MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING DATED: June 23, 2005 BETWEEN:
EXHIBIT 10.3
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
DATED: June 23, 2005
BETWEEN:
(1) | UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC., a nonprofit Georgia corporation with offices located in Xxxx Graduate Studies Research Center, The University of Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000 (“UGARF”); |
(2) | YALE UNIVERSITY located in New Haven, Connecticut (“YALE”); and |
(3) | PHARMASSET, INC., a company incorporated in Delaware whose address is 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000 (“Pharmasset”). |
BACKGROUND:
(A) | UGARF and Yale entered into a license agreement dated December 28, 1995, as amended effective September 1, 1997, December 1, 1997, February 27, 1998 (now ineffective), July 15, 2001 and June 17, 2005 with Bukwang Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (“Bukwang”) under which the University Patents and Licensed Technology (as defined below) were exclusively licensed to Bukwang (“Primary License”) with the right to further sublicense. |
(B) | On June 23, 2005, Bukwang entered into a license agreement with Pharmasset under which certain patents and know-how were exclusively licensed to Pharmasset and the University Patents and Licensed Technology were sublicensed to Pharmasset (“Pharmasset Sublicense”). |
(C) | Yale and UGARF have agreed to grant a license under the University Patents and Licensed Technology to Pharmasset in the event that the Primary License is terminated as more specifically set out in this Memorandum of Understanding (“Memorandum”). |
OPERATIVE PROVISIONS
1 | DEFINITIONS |
1.1 | In this Memorandum: |
“Affiliate” means any corporation or non-corporate business entity which controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with a party to this Agreement. A corporation or non-corporate business entity shall be regarded as in control of another corporation if it owns, or directly or indirectly controls, at least fifty (50%) percent of the voting stock of the other corporation, or (a) in the absence of the ownership of at least fifty (50%) percent of the voting stock of a corporation or (b) in the case of a non-corporate business entity, or non-profit corporation, if it possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such corporation or non-corporate business entity, as applicable.
“Field” means use of the Licensed Product in the treatment of viral infections.
“Licensed Product” means any process, service, or product, the manufacture, use, or sale of which is covered by a Valid Claim or incorporates or uses any Licensed Technology.
“Licensed Technology” means all designs, technical information, know-how, knowledge, data, specifications, test results and other information, whether or not patented, which were known to the UGARF and Yale inventors of the University Patents, on the date of the Primary License, and which are useful for the development, commercialization, manufacture, use or sale of any Licensed Product.
“Territory” means all the countries in Central America, North America, South America, Europe, the Caribbean and Israel, including those countries set forth on Exhibit B, and any and all territories and possessions of any such countries.
“University” means UGARF or Yale or collectively UGARF and Yale as the case may be.
“University Patents” means the patent applications and patents identified in Exhibit A hereof, together with all divisionals, continuations, reissues, reexaminations and foreign counterparts of such applications or patents.
“Valid Claim” means a claim included among the University Patents so long as such claim shall not have been irrevocably abandoned or held invalid in an unappealable decision of a court or other authority of competent jurisdiction.
2 | AGREEMENT TO GRANT LICENSE AND LICENSE TERMS |
2.1 | Subject to Paragraph 3, the parties agree that, in the event the Primary License is terminated, and provided that the reason for such termination does not relate in any way to any breach of the Pharmasset Sublicense by Pharmasset, its Affiliates, or representatives or to any act or omission of Pharmasset’s sublicensees, the University shall grant Pharmasset, from the date of such termination, an exclusive license under the University Patents and Licensed Technology (“New License”) to develop, manufacture, have manufactured, use, sell, have sold, offer for sale, import and supply Licensed Product in the Field for the Territory under the terms of the Primary License, but with the provision that (a) the financial terms of such license shall be as set forth in Paragraph 2.2 hereof and (b) the diligence terms of such license shall be substantially similar to those set forth in Article 6 of the Pharmasset Sublicense. Subject to Paragraph 3 and this Paragraph 2.1 and in the event that the Primary License is terminated, University shall grant Pharmasset the first right to negotiate for a license under the Licensed Patents (as that term is defined in the Primary License) and Licensed Technology (as that term is defined in the Primary License) for territories outside of the Territory where such territories outside of the Territory, in University’s sole discretion, are available for license. Such first right to negotiate shall remain in effect for a period of thirty (30) days after University has notified Pharmasset of the availability of such territories outside of the Territory for license. |
Page 2 of 5
2.2 | The financial terms of the New License shall be as follows: |
(a) Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 of Article 4 of the Primary License shall be deleted from the New License and replaced by Article 3 of the Pharmasset Sublicense. Any financial obligation of Pharmasset under the Pharmasset Sublicense that had been fulfilled before the effective date of the New License shall be deemed to have been fulfilled under the New License.
(b) The royalties paid to University on sales of Licensed Products under the New License shall be adjusted to reflect the terms of Sections 2.8 and 5.1 of the Pharmasset Sublicense.
3 | CONDITIONS PRECEDENT |
3.1 | The grant of any license under the University Patents and Licensed Technology pursuant to Section 2.1, shall in all respects be conditional upon the University receiving the following: |
(a) | subject to obligations of confidentiality (which are memorialized by written agreement), copies of any arrangements, agreements or related transactions (and any amendments thereto) between Pharmasset and Bukwang relating to Licensed Product or any rights licensed to Pharmasset under the Pharmasset Sublicense; |
(b) | written representation from Pharmasset, confirming that Pharmasset is in compliance with its obligations under the Pharmasset Sublicense; |
(c) | a detailed written update on the development and commercialization of Licensed Product within the Territory that shall include, without limitation, a summarized budget for development plan expenses; |
(d) | documentary evidence confirming, to the University’s reasonable satisfaction, that Pharmasset has sufficient funds to carry on the development or commercialization of the Licensed Product within the Territory for not less than twenty-four (24) months; and |
(e) | subject to obligations of confidentiality (which are memorialized by written agreement), copies of agreements between Pharmasset and any third party relating to the sublicense of the rights granted to Pharmasset (or any part of such rights) under the Pharmasset Sublicense. |
3.2 | If any of the conditions precedent identified in Paragraph 3.1 is not fulfilled (unless waived by the University) within sixty (60) days of the termination of the Primary License, the University shall have no obligation to Pharmasset to grant the license under Paragraph 2.1, and neither party shall have a claim of any nature whatsoever against the other party under this Memorandum. |
3.3 | Pharmasset undertakes to use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the conditions precedent in Paragraph 3.1 are fulfilled as soon as reasonably practicable following termination of the Primary License, and in any event within sixty (60) days from the date of termination of the Primary License. |
Page 3 of 5
4 | FURTHER ASSURANCES |
4.1 | University shall notify Pharmasset if a notice of termination of the Primary License has been provided by or to Bukwang and the parties hereto shall promptly meet to discuss in good faith to arrange for the finalisation and execution of the New License. |
4.2 | University agrees that activities of Pharmasset, its Affiliates and sublicensees under the New License shall constitute activities of Pharmasset for the purposes of Article 3 of the Primary License. |
4.3 | Each party shall do all acts and execute all documents as may be reasonably necessary to give effect to the grant of the New License and the exercise of the rights granted therein. |
5 | ADDITIONAL TERMS |
During the period that Primary License and Pharmasset Sublicense Agreement remain in effect, University agrees to the following:
5.1 | University agrees to notify Pharmasset should Bukwang terminate payment of University expenses for filing, prosecuting or maintaining one or more University Patents. If Pharmasset does not, within thirty (30) days of such notice, pay the expenses for filing, prosecuting or maintaining such University Patents, University may, at its option, elect to pay such expenses or permit such University Patents to become abandoned or lapsed and shall be free to grant rights to such University Patents to third parties. University further agrees that should Bukwang terminate payment of University expenses for filing, prosecuting or maintaining one or more Licensed Patents (as that term is defined in the Primary License) in territories outside of the Territory, University shall not allow such Licensed Patents (as that term is defined in the Primary License) to go abandoned without first notifying Pharmasset and giving Pharmasset thirty (30) days to pay the expenses for filing, prosecuting or maintaining such Licensed Patents (as that term is defined in the Primary License). |
5.2 | University agrees not to amend the Primary License in any manner which would adversely affect Pharmasset’s rights and obligations under the Pharmasset Sublicense Agreement. Any such purported amendment, without Pharmasset’s prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), shall be void. University agrees to give Pharmasset at least thirty (30) days’ written notice of any proposed amendment to the Primary License. |
5.3 | Upon University’s disclosure of a new invention to Bukwang under Section 2.12 of the Primary License, subject to the parties entering into a written confidentiality agreement, University shall promptly thereafter notify Pharmasset of such disclosure. In the event that Bukwang does not execute its first right to negotiate under Section 2.12 of the Primary License or does not consummate a license with University, University shall offer Pharmasset a right to negotiate for a license in the Territory and Field under the same terms and conditions as those offered by University to Bukwang under the Primary License. In the event that Bukwang and University consummate a license under Section 2.12 of the Primary License, University shall promptly thereafter notify Pharmasset of such license. |
Page 4 of 5
6 | LAW AND JURISDICTION |
6.1 | This Memorandum and the obligations of the Parties shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Georgia and subject to the jurisdiction of the Georgia courts. |
AGREED by the parties through their duly authorised representations on the date written above:
SIGNED for and on behalf of |
) |
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA | ) |
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Ph.D. | ||
RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC. | ) |
Chief Licensing Officer | ||
Print Name and Title | ||||
SIGNED for and on behalf of |
) |
/s/ Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx | ||
YALE UNIVERSITY | ) |
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx | ||
) |
Managing Director | |||
Office Cooperative Research | ||||
Print Name and Title | ||||
SIGNED for and on behalf of |
) |
/s/ X. Xxxxxxxx Price | ||
PHARMASSET, INC. | ) |
X. Xxxxxxxx Price | ||
) |
President & CEO | |||
Print Name and Title |
Page 5 of 5
Exhibit A
The University Patents
Exhibit A
University Patents
*UGA 650 IS ALSO UGA 500
CASE |
COUNTRY |
SERIAL NUMBER |
REGISTRATION NUMBER |
MATTER NUMBER |
FILE DATE |
STATUS | ||||||
UGA 500 (650) |
U.S. | 08/189,070 | 5,587,362 | 105016 | 1/28/94 | Patent Granted 12/24/96 | ||||||
DIV 1 |
U.S. | 08/467,010 | 5,567,688 | 105012 | 6/6/95 | Patent Granted 10/22/96 | ||||||
DIV2 |
U.S. | 08/466,274 | 5,565,438 | 105013 | 6/6/95 | Patent Granted 10/15/96 | ||||||
PCT |
PCT | US95/01253 | WO 95/20595 | 105011 | 1/30/95 | Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||||||
XXXXXXX |
Xxxxxxx | 000000 | ||||||||||
Xxxxxxxxx | 17376/95 | 710262 | 105031 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 1/20/00 | |||||||
Brazil | PI 9506596-2 | 105010 | 1/30/95 | Pending | ||||||||
Bulgaria | 100792 | 62571 | 105008 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 7/29/99 | |||||||
Canada | 2,182,273 | 105009 | 1/30/95 | Pending | ||||||||
China | 95/191415.4 | 1043769 | 105017 | 2/26/97 | Patent Granted 6/23/99 | |||||||
Czech Rep. | PV 2114-96 | 292574 | 105007 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 8/28/03 | |||||||
Europe | 95909404.6 | 748330 | 105001 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 3/12/04 | |||||||
Austria | 95909404.6 | 748330 | 105001 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 3/12/04 | |||||||
Belgium | 95909404.6 | 748330 | 105001 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 3/12/04 | |||||||
France | 95909404.6 | 748330 | 105001 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 3/12/04 | |||||||
Germany | 95909404.6 | 748330 | 105001 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 3/12/04 | |||||||
Great Britain | 95909404.6 | 748330 | 105001 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 3/12/04 | |||||||
Greece | 95909404.6 | 748330 | 105001 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 3/12/04 | |||||||
Ireland | 95909404.6 | 748330 | 105001 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 3/12/04 | |||||||
Italy | 95909404.6 | 748330 | 105001 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 3/12/04 | |||||||
Netherlands | 95909404.6 | 748330 | 105001 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 3/12/04 | |||||||
Portugal | 95909404.6 | 748330 | 105001 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 3/12/04 | |||||||
Spain | 95909404.6 | 748330 | 105001 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 3/12/04 | |||||||
Switzerland | 95909404.6 | 748330 | 105001 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 3/12/04 | |||||||
Europe DIV | 02078773.5 | 1283211A | 105001 | 9/13/02 | Pending | |||||||
Finland | 962986 | 105020 | 1/30/95 | Pending | ||||||||
Hong Kong | 98116011.4 | 1014716 | 105001 | 12/28/98 | Patent Granted 3/12/04 | |||||||
Hungary | P9601774 | 105019 | 1/30/95 | Pending |
CASE |
COUNTRY |
SERIAL NUMBER |
REGISTRATION NUMBER |
MATTER NUMBER |
FILE DATE |
STATUS | ||||||
Japan |
520247/1995 | 105015 | 1/30/95 | Pending | ||||||||
Mexico |
96/3029 | 196181 | 105018 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 4/26/00 | |||||||
New Zealand |
281058 | 281058 | 105023 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 10/9/98 | |||||||
NZ DIV1 |
330137 | 330137 | 105023 | 4/7/98 | Patent Granted 12/7/00 | |||||||
N. Korea |
96-0582 | 31621 | 105021 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 4/6/98 | |||||||
Norway |
96-3138 | 306.408 | 105002 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 11/1/99 | |||||||
UGA 650 |
Romania | 96-01548 | 116623 | 105024 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 3/27/00 | ||||||
Russia |
96-117323 | 2171809 | 105022 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 8/10/01 | |||||||
S. Korea |
96-704125 | 321209 | 105005 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 1/5/02 | |||||||
Slovak |
PV-926-96 | 105006 | 1/30/95 | Pending | ||||||||
Sri Lanka |
11021 | 11021 | 105004 | 1/30/95 | Patent Granted 11/15/96 | |||||||
Vietnam |
SCO147/96 | 1981 | 105026 | 1/30/95 | Appealing for revival | |||||||
UGA 665 |
U.S. | 60/053,488 | 105003 | 7/23/97 | Converted | |||||||
U.S. |
09/121,294 | 6,512,107 | 105046 | 7/23/98 | Patent Granted 1/28/03 | |||||||
U.S. |
10/351,222 | 6,894,159 | 105046 | 1/24/03 | Patent Granted 5/17/05 | |||||||
PCT |
US98/15375 | WO 99/05158 | 105047 | 0/00/00 | Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx | |||||||
XXX |
Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx | IB97/01254 | WO 99/05157 | 105030 | Published | |||||||
FOREIGN |
Argentina | P9701 04409 | 105041 | 9/15/97 | Pending | |||||||
Brazil |
XX0000000-2 | 105050 | 1/24/00 | Pending | ||||||||
Europe |
98939087.7 | 998482 | 105051 | 7/23/98 | Patent Granted 4/2/03 | |||||||
Austria |
98939087.7 | 998482 | 105051 | 7/23/98 | Patent Granted 4/2/03 | |||||||
Belgium |
98939087.7 | 998482 | 105051 | 7/23/98 | Patent Granted 4/2/03 | |||||||
France |
98939087.7 | 998482 | 105051 | 7/23/98 | Patent Granted 4/2/03 | |||||||
Germany |
98939087.7 | 998482 | 105051 | 7/23/98 | Patent Granted 4/2/03 | |||||||
Great Britain |
98939087.7 | 998482 | 105051 | 7/23/98 | Patent Granted 4/2/03 | |||||||
Greece |
98939087.7 | 998482 | 105051 | 7/23/98 | Patent Granted 4/2/03 | |||||||
Ireland |
98939087.7 | 998482 | 105051 | 7/23/98 | Patent Granted 4/2/03 | |||||||
Italy |
98939087.7 | 998482 | 105051 | 7/23/98 | Patent Granted 4/2/03 | |||||||
Luxembourg |
98939087.7 | 998482 | 105051 | 7/23/98 | Patent Granted 4/2/03 | |||||||
Monaco |
98939087.7 | 998482 | 105051 | 7/23/98 | Patent Granted 4/2/03 | |||||||
Netherlands |
98939087.7 | 998482 | 105051 | 7/23/98 | Patent Granted 4/2/03 | |||||||
Portugal |
98939087.7 | 998482 | 105051 | 7/23/98 | Patent Granted 4/2/03 | |||||||
Spain |
98939087.7 | 998482 | 105051 | 7/23/98 | Patent Granted 4/2/03 | |||||||
Switzerland |
98939087.7 | 998482 | 105051 | 7/23/98 | Patent Granted 4/2/03 | |||||||
Europe DIV |
03075945.0 | 1327637A | 105051 | 7/23/98 | Allowed | |||||||
China |
97116278.6 | CN113892C | 105033 | 9/8/97 | Patent Granted 7/9/03 |
CASE |
COUNTRY | SERIAL NUMBER |
REGISTRATION NUMBER |
MATTER NUMBER |
FILE DATE |
STATUS | ||||||
India | 2616/Del/97 | 186807 | 105039 | 9/15/97 | Patent Granted 8/23/02 | |||||||
India DIV | 468/DEL/2001 | 91829 | 105039 | 9/15/97 | Patent Granted 10/11/04 | |||||||
Indonesia | P-973206 | 105036 | 9/16/97 | Allowed | ||||||||
Korea | 98-1421 | 00-0000000 | 105032 | 1/19/98 | Patent Granted 12/13/99 | |||||||
Malaysia | PI 970 4259 | MY-117314-A | 105037 | 9/13/97 | Patent Granted 6/30/04 | |||||||
Pakistan | 706/97 | 135886 | 105044 | 9/13/97 | Patent Granted 9/13/99 | |||||||
Philippines | I-57996 | 1199757996 | 105038 | 9/24/97 | Patent Granted 1/21/04 | |||||||
Taiwan | 86111816 | 133005 | 105034 | 8/16/97 | Patent Granted 5/15/01 | |||||||
Thailand | 039630 | 105035 | 9/15/97 | Pending | ||||||||
Turkey | 97/1051 | 105040 | 9/26/97 | Allowed | ||||||||
Israel | 121,730 | 105042 | 9/10/97 | Allowed | ||||||||
Saudi Arabia |
98180771 | 105043 | 1/4/98 | Pending |
Exhibit B
Territory
Albania Andorra Anguilla Antigua & Barbuda Argentina Aruba Austria Bahamas Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Bermuda Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Brazil British Virgin Islands Bulgaria Canada Cayman Islands Chile Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Estonia Falkland Islands |
Faroe Islands Finland France French Guiana Germany Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guatemala Guyana Haiti Honduras Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Malta Martinique Mexico Moldova Monaco Montserrat Navassa Island Netherlands Netherlands Antilles |
Nicaragua Norway Panama Paraguay Peru Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Romania Russia San Marino Serbia and Montenegro Slovakia Slovenia Spain St. Xxxxxx St. Xxxxxx St. John’s St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Xxxxxxx and the Grenadines Suriname Sweden Switzerland Trinidad & Tobago Turkey Turks & Caicos Ukraine United Kingdom United States of America Uruguay Vatican City Venezuela Virgin Islands |