenses
in such action, and any remaining amounts shall be shared pursuant
to Section 8.2; provided, however, if either of the License Options
have been exercised, then * shall bear the expense and
any remaining amounts shall first be used to reimburse *
’s expenses and any remainder shall be deemed additional Net
Sales.
9.9
Purple Book Listing, Compendial
Listing. NOVIMMUNE shall allow TGTX to file
appropriate information with the Regulatory Authority in the
Territory listing any NOVIMMUNE Product Patent in the Purple Book
or equivalent in the *, * and *, and each
other country of the Territory, that JV deems appropriate, if any,
as a Patent related to the Product and the Parties shall use
Diligent Efforts to obtain and maintain such
listing.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
ARTICLE
X. ARTICLE
10
SECTION
10.01 REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
10.1
Mutual Representations and
Warranties. Each Party hereby represents,
warrants, and covenants (as applicable) to the other Party as
follows:
a.
Corporate Existence and
Power. It is a company or corporation duly
organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of
the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated, and has full
corporate power and authority and the legal right to own and
operate its property and assets and to carry on its business as it
is now being conducted and as contemplated in this Agreement,
including, without limitation, the right to grant the licenses
granted by it hereunder.
b.
Authority and Binding
Agreement. As of the Effective Date, (i) it has
the corporate power and authority and the legal right to enter into
this Agreement and perform its obligations hereunder; (ii) it has
taken all necessary corporate action on its part required to
authorize the execution and delivery of the Agreement and the
performance of its obligations hereunder; and (iii) the Agreement
has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Party, and
constitutes a legal, valid, and binding obligation of such Party
that is enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms.
c.
No Conflict. It is not a
party to any agreement that would prevent it from granting the
rights granted to the other Party under this Agreement or
performing its obligations under this Agreement. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement shall not
violate, conflict with or constitute a default under any agreement
(including its corporate charter or other organizational documents)
to which it is a party or to which it may be bound, or to its best
knowledge, any applicable Laws or order of any court or other
tribunal.
d.
No Debarment. In the course
of the Development and Commercialization of the Product, each Party
has not used and shall not use, during the term of this Agreement,
any employee or consultant who has been debarred by any Regulatory
Authority, or is the subject of debarment proceedings by a
Regulatory Authority.
10.2
Additional Representations, Warranties and
Covenants of NOVIMMUNE. NOVIMMUNE represents,
warrants and covenants (as applicable) to TGTX as follows, as of
the Effective Date:
a.
Regulatory Materials and
Studies. To the best of NOVIMMUNE’s
knowledge, all Regulatory Materials Controlled by NOVIMMUNE in
existence as of the Effective Date and to which TGTX has rights of
use or reference hereunder (collectively, “NOVIMMUNE
Regulatory Materials”), including the Regulatory Materials
described in Section 4.1(a), have been prepared, maintained and
retained in accordance with applicable Laws. All
preclinical studies conducted with respect to the Product in
connection with the preparation of the NOVIMMUNE Regulatory
Materials, including such studies from which the data described in
Section 4.1(a) are derived, have been conducted substantially in
accordance with applicable Laws by persons with appropriate
education, knowledge and experience. NOVIMMUNE has not
been debarred and is not subject to debarment, in each case
pursuant to Section 306 of the FD&C Act or any similar law or
regulation in any jurisdiction outside the United
States.
b.
Sufficiency
of License Grants.
i.
Except as set forth
on Schedule 10.2(b)(i) hereto, to NOVIMMUNE’s best knowledge
at the Effective Date the NOVIMMUNE Product Patents and NOVIMMUNE
Platform Patents are not subject to any encumbrance, lien or claim
or ownership by any Third Party that is inconsistent with the
rights and (sub)licenses granted to TGTX
hereunder;
ii.
Except as set forth
on Schedule 10.2(b)(ii) hereto, NOVIMMUNE owns or possesses
adequate right, title and interest in any NOVIMMUNE Product Patents
and NOVIMMUNE Platform Patents to grant the licenses thereto to
TGTX as provided in Article 6;
iii.
No claim or
litigation has been brought or, to NOVIMMUNE’s best knowledge
at the Effective Date, is threatened to be brought, by any person
or entity alleging that (A) any of the NOVIMMUNE Product Patents or
NOVIMMUNE Platform Patents in the Territory is invalid or
unenforceable, or (B) practice of any of the NOVIMMUNE Product
Patents or NOVIMMUNE Platform Patents for making, using or selling
a Product in the Territory infringes or otherwise conflicts or
interferes with any intellectual property or proprietary right of
any Third Party;
iv.
To
NOVIMMUNE’s best knowledge at the Effective Date, no Third
Party has infringed or misappropriated any NOVIMMUNE Product
Patents or NOVIMMUNE Platform Patents by making, using, importing,
offering for sale or selling the Product and, as of the Effective
Date, there is no actual or threatened infringement or
misappropriation of the NOVIMMUNE Product Patents or NOVIMMUNE
Platform Patents by any Third Party by making, using, importing,
offering for sale or selling the Product;
v.
Except as set forth
on Schedule 10.2(b)(v), to the knowledge of NOVIMMUNE, neither (A)
TGTX’s exercise of its rights hereunder with respect to the
NOVIMMUNE Technology, nor (B) TGTX’s Development or
Commercialization of the Product in the Territory, shall infringe
any valid and enforceable Patent or other intellectual property
right or other proprietary right of any Third
Party;
vi.
This Agreement is
consistent with all Novimmune’s Third Party license
agreements in all respects and does not conflict with, violate,
breach or otherwise give rise to a default by NOVIMMUNE under, any
term of any of Novimumme’s Third Party license
agreements;
vii.
NOVIMMUNE owns or
possesses adequate right, title and interest in the NOVIMMUNE
Know-How to grant the license thereto to TGTX as provided in
Article 6;
c.
Supply of Finished Product by
NOVIMMUNE. The ready-to-be-labelled Product
supplied by NOVIMMUNE to TGTX pursuant to this Agreement
(“Novimmune Initial Drug Supply”) shall be
manufactured, handled and stored by NOVIMMUNE or its Third Party
contract manufacture(s) in compliance with applicable Laws and
regulations, including without limitation, GMP
requirements.
10.3
Additional
Representations of TGTX.
a.
TGTX represents and
warrants that it will comply with the U.K. Bribery Act, the United
States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and any and all other
Applicable Laws prohibiting corruption or bribery (collectively
referred to as the “Anti-Corruption Laws”);
and
b.
TGTX agrees,
represents and warrants that (i) it (and its Affiliates) shall
transport, store, distribute, sell and promote the Product in
compliance with all applicable Laws, and (ii) any calculated prices
or other data or information that is used by TGTX for reporting
purposes pursuant to the rules and regulations of any federal or
state government programs, shall be current, accurate and complete
and shall comply with applicable Laws.
10.4
Disclaimer. TGTX understands
that the Product is the subject of ongoing clinical research and
development and that NOVIMMUNE cannot assure the safety or
usefulness of the Product. In addition, NOVIMMUNE makes
no warranties except as set forth in this Agreement concerning the
NOVIMMUNE Technology.
10.5
No Other Representations or
Warranties. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY STATED IN THIS
AGREEMENT, NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WHATSOEVER, WHETHER
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE,
NON-INFRINGEMENT, OR NON-MISAPPROPRIATION OF THIRD PARTY
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, ARE MADE OR GIVEN BY OR ON BEHALF OF
A PARTY. ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, WHETHER
ARISING BY OPERATION OF LAW OR OTHERWISE, ARE HEREBY EXPRESSLY
EXCLUDED.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
ARTICLE
XI. ARTICLE
11
SECTION
11.01 INDEMNIFICATION
11.1
Indemnification by each
Party. Each Party hereby agrees to defend,
indemnify, and hold the other Party and its officers, directors,
employees, and agents harmless from and against any and all Third
Party claims, suits, proceedings, damages, expenses (including
court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), and
recoveries, including product liability claims (collectively,
“Claims”) to the extent that such Claims arise out of,
are based on, or result from (a) a breach by the indemnifying Party
of its representations, warranties, and obligations under the
Agreement; or (b) the willful misconduct or grossly negligent acts
of the indemnifying Party or its Affiliates, or the officers,
directors, employees, or agents of such indemnifying Party or its
Affiliates. The foregoing indemnity obligation shall not
apply to the extent that any Claim arises from, is based on, or
results from (i) a breach of any of the representations,
warranties, and obligations under the Agreement by the Party
seeking indemnity; or (ii) the willful misconduct or grossly
negligent acts of the Party seeking indemnity or its Affiliates, or
the officers, directors, employees, or agents of such
Party. The foregoing indemnity obligation shall not
apply if the applicable indemnitees fail to comply with the
indemnification procedures set forth in Section
11.2. Expenses relating to any other Claims resulting
directly or indirectly from the manufacture, use, handling,
storage, sale or other disposition of the Product in the U.S. shall
be shared equally by the Parties at the time such expenses are
required to be paid.
11.2
Indemnification
Procedures. The Party claiming indemnity under
this Article 11 (the “Indemnified Party”) shall give
written notice to the Party from whom indemnity is being sought
(the “Indemnifying Party”) promptly after learning of
such Claim. In the event of a claim relating to the
U.S., the Parties shall confer as to whether such claim would
result in indemnification under Section 11.1 and in any event how
to respond to the claim. The Indemnified Party shall
provide the Indemnifying Party with reasonable assistance, at the
Indemnifying Party’s expense, in connection with the defense
of the Claim for which indemnity is being sought. The
Indemnified Party may participate in and monitor such defense with
counsel of its own choosing at its sole expense; provided, however,
the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume and conduct
the defense of the Claim with counsel of its choice. The
Indemnifying Party shall not settle any claim without the prior
written consent of the Indemnified Party, such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld, unless the settlement involves only the
payment of money. So long as the Indemnifying Party is
actively defending the Claim in good faith, the Indemnified Party
shall not settle any such Claim without the prior written consent
of the Indemnifying Party. If the Indemnifying Party
does not assume and conduct the defense of the Claim as provided
above, (a) the Indemnified Party may defend against, and consent to
the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement with respect
to the claim in any manner the Indemnified Party may deem
reasonably appropriate (and the Indemnified Party need not consult
with, or obtain any consent from, the Indemnifying Party in
connection therewith), and (b) the Indemnifying Party shall remain
responsible to indemnify the Indemnified Party as provided in this
Article 11.
11.3
Limitation of
Liability. NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE TO THE
OTHER FOR ANY SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR
INDIRECT DAMAGES ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO ANY BREACH OF THIS
AGREEMENT, REGARDLESS OF ANY NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGES. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, NOTHING IN THIS
SECTION 11.3 IS INTENDED TO OR SHALL LIMIT OR RESTRICT THE DAMAGES
AVAILABLE FOR A PARTY’S BREACH OF THE CONFIDENTIALITY
OBLIGATIONS IN ARTICLE 12.
11.4
Insurance. Each Party shall procure and
maintain insurance adequate to cover its obligations hereunder and
which are consistent with normal business practices of prudent
companies similarly situated at all times during which any Product
is being clinically tested in human subjects or commercially
distributed or sold. During the First Step, TGTX shall
procure and maintain clinical trial insurance according to the laws
and regulations of each country in which the Phase I and Phase II
Clinical Trials are performed. It is understood that such insurance
shall not be construed to create a limit of either Party’s
liability with respect to its indemnification obligations under
this Article 11. Each Party shall provide the other with
written evidence of such insurance upon request. Each
Party shall provide the other with written notice at least
*
( * ) days prior to the cancellation, non-renewal or
material change in such insurance or self-insurance which
materially adversely affects the rights of the other Party
hereunder.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
ARTICLE
XII. ARTICLE
12
SECTION
12.01 CONFIDENTIALITY
12.1
Confidentiality. Except to
the extent expressly authorized by this Agreement or otherwise
agreed in writing by the Parties, each Party agrees that, for the
Term and until the later of (i) the * ( * ) anniversary
of the Effective Date, or (ii) * ( * ) years after the
expiration or termination of the Term, it shall keep confidential
and shall not publish or otherwise disclose and shall not use for
any purpose other than as provided for in this Agreement any
Confidential Information furnished to it by the other Party
pursuant to this Agreement except for that portion of such
information or materials that the receiving Party can demonstrate
by competent written proof:
(a)
was already known
to the receiving Party or its Affiliate, other than under an
obligation of confidentiality to the disclosing party ,at the time
of disclosure by the other Party as evidenced by written
documentation;
(b)
was generally
available to the public or otherwise part of the public domain at
the time of its disclosure to the receiving
Party;
(c)
became generally
available to the public or otherwise part of the public domain
after its disclosure and other than through any act or omission of
the receiving Party in breach of this
Agreement;
(d)
was disclosed to
the receiving Party or its Affiliate by a Third Party without
obligations of confidentiality with respect thereto;
or
(e)
was independently
discovered or developed by the receiving Party or its Affiliate
without the aid, application, or use of Confidential Information of
the other Party as evidenced by written documentation; provided,
however, that this exception shall not apply to information or
materials consisting of data and results generated or resulting
from Development activities with respect to the Product, which
information and materials shall be deemed Confidential Information
of the Party who has developed such information or materials
regardless of whether such information and materials were
independently discovered or developed by the receiving Party or its
Affiliate.
12.2
Authorized Disclosure. Each
Party may disclose Confidential Information belonging to the other
Party to the extent such disclosure is reasonably necessary in the
following situations:
(a)
filing or
prosecuting Patents as permitted in this
Agreement;
(b)
regulatory
submissions and other filings with Governmental Authorities,
including filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission;
(c)
prosecuting or
defending litigation or other proceedings or regulatory
actions;
(d)
complying with
applicable Laws;
(e)
disclosure to its
employees, agents, and consultants, and any Third
Parties (and potential licensees and) with which a Party
is Developing or Commercializing the Product) only on a
need-to-know basis and solely as necessary in connection with the
performance of this Agreement, provided that in each case the
recipient of such Confidential Information must agree to be bound
by similar obligations of confidentiality and non-use at least as
equivalent in scope as those set forth in this Article 12 prior to
any such disclosure; and
(f)
disclosure of the
material financial terms of this Agreement to any bona fide
potential investor, investment banker, acquiror, merger partner, or
other potential financial partner; provided that in connection with
such disclosure, the disclosing Party shall use all reasonable
efforts to inform each recipient of the confidential nature of such
Confidential Information and shall cause each recipient of such
Confidential Information to treat such Confidential Information as
confidential.
Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event a Party is required to make a disclosure of
the other Party’s Confidential Information pursuant to clause
(a) through (d) of this Section 12.2, it shall, except where
prohibited by applicable Law, give reasonable advance notice to the
other Party of such disclosure and use reasonable efforts to secure
confidential treatment of such information. In any
event, the Parties agree to take all reasonable action to avoid
disclosure of Confidential Information hereunder.
12.3
Publicity;
Terms of Agreement.
(a)
The Parties agree
that the material terms of this Agreement are included within the
Confidential Information of both Parties, subject to the special
authorized disclosure provisions set forth below in this Section
12.3. The Parties have agreed to make a joint public
announcement of the execution of this Agreement substantially in
the form of the press release attached as Exhibit A on or after the
Effective Date.
(b)
After release of
such press release, if either Party desires to make a public
announcement concerning the material terms of this Agreement, such
Party shall give reasonable prior advance notice of the proposed
text of such announcement to the other Party for its prior review
and approval (except as otherwise provided herein), such approval
not to be unreasonably withheld. A Party commenting on
such a proposed press release shall provide its comments, if any,
within * ( * )
Business Days after receiving the press release for
review. Neither Party shall be required to seek the
permission of the other Party to repeat any information regarding
the terms of this Agreement that has already been publicly
disclosed or previously agreed to by such Party, or by the other
Party, in accordance with this Section 12.3.
(c)
The Parties
acknowledge that TGTX will be obligated to file a copy of this
Agreement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”). TGTX shall be entitled to make such
a required filing, provided that it requests confidential treatment
of certain commercial terms and sensitive technical terms hereof to
the extent such confidential treatment is reasonably available to
TGTX. In the event of any such filing, TGTX shall
provide NOVIMMUNE with a copy of the Agreement marked to show
provisions for which TGTX intends to seek confidential treatment
and shall reasonably consider and incorporate NOVIMMUNE’S
comments thereon to the extent consistent with the legal
requirements governing redaction of information from material
agreements that must be publicly filed. NOVIMMUNE shall
promptly provide any such comments. NOVIMMUNE recognizes
that U.S. Laws and SEC policies and regulations to which TGTX is
and may become subject may require TGTX to publicly disclose
certain terms of this Agreement that NOVIMMUNE may prefer not be
disclosed, and that TGTX is, after completing the above mentioned
procedures, entitled hereunder to make such required disclosures to
the extent legally required.
12.4
Publications. Neither Party
may publish peer reviewed manuscripts, or give other forms of
public disclosure such as abstracts and presentations, of results
of studies carried out under this Agreement with respect to the
Territory, without the opportunity for prior review by the other
Party. Each Party shall provide the other Party the
opportunity to review and comment on any proposed manuscripts or
presentations which relate to any Product at least * ( * )
days prior to their intended submission for publication or
presentation. Each Party shall consider the comments of
the other Party and shall remove any and all of the other
Party’s Confidential Information at the request of such other
Party. A Party seeking publication shall also provide
the other Party a copy of the manuscript at the time of the
submission. Neither Party shall have the right to
publish or present the other Party’s Confidential Information
without the other Party’s prior written consent, except as
expressly permitted in this Agreement.
12.5
Injunction. Each
Party shall be entitled, in addition to any other right or remedy
it may have, at Law or in equity, to seek an injunction in any
court of competent jurisdiction, enjoining or restraining the other
Party or its Affiliates from any violation or threatened violation
of this Article 12.
*
Confidential material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
*
Confidential material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
*
Confidential material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
ARTICLE
XIII. ARTICLE
13
SECTION
13.01 TERM
AND TERMINATION
13.1
Term. This Agreement shall
become effective on the Effective Date and, unless earlier
terminated pursuant to this Article 13, shall remain in effect in
the Territory until the earlier to occur of:
(i) the exercise of
the TGTX License Option and the effective date of the License
Agreement between the Parties with respect thereto;
(ii) the exercise
of the NOVIMMUNE License Option and the effective date of the
License Agreement between the Parties with respect thereto;
and
(iii) the later to
occur of (A) the expiration of the last applicable patent of the
Joint Patents, the NOVIMMUNE Product Patents or NOVIMMUNE Platform
Patents, or (B) the expiry of any other exclusivity right with
respect to the Product in a country, including patent term
extensions, marketing exclusivity or any other non-patent
exclusivity.
(a)
Early Withdrawal by TGTX without any cause. TGTX shall have no right to
terminate this Agreement until the enrollment of the
Minimum Phase 1 Patients in the Phase I Dose Escalation study (see
Exhibit D). Thereafter, TGTX shall have the right to terminate this
Agreement, in its entirety, upon written notice to NOVIMMUNE by at
least * written ( * ) notice prior
to the effective date of termination. If TGTX terminates
this Agreement pursuant to this Section 13.2(a),
then:
(i)
TGTX shall not,
during the applicable notice period, take any action that could
adversely affect or impair the further Development and
Commercialization of the Product.
(ii)
The JSC shall
coordinate the wind-down of TGTX’s efforts under this
Agreement.
(iii)
TGTX shall not be
responsible for any payments that become due to NOVIMMUNE pursuant
to this Agreement that are incurred or accrued during the
applicable notice period, other than those that relate to
reimbursement of Development and Commercial Expenses based on the
P/L Sharing Percentage in effect at the time of termination,
subject to determination by the JSC.
(iv)
If TGTX terminates
prior to enrollment of the Minimum Phase 1 Patients then TGTX shall
pay NOVIMMUNE an amount equal to * % of the Milestone
Payment.
(v)
TGTX shall be
responsible for any cancellation fees payable to *, incurred on
termination of this Agreement.
(b)
Withdrawal by TGTX with
Cause. Notwithstanding Section 13.2(a), TGTX
shall have the right to terminate this Agreement, in its entirety,
for Cause upon written notice to NOVIMMUNE by at least
*
( * ) days’ written notice prior to the effective
date of termination. If TGTX terminates this Agreement
pursuant to this Section 13.2(b), then:
(i)
TGTX shall not,
during the applicable notice period, take any action that could
adversely affect or impair the further Development and
Commercialization of the Product.
(ii)
The JSC shall
coordinate the wind-down of TGTX’s efforts under this
Agreement.
(iii)
TGTX shall not be
responsible for any payments that become due to NOVIMMUNE pursuant
to this Agreement that were incurred or accrued during the
applicable notice period, other than those that relate to
reimbursement of Development and Commercial Expenses based on the
P/L Sharing Percentage in effect at the time of termination,
subject to determination by the JSC.
(iv)
TGTX shall be
responsible for any cancellation fees payable to *, incurred on
termination of this Agreement.
(c)
Termination
for Breach.
(i)
NOVIMMUNE shall
have the right to terminate this Agreement upon written notice to
TGTX if TGTX, after receiving written notice identifying such
material breach by TGTX, fails to cure such material breach
within * ( * ) days from the date of such
notice; provided, that if
such breach cannot be remedied within such * -day period
(including a breach caused by a Financial Force Majeure) and TGTX
has provided NOVIMMUNE with a written plan, reasonably acceptable
to NOVIMMUNE, setting forth the activities to be performed by TGTX
to remedy such breach, then NOVIMMUNE may not terminate this
Agreement during such time as TGTX is diligently pursuing the
performance of the activities described in the plan; and provided,
further, that if such material breach relates solely to a
particular country in the Territory, then NOVIMMUNE may terminate
this Agreement only with respect to the applicable country but may
not terminate this Agreement with respect to any other
countries. Additionally, all the timeframes for curing a
breach shall be stayed pending resolution of any disputes related
to such purported breach.
(ii)
TGTX shall have the
right to terminate this Agreement upon written notice to NOVIMMUNE
if NOVIMMUNE, after receiving written notice identifying a material
breach by NOVIMMUNE of its obligations under this Agreement, fails
to cure such material breach within * ( * )
days from the date of such notice; provided, that if such breach
cannot be remedied within such 90-day period (including a breach
caused by a Financial Force Majeure) and NOVIMMUNE has provided
TGTX with a written plan, reasonably acceptable to TGTX, setting
forth the activities to be performed by NOVIMMUNE to remedy such
breach, then TGTX may not terminate this Agreement during such time
as NOVIMMUNE is diligently pursuing the performance of the
activities described in the plan; and provided, further, that if
such material breach relates solely to a particular country in the
Territory, then TGTX may terminate this Agreement only with respect
to the applicable country but may not terminate this Agreement with
respect to any other countries. Additionally, all the timeframes
for curing a breach shall be stayed pending resolution of any
disputes related to such purported breach.
(iii)
For clarity, if a
Party elects not to exercise its rights to terminate this Agreement
pursuant to this Section 13.2(c) for the other Party’s
uncured material breach or pursuant to Section 13.5, but instead
elects to allow this Agreement to continue in effect, then the
breaching Party shall continue to be liable to the other Party for
any breach of representations, warranties, obligations or
agreements made in this Agreement by such breaching Party, and the
non-breaching Party shall be entitled to pursue legal and equitable
remedies arising from such breach that are available to
it.
(d)
Termination for
Insolvency. In the event that either Party makes
an assignment for the benefit of creditors, appoints or suffers
appointment of a receiver or trustee over all or substantially all
of its property, files a petition under any bankruptcy or
insolvency act or has any such petition filed against it which is
not discharged within * ( * )
days of the filing thereof, then the other Party may terminate this
Agreement effective immediately upon written notice to such
Party.
13.3
NOVIMMUNE Termination for TGTX Failure to File
IND/CTA: Notwithstanding Section 13.2(b) above if the
IND/CTA Filing Conditions are met and TGTX fails to file an IND or
CTA in a Major Market on or before the applicable IND/CTA Filing
Deadline (other than for reasons beyond the reasonable control of
TGTX, such as the requirements of the applicable Regulatory
Authority), NOVIMMUNE may terminate this Agreement on *
( * ) days’ written notice to TGTX unless TGTX
makes such filing, or is determined by the JSC to be actively in
the process of making such filing before the end of *
( * ) days’ written notice to
TGTX. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if TGTX decides to
conduct the first Phase 1 study outside of the United States or in
a Major Market, then this condition shall be satisfied by the
enrollment of the first patient in such study.
13.4
Termination for Diligence
Failure: Notwithstanding Section 13.2(b) above,
if a party does not correct a failure to use Diligent Efforts
within the applicable period specified in, or determined in
accordance with this Agreement (a “Diligence Failure”), the non-breaching party shall
have the right to terminate this Agreement on *
( * ) days’ written notice to the breaching party
unless the breaching party cures such Diligence Failure before the
end of such * ( * ) day period, or is
actively in the process of curing such Diligence Failure before the
end of such * ( * ) day
period.
13.5
Effect of Termination of the
Agreement. Upon termination by NOVIMMUNE of the
Agreement under Section 13.2(c), Section 13.3, Section 13.4 or
Section 13.5, or upon termination by TGTX under Section 13.2(a) and
13.2(b), the following shall apply (in addition to any other rights
and obligations under Section 13.7 or 13.8 or otherwise under this
Agreement with respect to such termination) with respect to the
affected territory or territories:
a.
Intellectual
Property. NOVIMMUNE shall have the right,
exercisable upon written notice by NOVIMMUNE to TGTX given
within *1 ( * ) days after the
effective date of such termination, to obtain, and effective upon
such notice, TGTX shall, and it hereby does, grant to NOVIMMUNE, a
perpetual, non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing license, with
the right to sublicense, under TGTX Intellectual Property Rights
(which, for purposes of this Section 13.5(a) shall not include the
Joint Patents or the Joint Know-How, but see below) solely to
develop, make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale, have sold and
import the Products in the Field of Use, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth below in subparagraph (c). TGTX
shall provide to NOVIMMUNE when enforcing any such rights under
this Section 13.5(a) reasonable assistance in such enforcement, at
NOVIMMUNE’S request and cost, including joining such action
as a party plaintiff if required by applicable Law to pursue such
action. In consideration for such non-exclusive license,
NOVIMMUNE shall pay to TGTX a royalty that is * % of the
royalty amounts set forth in Exhibit F. The royalty will be
paid out of NOVIMMUNE’S gross profits following the first
commercial sale of the Product, and which gross profits will be
based on all amounts paid to NOVIMMUNE from its sublicensing or
from sales directly or indirectly in the particular country or
Territory. The term of such royalty will expire on the
expiration of the last to expire issued Valid Claim within the TGTX
Patents or Joint Patents covering the Product in the particular
country or Territory.
TGTX shall, and it
hereby does, upon such Termination, grant to NOVIMMUNE, (i) a
perpetual, exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license, with the
right to sublicense, under the Joint Patents; and (ii) a perpetual,
non-exclusive, royalty-free license to the Joint Know-How, in each
case solely to develop, make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale,
have sold and import the Products in the Field of
Use. TGTX shall provide to NOVIMMUNE when enforcing any
such rights under this Section 13.6(a) reasonable assistance in
such enforcement, at NOVIMMUNE’S request and cost, including
joining such action as a party plaintiff if required by applicable
Law to pursue such action.
b.
Regulatory Materials. TGTX
shall transfer and assign to NOVIMMUNE all Regulatory Materials and
Regulatory Approvals for Product for the terminated country(ies) of
the Territory, and shall grant NOVIMMUNE a right of reference to
all Regulatory Materials filed by TGTX in the Territory solely for
the purpose of NOVIMMUNE obtaining Regulatory Approval for the
Product in such terminated country(ies). For avoidance
of doubt, NOVIMMUNE shall have right to transfer and assign the
rights to any of its licensing partners for the terminated
country(ies) of the Territory.
c.
Transition Assistance. TGTX
shall, for a reasonable period of time, provide such assistance, at
no cost to NOVIMMUNE, to transfer or transition to NOVIMMUNE all
other technology or know-how, including Information generated from
the Clinical Trials or other Development activities, or
then-existing commercial arrangements, that is, or are, reasonably
necessary or useful for NOVIMMUNE to commence or continue
Developing, conducting Finished Manufacturing of or Commercializing
the Product in or for the terminated country(ies) of the Territory,
to the extent TGTX is then performing or having performed such
activities. TGTX shall take such other commercially
reasonable actions and shall execute such other instruments,
assignments and documents as may be necessary to effect the
transition of the Development and Commercialization of the Product
to NOVIMMUNE, including without limitation assignments of any
contracts, including subcontracting agreements, related to the
Development and Commercialization of the Product, unless such
assignment is prohibited by a contract and the applicable consent
cannot be reasonably procured at reasonable cost. TGTX will
use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consent of any
third-party to any contract or agreement related to the Development
or Commercialization of the Product, which consent is required for
the assignment of any such contract or agreement from TGTX to
NOVIMMUNE, provided, however, that any cash payment required by
TGTX in order to procure any such consent shall be deemed not
commercially reasonable. Prior to receipt of such consent,
TGTX shall make available to NOVIMMUNE all rights and other
benefits of such contracts, on a subcontract or sublease basis or
in some other appropriate manner to the fullest extent reasonably
practicable, and NOVIMMUNE shall be considered an independent
subcontractor or sublessee of TGTX, with respect to all matters
concerning such contracts.
d.
Remaining
Inventories. NOVIMMUNE shall have the right to
purchase from TGTX all of the inventory of ready-to-be-labelled and
Finished Product held by TGTX for such terminated country(ies) as
of the effective date of termination of this Agreement at a price
equal to TGTX’s cost to acquire or manufacture such inventory
for such terminated country(ies). NOVIMMUNE shall notify
TGTX within 2 ( * )
days after the date of termination of the Agreement whether
NOVIMMUNE elects to exercise such right. If NOVIMMUNE
does not exercise such right, then TGTX shall have the right to
sell in such terminated country(ies) of the Territory any such
remaining inventory over a period of no greater than *
( * ) months after the effective date of termination of
this Agreement provided TGTX makes appropriate payment
to NOVIMMUNE under similar terms of the prevailing
P/L arrangements.
e.
Termination of Licenses. For
clarity, upon any termination of this Agreement under Section 13.2,
the licenses granted to TGTX under this Agreement for such
terminated country(ies) shall terminate.
f.
Clinical Trials. In the event
that any clinical trial of the Product being conducted by or on
behalf of TGTX is on-going as of the effective date of any
termination of this Agreement, then upon written request of
NOVIMMUNE, TGTX shall cooperate to transfer responsibility for such
clinical trial to NOVIMMUNE or its designee as expeditiously as
possible in an orderly manner and in compliance with Law and common
standards of industry practice, and cooperate to facilitate the
transfer to NOVIMMUNE of, as applicable, regulatory filings, CRO
contracts, site agreements and the like as expeditiously as
possible, provided that the costs of conducting such clinical trial
up to the effective date of termination of this Agreement shall be
considered Development Costs. In the event that
NOVIMMUNE does not request to transfer responsibility for the
conduct of such on-going clinical trial, then TGTX shall wind down
such on-going clinical trial as expeditiously as possible,
consistent with TGTX’s ethical and regulatory obligations and
in compliance with Law and standards of industry practice, provided
that all costs of TGTX in winding-down such clinical trial shall be
considered Development Costs; provided, however, if the Agreement
was terminated by NOVIMMUNE pursuant to Section 13.2(c)(i), Section
13.4, or Section 13.5, or upon termination by TGTX under Section
13.2(a), TGTX shall be responsible for such
costs. However, if the Agreement was terminated by TGTX
pursuant to Section 13.2(c)(ii) or Section 13.5, NOVIMMUNE shall be
responsible for such costs.
13.6
Other Remedies. Other than as
explicitly stated otherwise in this Article 13, termination or
expiration of this Agreement for any reason shall not release any
Party from any liability or obligation that already has accrued
prior to such expiration or termination, nor affect the survival of
any provision hereof to the extent it is expressly stated to
survive such termination. Termination or expiration of
this Agreement for any reason shall not constitute a waiver or
release of, or otherwise be deemed to prejudice or adversely
affect, any rights, remedies or claims, whether for damages or
otherwise, that a Party may have hereunder or that may arise out of
or in connection with such termination or
expiration.
13.7
Rights in Bankruptcy. All
rights and licenses granted under or pursuant to this Agreement by
NOVIMMUNE are, and shall otherwise be deemed to be, for purposes of
Section 365(n) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, licenses of right to
“intellectual property” as defined under Section 101 of
the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The Parties agree that TGTX,
as licensee of such rights under this Agreement, shall retain and
may fully exercise all of its rights and elections under the U.S.
Bankruptcy Code and any foreign equivalent thereto in any country
having jurisdiction over a Party or its assets. The
Parties further agree that, in the event of the commencement of a
bankruptcy proceeding by or against NOVIMMUNE, TGTX shall be
entitled to a complete duplicate of (or complete access to, as
appropriate) any such intellectual property and all embodiments of
such intellectual property, which, if not already in TGTX’s
possession, shall be promptly delivered to it (a) upon any such
commencement of a bankruptcy proceeding upon TGTX’s written
request therefor, unless NOVIMMUNE elects to continue to perform
all of its obligations under this Agreement or (b) if not delivered
under clause (a), following the rejection of this Agreement by or
on behalf of NOVIMMUNE upon written request therefor by
TGTX.
13.8
Survival. The following
provisions shall survive any expiration or termination of this
Agreement for the period of time specified therein (or, if no such
period is specified, indefinitely): Articles 1, 10, 11, 12, 14, and
15, and Sections 4.7, 9.1, 9.8 (to the extent that TGTX uses a
Product Trademark after such expiration or termination),
13.4, 13.3,
13.6, 13.7, and 13.8.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
* Confidential material redacted and filed separately with
the Commission.
1 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
2 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
ARTICLE
XIV. ARTICLE
14
SECTION
14.01 DISPUTE
RESOLUTION
14.1 English Language; Governing Law. This
Agreement was prepared in the English language, which language
shall govern the interpretation of, and any dispute regarding, the
terms of this Agreement. This Agreement and all disputes
arising out of or related to this Agreement or any breach hereof
shall be governed by and construed under the Laws of the State of
New York without giving effect to any choice of law principles that
would require the application of the Laws of a different
state.
14.2 Disputes.
(a)
The Parties
recognize that disputes as to certain matters may from time to time
arise during the Term which relate to either Party’s rights
or obligations hereunder. It is the objective of the
Parties to establish procedures to facilitate the resolution of
disputes arising under this Agreement in an expedient manner by
mutual cooperation and without resort to litigation. To
accomplish this objective, the Parties agree to follow the
procedures set forth in this Section 14.2 to resolve any
controversy or claim arising out of, relating to or in connection
with any provision of this Agreement, if and when a dispute arises
under this Agreement. With respect to all disputes
arising between the Parties (other than those matters delegated to
the JSC, which shall be governed in accordance with Section
2.3(c)), including, without limitation, any alleged failure to
perform, or breach, of this Agreement, or any issue relating to the
interpretation or application of this Agreement, if the Parties are
unable to resolve such dispute within sixty (60) days after such
dispute is first identified by either Party in writing to the
other, the Parties shall refer such dispute to the senior executive
officers for each Party for attempted resolution by good faith
negotiations within 3 ( * )
days after such notice is received. If the senior
executive officers designated by the Parties are not able to
resolve such dispute within such * ( * ) day
period, either Party may submit such dispute in accordance with
Section 14.2(b).
(b)
Arbitration. Any dispute
arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including the breach,
termination or validity thereof, which has not been resolved by the
executives of the Parties as provided herein will be finally
resolved by arbitration in accordance with the CPR Rules for
Non-Administered Arbitration then currently in effect, by three
arbitrators of whom each party will appoint one in accordance with
the ‘screened’ appointment procedure provided in Rule
5.4, provided, however, that if one party fails to participate in
either the negotiation or mediation as agreed herein, the other
party can commence arbitration prior to the expiration of the time
periods set forth above. The arbitration will be governed by the
Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§1 et seq., and
judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be
entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof. The place of
arbitration will be New York, NY. The award may be made
a judgment by any court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to the
New York Convention, 9 U.S.C. § 201 et seq., and for this
purpose the Party against whom the award is made will agree to the
personal jurisdiction of the court in which recognition is sought
and will not raise any argument of forum non
conveniens.
(c)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Article 14, either Party may seek
injunctive relief in any court in any jurisdiction where
appropriate.
3 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
ARTICLE
XV. ARTICLE
15
SECTION
15.01 MISCELLANEOUS
15.1
Entire Agreement;
Amendment. This Agreement, including the Exhibits
hereto, sets forth the complete, final and exclusive agreement and
all the covenants, promises, agreements, warranties,
representations, conditions and understandings between the Parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes, as
of the Effective Date, all prior agreements and understandings
between the Parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof. There are no covenants, promises,
agreements, warranties, representations, conditions or
understandings, either oral or written, between the Parties other
than as are set forth herein and therein. No subsequent
alteration, amendment, change or addition to this Agreement shall
be binding upon the Parties unless reduced to writing and signed by
an authorized officer of each Party.
15.2
Force Majeure. Both Parties
shall be excused from the performance of their obligations under
this Agreement to the extent that such performance is prevented by
force majeure and the nonperforming Party promptly provides notice
of the prevention to the other Party. Such excuse shall
be continued so long as the condition constituting force majeure
continues and the nonperforming Party takes reasonable efforts to
remove the condition. For purposes of this Agreement,
force majeure shall include conditions beyond the control of the
Parties, including without limitation, an act of God, war, civil
commotion, terrorist act, labor strike or lock-out, epidemic,
failure or default of public utilities or common carriers,
destruction of production facilities or materials by fire,
earthquake, storm or like catastrophe, and failure of plant or
machinery (provided that such failure could not have been prevented
by the exercise of skill, diligence, and prudence that would be
reasonably and ordinarily expected from a skilled and experienced
person engaged in the same type of undertaking under the same or
similar circumstances). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a
Party shall not be excused from making payments owed hereunder
because of a force majeure affecting such Party, except in the case
of a Financial Force Majeure. Nevertheless, any failure to make a
payment as a result of a Financial Force Majeure will trigger a
reduction in a Party’s P/L Share Percentage in accordance
with Sections 3.4 and 8.2 hereof.
15.3
Notices. Any notice required
or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing,
shall specifically refer to this Agreement, and shall be addressed
to the appropriate Party at the address specified below or such
other address as may be specified by such Party in writing in
accordance with this Section 15.3, and shall be deemed to have been
given for all purposes (a) when received, if hand-delivered sent by
a reputable overnight delivery service, or by by e-mail, or (b)
4
( * ) days after mailing, if mailed by first class
certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt
requested.
If to
NOVIMMUNE:
|
|
NOVIMMUNE,
S.A.
14 ch. des
Aulx,
1228
Plan-Les-Ouates,
Geneva,Switzerland
Attn: Eduard E.
Holdener
-Email:
Legal@novimmune.com
|
|
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If to
TGTX:
|
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TG Therapeutics
Inc.
2 Gansevoort Street
| 9th
Floor
New York, New York
10014
Attn: Michael S.
Weiss
|
15.4
No Strict Construction;
Headings. This Agreement has been prepared
jointly and shall not be strictly construed against either
Party. Ambiguities, if any, in this Agreement shall not
be construed against any Party, irrespective of which Party may be
deemed to have authored the ambiguous provision. The
headings of each Article and Section in this Agreement have been
inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to
limit or expand on the meaning of the language contained in the
particular Article or Section.
15.5
Assignment. Neither Party may
assign or transfer this Agreement or any rights or obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of the other, except
that a Party may make such an assignment without the other
Party’s consent to Affiliates or to a successor to
substantially all of the business of such Party, whether in a
merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or other
transaction. Any permitted assignment shall be binding
on the successors of the assigning Party. Any assignment
or attempted assignment by either Party in violation of the terms
of this Section 15.5 shall be null, void and of no legal
effect.
15.6
Performance by Affiliates. Each Party
may discharge any obligations and exercise any right hereunder
through any of its Affiliates. Each Party hereby
guarantees the performance by its Affiliates of such Party’s
obligations under this Agreement, and shall cause its Affiliates to
comply with the provisions of this Agreement in connection with
such performance. Any breach by a Party’s
Affiliate of any of such Party’s obligations under this
Agreement shall be deemed a breach by such Party, and the other
Party may proceed directly against such Party without any
obligation to first proceed against such Party’s
Affiliate.
15.7
Further Actions. Each Party
agrees to execute, acknowledge and deliver such further
instruments, and to do all such other acts, as may be necessary or
appropriate in order to carry out the purposes and intent of this
Agreement.
15.8
Severability. If any one or
more of the provisions of this Agreement is held to be invalid or
unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction from which no
appeal can be or is taken, the provision shall be considered
severed from this Agreement and shall not serve to invalidate any
remaining provisions hereof. The Parties shall make a
good faith effort to replace any invalid or unenforceable provision
with a valid and enforceable one such that the objectives
contemplated by the Parties when entering this Agreement may be
realized.
15.9
No Waiver. Any delay in
enforcing a Party’s rights under this Agreement or any waiver
as to a particular default or other matter shall not constitute a
waiver of such Party’s rights to the future enforcement of
its rights under this Agreement, except with respect to an express
written and signed waiver relating to a particular matter for a
particular period of time.
15.10
Independent Contractors. Each
Party shall act solely as an independent contractor, and nothing in
this Agreement shall be construed to give either Party the power or
authority to act for, bind, or commit the other Party in any
way. Nothing herein shall be construed to create the
relationship of partners, principal and agent, or joint-venture
partners between the Parties.
15.11
Counterparts. This Agreement
may be executed in one (1) or more counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement
shall be binding upon the delivery by each Party of an executed
signature page to the other Party by PDF copy sent by
email. If signature pages are so delivered each Party
shall also immediately deliver an executed original counterpart of
this Agreement to the other Party by courier delivery
service.
15.12
Construction. Except where
the context otherwise requires, wherever used, the singular shall
include the plural, the plural the singular, the use of any gender
shall be applicable to all genders, and the word “or”
is used in the inclusive sense (and/or). The captions of
this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and in no way
define, describe, extend or limit the scope or intent of this
Agreement or the intent of any provision contained in this
Agreement. The term “including” as used
herein means including, without limiting the generality of any
description preceding such term. References to
“Article,” “Section” or
“Exhibit” are references to the numbered sections of
this Agreement and the exhibits attached to this Agreement, unless
expressly stated otherwise.
{Signature page
follows.}
4 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the Parties have executed this Agreement in duplicate originals by
their duly authorized officers as of the Effective
Date.
TG THERAPEUTICS,
INC.
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NOVIMMUNE
SA
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By:
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By:
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Name: Michael S.
Weiss
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Name: Eduard E.
Holdener
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Title: Chairman and
CEO
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Title: Chairman
and CEO
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
Exhibits
Exhibit
A: Press release of Joint Venture announcement
Novimmune
SA
14 Chemin des
Aulx
1228
Plan-Les-Ouates
Geneva,
Switzerland
+41 22 839 71
41 Tel
+41 22 839 71
43 Fax
www.novimmune.com
|
[Missing Graphic Reference]
MEDIA
INFORMATION
Novimmune
SA and TG Therapeutics collaborate on novel treatment for
hematological malignancies
Geneva, Switzerland – XXXXX, 2018
– Novimmune SA, a privately held Swiss biopharmaceutical
company and TG Therapeutics (New York, USA), announced today that
they have entered into an exclusive global agreement to collaborate
on the development and commercialization of Novimmune’s
Anti-CD47/ Anti-CD19 bispecific antibody, NI-1701. The companies
will jointly develop the product on a global basis to treat B cell
malignancies.
NI-1701, a
fully-human IgG1 bispecific antibody, is based on Novimmune’s
κλ body format and is designed to kill B cell tumors by
engaging phagocytes. The novel compound is the first anti-CD47
bispecific antibody world wide that will go into clinical
trials.
TG
Therapeutics will make up-front licensing payments and
milestone payments based on early clinical development. They will
cover the costs of clinical development of the products through
phase II. Both TG Therapeutics and Novimmune will then each
have various options to continue the development of the
molecule.
“We are
delighted to see our first bispecific antibody move forward into
the clinic with an experienced partner in the field of
hematological malignancies, and to provide proof of principle for
our completely novel approach”, said Chairman and Chief
Executive Eduard Holdener. We are excited about the potential
benefit that this new approach could bring to B cell lymphoma
patients.
About
Novimmune
Novimmune SA is a
privately held, Swiss biopharmaceutical company focused on the
discovery and development of antibody-based drugs for the targeted
treatment of inflammatory diseases, immune-related disorders, and
cancer. The company is headquartered in Geneva and runs a Clinical
and Commercial Development Center in Basel. The company currently
employs 130 people. More information is available on the company
website at www.novimmune.com.
Contact:
Eduard Holdener
+41 22 839 71 41
eholdener@novimmune.com
About TG Therapeutics
TG Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical
company focused on the acquisition, development and
commercialization of novel treatments for B-cell malignancies and
autoimmune diseases. Currently, the company is developing two
therapies targeting hematological malignancies and autoimmune
diseases. Ublituximab (TG-1101) is a novel,
glycoengineered monoclonal antibody that targets a specific
and unique epitope on the CD20 antigen found on mature
B-lymphocytes. TG Therapeutics is also developing umbralisib
(TGR-1202), an orally available PI3K delta inhibitor for various
hematologic malignancies (www.tgtxinc.com)
Contact:
xxxxxxxxxxx
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
Exhibit
B: Novimmune Patents
B(1) Product
Patents
CD47
mAbs & CD47 x CD19 bispecifics (NI-1701):
(*5 Ref. No. * // NovImmune Ref. No. *) is
directed to fully human antibodies that recognize CD47. This family
discloses the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for a variety
of fully human anti-CD47 monoclonal antibodies and bispecifics that
bind CD47 and a second antigen developed by
NovImmune. Specific CD19 sequences are disclosed in this
application. The earliest cases in this family
include:
·
U.S. Nonprovisional
Application No. * , filed * , * and claiming priority to a
provisional application filed * , *;
·
National Stage
Applications based on PCT Application No. * , filed * , * and
claiming priority to a provisional application filed * ,
*
o
This family is
filed in * , * , * , * , *
B(2) Platform
Patents
(* Ref. No. * // NovImmune Ref. No. * )
* . The
cases in this family include:
·
U.S. Nonprovisional
Application No. * , filed * , * and claiming priority to a
provisional application filed * , * ; and
·
National Stage
Applications based on PCT Application No. * , filed * , * and
claiming priority to a provisional application filed * ,
*
o
Pending in the * ;
Granted in * , * , * , * , * , * , and *
(* Ref.
No. * // *
Ref. No. * ) * . The cases in this
family include:
·
U.S. Nonprovisional
Application No. * filed * , * and a provisional application filed *
, * ; and
·
National Stage
Applications based on National Stage Applications based on PCT
Application No. * , filed * , * and a provisional
application filed * , *
o
Pending in * , * ,
* , * , * (all cases in substantive
examination)
(* Ref.
No. * // *
Ref. No. * ) * . This family includes:
·
U.S. Application
No. * and * , claiming priority to a provisional filed * ,
*
5 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
Exhibit C:6 NI-1701 Sequence7
*
6 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
7 Includes
Confidential Material redacted in the publicly-filed copy of the
Agreement.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
Exhibit
D: Phase 1 clinical trial Plan
*
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
Exhibit
E: Licensing Agreement
LICENSING
AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
TG
THERAPEUTICS, INC.
AND
NOVIMMUNE
S A
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
This Licensing
Agreement is made and entered into on [ ] (the
“Effective
Date”) by and between
Novimmune S.A., a Swiss
corporation having its principal place of business at 14 ch. des
Aulx, 1228 Plan-Les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland
(“NOVIMMUNE”).
On the one
hand,
And
TG Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, with a place of business at 2 Gansevoort Street | 9th Floor, New York,
NY (“TGTX”).
On the other
hand;
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Novimmune is a pharmaceutical
company focused on the development of novel CD47/CD19 bi-specific
antibodies for the treatment of various B-cell proliferative
diseases;
WHEREAS, TGTX is a biopharmaceutical
company engaged in the development, manufacturing and marketing of
pharmaceutical products directed toward the treatment of B-cell
proliferative diseases;
WHEREAS, Novimmune and TGTX are parties
to that certain Joint Venture and License Option Agreement, dated
[ ] May, 2018 (the “JV
Agreement”).
WHEREAS, The development of the Product
has, to date, progressed satisfactorily to each Party to the JV
Agreement, and each Party has upheld the responsibilities delegated
to such Party dictated in the JV Agreement;
WHEREAS, The JV Agreement affords
[TGTX/Novimmune] the option to convert the JV into an exclusive
license to the Product under the terms of Article 6.2 and
Exhibit F of such
JV Agreement;
WHEREAS, [TGTX/Novimmune] pursuant to
the JV Agreement wishes to exercise its option to in license to
TGTX all the proprietary rights in and to the compound known as
“NI-1701”and Novimmune agrees to out license
“NI-1701” to TGTX in order to develop, manufacture and
commercialize Products (as hereinafter defined); and
WHEREAS, both TGTX and Novimmune,
pursuant to the JV
Agreement wish to enter into
this definitive Agreement, which provides TGTX with an exclusive
license to develop, manufacture and commercialize Products (as
hereinafter defined) in the Field of Use (as hereinafter defined)
and in the Territory (as hereinafter defined), under the terms and
conditions set forth below;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
foregoing and the covenants and obligations set forth herein,
including the exhibits or appendices hereto, and intending to be
legally bound, TGTX and Novimmune hereby agree as
follows:
1 DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATIONS
Terms, when used
with initial capital letters, shall have the meanings set forth
below or at their first use when used in this
Agreement:
1.1 “Agreement”:
shall mean this License Agreement
1.2 “API”:
shall mean an active pharmaceutical ingredient.
1.3 “BLA”:
shall mean a “Biologics License Application” (as more
fully defined in 21 C.F.R. 601 et
seq.) filed with the FDA or the equivalent application filed
with any other Regulatory Authority to obtain marketing approval
for a Product in a country or jurisdiction in the
Territory.
1.4 “Biosimilar
Product” means a biologic product that (i) is highly
similar to the active ingredient in the Product where the Product
is the reference-listed biologic, and (ii) is approved by a
Governmental Authority pursuant to a Biosimilar License
Application, an application under 42 U.S.C. §262(k), or
similar application.
1.5 “Change
of Control”: means (i) the acquisition, directly or
indirectly, by any person, entity or “group” (within
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended) by means of a transaction or series of
related transactions, of (a) beneficial ownership of fifty percent
(50%) or more of the outstanding voting securities of a Party (or
the surviving entity, as applicable, whether by merger,
consolidation, reorganization, tender offer or other similar
means), or (b) all, or substantially all, of the assets of a Party;
or (ii) any consolidation or merger of a Party with or into any
Third Party, or any other corporate reorganization involving a
Third Party, in which those persons or entities that are
stockholders of the Party immediately prior to such consolidation,
merger or reorganization (or prior to any series of related
transactions leading up to such event) own fifty (50%) or less of
the surviving entity’s voting power immediately after such
consolidation, merger or reorganization.
1.6 “Change
of Control Transaction”: shall have the meaning
ascribed to this term in Article 16.
1.7 “Cause”
means, for purposes of Section 11.1, any unfavorable result from a
pre-clinical or clinical trial that, as reasonably determined by
TGTX, causes material concerns regarding the tolerability, safety
or effectiveness of the Product.
1.8 “Combination”
shall mean a co-administration of Product together with any other
product.
1.9 “Commercialization”,
with a correlative meaning for “Commercialize”: means all
activities undertaken before and after obtaining Regulatory
Approval relating specifically to the pre-marketing, launch,
promotion, marketing, sale, and distribution of a
pharmaceutical product, including: (a) strategic marketing, sales
force detailing, advertising, medical education and liaison, and
market and product support; and (b) any Phase IV Clinical Trials,
and (c) all customer support and Product distribution, invoicing
and sales activities.
1.10 “Compound”:
shall mean NI-1701 as described herein and as used in
Product.
1.11 “Confidential
Information”: means, with respect to a Party, all
confidential information of such Party that is disclosed to the
other Party under this Agreement, which may include specifications,
know-how, trade secrets, legal information, technical information,
drawings, models, business information, inventions, discoveries,
methods, procedures, formulae, protocols, techniques, data, and
unpublished patent applications, in each case whether disclosed in
oral, written, graphic, or electronic form. All Confidential
Information disclosed by either Party pursuant to the Mutual
Confidential Disclosure Agreement between the Parties dated
15th
February 2018 shall be deemed to be such Party’s Confidential
Information disclosed hereunder.
1.12 “Control”
shall mean, with respect to any material, Information, or
intellectual property right, that a Party owns or has a license to
such material, Information, or intellectual property right and has
the ability to grant to the other Party access, a license, or a
sublicense (as applicable) to such material, Information, or
intellectual property right on the terms and conditions set forth
herein without violating the terms of any agreement or other
arrangement with any Third Party existing at the time such Party
would be first required hereunder to grant to the other Party such
access, license, or sublicense.
1.13 “Data”:
shall mean any and all scientific and research data, technical
data, test and development data, pre-clinical and clinical data
(including pharmacological, biological, chemical, biochemical,
toxicological, pre-clinical and clinical test data, analytical and
quality control data, stability data, results of studies and
patient lists), formulations, processes, protocols, regulatory
files and the like which are developed by either Party in
connection with the Compound or the Product.
1.14 “Develop
or Development”: shall mean all activities relating to
preparing and conducting preclinical testing, toxicology testing,
human clinical studies, regulatory affairs for obtaining the
Regulatory Approvals, formulation development, process development
for manufacture and associated validation, quality assurance and
quality control activities (including qualification lots).
Development shall exclude all Phase IV Clinical
Trials.
1.15 “Development
Plan”: shall mean plans for development of the Product
as outlined in Exhibit D which shall be provided by TGTX and
updated and amended pursuant to Section 3.
1.16 “Diligent
Efforts”: means, with respect to a Party’s
obligation under this Agreement to Develop or Commercialize a
Product, the level of efforts and resources required to carry out
such obligation in a sustained manner consistent with the efforts
and resources a similarly situated biopharmaceutical company
devotes to a product of similar market potential, profit potential
or strategic value within its portfolio, based on conditions then
prevailing i.e. it shall mean the efforts required in order to
carry out a task or objective in a diligent and sustained manner
without undue interruption, pause or delay, which level is at least
commensurate with the level of efforts that a pharmaceutical
company would devote to a product of similar potential and having
similar commercial and scientific advantages and disadvantages as
compared to the Product hereunder. Diligent Efforts requires
(without limitation) that the Party exerting such efforts (i)
promptly assign responsibility for its obligations to specific
employee(s) or contractor(s) who are held accountable for progress
and monitor such progress, on an ongoing basis, (ii) set and
continue to seek to achieve specific and meaningful objectives for
carrying out such obligations, and (iii) consistently make and
implement decisions and allocate resources designed to advance
progress with respect to such objectives, in each case in a
diligent manner.
1.17 “Diligence
Failure”: shall mean TGTX does not correct a
failure to use Diligent Efforts within the applicable period
specified in, or determined in accordance with Section
3.2.5(b).
1.18 “EMA”:
shall mean the European Medicines Agency or any successor agency
thereto.
1.19 “FDA”:
shall mean the United States Food and Drug Administration, or a
successor federal agency thereto.
1.20 “Field”
means the prevention, diagnosis, treatment or amelioration of any
disease or condition in humans or animals.
1.21 “Field
of Use”: shall mean the use of Compound or Products in
the Field as defined herein.
1.22 “Finished
Product” shall mean a Product that has been filled
into vials, syringes or capsules or manufactured into other
pharmaceutical presentations for administration, such as tablets or
pills; finished and labeled for use in clinical trials or for
commercial purposes in accordance with the applicable
specifications and legal requirements.
1.23 “First
Commercial Sale”: shall mean the first commercial sale
by TGTX, its Affiliates and/or Sublicensees to a Third Party of a
Product for value in any country in the Territory following receipt
of approval to market such Product from the relevant Regulatory
Authority in the applicable country.
1.24 “Governmental
Authority”: means any multi-national, federal, state,
local, municipal or other government authority of any nature
(including any governmental division, subdivision, department,
agency, bureau, branch, office, commission, council, court or other
tribunal).
1.25 “Good
Clinical Practices” or “GCP” means the then-current
good clinical practice standards, practices and procedures
promulgated or endorsed by the FDA as set forth in the guidelines
entitled “Guidance for Industry E6 Good Clinical Practice:
Consolidated Guidance,” including related regulatory
requirements imposed by the FDA, and comparable regulatory
standards, practices and procedures in jurisdictions outside the
U.S., in each case as they may be updated from time to
time.
1.26 “Good
Laboratory Practices” or “GLP” means the then-current
good laboratory practice standards promulgated or endorsed by the
FDA as defined in 21 C.F.R. Part 58, and comparable regulatory
standards in jurisdictions outside the U.S., in each case as they
may be updated from time to time.
1.27 “Good
Manufacturing Practices” or “GMP” means the then-current
good manufacturing practices required by the FDA, as set forth in
the FD&C Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder, for
the manufacture and testing of pharmaceutical and biological
materials, and comparable Laws applicable to the manufacture and
testing of pharmaceutical and biological materials in jurisdictions
outside the U.S., including without limitation 21 CFR 211 (Current
Good Manufacturing Practice for Finished Pharmaceuticals) and the
guideline promulgated by the International Conference on
Harmonization designated ICH Q7A, entitled “Q7A Good
Manufacturing Practice Guidance for Active Pharmaceutical
Ingredients” and associated guidelines and regulations, in
each case as they may be updated from time to time.
1.28 “IND”:
shall mean (a) an Investigational New Drug application as defined
in the FD&C Act and applicable regulations promulgated
thereunder by the FDA or any successor application or procedure
required to initiate clinical testing of a Product in humans in the
Territory; and (b) all supplements and amendments to the
foregoing.
1.29 “Indication”:
means any indication for which (a) a Product is developed pursuant
to an IND or CTA (or if no such filing is required, pursuant to the
applicable clinical trial protocol), (b) a BLA for a Product is
submitted, or (c) a BLA for a Product is approved by a Regulatory
Authority.
1.30 “Information”
means any data, results, technology, business information, and
information of any type whatsoever, in any tangible or intangible
form, including, without limitation, know-how, trade secrets,
practices, techniques, methods, processes, inventions,
developments, specifications, formulations, formulae, materials or
compositions of matter of any type or kind (patentable or
otherwise), software, algorithms, marketing reports, expertise,
technology, test data (including pharmacological, biological,
chemical, biochemical, toxicological, preclinical and clinical test
data), analytical and quality control data, stability data, other
study data and procedures.
1.31 “Joint
Inventions”: Any new invention pertaining to the
Compound, Product, or their uses made jointly by the
Parties.
1.32 “Joint
Know-How”: shall mean all Know-How developed or
acquired by either Party in performing its obligations pursuant to
the JV Agreement that is necessary or useful for the Development,
manufacture or Commercialization of the Compound or the
Product.
1.33 “Joint
Patents”: shall mean any and all patents and patent
applications claiming any Joint Invention, together with any and
all patents issued on any such applications as well as any
divisional, continuation, continuation-in-part, substitution
applications, re-issue, re-examination, renewal and extended
patents (including supplementary protection certificates (SPC)) of
any of the foregoing.
1.34 “Know-How”:
shall mean any and all technical information, test and development
data and results, formulations, processes, ideas, protocols,
regulatory files, preclinical and clinical data (including, without
limitation, Data) and the like relating to the use, manufacture,
Development, or Commercialization of the Compound or the
Product.
1.35 “Launch”:
shall mean the First Commercial Sale in a country.
1.36 “Major
Market(s)”: shall mean any of the following countries
or groups of countries: (i) 8 ; (ii) * ; (iii) * , * , * , * ,
and the * (each, a “ * ”); (iv) * ; and (v) * , * or *
(each, a “ *
”).
1.37 “Net
Sales”: shall mean, with respect to a particular time
period, the total amounts received or invoiced by TGTX, its
Affiliates, and sublicensees (subject to the provisions set forth
in Section 6) for sales of Product made during such time period to
unaffiliated Third Parties, less the following deductions to the
extent actually allowed or incurred with respect to such
sales:
discounts, including cash, trade, and quantity
discounts, retroactive price reductions, charge-back payments, and
rebates actually granted or administrative fees actually paid to
trade customers, patients (including those in the form of a coupon
or voucher), managed health care organizations, pharmaceutical
benefit managers, group purchasing organizations, federal, state,
or local government and the agencies, purchasers and reimbursers of
managed health organizations, pharmaceutical benefit managers,
group purchasing organizations, or federal, state or local
government;
credits or
allowances actually granted upon prompt payment, or losses,
actually incurred as a result of damaged goods,
rejections or returns of such Product, including in connection with
recalls, and all other reasonable and customary allowances and
adjustments actually credited to customers;
packaging, freight,
postage, shipping, transportation, warehousing, handling and
insurance charges, credit card processing fees and any customary
payments with respect to the Products actually made to wholesalers
or other distributors, in each case actually allowed or paid for
distribution and delivery of Product, to the extent billed or
recognized; and
taxes, including
sales taxes, excise taxes, value-added taxes, and other taxes
(other than income taxes), duties, tariffs or other governmental
charges levied on the sale of such Product, including, without
limitation, value-added and sales taxes.
Notwithstanding the
foregoing, amounts received or invoiced by TGTX, its Affiliates and
sublicencees for the sale of Product among TGTX, its Affiliates and
sublicencees shall not be included in the computation of Net Sales
hereunder. In any event, any amounts received or
invoiced by TGTX and its Affiliates or sublicensees shall be
accounted for only once. Net Sales shall be accounted
for in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles (“GAAP”) consistently applied. Net Sales
shall exclude any samples of Product transferred or disposed of at
no cost for promotional or educational purposes, and the cost for
such samples transferred or disposed of shall be deemed to be
included in the Commercial Expenses.
For the purposes of
determining royalty rates and the royalties payable on
Combinations, Net Sales of Product shall be calculated 9 , * , * , * , and * , * ,
* ( * ) * ( * ) * . In the event that such average
selling price cannot be determined for both Product and all other
active ingredient(s) and component(s) included in the Combination
Product, Net Sales for purposes of determining payments under this
Agreement shall be calculated by * , and * (s) * (s) * , as
determined by TGTX using its standard accounting procedures
consistently applied. In the event that the standard
fully-absorbed cost of the Product and/or the other active
ingredient(s) or component(s) included in such Combination cannot
be determined, for the purposes of determining royalties payable
hereunder, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to determine
an appropriate commercial value for all the components in the
Combination and calculate Net Sales of such Combination
accordingly.
Further, the
Parties agree to negotiate in good faith for an equitable
determination of the Net Sales of the Product in the event TGTX and
its Affiliates sells the Product in such a manner that gross sales
of the Product are not readily identifiable. In
addition, for purposes of this Agreement, “sale” shall
mean any transfer or other distribution or disposition, but shall
not include transfers or other distributions or dispositions of
Product at no charge for academic research, preclinical, clinical,
or regulatory purposes (including the use of a Product in Clinical
Trials) or in connection with patient assistance programs or other
charitable purposes or to physicians or hospitals for promotional
purposes (including free samples to a level and in an amount which
is customary in the industry and/or which is reasonably
proportional to the market for such Product).
1.38 “Novimmune
Know-How”: shall mean (i) all Know-How that is
Controlled by Novimmune or its Affiliates on the Effective Date and
during the Term, and (ii) Novimmune’s interest in any Joint
Know-How, in each case that is necessary or useful for the
Development, manufacture or Commercialization of the Compound or
the Product. For clarity, Novimmune Know-How excludes
the Novimmune Product and Platform Patents.
1.39 “Novimmune
Platform Patent(s)”: shall mean any Patent, including
Novimmune’s interest in any Joint Patent, that (a) is
Controlled by Novimmune or its Affiliates on the Effective Date and
during the Term, and (b) generically claims the Compound or the
Product or its manufacture or its use, or any other invention that
is otherwise necessary for the Development, manufacture, use or
Commercialization of the Compound or the Product in the Field of
Use including the patents listed in Exhibit B which shall be from
time to time amended and updated during the Term to incorporate the
then-current Novimmune Patents.
1.40 “Novimmune
Product Patent(s)”: shall mean any Patent, including
Novimmune’s interest in any Joint Patent, that (a) is
Controlled by Novimmune or its Affiliates on the Effective Date and
during the Term, and (b) specifically claims the Compound or the
Product or its specific manufacture or its specific use, including
the patents listed in Exhibit B which shall be from time to time
amended and updated during the Term to incorporate the then-current
Novimmune Patents.
1.41 “Party”:
shall mean either TGTX or Novimmune, as the context requires, or
both TGTX and Novimmune when used in the plural form
1.42 “Patent(s)”:
shall mean (a) pending patent applications, including
provisional patents, issued patents, utility models and designs;
and (b) extensions, reissues, substitutions, confirmations,
registrations, validations, re-examinations, additions,
continuations, continued prosecution applications, requests for
continued examination, continuations-in-part, or divisions of or to
any patents, patent applications, utility models or
designs.
1.43 “Phase
I Clinical Trial”: means a small scale trial of a
pharmaceutical product on subjects that generally provides for the
first introduction into humans of such product with the primary
purpose of determining safety, metabolism and pharmacokinetic
properties, clinical pharmacology and any other properties of such
product as per the study protocol design, as required by 21 C.F.R.
312(a) or a similar study in other countries.
1.44 “Phase
II Clinical Trial”: means a small scale clinical trial
of a pharmaceutical product on patients, including possibly
pharmacokinetic studies, the principal purposes of which are to
make a preliminary determination that such product is safe for its
intended use and to obtain sufficient information about such
product’s efficacy to permit the design of further clinical
trials, as required by 21 C.F.R. 312(b) or a similar study in other
countries.
1.45 “Phase
III Clinical Trial”: means one or more clinical trials
on sufficient numbers of patients, which trial(s) are designed
to (a) establish that a drug is safe and efficacious for its
intended use; (b) define warnings, precautions and adverse
reactions that are associated with the drug in the dosage range to
be prescribed; and (c) support Regulatory Approval of such
drug, as required by 21 C.F.R. 312(c) or a similar study in other
countries.
1.46 “Product(s)”:
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.71 of the JV
Agreement.
1.47 “Regulatory
Approvals” means all approvals (including without
limitation supplements, amendments, and pricing approvals),
licenses, registrations or authorizations of any national,
supra-national, regional, state or local regulatory agency,
department, bureau, commission, council or other governmental
entity, necessary for the manufacture, storage, import, transport,
distribution, marketing, use or sale of a pharmaceutical product in
a given regulatory jurisdiction.
1.48 “Regulatory
Authority”: means, in a particular country or
jurisdiction, any applicable Governmental Authority involved in
granting Regulatory Approval in such country or jurisdiction,
including without limitation, in the U.S., the FDA and any other
applicable Governmental Authority in the U.S. having jurisdiction
over the Product, and, in the European Union, the EMEA and any
other applicable Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over
the Product..
1.49 “Royalties”:
shall mean the royalties to be paid by TGTX to Novimmune on the
basis of Net Sales pursuant to Section 4.3.3 hereof
1.50 “Royalty
Term”: shall mean, on a country-by-country basis, the
period beginning upon the First Commercial Sale of a Product in a
country and ending on the later of (i) on the expiration of
the10 within the Licensed Patents
covering the sale of the Product in such country, or (ii) expiry of
any other * with respect to the Product in a country, including
patent term extensions, marketing exclusivity or any other
non-patent exclusivity.
1.51 “Sole
Inventions”: Any new invention pertaining to the
Compound, Product, or their uses made solely by one of the
Parties.
1.52 “Subcontractor”:
means a Third Party service provider engaged by TGTX to perform
contract services on behalf of TGTX or its Affiliates, where TGTX
retains a meaningful participatory role in the overall development
and commercialization of the Product (e.g., contract research or development
organizations, clinical sites performing clinical trials,
universities and scientific institutes, distributors in certain
countries in the Territory, or contract manufacturing
organizations).
1.53 “Sublicensee(s)”:
shall mean any Third Party to whom TGTX, or any of its Affiliates,
has sublicensed any of TGTX’s rights under the license
granted to TGTX pursuant to Section 2.1
1.54 “Technology
Transfer Plan”: shall have the meaning ascribed to
this term in Section 3.1.1.
1.55 “Territory”:
shall mean the entire world.
1.56 “TGTX
Exercise Fee”: shall have the meaning ascribed to this
term in Section 6.2.
1.57
“TGTX Intellectual Property
Rights”: shall mean all TGTX Patents and TGTX
Know-How.
1.58 “TGTX
Know-How”: shall mean (i) all Know-How that is
Controlled by TGTX or its Affiliates on the Effective Date and
during the Term, and (ii) TGTX’s interest in the Joint
Know-How, in each case that is necessary or useful for the
Development, manufacture or Commercialization of the Compound or
the Product. For clarity, TGTX Know-How excludes TGTX
Patents.
1.59 “TGTX
Patent(s)”: shall mean any Patent, including
TGTX’s interest in any Joint Patent, that (a) is Controlled
by TGTX or its Affiliates on the Effective Date and during the
Term, and (b) claims the Product or its manufacture or its use, or
any other invention that is otherwise necessary or useful for the
Development, manufacture, use or Commercialization of the Compound
or the Product in the Field of Use, including the patents listed in
Exhibit [ ], which shall be from time to time amended
and updated during the Term to incorporate the then-current TGTX
Patents.
1.60 “Third
Party”: shall mean any entity other than TGTX or
Novimmune or an Affiliate of TGTX or Novimmune.
1.61 “Valid
Claim” shall mean (a) any claim of an issued
unexpired patent that (i) has not been permanently revoked, held
invalid, or declared unpatentable or unenforceable in a decision of
a court or other body of competent jurisdiction that is
unappealable or unappealed within the time allowed for appeal, and
(ii) is not lost through an interference proceeding that is
unappealable or unappealed within the time allowed for appeal; or
(b) provided there is no Biosimilar Product available in the
market, a claim of a patent application, which claim has not been
abandoned or finally disallowed without the possibility of appeal
and provided that such patent application has not been pending
before an examining authority for more than 11 ( * ) years from its
filing date.
2
LICENSE
2.1 Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, Novimmune grants to TGTX an exclusive license
under the Novimmune Product Patents and a non-exclusive license
under the Novimmune Platform Patents and Novimmune Know-How, to
develop, have developed, make, have made, use, have used, sell,
have sold, offer for sale, register, have registered,
Commercialize, and have Commercialized and import the Compound or
the Product for any Indication in the Field of Use in the
Territory. For avoidance of doubt, Novimmune does not
grant to TGTX any right or license with respect to any API other
than the Compound, as defined herein above.
2.2 The license granted to TGTX by
Novimmune under Section 2.1 includes the right for TGTX to grant
sublicenses (across multiple tiers) to its Affiliates and to Third
Parties for the development, manufacture, sale and/or
commercialization of the Compound or the Product. All
sublicenses granted by TGTX shall be subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement and TGTX shall enter into a written
sublicense agreement with each Sublicensee which will contain terms
and conditions fully consistent with the terms and conditions
contained in this Agreement. TGTX shall
use Diligent Efforts to include in any Commercial Sublicense
Agreement express permission to assign all of the rights and
obligations under such agreement to Novimmune without consent from
the Sublicensee. TGTX
shall provide to Novimmune a true and complete copy of each
Commercial Sublicense Agreement entered into by TGTX or any of its
Affiliates and any Sublicensee, and of each amendment to any such
Commercial Sublicense Agreement, in each case, within * (* ) days
after execution of such Commercial Sublicense Agreement or
amendment. For the purpose of this Section 2.2, the term
“Commercial Sublicense
Agreement” shall mean any agreement executed by TGTX
or any of its Affiliates under which any of TGTX’s rights
under the license granted to TGTX pursuant to Section 2.1 are
sublicensed; provided,
however, that the term Commercial Sublicense Agreement shall
exclude any agreement between TGTX or its Affiliate and a
Subcontractor. In addition, TGTX shall notify Novimmune in writing
of the termination of any Commercial Sublicense Agreement within *
( * ) days after such termination. If TGTX determines that there is
a reasonable likelihood of its execution of a Commercial Sublicense
Agreement or an amendment to, or termination of, an existing
Commercial Sublicense Agreement, TGTX shall use reasonable efforts
to provide notice thereof to Novimmune, which notice shall be
provided solely for Novimmune’ information and planning
purposes. No sublicense hereunder shall limit or affect the
obligations of TGTX under this Agreement, and TGTX shall remain
fully responsible for each Affiliate’s or Sublicensee’s
compliance with the applicable terms and conditions of this
Agreement. TGTX agrees to take Diligent Efforts to enforce the
terms of each Commercial Sublicense Agreement against the relevant
Sublicensee in the event of a material breach
thereof. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary
contained in this Agreement, all Commercial Sublicense Agreements
shall survive any termination of this Agreement by Novimmune, so
long as such Sublicensee is not in breach of the Commercial
Sublicense Agreement.
2.3 TGTX may subcontract certain
activities to Subcontractors who will conduct such activities, or a
portion thereof, on behalf of TGTX. TGTX’s
execution of a subcontracting agreement with any Subcontractor
shall not relieve TGTX of any of its obligations under this
Agreement. TGTX shall remain directly liable to
Novimmune for any performance or non-performance of a Subcontractor
that would be a breach of this Agreement if performed or omitted by
TGTX, and TGTX shall be deemed to be in breach of this Agreement as
a result of such performance or non-performance of such
Subcontractor. TGTX
shall use reasonable efforts to include in any agreement with a
Subcontractor express permission to assign all of the rights and
obligations under such agreement to Novimmune without consent from
the Subcontractor.
2.4 Except as expressly provided in this
Agreement, no license or other right is or shall be created or
granted hereunder by implication, estoppel or
otherwise.
3
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
3.1. Obligations of Novimmune
3.1.1 As soon as possible after the
Effective Date, Novimmune shall transfer to TGTX, all Novimmune
Know-How that is necessary for TGTX to continue the development and
manufacture of the Compound and the Products in accordance with the
Development Plan and transfer the relevant information and
materials.
3.1.2 At no cost to TGTX, Novimmune
shall provide a reasonable amount of technical, scientific and
intellectual property support to the Development Plan, as requested
by TGTX, during the first 12 (* ) month period beginning
on the Effective Date unless the costs associated with such support
has been already shared by both Parties pursuant to the JV
Agreement.
3.2 Obligations of *
3.2.1 TGTX shall undertake Diligent
Efforts to Develop, register and Commercialize the Product in the
Field of Use in at least one Major Market and in such other markets
as TGTX deems commercially reasonable. TGTX shall use Diligent
Efforts to maximize Net Sales and shall not take any action with
the intent of reducing or avoiding the milestone payments or any
royalties hereunder. From and after the Effective Date,
13 shall be solely responsible for
all the costs relating to the Development, registration and
Commercialization of the Product in the Field of Use. * shall
solely assume the managing and the financing of the Development
Plan, with the objective of verifying the safety, potency and
efficacy of the Product and, if the results of clinical development
are positive, filing applications for BLA approval in an
expeditious manner, within the limits of the demands of the
Regulatory Authorities and consistent with Diligent Efforts, as
more fully described below in this Section 3.2.2 TGTX shall retain final decision
making authority on all Development, Commercialization, marketing,
manufacturing and regulatory matters relating to the
Product.
3.2.3 TGTX shall conduct the activities
set forth in the Development Plan in accordance with all applicable
Laws and current good manufacturing practice (cGMP), current good
laboratory practice (cGLP) and current good clinical practice
(cGCP), where applicable.
3.2.4 The Development Plan will be
updated from time to time in accordance herewith and such updates
shall be attached hereto as Exhibit D. The Development Plan
indicates in reasonable details TGTX’s plans for the
Development of Product in the Field of Use, including regulatory
and registration strategy consistent with Diligent Efforts. Without
limiting the generality of any of the foregoing obligations in this
Section 3.2.3, TGTX shall use Diligent Efforts to Develop the
Product. TGTX may reasonably revise and amend the Development Plan
from time to time upon as much advance notice to Novimmune as is
practicable under the circumstances, so long as such amended
Development Plan meets the criteria described above.
3.2.5 If at any time TGTX definitively
and formally suspends its research or development efforts for the
Product, TGTX shall provide Novimmune notification of such
suspension, giving reasons and a statement of its intended
actions.
3.2.6 TGTX shall be obligated to make
Diligent Efforts to Develop, itself or through Affiliates,
subcontractors and/or Sublicensees, at least * ( * ) Product in one
Major Market. If Novimmune considers that TGTX has
failed to exercise Diligent Efforts, then Novimmune shall notify
TGTX in writing within * ( * ) days of appearance of such potential
failure thereof stating in reasonable detail the particular alleged
failure.
(a) If TGTX
disagrees with Novimmune’s claim that TGTX has failed to
exercise Diligent Efforts, TGTX shall so notify Novimmune in
writing within * (* ) days after receipt of Novimmune’s
notice, in which event the Parties shall promptly refer the matter
to a Third Party expert in drug development, completely
unaffiliated and independent of the Parties and jointly selected by
the Parties, to determine whether a failure by TGTX to use Diligent
Efforts occurred, or if the related problem was due to some other
cause. Neither Party shall unreasonably withhold or delay its
approval of such expert. The Parties shall initially share equally
the fees and costs of such expert, but promptly after such expert
makes a determination regarding the matter, the non-prevailing
Party shall reimburse the prevailing Party for the share of such
fees and costs borne by the prevailing Party. Should it be
determined by the expert that such failure resulted from
TGTX’s failure to use Diligent Efforts to Develop the
Product, then the expert shall determine what corrective action by
TGTX would best meet the standard of Diligent Efforts and a
timeframe for the completion of such corrective action by TGTX. The
determination of such expert shall be final and binding on the
Parties.
(b) If TGTX does
not correct such alleged failure either: (i) within 14 ( * ) days after notice of such
alleged failure from Novimmune; or (ii) if TGTX disputes
Novimmune’s allegation of failure to use Diligent Efforts in
accordance with the preceding paragraph (a), within the period
specified by the expert; then, in each case, Novimmune shall have
the right to terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section
12.3.
3.2.7 TGTX shall maintain reasonable
records of its work, including research, development, clinical,
manufacturing and commercialization activities with respect to the
Product conducted by TGTX under this Agreement, together with all
results, data and developments made or generated in connection with
any of the foregoing. Such records shall fully and properly reflect
all work done and results achieved in the performance of this
Agreement in sufficient detail and in good scientific manner
appropriate for patent and regulatory purposes.
3.2.8 During the Term, TGTX shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to keep Novimmune regularly
informed of TGTX’s worldwide Product development through
periodic reports, including through the issuance of annual and
quarterly reports pursuant to the Securites and Exchange Act of
1934. In addition, throughout the Term, TGTX shall
notify Novimmune promptly of the occurrence of the following with
respect to a Product: (i) initiation of any material Phase II
Clinical Trial in a Major Market; (ii) initiation of any Phase III
Clinical Trial in a Major Market; (iii) BLA filing and acceptance
in any Major Market; (iv) BLA approval in any Major Market; and (v)
First Commercial Sale in any Major Market. TGTX shall also respond
to reasonable (i.e., not
unduly frequent or burdensome) informal requests from Novimmune for
additional information regarding the development of the Product
from time to time; provided however, to the extent, TGTX makes a
public announcement with respect to the foregoing (i) – (v),
such public announcement shall serve as notice.
3.2.9 Novimmune agrees that the results
of the Development Plan cannot be accurately predicted, that
TGTX’s obligation with respect to the Development Plan is not
an obligation to obtain a particular result and that TGTX does not
warrant or guarantee that the Development Plan will yield any
useful or anticipated results.
4
CONSIDERATION
4.1 As consideration for the exclusive
license rights provided in Section 2.1, TGTX shall pay to Novimmune
the amounts set forth in this Article 4.
4.2
Exercise Fee
Upon the Effective
Date of this Agreement, TGTX shall pay to Novimmune a fully earned,
non-refundable, one-time, up-front license fee equal to the sum of
15 ($ * ) [or * ($ * ), if Novimmune
exercises their put option under the provisions of the JV
Agreement] (the “Exercise
Fee”), which shall be payable in cash and/or shares of
TGTX Common Stock (the “TGTX
Shares”) at the discretion of TGTX.
Upon signature of
this Agreement, Novimmune shall provide an original invoice for the
TGTX Exercise Fee to TGTX, who shall pay the cash portion of the
Exercise Fee within * ( * ) days of receipt of such
invoice.
For payments made
in TGTX Shares pursuant to this Section 4, such portion of the
Exercise Fee shall be made through the issuance of that number of
shares of Common Stock of TGTX as shall equal a fraction where the
numerator is * and the denominator is the * . For purposes of this
Section 4, the “ * ” means the * (or, * , *
) for the * ( * ) trading days prior to the Effective
Date; provided, however, that in the event that TGTX effects a
stock split, combination or stock dividend at any time during such
* trading days or subsequent thereto and prior to the issuance of
the TGTX Shares, the number of shares of TGTX Common Stock issuable
shall be appropriately adjusted to give effect to such action.
Within * ( * ) business days of the Effective Date, TGTX shall
issue to Novimmune certificates representing the TGTX Shares and
within * ( * ) business days of the issuance of such certificates
for the TGTX shares, TGTX shall file a resale registration
statement covering such shares and shall use Diligent Efforts to
make such resale registration statement effective as quickly as
possible. TGTX covenants to use Diligent Efforts to keep
such registration statement continuously effective until such time
as such shares can be sold without restriction under Rule
144.
4.3
Milestones and Royalties
4.3.1
BLA Acceptance Payment
(a) BLA acceptance payment: Whether such
event is achieved by TGTX, its Affiliates, its Sublicensees or any
Third Party acting on behalf of TGTX, its Affiliates or its
Sublicensees, TGTX shall pay Novimmune a fully
earned, non-refundable, one-time, payment in each of the
territories listed below upon the acceptance of the first BLA in
each such territory:
4.3.2 Approval and Sales
Milestone:
(a) Sales Milestones. TGTX shall
pay the sales milestone payments set forth below (which, when paid,
shall be considered fully earned and non-refundable) based on
cumulative net sales of Product (each, a “Sales Milestone
Payment”). The Sales Milestone Payments
shall be paid only once for each of the events set forth in this
Section 4.3.2(a), whether such milestone event is achieved by TGTX,
its Affiliates, its Sublicensees, or any Third Party acting on
behalf of TGTX, its Affiliates, or its Sublicensees. No
payment shall be due for any milestone event which is not
achieved.
Sales
Milestones:
|
$*
|
|
$*
|
|
$*
|
(b) Approval Milestones. Whether
such event is achieved by TGTX, its Affiliates, its Sublicensees or
any Third Party acting on behalf of TGTX, its Affiliates or its
Sublicensees, TGTX shall pay Novimmune a fully
earned, non-refundable, one-time, milestone payment in each of the
territories listed below upon the approval of the first BLA in each
such territory:
Approval
Milestone:
|
$*
|
|
$*
|
|
$*
|
Any milestone
payments owed under Sections 4.3.1 and 4.3.2 may be paid on cash
and/or TGTX Shares, or a combination of both, at the discretion of
TGTX. TGTX shall provide Novimmune with written notice
within 17 ( * ) working days of the
occurrence of any of the foregoing milestone events and the
relevant milestone payment is payable by TGTX to Novimmune within *
( * ) days of receipt of a corresponding invoice issued by
Novimmune. If TGTX determines that there is a reasonable likelihood
of a particular milestone event being achieved on or about a
particular date, TGTX shall use reasonable efforts to provide
advance notice thereof to Novimmune, which notice shall be provided
solely for Novimmune’ planning purposes and shall not be
construed as a representation, warranty or covenant by TGTX that
such milestone event will occur when anticipated or at
all.
4.3.3 Royalties on Net Sales. TGTX
shall pay to Novimmune royalties based on the aggregate annual Net
Sales of each Product(s) sold in the Territory at the rate shown in
the table below during the Royalty Term for each
country.
Sales
Royalties
|
*
|
|
* %
|
*
|
|
* %
|
*
|
|
* %
|
4.3.4
Royalty Stacking:
(a) Required Third Party
License(s). Subject to the limitation set forth
in clause (b) below, if one or more licenses to patent rights owned
or controlled by one or more Third Parties are necessary, as
reasonably determined by TGTX and Novimmune jointly, for TGTX to
have freedom to operate under the Novimmune Product Patents to
Commercialize the Product in the Field and in the Territory, TGTX
may obtain such one or more Third Party licenses under such patent
rights and to deduct from any royalty payments due to NOVIMMUNE
hereunder an amount equal to * percent ( * %) of any royalties paid
by TGTX to such one or more Third Parties.
(b) Royalty Floor. The
deductions in the foregoing clause (a) shall be limited in their
cumulative application so that no royalty payments due to NOVIMMUNE
hereunder shall be reduced by more than * percent ( *
%).
4.3.5
Additional Royalty Payments:
At TGTX’s
discretion, TGTX shall negotiate a license with * to manufacture
the Product. It is acknowledged that TGTX may be
required to pay * for the use of their 18 cell line, media and feeds
and manufacturing process, and also a technology transfer fee (to
be directly negotiated with *) if the * cell line and process is
transferred to a third party CMO.
TGTX shall pay
Novimmune for the use of their * cell line, if available, and if
required, an additional Royalty payment of * %.
4.4 Payments
4.4.1 Timing of Royalty Payments:
(a) Royalties on Net Sales pursuant to
Section 4.3.3 shall be paid by TGTX to Novimmune * within * ( * )
days after the end of calendar * in which such Net Sales are made
(as determined by the date of invoice or billing). Simultaneously
with such payment, TGTX shall provide a report to Novimmune of its
calculation of such Royalties, in sufficient detail, including the
amounts of gross revenues and applicable deductions (the “ *
Royalty Report”). Such Royalties shall be subject
to a true-up adjustment to take into account deductions under the
definition of Net Sales either (A) allowed during a calendar * that
were not accrued during such calendar * , or (B) accrued during a
calendar * but not taken or later subject to a reversal following
the end of such calendar * (each of (A) and (B), a
“True-up Adjustment”). Each * Royalty Report
provided by TGTX shall set forth the amount of any True-up
Adjustment applicable to any prior calendar * .
4.4.2 All payments to Novimmune
hereunder shall be made using the bank details provided by
Novimmune. All payments to Novimmune shall be made in US dollars.
If Net Sales are made in another currency other than US dollars,
TGTX shall convert them into US dollars for the purpose of the
calculation of Royalties by applying the average interbank exchange
rate as published by (OANDA/US treasury) for the last day of each
month within the calendar * for which payment to Novimmune is due.
All costs associated with making payments to Novimmune, including
the cost of wire transfers, shall be paid by * .
4.4.3 TGTX shall (and shall require its
Affiliates to) prepare and maintain complete and accurate books and
records regarding Net Sales (including gross sales and applicable
deductions from gross sales), Royalties due hereunder. Novimmune
shall have the right to have such books and records reasonably
inspected by an independent certified auditor selected by Novimmune
and accepted by TGTX, whose acceptance shall not be unreasonably
withheld, to confirm Net Sales (including gross sales and
applicable deductions from gross sales), Royalties due hereunder.
Such auditor will execute a written confidentiality agreement with
TGTX and will disclose to Novimmune only such information as is
reasonably necessary to provide Novimmune with information
regarding any actual discrepancies between the amounts reported or
paid and the amounts payable under this Agreement. Such auditor
will send a copy of its report to TGTX within 19 ( * ) days of delivery of such report
to Novimmune. Such report will include the methodology and
calculations used to determine the results. Prompt adjustments
shall be made by the Parties to reflect the results of such audit.
Records to be available under an inspection shall include all
relevant documents pertaining to payments specified above.
Novimmune shall bear the fees and expenses of such inspection,
provided that, if an underpayment of more than * percent ( * %) of
the payments due for any calendar year is discovered in any
inspection, then TGTX and or its affiliates shall bear all fees and
expenses of that inspection within * ( * ) days after receipt of
invoice from Novimmune.
4.4.4 Without limiting any other rights
or remedies available to Novimmune, TGTX shall pay Novimmune
interest on any payments that are not paid on or before * days from
the due date at the British Bankers Association’s one month
LIBOR Rate for United States Dollar deposits calculated from the
due date to the date paid in full.
4.4.5 In the event TGTX fails to pay
overdue amounts to Novimmune within the due date under this Section
4.4, Novimmune shall have the right to terminate this Agreement
upon * ( * ) days’ prior written notice to TGTX pursuant to
Section 8.4, unless TGTX has cured such failure to pay by the end
of such * ( * ) day period.
4.4.6 TGTX shall make payments to
Novimmune under this Agreement withholding any taxes that may be
due with respect to such payments to the extent that such
withholding is required by applicable law. If any taxes are
required to be withheld by TGTX, then TGTX shall (a) deduct such
taxes from the payment made to Novimmune, (b) timely pay the taxes
to the proper taxing authority, and (c) send proof of such tax
payments to Novimmune and certify receipt of such payment by the
applicable tax authority within * ( * ) days following such tax
payment
5
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
5.1 Ownership of Intellectual Property Rights and
Inventions
5.1.1 Ownership of
Inventions.
The Novimmune
Product Patents and Novimmune Platform Patents shall at all times
be and remain the sole property of Novimmune, subject to any
limitation on the transfer of such rights contained
herein.
Inventorship shall
be determined in accordance with U.S. patent laws. Sole
Inventions owned by TGTX and TGTX’s interest in all Joint
Inventions shall be included in the TGTX Intellectual Property
Rights. Sole Inventions owned by Novimmune and
Novimmune’s interest in all Joint Inventions shall be
included in the Novimmune Product Patents or Novimmune Platform
Patents, as determined by the claimed subject matter; provided that
if the claimed subject matter includes a claim specifically
directed to the Product, NOVIMMUNE’s interest in all Joint
Inventions shall be included in the NOVIMMUNE Product Patent
regardless of the existence the same patent or
application of claimed subject matter providing generic
Product coverage.
5.1.2 Disclosure of
Inventions. Each Party shall promptly disclose to
the other any invention disclosures, or other similar documents,
submitted to it by its employees, agents or independent contractors
describing inventions that may be either Sole Inventions or Joint
Inventions, and all Information relating to such
inventions. Either Party’s Sole Inventions and
Joint Inventions required for the development or commercialization
of the Product, shall automatically be included in this Agreement
and available for use by the Commercializing Party.
5.1.3 Prosecution of
Patents.
a.
Novimmune Patents Other than Joint
Patents. Except as otherwise provided in this
Section 5.1.3(a), Novimmune shall have the sole right, authority
and obligation to file, prosecute and maintain the Novimmune
Product Patents and Novimmune Platform Patents (other than Joint
Patents which shall be prosecuted and maintained in accordance with
Section 5.1.3(b)) in the Territory and on a worldwide
basis. Novimmune shall provide TGTX reasonable
opportunity to review and comment on such prosecution efforts
regarding such Novimmune Product Patents in the
Territory. Novimmune shall provide TGTX with a copy of
material communications from any patent authority in the Territory
regarding such Novimmune Product Patents, and shall provide TGTX
with drafts of any material filings or responses to be made to such
patent authorities a reasonable amount of time in advance of
submitting such filings or responses. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if Novimmune desires to abandon or not maintain any
Patent within such Novimmune Product Patents in the Territory, then
Novimmune shall provide TGTX with 20 ( * ) days prior written notice of
such desire (or such longer period of time as reasonably necessary
to allow TGTX to assume such responsibilities) and, if TGTX so
requests, shall provide TGTX with the opportunity to prosecute and
maintain such Patent in the Territory in place of
Novimmune. If TGTX desires Novimmune to file, in the
Territory, a patent application that claims priority from a Patent
within the Novimmune Product Patents, other than a Joint Patent, in
the Territory, TGTX shall provide written notice to Novimmune
requesting that Novimmune file such patent application in the
Territory. If TGTX provides such written notice to
Novimmune, Novimmune shall either (i) file and prosecute such
patent application and maintain any patent issuing thereon in the
Territory or (ii) notify TGTX that Novimmune does not desire to
file such patent application and provide TGTX with the opportunity
to file and prosecute such patent application and maintain any
patent issuing thereon in the Territory in place of
Novimmune. Any patent controlled by or taken over by
TGTX under this Section 5.1.3(a) shall henceforth be automatically
assigned by NOVIMMUNE in favor of TGTX.
c.
Joint Patents. Except as
otherwise provided in this Section 5.1.3 (b), TGTX shall be
entrusted with the right and authority, to prosecute and maintain
the Joint Patents on a worldwide basis at its sole discretion
herein referred to as an “Entrusted Party” (subject to
this Section 5.1.3 (b)). The Entrusted Party shall
provide the other party reasonable opportunity to review and
comment on such prosecution efforts regarding such Joint
Patents. The Entrusted Party shall provide the other
party with a copy of material communications from any patent
authority regarding such Joint Patents, and shall provide the other
party with drafts of any material filings or responses to be made
to such patent authorities a reasonable amount of time in advance
of submitting such filings or responses. If one Party
determines in its sole discretion to abandon or not maintain any
Patent within the Joint Patents anywhere in the world, then such
Party shall provide the other Party with 21 ( * ) days’ prior written
notice of such determination (or such longer period of time
reasonably necessary to allow the other party to assume
such responsibilities) and shall provide the other Party with the
opportunity to prosecute and maintain such Patent at the other
Party’s sole expense, and if the other Party so requests, the
one Party shall assign such Patent to the other Party (if the other
Party is Novimmune, such Patent shall be included in the Novimmune
Product Patents or if the other Party is TGTX, in which case such
patent will be included in the TGTX Patents). If the other
Party desires to file, in a particular jurisdiction, a patent
application that claims priority from a Patent within the Joint
Patents, the other Party shall provide written notice to the
Entrusted Party of such desire. Within * ( * ) days of
such written notice, the Entrusted Party shall provide written
notice to the First Party as to whether the Entrusted Party agrees
to file a patent application in such jurisdiction or
not. In the event the Entrusted Party agrees to such a
filing, the Entrusted Party shall file such patent application in
such jurisdiction. In the event the Entrusted Party does
not desire to file in such jurisdiction, the Entrusted Party shall
(i) provide the other Party with the opportunity to file and
prosecute such patent application and maintain any patent issuing
therefrom, and (ii) assign such patent application or a right to
file such patent application to the other Party; and the other
Party may file such patent application in such jurisdiction at its
sole expense (in which case such Patent shall be included in the
respective Party’s Patents).
d.
Cooperation in
Prosecution. Each Party shall provide the other
Party all reasonable assistance and cooperation in the Patent
prosecution efforts provided above in this Section 5.1.3, including
providing any necessary powers of attorney and executing any other
required documents or instruments for such
prosecution.
e.
Costs of
Prosecution. The costs to prosecute
and maintain the Novimmune Product Patents related to the Product
shall be borne by Novimmune. The costs to prosecute and
maintain the Joint Patents related to the Product shall be borne
equally by Novimmune and TGTX. The costs to prosecute
and maintain the TGTX Patents related to the Product shall be borne
by TGTX. A Party taking over responsibility for a
particular patent or patent application under this Section 5 shall
be responsible for costs associated with same.
5.1.4 Infringement of Patents by Third
Parties.
(a)
Notification. Each Party shall promptly notify
the other Party in writing of any existing or threatened
infringement of the Novimmune Product Patents, Joint Patents or
TGTX Patents of which it becomes aware, and shall provide evidence
in such Party’s possession demonstrating such
infringement. The
Party that is commercializing the Product shall be deemed the
“Commercializing Party.”
(b)
Infringement of Patents in the Territory.
i.
If a Party becomes
aware that a Third Party infringes any Novimmune Product Patent,
TGTX Patent, or Joint Patent in the Territory by making, using,
importing, offering for sale or selling the Product or any similar
CD47/CD19 bi-specific antibody covered by any of such Patents (such
activities, “Product
Infringement”), then such Party shall so notify the
other Party as provided in Section 5.1.4 (a), which such notice shall
include all information available to the notifying Party
regarding such alleged infringement.
.
In the Territory,
TGTX shall have the first right, but not the obligation, to bring
an appropriate suit or other action against any person or entity
engaged in such Product Infringement, subject to Section
5.1.4 (b)(iii) below,
the cost and expense will be borne by TGTX. TGTX shall
have a period of 22 ( * ) days (or shorter period,
if required by the nature of possible proceeding) after
notification by Novimmune or providing notification to Novimmune
pursuant to Section 5.1.4 (a), to elect to so enforce such
Patent. In the event TGTX does not so elect, it shall so
notify Novimmune in writing during such 23 ( * ) day time period (or the
above-mentioned shorter period), and Novimmune shall have the
right, but not the obligation, to commence a suit or take action to
enforce the applicable Patent against such Third Party perpetrating
such Product Infringement at its sole cost and expense (except as
otherwise expressly provided in this Section 5.1.4 (b)(ii)). Each Party
shall provide to the Party enforcing any such rights under this
Section 5.1.4 (b)(ii)
reasonable assistance in such enforcement, at such enforcing
Party’s request, including joining such action as a party
plaintiff if required by applicable Law to pursue such
action. The enforcing Party shall keep the other Party
regularly informed of the status and progress of such enforcement
efforts, and shall reasonably consider the other Party’s
comments on any such efforts. Any recoveries obtained
from a suit or an action commenced by TGTX hereunder shall first be
applied to the recovery of expenses incurred by TGTX or Novimmune
(if any) in bringing the suit or action and the remaining amounts,
if any, shall be deemed additional Net Sales; provided, further,
however, if Novimmune proceeds with the enforcement after TGTX
decides not to move forward, then any amounts recovered shall
belong solely to Novimmune.
.
The Party not
bringing an action with respect to Product Infringement in the
Territory under Section 5.1.4 (b) shall be entitled to separate
representation in such matter by counsel of its own choice and at
its own expense, but such Party shall at all times cooperate fully
with the Party bringing such action. Additionally, the Party not
bringing an action under this Section 5.1.4 (b) may have an opportunity to
participate in such action to the extent that the Parties may
mutually agree at the time the other Party elects to bring an
action hereunder.
(c)
Settlement. TGTX shall not settle any claim,
suit or action that it brings under this Section 5.1.4 involving Novimmune Product
Patents (excluding Joint Patents) in any manner that would have a
materially adverse impact on Novimmune Patents anywhere in the
world, or that would materially limit or restrict the ability of
either Party to manufacture, use, sell, offer for sale or import
the Product anywhere in the world, without the prior written
consent of Novimmune. Novimmune shall not settle any
claim, suit or action that it brings under this Section
5.1.4 involving TGTX
Patents (excluding Joint Patents) in any manner that would
negatively impact the TGTX Patents or that would limit or restrict
the ability of either Party to manufacture, use, sell, offer for
sale or import the Product anywhere in the world, without the prior
written consent of TGTX. Neither Party shall settle any
claim, suit or action that it brings under this Section
5.1.4 involving Joint
Patents in any manner that would negatively impact the Joint
Patents or that would limit or restrict the ability of either Party
to manufacture, use, sell, offer for sale or import the Product
anywhere in the world, without the prior written consent of such
other Party.
6
REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND CERTAIN COVENANTS
6.1 Each Party represents, warrants and
covenants to the other that:
(i) It is a company
or corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good
standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which it is
incorporated, and has full corporate power and authority and the
legal right to own and operate its property and assets and to carry
on its business as it is now being conducted and as contemplated in
this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right to grant
the licenses granted by it hereunder;
(ii) As of the
Effective Date, (i) it has the corporate power and authority and
the legal right to enter into this Agreement and perform its
obligations hereunder; (ii) it has taken all necessary corporate
action on its part required to authorize the execution and delivery
of the Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder;
and (iii) the Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on
behalf of such Party, and constitutes a legal, valid, and binding
obligation of such Party that is enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms. The execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement by it does not conflict with any agreement or
instrument, oral or written, to which it is a party or by which it
may be bound;
(iii) It has not
granted, and shall not grant, any right to any Third Party which
would conflict with the rights granted to the other Party
hereunder; and
(iv) It is not a
party to any agreement that would prevent it from granting the
rights granted to the other Party under this Agreement or
performing its obligations under this Agreement. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement shall not
violate, conflict with or constitute a default under any agreement
(including its corporate charter or other organizational documents)
to which it is a party or to which it may be bound, or to its best
knowledge, any applicable Laws or order of any court or other
tribunal.
6.2 Novimmune represents and warrants
and covenants to TGTX that as of the Effective Date:
(i) All rights
pertaining to the Novimmune Product Patents and Novimmune Platform
Patents are owned by Novimmune;
(ii) The Novimmune
Product Patents and Novimmune Platform Patents are not subject to
any encumbrance, lien or claim or ownership by any Third Party that
is inconsistent with the rights and licenses granted to TGTX
hereunder;
(iii) Novimmune
owns or possesses adequate right, title and interest in the
Novimmune Product Patents and Novimmune Platform Patents to grant
the license thereto to TGTX as provided in this
Agreement;
(iv) No claim or
litigation has been brought, or is threatened to be brought, by any
person or entity (A) alleging that any of the Novimmune Product
Patents or Novimmune Platform Patents in the Territory is invalid
or unenforceable, or (B) alleging that use of the Novimmune Product
Patents or Novimmune Platform Patents in the Territory infringes or
otherwise conflicts or interferes with any intellectual property or
proprietary right of any Third Party;
(v) No
Third Party has infringed or misappropriated any Novimmune Product
Patents by making, using, importing, offering for sale or selling
the Compound or the Product and, as of the Effective Date, there is
no actual or threatened infringement or misappropriation of the
Novimmune Know How by any Third Party by making, using, importing,
offering for sale or selling the Compound or the
Product;
(vi) To
Novimmune’s knowledge, neither A) TGTX’s exercise of
its rights hereunder with respect to the Novimmune Product Patents
or Novimmune Platform Patents, nor (B) TGTX’s Development or
Commercialization of the Product in the Territory, shall infringe
any valid and enforceable Patent of any Third
Party;
(vii) This
Agreement is consistent with all Novimmune’s Third Party
license agreements in all respects and does not conflict with,
violate, breach or otherwise give rise to a default by Novimmune
under, any term of any Novimmune Third Party license
agreement;
(viii) Novimmune
has obtained any and all consents, if any, required from Third
Parties for Novimmune to enter into this Agreement and to grant to
TGTX the licenses and other rights provided herein and has provided
a copy of such consents to TGTX;
(ix) Novimmune has
not received any written notice from any Third Party claiming that
the manufacture, use, sale, or importation of the Compound or
Product by Novimmune prior to the Effective Date infringed any
patent owned or controlled by any Third Party;
(x) Novimmune has
not granted any license or other right to any Third Party regarding
the Compound or the Product and/or the Novimmune Product Patents;
and
(xi) Novimmune has
not received any grant from or entered into any agreement with any
government and/or any of its subdivisions or federal governmental
bodies, or any other governmental bodies, regarding the Compound or
the Product and/or the Novimmune Product
Patents.
(xii) Novimmune has
ended its CD47/CD19 bispecific antibody program and will not engage
in a future program that will produce bispecific antibodies that
target CD47/CD19.
6.3
Representations,
Warranties, and Covenants of TGTX.
6.3.1 TGTX agrees that all of its
activities, and the activities of its Affiliates related to its use
of the Novimmune Product and Platform Patents and Novimmune
Know-How and all Development and Commercialization of the Product
including the transport, storage, sale and promotion thereof,
pursuant to this Agreement shall comply with all applicable legal
and regulatory requirements. TGTX and its Affiliates shall not
engage in any activities that use the Novimmune Product and
Platform Patents and/or Novimmune Know-How in a manner that is
outside the scope of the license rights granted to TGTX hereunder.
TGTX represents and warrants that it will comply with the U.K.
Bribery Act, the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and
any and all other applicable Laws prohibiting corruption or bribery
(collectively referred to as the “Anti-Corruption
Laws”).
6.3.2 TGTX represents, warrants, and
covenants that (i) the issuance of the Shares has been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action; (ii) upon issuance,
the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable,
free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, restrictions (including
under the Securities Act), charges, security interests, rights of
first refusal and preemptive rights; and (iii) TGTX shall reserve
from its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, a
sufficient number of shares of Common Stock to issue Novimmune the
shares in accordance with Article 6 hereof.
6.4 No
Other Representations or Warranties: Except as expressly set
forth in this Agreement, EACH PARTY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL
WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT
LIMITATION THE WARRANTIES OF DESIGN, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES, OR ARISING FROM A COURSE OF DEALING, USAGE
OR TRADE PRACTICES
7
INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE
7.1 TGTX shall indemnify, defend, and
hold harmless Novimmune and its Affiliates and their respective
directors, officers, employees and agents (each, a “Novimmune Indemnitee”) from
and against any and all claims, suits, actions, demands,
liabilities, expenses and/or loss, including reasonable legal
expense and attorneys’ fees (collectively, “Losses”), to which any
Novimmune Indemnitee may become subject as a result of any claim,
demand, action or other proceeding (each, a “Claim”) by any Third Party
to the extent such Losses arise out of or result from (a) any
breach by TGTX of its representations, warranties, covenants or
obligations in this Agreement or (b) the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of TGTX and its Affiliates or Sublicensees;
except, in each case, to the extent such claim is caused by a
breach of this Agreement by Novimmune or the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of Novimmune.
7.2 Novimmune shall
indemnify, defend, and hold harmless TGTX and its Affiliates and
their respective directors, officers, employees and agents (each, a
“TGTX
Indemnitee”) from and against any and all Losses to
which any TGTX Indemnitee may become subject as a result of any
Claim by a Third Party to the extent such Losses arise out of or
result from (a) any breach by Novimmune of its representations,
warranties, covenants or obligations in this Agreement, or (b) the
gross negligence or willful misconduct of Novimmune or its
Affiliates; except, in each case, to the extent such claim is
caused by a breach of this Agreement by TGTX or the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of TGTX.
7.3 For purposes of Sections
7.1 and 7.2, the Novimmune Indemnitee or TGTX Indemnitee (the
“Indemnified
Party”) shall give prompt written notice to the other
Party (the “Indemnifying
Party”) of any claims, suits or proceedings by Third
Parties which may give rise to any claim for which indemnification
may be required under Section 7.1 or 7.2; provided, however, that failure to give
such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its
obligation to provide indemnification hereunder except, if and to
the extent that such failure materially and adversely affects the
ability of the Indemnifying Party to defend the applicable claim,
suit or proceeding. The Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to
assume the defence and control of any such claim at its own cost
and expense; provided, however, that the Indemnified Party shall
have the right to be represented by its own counsel at its own cost
in such matters. Neither the Indemnifying Party nor the Indemnified
Party shall settle or dispose of any such matter in any manner
which would adversely affect the rights or interests of the other
Party (including the obligation to indemnify hereunder) without the
prior written consent of the other Party, which shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed. Each Party shall reasonably
cooperate with the other Party and its counsel in the course of the
defence of any such suit, claim or demand, such cooperation to
include without limitation using reasonable efforts to provide or
make available documents, information and witnesses.
7.4 At and during such time as TGTX, its
Affiliates, or its Sublicensees, begins clinical testing, sale or
distribution of Products, TGTX shall (and shall require its
Affiliates and Sublicensees to) at its sole expense, procure and
maintain commercially reasonable insurance policies as would be
maintained by similarly situated pharmaceutical companies
consistent with the current industry standards for similar
products, and compliant with any applicable law or
regulation.
7.5 EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO A BREACH OF
SECTION 10 HEREOF, IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE FOR
INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE OR SPECIAL DAMAGES OF
THE OTHER PARTY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT,
HOWEVER CAUSED, UNDER ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY EVEN IF ADVISED OF
THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
8
CONFIDENTIALITY
8.1 Except to the extent expressly
authorized by this Agreement or otherwise agreed in writing by the
Parties, each Party agrees that, for the Term and until the later
of (i) the 24 ( * ) anniversary of the Effective
Date, or (ii) * ( * ) years after the
expiration or termination of the Term, it shall keep confidential
and shall not publish or otherwise disclose, and shall not use for
any purpose other than as provided for in this
Agreement, any
Confidential Information furnished to it by the other Party
pursuant to this Agreement except for that portion of such
information or materials that the receiving Party can demonstrate
by competent written proof:
(a)
was already known
to the receiving Party or its Affiliate, other than under an
obligation of confidentiality to the disclosing Party, at the time
of disclosure by the other Party, as evidenced by written
documentation;
(b)
was generally
available to the public or otherwise part of the public domain at
the time of its disclosure to the receiving
Party;
(c)
became generally
available to the public or otherwise part of the public domain
after it disclosure and other than through any act or omission of
the receiving Party in breach of this
Agreement;
(d)
was disclosed to
the receiving Party or its Affiliate by a Third Party without
obligations of confidentiality with respect thereto;
or
(e)
was independently
discovered or developed by the receiving Party or its Affiliate
without the aid, application, or use of Confidential Information of
the other Party, as evidenced by written documentation; provided,
however, that this exception shall not apply to information or
materials consisting of data and results generated or resulting
from Development activities with respect to the Product,
which information and materials shall be deemed Confidential
Information of the Party who has developed such information or
materials regardless of whether such information and materials were
independently discovered or developed by the receiving Party or its
Affiliate.
8.2 Authorized Disclosure. Each Party
may disclose Confidential Information belonging to the other Party
to the extent such disclosure is reasonably necessary in the
following situations:
(a)
filing or
prosecuting Patents as permitted in this
Agreement;
(b)
regulatory
submissions and other filings with Governmental Authorities,
including filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission;
(c)
prosecuting or
defending litigation or other proceedings or regulatory
actions;
(d)
complying with
applicable Laws;
(e)
disclosure to its
employees, agents, and consultants, and any Third Parties
(and potential licensees and) with which a Party is Developing or
Commercializing the Product) only on a need-to-know basis and
solely as necessary in connection with the performance of this
Agreement, provided that in each case the recipient of such
Confidential Information must agree to be bound by similar
obligations of confidentiality and non-use at least as equivalent
in scope as those set forth in this Article 10 prior to any
such disclosure; and
(f)
disclosure of the
material financial terms of this Agreement to any bona fide
potential investor, investment banker, acquiror, merger partner, or
other potential financial partner; provided that in connection with
such disclosure, the disclosing Party shall use all reasonable
efforts to inform each recipient of the confidential nature of such
Confidential Information and shall cause each recipient of such
Confidential Information to treat such Confidential Information as
confidential.
8.3 The Parties agree that the terms of
this Agreement shall be treated as Confidential Information by both
Parties.
8.4 The Parties acknowledge that each
Party may desire or be required to issue press releases or to make
other public disclosures relating to this Agreement or its terms.
The Parties agree to consult with each other reasonably and in good
faith with respect to the text and timing of such press releases or
other public disclosures prior to the issuance thereof, provided
that a Party may not unreasonably withhold consent to such
releases, and that either Party may issue such press releases as it
determines, based on advice of counsel, are reasonably necessary to
comply with laws or regulations. In addition, following an initial
press release announcing this Agreement, each Party shall be free
to disclose, without the other Party’s prior written consent,
the existence of this Agreement, the identity of the other Party
and those terms of this Agreement which have already been publicly
disclosed in accordance herewith.
8.5 Subject to Section 8.4, TGTX shall
not use the name “Novimmune” nor any variation or
adaptation thereof, nor any trademark, tradename or other
designation owned by Novimmune or its Affiliates, nor the names of
any of its officers, employees or agents, for any purpose without
the prior written consent of the other Party in each instance,
except that TGTX may state that it has licensed from Novimmune one
or more of the patents and/or applications within the Novimmune
Patents, and TGTX may use Novimmune’s logo on TGTX’s
corporate website and corporate presentation materials for such
purpose, subject to Novimmune’s prior review and approval
(not to be unreasonably withheld) of TGTX’s proposed use
thereof.
8.6 Subject to Section 8.4, Novimmune
shall not use the name of “TGTX” or its Affiliates nor
any variation or adaptation thereof, nor any trademark, tradename
or other designation owned by TGTX or its Affiliates, nor the names
of any of its officers, employees or agents, for any purpose
without the prior written consent of the other Party in each
instance, except that Novimmune may state that it has licensed to
TGTX one or more of the patents and/or applications within the
Novimmune Patents, and Novimmune may use TGTX’s logo on
Novimmune’s corporate website and corporate presentation
materials for such purpose, subject to TGTX’s prior review
and approval (not to be unreasonably withheld) of Novimmune’s
proposed use thereof.
8.7 Each Party recognizes that the
publication by TGTX of Data and other information regarding
Compounds and Products, such as by public oral presentation,
manuscript or abstract, may be beneficial to both Parties provided
such publications are subject to reasonable controls to protect
Confidential Information. Accordingly, Novimmune shall have the
right to review and comment on any material proposed for public
oral presentation or publication by TGTX that includes Data or
other results of preclinical or clinical development of the
Compound or any Product and/or includes Confidential Information of
Novimmune. Before any such material is submitted for publication,
TGTX shall use reasonable efforts to deliver a complete copy to
Novimmune at least 25 ( * ) days prior to submitting the
material to a publisher or initiating any other disclosure.
Novimmune shall review any such material and give its comments to
TGTX within ten ( * ) * of the delivery of such material to
Novimmune. With respect to public oral presentation materials and
abstracts, Novimmune shall make reasonable efforts to expedite
review of such materials and abstracts, and shall return such items
as soon as practicable to TGTX with appropriate comments, if any,
but in no event later than ten ( * ) * from the date of delivery to
Novimmune. TGTX shall comply with Novimmune’s request to
delete references to Novimmune’s Confidential Information in
any such material. In addition, if any such publication contains
patentable subject matter, then at Novimmune’s request, TGTX
shall either delete the patentable subject matter from such
publication or delay any submission for publication or other public
disclosure for a period of up to an additional * ( * )
days so that appropriate patent applications may be prepared and
filed.
8.8 Subject to Section 8.7,
TGTX and its contractors, including without limitation clinical
research organizations, shall have the right to publish results of
all clinical trials of the Compound or any Product on TGTX’s
clinical trial register, and such publication will not be a breach
of the confidentiality obligations provided in this Article
8.
8.9 All obligations of confidentiality and
non-use imposed under this Article 8 shall expire 26 ( * ) years after the date of
termination or expiration of this Agreement.
9
EXPIRY OF THE AGREEMENT; CONSEQUENCES OF EXPIRY
9.1 Unless terminated earlier pursuant
to Article 10 or other mutual written agreement, this Agreement
shall commence upon the Effective Date and shall expire, on a
country-by-country basis on the expiration of the Royalty Term (the
“Royalty
Term”).
10
TERMINATION
10.1 TGTX Termination with Cause: TGTX
may terminate this Agreement at any time for Cause upon
* ( * ) days’ prior written notice to
Novimmune.
10.2 TGTX Termination: TGTX may terminate
this Agreement at any time for any reason upon * ( * )
days’ prior written notice to Novimmune.
10.3 Novimmune Termination for TGTX Diligence
Failure: If TGTX does not correct a failure to use Diligent
Efforts within the applicable period specified in, or determined in
accordance with, Section 3.2.5 (b) (a “Diligence
Failure”), Novimmune shall have the right to terminate
this Agreement on * ( * ) days’ written notice to TGTX unless
TGTX cures such Diligence Failure before the end of such * ( * )
day period.
10.4 Termination for Material Breach:
Each Party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement upon *
( * ) days’ (or * ( * ) days’ in the case of failure to
make payment of amounts due hereunder) prior written notice to the
other Party in the event of the material breach of any term or
condition of this Agreement by the other Party, unless the
breaching Party has cured such breach by the end of the applicable
cure period; provided,
however, that:
(a) this Section 10.4 shall not apply to
any Diligence Failure by TGTX (in which case, Novimmune’s
termination right shall be as set forth in Section 10.3);
and
(b) any right to terminate under this
Section 10.4 shall be stayed and the cure period shall be stopped
in the event that, during any cure period, the Party alleged to
have been in material breach shall have initiated dispute
resolution in accordance with Article 19 with respect to the
alleged breach, which stay and stopping shall last so long as the
dispute resolution proceedings are ongoing.
11
CONSEQUENCES OF TERMINATION
11.1 In the event of
(A) termination of this Agreement by
TGTX pursuant to Section 10.1 or 10.2:
(a) The license
granted by Novimmune to TGTX under Section 2.1 shall terminate and
revert to Novimmune on the effective date of
termination.
(b) Novimmune shall
have the right, exercisable upon written notice by Novimmune to
TGTX given within 27 ( * ) days after the effective
date of such termination, to obtain, and effective upon such
notice, TGTX shall, and it hereby does, grant to Novimmune, a
perpetual, non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing license, with
the right to sublicense, under TGTX Intellectual Property Rights
(which, for purposes of this Section 11.1(A)(b) shall not include
the Joint Patents or the Joint Know-How) solely to develop, make,
have made, use, sell, offer for sale, have sold and import the
Compound and Products in the Field of Use, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth below in subparagraph (c). In
consideration for such exclusive license, Novimmune shall pay to
TGTX a royalty that is * % of the royalty amounts set forth in
section 4.3.3 herein.
TGTX shall provide
to Novimmune when enforcing any such rights under this Section
11.1(A)(b) reasonable assistance in such enforcement, at
Novimmune’s request and cost, including joining such action
as a party plaintiff if required by applicable Law to pursue such
action.
In addition, TGTX
shall, and it hereby does, upon such Termination grant to
Novimmune, (i) a perpetual, exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free
license, with the right to sublicense, under the Joint Patents; and
(ii) a perpetual, exclusive, royalty-free license to the Joint
Know-How, in each case solely to develop, make, have made, use,
sell, offer for sale, have sold and import the Compound and
Products in the Field of Use, subject to the terms and conditions
set forth below in subparagraph (c). TGTX shall provide
to Novimmune when enforcing any such rights under this Section
11.1(A)(b) reasonable assistance in such enforcement, at
Novimmune’s request and cost, including joining such action
as a party plaintiff if required by applicable Law to pursue such
action.
(c) TGTX
shall:
(i) at no cost to
Novimmune transfer to Novimmune as soon as reasonably practicable
all Data and information in TGTX’s or its Affiliates’
Control and possession relating to the Compound or Products as may
be necessary to enable Novimmune to practice such
license,
(ii) at no cost to
Novimmune transfer and assign to Novimmune all of its right, title
and interest in and to all INDs, BLAs, drug dossiers and master
files with respect to any and all Products and all regulatory
approvals with respect to any and all Products, and
(iii) Take such
other commercially reasonable actions and shall execute such other
instruments, assignments and documents as may be necessary to
effect the transfer of rights under this subparagraph (c) to
Novimmune, including without limitation assignments of any
contracts, including sublicensing agreements, related to the
Development and Commercialization of any Product or New Product,
unless such assignment is prohibited by a contract and the
applicable consent cannot be reasonably procured at reasonable
cost. TGTX will use reasonable commercial efforts to
obtain the consent of any third-party to any contract or agreement
related to the Development or Commercialization of the Product or a
New Product, which consent is required for the assignment of any
such contract or agreement from TGTX to Novimmune, provided,
however, that any cash payment required by TGTX in order to procure
any such consent shall be deemed not commercially
reasonable. Prior to receipt of such consent, TGTX shall
make available to Novimmune all rights and other benefits of such
contracts, on a subcontract or sublease basis or in some other
appropriate manner to the fullest extent reasonably practicable and
permitted by the terms of the contract or otherwise consented to by
the other party to such contract, and Novimmune shall be considered
an independent subcontractor or sublessee of TGTX, with respect to
all matters concerning such contracts.
(B) termination of this Agreement by
TGTX pursuant to Section 10.4:
(a) the license
granted by Novimmune to TGTX pursuant to Section 2.1 remains in
full force and effect in accordance with its terms and until such
time on a country-by-country basis (i.e. partial) as the expiration
of the Royalty Term or Entire territory , subject to TGTX’s
compliance with Article 4;
(b) all
notification and reporting rights of Novimmune shall terminate and
be of no further force or effect;
(c) pending the
outcome of arbitration proceedings pursuant to Article 17, TGTX
shall have the right to pay all amounts that become due under
Article 4 after such termination into an escrow account with a
reputable bank, and to the extent the arbitrators award damages to
TGTX, the arbitrators shall be authorized, in their discretion, (i)
to cause the release to TGTX of all or any part of the escrowed
funds in partial or full satisfaction of such award, and/or (ii) to
adjust the amounts payable by TGTX to Novimmune under this
Agreement to compensate TGTX for damages suffered by TGTX as a
result of Novimmune’ material breach.
(C)
termination of this Agreement by
Novimmune pursuant to Section 10.3, or termination of
this Agreement by Novimmune pursuant to Section 10.4 (subject to
paragraph (b) thereof):
(a) The license
granted by Novimmune to TGTX under Section 2.1 shall terminate and
revert to Novimmune on the effective date of
termination.
(b) Novimmune shall
have the right, exercisable upon written notice by Novimmune to
TGTX given within 28 ( * ) days after the effective date
of such termination, to obtain, and effective upon such notice,
TGTX shall, and it hereby does, grant to Novimmune, a perpetual,
non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing license, with the right
to sublicense, under TGTX Intellectual Property Rights (which, for
purposes of this Section 11.1(C)(b) shall not include the Joint
Patents or the Joint Know-How) solely to develop, make, have made,
use, sell, offer for sale, have sold and import the Compound and
Products in the Field of Use, subject to the terms and conditions
set forth below in subparagraph (c). TGTX shall provide
to Novimmune when enforcing any such rights under this Section
11.1(C)(b) reasonable assistance in such enforcement, at
Novimmune’s request and cost, including joining such action
as a party plaintiff if required by applicable Law to pursue such
action. In consideration for such license, Novimmune
shall pay to TGTX a royalty based on the fair market value of such
license. The royalty will be negotiated in good faith by the
Parties within * ( * ) days following the effective date of the
termination. If the Parties cannot agree on the terms of
the royalty, the parties will select a disinterested Third Party to
determine the fair market value of the license (the
“Appraiser”). Once the Appraiser is selected, the
Appraiser shall be instructed to furnish a written appraisal within
* ( * ) days of it selection. TGTX shall bear the
Appraiser’s reasonable costs and expenses. The fair
market value royalty will be paid out of Novimmune’s gross
profits following the first commercial sale of the Product, and
which gross profits will be based on all amounts paid to Novimmune
from its sublicensing or from sales directly or indirectly in the
particular country or Territory. The term of such
royalty will expire on the expiration of the * .
TGTX shall, and it
hereby does, upon such Termination grant to Novimmune, (i) a
perpetual, exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license, with the
right to sublicense, under the Joint Patents; and (ii) a perpetual,
exclusive, royalty-free license to the Joint Know-How, in each case
solely to develop, make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale, have
sold and import the Compound and Products in the Field of Use,
subject to the terms and conditions set forth below in subparagraph
(c). TGTX shall provide to Novimmune when enforcing any
such rights under this Section 11.1(C)(b) reasonable assistance in
such enforcement, at Novimmune’s request and cost, including
joining such action as a party plaintiff if required by applicable
Law to pursue such action.
(c) TGTX
shall:
(i) at no cost to
Novimmune , transfer to Novimmune as soon as reasonably practicable
all Data and information in TGTX’s or its Affiliates’
Control and possession relating to the Compound or Products as may
be necessary to enable Novimmune to practice such license; (ii) at
no cost to Novimmune, transfer and assign to Novimmune
all of its right, title and interest in and to all INDs, BLAs, drug
dossiers and master files with respect to any and all Products and
all regulatory approvals with respect to any and all Products; and
(iii) Take such other commercially reasonable actions and shall
execute such other instruments, assignments and documents as may be
necessary to effect the transfer of rights under this subparagraph
(c) to Novimmune, including without limitation assignments of any
contracts, including sublicensing agreements, related to the
Development and Commercialization of any Product or New Product,
unless such assignment is prohibited by a contract and the
applicable consent cannot be reasonably procured at reasonable
cost. TGTX shall use reasonable commercial efforts to
obtain the consent of any third-party to any contract or agreement
related to the Development or Commercialization of the Product or a
New Product, which consent is required for the assignment of any
such contract or agreement from TGTX to Novimmune, provided,
however, that any cash payment required by TGTX in order to procure
any such consent shall be deemed not commercially
reasonable. Prior to receipt of such consent, TGTX shall
make available to Novimmune all rights and other benefits of such
contracts, on a subcontract or sublease basis or in some other
appropriate manner to the fullest extent reasonably practicable and
permitted by the terms of the contract or as consented to by the
other party to the contract, and Novimmune shall be considered an
independent subcontractor or sublicensee of TGTX, with respect to
all matters concerning such contracts.
(d) pending the
outcome of arbitration proceedings pursuant to Article 19, TGTX
shall pay all amounts that become due under Article 6 after such
termination into an escrow account with a reputable bank, and to
the extent the arbitrators award damages to Novimmune, the
arbitrators shall be authorized, in their discretion, (i) to cause
the release to Novimmune of all or any part of the escrowed funds
in partial or full satisfaction of such award, and/or (ii) to
adjust the amounts payable to Novimmune under this Agreement to
compensate Novimmune for damages suffered by Novimmune as a result
of TGTX’s material breach.
11.2 Any termination of this Agreement
shall be without prejudice to any rights or obligations which have
accrued to any Party prior to such termination. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, termination of this Agreement
shall not preclude either Party from claiming any other damages,
compensation or relief that it may be entitled to
hereunder.
12 SURVIVING
PROVISIONS
Sections 4.4 and
Articles 1, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19 and 21 shall survive
termination or expiration of this Agreement.
13 NOTICES
Notices required or
permitted to be made or given to either Party hereto pursuant to
this Agreement shall be sufficiently made or given on the date of
mailing if sent to such Party by certified or registered mail,
postage prepaid, addressed to it at its address set forth or to
such other address as it shall designate in the course of this
Agreement by written notice to the other Party as
follows:
If to Novimmune:
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If to TGTX:
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Novimmune
Attention:
Novimmune 14 ch.
des Aulx, 1228 Plan-Les-Ouates, Geneva,Switzerland
Email-
Legal@Novimmune.com
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TGTX
Attention: Hari
Miskin
TG Therapeutics,
Inc.
2 Gansevoort Street
| 9th Floor
New York, NY
10014
U.S.A.
Email –
hm@tgtxinc.com
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14
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
The relationship of
TGTX and Novimmune under this Agreement is intended to be that of
an independent contractor. Nothing contained in this Agreement is
intended or is to be construed so as to constitute the Parties as
partners or joint ventures or either Party as an agent or employee
of the other. Neither Party has any express or implied right or
authority under this Agreement to assume or create any obligations
on behalf of or in the name of the other, or to bind the other
Party to any contract, agreement or undertaking with any Third
Party.
15
COMPLETE AGREEMENT
The Parties hereto
acknowledge that this Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and
understanding of the Parties, and supersedes all prior written or
oral agreements or understandings with respect to the subject
matter hereof, including JV Agreement, but excluding:
(a) that
certain Confidentiality Agreement between the Parties dated
15th
February 2018 (the “Original
Confidentiality Agreement”), which shall remain in
full force and effect in accordance with its terms; provided, however, that all
“Confidential Information” (as defined by the Original
Confidentiality Agreement) of Novimmune relating to its CD47/CD19
bi-specific antibody programs, shall be deemed Confidential
Information for purposes of this Agreement; and
(b) In the event of
any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the
provisions of the Original Confidentiality Agreement, this
Agreement shall control. No modification of this Agreement shall be
deemed to be valid unless in writing and signed by both
Parties
16
ASSIGNMENT
Except as expressly
provided hereunder, neither this Agreement nor any rights or
obligations hereunder may be assigned or otherwise transferred by
either Party without the prior written consent of the other Party
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided, however, that either Party
may assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations hereunder
without the other Party’s consent: (a) in connection with the
transfer or sale of all or substantially all of the business of
such Party to which this Agreement relates to a Third Party,
whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise
(each, a “Change of Control
Transaction”), provided that in the event of a Change
of Control Transaction in which the acquiring party is a Third
Party, intellectual property rights of the acquiring party to such
Change of Control Transaction that exist prior to the effective
time of such Change of Control Transaction shall not be included in
the technology licensed hereunder or otherwise subject to this
Agreement; or (b) to an Affiliate, provided that no such assignment
to an Affiliate shall relieve the assigning Party of its
obligations hereunder. The rights and obligations of the Parties
under this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of the successors and permitted assigns of the Parties. Any
assignment not in accordance with this Agreement shall be
void.
17
GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
17.1
English Language; Governing Law.
This Agreement was prepared in the English language, which language
shall govern the interpretation of, and any dispute regarding, the
terms of this Agreement. This Agreement and all disputes
arising out of or related to this Agreement or any breach hereof
shall be governed by and construed under the Laws of the State of
New York without giving effect to any choice of law principles that
would require the application of the Laws of a different
state.
(a)
The Parties
recognize that disputes as to certain matters may from time to time
arise during the Term which relate to either Party’s rights
or obligations hereunder. It is the objective of the Parties
to establish procedures to facilitate the resolution of disputes
arising under this Agreement in an expedient manner by mutual
cooperation and without resort to litigation. To accomplish
this objective, the Parties agree to follow the procedures set
forth in this Section 17.2 to resolve any controversy or claim
arising out of, relating to or in connection with any provision of
this Agreement, if and when a dispute arises under this
Agreement. With respect to all disputes arising between the
Parties, including, without limitation, any alleged failure to
perform, or breach, of this Agreement, or any issue relating to the
interpretation or application of this Agreement, if the Parties are
unable to resolve such dispute within 29 ( * ) days after such dispute is
first identified by either Party in writing to the other, the
Parties shall refer such dispute to the senior executive officers
for each Party for attempted resolution by good faith negotiations
within * ( * ) days after such notice is received. If the
senior executive officers designated by the Parties are not able to
resolve such dispute within such * ( * ) day period, either Party
may submit such dispute in accordance with
Section 17.2(b).
(b)
Arbitration. Any
dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including the
breach, termination or validity thereof, which has not been
resolved by the executives of the Parties as provided herein will
be finally resolved by arbitration in accordance with the CPR Rules
for Non-Administered Arbitration then currently in effect, by three
arbitrators of whom each party will appoint one in accordance with
the ‘screened’ appointment procedure provided in Rule
5.4, provided, however, that if one party fails to participate in
either the negotiation or mediation as agreed herein, the other
party can commence arbitration prior to the expiration of the time
periods set forth above. The arbitration will be governed by the
Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§1 et seq., and
judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be
entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof. The place of
arbitration will be New York, NY. The award may be made
a judgment by any court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to the
New York Convention, 9 U.S.C. § 201 et seq., and for this
purpose the Party against whom the award is made will agree to the
personal jurisdiction of the court in which recognition is sought
and will not raise any argument of forum non
conveniens.
(c)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Article 19, either Party may
seek injunctive relief in any court in any jurisdiction where
appropriate.
18 FORCE
MAJEURE
18.1 Neither Party shall be liable for a
failure to comply with a provision herein, if it is prevented from
performing the said provision because of force majeure, this notion
being defined as an event beyond the control of the Parties and
independent from their will including, but not limited to, strikes
or other labor trouble, war, insurrection, fire, flood, explosion,
extreme weather and storms, discontinuity in supply of power, court
order or governmental interference
18.2 Despite the event of force majeure,
either Party hereto shall undertake reasonable efforts to comply to
the extent possible with its obligations towards the other Party,
pursuant to this Agreement.
18.3 The Party invoking an event of
force majeure shall notify it forthwith to the other Party, and
must specify which one or ones of its obligations it is being
prevented from complying with, and the nature of force majeure, and
must give an estimate of the period during which it is likely that
it shall be prevented from complying with the said obligation or
obligations
19
MISCELLANEOUS
19.1 If any provision of this Agreement
should be or become fully or partly invalid or unenforceable for
any reason whatsoever or should violate any applicable law, this
Agreement is to be considered divisible as to such provision and
such provision is to be deemed deleted from this Agreement, and the
remainder of this Agreement shall be valid and binding as if such
provision were not included therein. There shall be substituted for
any such provision deemed to be deleted a suitable provision which,
as far as is legally possible, comes nearest to the sense and
purpose of the stricken provision
19.2 Failure by any Party to enforce any
term or provision of this Agreement in any specific instance or
instances hereunder shall not constitute a waiver by such Party of
any such term or provision, and such Party may enforce such term or
provision in any subsequent instance without any limitation or
penalty whatsoever.
19.3 This Agreement is neither expressly
nor impliedly made for the benefit of any entity other than the
Parties.
19.4 The headings set forth in this
Agreement are for convenience only and do not qualify or affect the
terms or conditions of this Agreement. Ambiguities and
uncertainties in this Agreement, if any, shall not be interpreted
against either Party, irrespective of which Party may be deemed to
have caused the ambiguity or uncertainty to exist. This Agreement
has been prepared in the English language, and the English language
shall control its interpretation. In addition, all notices required
or permitted to be given hereunder, and all written, electronic,
oral or other communications between the Parties regarding this
Agreement shall be in the English language.
19.5 No waiver of any right or remedy
hereunder shall be effective unless provided in writing executed by
the waiving Party.
19.6 The agreement survives in case
either Party is acquired or goes bankrupt.
19.7 This Agreement may be executed in
one (1) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the
same instrument. This Agreement shall be binding upon
the delivery by each Party of an executed signature page to the
other Party by facsimile or electronic transmission. If
signature pages are so delivered by facsimile or electronic
transmission, each Party shall also immediately deliver an executed
original counterpart of this Agreement to the other Party by
courier delivery service.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly
authorized representatives as of the Effective Date
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TG
THERAPEUTICS, INC.
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NOVIMMUNE
SA
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Name:
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Name:
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Title
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Title:
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Date:
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Date:
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8 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
9 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
10 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
11 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
12 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
13 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
14 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
15 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
16 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
17 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
18 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
19 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
20 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
21 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
22 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
23 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
24 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
25 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
26 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
27 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
28 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
29 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED. Confidential portions of this document
have been redacted and have been separately filed with the
Commission.
Exhibit
G
NI-1701
Study Reports & Mapping
30 Confidential
material redacted and filed separately with the
Commission.
Blueprint
Exhibit
31.1
CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I,
Michael S. Weiss, certify that:
1.
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I have
reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of TG Therapeutics,
Inc.;
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2.
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Based
on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the
period covered by this report;
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3.
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Based
on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in
this report;
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4.
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The
registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible
for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange
Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and
have:
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a)
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Designed
such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure
controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to
ensure that material information relating to the registrant,
including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by
others within those entities, particularly during the period in
which this report is being prepared;
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b)
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Designed
such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such
internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our
supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles;
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c)
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Evaluated
the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and
procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the
end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation;
and
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d)
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Disclosed
in this report any change in the registrant’s internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during the
registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the
registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual
report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over
financial reporting; and
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5.
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The
registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed,
based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the
audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or
persons performing the equivalent functions):
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a)
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All
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s
ability to record, process, summarize and report financial
information; and
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b)
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Any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s
internal control over financial reporting.
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Date:
August 9, 2018
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/s/
Michael S. Weiss
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Michael
S. Weiss
Executive
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
Principal
Executive Officer
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Blueprint
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Sean
A. Power, certify that:
1.
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I have
reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of TG Therapeutics,
Inc.;
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2.
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Based
on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the
period covered by this report;
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3.
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Based
on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in
this report;
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4.
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The
registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible
for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange
Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and
have:
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a)
|
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Designed
such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure
controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to
ensure that material information relating to the registrant,
including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by
others within those entities, particularly during the period in
which this report is being prepared;
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b)
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Designed
such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such
internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our
supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles;
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c)
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Evaluated
the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and
procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the
end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation;
and
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d)
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Disclosed
in this report any change in the registrant’s internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during the
registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the
registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual
report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over
financial reporting; and
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5.
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The
registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed,
based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the
audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or
persons performing the equivalent functions):
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a)
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All
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s
ability to record, process, summarize and report financial
information; and
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b)
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Any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s
internal control over financial reporting.
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Date:
August 9, 2018
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/s/
Sean A. Power
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Sean A.
Power
Chief
Financial Officer
Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer
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Blueprint
Exhibit
32.1
STATEMENT OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF
TG THERAPEUTICS, INC.
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In
connection with the quarterly report of TG Therapeutics, Inc. (the
“Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30,
2018 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Report”), I, Michael S. Weiss, Chief Executive Officer
of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as
adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
that, based on my knowledge:
1) The
Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2) The
information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of
operations of the Company.
Date:
August 9, 2018
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/s/
Michael S. Weiss
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Michael
S. Weiss
Executive
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
Principal
Executive Officer
|
Blueprint
Exhibit 32.2
STATEMENT OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF
TG THERAPEUTICS, INC.
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In
connection with the quarterly report of TG Therapeutics, Inc. (the
“Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30,
2018 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Report”), I, Sean A. Power, Chief Financial Officer of
the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted
pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that,
based on my knowledge:
1) The Report
fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2) The
information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of
operations of the Company.
Date:
August 9, 2018
|
|
/s/
Sean A. Power
|
|
Sean A.
Power
Chief
Financial Officer
Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer
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