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MAJOR CUSTOMERS, PARTNERSHIPS AND STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
MAJOR CUSTOMERS, PARTNERSHIPS AND STRATEGIC ALLIANCES MAJOR CUSTOMERS, PARTNERSHIPS AND STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
Genentech, Inc.
In August 2024, the Company entered into a global epigenetic regulation and capsid delivery license agreement with Genentech to develop intravenously administered genomic medicines to treat certain neurodegenerative diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company granted an exclusive license to Genentech for the Company’s proprietary zinc finger repressors (“ZFRs”) that are directed to tau and a second undisclosed neurology target. The Company also granted an exclusive license to Genentech to the Company’s proprietary, neurotropic adeno-associated virus capsid, STAC-BBB, for use with therapies directed to tau and to the second neurology target. The Company is prohibited from exploiting (for itself or with or for a third party)
products directed to tau and to the second neurology target during the applicable exclusivity periods set forth in the agreement. The Company was responsible for completing the technology transfer and certain preclinical activities, and Genentech is solely responsible for all clinical development, regulatory interactions, manufacturing and global commercialization of resulting products.
In August 2024, the Company received a $40.0 million upfront license payment from Genentech. In October 2024, the Company received a $10.0 million milestone payment related to the technology transfer which was completed in September 2024. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company is also eligible to earn up to $1.9 billion in development and commercial milestones spread across multiple potential products. In addition, the Company is also entitled to receive escalating, tiered mid-single digit to sub-teen double digit royalty payments on the net sales of such products, subject to adjustments for patent expiration, entry of competitive products to the market and payments made under certain licenses for third-party intellectual property.
The agreement will continue, on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis, until the date when there is no remaining royalty payment obligation in such country with respect to such product, at which time the agreement will expire with respect to such product in such country. Royalty obligations cease upon the later of expiry of the last valid patent claim covering the product in the country or 10 years from the date of the first commercial sale of the product in such country. Genentech has the right to terminate the agreement for convenience. Each party has the right to terminate the agreement on account of the other party’s uncured material breach.
The Company assessed the agreement with Genentech in accordance with ASC Topic 606 and concluded that Genentech is a customer. The initial transaction price of $50.0 million includes the upfront license fee of $40.0 million and the $10.0 million technology transfer milestone payment. None of the development milestones have been included in the transaction price, as all such amounts are fully constrained. As part of its evaluation of the constraint, the Company considered numerous factors, including the fact that achievement of the milestones at this time is uncertain and contingent upon future periods when the uncertainty related to the variable consideration is resolved. The Company will re-evaluate the transaction price as uncertain events are resolved or other changes in circumstances occur. Potential sales-based milestones and royalty payments are not estimated as they meet the sales-or usage-based royalty exception under ASC 606 and are recognized in the period they are earned, provided the related performance obligations have been completed.
The Company has identified two performance obligations within the Genentech Agreement. All licenses were accounted for as a performance obligation to provide functional IP that is satisfied at a point in time that was satisfied upon completion of the technology transfer in September 2024. The preclinical activities represent research and development services and are satisfied over time as the Company conducts and Genentech benefits from the associated activities. Revenue related to the preclinical activities is recognized using an input method of cumulative actual costs incurred relative to total estimated costs.
The Company allocated the initial transaction price to the performance obligations based on the relative standalone selling price of each performance obligation. In the absence of an observable standalone selling price, the Company used a methodology that maximized the use of observable inputs. This included a cost plus margin approach for the preclinical activities, which required the estimation of total costs and an expected margin. The standalone selling price of the licenses was determined based on the analysis of the probability-adjusted discounted cash flows and potential sales of licensed products. Significant estimates and assumptions were used that include but are not limited to, expected market opportunity and pricing, timelines, and likelihood of success of clinical, regulatory and commercialization activities. The Company expects to allocate variable consideration payable upon achievement of future milestones and royalty payments to the specific performance obligation to which they relate, i.e. the license performance obligation, as such allocation would meet the allocation objective in ASC Topic 606.
As of September 30, 2024, the Company had a receivable of $10.0 million related to the milestone payment which had been earned but not yet received, and deferred revenue of $0.8 million related to this agreement which is expected to be recognized over approximately the next three months.
Revenues recognized under the agreement were as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024202320242023
Revenue related to Genentech agreement:
Recognition of license revenue$48,679 $— $48,679 $— 
Research services547 — 547 — 
Total$49,226 $— $49,226 $— 
Pfizer Inc.
In May 2017, the Company entered into an exclusive global collaboration and license agreement with Pfizer Inc. (“Pfizer”), pursuant to which it established a collaboration for the research, development and commercialization of giroctocogene fitelparvovec, its gene therapy product candidate for hemophilia A, and closely related products.
Under this agreement, the Company was responsible for conducting the Phase 1/2 clinical trial and for certain manufacturing activities for giroctocogene fitelparvovec, while Pfizer is responsible for subsequent worldwide development, manufacturing, marketing and commercialization of giroctocogene fitelparvovec.
Subject to the terms of the agreement, the Company granted Pfizer an exclusive worldwide royalty-bearing license, with the right to grant sublicenses, to use certain technology controlled by the Company for the purpose of developing, manufacturing and commercializing giroctocogene fitelparvovec and related products. Pfizer granted the Company a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid license, with the right to grant sublicenses, to use certain manufacturing technology developed under the agreement and controlled by Pfizer to manufacture the Company’s products that utilize the AAV delivery system.
Unless earlier terminated, the agreement has a term that continues on a per product and per country basis until the later of (i) the expiration of patent claims that cover the product in a country, (ii) the expiration of regulatory exclusivity for a product in a country, and (iii) 15 years after the first commercial sale of a product in a country. Pfizer has the right to terminate the agreement without cause in its entirety or on a per product or per country basis. The agreement may also be terminated by either party based on an uncured material breach by the other party or the bankruptcy of the other party. Upon termination for any reason, the license granted by the Company to Pfizer to develop, manufacture and commercialize giroctocogene fitelparvovec and related products will automatically terminate. Upon termination by the Company for cause or by Pfizer in any country or countries, Pfizer will automatically grant the Company an exclusive, royalty-bearing license under certain technology controlled by Pfizer to develop, manufacture and commercialize giroctocogene fitelparvovec in the terminated country or countries.
Upon execution of the agreement, the Company received an upfront fee of $70.0 million and was eligible to receive up to $208.5 million in payments upon the achievement of specified clinical development, intellectual property and regulatory milestones and up to $266.5 million in payments upon first commercial sale milestones for giroctocogene fitelparvovec and potentially other products. To date, two milestones of $55.0 million in aggregate have been earned and received. The Company is eligible to earn from Pfizer up to $220.0 million in remaining milestone payments for giroctocogene fitelparvovec, subject to reduction on account of payments made under certain licenses for third-party intellectual property. In addition, Pfizer agreed to pay the Company royalties for each potential licensed product developed under the agreement that are 14% - 20% of the annual worldwide net sales of such product and are subject to reduction due to patent expiration, entry of biosimilar products to the market and payment made under certain licenses for third-party intellectual property.
The Company assessed the agreement with Pfizer in accordance with ASC Topic 606 and concluded that Pfizer was a customer. The Company completed its performance obligations and recognized the amounts included in the transaction price of $134.0 million during the periods through December 31, 2020. No revenue was recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023. The remaining development, intellectual property and regulatory milestone amounts have not been included in the transaction price and have not been recognized as their achievement is dependent on the progress and outcomes of Pfizer’s development activities and is therefore uncertain. If and when these milestones become probable of being achieved, they will be recognized in full at that time. Sales milestones and royalties are not recognized until triggered based on the contractual terms.
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., AstraZeneca Rare Disease
In December 2017, the Company entered into an exclusive, global collaboration and license agreement with Pfizer, subsequently assigned to Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease (“Alexion”) in September 2023, for the development and commercialization of potential gene therapy products that use zinc finger transcriptional regulators (“ZF-transcriptional regulators”) to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration linked to mutations of the C9ORF72 gene. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company agreed to work with Pfizer on a research program to identify, characterize and preclinically develop ZF-transcriptional regulators that bind to and specifically reduce expression of the mutant form of the C9ORF72 gene.
Subject to the terms of this agreement, the Company granted Pfizer (now Alexion) an exclusive, royalty-bearing, worldwide license under the Company’s relevant patents and know-how to develop, manufacture and commercialize gene therapy products that use resulting ZF-transcriptional regulators that satisfy pre-agreed criteria. During a specified period, neither the Company nor Alexion are permitted to research, develop, manufacture or commercialize outside of the collaboration any zinc finger proteins (“ZFPs”) that specifically bind to the C9ORF72 gene.
Unless earlier terminated, the agreement has a term that continues on a per licensed product and per country basis until the later of (i) the expiration of patent claims that cover the licensed product in a country, (ii) the expiration of regulatory
exclusivity for a licensed product in a country, and (iii) 15 years after the first commercial sale of a licensed product in a major market country. Alexion also has the right to terminate the agreement without cause in its entirety or on a per product or per country basis. The agreement may also be terminated by either party based on an uncured material breach by the other party or the bankruptcy of the other party. Upon termination for any reason, the license granted by the Company to Alexion to develop, manufacture and commercialize licensed products under the agreement would automatically terminate. Upon termination by the Company for cause or by Alexion without cause for any licensed product or licensed products in any country or countries, the Company would have the right to negotiate with Alexion to obtain a non-exclusive, royalty-bearing license under certain technology controlled by Alexion to develop, manufacture and commercialize the licensed product or licensed products in the terminated country or countries.
Following any termination by the Company for Alexion’s material breach, Alexion would not be permitted to research, develop, manufacture or commercialize ZFPs that specifically bind to the C9ORF72 gene for a period of time. Following any termination by Alexion for the Company’s material breach, the Company would not be permitted to research, develop, manufacture or commercialize ZFPs that specifically bind to the C9ORF72 gene for a period of time.
The Company received a $12.0 million upfront payment from Pfizer and is eligible to receive up to $60.0 million in development milestone payments from Alexion contingent on the achievement of specified preclinical development, clinical development and first commercial sale milestones, and up to $90.0 million in commercial milestone payments if annual worldwide net sales of the licensed products reach specified levels. In addition, Alexion will pay the Company royalties of 14% - 20% of the annual worldwide net sales of the licensed products. These royalty payments are subject to reduction due to patent expiration, entry of biosimilar products to the market and payments made under certain licenses for third-party intellectual property. Each party is responsible for the cost of its performance of the research program. Alexion is operationally and financially responsible for subsequent development, manufacturing and commercialization of the licensed products. To date, a milestone of $5.0 million has been earned and paid, however no products have been approved and therefore no royalty fees have been earned under the C9ORF72 agreement.
The Company assessed the agreement with Alexion in accordance with ASC Topic 606 and concluded that Alexion was a customer. The Company completed its performance obligations and recognized the amounts included in the transaction price of $17.0 million during the periods through December 31, 2020. No revenue was recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023. The remaining development milestone amounts have not been included in the transaction price and have not been recognized as their achievement is dependent on the progress and outcomes of Alexion’s development activities and is therefore uncertain. If and when these milestones become probable of being achieved, they would be recognized in full at that time. Sales related milestones and royalties are not recognized until triggered based on the contractual terms.
In October 2023, Pfizer notified the Company of Pfizer’s assignment of the collaboration and license agreement to Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, pursuant to a definitive purchase and license agreement for preclinical gene therapy assets and enabling technologies that closed on September 20, 2023.
Other Collaboration and License Agreements
In 2024, the Company had a collaboration and license agreement with Kite and certain other license agreements. In 2023, in addition to the agreement with Kite, the Company had collaboration and license agreements with Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Inc. (“Novartis”), and Biogen MA, Inc. (“Biogen”). These collaboration agreements were designed for the research, development, and commercialization of various potential therapy products, including potential engineered cell therapies for cancer and gene regulation therapies to treat neurodevelopmental disorders and diseases. The collaboration agreements with Novartis and Biogen were both terminated effective June 2023. The Company’s services under the Kite collaboration agreement were completed during the year ended December 31, 2023, and the agreement expired pursuant to its terms in April 2024.
The Company assessed each of these collaboration agreements in accordance with ASC Topic 606, concluding Kite, Novartis and Biogen were customers.
Revenues recognized under these agreements were as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024202320242023
Revenue related to Kite agreement:
Recognition of license fee fixed consideration$— $5,388 $— $17,938 
Research services variable consideration— 108 — 1,097 
Total$— $5,496 $— $19,035 
Revenue related to Novartis agreement:
Recognition of upfront license fee$— $— $— $9,568 
Research services— — — 2,611 
Total$— $— $— $12,179 
Revenue related to Biogen agreement:
Recognition of license and other fixed consideration$— $— $— $132,165 
Cost-sharing payments for research services, net variable consideration— — — 2,684 
Total$— $— $— $134,849 
Revenue from other license agreements$186 $3,902 $1,023 $8,127 
Total revenue$186 $9,398 $1,023 $174,190 
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had no material receivables, no deferred revenue, and no amounts included in transaction price remaining to be recognized related to these license and collaboration agreements.