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License Agreements
9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
License Agreements
10. License Agreements

The Scripps Research Institute

On April 6, 2007, the Company entered into an exclusive worldwide commercial license agreement (“License Agreement”) with The Scripps Research Institute (“Scripps”). Pursuant to the License Agreement, the Company obtained a license to use, commercialize and sublicense certain patented technology and improvements thereon, owned or licensed by Scripps, relating to compounds that may have utility in treating Friedreich’s ataxia, an inherited neurodegenerative disease. Research in tissues derived from patients, as well as from mice, indicates that the licensed compounds increase production of the protein frataxin, which suggests potential utility of these compounds in slowing or stopping progression of the disease. There are currently no approved treatments for Friedreich’s ataxia in the U.S.

Pursuant to the License Agreement, the Company agreed to pay Scripps an initial license fee of $300,000, certain royalty and sublicense fees and, in the event that the Company achieves specified developmental and commercial milestones, certain additional milestone payments. Total future milestone payments, if all milestones were achieved, would be approximately $4,300,000. In addition, the Company issued Scripps and certain of its designees 87,464 shares of the Company’s common stock, which had a value of $300,000 on the date of issuance.

In connection with the License Agreement, the Company issued warrants to an individual at Scripps to purchase up to 150,000 shares of common stock. The warrants have a seven-year term and are exercisable based on performance criteria as detailed in the warrant agreement governing such warrants. No expense has been recorded related to these warrants through December 31, 2011, as none of the performance criteria have been achieved. At this time, the Company does not believe that the performance criteria are probable of being achieved.

The License Agreement with Scripps expires or may be terminated (i) when all of the royalty obligations under the License Agreement expire; (ii) at any time by mutual written consent; (iii) by Scripps if the Company (a) fails to make payments under the License Agreement, (b) fails to achieve certain developmental and commercial objectives, (c) becomes insolvent, (d) is convicted of a felony relating to the manufacture, use or sale of the licensed technology, or (e) defaults in its performance under the License Agreement; or (iv) by the Company upon 90 days written notice.

Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

On October 22, 2009, the Company entered into an exclusive worldwide commercial license agreement (“FSMA License Agreement”) with Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (“FSMA”). Pursuant to the FSMA License Agreement, the Company obtained an exclusive license to develop and commercialize certain patented technology, and improvements thereon, owned or licensed by FSMA, relating to compounds that may have utility in treating spinal muscular atrophy (“SMA”). SMA is an inherited neurodegenerative disease in which a defect in the survival motor neuron gene (“SMN”) results in low levels of the protein SMN and leads to progressive damage to motor neurons, loss of muscle function and, in many patients, early death.

Pursuant to the License Agreement, the Company paid FSMA an initial license fee of $500,000 and a related sublicense fee of $175,000 in the year ended March 31, 2010. In April 2011, the Company paid an additional $500,000 milestone payment to FSMA. These license fees were recorded as research and development expense in the statements of operations. If all milestones are achieved, total financial obligations under this agreement, including milestone payments, sublicense fees, and other charges, could total approximately $16,000,000. Given the uncertain nature of such a development program, the likelihood that products or services will result from the research program is not known at this time. The Company has therefore ascribed no value to the license or the related liability.

The License Agreement with FSMA expires or may be terminated (i) on the later of: (a) when all related patents have expired or been abandoned, or (b) 10 years following the first commercial sale of a licensed product; (ii) by FSMA if the Company (a) fails to make payments under the License Agreement, (b) fails to use commercially reasonable efforts towards development and commercial objectives, (c) fails to maintain the required insurance or becomes insolvent, or (d) defaults in its performance under the License Agreement.