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Commitment and Contingencies | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2015
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and contingencies | 5. Commitments and Contingencies Contingencies In March 2009, the Company received a final rejection in one of the Company’s original patent applications pertaining to certain limited methods of use claims for NK-92 from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the USPTO) (but the USPTO allowed claims on all of the other proposed claims, including other methods of use). The Company appealed this decision with the USPTO Board of Appeals and, in the fall of 2013, the Board of Appeals reversed the Examiner’s rejection of the claim to certain limited methods of use with NK-92, but affirmed the Examiner’s rejection of the remaining patent claims. In December 2013, the Company brought an action in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to review the decision of the USPTO as the Company disagreed with the decision as to the certain limited non-allowed claims. On September 2, 2015, the U.S. District Court granted the USPTO’s motion for summary judgment. The Company has filed a notice of appeal and will be appealing the decision. Leases The Company leases: (i) office space in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California under a non-cancelable operating lease that expires in August 2016; (ii) a research facility in Boston, Massachusetts on a month-to-month basis; (iii) a research and manufacturing facility in San Diego, California (below) and; (iv) office and research space in Culver City, California from a related party (Note 6). In June 2015, the Company entered into a lease agreement for an approximately 44,681 square foot facility in San Diego, California for a research and development laboratory, related office and other related uses. The term of the lease extends for seven years commencing on August 1, 2016. The base rent is $179 per month with 3% annual increases on each anniversary date. In July 2015 the Company entered into a sublease for the building with the current lessee for a term of year commencing August 1, 2015. There is no fixed rent or operating expenses during the sublease term other than utilities. The Company recognizes rent expense under our operating leases on a straight-line basis. Rent expense for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was $667 and $59, respectively. Rent expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was $825 and $158, respectively. Collaborative Arrangement A collaborative arrangement is a contractual arrangement that involves a joint operating activity. These arrangements involve two or more parties who are (i) active participants in the activity, and (ii) exposed to significant risks and rewards dependent on the commercial success of the activity. Joint Development and License Agreement—In December 2014, the Company entered into a Joint Development and License Agreement (the Joint Development and License Agreement) with Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (Sorrento). Under the Joint Development and License Agreement, the Company and Sorrento agreed to exclusively collaborate on research, development and commercialization with respect to certain technologies and intellectual property rights as may be agreed between the parties for the purpose of jointly developing therapeutic applications of certain effector cell lines. To fund the Company’s joint research and development efforts, Sorrento agreed to make research credit payments to the Company in the aggregate amount of $2,000 payable in December 2015 and 2016, reduced by certain expenses for which the Company is responsible under the agreements. The research credit payments will be paid in the form of full-time employee expense credits by Sorrento to work on behalf of the Company and for the Company’s portion of any development costs and a laboratory credit towards maintaining a laboratory on Sorrento’s premises. For each cell line or product to be developed by the parties pursuant to the Joint Development and License Agreement, one party (the Primary Party), as mutually agreed upon by a designated steering committee comprised of three representatives from each party when a statement of work is agreed to by the parties, will have the right and authority to initiate and control the development, testing, regulatory approval or commercialization of such cell line or joint product, including the right to license and sublicense all applicable intellectual property rights (including joint product rights) with respect thereto. The Primary Party will also bear all costs associated with the development of the applicable cell line or product unless the other party shares in such costs. The ratio of such split between the parties is conditioned on the stage of development of the cell line or product and each party’s contribution towards development costs. Sorrento and the Company each will own an undivided interest in and to all rights, title and interest in and to the joint product rights. The Joint Development and License Agreement expires upon the later of three years or completion of the series of collaborative research and development efforts. In connection with the Joint Development and License Agreement, Sorrento entered into a subscription and investment agreement with the Company under which the Company sold to Sorrento 4,557,537 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock for gross proceeds of $8,000. Subsequently, Sorrento purchased 1,060,789 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock for an additional $2,000 in gross proceeds. There was no additional activity under the Joint Development and License Agreement during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2015. As of the date hereof, the Company and Sorrento have not yet agreed upon any projects under the Joint Development and License Agreement; therefore Sorrento has no rights to use the Company’s NK cells or other technologies or intellectual property rights or to begin related research, development or commercialization activities and the Company is free to pursue, and is actively pursuing, research, development and commercialization activities with antibodies that may bind to various targets, including PDL1, ROR-1, CD33 and CD123. Royalties and In-licensing Agreements Founder License Agreement—In 2003, the Company entered into a licensing agreement with a founding shareholder of the Company for the exclusive license to the NK-92 cell line and related know-how for payment of certain royalties related to the sales of licensed products (the Founder License Agreement). In 2009 and 2010, the Founder License Agreement was amended for the sale and assignment of the licensed patents to the Company. As consideration for the sale and assignment of the licensed patents and technical information to the Company, the founding shareholder was to receive a one-time cash payment of $75, which was converted to a non-interest bearing note (the Founder Note) (Note 4). In addition, the Company is obligated to (i) pay low single digit percentage royalties of net sales of licensed products for therapeutic and diagnostic use; (ii) issue additional shares of common stock of the Company in conjunction with the closing of a financing of at least $1,000 after the 2013 Securities Purchase Agreement to ensure the founder retains no less than a 7% ownership interest of the total outstanding common shares of the Company on a fully diluted basis; (iii) pay the British Columbia Cancer Agency a low single digit percentage royalty on net sales on a NK cell-based products, a responsibility assumed by the Company for the founding shareholder; and (iv) issue a warrant (Founder Warrant) to purchase up to 123,433 additional shares of Class A common stock at a purchase price of $2.44 per share with a 10 year exercise term subject to the completion of five milestones pertaining to granting of a patent, completion of clinical trials and issuance of a commercial biologic license. In 2013, the first milestone, a claim granted for a certain patent application in the United States, was achieved and as a result 37,030 shares underlying the Founder Warrant became exercisable. In March 2014, the Founder License Agreement was amended to (i) provide for payment to the founder of low single digit percentage royalties on net sales of licensed products for therapeutic and diagnostic use and mid-single digit percentage royalties from sublicenses for net sales of licensed products; (ii) exchange warrants held by the founder to purchase up to 156,109 shares of Class A common stock for a fully-vested incentive stock option to purchase up to 740,600 shares of Class A common stock at fair market value on the date of issuance upon the Company closing a private placement of stock or other securities of at least $3,000 (the Mandatory Exchange Financing); and (iii) remove the requirement for the founder to retain not less than a 7% ownership interest of the total outstanding common shares of the Company on a fully diluted basis. As of September 30, 2015, no royalties have been earned or paid. Fox Chase Cancer Center License Agreement—In 2004 and amended in 2008, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement with Fox Chase Cancer Center (Fox Chase) for the exclusive, worldwide rights to certain patents and know-how pertaining to CD16 receptors bearing NK-92 cell lines. In consideration for this exclusive license granted, the Company agreed to pay Fox Chase (i) low single-digit percentage royalties on net sales of licensed products for therapeutic and diagnostic use; and (ii) mid-twenties percentage royalties on any compensation the Company receives from sublicensees. The Company recorded royalty expense of $0 and $29 for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 and $51 and $149 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to the Fox Chase Cancer Center License Agreement. Royalty expense is included in selling, general and administrative in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Rush University Medical Center License Agreement—In 2004, the Company entered into a 12-year licensing agreement with Rush University Medical Center for the exclusive rights to license and grant sublicenses of certain intellectual property related to clinical use of NK-92. The Company is required to pay low to mid-single digit percentage royalties on net sales depending upon the various fields of studies and other factors. The Company is required to pay a minimum annual royalty of $25. The Rush University Medical Center License Agreement also provides for payments in the aggregate amount of $2,500 upon the Company achieving various milestones, including upon (i) the completion of Phase II clinical trial associated with the licensed intellectual property; (ii) the approval by the Food and Drug Administration (the FDA) of a new drug application for a licensed product; and (iii) the first year that sales of the licensed product equals or exceeds $250,000. The Rush University Medical Center License Agreement terminates on the 12th anniversary of the first payment of royalties, which occurred in 2006, at which point the license is deemed a perpetual, irrevocable, fully-paid royalty-free, exclusive license, and may be terminated earlier by either party for material breach. During the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded royalty expense of $6 and $6, and during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded royalty expense of $19 and $44 related to the Rush University Medical Center License Agreement. Royalty expense is included in selling, general and administrative in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. No milestones were met during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 or 2014. Chemotherapeutisches Forschungsinstitut Georg-Speyer-Haus (GSH) and DRK-Blutspendedienst Baden-Wurttemberg-Hessen gGmbH (BSD) License Agreement—In August 2015 the Company entered into a license agreement with GSH and BSD under which the Company was granted an exclusive license to certain GSH-BSD patents, materials and know-how that specifically targets ErbB2 expressing cancers. In addition, GSH granted the Company an exclusive license to certain GSH only technology and materials. In consideration for the licenses, the Company agreed to pay initial and annual licensing fees, regulatory and commercial milestones and low single-digit percentage royalties on net sales of licensed products. The royalty term shall continue in a particular country until the later of (i) the expiration of the valid patent claims in such country or (ii) a specified period of time after the first commercial sale of licensed product in such country. The license agreement shall continue until no further payments are due at which time the licenses and rights will continue on a non-exclusive, royalty-free basis. The license agreement can be terminated earlier for: (i) material breach by either party after 60 days cure period, (ii) the Company declaring bankruptcy or insolvency, (iii) the Company in its sole discretion upon 60 days prior written notice. The Company paid initial license fees under the license, which are included in research and development expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2015.

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