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License Agreements
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2021
License Agreements [Abstract]  
License Agreements

9. LICENSE AGREEMENTS

Emory University, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. and UAB Research Foundation

In June 2016, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement with Emory University, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. and UAB, as amended from time to time (the “Emory License Agreement”). The Emory License Agreement was amended in October 2017 and July 2020. Under the Emory License Agreement, the Company obtained an exclusive worldwide license under certain immunotherapy related patents and know-how related to gamma-delta T cells developed by Emory University, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. and UABRF’s affiliate, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, to develop, make, have made, use, sell, import and otherwise commercialize products that are covered by such patents or otherwise incorporate or use the licensed technology. Such exclusive license is subject to certain rights retained by these institutions and also the U.S. government.

In consideration of the license granted under the Emory License Agreement, the Company paid Emory University a nominal upfront payment. In addition, the Company is required to pay Emory University development milestones totaling up to an aggregate of $1.4 million, low-single-digit to mid-single-digit tiered running royalties on the net sales of the licensed products, including an annual minimum royalty beginning on a specified period after the first sale of a licensed product, and a share of certain payments that the Company may receive from sublicenses. In addition, in the event no milestone payments have been paid in certain years, the Company will be required to pay an annual license maintenance fee. The Emory License Agreement also requires the Company to reimburse Emory University for the cost of the prosecution and maintenance of the licensed patents. Pursuant to the Emory License Agreement, the Company is required to use its best efforts to develop, manufacture and commercialize the licensed product, and is obligated to meet certain specified deadlines in the development of the licensed products.

The term of the Emory License Agreement will continue until 15 years after the first commercial sale of the licensed product, or the expiration of the relevant licensed patents, whichever is later. The Company may terminate the Emory License Agreement at will

at any time upon prior written notice to Emory University. Emory University has the right to terminate the Emory License Agreement if the Company materially breaches the agreement (including failure to meet diligence obligations) and fails to cure such breach within a specified cure period, if the Company becomes bankrupt or insolvent or decides to cease development and commercialization of the licensed product, or if the Company challenges the validity or enforceability of any licensed patents.

Exclusive License Agreement with UABRF

In March 2016, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement with UABRF, as amended from time to time (the “UABRF License Agreement”). The Company amended the UABRF License Agreement in December 2016, January 2017, June 2017 and November 2018. Under the UABRF License Agreement, the Company obtained an exclusive worldwide license under certain immunotherapy-related patents related to the use of gamma-delta T cells, certain CAR-T cells and combination treatments for cellular therapies developed by the University of Alabama at Birmingham and owned by UABRF to develop, make, have made, use, sell, import and otherwise commercialize products that are covered by such patents. Such exclusive license is subject to certain rights retained by UABRF and also the U.S. government.

In consideration of the license granted under the UABRF License Agreement, the Company paid UABRF a nominal upfront payment and issued 91,250 shares of common stock to UABRF, which were subject to certain anti-dilution rights.

In addition, the Company is required to pay UABRF development milestones totaling up to an aggregate of $1.4 million, lump-sum royalties on cumulative net sales totaling up to an aggregate of $22.5 million, mid-single-digit running royalties on net sales of the licensed products, low-single-digit running royalties on net sales of the licensed products, and a share of certain non-royalty income that the Company may receive, including from any sublicenses. The UABRF License Agreement also requires the Company to reimburse UABRF for the cost of the prosecution and maintenance of the licensed patents.

Pursuant to the UABRF License Agreement, the Company is required to use good faith reasonable commercial efforts to develop, manufacture and commercialize the licensed product.

The term of the UABRF License Agreement will continue until the expiration of the licensed patents. The Company may terminate the UABRF License Agreement at will at any time upon prior written notice to UABRF. UABRF has the right to terminate the UABRF License Agreement if the Company materially breaches the agreement and fails to cure such breach within a specified cure period, if the Company fails to diligently undertake development and commercialization activities as set forth in the development and commercialization plan, if the Company underreports its payment obligations or underpays by more than a specified threshold, if the Company challenges the validity or enforceability of any licensed patents, or if the Company becomes bankrupt or insolvent.

Antidilution Provision

The antidilution provision required the Company to issue additional shares of common stock such that UABRF maintains a 2.5% ownership interest in the Company until it has raised at least $20.0 million through one or more rounds of investment. During the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company did not issue any additional shares common stock in connection with the antidilution provision. As of June 30, 2021, the Company had a total of 151,382 shares of common stock issued in satisfaction of this antidilution provision.

The Company assessed the antidilution right and determined that the right (i) meets the definition of a freestanding financial instrument that was not indexed to the Company’s own stock and (ii) meets the definition of a derivative and did not qualify for equity classification. The initial fair value of the antidilution liability, and the value at June 30, 2020, was determined to be immaterial based on the remote probability of an additional financing and the immaterial value of the total number of shares that could be issued pursuant to the provision. The antidilution provision was settled in August 2020 when the Company raised an additional $19.8 million in gross proceeds through the issuance and sale of Series A Preferred Stock for a total of $35.0 million in gross proceeds related to the issuance and sale of Series A Preferred Stock.