5. Royalty Purchase Agreements

Royalty Purchase Agreement with Agenus, Inc.

On September 20, 2018, the Company entered into a Royalty Purchase Agreement (the “Agenus Royalty Purchase Agreement”) with Agenus, Inc., and certain affiliates (collectively, “Agenus”). Under the Agenus Royalty Purchase Agreement, the Company purchased from Agenus the right to receive 33% of the future royalties on six Incyte immuno-oncology assets, currently in development, due to Agenus from Incyte Europe Sarl (“Incyte”) (net of certain royalties payable by Agenus to a third party) and 10% of all future developmental, regulatory and commercial milestones related to these assets. However, the Company did not have a right to the expected near-term milestone associated with the entry of INCAGN2390 (anti-TIM-3) into its Phase 1 clinical trial. The future royalties due to Agenus from Incyte are based on low-single to mid-teen digit percentage of applicable net sales.

In addition, the Company purchased from Agenus the right to receive 33% of the future royalties on MK-4830, an immuno-oncology product currently in clinical development, due to Agenus from Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (“Merck”) and 10% of all future developmental, regulatory and commercial milestones related to this asset. The future royalties due to Agenus from Merck are based on low single digit percentage of applicable net sales. Pursuant to the Agenus Royalty Purchase Agreement, the Company’s share in future potential development, regulatory and commercial milestones is up to $59.5 million. There is no limit on the amount of future royalties on sales that the Company may receive under the agreements.

Under the terms of the Royalty Purchase Agreement, the Company paid Agenus $15.0 million. The Company financed $7.5 million of the purchase price with a term loan under its Loan and Security Agreement with Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”) (see Note 10).

As of December 31, 2019, there were no changes to the previously recorded $15.0 million as long-term royalty receivables in its consolidated balance sheet. The company continues to assess that no payments are probable to be received under this agreement in the near term. Under the cost recovery method, the Company does not expect to recognize any income related to milestones and royalties received until the investment of $15.0 million has been fully collected.

Royalty Purchase Agreement with Bioasis Technologies, Inc.

On February 25, 2019, the Company entered into a Royalty Purchase Agreement (the “Bioasis Royalty Purchase Agreement”) with Bioasis Technologies, Inc. and certain affiliates (collectively “Bioasis”). Under the Bioasis Royalty Purchase Agreement, the Company purchased potential future milestone and royalty rights from Bioasis for product candidates that are being developed pursuant to a license agreement between Bioasis and Prothena Biosciences Limited. In addition, the Company was granted options to purchase a 1% royalty right on the next two license agreements entered into between Bioasis and third-party licensees subject to certain payments and conditions as well as a right of first negotiation on subsequent Bioasis license agreements with third parties. Upon exercise of the option related to the second license agreement executed by Bioasis, the Company may be obligated to pay up to $0.3 million per licensed product. Upon exercise of the option related to the third license agreement executed by Bioasis, the Company may be obligated to pay up to $0.4 million per licensed product.

Under the terms of the Bioasis Royalty Purchase Agreement, the Company paid $0.3 million and will make contingent future cash payments of up to $0.2 million to Bioasis as the licensed product candidates reach certain development milestones (the “Bioasis Contingent Consideration”).

At the inception of the agreement, the Company recorded $0.4 million as long-term royalty receivables in its consolidated balance sheet, including the estimated fair value of the Bioasis Contingent Consideration of $0.1 million. Future changes in the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration will be recognized in the other income (expense), net line item of the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. As of December 31, 2019, there was no change in the fair value of the contingent consideration from its initial value and no amounts were paid during the year ended December 31, 2019.

Under the cost recovery method, the Company does not expect to recognize any income related to milestones and royalties received until the investment has been fully collected.  No impairment was recorded as of December 31, 2019.

Royalty Purchase Agreement with Aronora, Inc.

On April 7, 2019, the Company entered into a Royalty Purchase Agreement (the “Aronora Royalty Purchase Agreement”) with Aronora, Inc. (“Aronora”), which closed on June 26, 2019. Under the Aronora Royalty Purchase Agreement, the Company purchased from Aronora the right to receive future royalties and a portion of upfront, milestone, and option payments (the “Non-Royalties”) related to five anti-thrombotic hematology drug candidates. Three candidates are subject to Aronora’s collaboration with Bayer Pharma AG (“Bayer”) (the “Bayer Products”), including one which is subject to an exclusive license option by Bayer. The Company will receive 100% of future royalties and 10% of future Non-Royalties from these Bayer Products. The other two candidates are unpartnered (the “non-Bayer Products”) for which the Company will receive low-single digit percentage of net sales and 10% of Non-Royalties. The future payment percentage for Non-Royalties will be reduced from 10% to 5% upon the Company’s receipt of two times the total cumulative amount of consideration paid by the Company to Aronora.

Under the terms of the Aronora Royalty Purchase Agreement, the Company paid Aronora a $6.0 million upfront payment at the close of the transaction. The Company financed $3.0 million of the upfront payment with a term loan under its Loan and Security Agreement with SVB (see Note 10). The Company was required to make a contingent future cash payment of $1.0 million for each of the three Bayer Products that were active on September 1, 2019 (up to a total of $3.0 million, the “Aronora Contingent Consideration”). Pursuant to the Aronora Royalty Purchase Agreement, if the Company receives $250.0 million in cumulative royalties on net sales per product, the Company will be required to pay associated tiered milestone payments to Aronora in an aggregate amount of up to $85.0 million per product (the “Royalty Milestones”). The Royalty Milestones are paid based upon various royalty tiers prior to reaching $250.0 million in cumulative royalties on net sales per product. Royalties per product in excess of $250.0 million are retained by the Company. 

At the inception of the agreement, the Company recorded $9.0 million as long-term royalty receivables in its consolidated balance sheet, including the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration of $3.0 million for the Aronora Contingent Consideration. In September 2019, the Company paid the $3.0 million contingent consideration to Aronora. During the year ended December 31, 2019, there was no change in the fair value of the contingent consideration from its initial value. As the Company receives royalties from Aronora for a product, the Company will recognize the liability for future Royalty Milestones for such product when probable and estimable.

 Under the cost recovery method, the Company does not expect to recognize any income related to milestones and royalties received until the investment has been fully collected. No impairment was recorded as of December 31, 2019. 

Royalty Purchase Agreement with Palobiofarma, S.L.

On September 26, 2019, the Company entered into a Royalty Purchase Agreement (the “Palo Royalty Purchase Agreement”) with Palobiofarma, S.L. (“Palo”), a company organized and existing under the laws of Spain. Pursuant to the Palo Royalty Purchase Agreement, the Company acquired the rights to potential royalty payments in low single digit percentages of aggregate Net Sales (as defined in the Palo Royalty Purchase Agreement) associated with six drug candidates in various clinical development stages, targeting the adenosine pathway with potential applications in solid tumors, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inflammatory bowel disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, psoriasis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and other indications (the “Palo Licensed Products”) that are being developed by Palo. Novartis (the “Licensee”) is a development partner on NIR178, one of the Palo Licensed Products, and such NIR178 is being developed pursuant to a license agreement between Palo and the Licensee.

Under the terms of the Palo Royalty Purchase Agreement, the Company paid Palo a $10.0 million payment at the close of the transaction which occurred simultaneously upon parties’ entrance in the Palo Royalty Purchase Agreement on September 26, 2019. The Company financed $5.0 million of the payment with a term loan under its Loan and Security Agreement with SVB (see Note 10).

At the inception of the agreement, the Company recorded $10.0 million as long-term royalty receivables in its consolidated balance sheet. Under the cost recovery method, the Company does not expect to recognize any income related to royalties received until the investment has been fully collected. No impairment was recorded as of December 31, 2019.

 

The following table summarizes the acquisition of royalty rights as of December 31, 2019 (in thousands):