1
EXHIBIT 10.9
[Confidential treatment requested. Confidential portions of this document have
been redacted and have been separately filed with the commission.]
[LETTERHEAD OF NANOGEN, INC.]
XXXXX X. XXXXXXXXX, ESQ.
VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
December 4, 1997
TRANSMISSION VIA FAX
Dr. X. Xxxxxx Xxxx
Konzernforschung & Technologie
Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
D-65926 Frankfurt am Main
RE: Letter Agreement
Dear Xx. Xxxx:
This letter constitutes an offer by Xxxxxxx to enter into a
Collaborative Research and Development Agreement ("the R&D Collaboration") and,
subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, to enter into a Joint
Venture or other joint commercial relationship for commercialization of products
resulting from the R&D Collaboration. Upon execution and return by the
designated individuals identified at the end of this letter, this Letter
Agreement will constitute our binding agreement. The terms and conditions of our
agreement are as follows:
PURPOSE OF COLLABORATION
The focus of the Collaborative Research and Development Agreement ("R&D
Collaboration") shall be on the joint research and development of new tools in
"Molecular Recognition" and "Nanotechnology." The R&D Collaboration will be
divided into two phases, the Research Phase and the Product Development Phase.
The overall objective of the R&D Collaboration is to develop microarray
platforms and related devices and applications utilizing jointly developed
technology incorporating both Nanogen's Automated Programmable Electronic Matrix
("APEX") technology and CR&T's Exponential Library by Association of
Sublibraries ("XXXXX") technology and/or ("pRNA") technology which can be
commercialized by a Joint Venture or other joint relationship to be formed
between the parties in the Agreement Field as set forth below. Prior to the
successful completion of the R&D Collaboration, it is the intention of the
parties to identify an appropriate business model and conclude definitive
agreement(s) to commercialize products developed pursuant to the R&D
Collaboration.
2
Dr. X. Xxxxxx Xxxx
December 4, 1997
Page Two
AGREEMENT FIELD
- Agreement Field shall mean products or applications utilizing jointly
developed technology incorporating both Xxxxxxx's "APEX" technology as
disclosed in the Nanogen patents and patent applications set forth in
Exhibit A, as amended from time to time and CR&T's "XXXXX" and /or "pRNA"
technologies as disclosed in the CR&T patent applications set forth in
Exhibit B, as amended from time to time.
SCOPE
- The R&D Collaboration shall be worldwide and shall be exclusive in the
Agreement Field. Subject to the terms and conditions of the R&D
Collaboration, the parties shall be free to independently pursue all fields
outside of the Agreement Field.
TERM
- The initial term of the R&D Collaboration, the Research Phase, shall run
for two (2) years, subject to extension for one (1) additional year based on
mutual agreement between the parties. Funding for the first year of the
Research Phase will not be subject to termination. After the first year of
the Research Phase, funding may be terminated upon mutual agreement. Prior
to the successful completion of the Research Phase, the parties will meet to
conclude a budget for the Product Development Phase. The Product Development
Phase may be terminated by either party upon the material non-achievement of
milestones established and agreed between the parties. In the event that
CR&T terminates the Product Development Phase without cause, CR&T will
continue to fund the R&D Collaboration for a period of nine (9) months at
the agreed budgeted level to facilitate the winding down of Xxxxxxx's
development effort.
RESEARCH PROGRAM AND BUDGET
- The R&D Collaboration will be conducted in accordance with a Research
Program and Budget as agreed between the parties. The initial Research
Program and Budget for the Research Phase is attached hereto as Exhibit C.
The Research Program and Budget shall be reviewed by the Research Management
Committee on an annual basis and may be revised based on mutual agreement
between the parties.
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Dr. X. Xxxxxx Xxxx
December 4, 1997
Page Three
RESEARCH PROGRAM PAYMENTS
- CR&T will fund ***% of the research effort within CR&T.
- CR&T will fund ***% of the research effort within Nanogen. Payments will be
based on Actual Costs (as defined by mutual agreement between Xxxxxxx's
accountants and Xxxxxxx's accountants) incurred by Xxxxxxx, not to exceed
$*** per FTE.
- In the event Nanogen is required in the course of its research pursuant to
the R&D Collaboration to lease equipment which would ordinarily not
otherwise be required, and CR&T agrees to such lease, CR&T will be
responsible for such lease payments.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
- A Research Management Committee ("RMC"), comprising two (2) members each
from Nanogen and CR&T, will be established by the parties. The RMC will be
responsible for preparing an overall Research Program for fulfilling the
overall goals of the R&D Collaboration. The RMC will also be responsible for
the day-to-day management of the R&D Collaboration, for supervising,
managing, and monitoring the progress of the Research Program, conducting
relevant marketing studies and for ensuring the open exchange of information
between the parties. The Research Program will provide for an overview of
the R&D Collaboration, the assignment of roles and responsibilities of the
respective parties, including without limitation, obligations respecting the
prompt disclosure of research and intellectual property information to the
other party, the establishment of, and adherence to, annual budgets and the
development of research milestones. The RMC will meet at least four times
per year and minutes shall be taken for each meeting and distributed to each
of the parties. The location of such meetings shall alternate between the
headquarters of the respective parties unless otherwise agreed. The RMC will
report on the status and progress of the Research Program to the Executive
Committee on a periodic basis to be agreed between the parties.
- An Executive Committee, comprising three (3) members each from Nanogen and
CR&T, will be established. The Executive Committee will be responsible for
overseeing the RMC and for setting the strategic goals for the
collaboration, approving annual budgets (the first two years of which have
been approved by both parties as set forth in Exhibit C) and research
milestones and determining the most favorable route to commercialize the
Agreement products. The Committee will meet at least twice annually and
minutes shall be taken at each such meeting and distributed to each of the
parties. The location of such meetings shall alternate between the
headquarters of the respective parties unless otherwise agreed.
Dr. X. Xxxxxx Xxxx
*** CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE COMMISSION.
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December 4, 1997
Page Four
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
- The parties intend to incorporate a clause to the effect that every effort
will be made to resolve disputes internally, with litigation as a last
resort.
- All decisions made by the RMC shall be unanimous.
- All issues not unanimously agreed upon by the RMC shall be submitted to the
Executive Committee for resolution.
- All issues not unanimously agreed upon by the Executive Committee shall be
submitted to the Chief Executive Officer of Nanogen and the President of
CR&T for resolution.
- All issues not resolved by the above designated officers shall be submitted
to mediation or arbitration.
TECHNOLOGY OWNERSHIP
- All technology necessary for the conduct of research in the Agreement Field
pursuant to the Research Program shall be licensed by the respective parties
to each other on a royalty-free basis throughout the term of the R&D
Collaboration. The license is limited to enabling the research to be
conducted pursuant to the R&D Collaboration.
- All technology developed pursuant to the Research Program which utilizes
jointly developed technology incorporating both "APEX" and "XXXXX" and/or
"pRNA" ("Joint Program Technology") will be owned jointly by the parties,
and may be used only as they mutually agree.
- The parties will collaborate on the filing of patent applications covering
the Joint Program Technology ("Joint Program Inventions").
- All technology incorporating inventions developed pursuant to the R&D
Collaboration which do not utilize jointly developed technology
incorporating both "APEX" and "XXXXX" and/or "pRNA" ("Individual Program
Technology") shall be owned by the party which invented such Technology.
- Nanogen remains free to use its own technology in its business without
restriction and CR&T remains free to use its technology in its business
without restriction.
Dr. X. Xxxxxx Xxxx
December 4, 1997
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Page Five
- Mutually acceptable provisions on technology ownership and use in the event
of termination at various points in the R&D Collaboration shall be
established and included in the definitive agreement.
PERMEATION LAYER
- CR&T recognizes that Xxxxxxx has conducted considerable research and
development activities in connection with its permeation layer technology
and has protected certain of its advancements with intellectual property.
CR&T is willing, as part of the R&D Collaboration, to conduct additional
research activities directed toward Xxxxxxx's permeation layer. To the
extent CR&T invents any new inventions or any improvements to Xxxxxxx's
inventions relating to permeation layers with utility on Nanogen's
microchips, CR&T will grant to Nanogen a worldwide, royalty-free license to
practice such intellectual property (without the right to sublicense unless
it applies to a Nanogen product). Nanogen will be licensed to practice such
intellectual property in connection with any of its other joint venture
arrangements or corporate collaborations subject to a ***% royalty payable
to the Nanogen/CR&T Joint Venture or other joint relationship.
PUBLICATIONS
- All publications resulting from or relating to research conducted pursuant
to the R&D Collaboration shall be reviewed and approved by both parties
prior to disclosure or publication in order to protect any trade secrets,
inventions or intellectual property rights inherent in such research.
FUTURE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP
- Within ninety (90) days from the commencement of the R&D Collaboration, the
parties will commence substantive discussions toward the formation of a
Joint Venture or other joint relationship to facilitate the
commercialization of Agreement Products resulting from the Collaboration.
- The Joint Venture or other joint relationship shall be structured such that
all profits derived from the sale of products developed as a result of the
R&D Collaboration in the Agreement Field shall be split 50/50 between the
Nanogen partner and the CR&T partner.
***CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
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Dr. X. Xxxxxx Xxxx
December 4, 1997
Page Six
- In recognition of the higher percentage of research funding provided by
CR&T, CR&T will initially receive an accelerated return of *** on its
capital account until the differential between CR&T's actual funding
expenditures and Xxxxxxx's actual funding expenditures is equalized. For
purposes of calculating the above differential, both parties shall utilize
Actual Costs, but not to exceed $*** per FTE. Joint Venture or other joint
relationship profits will be split equally between the Nanogen partner and
the CR&T partner.
- The Joint Venture or other joint relationship will select the most
appropriate party to manufacture products resulting from the R&D
Collaboration, giving preference to Nanogen.
- To the extent Individual Program Technology is patented ("Individual
Program Inventions") by a party and products incorporating Individual
Program Inventions are sold to third parties, a royalty of ***% shall be
payable to the Joint Venture or other joint relationship on such third party
sales. In addition, each party's Individual Program Inventions shall be
licensed royalty-free to the other party for internal research use only.
RIGHT OF FIRST NEGOTIATION
- Hoechst AG or a designated affiliate or subsidiary (with the exception of
*** as discussed further below) will have a right of first negotiation for
a period of sixty (60) days after notice from the Joint Venture or other
joint relationship to contract for the right to market and sell products in
the Agreement Field resulting from the R&D Collaboration before rights to
such products will be offered to third parties.
- Notwithstanding the foregoing Right of First Negotiation, in recognition of
Xxxxxxx's Joint Venture with Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx and Company and CR&T's
relationship with ***, the parties agree that the Nanogen/Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Partnership and *** will have an equal opportunity to compete for sales and
marketing rights on products in the Agreement Field before an exclusive
arrangement would be offered to one or the other party or to a third party.
- All such negotiations conducted pursuant to the foregoing Right of First
Negotiation shall be conducted on an arms length basis.
EQUITY/WARRANTS
- CR&T agrees to purchase shares in a private placement concurrent with
Xxxxxxx's Initial Public Offering in the amount of $10 million, at the IPO
price to the public. In no event shall Hoechst's ownership in Nanogen prior
to the time of the first sale of the first commercial product sold by or
through the Joint Venture or other joint relationship exceed 20%.
Dr. X. Xxxxxx Xxxx
*** CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE COMMISSION.
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December 4, 1997
Page Seven
- In recognition of CR&T's exclusive commitment to Nanogen in the Agreement
Field with respect to the R&D Collaboration, Nanogen will issue warrants to
CR&T to purchase Nanogen Common Stock after the IPO on the following general
terms, the specifics of which shall be agreed to between the parties.
Nanogen will issue five-year warrants to CR&T to purchase a specified number
of shares of Nanogen Common Stock at the specified premiums to the market
price (the "Strike Price") as follows:
- The parties will immediately commence discussions regarding the
preparation of a definitive Collaborative Research and Development
Agreement. It is the intention of the parties to conclude such
definitive Agreement within ninety (90) days from the effective date
of this Letter Agreement. Upon execution of the definitive
Collaborative Research and Development Agreement, Nanogen will issue
CR&T a warrant to purchase 1% of the outstanding shares of Nanogen
Common Stock on the date hereof, assuming the conversion of all
outstanding shares of Nanogen Preferred Stock into shares of Nanogen
Common Stock at the applicable conversion ratio (the "Outstanding
Shares") at a 25% premium to market price on the date of execution
("First Warrant Strike Price"). If Xxxxxxx's stock price on any
subsequent trading day exceeds the First Warrant Strike Price by 50%
or more, CR&T must exercise the warrant no later than the end of the
next fiscal year.
- Upon announcement by the parties of entry into the Product
Development Phase of the R&D Collaboration, Nanogen will issue CR&T a
warrant to purchase 1 1/2% of the Outstanding Shares at a 50%
premium to market price, based on ten days post-announcement trading
average ("Second Warrant Strike Price"). If Xxxxxxx's stock price on
any subsequent trading day exceeds the Second Warrant Strike Price by
50% or more, CR&T must exercise the warrant no later than the end of
its next fiscal year.
- Upon first commercial sale of product by the Joint Venture or other
joint relationship, Nanogen will issue to CR&T a warrant to purchase
1 1/2% of the Outstanding Shares at a 50% premium to market price,
based on ten days post-first commercial sale trading average ("Third
Warrant Strike Price"). If Xxxxxxx's stock price on any subsequent
trading day exceeds the Third Warrant Strike Price by 50% or more,
CR&T must exercise the warrant no later than the end of its next
fiscal year.
- Neither the issuance of the Common Stock in the private placement, nor the
issuance of the Common Stock upon exercise of the warrants, nor the warrants
themselves, will be registered with the SEC, however Nanogen will register
the resale of Common Stock issued or issuable to CR&T on a Registration Form
S-3, when the Company becomes eligible to use such form.
*** CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE COMMISSION.
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Dr. X. Xxxxxx Xxxx
December 4, 1997
Page Eight
CONFIDENTIALITY
- Each party agrees to maintain in confidence all Confidential Information of
the other party in accordance with the February 20, 1997 Mutual Confidential
Disclosure Agreement between Xxxxxxx and Hoechst. Except for such disclosure
as is deemed necessary in the reasonable judgment of a party to comply with
applicable laws or regulations, no announcement or communication relating to
the terms of this Letter Agreement or the relationship between the parties
will be made without the other party's prior written approval, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. The parties agree that they
will use reasonable efforts to coordinate the initial announcement or press
release relating to the existence of this letter agreement.
BOARD VISITATION RIGHTS
- In consideration for the foregoing R&D Collaboration and equity investment,
Nanogen will grant a representative of Hoechst senior management unofficial
non-voting visitation rights to attend up to and including one-half of the
number of Nanogen Board meetings held annually with the understanding that
such representative may not be present during executive sessions of the
Board or participate in discussions which may present a conflict of interest
as a result of any agreement between Xxxxxxx and Hoechst.
MISCELLANEOUS
- The definitive agreement(s) for both the R&D Collaboration and the Joint
Venture or other joint relationship will include appropriate representations
and warranties by both parties that they are authorized to enter into such
agreement(s). Xxxxxxx's representations shall include an undertaking that it
sees no conflict between its relationship with B-D and the relationship
between CR&T and Xxxxxxx as set forth herein.
- If any provision(s) of this Letter Agreement are or become invalid, or are
ruled illegal, or are deemed unenforceable under then current applicable law
from time to time in effect during the term hereof, it is the intention of
the parties hereto that the remainder of this Letter Agreement shall not be
affected thereby. It is the further intention of the parties that in lieu of
each such provision which is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, there be
substituted or added as part of this Letter Agreement, a provision which
shall be as similar as possible in economic and business objectives as
intended by the parties to such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision,
but which shall be valid, legal, and enforceable, and shall be mutually
agreed by the parties.
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Dr. X. Xxxxxx Xxxx
December 4, 1997
Page Nine
This Letter Agreement will remain in full force and effect until such
time as it is specifically superseded by future definitive agreement(s) relating
to the subject matter hereof.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
-------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary
HJL/dz
AGREED AND ACCEPTED BY:
By: /s/ Dr. X. Xxxxxx Xxxx
--------------------------------
Dr. X. Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx Aktiengesellschaft
Date: 12-5-97
---------------------------
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EXHIBIT A
NANOGEN'S "APEX" PATENTS AND PATENT APPLICATIONS
TITLE APPLICATION NO. DATE
----- --------------- ----
Active Programmable Electronic
Devices for Molecular Biological
Analysis and Diagnostics (203/218) USP 5,605,662 Issued: 02/25/97
*** *** ***
Molecular Biological Diagnostic
Systems Including Electrodes USP 5,632,957 Issued: 05/27/97
*** *** ***
*** CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE COMMISSION.
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EXHIBIT B
C.R.& T'S "XXXXX" AND "pRNA" PATENT APPLICATIONS
TITLE APPLICATION NO. DATE
----- --------------- ----
*** *** ***
EXHIBIT C
TOTAL PROGRAM (YEAR 1)
Personnel of Hoechst *** Nanogen ***
Materials of Hoechst *** Nanogen ***
*** CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE COMMISSION.
12
MATERIALS COSTS
---------------
TDM/PROJECT YEAR:
SYNTHESIS
Equipment (Synthesizer...) *** (Depreciation over *** Years)
Analytics ***
Chemicals ***
----------------------------------------
Total ***
PERMEATION LAYER
Equipment (Spin Coater...) *** (Depreciation over *** Years)
Materials (Chemicals) ***
----------------------------------------
Total ***
DIRECT READ-OUT
Equipment ***
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL *** (*** TUS$)
*** CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE COMMISSION.
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EXHIBIT C (CR&T)
PERSONNEL
TASK HEADCOUNT
Synthesis
---------
PhD, Organic Chemists ***
Postdocs, Lab Technicians ***
Permeation layer
----------------
PhD's Organic Chemist,
Physisist ***
PhD (Japan) ***
Postdocs, Lab Technicians ***
Direct Electronic Read-Out
--------------------------
PhD's (Japan) ***
Lab Technicians ***
PhD Biophysical-Chemist ***
Program Management ***
------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Headcount ***
*** CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE COMMISSION.
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Sheet 1
EXHIBIT C (NANOGEN)
PERSONNEL/NANOGEN
TASK YEAR 1 YEAR 2
---- ------ ------
CHIP
Process engineer *** ***
Software engineer *** ***
Test engineer *** ***
Test Tech *** ***
Packaging Engineer *** ***
Packaging Tech *** ***
INSTRUMENT
Electrical engineer *** ***
Software engineer *** ***
Mechanical engineer *** ***
PERMEATION LAYER
Chemical engineer *** ***
ASSAY DEVELOPMENT
Physical chemist *** ***
Biochemist *** ***
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Program Manager *** ***
TOTAL HEADCOUNT *** ***
*** CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE COMMISSION.
Page 1
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Sheet 1
MATERIALS COSTS/NANOGEN
TASK YEAR 1 YEAR 2
---- ------ ------
CHIP
Design $*** $***
Masks $*** $***
Wafer fab $*** $***
Test $*** $***
Packaging $*** $***
TOTAL $*** $***
INSTRUMENTS
Read-out $***
Probe placement $***
TOTAL $*** $***
PERMEATION LAYER/CHEMISTRY
Perm Layer $***
Attachment Chem. $***
TOTAL $*** $***
ASSAY
Reagents $*** $***
TOTAL PROGRAM $*** $***
*** CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL REDACTED AND SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE COMMISSION.
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