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Major Customers, Partnerships and Strategic Alliances
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Major Customers, Partnerships and Strategic Alliances

NOTE 5—MAJOR CUSTOMERS, PARTNERSHIPS AND STRATEGIC ALLIANCES

Collaboration Agreements

Kite Pharma, Inc

In February 2018, the Company entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Kite Pharma, Inc. (“Kite”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gilead Sciences, Inc., for the research, development and commercialization of potential engineered cell therapies for cancer. Kite will be responsible for all clinical development and commercialization of any resulting products. The Kite agreement became effective on April 5, 2018 when the waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and other customary closing conditions were completed.

Subject to the terms of this agreement, the Company granted Kite an exclusive, royalty-bearing, worldwide, sublicensable license, under the Company’s relevant patents and know-how, to develop, manufacture and commercialize, for the purpose of treating cancer, specific cell therapy products that may result from the research program and that are engineered ex vivo using selected zinc finger nucleases (“ZFNs”) and adeno-associated viral vectors (“AAVs”) developed under the research program, to express chimeric antigen receptors (“CARs”), T-cell receptors (“TCRs”) or NK-cell receptors (“NKRs”) directed to candidate targets.  

During the research program term and subject to certain exceptions, except pursuant to this agreement, the Company is prohibited from researching, developing, manufacturing and commercializing, for the purpose of treating cancer, any cell therapy product that, as a result of ex vivo genome editing, expresses a CAR, TCR or NKR that is directed to a target expressed on or in a human cancer cell. After the research program term concludes and subject to certain exceptions, except pursuant to this agreement, the Company will be prohibited from developing, manufacturing and commercializing, for the purpose of treating cancer, any cell therapy product that, as a result of ex vivo genome editing, expresses a CAR, TCR or NKR that is directed to a candidate target.  

Following the effective date, in April 2018, the Company received a $150 million upfront payment from Kite. In addition, Kite will reimburse the Company’s direct costs to conduct the joint research program, and Kite will be responsible for all subsequent development, manufacturing and commercialization of any licensed products. Sangamo is also eligible to receive contingent development- and sales-based milestone payments that could total up to $3.01 billion if all of the specified milestones set forth in this agreement are achieved. Of this amount, approximately $1.26 billion relates to the achievement of specified research, clinical development, regulatory and first commercial sale milestones, and approximately $1.75 billion relates to the achievement of specified sales-based milestones if annual worldwide net sales of licensed products reach specified levels. Each development- and sales-based milestone payment is payable (i) only once for each licensed product, regardless of the number of times that the associated milestone event is achieved by such licensed product, and (ii) only for the first ten times that the associated milestone event is achieved, regardless of the number of licensed products that may achieve such milestone event.  In addition, the Company will be entitled to receive escalating, tiered royalty payments with a percentage in the single digits based on potential future annual worldwide net sales of licensed products. These royalty payments will be subject to reduction due to patent expiration, entry of biosimilar products to the market and payments made under certain licenses for third-party intellectual property.  

Kite has the right to terminate this agreement, in its entirety or on a per licensed product or per candidate target basis, for any reason after a specified notice period.  Each party has the right to terminate this agreement on account of the other party’s bankruptcy or material, uncured breach.  At this time, the Company is assessing the accounting impact of the agreement.

Pfizer Inc.

SB-525 Global Collaboration and License Agreement

 

In May 2017, the Company entered into an exclusive, global collaboration and license agreement with Pfizer, pursuant to which it established a collaboration for the research, development and commercialization of SB-525, its gene therapy product candidate for hemophilia A, and closely related products.

 

Under this agreement, the Company is responsible for conducting the Phase 1/2 clinical trial and certain manufacturing activities for SB-525, while Pfizer is responsible for subsequent worldwide development, manufacturing, marketing and commercialization of SB-525. Sangamo may also collaborate in the research and development of additional AAV-based gene therapy products for hemophilia A.

The Company received an upfront fee of $70.0 million and is eligible to receive development milestone payments contingent on the achievement of specified clinical development, intellectual property, regulatory and first commercial sale milestones for SB-525 and potentially other products. In addition, Sangamo is eligible to receive $208.5 million in payments upon the achievement of specified clinical development, intellectual property and regulatory milestones and $266.5 million in payments upon first commercial sale milestones for SB-525 and potentially other products. The total amount of potential clinical development, intellectual property, regulatory, and first commercial sale milestone payments, assuming the achievement of all specified milestones in the hemophilia A Pfizer agreement, is $475.0 million, which includes up to $300.0 million for SB-525 and up to $175.0 million for other products that may be developed under the agreement, subject to reduction on account of payments made under certain licenses for third party intellectual property. In addition, Pfizer agreed to pay the Company royalties for each potential licensed product developed under the agreement that are an escalating tiered, double-digit percentage of the annual net sales of such product and are subject to reduction due to patent expiration, entry of biosimilar products to the market and payment made under certain licenses for third party intellectual property. To date, no milestone payments have been received and no products have been approved and therefore no royalty fees have been earned under the hemophilia A Pfizer agreement. Sangamo is responsible for internal and external research costs as part of the upfront fee and has the ability to request additional reimbursement from Pfizer if certain conditions are met.

None of the clinical or regulatory milestones have been included in the $70 million transaction price, as all milestone amounts are fully constrained. As part of its evaluation of the constraint, the Company considered numerous factors, including the fact that achievement of the milestones at this time is uncertain and contingent upon future periods when the uncertainty related to the variable consideration is resolved. The Company will re-evaluate the transaction price, including its estimated variable consideration included in the transaction price and all constrained amounts, in each reporting period and as uncertain events are resolved or other changes in circumstances occur.

 

Subject to the terms of the agreement, the Company granted Pfizer an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing license, with the right to grant sublicenses, to use certain technology controlled by the Company for the purpose of developing, manufacturing and commercializing SB-525 and related products. Pfizer granted the Company a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty free, fully paid license, with the right to grant sublicenses, to use certain manufacturing technology developed under the agreement and controlled by Pfizer to manufacture the Company’s products that utilize the AAV delivery system. During a specified period, neither the Company nor Pfizer will be permitted to clinically develop or commercialize, outside of the collaboration, certain AAV-based gene therapy products for hemophilia A.

 

Unless earlier terminated, the agreement has a term that continues, on a per product and per country basis, until the later of (i) the expiration of patent claims that cover the product in a country, (ii) the expiration of regulatory exclusivity for a product in a country, and (iii) fifteen years after the first commercial sale of a product in a country.  Pfizer has the right to terminate the agreement without cause in its entirety or on a per product or per country basis.  The agreement may also be terminated by either party based on an uncured material breach by the other party or the bankruptcy of the other party.  Upon termination for any reason, the license granted by the Company to Pfizer to develop, manufacture and commercialize SB-525 and related products will automatically terminate.  Upon termination by the Company for cause or by Pfizer in any country or countries, Pfizer will automatically grant the Company an exclusive, royalty-bearing license under certain technology controlled by Pfizer to develop, manufacture and commercialize SB-525 in the terminated country or countries. 

 

The Company has identified the performance obligations within the hemophilia A Pfizer agreement as a license to the technology and on-going services. The Company concluded that the license is not discrete as it does not have stand-alone value to Pfizer apart from the services to be performed by the Company pursuant to the agreement. As a result, the Company recognizes revenue from the upfront payment based on proportional performance through 2020, the estimated period the Company will perform research services. The estimated period of performance and project cost is reviewed quarterly and adjusted, as needed, to reflect the Company’s current assumptions regarding the timing of its deliverables. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had deferred revenue of $40.1 million related to this agreement. During the three months ended March 31, 2018 the Company recognized revenue of $7.7 million, related to the upfront fee that was received upon entering into the agreement.

C9ORF72 Research Collaboration and License Agreement

In December 2017, the Company entered into a separate exclusive, global collaboration and license agreement with Pfizer for the development and commercialization of potential gene therapy products that use ZFP transcription factors (“TFs”) to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (“ALS”) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (“FTLD”) linked to mutations of the C9ORF72 gene. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company agreed to work with Pfizer on a research program to identify, characterize and preclinically develop ZFP-TFs that bind to and specifically reduce expression of the mutant form of the C9ORF72 gene.

The Company received a $12.0 million upfront payment from Pfizer and is eligible to receive up to $60.0 million in development milestone payments from Pfizer contingent on the achievement of specified preclinical development, clinical development and first commercial sale milestones, and up to $90.0 million commercial milestone payments if annual worldwide net sales of the licensed products reach specified levels. In addition, Pfizer will pay the Company royalties based on an escalating tiered, mid- to high-single digit percentage of the annual worldwide net sales of the licensed products. These royalty payments are subject to reduction due to patent expiration, entry of biosimilar products to the market and payments made under certain licenses for third party intellectual property. Each party will be responsible for the cost of its performance of the research program. Pfizer will be operationally and financially responsible for subsequent development, manufacturing and commercialization of the licensed products.

None of the clinical or regulatory milestones have been included in the $12 million transaction price, as all milestone amounts are fully constrained. As part of its evaluation of the constraint, the Company considered numerous factors, including the fact that achievement of the milestones at this time is uncertain and contingent upon future periods when the uncertainty related to the variable consideration is resolved. The Company will re-evaluate the transaction price, including is estimated variable consideration included in the transaction price and all constrained amounts, in each reporting period and as uncertain events are resolved or other changes in circumstances occur.

Subject to the terms of this agreement, the Company granted Pfizer an exclusive, royalty-bearing, worldwide, license under the Company’s relevant patents and know-how to develop, manufacture and commercialize gene therapy products that use resulting ZFP-TFs that satisfy pre-agreed criteria. During a specified period, neither the Company nor Pfizer will be permitted to research, develop, manufacture or commercialize outside of the collaboration any ZFPs that specifically bind to the C9ORF72 gene.

Unless earlier terminated, the agreement has a term that continues, on a per licensed product and per country basis, until the later of (i) the expiration of patent claims that cover the licensed product in a country, (ii) the expiration of regulatory exclusivity for a licensed product in a country, and (iii) fifteen years after the first commercial sale of a licensed product in a major market country.  Pfizer also has the right to terminate the agreement without cause in its entirety or on a per product or per country basis. The agreement may also be terminated by either party based on an uncured material breach by the other party or the bankruptcy of the other party. The agreement will also terminate if the Company is unable to identify any lead candidates for development within a specified period of time or if Pfizer elects not to advance a lead candidate beyond a certain development milestone within a specified period of time. Upon termination for any reason, the license granted by the Company to Pfizer to develop, manufacture and commercialize licensed products under the agreement will automatically terminate. Upon termination by the Company for cause or by Pfizer without cause for any licensed product or licensed products in any country or countries, the Company will have the right to negotiate with Pfizer to obtain a non-exclusive, royalty-bearing license under certain technology controlled by Pfizer to develop, manufacture and commercialize the licensed product or licensed products in the terminated country or countries. 

Following termination by the Company for Pfizer’s material breach, Pfizer will not be permitted to research, develop, manufacture or commercialize ZFPs that specifically bind to the C9ORF72 gene for a period of time. Following termination by Pfizer for the Company’s material breach, the Company will not be permitted to research, develop, manufacture or commercialize ZFPs that specifically bind to the C9ORF72 gene for a period of time.

The Company has identified the performance obligations within this agreement as a license to the technology and on-going services. The Company concluded that the license is not discrete as it does not have stand-alone value to Pfizer apart from the services to be performed by the Company pursuant to the agreement. As a result, the Company recognizes revenue from the upfront payment based on proportional performance through March 31, 2019 the estimated period the Company will perform research services. The estimated period of performance and project cost is reviewed quarterly and adjusted, as needed, to reflect the Company’s current assumptions regarding the timing of its deliverables. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had deferred revenue of $11.5 million related to this agreement. During the three months ended March 31, 2018 the Company recognized revenue of $0.5 million related to the upfront fee that was received upon entering into the agreement.

Bioverativ, a Sanofi company.

In January 2014, the Company entered into an exclusive worldwide collaboration and license agreement with Bioverativ to develop therapeutics for hemoglobinopathies, focused on beta-thalassemia and sickle cell disease (“SCD”). Under the agreement, the Company is jointly conducting two research programs: the beta-thalassemia program and the SCD program. In the beta-thalassemia program, the Company is responsible for all discovery, research and development activities through the first human clinical trial. In the SCD program, both parties are responsible for research and development activities through the submission of an investigational new drug (“IND”) application for ZFP therapeutics intended to treat SCD.

Under both programs, Bioverativ is responsible for subsequent worldwide clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization of licensed products developed under the agreement. At the end of the specified research terms for each program or under certain specified circumstances, Bioverativ has the right to step in and take over any of our remaining activities. Furthermore, the Company has an option to co-promote in the United States any licensed products to treat beta-thalassemia and SCD developed under the agreement, and Bioverativ will compensate the Company for such co-promotion activities. Subject to the terms of the agreement, the Company has granted Bioverativ an exclusive, royalty-bearing license, with the right to grant sublicenses, to use certain ZFP and other technology controlled by the Company for the purpose of researching, developing, manufacturing and commercializing licensed products developed under the agreement. The Company also granted Bioverativ a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid license, with the right to grant sublicenses, under the Company’s interest in certain other intellectual property developed pursuant to the agreement. During the term of the agreement, the Company is not permitted to research, develop, manufacture or commercialize, outside of the agreement, certain gene therapy products that target genes relevant to the licensed products.

Under the agreement, the Company received an upfront license fee of $20.0 million and is eligible to receive development and sales milestone payments upon the achievement of specified regulatory, clinical development and sales milestones. In addition, the Company will also be eligible to receive $115.8 million in payments upon the achievement of specified clinical development and regulatory milestones, as well as $160.5 million in payments upon the achievement of specified sales milestones. The total amount of potential regulatory, clinical development, and sales milestone payments, assuming the achievement of all specified milestones in the agreement, is $276.3 million. In addition, the Company will receive royalty payments for each licensed product that are a tiered double-digit percentage of annual net sales of each product. Bioverativ reimburses Sangamo for agreed upon costs incurred in connection with research and development activities conducted by Sangamo. To date, no milestone payments have been received and no products have been approved and therefore no royalty fees have been earned under the Bioverativ agreement.

The agreement may be terminated by (i) the Company or Bioverativ for the uncured material breach of the other party, (ii) the Company or Bioverativ for the bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding of the other party; (iii) Bioverativ, upon 180 days’ advance written notice to the Company and (iv) Bioverativ, for certain safety reasons upon written notice to, and after consultation with, the Company. As a result, actual future milestone payments could be lower than the amounts stated above.

All contingent payments under the agreement, when earned, will be non-refundable and non-creditable. None of the clinical or regulatory milestones have been included in the $75.7 million transaction price, which includes the upfront license fee and service costs over the estimated performance period, as all milestone amounts are fully constrained. As part of its evaluation of the constraint, the Company considered numerous factors, including the fact that achievement of the milestones at this time is uncertain and contingent upon future periods when the uncertainty related to the variable consideration is resolved. The Company will re-evaluate the transaction price, including the estimated variable consideration included in the transaction price and all constrained amounts, in each reporting period and as uncertain events are resolved or other changes in circumstances occur.

The Company has identified the performance obligations within this arrangement as a license to the technology and on-going research services activities. The Company concluded that the license is not discrete as it does not have stand-alone value to Bioverativ apart from the research services to be performed pursuant to the agreement. As a result, the Company recognizes revenue from the upfront payment based on proportional performance through 2022, the estimated period the Company will perform research services. The estimated period of performance and project cost is reviewed quarterly and adjusted, as needed, to reflect the Company’s current assumptions regarding the timing of its deliverables. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had deferred revenue of $7.5 million related to this agreement.

Revenues recognized under the agreement for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

Revenue related to Bioverativ agreement:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognition of upfront fee

 

$

1,154

 

 

$

442

 

Research services

 

 

3,228

 

 

 

1,709

 

Total

 

$

4,382

 

 

$

2,151

 

 

Shire International GmbH

In January 2012, the Company entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Shire to research, develop and commercialize a ZFP therapeutic for treating Huntington’s disease. The Company received an upfront license fee of $13.0 million. In 2014, Sangamo recognized a $1.0 million milestone payment related to the hemophilia program. Shire does not have any milestone payment obligations, but is required to pay single digit percentage royalties to the Company, up to a specified maximum cap, on the commercial sales of therapeutic products for Huntington’s disease. The Company is required to pay single digit percentage royalties to Shire, up to a specified maximum cap, on commercial sales of therapeutic products from programs returned under the original agreement (which include blood clotting Factors VIII and IX) that use two zinc fingers.

Pursuant to the agreement, the Company granted Shire an exclusive, world-wide, royalty-bearing license, with the right to grant sublicenses, to use the Company’s ZFP technology for the purpose of developing and commercializing human therapeutic and diagnostic products for the HTT gene. During the term of the agreement, the Company is not permitted to research, develop or commercialize, outside of the agreement, certain products that target the HTT gene. The Company satisfied the deliverables and research services responsibilities within the amended arrangement which were completed in 2017. The agreement may be terminated by (i) the Company or Shire, in whole or in part, for the uncured material breach of the other party, (ii) the Company or Shire for the bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding of the other party and (iii) Shire, in its entirety, effective upon at least 90 days’ advance written notice.

The Company has concluded that the license is not a separate unit of accounting as it does not have stand-alone value to Shire apart from the research services to be performed pursuant to the Shire agreement. The Company satisfied the deliverables and research services responsibilities within the amended arrangement which were completed in 2017. As a result, the Company recognized the remaining $2.3 million of deferred revenue from the upfront payment during the year ended December 31, 2017.

Revenues recognized under the agreement for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

Revenue related to Shire agreement:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognition of upfront fee

 

$

 

 

$

583

 

Research services

 

 

 

 

 

107

 

Total

 

$

 

 

$

690