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License Agreements
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
License Arrangement [Abstract]  
License Agreements
Note 5 - License Agreements:
 
Diltiazem (VEN 307) and Phenylepherine (VEN 308)
 
The Company has an exclusive royalty-bearing license agreement with S.L.A. Pharma, AG (“S.L.A. Pharma”) to sell, make and use diltiazem (VEN 307) for treatment, through topical administration, of fissures and phenylepherine (VEN 308) for treatment, through topical administration, of fecal incontinence (referred to collectively as the “Compound Technologies”) in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In the event that the Compound Technologies are commercialized, Ventrus is obligated to pay to S.L.A. Pharma annual royalties, based upon net sales of the products. In addition, Ventrus is required to make payments to S.L.A. Pharma up to an aggregate amount of $20 million upon the achievement of various milestones related to regulatory events. On October 9, 2012, Ventrus made a milestone payment of $125,000 to S.L.A. Pharma which was due upon Investigational Review Board approval of a Phase III study of a licensed product incorporating VEN 307.
 
Should Ventrus make any improvements regarding the Compound Technologies, Ventrus is required to grant S.L.A. Pharma licenses to use such improvements.
 
As compensation for S.L.A. Pharma’s participation in the management and the development of the Compound Technologies, Ventrus is required to make separate payments to S.L.A. Pharma equal to $41,500 per month for each of diltiazem and phenylephrine. Per the agreement, Ventrus’ obligation to make these monthly payments was to terminate upon a new drug application (“NDA”) filing. Pursuant to amendments to the license agreement, the Company, as of September 30, 2010, was no longer required to make the $41,500 monthly payments for phenylephrine. Management anticipates the $41,500 per month management fee for diltiazem will cease by the end of 2013.
 
Ventrus is also required to reimburse S.L.A. Pharma for clinical development costs associated with the technology development of both diltiazem and phenylephrine. Ventrus’ total payment obligation for the diltiazem project was limited to $4,200,000, and these payments were made from August 2007 through December 31, 2011. On June 6, 2011, Ventrus further amended the Exclusive License Agreement with S.L.A. Pharma. The amendment added additional services outside the scope of the agreement for which Ventrus was required to pay S.L.A. Pharma $400,000. The report generated by these services was provided by S.L.A. Pharma during the first quarter of 2013 and Ventrus made the payment in February 2013. S.L.A. Pharma has been paid an additional $600,000 for services for the phenylephrine project through September 30, 2013. S.L.A. Pharma did not provide Ventrus with any services for the phenylephrine project in 2011 and 2012, and management does not expect any services from S.L.A. Pharma for the phenylephrine project in the foreseeable future.
 
As of September 30, 2013, Ventrus’ does not expect to pay S.L.A. Pharma additional development costs. 
 
Iferanserin (VEN 309)
 
In March 2008, Ventrus entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Sam Amer & Co., Inc. (“Amer”) whereby Ventrus acquired certain patent rights to iferanserin (VEN 309) for the topical treatment of any anorectal disorders. On June 5, 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with Amer to acquire all rights, title and interest to iferanserin, which acquisition closed on November 14, 2011. On June 25, 2012, based on the results of the Phase III clinical trial, the Company ceased all research and development activity related to iferanserin and therefore does not expect any additional development costs.
 
New Product Candidates
 
On November 8, 2013, Ventrus entered into a License and Collaboration Agreement with Therabiome, LLC, for all intellectual property and know-how owned or controlled by Therabiome relating to the oral delivery  of pharmaceutical drugs to specific sites in the intestine, using a pH sensitive controlled release platform technology. Under the agreement, Therabiome granted to Ventrus the exclusive worldwide license, with rights to sublicense, to develop the intellectual property for commercialization (a) in the use of bacteria, viruses, proteins and small molecules by oral delivery in (i) gastro-intestinal dysbiosis, including but not limited to C. difficile, irritable bowel syndrome-constipation and inflammatory bowel disease, (ii) auto-immune disorders and autism, including but not limited to as controlled by bacteria or virus, and (iii) orally delivered vaccines, including viral and bacterial, and (b) any oral delivery of small molecules using the licensed intellectual property.    Ventrus will be solely responsible for all research and development activities with respect to any product it develops under the license.
 
For the license, Ventrus paid Therabiome an upfront non-refundable license fee of $300,000.  Ventrus must pay Therabiome clinical and regulatory milestones for each product or therapy advanced from the platform for U.S. regulatory milestones.  Ventrus also must pay Therabiome lesser amounts for foreign regulatory milestones, which vary by country and region. Ventrus also must pay Therabiome royalties on annual net sales of a product in the low to mid-single digit percentages plus, once annual net sales exceed two certain thresholds, a one-time cash payment upon reaching each threshold. 
 
Therabiome must pay Ventrus royalties on annual net sales of any product it develops, using the intellectual property, in the low double to mid-double percentages, depending on the level of development or involvement Ventrus had in the product.