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LICENSE AGREEMENTS
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
License Agreement [Abstract]  
License Agreement Disclosure [Text Block]
NOTE 7 – LICENSE AGREEMENTS
 
TGR-1202
 
On September 22, 2014, we exercised our option to license the global rights to TGR-1202, thereby entering into an exclusive licensing agreement (the “TGR-1202 License”) with Rhizen Pharmaceuticals, S A (“Rhizen”) for the development and commercialization of TGR-1202. Prior to this, we had been jointly developing TGR-1202 in a 50:50 joint venture with Rhizen.
 
Under the terms of the TGR-1202 License, Rhizen received a $4.0 million cash payment and 371,530 shares of our common stock as an upfront license fee. With respect to TGR-1202, Rhizen will be eligible to receive regulatory filing, approval and sales based milestone payments in the aggregate of approximately $175 million, a small portion of which will be payable on the first New Drug Application (NDA) filing and the remainder on approval in multiple jurisdictions for up to two oncology indications and one non-oncology indication and attaining certain sales milestones. In addition, if TGR-1202 is co-formulated with another drug to create a new product (a "New Product"), Rhizen will be eligible to receive similar regulatory approval and sales based milestone payments for such New Product. Additionally, Rhizen will be entitled to tiered royalties on our future net sales of TGR-1202 and any New Product. In lieu of sales milestones and royalties on net sales, Rhizen shall also be eligible to participate in sublicensing revenue, if any, based on a percentage that decreases as a function of the number of patients treated in clinical trials following the exercise of the license option. Rhizen will retain global manufacturing rights to TGR-1202, provided that they are price competitive with alternative manufacturers.
 
In connection with the TGR-1202 License, we recognized $4.1 million of noncash research and development expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 related to the issuance of the above mentioned common stock. In addition, we recognized $4.0 million of other research and development expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 related to the cash milestone payment. The cash milestone payment was paid in October 2014. Accordingly, as of September 30, 2014 this amount was included in accounts payable and accrued expenses.
 
IRAK-4
 
On June 23, 2014, we entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated ("Ligand") for the development and commercialization of Ligand's interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase-4 ("IRAK-4") inhibitor technology, which currently is in preclinical development for potential use against certain cancers and autoimmune diseases. IRAK-4 is a serine/threonine protein kinase that is a key downstream signaling component of the interleukin-1 receptor and multiple toll-like receptors.
 
Under the terms of the license agreement, Ligand received 125,000 shares of our common stock as an upfront license fee. Ligand will also be eligible to receive maximum potential milestone payments of approximately $207 million upon the achievement of specific clinical, regulatory and commercial milestone events. Additionally, Ligand will be entitled to royalties on our future net sales of licensed products containing IRAK-4 inhibitors. The basic royalty rate for licensed products covered by Ligand's issued patents will be 6% for annual sales of up to $1 billion and 9.5% for annual sales in excess of that threshold.
 
In connection with the license agreement, we recognized $1,211,250 of noncash research and development expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 in connection with the issuance of the above mentioned common stock.
 
Additionally, Opus Point Partners, LLC, who identified the opportunity and advised us on the transaction, will also be entitled to receive a 1% royalty for annual sales of up to $1 billion. Michael S. Weiss, our Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer, is a Managing Member of Opus Point Partners, LLC.
 
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 $2,000,000, which was received in December 2012, net of $330,000 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 $114,000 for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, and, at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, have deferred revenue of approximately $1,714,000 and $1,829,000, respectively, associated with this $2,000,000 payment (approximately $152,000 of which has been classified in current liabilities at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013).
 
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.