LICENSE AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.1
This
License Agreement (“Agreement”) is
entered into as of January 30, 2009 (the “Effective Date”) by
and between Health Discovery
Corporation, a Georgia corporation having its principal place of business
at 0 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx #000, Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 (“HDC”), and Xxxxxx Molecular Inc., a
Delaware corporation having its principal place of business at 0000 Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 and its Affiliates (as defined below)
(collectively “Xxxxxx”).
WHEREAS,
HDC and Xxxxxx each desires to establish a collaboration and license
relationship between them.
NOW,
THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
Article 1 –
Definitions
The
following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
1.1
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“Affiliate” of a
party shall mean a corporation or other business entity controlled by,
controlling or under common control with, such party. For this
purpose, control of a corporation or other business entity shall mean
direct or indirect beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%)
of the voting interest in, or a greater than fifty percent (50%) interest
in the equity of, such corporation or other business
entity.
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1.2
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“Analyte Specific
Reagent” or "ASR" shall mean
the finished, packaged and labeled assembly of a Licensed Product in the
form of assay components, purchased by commercial laboratories to test for
the detection and/or quantification of an analyte under the United States
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Paragraphs 809.10, 809.30, 864.4010
and 864.4020.
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1.3
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“Change of
Control” means (a) the acquisition of a party by another
entity by means of any transaction or series of related transactions
(including, without limitation, any reorganization, merger or
consolidation) that results in the transfer of fifty percent (50%) or more
of the voting securities of such party, (b) a sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of a party, or (c) the acquisition by any
person or other entity (other than a party and its Affiliates or employee
benefit plans), including any person or group as defined in Paragraphs
3(a)(9) and 13(d), 14(d) and Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act of more than
fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities of such party; provided,
however, that no Change in Control shall occur by reason of (i) an initial
public offering, or (ii) a reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale,
the sole purpose of which is to change the state of a party’s
incorporation or to create a holding company that will be owned in
substantially the same proportions by the persons who held such party’s
securities immediately before such
transaction.
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Confidential
treatment has been requested pursuant to Rule 24b-2 promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
This
exhibit has been provided to the Securities and Exchange Commission in
unredacted form.
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1.4
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"Collaboration"
shall mean that term as it is defined in Paragraph 2.1.
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1.5
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"Collaboration Term" means
the time period commencing upon the Effective Date and continuing until
the first to occur of the date three (3) years after such date or
completion of the research contemplated by the FDA Submission
Plan.
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1.6
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“Confidential
Information” shall mean the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
and all information developed by the parties pursuant to the Collaboration
and all other disclosed by one party to the other in writing and clearly
marked “Confidential” or, if communicated orally, specified as
confidential at the time of disclosure and confirmed in writing within
thirty (30) days after such oral communication and clearly marked
“Confidential”; provided, however, that Confidential Information shall not
include information that:
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1.6.1 is
already in the public domain, or on or after the Effective Date comes into the
public domain other than as a result of the wrongful disclosure by either party
to this Agreement;
1.6.2 is
already known to the recipient as evidenced by prior-dated written documents
already in the recipient’s possession, which documents were not furnished by the
other party to this Agreement;
1.6.3 is
disclosed to the other party by any third party having the right to make that
disclosure;
1.6.4 is
required by law to be disclosed in connection with the registration or filing
with, or approval or certification from any governmental agency or body
including, without limitation, the United States Food and Drug Administration,
provided that the information is not the inventive subject matter of an
unpublished patent application, or is required to be disclosed to comply with
the terms of contractual relationships and provided that each party undertakes
to use its best endeavors to maintain to the maximum extent possible and to make
any third parties to whom such information is disclosed aware of the
confidentiality of such information; or
1.6.5 can
be proven to have been independently developed by the party receiving the
information under this Agreement without the aid, application or use in any way
of Confidential Information received from the disclosing party.
1.7 |
"FDA Submission
Plan" shall mean the plan for the Collaboration attached hereto as
Exhibit
C.
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1.8
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“Field” shall
mean the use of a molecular diagnostic assay using the Licensed Prostate
Markers in in
vitro diagnostics relating to prostate cancer, including the
detection of the presence or risk of prostate cancer, or the selection of
therapy, or in a Research Application related to prostate
cancer.
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1.9
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“First Commercial
Sale” or “FCS” shall mean
the first time, except in the context of a clinical trial, Xxxxxx
transfers title of Licensed Product to an independent third party for
monetary consideration or provides a Diagnostic Test Service using
Licensed Product to an independent third party for monetary
consideration.
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1.10
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“IVD” shall mean
an assay which claims an intended use, and is approved by a governmental
regulatory body for sale, as an in vitro diagnostic
kit, and which is not an ASR or labeled for “Research Use Only”, including
an assay that is CE Marked.
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1.11
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"Joint
Inventions" shall mean all new inventions jointly made, by the
parties as part of the Collaboration.
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1.12
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“Joint Patent Rights” shall mean all patents
and/or patent applications for Joint Inventions.
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1.13
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“Know-How” shall
mean, without limitation, all trade secrets and technology, as well as
non-patented, non-public inventions, improvements, discoveries, formulae,
processes, data, and reagents discovered or developed by HDC, and owned or
legally acquired by or licensed to HDC without restriction on
dissemination and licensing, before or during the Collaboration Term,
whether patentable or not, and which relate to the Field and the use of
Licensed Prostate Markers in the Field.
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1.14
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“Laboratory Developed
Test” shall mean the provision of test results from use of a
Licensed Product or Licensed Products to assay a patient urine or prostate
biopsy sample, to be entered into the medical history record of the
patient providing the urine or prostate biopsy sample.
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1.15
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“Licensed
Product(s)” shall mean finished products consisting of one or more
nucleic acid detection reagents for the assay of one or more Prostate
Marker(s) for use in the Field, the manufacture, use, sale or importation
of which, but for the rights granted herein, would infringe a Valid Claim
within Patent Rights.
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1.16
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“Net Sales”
shall mean:
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1.16.1 The
amount charged for Licensed Product to a non-Affiliated third party, less a lump
sum of five percent (5%) to cover all usual deductions, such as cash discounts
allowed and taken; amounts for transportation, insurance or shipping; amounts
repaid, credited or rebated for rejections or returns of Licensed Product; and
taxes and duties. Net Sales shall not include Licensed Products used
for clinical trials, research, evaluation of customer acceptance, charitable or
humanitarian donations, commercial samples or other noncommercial uses as long
as Xxxxxx receives no financial compensation for such use or
donation.
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1.16.2 If
the price of Licensed Product sold by Xxxxxx or its Affiliates is increased to
include an amount to cover the amortized cost of an instrument system or other
equipment or the cost of supplying maintenance for such system or equipment
under a Reagent Agreement Plan, Reagent Rental Plan or other successor similar
plan (collectively referred to as “RAP”), the Net Sales
for such Licensed Product shall be reduced an additional ten percent
(10%).
1.16.3 In
the event that Xxxxxx or its Affiliates sells Licensed Product to a third party
together with one or more other products (each a “Combination
Product”), the Net Sales with respect to such Combination Product shall
mean the price of such Combination Product billed to customers, less the
allowances and adjustments above, multiplied by a percentage equal to the
fraction A/(A+B), where A is the stand-alone market value of the Licensed
Product and B is the stand-alone market value of the other
product(s).
1.16.4 The
amount charged for Laboratory Developed Test to a non-Affiliated third party,
less (i) any shortfall in the reimbursement amount from the amount charged, and
(ii) a lump sum of five percent (5%) to cover all usual deductions, such as cash
discounts allowed and taken; amounts for transportation, insurance or shipping;
amounts repaid, credited or rebated for rejections or returns of Licensed
Product; and taxes and duties. Net Sales shall not include Laboratory
Developed Tests used for clinical trials, research, evaluation of customer
acceptance, charitable or humanitarian donations, commercial samples or other
noncommercial uses as long as Xxxxxx receives no direct financial compensation
for such use or donation.
1.17
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“Patent Rights”
shall mean:
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1.17.1 all
patent(s) and/or patent applications listed in Exhibit A hereto that are owned
or controlled by HDC as of the Effective Date that are applicable to the use of
the Licensed Prostate Markers in the Field;
1.17.2 any
additional patent and/or patent application(s) which, after the Effective Date
and during the Collaboration Term, are solely owned or controlled by HDC and are
free to be licensed and/or sublicensed by HDC and that are applicable to the
Field (for the avoidance of doubt, such additional patent and/or patent
application(s), including, without limitation, (a) patents and applications
acquired or licensed by HDC from third parties that are applicable to the Field,
and (b) such patents and applications covering New Inventions owned solely by
HDC that are applicable to the Field; and
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1.17.3 any
and all divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, renewals, reissues,
extensions and supplemental protection certificates of any of the patent
applications and patents described in the foregoing clauses of this Paragraph
1.17.
1.18
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“Licensed
Prostate Markers” shall mean one or
more of the nucleic acid detection targets identified in Exhibit B that
are present in a urine or prostate biopsy sample useful for the diagnostic
identification, classification, therapeutic response prediction or
monitoring of prostate cancer.
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1.19
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"Research
Application" shall mean use of a Licensed Product or component
thereof for research and clinical research applications. For
purposes herein, the performance of a clinical trial using a Licensed
Product during the Collaboration shall be deemed a Research
Application.
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1.20
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"FDA
Submission Plan" shall mean the plan for the Collaboration attached
hereto as Exhibit
C.
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1.21
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“RUO” shall mean
"research use only", as defined in United States Code of Federal
Regulations, Title 21, Paragraph 809.10(c)(2)(i).
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1.22
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“Territory”
shall mean all the countries in the world.
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1.23
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“Utility” means
the application for a Licensed Product, being (a) RUO, (b) an ASR, or (c)
an IVD for any medical utility.
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1.24
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“Valid Claim”
shall mean any claim of an issued and unexpired patent within Patent
Rights or Joint Patent Rights exclusively licensed to Xxxxxx, which claim
has not been held invalid or unenforceable by a non-appealable decision of
a court or governmental agency having competent
jurisdiction.
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Article 2 - The
Collaboration, Materials and Data
2.1
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Collaboration. During
the Collaboration Term and pursuant to the FDA Submission Plan, Xxxxxx and
HDC agree to collaborate on the performance of the necessary validation
studies and clinical trial(s), and the preparation of and submission to
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA’) of either a 510(k) or PMA
application seeking the necessary authorization from the FDA for the U.S.
marketing, use and sale with associated claims of medical utility of a
prostate cancer diagnostic assay (the “Collaboration”). For purposes of
the Collaboration, the parties acknowledge and agree
that:
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2.1.1 The
FDA Submission Plan specifies the responsibilities of the parties for the
clinical trial activities, and may be modified only by a writing executed by
both parties; and
2.1.2 Initially,
Xxxxxx will be solely responsible for the preparation and submission of the
510(k) or PMA application to the FDA. Xxxxxx will provide a draft of
the submission to HDC for its comment at least thirty (30) days before the
actual filing with the FDA. However, the parties may agree in writing to a
change in the allocation of responsibility. In this event, any such
writing will modify the FDA Submission Plan to establish each party’s
responsibilities and whether any additional time or funding is
required.
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During
the Collaboration Term, HDC agrees to exclusively collaborate with Xxxxxx
on the performance of the clinical trials and submission to the
FDA.
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2.2
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Exchange of
Materials. During the Collaboration Term, HDC will
provide materials (“HDC Materials”),
including, without limitation, test reagent samples and clinical samples,
to Xxxxxx, and Xxxxxx will provide materials, including, without
limitation, test reagents and clinical samples necessary to complete the
Collaboration (collectively, “Xxxxxx
Materials”) to HDC for the purposes described in the FDA Submission
Plan. Each shall do so at its sole cost and
expense. The parties shall comply with all applicable laws,
rules and regulations in the packaging and shipment of the HDC Materials
and Xxxxxx Materials, as applicable (collectively, “Materials”). Xxxxxx Materials
are and shall remain the sole property of Xxxxxx. HDC Materials
are and shall remain the sole property of HDC. Each
party shall use Materials of the other party solely for the Collaboration
and shall not provide them to any third party for any purpose without the
other party’s prior written consent. Materials shall not be
used for purposes of reporting of patient results, except in the course of
a clinical trial whose protocol expressly provides for such
reporting.
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2.3
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Additional and New
Prostate Markers. Xxxxxx and HDC may each separately
bring additional prostate markers (“Additional Prostate Markers”) into the
Collaboration for investigation in combination with one or more of the
Licensed Prostate Markers identified in Exhibit B. The parties
may also decide to collaborate on discovery of new prostate markers (“New
Prostate Markers”), with either Xxxxxx or HDC providing urine or tissue
samples that may exhibit such New Prostate Markers. Any such
New Prostate Markers discovered in the Collaboration will be jointly owned
by Xxxxxx and HDC and subject to the provisions of Paragraphs 8.5 and 8.6
hereof.
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2.4
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Disclosure of
Data. All data and other relevant information generated
by a party pursuant to the Collaboration shall be promptly and fully
disclosed to the other party, and shall be freely usable for internal use
and any regulatory submission by the other party subject to the
confidentiality provisions of Article 7 and intellectual property
provisions of Article 8.
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2.5
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Reporting. At
regular intervals to be determined and documented by the parties, each
party shall submit progress and other written status reports as reasonably
requested by the other party. Additionally, the parties shall
hold regular meetings, alternating between their respective headquarters,
at least quarterly, to review and discuss such
progress.
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Article 3 -
Payments
3.1
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Signing
Fee. Promptly after execution of this Agreement by both
parties, Xxxxxx shall pay to HDC a one-time Signing Fee of
One-Hundred-Thousand U.S. Dollars ($100,000.00). This Signing
Fee shall be non-refundable and non-creditable towards
royalties.
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3.2
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Phase 1 and 2
Completion Milestone Fee.
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3.2.1 Upon
completion of both Phases 1 and 2 described in the FDA Submission Plan,
Xxxxxx shall pay to HDC a one-time Phase 1 and 2 Completion Milestone Fee of
Two-Hundred-Fifty-Thousand U.S. Dollars ($250,000.00). This Phase 1
and 2 Completion Milestone Fee shall be non-refundable and non-creditable
towards royalties.
3.3
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Phase 3 and 4
Completion Milestone Fee. Upon completion of
both Phases 3 and 4 described in the FDA Submission Plan, Xxxxxx
shall pay to HDC a one-time Phase 3 and 4 Completion Milestone Fee of
Two-Hundred-Fifty-Thousand U.S. Dollars ($250,000.00). This
Phase 3 and 4 Completion Milestone Fee shall be non-refundable and
non-creditable towards royalties.
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3.4
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FDA
Submission Milestone Fee. Promptly after the
filing by Xxxxxx with the FDA of either a 510(k) or PMA submission, Xxxxxx
shall pay to HDC a one-time FDA Submission Fee of Five-Hundred-Thousand
U.S. Dollars ($500,000.00). This Fee shall also be irrevocable
and non-creditable against any royalty obligation.
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3.5
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FDA
Approval Fee. Promptly after the receipt by
Xxxxxx of a written notification from the FDA of the approval of the
applicable 510(k) or PMA submission, Xxxxxx shall pay to HDC a one-time
FDA Approval Fee of Five-Hundred-Thousand U.S. Dollars
($500,000.00). This Fee shall also be irrevocable and
non-creditable against any royalty
obligation.
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Article 4 - License Terms
and Royalty.
4.1
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License
Grant.
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4.1.1
Exclusive License: HDC hereby grants Xxxxxx an exclusive, worldwide,
royalty-bearing license and right to make, have made, use, sell and import
Licensed Products, with the right to sublicense, under Patent Rights, under
HDC’s interest in Joint Patent Rights and Know-How. The exclusive
license granted herein shall be exclusive even as to HDC with respect to the
making, have made, sale and import of Licensed Products.
4.1.2
Co-Exclusive License: HDC hereby grants Xxxxxx a, co-exclusive,
worldwide, royalty-bearing license for the performance of Laboratory Developed
Tests, including the right to make and have made and import Licensed Products
used in the performance of Laboratory Developed Tests, which co-exclusive
license will be shared with the co-licensees identified in Exhibit D
hereto. For as long as this Agreement remains in effect,
apart from the identified co-licensees, HDC shall not retain nor have any right
to grant further sublicenses.
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4.2
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Royalty.
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4.2.1 For
each Licensed Product that is sold by Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx shall pay HDC a running
royalty equal to:
(a) For
Licensed Products with medical utility claims solely for use on prostate tissue
samples, ten percent (10%) of Xxxxxx’x Net Sales of such Licensed Product;
and
(b) For
Licensed Products with medical utility claims solely for use on urine samples,
five percent (5%) of Xxxxxx’x Net Sales of such Licensed Product
4.2.2 For
each Laboratory Developed Test that is sold by Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx shall pay
HDC:
(a) a
running royalty equal to ten percent (10%) of Xxxxxx’x Net Sales of such
Laboratory Developed Test performed on a prostate tissue; or
(b) a
running royalty equal to five percent (5.0%) of Xxxxxx’x Net Sales of such
Laboratory Developed Test performed on a urine sample.
4.2.3
Xxxxxx shall make all such payments in respect of running royalties within
forty-five (45) days after the end of each calendar quarter following the
FCS.
4.3
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Sales
Milestones. Upon the sale by Xxxxxx of the specified
number of Licensed Products with a medical utility claim for use on a
urine sample, Xxxxxx agrees to pay HDC, promptly after reaching each Sales
Milestone:
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(a) 1st Sales
Milestone: After the sale of Fifty-thousand (50,000) tests in
a calendar year, a one-time 1st Sales Milestone Fee of Two-Hundred-Thousand U.S.
Dollars ($200,000.00);
(b) 2nd Sales
Milestone: After the sale of Two-hundred-thousand (200,000) tests in a calendar
year, a one-time 2nd Sales
Milestone Fee of Seven-Hundred-Fifty-Thousand U.S. Dollars ($750,000.00);
and
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(c) 3rd Sales
Milestone: After the sale of Five-hundred-thousand (500,000) tests in
a calendar year, a one-time 3rd Sales
Milestone Fee of One-Million-Five-Hundred-Thousand U.S. Dollars
($1,500,000.00);
The
fees payable under Paragraph 4.3 shall not be creditable against the
running royalty obligation of Paragraph 4.2. Xxxxxx shall make
all such payments under Paragraph 4.2.3 within forty-five (45) days after
the end of each calendar quarter in which the Sales Milestone is
reached.
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4.4
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Required Third Party
Licenses. In the event one or more third party licenses
are required, in Xxxxxx’x reasonable judgment, for Xxxxxx to commercialize
a Licensed Product or Laboratory Developed Test, then Xxxxxx may reduce
the running royalty otherwise payable to HDC for such Licensed Product
under Paragraph 4.2.1 and 4.2.2 by the percentage amount of any running
royalty payable by Xxxxxx under such third-party license; provided, that
such reduction may not be more than fifty percent (50%) of the rates
specified in Paragraphs 4.2.1 and
4.2.2.
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Article 5- Warranties and
Representations
5.1
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HDC. HDC
warrants and represents to Xxxxxx
that:
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5.1.1 to
the best of its knowledge, it has the full legal right to xxxxx Xxxxxx the
licenses to Patent Rights provided herein;
5.1.2 during
the Collaboration Term, HDC will not collaborate with any third party with
respect to any portion of the Collaboration or the development of any IVD assay
covered by Patent Rights;
5.1.3 to
the best of its knowledge, no third party is challenging in any jurisdiction the
validity of any of the Patent Rights;
5.1.4 Exhibit A lists all
patent(s) and/or patent applications owned or controlled by HDC as of the
Effective Date that are applicable to the Field;
5.1.5 it
has not received any written or oral communication asserting that the HDC 4-gene
expression assay for prostate cancer to be tested in Phase 1 of the Validity
Studies of the FDA Submission Plan, infringes any intellectual property right,
including any patent right, owned or controlled by any third party;
5.1.6 it
has the corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the
person executing this Agreement on behalf of HDC has been authorized to do
so;
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5.1.7 the
terms of this Agreement do not conflict with or violate any contract binding
upon HDC; and
5.1.8 it has not granted and will
not grant to any third party, including the co-exclusive licensees listed in
Exhibit D, any rights under Patent Rights to make, have made, import
or sell Licensed Products.
5.2
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Xxxxxx. Xxxxxx
warrants and represents to HDC that it has the corporate power and
authority to enter into this Agreement, that the person executing this
Agreement on behalf of Xxxxxx has been authorized to do so, and that the
terms of this Agreement do not conflict with or violate any contract
binding upon Xxxxxx.
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5.3
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Limitation of
Liability. IN NO EVENT WILL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO
THE OTHER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL,
INCIDENTAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, RESULTING FROM THE
PARTY’S PERFORMANCE OR FAILURE TO PERFORM UNDER THIS
AGREEMENT.
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Article 6 - Term and
Termination
6.1
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Term. This
Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date and shall terminate
upon the expiration of the last to expire of Patent Rights licensed
hereunder, unless sooner terminated as provided herein.
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6.2
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Termination for
Cause. Either HDC or Xxxxxx may unilaterally terminate
this Agreement upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other in the
event of:
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6.2.1 the
non-terminating party’s insolvency; or
6.2.2 a
material breach of the Agreement by a party, which breach is not cured within
thirty (30) days of notice of such breach by the other party.
6.3
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Xxxxxx’x Termination
Right. Xxxxxx may unilaterally and without cause
terminate this Agreement upon ninety (90) days notice to
HDC. .
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6.4
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Survival. Paragraph
5.3, Articles 7, 8, 9 (subject to Paragraph 9.4) and 10 shall survive
termination of this Agreement.
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Article 7 - Confidential
Information
7.1
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Confidential
Treatment. A party receiving the Confidential
Information (“Receiving Party”) of
the other party (“Disclosing Party”)
agrees to hold that Confidential Information in trust and confidence for
Disclosing Party. A Receiving Party will not use Confidential
Information other than for the purposes of this Agreement. Each
party shall, to the extent applicable hereunder, provide the other party
with patient information as allowed by law and the Receiving Party shall
maintain the confidentiality of all such patient information as required
by law.
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7.2
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Limitation of
Dissemination. A Receiving Party will only disclose
Confidential Information received hereunder, whether oral or in writing,
in tangible, intangible or electronic format, to those persons within the
Receiving Party’s organization or its agents (a) who have a need to know
the Confidential Information in order to perform the Receiving Party’s
obligations under this Agreement, (b) who have been informed of the
confidential nature of the Confidential Information, and (c) who are
obligated to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information
consistent with the terms of this Agreement.
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7.3
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Standard of
Care. A Receiving Party will treat the Confidential
Information of the Disclosing Party with the same care as the Receiving
Party’s own proprietary information of like kind.
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7.4
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Handling of
Information. A Receiving Party shall not (a) reverse
engineer or otherwise exploit the Confidential Information in violation of
this Agreement, and (b) remove or export from the United States or
re-export any of such Confidential Information or any direct product
thereof except in compliance with and with all licenses and approvals
required under applicable export laws and regulations, including, without
limitation, those of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
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7.5
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Compelled
Disclosure. In the event that a Receiving Party is
ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or is compelled by law, order
or regulation of a governmental agency or by subpoena to disclose all or
any portion of the Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party to a
third party, the Receiving Party shall give the Disclosing Party prompt
notice of such order or subpoena, together with a copy thereof, so that
the Disclosing Party may seek an appropriate protective order, if
applicable. If, in the absence of a protective order, the
Receiving Party is nonetheless compelled to disclose Confidential
Information, the Receiving Party may disclose such information without
liability hereunder; provided, however, that the Receiving Party gives the
Disclosing Party notice of the Confidential Information to be disclosed as
far in advance of its disclosure as is practicable and the Receiving Party
uses its best efforts to obtain assurances that confidential treatment
will be accorded to such Confidential Information.
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7.6
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Return of Confidential
Information. Upon termination of this Agreement, the
Receiving Party will return to the Disclosing Party or destroy all written
Confidential Information, as well as any copies thereof, and will promptly
destroy all memoranda, notes and other writings (whether in tangible,
intangible or electronic format) prepared by the Receiving Party or on the
Receiving Party’s behalf based upon the Confidential Information of the
Disclosing Party, except that the Receiving Party may retain one (1) copy
of such Confidential Information for archival purposes, which copy shall
be subject to obligations set forth herein. The Receiving Party
shall also provide the Disclosing Party with a certificate of an
appropriate representative of the Receiving Party to the effect that the
Receiving Party has fully complied with the requirements of this
Paragraph.
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7.7
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Injunctive
Relief. Receiving Party acknowledges that the
Confidential Information of Disclosing Party has been developed by
Disclosing Party with substantial effort and at substantial cost and
therefore has value to Disclosing Party, and that the breach of any of the
provisions of this Agreement could cause Disclosing Party irreparable
injury for which no adequate remedy at law exists. Accordingly,
Disclosing Party shall have the right, in addition to any other rights it
may have to seek from any court having jurisdiction a temporary or
permanent restraining order or injunction restraining or enjoining
Receiving Party from any violation of this
Agreement.
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Article 8 -
Inventions
8.1
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Ownership of Existing
Inventions. Existing inventions and technologies of HDC
and Xxxxxx as of the Effective Date (including, without limitation,
Licensed Prostate Markers and Additional Prostate Markers that each
separately bring to the Collaboration) shall respectively remain the sole
and separate property of HDC and Xxxxxx and the ownership thereof shall
not be affected by this Agreement. Except for the license
granted Xxxxxx hereunder, neither party shall have any claims to or rights
in such existing inventions and technologies of the other
party.
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8.2
|
Ownership of New
Inventions. Any new invention, development or discovery
relating to the Field or New Prostate Markers for the Field conceived,
made or reduced to practice by either party as part of the Collaboration,
the FDA Submission Plan or with the use of Materials of the other party
(each a “New Invention”) shall be promptly disclosed in
writing to the other party. Each party shall retain sole
ownership in each Invention made solely by that party.
|
8.3
|
Patent Prosecution and
Maintenance.
|
8.3.1 HDC
shall pay all costs associated with the filing, prosecution and maintenance of
patent applications and issued patents within the Patent Rights.
8.3.2 HDC
shall notify Xxxxxx of any change in status of patents and/or patent
applications listed in Exhibit A and of the
filing of any patent applications within the scope of the Patent Rights within
sixty (60) days of any such change. HDC shall update Exhibit A at least
annually to reflect any such changes. In the event any of the Patent
Rights shall become involved in an opposition or interference proceeding, HDC
shall manage the proceeding, at its own expense, and shall keep Abbott informed
of the status of any such proceeding and may consider Xxxxxx’x views in
formulating HDC’s strategy in the proceeding.
12
8.3.3 For
New Inventions owned solely by HDC, HDC shall prepare, apply for and maintain
issued patents for such New Inventions throughout the Territory in such
countries and in such manner as HDC shall determine after reasonable
consideration of the views of Abbott.
8.3.4 If
HDC elects not to file a patent application for a New Invention solely owned by
HDC or to abandon an existing issued patent or pending patent application within
the Patent Rights or do so in any particular jurisdiction within the Territory,
HDC shall notify Abbott within a time sufficient for Abbott to familiarize
itself with the case and make a decision before abandoning or failing to pursue
the relevant issued patent or pending application. Abbott shall have
thirty (30) days from the date of such notice within which it may notify HDC
that Abbott has elected to assume the obligation and costs of filing and
prosecuting or maintaining such patent application or issued
patent. If Abbott elects to assume such obligation and costs, HDC
shall assign its rights in the relevant patent application or issued patent to
Abbott for only the affected jurisdiction(s); provided, however, that such
assignment shall be coupled with the grant by Abbott to HDC of a fully-paid,
nonexclusive license, without the right to sublicense, in the assigned patent
application or issued patent for internal research purposes only. Any
patent application or issued patent assigned to and maintained by Abbott
provided in this subparagraph shall not be considered Patent Rights under this
Agreement and Abbott shall have no royalty or fee obligations to HDC for
Xxxxxx’x commercial use under such patent applications or issued
patents.
8.4
|
Joint
Inventions.
|
8.4.1 Each
Joint Invention shall be jointly owned by the parties and each party shall have
an undivided interest in such Joint Inventions and any Joint Patent Rights
resulting therefrom, including the rights to commercialize Joint Inventions and
grant licenses to third parties under the Joint Patent
Rights. Inventorship for Joint Patent Rights shall be determined in
accordance with U.S. patent law.
8.4.2 Neither
party will file applications for U.S. or foreign patents for a Joint Invention
without first consulting the other party. In the event that both
parties agree to file an application for a patent for a Joint Invention, the
parties will share equally all costs associated with filing, prosecuting, and
maintaining Joint Patent Rights directed to any Joint Invention. The
parties will mutually agree which of them will be responsible for filing,
prosecution, and maintenance of a particular patent application or patent based
upon the relative contribution of each party to the related Joint
Invention.
8.4.3 The
filing party shall make commercially reasonable efforts to minimize the cost of
the filing and prosecution of patent applications for Joint Inventions and
neither shall charge the other for overhead costs associated with prosecution
undertaken by employed, in-house patent counsel of the filing
party. The filing party shall promptly provide the non-filing party
with copies of papers regarding the prosecution of such applications (including,
without limitation, all patent office actions, any response to any office action
affecting the scope or nature of the Joint Invention) and will use commercially
reasonable efforts to consult with the non-filing party regarding its interest
in the application and seek claims reasonably consistent with the interests of
the non-filing party prior to making any such claims or responding to any office
action relating thereto.
13
8.4.4 The
non-filing party agrees to provide all reasonable assistance and cooperation to
the filing party, including the execution of documents.
8.4.5 Either
party may elect at any time not to participate in the filing of a patent
application or maintaining an issued patent for a Joint Invention by giving
notice to the other and assigning all of its rights in such Joint Invention
(including, without limitation, all related Joint Patent Rights) to the other
party. The party making such election shall have no further
obligations to undertake or underwrite the cost, as the case may be, to
prosecute, maintain, and enforce any such Joint Patent Right, except as to costs
and expenses that have accrued prior to such assignment.
8.4.6 Each
party will bring to the attention of the other party any third party
infringement of any patent for a Joint Invention of which it becomes
aware. Neither party will enforce any U.S. or foreign patents for a
Joint Invention against a third party without the prior written consent of the
other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed. In the event that both parties agree to enforce a patent for
a Joint Invention, the parties will use good faith efforts to determine which
party will be responsible for enforcement of such Joint Patent Rights against
such third party infringers and apportion the costs of enforcement based upon
the commercial interest of each party to the infringing activity. The
parties will apportion any recoveries based upon their contributions to the cost
of enforcing such patent.
8.4.7 Neither
party will grant a license to any third party to any U.S. or foreign patents for
a Joint Invention without the prior written consent of the other
party. In the event that either party grants a license to a patent
for a Joint Invention, the parties will share equally in the gross revenues,
including, but not limited to, license fees and royalties, realized for the
license to the Joint Invention by the licensing party. Payments shall
be made within forty-five (45) days after the end of each calendar quarter and
accompanied by a report, setting forth the gross amounts received from the
license). Upon reasonable request, the reporting party shall provide
the requesting party copies of applicable reports due from the license under the
license relating to royalties payable to the licensor party. Such
reports shall constitute the licensor party’s Confidential Information and shall
be returned to the licensor party after the requesting party has had a
reasonable opportunity to review the reports.
14
8.4.8 If
after good faith negotiations the parties cannot reach agreement as to any
dispute regarding Joint Inventions and Joint Patent Rights, the dispute may be
submitted to Alternative Dispute Resolution as provided for in Paragraph
10.12.
Article 9-
Indemnification
9.1
|
HDC. HDC
shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Abbott and its Affiliates,
employees, officers, directors and agents from and against any suit,
proceeding, claim, liability, loss, damage, costs or expense, including
reasonable attorneys’ fees, which Abbott may hereinafter incur, suffer, or
be required to pay arising out of or resulting from (a) any breach by HDC
of the representations and warranties set forth in Paragraph 5.1 of this
Agreement, and (b) any injury or other harm caused solely by HDC in
carrying out its obligations pursuant to the
Collaboration.
|
9.2
|
Xxxxxx. Xxxxxx
shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless HDC and its Affiliates,
employees, officers, directors and agents from and against any suit,
proceeding, claim, liability, loss, damage, costs or expense, including
reasonable attorneys’ fees, which HDC may hereinafter incur, suffer or be
required to pay arising out of or resulting from (a) any breach by Abbott
of the representations and warranties set forth in Paragraph 5.2 of this
Agreement, and (b) any injury or other harm caused solely by Abbott in
carrying out its obligations pursuant to the
Collaboration.
|
9.3
|
Notice and
Cooperation. With respect to any claim for which a party
seeks indemnification from the other hereunder, the party seeking
indemnification shall provide prompt notice to the other of the claim for
which indemnification is sought, shall provide reasonable cooperation and
assistance to the indemnifying party in the defense of such claim, and
shall not settle or otherwise compromise such claim without the
indemnifying party’s prior written consent.
|
9.4
|
Termination of
Indemnification Obligations. All obligations for
indemnification on the part of parties hereto shall expire two (2) years
from the date of termination of this Agreement, except with respect to
claims for indemnification made prior to the end of such two (2) year
period.
|
Article 10 -
Miscellaneous
10.1 |
Notices. Any
notice, report, payment or statement required or permitted under this
Agreement shall be considered to be given in writing when sent by
certified mail (return receipt requested), postage prepaid, or faxed then
mailed, or if sent via courier and addressed to the party for whom it is
intended at its address of record. The record addresses of the
parties are as follows:
|
15
If
to HDC:
|
Chairman
and CEO
|
||
Health
Discovery Corporation
|
|||
0
Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx #000
|
|||
Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
|
|||
FAX:
(000) 000-0000
|
|||
with
a copy to:
|
|||
Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
|
|||
000
X Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
|
|||
Xxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
|
|||
Fax: 000-000-0000
|
|||
Attn: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
|
|||
If
to Abbott:
|
Director,
Licensing & Business Development
|
||
Xxxxxx
Molecular Inc.
|
|||
0000
X. Xxxxx Xxx, 0X
|
|||
Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
|
|||
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
|
|||
With
a copy to:
|
|||
VP,
Domestic Legal
|
|||
Xxxxxx
Laboratories
|
|||
Xxxx.
000, Xxxx. XX-0X
|
|||
000
Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx
|
|||
Xxxxxx
Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
|
|||
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
|
10.2
|
Compliance with
Laws. The parties will comply with applicable laws in
conducting the Collaboration, including, if applicable, any requirements
for Institutional Review Board approval.
|
10.3
|
No
Partnership. The parties do not intend to create any
partnership, joint venture or agency relationship under this
Agreement.
|
10.4
|
Use of a Party’s
Name. Neither party will, without the prior written
consent of the other party, (a) use in advertising, publicity or
otherwise, the name of any employee or agent, any trade-name, trademark,
trade device, service xxxx, symbol, or any abbreviation, contraction or
simulation thereof owned by the other party, or (b) represent, either
directly or indirectly, that any product or service of the other party is
a product or service of the representing party or that it is made in
accordance with or utilizes the information or documents of the other
party.
|
16
10.5
|
Entire
Agreement. This Agreement and all attached Exhibits
contain the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to
its subject matter. It merges all prior discussions between the
parties and neither party will be bound by conditions, definitions,
warranties, understandings, or representations concerning such subject
matter except as provided in this Agreement or as specified on or
subsequent to the Effective Date of this Agreement in a writing signed by
properly authorized representatives of the parties. This
Agreement may only be modified by written agreement duly signed by persons
duly authorized on behalf of both HDC and Abbott.
|
10.6
|
Assignment. This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their successors and assigns. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, neither party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of
its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written
consent of the other party which will not be unreasonably withheld;
provided, however, that either party may transfer its rights and
obligations without the consent of the other party (a) upon a Change in
Control, or (b) to any of its Affiliates provided that the assigning party
guarantees the performance of its Affiliate.
|
10.7
|
Waiver. The
failure of a party in any instance to insist upon the strict performance
of the terms of this Agreement will not be construed to be a waiver or
relinquishment of any of the terms of this Agreement, either at the time
of the party’s failure to insist upon strict performance or at any time in
the future, and such terms will continue in full force and
effect.
|
10.8
|
Severability. Each
clause of this Agreement is a distinct and severable clause and if any
clause is deemed illegal, void or unenforceable, the validity, legality or
enforceability of any other clause or portion of this Agreement will not
be affected thereby.
|
10.9
|
Governing
Law. The rights and obligations of this Agreement will
be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Delaware, United States of America (excluding and without regard to its or
any other jurisdiction’s rules concerning conflicts of
laws).
|
10.10
|
Titles. All
titles and articles headings contained in this Agreement are inserted only
as a matter of convenience and reference. They do not define,
limit, extend or describe the scope of this Agreement or the intent of any
of its provisions.
|
10.11
|
Alternative Dispute
Resolution. The parties recognize that a dispute as to
certain matters (other than those specified in Exhibit E) may arise from time to time
during the term of this Agreement which relates to either party's rights
and/or obligations under this Agreement. The parties agree to
resolve any such dispute exclusively according to the provisions set forth
in Exhibit
E. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any dispute between
the parties relating to patent validity and enforceability shall not be
resolved under this Paragraph 10.11, nor by any other form of alternative
dispute resolution, but rather by litigation in U.S. Federal
Court.
|
17
10.12
|
Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall
constitute an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument.
|
In
witness thereof, HDC and Abbott have duly executed this Agreement as of the
Effective Date.
XXXXXX
MOLECULAR INC.
|
HEALTH
DISCOVERY CORPORATION
|
||||
By
|
/s/ Xxxxxxxx
X’Xxxxx
|
By
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx, M.D.
|
||
Xxxxxxxx X’Xxxxx
|
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, M.D.
|
||||
President
|
Chairman and CEO
|
||||
Date
|
January 30,
2009
|
Date
|
January 30,
2009
|
18
Exhibit
A
Patent(s) or Patent
Application(s)
Country/Region
|
Patent/
Publication/
Application
No.
|
Title
|
U.S.
|
7,117,188
|
Method
of Identifying Patterns in Biological Systems and Uses
Thereof
|
U.S.
|
12/025,724
|
Biomarkers
Upregulated in Prostate Cancer
|
U.S.
|
12/242,264
|
Biomarkers
Overexpressed in Prostate Cancer
|
U.S.
|
12/327,823
|
Methods
for Screening, Predicting and Monitoring Prostate
Cancer
|
U.S.
|
12/349,437
|
Methods
for Screening, Predicting and Monitoring Prostate
Cancer
|
Australia
|
2002253879
|
Methods
of Identifying Patterns in Biological Systems and Uses
Thereof
|
Canada
|
2,435,254
|
Method
of Identifying Patterns in Biological Systems and Uses
Thereof
|
Europe
|
1459235
|
Method
of Identifying Patterns in Biological Systems and Uses
Thereof
|
Japan
|
2002-560076
|
Method
of Identifying Patterns in Biological Systems and Uses
Thereof
|
Europe
|
1828917
|
Biomarkers
for Screening, Predicting, and Monitoring Prostate
Disease
|
Exhibit A
- 1
Exhibit
B
LICENSED PROSTATE
MARKERS
Archival
Unigene ID
|
Current
Unigene ID
|
Symbol
|
Affy probe
|
Pathway
|
Target Description
|
|||||||
12337
|
Hs.7780
|
Hs.480311
|
DKFZp564
|
212412_at
|
Unknown
|
Consensus
includes :AV715767 /FEA=EST
/DB_XREF=gi:10797284
/DB_XREF=est:AV715767
/CLONE=DCBATH02
/UG=Hs.7780 Homo sapiens
mRNA;
cDNA DKFZp564A072 (from clone
DKFZp564A072)
|
||||||
9373
|
Hs.21293
|
Hs.492859
|
UAP1/AGX-1
|
209340_at
|
Aminosugar
metabolism
|
gb:S73498.1
/DEF=Homo sapiens AgX-1 antigen
mRNA;
complete cds. /FEA=mRNA /PROD=AgX-1 antigen /DB_XREF=gi:688010
/UG=Hs.21293 UDP-N-
acteylglucosamine
pyrophosphorylase 1
/FL=gb:AB011004.1
gb:NM_003115.1 gb:S73498.1
|
||||||
876
|
Hs.79037
|
Hs.476231
|
HSPD1
|
200807_s_at
|
Mitochondrial
control of apoptosis
|
gb:NM_002156.1
/DEF=Homo sapiens heat shock
60kD
protein 1 (chaperonin) (HSPD1); mRNA.
/FEA=mRNA
/GEN=HSPD1 /PROD=heat shock 60kD
protein
1 (chaperonin) /DB_XREF=gi:4504520
/UG=Hs.79037
heat shock 60kD protein 1 (chaperonin)
/FL=gb:BC002676.1
gb:BC003030.1 gb:M34664.1 gb:M22382.1 gb:NM_002156.1
|
||||||
1961
|
|
Hs.75432
|
IMPDH2
|
000000_x_xx
|
xx
xxxx xxxxxxx nucleotide biosynthesis
|
gb:NM_000884.1
/DEF=Homo sapiens IMP (inosine
monophosphate)
dehydrogenase 2 (IMPDH2); mRNA. /FEA=mRNA /GEN=IMPDH2
/PROD=IMP
(inosine
monophosphate) dehydrogenase 2
/DB_XREF=gi:4504688
/UG=Hs.75432 IMP (inosine
monophosphate)
dehydrogenase 2 /FL=gb:J04208.1
gb:NM_000884.1
|
Exhibit B
- 1
Exhibit
C
FDA Submission
Plan
Feasibility & Validation
Studies
I. Costs and Performance Site
for Phase 1 and 2:
Abbott
and HDC agree to have the experimental testing of Phase 1 and 2 performed at *,
with *, as the principal investigator. HDC already has a experimental
testing agreement in place with * that will cover the performance of Phase 1 and
2. HDC warrants that it has the right under the agreement with * to
transfer the data resulting from Phase 1 and 2 testing to Abbott and that Abbott
has the royalty-free right to use the data in any regulatory
submission. Abbott shall be responsible for payment to HDC of *’s
actual costs for performance of the Phase 1 and 2 experimental testing, up to a
maximum of One-Hundred-Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00). HDC shall be
responsible for payment to * of all costs in excess of the One-Hundred-Thousand
Dollars ($100,000.00). Abbott shall make the payments to HDC within
thirty (30) days of receipt of invoice from HDC, and HDC shall make the payment
to * for any excess costs within thirty (30) days of receipt of notice from
Abbott.
II. Phase
1 (expected duration 1.5 months): Develop an assay for the 4-gene
prostate cancer test in prostate cancer cells present in urine.
The
objective of this phase of the study is to develop the HDC 4-gene expression
assay in urine. The assay may be done in up to four separate RT-PCR reactions or
in one or more multiplex groupings. The urine sediment containing the
tumor cells, obtained after centrifugation, will be extracted to obtain
mRNA. Primers and probes for real time, RT-PCR assays will be
developed by HDC for the 4 genes of interest and for 5 potential candidates to
serve as the reference (housekeeping) genes. While the B2M was the
most stable gene in the preliminary studies, a re-evaluation of all five gene
candidates will be required. One or more may be selected as the
reference gene(s) for the 4-gene assay. In this first phase of the
study, prostate cancer cells obtained from tissue culture will be used, and
preparations of tissue culture cells will be spiked into urine containing RNAse
enzyme inhibitors.
The
collection of patient urine, serum and tissue specimens for both Phase 1 and 2
will be initiated and the specimens properly stored beginning immediately upon
IRB approval. This will allow specimen collection to be completed in advance of
the start of Phase 2.
Exhibit C
- 1
Phase 1
Feasibility Results Completion Standard:
The
successful completion of Phase I will be the demonstration of “Feasibility” for
the assay, and will be determined by Abbott in its sole
discretion. Feasibility will be demonstrated by showing an ability of
the assay to identify prostate cancer as present based on an elevated expression
of the genes of interest in prostate cells in urine specimens compared to the
background expression levels of the normal epithelial cells, using a cut-off
that will have *% sensitivity and *% specificity.
III.
Phase 2 (expected duration 2 months): Assess the utility of the
4-gene urine test for prostate cancer detection.
The
objective of the Phase 2 validation study is to determine if the assay can
detect cancer cells in urine from patients with prostate cancer with a high
degree of sensitivity. Urine samples obtained from * patients with
prostate cancer will be tested. The testing will be done on urine samples
obtained pre and post prostatectomy. Greater than or equal to *%
sensitivity on pre-op specimens is expected, with all urine positive patients
becoming negative when tested one month post-prostatectomy.
A control
group of * non-prostate cancer subjects will be tested in a similar fashion on
two specimens collected one month apart. One control group of *
subjects will be less than 30 years old and have a serum PSA value less than 1.0
ng/mL and the second control group will have serum PSA value greater than 2.5
ng/mL and less than 10ng/mL and will have had one previous negative
biopsy. The HDC 4-gene test developed in Phase 1 will be performed on
these patients before the second biopsy is performed. The result of the HDC
4-gene test will then be compared to the result of the second biopsy. Control
subjects with low PSA are likely to have no prostatic enlargement, while
subjects with PSA values greater than 2.5 ng/mL will likely have some degree of
prostatic enlargement (BPH). All of the subjects in the control group
with a PSA value less than 1ng/mL are expected to have negative results for the
urine gene test. Greater than or equal to *% specificity is expected. Serum PSA
testing will be performed on all subjects at each time of a urine
collection.
For the *
cancer subjects, the Xxxxxxx Score will be determined and the total tumor volume
obtained from the prostatectomy tissue will be measured. The urine
HDC 4-gene score for low grade (Xxxxxxx Score), low volume subjects as well as
those with high grade, high volume cancers will be compared.
In
addition, in the * cancer subjects, cancer cells from the formalin fixed tissue
slide will be obtained by micro dissection after being carefully identified by
the pathologist, and the assay tissue score will be compared with the respective
assay urine score.
Exhibit C
- 2
Phase 2 Results Completion
Standard:
The
successful completion of Phase 2 will be determined by Abbott in its sole
discretion, and will be: (i) the demonstration of performance for the assay of
sensitivity greater than or equal to *% and specificity greater than or equal to
*%, and (ii) demonstration of informative test results for informative urine
specimens collected without DRE (success rate) based on sufficient quantity of
tumor mRNA for evaluation of greater than or equal to *%. Specificity
will be reported against normal and BPH subjects.
IV.
Phase 3 and 4 studies (below) will be initiated only upon the review and acceptance of Phase 1
& 2 as meeting the Result Completion Standards.
Costs and Performance Site
for Phase 3 and 4:
Abbott at
its sole discretion shall select the institution to perform the Phase 3 and 4
testing. Abbott shall be responsible for negotiating and signing the
test performance agreement with the institution selected. Abbott
shall be responsible for the costs of the selected institution for the
performance of Phase 3 and 4.
V.
Phase 3 (expected duration 1 month): Determine if DRE performed prior to
collection of urine specimens will increase the sensitivity of prostate cancer
detection.
The
effect of the digital rectal examination to enhance the detection rate will be
assessed using urine samples collected from * prostate cancer patients and *
non-cancer patients. This data will determine if a random urine
collection will give a 4-gene test result that is equivalent to a post-DRE
sample.
Phase
3 Results Completion Standard:
Demonstrate
a preferred method of urine specimen collection with a success rate (%
informative) of greater than or equal to the success rate reported for
competitor’s assays (PCA3, *%)
Phase
4 (expected duration 4 Months): Specificity and Assay Optimization
Studies
The
optimal reaction conditions for the urine assay will be developed, and detection
limits and the inter and intra precision for assay will be
established.
Exhibit C
- 3
Stability
of the mRNA in urine tumor cells under various storage conditions, i.e. * and *
will be determined and optimal urine collection and storage conditions will be
defined.
With the
optimized assay, a preliminary assessment or test specificity of the 4-gene
urine test will be accomplished by a) assessing the interference of leukocytes
in urine as a result of inflammation or by blood contamination of the urine
sample by spiking negative and positive urine samples with leukocytes and b)
assessing the tissue specificity of the assay by a survey of urine samples from
* patients with cancer types that could interfere with the assay, such
as bladder, kidney and others.
The mRNA
or c-DNA from the phase 1-4 validation studies will be stored at -70 degrees C
for future use in validating any new RT-PCR platform which might be used in an
FDA clearance study.
With the
optimized assay, detection of tumors with a range of Xxxxxxx scores, stages, and
various patient characteristics (age, ethnic characteristic) will be
evaluated.
Phase 4 Results Completion
Standard:
1) The
test should demonstrate no cross-reactivity with cancer types that could
interfere with the assay, such as bladder, kidney and others.
2) The
test should demonstrate reproducible performance under specimen storage/shipping
conditions compatible with standard laboratory workflow.
3) The
test should demonstrate utility in a range of patient populations and tumor
characteristics (grade, stage) with a sensitivity and specificity each greater
than or equal to *%.
FDA Submission
Study
To be
developed and performed by Abbott after successful completion of the Phase 1
through 4 Studies above.
Exhibit C
- 4
Exhibit
D
Co-Exclusive
Licensees
HDC has
granted or intends to grant to the following companies co-exclusive licenses in
the indicated Territories and Fields to perform, use, market and sell Laboratory
Developed Tests based on the Licensed Prostate Markers:
Quest
Diagnostics, Inc. (Madison, NJ):
Territory: United
States of America, its territories and possessions.
|
|
Field: Laboratory
Developed Tests in urine
|
Clarient,
Inc.(Aliso Viejo, CA):
Territory: Worldwide
|
|
Field: Laboratory
Developed Tests in biopsied prostate
tissue
|
Exhibit D
- 1
Exhibit
E
Alternative Dispute
Resolution
The
parties recognize that bona fide disputes as to certain matters may arise from
time to time during the term of this Agreement which relate to either party’s
rights and/or obligations. To have such a dispute resolved by this
Alternative Dispute Resolution (”ADR") provision, a
party first must send written notice of the dispute to the other party for
attempted resolution by good faith negotiations between their respective
presidents (or their designees) of the affected subsidiaries, divisions, or
business units within twenty-eight (28) days after such notice is received (all
references to "days" in this ADR provision are to calendar days).
If the
matter has not been resolved within twenty-eight (28) days of the notice of
dispute, or if the parties fail to meet within such twenty-eight (28) days,
either party may initiate an ADR proceeding as provided herein. The
parties shall have the right to be represented by counsel in such a
proceeding.
1.
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To
begin an ADR proceeding, a party shall provide written notice to the other
party of the issues to be resolved by ADR. Within fourteen (14)
days after its receipt of such notice, the other party may, by written
notice to the party initiating the ADR, add additional issues to be
resolved within the same ADR.
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2.
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Within
twenty-one (21) days following receipt of the original ADR notice, the
parties shall select a mutually acceptable neutral to preside in the
resolution of any disputes in this ADR proceeding. If the
parties are unable to agree on a mutually acceptable neutral within such
period, either party may request the President of the CPR Institute for
Dispute Resolution (”CPR"), 000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, to select
a neutral pursuant to the following
procedures:
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(a) The
CPR shall submit to the parties a list of not less than five (5) candidates
within fourteen (14) days after receipt of the request, along with a Curriculum Vitae for each
candidate. No candidate shall be an employee, director or shareholder
of either party or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates.
(b) Such
list shall include a statement of disclosure by each candidate of any
circumstances likely to affect his or her impartiality.
(c) Each
party shall number the candidates in order of preference (with the number one
(1) signifying the greatest preference) and shall deliver the list to the CPR
within seven (7) days following receipt of the list of candidates. If
a party believes a conflict of interest exists regarding any of the candidates,
that party shall provide a written explanation of the conflict to the CPR along
with its list showing its order of preference for the candidates. Any
party failing to return a list of preferences on time shall be deemed to have no
order of preference.
(d) If
the parties collectively have identified fewer than three (3) candidates deemed
to have conflicts, the CPR immediately shall designate as the neutral the
candidate for whom the parties collectively have indicated the greatest
preference. If a tie should result between two candidates, the CPR
may designate either candidate. If the parties collectively have
identified three (3) or more candidates deemed to have conflicts, the CPR shall
review the explanations regarding conflicts and, in its sole discretion, may
either (i) immediately designate as the neutral the candidate for whom the
parties collectively have indicated the greatest preference, or (ii) issue a new
list of not less than five (5) candidates, in which case the procedures set
forth in subparagraphs 2(a) - 2(d) shall be repeated.
Exhibit E
- 1
3.
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No
earlier than twenty-eight (28) days or later than fifty-six (56) days
after selection, the neutral shall hold a hearing to resolve each of the
issues identified by the parties. The ADR proceeding shall take
place at a location agreed upon by the parties. If the parties
cannot agree, the neutral shall designate a location other than the
principal place of business of either party or any of their subsidiaries
or affiliates.
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4.
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At
least seven (7) days prior to the hearing, each party shall submit the
following to the other party and the
neutral:
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(a) a
copy of all exhibits on which such party intends to rely in any oral or written
presentation to the neutral;
(b) a
list of any witnesses such party intends to call at the hearing, and a short
summary of the anticipated testimony of each witness;
(c) a
proposed ruling on each issue to be resolved, together with a request for a
specific damage award or other remedy for each issue. The proposed
rulings and remedies shall not contain any recitation of the facts or any legal
arguments and shall not exceed one (1) page per issue.
(d) a
brief in support of such party’s proposed rulings and remedies, provided that
the brief shall not exceed twenty (20) pages. This page limitation
shall apply regardless of the number of issues raised in the ADR
proceeding.
Except
as expressly set forth in subparagraphs 4(a) - 4(d), no discovery shall be
required or permitted by any means, including depositions,
interrogatories, requests for admissions, or production of
documents.
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5.
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The
hearing shall be conducted on two (2) consecutive days and shall be
governed by the following rules:
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(a) Each
party shall be entitled to five (5) hours of hearing time to present its
case. The neutral shall determine whether each party has had the five
(5) hours to which it is entitled.
(b) Each
party shall be entitled, but not required, to make an opening statement, to
present regular and rebuttal testimony, documents or other evidence, to
cross-examine witnesses, and to make a closing
argument. Cross-examination of witnesses shall occur immediately
after their direct testimony, and cross-examination time shall be charged
against the party conducting the cross-examination.
Exhibit E
- 2
(c) The
party initiating the ADR shall begin the hearing and, if it chooses to make an
opening statement, shall address not only issues it raised but also any issues
raised by the responding party. The responding party, if it chooses
to make an opening statement, also shall address all issues raised in the
ADR. Thereafter, the presentation of regular and rebuttal testimony
and documents, other evidence, and closing arguments shall proceed in the same
sequence.
(d) Except
when testifying, witnesses shall be excluded from the hearing until closing
arguments.
(e)
Settlement
negotiations, including any statements made therein, shall not be admissible
under any circumstances. Affidavits prepared for purposes of the ADR
hearing also shall not be admissible. As to all other matters, the
neutral shall have sole discretion regarding the admissibility of any
evidence.
6.
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Within
seven (7) days following completion of the hearing, each party may submit
to the other party and the neutral a post-hearing brief in support of its
proposed rulings and remedies, provided that such brief shall not contain
or discuss any new evidence and shall not exceed ten (10)
pages. This page limitation shall apply regardless of the
number of issues raised in the ADR proceeding.
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7.
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The
neutral shall rule on each disputed issue within fourteen (14) days
following completion of the hearing. Such ruling shall adopt in
its entirety the proposed ruling and remedy of one of the parties on each
disputed issue but may adopt one party’s proposed rulings and remedies on
some issues and the other party’s proposed rulings and remedies on other
issues. The neutral shall not issue any written opinion or
otherwise explain the basis of the ruling.
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8.
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The
neutral shall be paid a reasonable fee plus expenses. These
fees and expenses, along with the reasonable legal fees and expenses of
the prevailing party (including all expert witness fees and expenses), the
fees and expenses of a court reporter, and any expenses for a hearing
room, shall be paid as follows:
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(a) If
the neutral rules in favor of one party on all disputed issues in the ADR, the
losing party shall pay 100% of such fees and expenses.
(b) If
the neutral rules in favor of one party on some issues and the other party on
other issues, the neutral shall issue with the rulings a written determination
as to how such fees and expenses shall be allocated between the
parties. The neutral shall allocate fees and expenses in a way that
bears a reasonable relationship to the outcome of the ADR, with the party
prevailing on more issues, or on issues of greater value or gravity, recovering
a relatively larger share of its legal fees and expenses.
Exhibit E
- 3
9.
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The
rulings of the neutral and the allocation of fees and expenses shall be
binding, non-reviewable, and non-appealable, and may be entered as a final
judgment in any court having jurisdiction.
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10.
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Except
as provided in paragraph 9 or as required by law, the existence of the
dispute, any settlement negotiations, the ADR hearing, any submissions
(including exhibits, testimony, proposed rulings, and briefs), and the
rulings shall be deemed Confidential Information. The neutral
shall have the authority to impose sanctions for unauthorized disclosure
of Confidential Information.
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11.
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All
disputes referred to ADR, the statute of limitations, and the remedies for
any wrong that may be found, shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Illinois.
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12.
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The
neutral may not award punitive damages. The parties hereby
waive the right to punitive damages.
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13.
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The
hearings shall be conducted in the English
language.
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Exhibit E - 4