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Licensing Agreements
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
License Agreements [Abstract]  
Licensing Agreements

3. Licensing Agreements

The University of Chicago Agreement

In April 2020, the Company entered into a license agreement (the “University License Agreement”), as well as a sponsored research agreement, with the University of Chicago (the “University”). Under the terms of the license, the Company has the global right to develop and commercialize products that are covered by a valid claim of a licensed patent, incorporate or use the licensed know-how and materials or are known to assess, modulate or utilize the activity of certain specified biological targets. In partial consideration for the license from the University, the Company issued to the University 48,919 shares of its common stock in 2020.

Pursuant to the University License Agreement, the Company is obligated to pay potential development and commercial milestones of up to $7.7 million as well as running royalties on net sales of licensed products at varying rates ranging from less than a percent to the low single digits, subject to a minimum annual royalty of up to $3.0 million during certain years following the effective date. The Company is also obligated to pay the University a percentage of certain sublicensing revenue ranging from low- to mid-teens based on the date of entering into the applicable sublicense.

The Company assessed the milestone and royalty events under University License Agreement as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and determined that no such amounts were required.

Pfizer Inc. Agreement

In December 2020, the Company entered into a license agreement (as amended, the “Pfizer License Agreement”) with Pfizer Inc. (“Pfizer”) for worldwide development and commercialization rights to ADC product candidates directed to certain licensed targets, including PYX-201 and PYX-203, and products containing the ADC product candidates. The Company’s rights are exclusive with respect to certain patents owned or controlled by Pfizer covering the licensed ADCs. Pfizer has also granted the Company a non-exclusive license to use Pfizer’s ADC technology (“FACT”) platform. The initial licensed targets include CD123 and extra domain B (EDB of fibronectin) and the Company has the option to expand the scope of its license to add additional licensed targets that have not been licensed to a third party or are not the subject of a Pfizer ADC development program. The Pfizer License Agreement became effective in March 2021 and the Company paid a combined $25.0 million for the license fee, consisting of an upfront cash payment of $5.0 million and issued 12,152,145 shares of Series B convertible preferred stock, which was converted into 1,911,015 shares of its common stock upon the IPO in October 2021, with a value of $20.0 million to Pfizer.

On October 6, 2022, the Company entered into an amended and restated license agreement (the “A&R License Agreement”) with Pfizer, which amends and restates the Pfizer License Agreement. Pursuant to the A&R License Agreement, Pfizer granted to the Company exclusive worldwide rights under Pfizer’s FACT Platform technology to develop and commercialize ADC product candidates directed to certain licensed targets, including PYX-201 and PYX-203, and products containing the ADC product candidates. Additional ADC targets may be licensed for a nominal upfront payment and milestones. Further, the Company granted the right of first negotiation to Pfizer, on an exclusive basis, to purchase or to develop, manufacture and commercialize licensed ADCs and licensed products in one or more countries directed to EDB and CD123. In accordance with the terms of the A&R License Agreement, the Company agreed to pay $8.0 million to Pfizer (which was paid in January 2023) and issued 2,229,654 shares of its common stock. Additionally, the Company will issue such number of shares of common stock 180 days following the effective date (the “Issuance Date”), equivalent to $5.0 million at a per share price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the business day prior to the Issuance Date, such that Pfizer’s ownership interest in the Company shall not exceed nineteen and a half percent (19.5%) with any difference in value between the value of shares and $5.0 million being payable in cash. The Company recorded $17.3 million as research and development expenses for the A&R License Agreement during fourth quarter of the calendar year 2022.

The Company is also obligated to pay future contingent payments including development, regulatory and commercial milestones up to an aggregate of $665 million for the first four licensed ADCs. In addition, the Company is required to pay future contingent payments including development, regulatory and commercial milestones for ADCs to each additional licensed target beyond the first four licensed ADC targets developed and commercialized via the FACT Platform. Additionally, if ADC licensed products are launched, the Company will pay Pfizer tiered royalties on net sales of licensed products in varying royalty rates ranging from low single digits to mid-teens. The Company’s royalty obligations apply on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis from first commercial sale until the latest to occur of: (1) 12 years from first commercial sale; (2) the expiration of all regulatory or data exclusivity; and (3) the expiration of the last valid claim of a licensed patent covering the licensed product in a country. The Company is also obligated to pay Pfizer a percentage of certain sublicensing revenue ranging from twenty percent to low-double digits based on the stage of development of the licensed product at the time of entering into the applicable sublicense.

The Company assessed the milestone and royalty events under A&R License Agreement as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and determined that no such amounts were required.

 

LegoChem Biosciences, Inc. Agreements

In December 2020, the Company entered into a license agreement (the “LegoChem License Agreement”) and an opt-in, investment and additional consideration agreement (the “Opt-In Agreement”) with LegoChem Biosciences, Inc. (“LegoChem”). Pursuant to the LegoChem License Agreement, the Company obtained worldwide (other than Korea) license for development and commercialization rights for LCB67, an ADC product candidate targeting DLK-1, and products containing the licensed compound. The Company paid $9.0 million in March 2021 to LegoChem, which was recorded as research and development expenses. Additionally, the Company may purchase certain initial quantities of licensed products from LegoChem for an estimated cost of $7.0 million.

The Company is obligated to make future contingent payments including development, regulatory and commercial milestones as well as running royalties on net sales of licensed products at varying rates. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company stopped the continued development of LCB67, based on review and analysis of data from the toxicity studies, and anticipated clinical use and commercial prospects of anti-DLK1 ADC. Due to stoppage of clinical development of LCB67, no amounts were due and payable related to the manufacturing of the initial quantities of licensed product as well as the milestones and royalties related to LCB67 ADC of December 31, 2022.

In addition, as part of the Opt-in Agreement, LegoChem had an option to pay $8.0 million to the Company, in exchange for the right to receive a milestone payment (the “Extra Milestone Payment”) of $9.6 million upon the earliest to occur of certain events, including the date of pricing or offer of the first public offering of its common stock or if the Company is the subject of a change in control transaction. The Company determined that the Extra Milestone Payment met the definition and recognition condition of derivative under ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” for which there was a binding contract and firm commitment in January 2021. An initial derivative liability was recognized for $3.4 million with an offset to research and development expenses in January 2021. The derivative liability was re-measured at each reporting date, and as a result, $6.2 million was recorded in “Other income (expense)” in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2021. The liability was realized upon the IPO of the Company and Extra Milestone Payment of $9.6 million was paid to LegoChem in January 2022. The Company has no further obligations under the Opt-In Agreement as of December 31, 2022.

License Agreement with Biosion USA, Inc.

On March 28, 2022, the Company entered into a license agreement (the “Biosion License Agreement”) with Biosion USA, Inc. ("Biosion"), pursuant to which the Company obtained an exclusive, worldwide (other than Greater China (mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan)) license for development, manufacture and commercialization rights for BSI-060T, a Siglec-15 targeting antibody, an IO product candidate (now referred to as PYX-106), and products containing the licensed compound. Under the terms of the Biosion License Agreement, each party granted to the other party a right of first offer to obtain an exclusive license in the other party’s territory (Greater China for Biosion, and the rest of the world for Pyxis) to develop, manufacture and commercialize any bi-specific or multi-specific antibody any antibody-drug conjugate controlled by a party or its affiliate that inhibits, modulates or binds to Siglec-15 as an intended mechanism of action.

Pursuant to the Biosion License Agreement, the Company paid an upfront license fee of $10.0 million, which was recorded as research and development expenses. The Company is also obligated to pay future contingent payments including development, regulatory and commercial milestones up to an aggregate of $217.5 million in case of normal approval and $222.5 million in case of accelerated approval. Additionally, if products are launched, the Company will pay Biosion tiered royalties on net sales of licensed products in varying royalty rates ranging from low single digits to low teens. The Company’s royalty obligations apply on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis from first commercial sale until the latest to occur of: (1) 12 years from first commercial sale; (2) the expiration of all regulatory or data exclusivity; and (3) the expiration of the last valid claim of a licensed patent covering the licensed product in a country. The Company is also obligated to pay Biosion a percentage of certain sublicensing revenue ranging from mid-double to low-double digits based on the stage of development of the licensed product at the time of entering into the applicable sublicense.

The Company assessed the milestone and royalty events involving Biosion as of December 31, 2022 and determined that no such amounts were required.