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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025
Commitments and Contingencies  
Commitments and Contingencies

6.    Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation

CIPLA Litigation

On December 1, 2022, we received a letter dated November 30, 2022, notifying us that CIPLA Ltd. and CIPLA USA (“CIPLA”) submitted to the FDA an ANDA (ANDA No. 218028) for a generic version of PEDMARK® (sodium thiosulfate solution) that contained Paragraph IV Certifications on two of our patents covering PEDMARK®: the OHSU licensed ‘190 Patent, expiration date January 2038; and our US 11,291,728 Patent (the “’728 Patent”), expiration date July 2039. On January 6, 2023, we received a letter dated January 5, 2023, notifying us that CIPLA submitted to the FDA a Paragraph IV Certification on our newly issued US 11,510,984 Patent (the “’984 Patent”). These patents are listed in FDA’s list of Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, commonly referred to as the Orange Book, for PEDMARK®. The certifications allege these patents are invalid or will not be infringed by the manufacture, use, or sale of CIPLA’s sodium thiosulfate solution.

Under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, as amended, after receipt of a valid Paragraph IV notice, the Company may bring a patent infringement suit in a federal district court against CIPLA within 45 days from the receipt of the Notice Letter and if such a suit is commenced within the 45-day period, the Company is entitled to a 30 month stay on the FDA’s ability to give final approval to any proposed products that reference PEDMARK. In addition to the 30-month stay, because we have received Orphan Drug

Exclusivity, the FDA may not approve CIPLA’s ANDA for at least 7 years from PEDMARK®’s FDA approval date of September 20, 2022, which is September 20, 2029.

On January 10, 2023, we filed suit against the CIPLA entities in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (Case No. 2:23-cv-00123), for infringement of the US ‘190 Patent, the US ‘728 Patent, and the US ‘984 Patent.  On April 20, 2023, we filed an Amended Complaint to assert infringement of the US ‘728 Patent and the US ‘984 Patent. On April 4, 2023, we were granted US 11,617,793 Patent (the “US ‘793 Patent”) covering the formulation of the PEDMARK® product, which was listed in the Orange Book on or around April 17, 2023, and has an expiration date of July 2039.  On May 11, 2023, we received written notice of CIPLA’s Paragraph IV Certification as to the US ‘793 Patent, which was dated May 10, 2023, along with an enclosed statement of alleged factual and legal bases for stating that the US ‘793 Patent is invalid, unenforceable, and/or will not be infringed by CIPLA’s ANDA Product. On July 27, 2023, we filed a Second Amended Complaint to assert the US ‘793 Patent. CIPLA filed an Answer to the Second Amended Complaint on August 31, 2023.

On April 23, 2024, we were granted US 11,964,018 Patent (the “US ‘018 Patent) covering a method of using our PEDMARK® product to reduce ototoxicity in a patient receiving a platinum based chemotherapeutic for the treatment of a cancer, which was listed in the Orange Book on or around May 8, 2024, and has an expiration date of July 2039. On May 28, 2024, we were granted US 11,992,530 Patent (the “US ‘530 Patent”) covering a method of using our PEDMARK® product to reduce ototoxicity in a patient receiving a platinum based chemotherapeutic for the treatment of a cancer, which was listed in the Orange Book on or around June 20, 2024, and has an expiration date of July 2039.  On June 4, 2024, we were granted US 11,998,604 Patent (the “US ‘604 Patent”) covering a method of using our PEDMARK product to reduce ototoxicity in a patient receiving a platinum based chemotherapeutic for the treatment of a cancer, which was listed in the Orange Book on or around June 24, 2024, and has an expiration date of July 2039.

On June 13, 2024, we filed a Motion for Leave to File a Third Amended Complaint to focus the ANDA litigation against CIPLA on the US ‘018 Patent and the US ‘793 Patent only. The non-asserted patents remain listed in the Orange Book. On July 22, 2024, CIPLA filed a response indicating that they do not oppose our Motion for Leave to File a Third Amended Complaint. On July 30, 2024, the court granted us leave to file the Third Amended Complaint, which we filed on September 16, 2024.

In coordination with the Third Amended Complaint, we entered into a covenant not to sue CIPLA on the US ‘363 Patent, US ‘728 Patent, US ‘984 Patent, US ‘530 Patent, and US ‘604 Patent, subject to the limitation that such shall not apply to the extent CIPLA alters the product or formulation described in its FDA ANDA application.

On May 27, 2025, we were granted US 12,311,026 (the “US ‘026 Patent”) covering a method of using pharmaceutical compositions comprising sodium thiosulfate and specific stabilizers to reduce ototoxicity in a patient receiving a platinum based chemotherapeutic for the treatment of a cancer.  The US ‘026 Patent has an expiration date of July 2039.

 

On May 27, 2025, we filed suit against the CIPLA entities in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (Case No. 2:25-cv-05709), for infringement of the US ‘026 Patent based on the Cipla entities’ ANDA filing.  Subsequently, we filed a Motion to Consolidate Case No. 2:25-cv-05709 and Case No. 2:23-cv-00123.  

On July 14, 2025, the court granted the Motion to Consolidate Case No. 2:25-cv-05709 with Case No. 2:23-cv-00123.

On July 14, 2025, the court issued its Order on Claim Construction on two claim terms in dispute, adopting our proposed constructions for both.

On August 25, 2025, the CIPLA entities filed an Answer and Counterclaims to the complaint, alleging that the ‘026 Patent was invalid, not infringed, and/or unenforceable.

The suit is ongoing.

Executive Severance

In the event of termination of Mr. Hackman's (Chief Executive Officer) employment with the Company other than for cause, the Company will be obligated to pay him a one-time severance payment equal to twelve months of salary (currently $559). In the event of termination of Mr. Andrade’s (Chief Financial Officer) employment with the Company other than for cause, the Company will be obligated to pay him a one-time severance payment equal to nine months of salary which is equivalent to $344. Further, certain other Executive Employment Agreements generally provide that if employment is terminated without “Cause” (as defined in the applicable Executive Employment Agreement) and other conditions are satisfied, then such executive officer shall receive as severance an amount equal to their then current base salary for a period of nine (9) months, less standard withholdings for tax and social security purposes.

Leases

The Company has an operating lease in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina utilizing a small space within a commercial building. The operating lease has payments of $0.4 per month with no scheduled increases. This operating lease is terminable with 30 days’ notice and has no penalties or contingent payments due.

On January 23, 2020, the Company entered into an Office Service Agreement (the “Office Service Agreement”) with Regus to lease office space in Hoboken, New Jersey. Per the terms of the Office Service Agreement, the monthly rent payments are $1. The Company was required to pay a security deposit of $2, which is the equivalent to two months of rent. The Office Service Agreement commenced on January 27, 2020, and terminated on July 31, 2020, thereafter the lease has been continuing on a month-to-month basis with either party being able to terminate the agreement by providing one month’s advance written notice of termination.

On August 1, 2023, the Company entered into a second Office Service Agreement (the “Second Office Service Agreement”) with Regus to lease office space in Dublin, Ireland. Per  the terms of the Second Office Service Agreement, the monthly rent payments are $2. The Company was required to pay a security deposit of $5, which is the equivalent of two months rent. The Second Office Service Agreement commenced on August 1, 2023, and terminated on January 31, 2025, thereafter the lease may continue on a month-to-month basis with either party being able to terminate the agreement by providing one month’s advance written notice of termination. This lease was terminated.

Employee Benefit Plan

In May 2021, the Company established the Fennec Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 401(k) Plan (the “401(k) Plan”) for its employees, which is designed to be qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Eligible employees are permitted to contribute to the 401(k) Plan within statutory and 401(k) Plan limits. As of September 30, 2025, the Company does not offer matching contributions.