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Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
14.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Guarantees and Indemnifications

As permitted under Delaware law, the Company indemnifies its officers and directors for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is, or was, serving at the Company’s request in such capacity. The term of the indemnification is for the officer’s or director’s lifetime. Through June 30, 2024, the Company had not experienced any losses related to these

indemnification obligations and no material claims were outstanding. The Company does not expect significant claims related to these indemnification obligations, and consequently, concluded that the fair value of these obligations is negligible, and no related reserves were established.

In-License Agreements

MEEI Agreement

The Company is developing ADX-2191 pursuant to an Exclusive License Agreement with Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI) originally entered into in July 2016 between MEEI and Helio Vision, Inc., as amended, (MEEI Agreement). The Company assumed the MEEI Agreement in connection with its 2019 acquisition of Helio Vision.

Pursuant and subject to the MEEI Agreement, the Company obtained an exclusive, worldwide license from MEEI to develop and commercialize ADX-2191 under certain patents and patent applications, and other licenses to intellectual property (MEEI Patent Rights). The Company has agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts, to develop ADX-2191, and to meet certain specified effort and achievement benchmarks by certain dates.

In consideration for the rights licensed under the MEEI Agreement, Helio Vision issued MEEI a number of shares of its preferred stock and Helio Vision agreed to pay non-creditable non-refundable license maintenance fees to MEEI of $15,000 on each of the second and third anniversary of the MEEI Agreement, $25,000 on each of the fourth and fifth anniversary of the MEEI Agreement and $35,000 on the sixth and each subsequent anniversary of the MEEI Agreement during the term of such agreement. In addition, Helio Vision was obligated to make future sales-dependent milestone payments to MEEI of up to the low seven figures in the aggregate, as well as royalty payments to MEEI at a rate which, as a percentage of net sales, is in the low single digits for products that incorporate or use the MEEI Patent Rights in the United States and as a percentage in the low single digits for products that incorporate or use the MEEI Patent Rights outside the United States. The Company is also obligated under the MEEI Agreement to pay MEEI a percentage of certain sublicense revenue that it receives in connection with entering into any sublicensing arrangements with any third parties, at a percentage rate which tiers downward from low-double digits to mid-single digits based on the date of the sublicense. Following the Company’s acquisition of Helio Vision, the Company became obligated to make any future payments owed under the MEEI Agreement. There is no additional equity consideration issuable under the MEEI Agreement.

The MEEI Agreement will remain in effect until the expiration date of the last to expire patent licensed under the MEEI Agreement. The Company may terminate the MEEI Agreement with timely written notice to MEEI. MEEI has the right to terminate the MEEI Agreement if it, subject to certain specified cure periods, ceases all business operations with respect to licensed products, fails to pay amounts due under the MEEI Agreement, fail to comply with certain due diligence obligations, defaults in the Company's obligation to maintain insurance, one of the Company's officers is convicted of a felony relating to the manufacture, use, sale or importation of licensed products, the Company materially breaches any provisions of the MEEI Agreement or in the event of its insolvency or bankruptcy.

In the event of an early termination of the MEEI Agreement, all rights licensed and developed by the Company under the MEEI Agreement may revert back to MEEI. The Company has agreed to indemnify MEEI for certain claims that may arise under the MEEI Agreement.

Legal Proceedings

On July 31, 2023, a purported stockholder filed a putative class action lawsuit (the Securities Class Action) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, against the Company and certain current and former officers, captioned Juliana Paice v. Aldeyra Therapeutics, Inc., et al. (No. 23-cv-11737). On January 2, 2024, the lead plaintiff filed an amended complaint. The lawsuit alleges violations by the defendants of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and SEC Rule 10b-5. The plaintiff alleges that the defendants made false or misleading statements or failed to disclose certain information concerning (i) the New Drug Application (NDA) for and the prospects of ADX-2191 for the treatment of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma and (ii) the NDA for and the prospects of reproxalap for the treatment of dry eye disease. The lawsuit seeks, among other things, compensatory damages on behalf of herself and all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's securities between January 7, 2021, and October 16, 2023, as well as attorneys’ fees and costs. On March 4, 2024, defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint, the plaintiff filed its opposition to the motion on April 18, 2024, and defendants filed a reply to plaintiff's opposition on May 20, 2024. Oral argument on the motion to dismiss was heard on July 24, 2024. The Company disputes the plaintiff's claims and intends to vigorously defend the suit. At this time, the Company cannot reasonably predict the outcome or estimate potential losses, if any, that could result from this matter.

On March 7, 2024, a purported stockholder of the Company filed a derivative complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, captioned Fawaz Al-Jaljouli v. Todd C. Brady, et al. (No. 24-cv-10585), against certain of the Company’s executive officers and directors, and naming the Company as a nominal defendant. The derivative complaint alleges, purportedly on behalf of the Company, breach of fiduciary duty and violations of Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The claims are based on substantially identical allegations as the complaint in the Securities Class Action. The lawsuit seeks, among other things, an award of damages, certain changes to the Company’s corporate governance, and attorneys’ fees and costs. On June 24, 2024, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed all claims without prejudice.

In addition, from time to time, the Company is subject to litigation and claims arising in the ordinary course of business but, except as stated above, the Company is not currently a party to any material legal proceedings and the Company is not aware of any pending or threatened legal proceedings against them that the Company believes could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results, cash flows, or financial condition.