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Collaboration and License Agreements
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
COLLABORATION AND LICENSE AGREEMENTS

NOTE 2: COLLABORATION AND LICENSE AGREEMENTS

TG Therapeutics

 

On January 7, 2024, the Company entered into a license agreement (the “TG License Agreement”) with TG Cell Therapy, Inc. (“TG Subsidiary”) and its parent company TG Therapeutics, Inc. (“TG Parent” and, together with TG Subsidiary, “TG Therapeutics”), pursuant to which the Company granted TG Subsidiary certain exclusive and non-exclusive license rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize azer-cel for autoimmune diseases and other indications outside of cancer pursuant to the terms of the TG License Agreement.

 

Under the TG License Agreement, the Company is entitled to receive an upfront cash payment of $10.0 million (the “Upfront Payment”), an additional cash payment of $7.5 million in the event that TG Therapeutics achieves a certain clinical milestone that is expected to be achieved in the near-term (the “Initial Milestone Payment”), and additional payments upon the achievement of additional specified milestones of up to $288.6 million (the “Additional Milestone Payments”). As described below, up to $10.0 million of the cash payments potentially payable to the Company are payable in exchange for the issuance (the “Company Stock Issuances”) to TG Subsidiary of shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

The Upfront Payment of $10.0 million is comprised of (i) a $5.25 million cash payment that was paid to the Company on February 5, 2024, (ii) a $2.25 million cash payment that was paid to the Company on February 5, 2024 in exchange for 97,360 shares of the Company’s common stock, based on a price per share equal to a 100% premium to the VWAP of the Company’s common stock for the 30 trading days prior to the date of the TG License Agreement, and (iii) a deferred cash payment of $2.5 million that was paid to the Company on January 6, 2025 in exchange for 220,712 shares of the Company’s common stock, based on a price per share equal to the greater of (A) 100% premium to the VWAP of the Company’s common stock for the 30 trading days prior to the date of payment or (B) a minimum price of $11.1660 determined in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) (the “Minimum Price”).

 

The Initial Milestone Payment of $7.5 million, if payable, will consist of (i) a $5.25 million cash milestone payment and (ii) a $2.25 million cash payment payable in exchange for such number of shares of the Company’s common stock determined based on a price per share equal to the greater of (A) 100% premium to the VWAP of the Company’s common stock for the 30 trading days prior to the achievement of such milestone or (B) the Minimum Price.

 

The Additional Milestone Payments become due upon the achievement of certain milestones as specified in the TG License Agreement. Included within the Additional Milestone Payments is a potential payment of $3.0 million in connection with achievement of a milestone specified in the TG License Agreement, payable in exchange for such number of shares of the Company’s common stock determined based on a price per share equal to the greater of (A) 100% premium to the VWAP of the Company’s common stock for the 30 trading days prior to the achievement of such milestone or (B) the Minimum Price.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of the TG License Agreement, TG Therapeutics is permitted to pay up to 50% of the value of each Additional Milestone Payment (other than the Additional Milestone Payment described above that would, upon achievement, involve the issuance of $3.0 million of Shares by Precision) in freely tradable shares of common stock of TG Parent, valued based on the VWAP of the TG Parent shares of common stock on Nasdaq for the 30 trading days prior to the achievement of the applicable milestone.

 

If a licensed product under the TG License Agreement is approved and sold, TG Therapeutics is also required to pay the Company tiered royalties ranging from high-single-digit to low-double-digit percentages on net sales of the licensed product. TG Therapeutics’ obligation to pay royalties to the Company expires on a country-by-country and licensed product-by-licensed product basis, upon the latest to occur of (i) the expiration of the last-to-expire valid claim in such country covering such licensed product; (ii) the expiration of any period of data, regulatory, or market exclusivity, or supplemental protection certificates (other than patents) covering the licensed product in such country; and (iii) a period of 10 years following the first commercial sale of the respective licensed product in such country.

 

Unless earlier terminated, the TG License Agreement will remain in effect on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis until the expiration of a defined royalty term for each licensed product and country. The Company may terminate the TG License Agreement if TG Therapeutics fails to initiate certain development activities with respect to the licensed product by a specified date or ceases active development of the licensed product for a specified period of time. In addition, the Company may terminate the TG License Agreement if TG Therapeutics or any of its affiliates or sublicensees challenges the validity of any patents controlled by the Company. The Company or TG Therapeutics may terminate the TG License Agreement (i) for material breach by the other party and a failure to cure such breach within the time period specified in the TG License Agreement or (ii) the other party’s insolvency.

Sale of Azer-cel CAR T Platform to Imugene

 

On August 15, 2023 the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement (the “Imugene Purchase Agreement”) with Imugene Limited (“Imugene Limited”), and its wholly owned subsidiary Imugene (USA) Inc. (“Imugene US” and together with Imugene Limited, “Imugene”). Pursuant to and simultaneously with the execution of the Imugene Purchase Agreement, Imugene US acquired the Company’s manufacturing infrastructure used in the development and manufacture of azer-cel, including assuming the lease to the Company’s manufacturing facility and certain contracts with respect to our manufacturing facility, and related equipment, supplies, azer-cel clinical trial inventory and other assets related to the Company’s CAR T cell therapy platform (the “Acquired Assets”). As part of the Imugene Purchase Agreement, Imugene US hired a number of the Company’s employees who were associated with the Company’s historical CAR T cell therapy operations.

In consideration for the Acquired Assets, Imugene US assumed certain liabilities, paid the Company $8 million in cash, and issued the Company convertible notes pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in a convertible note subscription deed (collectively, the “Imugene Convertible Note”) in an aggregate principal amount of $13 million. The Imugene Convertible Note was non-interest bearing and had a maturity date of the first anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Maturity Date”). On the Maturity Date, the Imugene Convertible Note was redeemed through the payment of $9.75 million in cash and the remaining amount of the note was converted into ordinary shares of Imugene Limited. The ordinary shares of Imugene Limited were determined using a conversion price based on the 10-day volume weighted average price of Imugene Limited’s ordinary shares prior to the date of conversion.

Additionally, the Company entered into a license agreement with Imugene (the “Imugene License Agreement”) on the Closing Date, pursuant to which the Company granted Imugene US certain exclusive and non-exclusive license rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize oncological applications of our allogeneic CAR T therapy, azer-cel, and up to three additional research product candidates directed to targets that Imugene US may nominate prior to the fifth anniversary of the effective date of the Imugene License Agreement, pursuant to the terms of the Imugene License Agreement.

In addition, under the License Agreement, the Company is eligible to receive milestone payments of up to an aggregate of $206 million for azer-cel, inclusive of a payment of $8 million in cash and equity upon successful completion of the Phase 1b dosing in the CAR T relapsed LBCL patient population. For azer-cel, the Company is eligible to receive double-digit royalties on net sales. For up to three additional research programs to be developed by Imugene, the Company is eligible for up to $145 million in milestone payments and, if licensed products are approved and sold, tiered royalties ranging from the mid-single digit to low-double digit percentages on net sales of such licensed products. In addition, the Company is eligible to receive mid-single digit percentage-based fees for certain change of control transactions involving Imugene and for partnering transactions involving a licensed product. Imugene’s obligation to pay royalties to the Company expires on a country-by-country and licensed product-by-licensed product basis, upon the latest to occur of certain events related to expiration of patents, regulatory exclusivity or a period of 10 years following the first commercial sale of the respective licensed product.

Unless earlier terminated, the Imugene License Agreement will remain in effect on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis until the expiration of a defined royalty term for each licensed product and country. The Company may terminate the entire Imugene License Agreement due to a challenge to the Company’s patents brought by Imugene and a breach by Imugene in any material respect of the Imugene License Agreement, the Imugene Purchase Agreement or any related transaction documents. The Company may also terminate the Imugene License Agreement with respect to azer-cel if Imugene fails to initiate certain development activities with respect to azer-cel by a specified date, if Imugene fails to expend certain amounts on the development of azer-cel or if Imugene ceases active development of azer-cel for a specified period of time. Either party may terminate the Imugene License Agreement (i) for material breach by the other party and a failure to cure such breach within the time period specified in the agreement or (ii) the other party’s insolvency.

In connection with the Imugene Purchase Agreement and the Imugene License Agreement, the Company and Imugene have entered into other related agreements and documents, including a registration rights agreement, a transition services agreement, a sublease for laboratory space at our headquarters and a parent company guaranty from Imugene Limited.

The Company concluded the Imugene License Agreement represents functional intellectual property in accordance with ASC 606 given the Company does not expect to provide any additional services to Imugene outside of the right to use the licensed intellectual property. As of December 31, 2024 management has constrained all variable consideration related to milestone payments in the Imugene License Agreement given the level of uncertainty associated with achievement of the milestone payments. Accordingly, no revenue was recognized under the Imugene License Agreement during the year ended December 31, 2024.

 

Collaboration and License Agreement with Novartis

 

On June 14, 2022, the Company entered into the Novartis Agreement, which became effective on June 15, 2022 (the “Novartis Effective Date”), to collaborate to discover and develop in vivo gene editing products incorporating its custom ARCUS nucleases for the purpose of seeking to research and develop potential treatments for certain diseases (collectively referred to as licensed products). Any initial licensed products under the Novartis Agreement will be developed for the potential treatment of certain hemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Novartis Agreement, the Company will develop an ARCUS nuclease and conduct in vitro characterization for the licensed products, with Novartis then assuming responsibility for all subsequent development, manufacturing and commercialization activities. Novartis will receive an exclusive license for, and be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct all subsequent research, development, manufacture and commercialization activities with respect to the licensed products. The Company will initially develop a single, custom ARCUS nuclease for a defined “safe harbor” target site for insertion of specified therapeutic payloads in the patient’s genome (the “Initial Nuclease”) for Novartis to further develop as a potential in vivo treatment option for certain hemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. Pursuant to the terms of the Novartis Agreement, Novartis may elect, subject to payment of a fee to the Company, to replace licensed products based on the Initial Nuclease with licensed products based on a second custom ARCUS nuclease the Company designs for gene editing of a specified human gene target associated with hemoglobinopathies (the “Replacement Nuclease”). Additionally, Novartis has the option, upon payment of a fee to the Company for each exercise of the option, to include licensed products utilizing the Initial Nuclease for insertion of up to three additional specified therapeutic payloads at the “safe harbor” target site, each intended to treat a particular genetic disease. The exercise period for such option ends on the earlier of (a) the fourth anniversary of the Novartis Effective Date and (b) the replacement of the Initial Nuclease with the Replacement Nuclease as described above.

 

In July 2022, the Company received a $50.0 million upfront cash payment under the Novartis Agreement. Additionally, on the Novartis Effective Date, Novartis made an equity investment in the Company’s common stock pursuant to a stock purchase agreement (the “Novartis Stock Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which, on the Novartis Effective Date, the Company issued and sold to Novartis 413,581 shares of its common stock (the “Novartis Shares”) in a private placement transaction for an aggregate purchase price of $25.0 million, or approximately $60.30 per share. The price per share of the Company’s common stock under the Novartis

Stock Purchase Agreement represented a 20% premium over the volume-weighted-average-price of the Company’s common stock over the 10 trading days preceding the execution date of the Novartis Stock Purchase Agreement.

 

The Company will also be eligible to receive milestone payments of up to an aggregate of approximately $1.4 billion as well as certain research funding. If licensed products resulting from the collaboration are approved and sold, the Company will also be entitled to receive tiered royalties ranging from the mid-single digit to low-double digit percentages on net sales of licensed products, subject to customary potential reductions. Novartis’s obligation to pay royalties to the Company expires on a country-by-country and licensed product-by-licensed product basis, upon the latest to occur of certain events related to expiration of patents, regulatory exclusivity or a period of 10 years following the first commercial sale of the licensed product.

 

Unless earlier terminated, the Novartis Agreement will remain in effect on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis until the expiration of a defined royalty term for each licensed product and country. Novartis has the right to terminate the Novartis Agreement without cause by providing advance notice to the Company. Either party may terminate the Novartis Agreement for material breach by the other party and a failure to cure such breach within the time period specified in the Novartis Agreement. The Company may also terminate the Novartis Agreement in the event that Novartis brings a challenge to its patents.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized revenue under the Novartis Agreement of $6.4 million and $22.7 million, respectively. Deferred revenue related to the Novartis Agreement amounted to $26.3 million and $32.4 million as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, of which $3.0 million and $7.4 million, respectively, was included in current liabilities within the balance sheets.

Development and License Agreement with Prevail

 

On November 19, 2020, the Company entered into a development and license agreement with Eli Lilly and Company (“Lilly”) to collaborate to discover and develop in vivo gene editing products incorporating the Company’s ARCUS nucleases to utilize ARCUS for the research and development of potential in vivo therapies for genetic disorders, which was subsequently assigned to Prevail Therapeutics Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company (“Prevail”), effective November 1, 2022 (the “Original Prevail Agreement”).

 

On June 30, 2023, the Company entered into an amended and restated development and license agreement (the “Prevail Agreement”) with Prevail. The Prevail Agreement amended and restated the Original Prevail Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Prevail Agreement, Prevail and the Company continued to collaborate on developing the Company’s ARCUS nucleases for the research and development of potential in vivo therapies for genetic disorders, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a liver-directed target, and a central nervous system directed target. Pursuant to the Prevail Agreement, manufacturing initial clinical trial material for the first licensed product, which was previously the Company’s responsibility to conduct at Prevail’s expense, instead became Prevail’s responsibility at Prevail’s expense.

 

On April 11, 2024, the Company received written notice from Prevail of its termination of the Prevail Agreement. Prevail’s notice informed the Company that Prevail was exercising its right to terminate the Prevail Agreement in its entirety without cause upon 90 days’ prior written notice to the Company. The Company subsequently exercised its rights to the return of the three programs. The termination was effective on July 10, 2024.

During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized revenue under the Prevail Agreement of $52.7 million and $26.0 million, respectively. The Company has no deferred revenue under the Prevail Agreement as of December 31, 2024, due to the termination. Deferred revenue related to the Prevail Agreement was $52.7 million as of December 31, 2023, of which $4.7 million was included in current liabilities within the balance sheets.

 

Development and License Agreement with iECURE

 

In August 2021, the Company entered into a development and license agreement with iECURE (the “iECURE DLA”) under which iECURE was to advance its PBGENE-PCSK9 candidate through preclinical activities as well as a Phase 1 clinical trial in order to gain access to a license to use the Company’s PCSK9-directed ARCUS nuclease to insert genes into the PCSK9 locus to develop treatments for four pre-specified rare genetic diseases, including OTC deficiency (the “PCSK9 License”). Simultaneously with the entry into the iECURE DLA, the Company and iECURE entered into an equity issuance agreement (the “iECURE Equity Agreement”), pursuant to which iECURE issued the Company common stock in iECURE as additional consideration for the PCSK9 license. Additionally, the Company is eligible to receive milestone and mid-single digit to low double digit royalty payments on sales of iECURE products developed with ARCUS.

 

The Company adjusts the carrying value of the iECURE equity to fair value each reporting period with any changes in fair value recorded to other income (expense). There was no change in the fair value of the IECURE equity during the year ended December 31, 2024. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we recorded a $0.6 million increase in the carrying value of our iECURE equity to adjust to fair value.