Commitments and Contingencies |
3 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2021 | |
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| Commitments and Contingencies | Commitments and Contingencies Litigation
Litigation - General
The Company may become party to various contractual disputes, litigation, and potential claims arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company currently does not believe that the resolution of such matters will have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations except as otherwise disclosed in this report.
Karbinal Royalty Make-Whole Provision
In 2018, in connection with the acquisition of Avadel’s pediatric products, the Company entered into a supply and distribution agreement (the “Karbinal Agreement”) with TRIS Pharma Inc. (“TRIS”). As part of the Karbinal Agreement, the Company had an annual minimum sales commitment, which is based on a commercial year that spans from August 1 through July 31, of 70,000 units through 2033. The Company was required to pay TRIS a royalty make whole payment (“Make-Whole Payments”) of $30 for each unit under the 70,000 units annual minimum sales commitment through 2033.
As a part of the Aytu Divestiture, which closed on November 1, 2019, the Company assigned all payment obligations, including the Make-Whole Payments, under the Karbinal Agreement (collectively, the “TRIS Obligations”) to Aytu. However, under the original license agreement, the Company could ultimately be liable for the TRIS Obligations to the extent Aytu fails to make the required payments. The future Make-Whole Payments to be made by Aytu are unknown as the amount owed to TRIS is dependent on the number of units sold.
Millipred License and Supply Agreement
The Company has a License and Supply Agreement for Millipred® with Watson Laboratories, Inc., which is now part of Teva. Pursuant to the License and Supply Agreement, the Company is required to make license payments of $75,000 in February and August of each year through April 2021 and purchases inventory on an ad-hoc basis.
As part of a prior amendment to extend the contract to its current term, Cerecor agreed to pay Teva fifty percent of the net profit of the Millipred® product following each calendar quarter, subject to a $0.5 million quarterly minimum payment, which was set to begin on April 1, 2021. In May 2021, the Company and Teva entered into an amendment in which the net profit split will be delayed until July 1, 2021. Dr. Sol Barer is the Chairman of Cerecor’s board of directors and also serves as the Chairman of Teva’s board of directors.
Possible Future Milestone Proceeds for Out-Licensed Compounds
CERC-611 License Assignment
In August 2019, the Company entered into an assignment of license agreement (the “Assignment Agreement”) with ES Therapeutics, LLC (“ES Therapeutics”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Armistice, which is a significant stockholder of the Company and whose chief investment officer, Steven Boyd, currently serves on the Board. Pursuant to the Assignment Agreement, the Company assigned and transferred its rights, title, interest, and obligations with respect to CERC-611 to ES Therapeutics. The Company initially licensed the compound from Eli Lilly Company (“Lilly”) in September 2016. Under the Assignment Agreement, Armistice paid the Company an upfront payment of $0.1 million. The Company recognized the payment as license and other revenue in 2019. The Assignment Agreement also provides for: (a) a $7.5 million milestone payment to the Company upon cumulative net sales of licensed products reaching $750.0 million; and (b) a $12.5 million milestone payment to the Company upon cumulative net sales of licensed products reaching $1.3 billion. The Assignment Agreement also releases the Company of obligations related to CERC-611, including the $1.3 million contingent payment to Lilly upon the first subject dosage of CERC-611 in a multiple ascending dose study and from additional potential future payments due to Lilly upon achievement of certain development and commercialization milestones.
CERC-501 Sale to Janssen
In August 2017, the Company sold its worldwide rights to CERC-501 to Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Janssen”) in exchange for initial gross proceeds of $25.0 million. There is a potential future $20.0 million regulatory milestone payment to the Company upon acceptance of an NDA for any indication. The terms of the agreement provide that Janssen will assume ongoing clinical trials and be responsible for any new development and commercialization of CERC-501.
Possible Future Milestone Payments for In-Licensed Compounds
General
The Company is a party to license and development agreements with various third parties, which contain future milestone payments and other future payment obligations (discussed further below). The Company recognizes a liability (and related expense) for each milestone if and when such milestone is probable and can be reasonably estimated. As typical in the biotechnology industry, each milestone has its own unique risks that the Company evaluates when determining the probability of achieving each milestone and the probability of success evolves over time as the programs progress and additional information is obtained. The Company considers numerous factors when evaluating whether a given milestone is probable including (but not limited to) the regulatory pathway, development plan, ability to dedicate sufficient funding to reach a given milestone and the probability of success.
CERC-002 KKC License Agreement
On March 25, 2021, the Company entered into a license agreement with Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (“KKC”) for exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize CERC-002, KKC’s first-in-class fully human anti-LIGHT (TNFSF14) monoclonal antibody for all indications (the “KKC License Agreement”). The KKC License Agreement replaces the Amended and Restated Clinical Development and Option Agreement between the Company and KKC dated May 28, 2020.
Under the KKC License Agreement, the Company paid KKC an upfront license fee equal to $10.0 million. The Company will also pay KKC milestone payments based on achievement of certain success-based regulatory milestones that equal, for each of three separate indications of CERC-002, mid-teen millions of dollars or less depending on the territory to which the regulatory milestone achievement relates. In addition, the Company will pay KKC (a) royalties during a country-by-country royalty term agreement equal to mid-teens percentage of the net sales of CERC-002 by the Company, (b) sales milestone payments aggregating up to $75 million tied to achievement of annual net sales targets, and (c) a double digit percentage (less than 30%) of the payments that the Company receives from sublicensing of its rights under the KKC License Agreement, subject to certain exclusions. Subject to the option described below that allows, upon exercise, KKC to develop, manufacture and commercialize CERC-002 in Japan, the Company will be responsible for the development and commercialization of CERC-002 in all indications worldwide.
The Company granted KKC an option to exclude Japan from the scope of the worldwide rights granted to the Company such that, upon exercise of the option, KKC can develop, manufacture and commercialize CERC-002 in Japan. Upon exercise of the Option, KKC will be required to (a) reimburse the Company for a pre-agreed percentage of certain of its costs incurred to develop CERC-002 as a condition to KKC accessing the Company’s data that would be required to be included in an application for marketing authorization, (b) pay the Company for its services (such as transfer of data and regulatory support), (c) pay for all further development of CERC-002 in Japan and (d) pay any royalty due to the Company’s licensors on sales of CERC-002 in Japan. KKC will also have the right to purchase CERC-002 from the Company for use in Japan. No other amounts would be payable by KKC to the Company such as license fees, royalties and milestone payments. The option will expire if KKC does not exercise it within a set number of days after the FDA accepts for filing a Biologics License Application for a pre-defined indication of CERC-002.
The Company recognized the upfront license fee of $10.0 million within research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and made the payment in April 2021. The Company has not recognized any liabilities related to the milestones outlined in the KKC License Agreement as of March 31, 2021. The Company will continue to monitor the milestones at each reporting period.
CERC-006 Astellas License Agreement
The Company has an exclusive license agreement with OSI Pharmaceuticals, LLC, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Astellas Pharma, Inc. (“Astellas”), for the worldwide development and commercialization of the novel, second generation mTORC1/2 inhibitor (which we refer to as CERC-006). Under the terms of the license agreement, the Company paid Astellas an upfront license fee of $0.5 million and Astellas will be eligible to receive milestone payments of up to $5.5 million based upon the achievement of specified development and regulatory milestones. Upon commercialization, Astellas will be entitled to a tiered, single-digit royalty on worldwide annual net sales. Cerecor is fully responsible for the development and commercialization of the program.
For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company accrued a $0.5 million milestone payment due to Astellas upon confirmation from the FDA that an initial signal finding study may proceed in the United States given the Company concluded it was probable the Company will begin such study in 2021. The Company will continue to monitor the remaining milestones at each reporting period.
CERC-007 AstraZeneca License Agreement
The Company has an exclusive global license to develop and commercialize a Phase 2-ready fully human, anti-IL-18 monoclonal antibody (which we refer to as CERC-007) from Medimmune Limited, a subsidiary of AstraZeneca plc (“AstraZeneca”). Up to $162 million may be due to AstraZeneca upon achievement of certain development and sales-related milestones, in addition to a tiered low double-digit royalty on global annual product sales. Cerecor is fully responsible for the development and commercialization of the program.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, Cerecor recognized a $1.5 million milestone payment to AstraZeneca within research and development expenses, which was due upon initiation of the first proof-of-concept study which uses CERC-007. The Company made such payment in the first quarter of 2021. The Company will continue to monitor the remaining milestones at each reporting period.
Related Party and Acquisition Related Contingent Liabilities
CERC-006 Royalty Agreement with Certain Related Parties
Prior to Cerecor entering into the Aevi Merger, in July 2019, Aevi entered into a royalty agreement with Mike Cola, Cerecor’s current Chief Executive Officer, Joseph J. Grano, Jr., Kathleen Jane Grano, Joseph C. Grano, The Grano Children’s Trust, Joseph C. Grano, trustee and LeoGroup Private Investment Access, LLC on behalf of Garry A. Neil, Cerecor’s current Chief Scientific Officer (collectively, the “Investors”) in exchange for a one-time aggregate payment of $2.0 million (the “Royalty Agreement”). Collectively, the Investors will be entitled to an aggregate amount equal to a low-single digit percentage of the aggregate net sales of Astellas’ second generation mTORC1/2 inhibitor, CERC-006. At any time beginning three years after the date of the first public launch of CERC-006, Cerecor may exercise, at its sole discretion, a buyout option that terminates any further obligations under the Royalty Agreement in exchange for a payment to Investors of an aggregate of 75% of the net present value of the royalty payments. A majority of the independent members of the board of directors and the audit committee of Aevi approved the Royalty Agreement.
Cerecor assumed this Royalty Agreement upon closing of the Aevi Merger and it is recorded as a royalty obligation within the Company’s accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2020. Because there is a significant related party relationship between the Company and the Investors, the Company treated its obligation to make royalty payments under the Royalty Agreement as an implicit obligation to repay the funds advanced by the Investors. As the Company makes royalty payments in accordance with the Royalty Agreement, it will reduce the liability balance. At the time that such royalty payments become probable and estimable, and if such amounts exceed the liability balance, the Company will impute interest accordingly on a prospective basis based on such estimates, which would result in a corresponding increase in the liability balance.
Aevi Merger Possible Future Milestone Payments
A portion of the consideration for the Aevi Merger includes two future contingent development milestones worth up to an additional $6.5 million. The first milestone is the enrollment of a patient in a Phase 2 study related to CERC-002 for use in pediatric onset Crohn’s disease, CERC-006 (any indication) or CERC-007 (any indication) prior to February 3, 2022. If this milestone is met, the Company is required to make a milestone payment of $2.0 million. The second milestone is the receipt of a NDA approval for either CERC-006 or CERC-007 from the FDA on or prior to February 3, 2025. If this milestone is met, the Company is required to make a milestone payment of $4.5 million. All milestones are payable in either shares of the Company’s common stock or cash, at the election of the Company.
The contingent consideration related to the development milestones will be recognized if and when such milestones are probable and can be reasonably estimated. As of the consummation of the Merger on February 3, 2020 and as of March 31, 2021, no contingent consideration related to the development milestone has been recognized. The Company will continue to monitor the development milestones at each reporting period.
Ichorion Asset Acquisition Possible Future Milestone Payments
In September 2018, the Company acquired Ichorion Therapeutics, Inc. including acquiring three compounds for inherited metabolic disorders known as CDGs (CERC-801, CERC-802 and CERC-803) and one other preclinical compound. Consideration for the transaction included shares of Cerecor common stock and three future contingent development milestones for the acquired compounds worth up to an additional $15.0 million. The first milestone is the first product being approved for marketing by the FDA on or prior to December 31, 2021. If this milestone is met, the Company is required to make a milestone payment of $6.0 million. The second milestone is the second product being approved for marketing by the FDA on or prior to December 31, 2021. If this milestone is met, the Company is required to make a milestone payment of $5.0 million. The third milestone is a protide molecule being approved by the FDA on or prior to December 31, 2023. If this milestone is met, the Company is required to make a milestone payment of $4.0 million. All milestones are payable in either shares of the Company’s common stock or cash, at the election of the Company. The contingent consideration related to the development milestones will be recognized if and when such milestones are probable and can be reasonably estimated. As of March 31, 2021, no contingent consideration related to the development milestone has been recognized. The Company will continue to monitor the development milestones at each reporting period.
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