Exhibit 10.9
HRI SUBLICENSE AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT") is made and entered into this 8th day of
November, 2000,
BETWEEN:
QLT INC., a company duly constituted under the British Columbia
COMPANY ACT having its principal place of business at 000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx X0X 0X0
("QLT-BC")
AND:
QLT PHOTOTHERAPEUTICS INC., a subsidiary of QLT-BC, duly constituted
under the laws of the State of Delaware having its principal place of
business at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxx, X0X 0X0
("QLT-US")
(QLT-BC and QLT-US are collectively referred to as "QLT")
AND:
DIOMED INC., a corporation duly constituted under the laws of Delaware
having its principal place of business at 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000,
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx, 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx of America
("DIOMED")
WHEREAS:
A. QLT and Health Research, Inc. ("HRI"), a non-profit corporation affiliated
with the State of New York Department of Health, have entered into an
agreement dated May 1, 1992 (the "HRI AGREEMENT"), a copy of which is
attached hereto, providing QLT with the ability to commercialise,
manufacture, use and distribute products covered by the Patent Rights (as
hereinafter defined), including the OPTIGUIDE(R) fibre optic diffusers;
B. Pursuant to the HRI Agreement QLT has acquired an exclusive license to
certain fibre optic Patent Rights (as hereinafter defined);
C. Pursuant to an OPTIGUIDE(R) Asset Purchase Agreement between QLT and Diomed
dated October 16, 2000 (the "OPTIGUIDE(R) AGREEMENT"), QLT has agreed to
sublicense to Diomed and Diomed has agreed to accept from QLT the
non-exclusive sublicence of certain fibre optic patent rights under the HRI
Agreement on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, rights and obligations
contained in this Agreement, the preamble forming an integral part of this
Agreement, the parties agree as follows: I.
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I. DEFINITIONS
I.I DEFINED TERMS. As used in this Agreement, the following words and
phrases shall have the following meanings unless the context dictates otherwise:
(a) "ACCOUNTING PERIOD" means the periods for which royalty payments are
due as provided for in paragraph 5.3.
(b) "AFFILIATE" means a corporation, company or any other entity in
whatever country organised in which a party to this Agreement has a
financial interest whether through ownership of stock, by contract or
otherwise or as to which the parties' relationship is such that, the
Affiliate's business policies and activities are substantially
influenced, directly or indirectly, by a party to this Agreement.
(c) "BUSINESS DAY" means any day other than a day which is a Saturday, a
Sunday or a statutory holiday in British Columbia or Massachusetts.
(d) "NET SALES" means world-wide total gross sales made by Diomed less the
following to the extent they are actually allowed and included in
gross sales in accordance with recognised principles of accounting,
and separately stated:
(i) trade discounts,
(ii) returns and freight allowances, and
(iii) excise and sales taxes but not franchise or income taxes or any
other kind of tax whatsoever.
In case of a transfer or sale of a Royalty Based Product to or by a
Subsidiary, Affiliate or Sublicensee, Net Sales shall also include the
gross sales, less the exceptions set forth above, of the Royalty Based
Product by the Subsidiary, Affiliate or Sublicensee.
In the event any Royalty Based Product is sold as a component of a
combination of active functional elements, the selling price for
purposes of determining royalty payments on such combination shall be
calculated by multiplying the selling price of that combination by the
fraction A/(A+B), in which "A" is the gross selling price of the
Royalty Based Product portion of the combination when sold separately
during the Accounting Period in which the sale was made, and "B" is
the gross selling price of the other active elements of the
combination sold separately during the Accounting Period in question.
In the event that no separate sale of either such above-designated
Royalty Based Product or such above-designated elements of the
combination is made during the Accounting Period in which the sale was
made, the gross selling price which would be charged in accordance
with normal business practices shall be used in making the foregoing
calculation.
(e) "PATENT RIGHT" means United States Patent No. 5,074,632 and Canadian
Patent No. 2028757 or the equivalent of such registrations, including
any divisions, continuations, or continuations-in-part thereof or any
Letters Patent issuing thereon or reissues or extensions thereof;
(f) "PRODUCT" means the OPTIGUIDE(R) fibre optic diffuser or any other
fibre optic diffuser described in or developed pursuant to the Patent
Rights, and generally consisting of
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a single use sterile cylindrical treatment fibre assembly that can be
connected directly to the lasers used for photodynamic therapy. For
the purposes of this Agreement, the Product shall be deemed to include
the 100 and 200 series OPTIGUIDE(R) fibre optic diffusers but shall
exclude the 400 series OPTIGUIDE(R) fibre optic diffusers.
(g) "ROSWELL PARK" means the Roswell Park Division of HRI.
(h) "ROYALTY BASED PRODUCT" means the Product either:
(i) made by or for Diomed or any of its Subsidiaries, Affiliates or
Sublicensees; or
(ii) used or sold by Diomed or any of its Subsidiaries, Affiliates or
Sublicensees;
in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
(i) "SALES", "SELL", "SOLD" or any variation thereof relating to sales by
Diomed means any sale, transfer, lease or other conveyance of any
Royalty Based Product by Diomed, its Subsidiaries, Affiliates or
Sublicensees, for any purpose. Royalty Based Products shall be
considered sold hereunder when paid. The date of sale shall be the
date of payment.
(j) "SUBSIDIARY" means a corporation, company or any other entity in
whatever country organised, who controls or is controlled by a party
to this Agreement.
I.2 OTHER DEFINITIONS. Any words defined elsewhere in this Agreement
shall have the particular meaning assigned thereto.
2. CONFIDENTIALITY
2.1 Diomed agrees to hold in confidence and protect from disclosure all
confidential information received from QLT in any manner pursuant to this
Agreement to the same extent and in the same manner as if such confidential
information were Confidential Information under the OPTIGUIDE(R) Agreement. The
obligation set out in this paragraph shall survive termination of this Agreement
for whatever reason.
3. SUBLICENSE
3.1 SUBLICENSE. To the extent QLT has rights therein, QLT grants to Diomed
a non-exclusive sublicense of the Patent Rights to make, have made, use and sell
the Product.
3.2 DEFAULT. In the event HRI concludes that QLT (through Diomed) has not
shown good faith efforts in commercialising the Product in any of the United
States, , Australia, Japan or the EEC, then in any such event, QLT shall have
the right to give written notice thereof to Diomed and upon Diomed's failure,
neglect or refusal to remedy the same to the satisfaction of HRI, the sublicense
granted to Diomed under paragraph 3.1 in any jurisdiction for which good faith
efforts have not been shown shall terminate 60 days after the giving of such
prior written notice by QLT.
3.3 SUBLICENSES. If and for so long as Diomed enjoys a non-exclusive
sublicense to make, use, and sell the Product pursuant to this Agreement, Diomed
shall be entitled to grant sublicenses upon the following terms and conditions:
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(a) No such sublicense shall be granted by Diomed for a term or period
longer than the term of the non-exclusive sublicense granted to Diomed
hereunder;
(b) At the time of the granting of any such sublicense, Diomed hereby
agrees to furnish to QLT an executed copy of the sublicense agreement;
(c) Diomed agrees to be responsible for the payment of all royalties due
QLT as a result of any such sublicense; and
(d) It is understood and agreed that each such sublicense granted by
Diomed pursuant to this paragraph 3.3 shall be subject to all of the
terms of this Agreement.
4. MAINTENANCE AND INFRINGEMENT
4.1 FAILURE TO PROSECUTE OR MAINTAIN. In the event QLT declines to
continue the maintenance of any Patent Right, QLT shall give Diomed 60 days
prior written notice, in sufficient time to permit Diomed to continue the
maintenance. Diomed may thereafter, at Diomed's option and expense, elect to
continue the maintenance. At the end of the 60 day notice period, such patent
applications and/or patents on which Diomed declines to continue maintenance
shall be excluded from the rights sublicensed to Diomed pursuant to paragraph
3.1
4.2 MAINTENANCE COSTS. Diomed shall promptly reimburse QLT for one-half of
all costs of maintenance of the Patent Rights, including the costs of obtaining
patent term extensions where appropriate, for so long as Diomed remains the
non-exclusive sublicensee under the Patent Rights.
4.3 NOTICE OF INFRINGEMENT. Each party agrees to inform the other of any
suspected infringement of any Patent Right coming to its attention. QLT and HRI
shall have the right, but not the obligation, to take action against any such
infringer. If neither QLT nor HRI elect to take action, within six months after
being informed of this infringement, Diomed may take action at its sole expense
and QLT agrees that it may be named as a nominal party plaintiff at no cost to
QLT, where that may be necessary.
5. ROYALTIES
5.1 ROYALTY AMOUNTS. Diomed hereby agrees to pay to HRI at the address
specified by QLT from time-to-time on behalf of QLT (with a statement setting
out such payments delivered to QLT simultaneously with such payments to HRI) a
royalty of:
(a) **CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED** of the Net Sales of all Royalty
Based Products wherever sold for use in therapeutic treatment of
cancer;
(b) **CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED** of the Net Sales of all Royalty
Based Products wherever sold for use in detection of cancer; provided
that, to the extent applicable to sublicensees of QLT, such royalty
may be reduced in accordance with subsection 5.1(b) of the HRI
Agreement in a given year by **CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED** of
additional royalties paid by Diomed to others during that year in
order to sell such Royalty Based Product for use in detection of
cancer, up to a maximum reduction of **CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT
REQUESTED** and any excess over such **CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT
REQUESTED** may not be deducted in any subsequent year; and
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(c) **CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED** of the Net Sales of all Royalty
Based Products wherever sold for uses other than as set forth in
subparagraphs (a) and (b) above.
Upon written notice to Diomed, QLT may request that all future royalty payments
be made directly to QLT instead of HRI. Diomed shall not have any minimum
royalty obligations. "CANCER" as used in subparagraphs (a) and (b) shall be
defined by reference to the generally recognised text CANCER MEDICINE, Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx and Xxxx Fri III, M.D., published by Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. Psoriasis, arterial plaque and the like are not meant to be
included in the definition of "cancer".
5.2 BOOKS AND RECORDS. Diomed shall keep, and shall cause each of its
Subsidiaries, Affiliates and Sublicensees, if any, to keep full and accurate
books of account containing all particulars that may be necessary for the
purpose of calculating all royalties payable to QLT or HRI on behalf of QLT.
Such books of account shall be kept at Diomed' s principal place of business and
the books and all necessary supporting data therefor shall be open at all
reasonable times for five years following the end of the calendar year to which
they pertain to the inspection of an independent certified public accountant
retained by QLT or HRI for the purpose of verifying Diomed's royalty statement
or Diomed's compliance in any respect with this Agreement.
5.3 REPORTS. Diomed, within 90 days after the first day of January, April,
July and October of each year, shall deliver to QLT a true and accurate report
giving such particulars of the business conducted by Diomed during the preceding
three months under this Agreement (or in the case of the initial payment, for
the period from the Effective Date until the end of the applicable period) as
are pertinent to an accounting for royalty under this Agreement. These shall
include at least the following:
(a) The period of time covered by the report;
(b) A description of each Royalty Based Product made, sold, leased or
commercially used during this period;
(c) The total quantity of each Royalty Based Product made, sold, leased or
commercially used (by country) by Diomed and its Subsidiaries,
Affiliates or Sublicensees during the period;
(d) Total xxxxxxxx and Net Sales for each Royalty Based Product (by
country);
(e) Quantities of each Royalty Based Product sold to the United States
Government;
(f) Names and addresses of all Subsidiaries, Affiliates or Sublicensees of
Diomed involved in the distribution of the Royalty Based Products; and
(g) Total royalties payable to QLT for HRI on behalf of QLT.
5.4 PAYMENT OF ROYALTIES. Simultaneously with the delivery of each report,
Diomed shall pay to HRI on behalf of QLT the royalty accrued for the period
covered by such report. If no royalties are due it shall be so reported. Every
such payment shall be supported by the accounting prescribed in paragraph and
shall be made in United States currency. Whenever conversion from any foreign
currency shall be required, such conversion shall be at the rate of exchange
published in the WALL STREET JOURNAL for the business day closest to the
applicable due date as the case may be.
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5.5 NO DUPLICATION. Only one royalty shall be payable hereunder in
respect of any Royalty Based Product.
6. INDEMNIFICATION
6.1 Diomed agrees to defend, at no cost to QLT, Roswell Park, HRI, The New
York Sate Department of Health or New York State and hold QLT, Roswell Park,
HRI, The New York Sate Department of Health or New York State and their
respective directors, officers, servants, employees and agents (in this
paragraph, the "INDEMNIFIED PARTIES") harmless against any action, suit, claim
or other proceeding which may be instituted by any third party against
Indemnified Parties and arising out of any activities of Diomed, its
Subsidiaries, Affiliates or Sublicensees pursuant to this Agreement including,
without limitation, the following:
(a) The manufacture, packaging, use, sale or other distribution of the
Product by Diomed, any Subsidiary, Affiliate or Sublicensee or the use
of a Process;
(b) Any representation made or warranty given by Diomed, any Subsidiary,
Affiliate or Sublicensee with respect to the Product; or
(c) Patent, trademark or copyright infringement or alleged patent,
trademark or copyright infringement with respect to the manufacture,
use or sale of the Product by Diomed, any Subsidiary, Affiliate or
Sublicensee;
and agrees to indemnify the Indemnified Parties against all costs, damages,
attorneys' fees on a solicitor and own client basis and any other monetary award
that may be imposed upon the Indemnified Parties as a result of any such
proceeding. Diomed shall not however pay for the fees and expenses of
independent counsel that the INDEMNIFIED PARTIES may retain from time to time.
7. DURATION
7.1 Unless sooner terminated under any of the provisions of this
Agreement, the duration of this Agreement and of any sublicense granted to
Diomed pursuant to this Agreement shall extend for the eariler of the life of
the last to expire of any Patent Right or the termination of the HRI Agreement
for any reason.
8. TERMINATION
8.1 TERMINATION. Diomed may terminate this Agreement in full at any time
during the term of this Agreement upon four months written notice to QLT, and
such termination still become effective at the end of the four months notice
period. Termination under this paragraph 8.1 shall not relieve Diomed of its
payment obligations incurred prior to the effective date of such termination.
8.2 BREACH. In case of the failure of Diomed or QLT to fulfil any of their
obligations under the other party shall have the right, without limitation of
any other right it has on account of the breach, to terminate this Agreement on
90 days prior written notice, provided, however, that if the breaching party
remedies the failure during the 90 day period, then the notice of termination
shall be null and void; otherwise, this Agreement shall be considered as
terminated on and after the expiration of the 90 day period.
8.3 INSOLVENCY. QLT shall have the right to terminate this Agreement in
the event that Diomed becomes insolvent and this Agreement shall terminate
automatically immediately prior to the
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time Diomed makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, files for or is
adjudged bankrupt or a receiver or trustee of Diomed property is appointed.
9. ASSIGNMENT
9.1 This Agreement shall not be assignable by Diomed for any reason, by
operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of QLT except
to a purchaser or successor in interest of the OPTIGUIDE(R) business of Diomed
or to a Subsidiary or Affiliate of Diomed. Any assignment, if QLT consent is
given, shall be upon the assumption of the terms and conditions of this
Agreement by the assignee.
10. MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 NO WARRANTIES. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed
as:
(a) Requiring the filing of any patent application by QLT or Diomed, nor
the securing of any patent, nor the maintaining of any patent in
force, except as may be specifically provided elsewhere in this
Agreement;
(b) A warranty or representation by QLT as to the validity or scope of any
Patent Rights;
(c) A warranty or representation that any manufacture, sale, lease or use
hereunder will be free from infringement of patents owned by others;
or
(d) Requiring either party to bring or prosecute actions or suits against
third parties for infringement.
Except as expressly set out in this Agreement there are no warranties,
representations, condition, or guarantees of any kind whatsoever, either
express or implied by law or custom, made by either party to the other
regarding the subject matter of this Agreement.
10.2 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding
between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes
and replaces all prior agreements, understandings, writings and discussions
between the parties relating to the subject matter.
10.3 AMENDMENT. This Agreement may be amended and any of its terms or
conditions may be waived only by a written instrument executed by QLT and Diomed
or, in the case of a waiver, by the party waiving compliance. The failure of
either QLT or Diomed at any time or times to require performance of any
provision of this Agreement shall in no manner affect its rights to enforce the
same at a later time. No waiver by either party of any condition or term in
anyone or more instances shall be construed as a further or continuing waiver of
such condition or term or any other condition or term.
10.4 INUREMENT. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto, the successors and assigns
of QLT and any permitted assigns of Diomed.
10.5 PUBLICITY. Diomed shall not use the name of QLT, HRI, Roswell Park,
The New York State Department of Health, New York State or of any staff member,
employee or student of HRI, Roswell Park, New York State Department of Health or
New York State, or adaptation, abbreviation or simulation thereof, in any
advertising, promotion or sales literature without the written approval of QLT
(as to the use of QLT's name) or HRI (as to the use of HRI's name or the other
names listed above.
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10.6 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes
invalid, is ruled illegal by any court of competent jurisdiction or is deemed
unenforceable under the current applicable law from time to time in effect
during the term of this Agreement, it is the intention of the parties that the
remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. It is further the
intention of the parties that in lieu of each such provision there may be
substituted or added as part of this Agreement, a provision which shall be as
similar as possible in economic business objectives as intended by the parties
to such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision, but which shall be valid,
legal and enforceable.
10.7 GOVERNING LAW. The construction and performance of this Agreement
shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
10.8 NOTICE. All communication, notices and reports in connection with this
Agreement shall be in writing and either hand-delivered, mailed by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid or sent by facsimile transmission (with
confirmation notices sent as described above). Any notice shall be deemed to
have been received on the date of the hand-delivery, if delivered by hand, on
the fifth Business Day following the date of mailing if sent by registered or
certified mail or on the next Business Day following the date of transmission if
sent by facsimile transmission. The parties' respective addresses for the
purpose of receiving notices are as follows:
If to Diomed: DIOMED INC.
Cambridge Research Park
Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
XX0 0XX
Attention: President and CEO
Facsimile number:
With a copy to: VAN XXXX, ZIMMER, BONESTEEL,
XXXXXX XXXXXX, P.C.
One Militia Drive
Lexington, MA
USA .2421
Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Facsimile number: (000) 000-0000
If to QLT: QLT INC.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX
X0X 0X0
Attention: President and CEO
Facsimile number: (000) 000-0000
With a copy to: FARRIS, VAUGHAN, XXXXX & XXXXXX
P.O. Box 10026, Pacific Centre S
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX
X0X 0X0
Attention: R. Xxxxxx XxxXxx-Xxxx
Facsimile number: (000) 000-0000
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Any party may at any time give notice of any change of address to the other and
the address specified therein shall be such party's address for the purpose of
receiving notices.
In the event of any dispute between HRI and QLT regarding the interpretation of
the HRI Agreement to be heard before a court or arbitration authority, if a
ruling on such dispute could reasonably effect the interpretation of this
Agreement, on reasonable notice from QLT, Diomed agrees either to join in such
proceeding and be bound by the interpretation thereof in respect of this
Agreement, or if Diomed fails to join in any such proceeding, hereby agrees to
be bound by the interpretation thereof in the interpretation of this Agreement.
10.9 ARBITRATION. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to
this Agreement, or breach of this Agreement, shall be referred first to senior
management of the parties for amicable resolution. In the event that amicable
resolution is not reached within a reasonable period of time (which in any event
shall not exceed 60 days), then the dispute shall be referred to arbitration.
Where the parties have agreed to resolve a dispute by arbitration, the
arbitration shall be conducted under Rules of the International Chamber of
Commerce (ICC) by a single arbitrator knowledgeable as to the subject matter of
the dispute, and judgement upon the award rendered may be entered in any court
having jurisdiction. The arbitrator shall have the right to order discovery as
he or she deems appropriate provided that such discoveries for each parties
shall not in the aggregate exceed 120 days. The prevailing party in any
arbitration or legal action arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be
entitled, in addition to any other rights and remedies it may have, to
reimbursement for its expenses incurred in such arbitration or action, including
court costs and reasonable lawyer's fees. The place of arbitration shall be
Vancouver, British Columbia if the requesting party is the Purchaser and
Montreal, Quebec if the requesting party is the Vendor and the language of
arbitration shall be English.
10.10 CO-OPERATION Each party hereto agrees to co-operate with the other to
insure that each may have and enjoy the fullest extent of all rights conveyed
under this Agreement. If at any time after the date hereof any party requests
further documents, instruments or assurances in order to carry out the
provisions hereof, then the party from which such assurances are requested shall
promptly execute and deliver any such documents, instruments and assurances and
do all things reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions hereof, all at
the cost and expense of the party requesting such assurance including, without
limitation the filing of a confirmation document of this Agreement with the
appropriate patent offices in any jurisdiction deemed appropriate by Diomed.
10.11 NO RELEASE. Termination of this Agreement under any provision herein
shall not affect the obligation of Diomed to pay QLT any royalty or other
payments which may be due and unpaid at the date of termination, nor shall the
same prejudice any other right of QLT under this Agreement. Within 90 days after
termination, Diomed shall render to QLT a written statement of the kind required
in paragraph 5.3 hereof respecting the due and unpaid royalties and shall
accompany such a statement with payment to cover same.
10.12 PATENT NOTICE. Diomed agrees to apply, or cause to be applied, an
appropriate patent notice on all Products manufactured or sold by Diomed, its
affiliates, subsidiaries or sublicensees hereunder and to accept the reasonable
suggestions of QLT with respect thereto.
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10.13 US GOVERNMENT LICENSE. Diomed acknowledges and agrees that this
Agreement is subject and subordinate to all applicable governmental regulations
and requirements including but not limited to the grant by HRI of a world-wide,
non-exclusive, irrevocable royalty-free license to the United States Government
for certain Inventions, as defined in the HRI Agreement, by reason of partial
government funding in connection therewith.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date
first written above.
DIOMED, INC. QLT INC.
by its authorised signatory: by its authorised signatory:
/s/ XXXXX XXXXX /s/ XXXXX XXXX
----------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxx Name: Xxxxx Xxxx
Title: President Title: President and Chief Executive
Officer
/s/ XXXXX XXXX
---------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxx
Title: Senior Vice President, Corporate
Development
QLT PHOTOTHERAPEUTICS INC.
by its authorised signatory:
/s/ XXXXX XXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxx
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
