XML 57 R16.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8
JOINT VENTURE
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]  
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block]
NOTE 9 – JOINT VENTURE
 
On April 19, 2011, H Pharmaceuticals K/S (the “Hedrin JV”), of which the Company was a 15% limited partner at the time, filed a demand for arbitration against Thornton & Ross, LTD. (“T&R”) with respect to alleged breaches by T&R of an Exclusive License Agreement (the “Hedrin License”) dated June 28, 2007, which was originally entered into between the Company and T&R, and which the Company assigned in 2008 to the Hedrin JV, with T&R’s consent. The Hedrin JV is seeking damages from T&R in the amount of approximately $7,000,000. The Company was not a party to the initial arbitration demand.
 
On May 20, 2011, T&R filed an answer to the arbitration demand in which T&R asserted counterclaims against the Hedrin JV for alleged breaches by the Hedrin JV of the Hedrin License and for declaratory relief that the Hedrin License was properly terminated by T&R. In addition, T&R impleaded an individual (who is not associated with the Company), Nordic Biotech Venture Fund II K/S (an investment fund) and the Company, demanding arbitration against them based on alleged breaches of the Hedrin License and other related claims. In December 2011, the Company was removed by the arbitrator as a party to the arbitration. T&R is seeking damages of approximately $20,000,000.
 
The Hedrin JV and T&R held a mediation session in order to avoid the arbitration process. The mediation process did not produce a result. During 2011, Nordic made an additional capital contribution to the Hedrin JV in order to fund the arbitration. As a result of that capital contribution, as of December 31, 2011, the Company owned a 13% interest in the Hedrin JV, and no further information has been available since that date. The arbitration process is ongoing.