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MAJOR CUSTOMERS, PARTNERSHIPS AND STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 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, Inc., a member of the Roche Group (“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 adenoassociated 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. 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 ten 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 Topic 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 intellectual property 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 December 31, 2024, the Company had no receivable, no deferred revenue, and no amounts included in transaction price remaining to be recognized related to the agreement.
Revenues recognized under the agreement were as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20242023
Revenue related to Genentech agreement:
Recognition of license revenue$48,679 $— 
Research services1,321 — 
Total$50,000 $— 
Astellas Gene Therapies, Inc.
In December 2024, the Company entered into a global capsid delivery license agreement with Astellas Gene Therapies, Inc. (“Astellas”), or the Astellas Agreement. Under the terms of the Astellas Agreement, the Company granted an exclusive license to Astellas to the Company’s proprietary, neurotropic adeno-associated virus capsid, STAC-BBB for use with therapies directed to an initial neurodevelopmental target and up to four additional targets and for up to three indications per target. In addition, Astellas has a potential right to exchange its license to the STAC-BBB capsid for a license to another capsid. This substitution right may be exercised twice during the initial three-year period of the Astellas Agreement and is subject to the availability of a substitute capsid at the time the request is made. The Company is prohibited from exploiting (for itself or with or for a third party) products directed to the initial target, any reserved targets, and any additional licensed targets under the Astellas Agreement for licensed or reserved indications during the applicable exclusivity periods set forth in the Astellas Agreement.
The Company completed the technology transfer with respect to the initial target and indication in December 2024, and Astellas is solely responsible for all preclinical and clinical development, regulatory interactions, manufacturing and global commercialization of resulting products.
In December 2024, the Company received a $20.0 million upfront license payment from Astellas under the Astellas Agreement. Under the terms of the Astellas Agreement, the Company is also eligible to earn up to $1.3 billion in license fees and research, development and commercial milestones across up to five potential targets, including a license fee for each additional licensed target. In addition, the Company is also entitled to receive escalating, tiered mid-single digit to high-single digit royalty payments on the net sales of products sold under these licenses, subject to adjustments for patent expiration, entry of biosimilar or interchangeable products to the market and payments made under certain licenses for third-party intellectual property.
The Astellas 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 Astellas Agreement will expire with respect to such product in such country. Royalty obligations cease upon the latest of expiration of regulatory exclusivity for such product in such country, the last expiration of certain valid patent claims covering such product in such country or ten years from the date of the first commercial sale of such product in such country. Astellas has the right to terminate the Astellas Agreement for convenience. Each party has the right to terminate the Astellas Agreement for other party’s uncured material breach and for specified bankruptcy events. The Company also has the right to terminate the Astellas Agreement if Astellas challenges any of the Company’s licensed patents under the Astellas Agreement.
The Company assessed the agreement with Astellas in accordance with ASC Topic 606 and concluded that Astellas is a customer. The initial transaction price includes the upfront license fee of $20.0 million. None of the research or 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 successful continuation of research and development activities in future periods. The Company will re-evaluate the transaction price at each reporting date, as certain 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 Topic 606 and are recognized in the period they are earned, provided the related performance obligations have been completed.
The Company has determined that Astellas’ option to add additional targets and indications would result in the grant of separate licenses from the license to the initial target and indication. Rights to these optional licenses can be acquired by Astellas at a discount from their standalone selling price, and accordingly, represent material rights granted to Astellas. Both the initial and any optional licenses are distinct and license Astellas to use functional intellectual property. Accordingly, they would be recognized at a point in time when granted, provided Astellas has received a copy of the associated intellectual property. Optional licenses will not be recognized until exercise of the underlying option or until expiration of the option.
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 observable prices, the Company used a methodology that maximized the use of observable inputs. The Company took into consideration the total amounts paid and potentially payable by Astellas and potential market for each license. In addition, included in the estimates of the standalone selling prices of the options with material rights were the implied level of discount and the probability of the option exercise. Of the transaction price of $20.0 million, $6.5 million was allocated to the initial license, and $13.5 million to the options for additional licensed targets.
The initial license was transferred upon completion of the technology transfer in December 2024, and the associated amount of $6.5 million recognized in revenue at that time. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had deferred revenue of $13.5 million related to the options with material rights, of which $7.6 million is classified as current based on the contractually required timing of exercise or expiration of the underlying options within the next four years. The remaining $5.9 million is classified as non-current.
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.
In December 2024, Pfizer notified the Company of its termination for convenience, effective April 21, 2025 (the “Pfizer Termination Date”), of the collaboration agreement. Pfizer had indicated to Sangamo that the termination relates to its decision not to submit a Biologics License Application or Marketing Authorization Application for, or pursue commercialization of, giroctocogene fitelparvovec. As of the Pfizer Termination Date, the collaboration agreement will be terminated in its entirety, and all licenses and other rights granted by the Company to Pfizer will terminate. Sangamo is entitled to receive from Pfizer an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing, sublicensable license from Pfizer to use Pfizer’s relevant intellectual property to continue developing, manufacturing and commercializing giroctocogene fitelparvovec; in return, Pfizer would be eligible to receive low single digit royalties on net sales of giroctocogene fitelparvovec and would be released from certain liabilities to the extent they exist.
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 was 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.
The agreement had a term that continued 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 had the right to terminate the agreement without cause in its entirety or on a per product or per country basis. The agreement could 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 automatically terminates. 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 had been achieved and paid. In addition, Pfizer had 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.
In connection with the termination of the agreement by Pfizer, the Company will be entitled to receive $5.0 million in additional consideration in 2025. Following the termination notice, this amount is payable upon 60 days after the effective date of the termination, unless the Company transfers a specified sublicense to Pfizer, in which case it will be payable 30 days after such transfer. Sangamo transferred to Pfizer the requisite sublicense in February 2025. Pfizer will not be obligated to pay the Company the remaining milestone payments and royalties.
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 years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. The remaining development, intellectual property and regulatory milestone amounts were not included in the transaction price and were not recognized as their achievement was dependent on the progress and outcomes of Pfizer’s development activities and was therefore uncertain.
The Company accounted for the notice of termination of the agreement by Pfizer as a modification in accordance with ASC Topic 606. The $5.0 million payment will be recognized in revenue upon transfer of the sublicense, during the first quarter of 2025.
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 will be 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 is 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 years ended December 31, 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.
Kite Pharma, Inc.
In February 2018, the Company entered into a global collaboration and license agreement with Kite which became effective on April 5, 2018 (“Effective Date”), and was amended and restated in September 2019, for the research, development, and commercialization of potential engineered cell therapies for cancer. The collaboration and license agreement related to the design of zinc finger nucleases (“ZFNs”) and viral vectors to disrupt and insert certain genes in T-cells and natural killer cells (“NK-cells”) including the insertion of genes that encode chimeric antigen receptors (“CARs”), T-cell receptors (“TCRs”), and NK-cell receptors (“NKRs”) directed to mutually agreed targets. Under the agreement, Kite was responsible for all clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization of any resulting products. The agreement expired pursuant to its terms in April 2024.
Subject to the terms of this agreement, the Company granted Kite an exclusive, royalty-bearing, worldwide sublicensable license under the Company’s relevant patents and know-how to develop, manufacture and commercialize, for the purpose of treating cancer, specific cell therapy products that may result from the research program and that are engineered ex vivo using selected ZFNs and viral vectors developed under the research program to express CARs, TCRs or NKRs directed to candidate targets.
Following the Effective Date, the Company received a $150.0 million upfront payment from Kite. In addition, Kite reimbursed the Company’s direct costs to conduct the joint research program. Sangamo was also eligible to receive contingent development- and sales-based milestone payments that could total up to $3.0 billion if all of the specified milestones set forth in this agreement are achieved. Of this amount, approximately $1.3 billion related to the achievement of specified research, clinical development, regulatory and first commercial sale milestones, and approximately $1.8 billion relates to the achievement of specified sales-based milestones if annual worldwide net sales of licensed products reach specified levels. Each development- and sales-based milestone payment was payable (i) only once for each licensed product, regardless of the number of times that the associated milestone event is achieved by such licensed product, and (ii) only for the first ten times that the associated milestone event is achieved regardless of the number of licensed products that may achieve such milestone event. In addition, the Company was entitled to receive escalating, tiered royalty payments with a percentage in the single digits based on future annual worldwide net sales of licensed products. These royalty payments were 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.
The initial research term in the agreement was six years from the Effective Date and expired in April 2024. Kite had an option to extend the research term for up to two additional one-year periods for a separate upfront fee of $10.0 million per year, which was not exercised and expired in October 2023. All contingent payments under the agreement, when earned, were non-refundable and non-creditable. Through the amendment and restatement of the agreement in September 2019, the Company and Kite agreed to expand the scope of the collaboration program to incorporate the use of lentiviral or retroviral vectors provided by Kite. Kite had the right to terminate this agreement in its entirety or on a per licensed product or per candidate target basis
for any reason after a specified notice period. Each party had the right to terminate this agreement on account of the other party’s bankruptcy or material, uncured breach.
The Company assessed the agreement with Kite in accordance with ASC Topic 606 and concluded that Kite is a customer. The transaction price includes the upfront license fee of $150.0 million and estimated reimbursable service costs for the research projects over the estimated performance period. None of the clinical or regulatory milestones were included in the transaction price, as none of the milestones had yet been achieved, and all amounts were 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 was uncertain and contingent upon future periods when the uncertainty related to the variable consideration was resolved.
The transaction price also included actual and estimated payments by Kite for the work by Company researchers and reimbursement of the Company’s costs incurred with third parties. The Company used the expected value method to estimate payments related to the Company’s researchers’ work, taking into account the impact of constraint. Variable consideration was included in the transaction price only to the extent it is probable a significant reversal of cumulative revenues recognized would not occur.
The Company had identified four performance obligations within the Kite agreement as follows: (1) a license to the technology combined with the obligation to perform research and development services to apply the Company’s technology to Kite-selected targets; (2) production of research materials; and (3-4) two material rights, each for an extension of the research period for an additional one-year term. Such extensions contained material rights because their exercise did not require payment of a fee that is commensurate with the value of the incremental research term. The license to the Company’s intellectual property was not distinct from the related research and development activities as the licensed technology was not shared with and could not be utilized by Kite without the research services performed by the Company.
The Company allocated variable consideration (payments by Kite for the work performed by the Company’s researchers and third-party costs, as well as any future milestones and royalties) to the specific performance obligations to which they relate, as such allocation meets the allocation objective in ASC Topic 606. The Company allocated the fixed consideration of $150.0 million to the performance obligations based on their relative standalone selling prices. Standalone selling prices of optional research years were similar to those of the initial year, but additionally take into account the intrinsic value of the discount upon exercise and the likelihood of exercise.
Fees allocated to options with material rights were deferred until the options were exercised or expired. The exercise of options was accounted for as contract continuation, with target selection fees and estimated variable consideration included in the transaction price at that time and allocated specifically to the respective target’s performance obligation.
Revenue for the combined license and research services performance obligations was recognized over time, as Kite consumed the benefit of such services as they were being performed by the Company. For the license combined with research and development services performance obligation, the Company recognized revenue based on proportional performance of the ongoing research services over the period during which the Company performed the services. The estimation of progress towards the satisfaction of this performance obligation and project costs were reviewed quarterly and adjusted, as needed, to reflect the Company’s assumptions regarding the estimated volume of required activities. The production of research materials performance obligation was accounted for under the right to invoice practical expedient, as the Company had the right to invoice Kite for these services in an amount that corresponds directly with the value of the services.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023 the Company had a receivable of zero and $0.2 million, respectively, related to this agreement. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had no deferred revenue, and no amounts included in transaction price remaining to be recognized related to the agreement.
Revenues recognized under the agreement were as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20242023
Revenue related to Kite agreement:
Recognition of license fee fixed consideration$— $19,423 
Research services variable consideration— 1,097 
Total$— $20,520 
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded additional revenue related to changes in estimates in connection with the collaboration agreement with Kite. These changes in estimates were driven by reductions in the estimated future level of the Company’s research and development services in March and September 2023, and as a result, future project costs. These changes resulted in an increase in proportional cumulative performance on this collaboration and
increased revenue by $13.9 million, decreased net loss by $13.9 million, and decreased the Company’s basic and diluted net loss per share by $0.08 for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Inc.
On July 27, 2020, the Company entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Inc. (“Novartis”) for the research, development and commercialization of gene regulation therapies to treat three neurodevelopmental disorders. Under the agreement, which was effective upon execution, the Company granted Novartis an exclusive, royalty bearing and worldwide license, under its relevant patents and know-how, to develop, manufacture and commercialize certain of its ZF-transcriptional regulators targeted to three undisclosed genes that are associated with certain neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. The Company was performing early research activities over the collaboration period for each gene target and manufacture the ZF-transcriptional regulators required for such research, costs of which were funded by Novartis. Novartis was responsible for additional research activities, studies enabling investigational new drug (“IND”) applications, clinical development, regulatory approvals, manufacturing of preclinical, clinical and approved products, and global commercialization. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the agreement, the Company was prohibited from developing, manufacturing or commercializing any therapeutic product targeting any of the three genes that are the subject of the collaboration. Novartis also had the option to license certain of the Company’s proprietary AAVs for the sole purpose of developing, manufacturing and commercializing licensed products arising from the collaboration.
In March 2023, Novartis notified the Company of its termination for convenience, effective June 11, 2023 (the “Novartis Termination Date”), of the collaboration agreement. Novartis had indicated to the Company that the termination relates to a recent strategic review. As of the Novartis Termination Date, the collaboration agreement was terminated in its entirety and following the Novartis Termination Date the Company is not entitled to receive any further milestone payments or royalties from Novartis. As of the Novartis Termination Date, the parties have no further obligations to develop or to fund the development of any collaboration research programs under the collaboration agreement.
Upon entering the agreement, Novartis paid the Company a $75.0 million upfront license fee. Novartis was also obligated to pay the Company for the use of its resources and reimburse third-party costs incurred in the Company’s conduct of early research activities. The Company was also eligible to earn from Novartis development and commercial milestones and royalties on potential commercial sales of licensed products arising from the collaboration, none of which were triggered or earned. The agreement was going to continue, on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis, until the expiration of the applicable royalty term.
All payments received under the agreement were non-refundable and non-creditable. The transaction price of $95.1 million included the upfront license fee of $75.0 million and research costs of $20.1 million. All clinical or regulatory milestone amounts were considered fully constrained throughout the term of the agreement.
The Company assessed the agreement with Novartis in accordance with ASC Topic 606 and concluded that Novartis was a customer. The Company had identified a single performance obligation within this arrangement as a license to the technology and ongoing research services. The Company concluded that the license was not discrete as it did not have standalone value to Novartis apart from the research services to be performed pursuant to the agreement. As a result, the Company recognized revenue from the upfront payment based on proportional performance of the ongoing research services through the estimated research period. The estimation of progress towards the satisfaction of performance obligation and project cost was reviewed quarterly and adjusted, as needed, to reflect the Company’s current assumptions regarding the timing of its performance obligation.
The notice of termination was accounted for as a modification of the contract, as it changed both the scope of the Company’s remaining services and the consideration to which the Company was entitled. The effect of the modification was not material, as the Company was nearing the completion of its assigned early research activities, and consequently, of its sole performance obligation.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had no receivable, no deferred revenue, and no amounts included in transaction price remaining to be recognized related to the agreement.
Revenues recognized under the agreement were as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20242023
Revenue related to Novartis agreement:
Recognition of upfront license fee$— $9,568 
Research services— 2,611 
Total$— $12,179 
The Company paid $1.5 million for financial advisory fees during the year ended December 31, 2020, equal to 2% of $75.0 million received for the upfront license fee related to the collaboration and license agreement with Novartis. The Company recognized $1.5 million as a contract asset as such amount represents a cost of obtaining the agreement. This balance was amortized and included in general and administrative expenses on a systematic basis consistent with the transfer of the services to Novartis in accordance with ASC Topic 340, Other Assets and Deferred Costs (“ASC Topic 340”). The Company amortized zero and $0.2 million during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Biogen MA, Inc.
In February 2020, the Company entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Biogen MA, Inc. (“BIMA”) and Biogen International GmbH (together with BIMA, “Biogen”) for the research, development and commercialization of gene regulation therapies for the treatment of neurological diseases. The companies planned to leverage the Company’s proprietary ZF technology delivered via AAV to modulate expression of key genes involved in neurological diseases. Concurrently with the execution of the collaboration agreement, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement with BIMA, pursuant to which BIMA agreed to purchase 24,420,157 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Biogen Shares”), at a price per share of $9.2137, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $225.0 million. The collaboration agreement became effective in April 2020.
In March 2023, Biogen notified the Company of its termination for convenience, effective June 15, 2023 (the “Biogen Termination Date”), of the collaboration agreement. Biogen had indicated to the Company that the termination relates to a recent strategic review. As of the Biogen Termination Date, the collaboration agreement was terminated in its entirety and following the Biogen Termination Date the Company is not entitled to receive any further milestone payments or royalties from Biogen. As of the Biogen Termination Date, the parties have no further obligations to develop or to fund the development of any collaboration research programs under the collaboration agreement.
Under the collaboration agreement, Biogen paid the Company an upfront license fee of $125.0 million in May 2020. The Company was also eligible to receive target selection, research, development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments and royalties on potential net commercial sales of licensed products arising from the collaboration, none of which were triggered or earned.
Under the collaboration agreement, the Company granted to Biogen an exclusive, royalty bearing and worldwide license, under its relevant patents and know-how, to develop, manufacture and commercialize ZF and/or AAV-based products directed to certain neurological disease gene targets selected by Biogen. Biogen had selected four targets over the course of the collaboration and had exclusive rights to nominate up to seven additional targets. These rights expired upon the Biogen Termination Date. For each gene target selected by Biogen, the Company performed early research activities, costs of which were shared by the companies, aimed at the development of the combination of proprietary central nervous system delivery vectors and ZF-transcriptional regulators (or potential other ZF products) targeting therapeutically relevant genes.
The Company assessed the collaboration agreement with Biogen in accordance with ASC Topic 606 and concluded that Biogen was a customer. The transaction price included the upfront license fee of $125.0 million and the excess consideration from the stock purchase of $79.6 million, which represented the difference between the $225.0 million received for the purchase of the Biogen Shares and the $145.4 million estimated fair value of the equity issued. The equity issued to Biogen was valued using an option pricing model to reflect certain holding period restrictions. None of the clinical or regulatory milestones were included in the transaction price, as all such amounts were fully constrained throughout the term of the collaboration agreement. The transaction price also included actual and estimated cost-sharing payments by Biogen for the work by Company researchers and reimbursement of the Company’s costs incurred with third parties. The amounts paid and expected to be paid to Biogen for the use of Biogen’s resources and its expenses were consideration paid to a customer. Since the Company did not acquire distinct goods or services in exchange for these payments, they reduced the transaction price and were recorded as a reduction in revenue. The Company used the expected value method to estimate cost sharing payments, taking into account the impact of the constraint. Variable consideration was included in the transaction price only to the extent it was probable a significant reversal of cumulative revenues recognized would not occur. The Company re-evaluated the transaction price as uncertain events were resolved or other changes in circumstances occurred.
The Company concluded that the licenses to its intellectual property for each target were not distinct from the related research and development activities, as the licensed technology was not shared with and could not be utilized by Biogen without the research services to be performed by the Company pursuant to the agreement. On the other hand, each combination of a license to the Company’s intellectual property as applied to a specific target and the related research and development activities are a discrete research project that is distinct from any other target’s project. The targets Biogen could select were options that provided Biogen with material rights, as the exercise of the options did not require payment of a fee commensurate with the value of the incremental license rights. As a result, such options also represented performance obligations.
At contract inception, the Company allocated fixed consideration of $204.6 million included in the initial transaction price to the existing targets’ license and research services performance obligations and those performance obligations for options that include material rights, based on their relative standalone selling prices. Through June 30, 2023, all such material rights expired.
The notice of termination was accounted for as a modification of the contract, as it changed both the scope of the Company’s remaining services and the consideration to which the Company was entitled. The remaining research and development activities to be undertaken by the Company after the notice of termination were not distinct from the related activities performed prior to the modification on the same targets but were distinct from the activities on other targets. The remaining material rights were also distinct from the prior research and development activities. To account for the effects of the modification, the Company updated its estimate of the transaction price and allocated the remaining transaction consideration based on the relative standalone selling prices of the remaining distinct goods and services. Progress for each ongoing performance obligation was then remeasured using an updated estimate of the total level of effort required for each performance obligation and the total revised transaction price and a cumulative catch-up in revenue was recorded. The modification resulted in a decrease to the transaction price of $17.3 million and an increase in revenue of $127.1 million.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had no receivable, no deferred revenue, and no amounts included in transaction price remaining to be recognized related to the agreement.
Revenues recognized under the agreement were as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20242023
Revenue related to Biogen agreement:
Recognition of license and other fixed consideration$— $132,165 
Cost-sharing payments for research services, net variable consideration— 2,684 
Total$— $134,849 
The Company paid $7.0 million for financial advisory fees during the year ended December 31, 2020, equal to 2% of $225.0 million received for the sale of shares and 2% of $125.0 million received for the upfront fee. The fees incurred related to both the collaboration agreement with Biogen and to the stock purchase agreement for the sale of shares. The Company believes that the allocation of fees on a relative fair value basis between the two agreements was reasonable. The Company recognized $4.1 million, which represents 2% of the initial transaction price of $204.6 million, as a contract cost asset. This balance was released into general and administrative expenses on a systematic basis consistent with the transfer of the services to Biogen in accordance with ASC Topic 340. In March 2023, as a result of the notice of termination and resulting modification of the contract, the progress for each performance obligation was remeasured and the Company recognized $2.5 million as a cumulative catch-up to expense. The Company recognized as expense zero and $2.6 million during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Agreement with Sigma-Aldrich Corporation
In 2007, Sangamo entered into a license agreement with Sigma-Aldrich Corporation (“Sigma”) to provide Sigma with access to Sangamo’s proprietary ZF technology and the exclusive right to use the technology to develop and commercialize research reagent products and services in the research field, excluding certain agricultural research uses that Sangamo previously licensed to Dow AgroSciences LLC (“DAS”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Dow Chemical Company. Sangamo developed laboratory research reagents using its ZF technology over a three-year research services period. Sangamo has since transferred the ZF manufacturing technology to Sigma.
In October 2009, Sangamo expanded its license agreement with Sigma. In addition to the original terms of the license agreement, Sigma received exclusive rights to develop and distribute ZF-modified cell lines for commercial production of protein pharmaceuticals and certain ZF-engineered transgenic animals for commercial applications. Under the terms of the agreement, Sigma made an upfront cash payment of $20.0 million consisting of a $4.9 million purchase of 636,133 shares of Sangamo common stock, valued at $4.9 million, and a $15.1 million upfront license fee. Sangamo is also eligible to receive commercial license fees of $5.0 million based upon a percentage of net sales and sublicensing revenue and thereafter a reduced
royalty rate of 10.5% of net sales and sublicensing revenue. In addition, upon the achievement of certain cumulative commercial milestones, Sigma will make milestone payments to Sangamo up to an aggregate of $42.0 million. Sangamo does not have additional ongoing performance obligations under the agreement.
Revenues recognized under the agreement with Sigma for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $0.9 million and $4.7 million, respectively.