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License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2023
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments |
License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments | 13. License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments License and Collaborative Agreements As described below, the Company has entered into several license and collaborative agreements for the right to use research, technology and patents. Some of these license and collaborative agreements may contain milestones. The specific timing of such milestones cannot be predicted and is dependent on future developments as well as regulatory actions which cannot be predicted with certainty (including actions which may never occur). Further, under the terms of certain licensing agreements, the Company may have the obligation to pay certain milestones contingent upon the achievement of specific levels of sales. Due to the long-range nature of such commercial milestone liability amounts, they are neither probable at this time nor predictable and consequently are not recorded in the financial statements or included in this disclosure. 13. License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments – (continued) On August 31, 2010, VCN entered into a Technology Transfer Agreement (the “Technology Transfer Agreement”) with the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (“IDIBELL”) for the exclusive license of the right to use a Spanish patent number P200901201 titled “Oncolytic adenoviruses for treating cancer” which is co-owned by IDIBELL and Catalan Oncology Institute (“ICO”) for the term of the patent. The Technology Transfer Agreement provides that IDIBELL is entitled to a low single digit percentage royalty on the income collected by VCN from the utilization of products derived from the licensed technology, prior to applying any value-added tax, if any, and low single digit percentage royalty on other income received by VCN arising from the use of the licensed technology, including income related to sublicenses of the licensed technology to third parties and advance payments or payments made for goals that were met and/or services associated with the licensed technology. The Technology Transfer Agreement terminates upon the expiration of the patent rights and is subject to early termination by either party in the event of a breach by the other party of its obligations thereunder. In addition, IDIBELL has the right to revoke the license if VCN ceases business activities for a continuous year or ceases to utilize the technology subject of the Technology Transfer Agreement, uses the technology in violation of the principals of IDIBELL or ICO or stops maintaining the patent licensed under the Technology Transfer Agreement. No amounts incurred in 2023 and 2022. ICO Marketing License On May 16, 2009, VCN entered into a Contract to Grant a Marketing License (the “ICO License Agreement”) with the Catalan Institute of Oncology (the “ICO”) for a manufacturing and marketing license of a patent P200700665 titled “Adenovirus with mutations in the area of endoplasmic retention of protein E3-19k and their use in the treatment of cancer” in connection with a sublicense identified therein. The validity period of the license granted is unlimited with the only applicable limit being the patent’s own validity. The ICO License Agreement provides that the ICO is entitled to a royalty of low double digit percentage of the net value of the income from the concession of the identified sublicense and low double digit precentage on other lump sums received thereunder. VCN and its sublicensees have an obligation to use all diligent and commercially reasonable efforts for the exploitation of the patent, otherwise, ICO may proceed to recover the license. The ICO License terminates upon the expiration of the patent rights and is subject to early termination by either party in the event of a breach by the other party of its obligations thereunder. No amounts incurred in 2023 and 2022. IDIBELL/ICO License Agreement On March 4, 2016, VCN entered into a License Agreement (the “IDIBELL/ICO License Agreement”) with IDIBELL and the ICO, for the exclusive license of the right to use a family of patents whose priority application is European patent application EP 14 38 2162.7 titled “Adenovirus comprising an albumin-binding molety”. The License Agreement provides that IDIBELL and ICO, as licensors, are entitled to share a low single digit percentage royalty on the annual Net Sales (as defined in the IDIBELL/ICO License Agreement)collected by VCN from the utilization of products derived from the licensed technology and a royalty on sublicensing income received from the licensed technology at a rate of: low double digit percentage during the first 3 years following the effective date of the agreement, mid single digit percentage during the term of 3 to 7 years following the effective date and low single digit percentage thereafter. The IDIBELL/ICO License Agreement also provides for certain fixed payments, including a payment 25 days following the date of concession of the licensed patent in a minimum of three European jurisdictions and a payment 25 days following the date of concession of an American patent derived from the licensed patent. The IDIBELL/ICO License is for an indefinite term subject to early termination (i) by mutual agreement of the parties; (ii) by licensor in the event of at least two successive breaches or three alternate breaches calculated annually of the obligation to pay any consideration; (iii) by VCN at its discretion due to certain patent infringements of rights protected by the patents or due to the absence of protection of the patent in any countries in the territory which is worldwide or (iv) in the event of a breach by the other party of its obligations thereunder which are not remedied within thirty (30) days. In addition, the licensors have the right to revoke the IDIBELL/ICO License Agreement if VCN during a continuous period of two years abandons its research or development activities of the licensed patent or activities aimed at exploitation of the resulting products, VCN has undertaken no marketing whatsoever during the term of the IDIBELL/ICO License Agreement or uses the patent licensed for purposes other those as set forth in the IDIBELL/ICO License Agreement. No amounts incurred in 2023 and 2022. 13. License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments – (continued) Saint Joan De Déu Collaboration and License Agreement On February 15, 2016, VCN entered into a Collaboration Agreement to Conduct a Clinical Trial and Grant an Operating License (the “Collaboration and License Agreement”) with the Saint Joan De Déu Hospital (the “Hospital”) and the Saint Joan De Déu Foundation (the “Foundation”, and together with the Hospital, the “Institution”) regarding the conduct of a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and activity of VCN-01 in patients with refractory retinoblastoma. The Collaboration and License Agreement provides that if the trial results are positive and VCN is interested in continuing with the development of VCN-01 for the treatment of retinoblastoma; (a) the parties undertake to apply their best efforts to negotiate and, where appropriate, sign an agreement to collaborate in the development and execution of the following phases of the development of VCN-01 for the treatment of retinoblastoma; (b) the Institution shall grant to VCN an exclusive, worldwide and indefinite license to use and exploit the trial results and their possible patents exclusively for the treatment of retinoblastoma; (c) VCN shall pay the Foundation five hundred thousand Euros (€500,000), subject to reduction for any public and/or private economic aid that third parties may grant to the Institution for the conduct of the trial and/or any advance payments made by VCN before the end of the trial; (d) VCN shall pay the Foundation three hundred twenty thousand Euros (€320,000) once following the trial results of a pivotal study, to be carried out by VCN, has been completed which allows it to obtain the marketing authorization of the product following from the results, which payment must be made within a maximum period of four (4) years from the date on which Institution has delivered the final report of the trial to VCN ; and (e) the parties will use their best efforts to negotiate and, where appropriate, sign a product supply agreement in order that the Hospital can use VCN-01 for compassionate use in the treatment of retinoblastoma. The Collaboration and License Agreement continues in force and effect until all obligations arising from the trial have been fulfilled, subject to early termination for a material breach by a party of any of their contractual and/or legal obligations, or, in the case of any other type of breach, when the breaching party has been asked in writing to remedy the breach and the breach is not cured within thirty (30) days from the date on which the written request was sent. On November 2, 2023, VCN and Sant Joan de Déu-Barcelona Children’s Hospital announced an agreement for an exclusive worldwide option to negotiate an exclusive license of certain Sant Joan de Deu intellectual property rights related to the use of VCN-01 in combination with topoisomerase I inhibitor chemotherapies for the treatment of cancer. During the year ended December 31, 2023 the Company paid a Euros (€25,000) option fee. Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis Clinical Trial Agreement On August 7, 2019, the Company entered into a clinical trial agreement (“CTA”) with Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (“Washington University”) to conduct a Phase 1b/2a single-center, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of oral SYN-004 (ribaxamase) in up to 36 adult allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients (the “Study”). Under the terms of the CTA, the Company will serve as the sponsor of the Study and supply SYN-004 (ribaxamase), as well as compensate Washington University for all research services to be provided in connection with the Study which is estimated to cost approximately $3,200,000. Dr. Erik R. Dubberke, Professor of Medicine and Clinical Director, Transplant Infectious Diseases at Washington University will serve as the principal investigator of the trial in collaboration with his Washington University colleague Dr. Mark A. Schroeder, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplantation and Leukemia. ​ 13. License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments – (continued) The CTA continues in effect until completion of all obligations under the CTA. Either party may terminate the CTA prior to completion of its obligations (i) if authorization of the study is withdrawn by the FDA; (ii) if the emergence of any adverse reaction or side effect with SYN-004 (ribaxamase) administered in the Study is of such magnitude or incidence in the opinion of either party to support termination; or (iii) upon a breach of the terms of the CTA if the breaching party fails to cure the breach within 30 days after receipt of notice. The Company has the right to terminate the CTA (i) effective immediately if Washington University fails to perform the study in accordance with the terms of the protocol, the CTA or applicable laws or regulations or if Washington University or the principal investigator become debarred or (ii) upon 14 days written notice and Washington University has the right to terminate the CTA upon 14 days notice if the principal investigator becomes unable to perform or complete the Study and the parties have not, prior to the expiration of such fourteen (14) day period, agreed to an alternative principal investigator. The Company paid $1.1 million related to this agreement during the year ended 2022. There we no payments during 2023. Massachusetts General Hospital Exclusive Option License Agreement On May 27, 2020, the Company entered into an agreement with Massachusetts General Hospital (“MGH”) granting us an option for an exclusive license to intellectual property and technology related to the use of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (“IAP”) to maintain gastrointestinal (GI) and microbiome health, diminish systemic inflammation, and treat age-related diseases. If executed, the Company plans to use this license in the advancement of an expanded clinical development program for SYN-020, its proprietary recombinant version of bovine IAP currently in pre-clinical development. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company is granted exclusive rights to negotiate a worldwide license with MGH to commercially develop SYN-020 to treat and prevent metabolic and inflammatory diseases associated with aging. During the second quarter of 2021, the Company announced an amendment to its option for an exclusive license agreement with MGH to include intellectual property and technology related to the use of SYN-020 to inhibit liver fibrosis in select diseases, including NAFLD. In January 2023, the company paid $7,500 to extend the option period until July 2024. University of Texas Austin Agreement On December 19, 2012, the Company entered into a License Agreement with University of Texas Austin (“UT”) for the exclusive license of the right to use, develop, manufacture, market and commercialize certain research and patents related to pertussis antibodies. The License Agreement provides that UT Austin is entitled to payment of past patent expenses, an annual payment of $50,000 per year commencing on the effective date through December 31, 2014, a $25,000 payment on December 31, 2015 and milestone payments of $50,000 upon commencement of Phase 1 clinical trials, $100,000 upon commencement of Phase 3 clinical trials, $250,000 upon NDA submission in the U.S., $100,000 upon European Medicines Agency approval and $100,000 upon regulatory approval in an Asian country. In addition, UT Austin is entitled to a running royalty upon net sales. The License Agreement terminates upon the expiration of the patent rights; provided, however that the License Agreement is subject to early termination by the Company in its discretion and by UT Austin for a breach of the License Agreement by the Company. No amounts incurred in 2023 and 2022. In connection with the License Agreement, the Company and UT Austin also entered into a Sponsored Research Agreement pursuant to which UT Austin will perform certain research work related to pertussis. The Sponsored Research Agreement may be renewed annually, in the sole discretion of the Company, after the first year for two additional one year terms with a fixed fee for the first year of $303,000. The Sponsored Research Agreement was renewed for the second and third years for a fixed fee of $316,000 and $329,000 respectively, all payable in quarterly installments. The Sponsored Research Agreement expired January 17, 2023. 13. License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments – (continued) Prev ABR LLC (“Prev”) Agreement On November 28, 2012, the Company entered into an agreement (“Prev Agreement”) to acquire the C. diff program assets of Prev, including the pre-Investigational New Drug (IND) package, Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical data, manufacturing process data and all issued and pending U.S. and international patents. Upon execution and closing of the Prev Agreement, the Company paid Prev cash payments of $235,000 and issued 17,858 unregistered shares of its common stock to Prev. As set forth in the Prev Agreement, Prev may be entitled to receive additional consideration upon the achievement of certain milestones, including: (i) commencement of an IND; (ii) commencement of a Phase 1 clinical trial; (iii) commencement of a Phase 2 clinical trial; (iv) commencement of a Phase 3 clinical trial; (v) filing a Biologic License Application (BLA) in the U.S. and for territories outside of the U.S. (as defined in the Prev Agreement); and (vi) approval of a BLA in the U.S. and for territories outside the U.S. With exception of the first milestone payment, the remaining milestones are payable 50% in cash and 50% in the Company’s stock, however, at Prev’s option the entire milestone may be payable in shares of the Company’s stock. As of December 31, 2015, the first three milestones had been met, and at Prev’s option, Prev elected to receive 18,724 shares of the Company’s common stock. Currently, assets licensed under this agreement are used in the Company’s Phase 1b/2a Clinical Study in Allogeneic HCT Recipients. No milestones were achieved or such payments were made subsequent to 2015. Employment Agreements On January 3, 2022, the Company entered into a three-year employment agreement with Steven A. Shallcross, (the “2022 Shallcross Employment Agreement”), to serve as the Chief Executive Officer and to continue to serve as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The Employment Agreement has a stated term of three years but may be terminated earlier pursuant to its terms. If Mr. Shallcross’ employment is terminated for any reason, he or his estate as the case may be, will be entitled to receive the accrued base salary, vacation pay, expense reimbursement and any other entitlements accrued by him to the extent not previously paid (the “Accrued Obligations”); provided, however, that if his employment is terminated (i) by the Company without Cause or by Mr. Shallcross for Good Reason (as each is defined in the Employment Agreement) then in addition to paying the Accrued Obligations, (a) the Company will continue to pay his then current base salary and continue to provide benefits at least equal to those that were provided at the time of termination for a period of twelve (12) months and (b) he shall have the right to exercise any vested equity awards until the earlier of six (6) months after termination or the remaining term of the awards; or (ii) by reason of his death or Disability (as defined in the Employment Agreement), then in addition to paying the Accrued Obligations, Mr. Shallcross would have the right to exercise any vested options until the earlier of six (6) months after termination or the remaining term of the awards. In such event, if Mr. Shallcross commenced employment with another employer and becomes eligible to receive medical or other welfare benefits under another employer-provided plan, the medical and other welfare benefits to be provided by the Company as described herein would terminate. On December 15, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Company awarded Steven A. Shallcross: (i) a cash bonus equal to $385,000, and (ii) an option to purchase 475,000 shares of the Company's common stock. In addition, on December 15, 2022, the Company entered into an Amendment to Mr. Shallcross's Employment Agreement to increase his base salary to $614,250. On December 14, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Company awarded Steven A. Shallcross: (i) a cash bonus equal to $350,000, and (ii) an option to purchase 700,000 shares of the Company's common stock. In addition, on December 14, 2023, the Company increased his base salary to $644,963 due to a merit increase. 13. License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments – (continued) On March 22, 2022, Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an employment agreement with Frank Tufaro (the “Employment Agreement”) to serve as the Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Dr. Tufaro had received an annual base salary of $375,000 and was eligible to earn an annual performance bonus of up to forty percent (40%) of his annual base salary. The annual bonus was based upon the assessment of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Dr. Tufaro’s performance and the Company’s attainment of targeted goals set by the Board. In addition, Dr. Tufaro was also be eligible to receive annual equity awards pursuant to the Company’s incentive equity plans, such awards (including the number and type of awards), if any, was to be in the sole discretion of the Board. The Employment Agreement also included confidentiality obligations and inventions assignments by Dr. Tufaro and non-solicitation and non-competition provisions. The employment agreement had a stated term of three (3) years but may be terminated earlier pursuant to its terms. The employment agreement provided that if Dr. Tufaro’s employment was terminated for any reason, he or his estate as the case may be, would be entitled to receive the accrued base salary, any unpaid annual bonus earned with respect to any calendar year ending on or preceding the date of termination, vacation pay, expense reimbursement and any other entitlements accrued by him to the extent not previously paid (the “Accrued Obligations”); provided, however, that if his employment was terminated (i) by the Company without Cause or by Dr. Tufaro for Good Reason (as each is defined in the Employment Agreement) then in addition to paying the Accrued Obligations, (a) the Company would continue to pay his then current base salary and continue to provide benefits at least equal to those that were provided at the time of termination for a period of six (6) months and (b) all unvested stock options and other equity awards would immediately vest and he would be entitled to exercise any vested equity awards until the earlier of six (6) months after termination or the remaining term of the awards; or (ii) by reason of his death or Disability (as defined in the employment agreement), then in addition to paying the Accrued Obligations, Dr. Tufaro, or his estate as the case may be, would have the right to exercise any vested options until the earlier of six (6) months after termination or the remaining term of the awards. If Dr. Tufaro commenced employment with another employer and became eligible to receive medical or other welfare benefits under another employer-provided plan, the medical and other welfare benefits to be provided by the Company as described herein would terminate. On December 15, 2022, the Board awarded Frank Tufaro, the Company's Chief Operating Officer: (i) a cash bonus equal to approximately 23% of his current base salary, and (ii) an option to purchase 100,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock. In addition, on December 15, 2022, the Company entered into an Amendment to Dr. Tufaro's Employment Agreement to increase his base salary to $393,750. Effective May 10, 2023, the Company entered into a Separation Agreement and Release with Frank Tufaro (the “Separation Agreement”) and a consulting agreement with Mr. Tufaro. In accordance with the terms of the Employment Agreement, the Separation Agreement provides for (i) the payment to Mr. Tufaro of a total of $196,875, paid in bi-monthly installments, less applicable withholding, for a period of six months, (ii) reimbursement of COBRA coverage for himself, his spouse and other eligible dependents for the lesser of: six months or until he commences new employment or substantial self-employment, and (iii) acceleration of the vesting of his outstanding stock options (the “Option Awards”)and (iv) the extension of the period of time for which Mr. Tufaro has the right to exercise any vested shares subject to options until the earlier of (i) the expiration date of the Option Awards, or (ii) six (6) months from the separation date. The Company recorded $22,000 of stock option expense due to the acceleration of the vesting. The Separation Agreement contains mutual general releases of claims and non-disparagement provisions. The Consulting Agreement has a term of six months unless sooner terminated. Either party may terminate the Consulting Agreement without cause at any time upon thirty (days’ prior written notice or with cause immediately. Mr. Tufaro will be compensated a set daily rate for each full day that he provides consulting services, pro-rated for any days services are provided less than eight hours. There were no amounts paid under this conlsuting agreement during the year ended December 31, 2023. 13. License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments – (continued) Operating Lease The Company’s existing leases as of December 31, 2023 for its U.S. and Spanish facilities are classified as operating leases. During the quarter ended June 30, 2021, the Company renewed its Rockville, MD facility lease by entering into a Second Lease Amendment which extends the lease term for 63 months beginning on September 1, 2022 and ending on December 31, 2027 at stated rental rates and including a 3-month rent abatement. The Second Amendment also has options for a Tenant Improvement Allowance and a Second Extension Term. The Second Amendment also gives the Company the right to expand its space by giving notice to the landlord before December 31, 2021. The Company did not give notice to expand the space during 2021. The Second Extension Term is offered at market rates and there is no economic incentive for the lessee, therefore the Company has determined that it is not part of the original lease term. There is an option in this Second Amendment to Lease for the Company to borrow funds for tenant improvements subject to an 8.5% interest rate. The Company also leases research and office facilities in Barcelona, Spain for its 100 percent owned Theriva S.L. subsidiary. The lease that was in existence from December 2021 to December 2022 was a short term agreement with a 90-day termination notice provision that can be exercised by either party. On the closing date of the Theriva S.L. acquisition, a sublease was executed for Theriva S.L. to lease research and office facilities at a new location in Parets del Valles (Barcelona) from the former owner of Theriva S.L.. This lease was executed for an initial term to begin in January 2023 until October 2026, with an option to renew for an additional five years. On January 15, 2023, Theriva S.L. moved into the facilities and the new lease commenced and the prior lease terminated. Operating lease costs are presented as part of general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations, and for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 approximated $624,000 and $569,000, respectively. For the Barcelona lease, the day one non-cash addition of right of use assets due to adoption of ASC 842 was $937,000. A maturity analysis of the Company’s operating leases as of December 31, 2023 is as follows (amounts in thousands of dollars):
​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Future undiscounted cash flow for the years ending December 31, |  | ​ |
2024 | ​ | ​ | 654
2025 | ​ | ​ | 664
2026 | ​ | ​ | 582
2027 | ​ |  | 368
Total | ​ | ​ | 2,268
​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Discount factor | ​ | ​ | (339)
Operating lease liability | ​ | ​ | 1,929
Operating lease liability - current | ​ | ​ | (487)
Operating lease liability - long term | ​ | $ | 1,442
​ Consulting Fees In November 2017, the Company engaged a regulatory consultant to assist in the Company’s efforts to prepare, file and obtain FDA approval for ribaxamase. The term of the engagement is on a monthly basis, provided that either party may terminate the agreement at any time by providing the other party a six-month notice period. The Company was obligated to pay the consultant a monthly retainer in addition to success fee payments of up to an aggregate of $4,500,000 for attainment of certain regulatory milestones. The achievement of the milestones is not probable at this time. No amounts incurred in 2023 and 2022. 13. License, Collaborative and Employment Agreements and Commitments – (continued) Risks and Uncertainties The uncertain financial markets, disruptions in supply chains, mobility restraints, and changing priorities as well as volatile asset values could impact the Company’s business in the future. The Company and its third-party contract manufacturers, contract research organizations, and clinical sites may also face disruptions in procuring items that are essential to the Company’s research and development activities, including, for example, medical and laboratory supplies used in its clinical trials or preclinical studies, in each case, that are sourced from abroad or for which there are shortages because of ongoing efforts to address the outbreak. Further, although the Company has not experienced any material adverse effects on business due to increasing inflation, it has raised operating costs for many businesses and, in the future, could impact demand or pricing manufacturing of its drug candidates or services providers, foreign exchange rates or employee wages. The Company is actively monitoring the effects that these disruptions and increasing inflation could have on its operations. Through the VCN Acquisition, the Company has operations in Spain related to conducting research and development, manufacturing, and clinical trials in Western European countries. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the war in the Middle East, and the retaliatory measures that have been taken, or could be taken in the future, by the United States, NATO, and other countries have created global security concerns that could result in a regional conflict and otherwise have a lasting impact on regional and global economies, any or all of which could disrupt the Company’s supply chain, and despite the fact that it currently does not plan any clinical trials in Eastern Europe, may adversely impact the cost and conduct of R&D, manufacturing, and international clinical trials of its product candidates.

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