Collaboration, License, and Other Agreements |
4. Collaboration, License and Other Agreements The Company has linaclotide collaboration agreements with AbbVie for North America and AstraZeneca for China (including Hong Kong and Macau), as well as linaclotide license agreements with Astellas for Japan and with AbbVie for the AbbVie License Territory. The following table provides amounts included in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of income (loss) as collaborative arrangements revenue attributable to transactions from these and other agreements (in thousands): | | | | | | | | | Three Months Ended | | | March 31, | Collaborative Arrangements Revenue | | 2024 | | 2023 | Linaclotide Collaboration and License Agreements: | | | | | | | AbbVie (North America) | | $ | 72,455 | | $ | 102,336 | AbbVie (Europe and other) | | | 706 | | | 663 | AstraZeneca (China, including Hong Kong and Macau) | | | 121 | | | 91 | Astellas (Japan) | | | 368 | | | 391 | Other Agreements: | | | | | | | Asahi Kasei Pharma (apraglutide) | | | 711 | | | — | Other | | | 516 | | | 580 | Total collaborative arrangements revenue | | $ | 74,877 | | $ | 104,061 |
Accounts receivable, net, included $72.0 million and $129.1 million primarily related to collaborative arrangements revenue as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. Accounts receivable, net, included $70.9 million and $112.6 million due from the Company’s partner, AbbVie, net of $3.6 million and $4.3 million of accounts payable, as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The Company routinely assesses the creditworthiness of its license and collaboration partners. The Company did not experience any material losses related to receivables from its license or collaboration partners during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. Linaclotide Agreements Collaboration Agreement for North America with AbbVie In September 2007, the Company entered into a collaboration agreement with AbbVie to develop and commercialize linaclotide for the treatment of IBS-C, CIC, and other GI conditions in North America. Under the terms of this collaboration agreement, the Company received an upfront licensing fee, equity investment, and development and regulatory milestones, and shares equally with AbbVie all development costs as well as net profits or losses from the development and sale of linaclotide in the U.S. In addition, the Company receives royalties in the mid-teens percent based on net sales in Canada and Mexico. AbbVie is solely responsible for the further development, regulatory approval and commercialization of linaclotide in those countries and funding any costs. During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company incurred $1.5 million and $1.3 million, respectively, in total research and development expenses under the linaclotide collaboration for North America. As a result of the research and development cost-sharing provisions of the linaclotide collaboration for North America, the Company incurred $2.3 million and $3.0 million in incremental research and development costs during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, to reflect the obligations of each party under the collaboration to bear 50% of the development costs incurred. The Company and AbbVie began commercializing LINZESS in the U.S. in December 2012. The Company receives 50% of the net profits and bears 50% of the net losses from the commercial sale of LINZESS in the U.S. Net profits or net losses consist of net sales of LINZESS to third-party customers and sublicense income in the U.S. less the cost of goods sold as well as selling, general and administrative expenses. LINZESS net sales are calculated and recorded by AbbVie and may include gross sales net of discounts, rebates, allowances, sales taxes, freight and insurance charges, and other applicable deductions. The Company evaluated its linaclotide collaboration arrangement for North America and concluded that all development-period performance obligations had been satisfied as of September 2012. The Company has determined that there are three remaining commercial-period performance obligations, which include the sales detailing of LINZESS, participation in the joint commercialization committee, and approved additional trials. The consideration remaining includes cost reimbursements in the U.S. and net profit and loss sharing payments based on net sales in the U.S. Additionally, the Company receives royalties in the mid-teens percent based on net sales in Canada and Mexico. Royalties and net profit and loss sharing payments will be recorded as collaborative arrangements revenue or expense in the period earned, as these payments relate predominately to the license granted to AbbVie. The Company records royalty revenue in the period earned based on royalty reports from its partner, if available, or based on the projected sales and historical trends. The cost reimbursements received from AbbVie during the commercialization period will be recognized as earned in accordance with the right-to-invoice practical expedient, as the Company’s right to consideration corresponds directly with the value of the services transferred during the commercialization period. Under the Company’s linaclotide collaboration agreement for North America, LINZESS net sales are calculated and recorded by AbbVie and include gross sales net of discounts, rebates, allowances, sales taxes, freight and insurance charges, and other applicable deductions, as noted above. These amounts include the use of estimates and judgments, which could be adjusted based on actual results in the future. The Company records its share of the net profits or net losses from the sales of LINZESS in the U.S. less commercial expenses on a net basis, and presents the settlement payments to and from AbbVie as collaboration expense or collaborative arrangements revenue, as applicable. This treatment is in accordance with the Company’s revenue recognition policy, given that the Company is not the primary obligor and does not have the inventory risks in the collaboration agreement with AbbVie for North America. The Company relies on AbbVie to provide accurate and complete information related to net sales of LINZESS in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles in order to calculate its settlement payments to and from AbbVie and record collaboration expense or collaborative arrangements revenue, as applicable. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company recognized a $38.0 million reduction to collaboration revenue, inclusive of a $30.0 million reduction related to information provided by AbbVie subsequent to the quarterly collaboration accounting settlement process, as a result of changes in estimates of sales reserves and allowances associated with governmental and contractual rebates. Excluding the changes in estimates, net income per share – basic and net income per share – diluted for the three months ended March 31, 2024 would have been $0.14 and $0.12, respectively. The following table summarizes collaborative arrangements revenue from the linaclotide collaboration agreement for North America (in thousands): | | | | | | | | | Three Months Ended | | | March 31, | | | 2024 | | 2023 | Collaborative arrangements revenue related to sales of LINZESS in the U.S. | | $ | 71,715 | | $ | 101,636 | Royalty revenue | | | 740 | | | 700 | Total collaborative arrangements revenue | | $ | 72,455 | | $ | 102,336 |
The Company incurred $10.2 million and $9.7 million in total selling, general and administrative costs related to the sale of LINZESS in the U.S. in accordance with the cost-sharing arrangement with AbbVie for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. In May 2014, CONSTELLA® became commercially available in Canada and, in June 2014, LINZESS became commercially available in Mexico. The Company records royalties on sales of CONSTELLA in Canada and LINZESS in Mexico in the period earned. The Company recognized $0.7 million of combined royalty revenues from Canada and Mexico during each of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. License Agreement with AbbVie (All countries other than the countries and territories of North America, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), and Japan) The Company has a license agreement with AbbVie to develop, manufacture and commercialize linaclotide in (i) Europe, and (ii) all other countries other than China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Japan, and the countries and territories of North America, or collectively the “Expanded Territory”, for the treatment of IBS-C, CIC and other GI conditions. Under the license agreement, as amended, AbbVie is obligated to pay the Company, (i) royalties based on sales volume in Europe in the upper-teens percent, and (ii) on a country-by-country and product-by-product basis in the Expanded Territory, a royalty as a percentage of net sales of products containing linaclotide as an active ingredient in the upper-single digits for five years following the first commercial sale of a linaclotide product in a country, and in the low-double digits thereafter. The royalty rate for products in Europe and the Expanded Territory will decrease, on a country-by-country basis, to the lower-single digits, or cease entirely, following the occurrence of certain events. The license agreement also contains certain sales-based milestones and commercial launch milestones, which could total up to $42.5 million. The Company recognized $0.7 million of royalty revenue during each of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. License Agreement for Japan with Astellas The Company has a license agreement with Astellas to develop, manufacture, and commercialize linaclotide for the treatment of IBS-C, CIC and other GI conditions in Japan. Under the license agreement, as amended, Astellas is required to pay royalties to the Company at rates beginning in the mid-single digit percent and escalating to low-double-digit percent, based on aggregate annual net sales in Japan of products containing linaclotide as an active ingredient. These royalty payments are subject to reduction following the expiration of certain licensed patents and the occurrence of generic competition in Japan. The Company recognized $0.4 million of royalty revenue during each of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. Collaboration Agreement for China (including Hong Kong and Macau) with AstraZeneca The Company has a collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca under which AstraZeneca has the exclusive right to develop, manufacture and commercialize products containing linaclotide in the AstraZeneca License Territory. Under the collaboration agreement, AstraZeneca is required to pay tiered royalties to the Company at rates beginning in the mid-single-digit percent and increasing up to twenty percent based on the aggregate annual net sales of products containing linaclotide in the AstraZeneca License Territory. In addition, AstraZeneca may be required to make milestone payments totaling up to $90.0 million contingent on the achievement of certain sales targets. The Company recognized an insignificant amount of royalty revenue during each of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. At December 31, 2023, the Company had accounts receivable in the amount of $15.0 million related to the third and final installment of a non-contingent receivable due from AstraZeneca in connection with an amendment to the collaboration agreement executed during 2019. The non-contingent receivable was collected in full during the three months ended March 31, 2024. Apraglutide Agreements Development and Commercialization Agreement with AKP In March 2022, VectivBio entered into a development and commercialization agreement with Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation (“AKP”) in which VectivBio granted an exclusive license to AKP, with the right to sublicense in multiple tiers, to develop, commercialize and exploit products derived from apraglutide in Japan. Pursuant to the terms of the development and commercialization agreement with AKP, VectivBio received an upfront payment of JPY 3,000 million ($24.6 million at date of agreement) and development related payments of JPY 1,600 million in the aggregate ($13.1 million at date of agreement) and is eligible to receive development milestones of JPY 1,000 million ($8.2 million at date of agreement) and up to JPY 19,000 million ($155.8 million at date of agreement) of commercial and sales-based milestone payments. VectivBio is also eligible to receive payments in the commercial period for manufacturing supply equal to cost-plus manufacturing mark-up and tiered royalties of up to a mid-double-digit percentage on product sales continuing until the later of (i) expiration of regulatory exclusivity in Japan, or (ii) expiration of the last valid patent claim that provides exclusivity to apraglutide in Japan (the “Royalty Term”). The development and commercialization agreement will terminate upon the expiration of the Royalty Term. The Company identified two performance obligations consisting of the (i) exclusive license for the development and commercialization of apraglutide in Japan and (ii) development activities for conducting global trials and sharing of associated development data necessary for obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval in Japan. Each performance obligation was capable of being distinct and distinct in the context of the contract. The initial transaction price was allocated to each performance obligation on a relative standalone selling price basis. The Company assessed that it provided a right to use the license as the license exists (in terms of form and functionality) at the point in time at which it is granted and therefore, was satisfied at the inception of the arrangement. The development activities are being recognized over time as the Company performs development activities related to the global trials. The Company recognizes revenue associated with the development activities using an input method, according to the costs incurred, which in management’s judgment, is the best measure of progress towards satisfying the performance obligation. Under the sales-or-usage-based royalty exception, revenue related to sales-based milestone payments and royalty payments will be recognized as the underlying sales occur. Prior to the VectivBio Acquisition, VectivBio had received the upfront payment of JPY 3,000 million ($24.6 million at date of agreement), development-related payments of JPY 1,100 million ($9.0 million at date of agreement), and development milestones of JPY 500 million ($4.1 million at date of agreement). Upon the acquisition of VectivBio on June 29, 2023, the Company assumed a contract liability for deferred revenue related to the development-related payments at its fair value of $4.3 million. The Company recognized $0.7 million of revenue related to development activities during the three months ended March 31, 2024. As of March 31, 2024, deferred revenue of $1.7 million is reported within accrued expenses and other current liabilities (Note 7) on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Deferred revenue and future payments received related to development activities are expected to be recognized over the course of the development activities, which are expected to occur through 2028. License Agreement with Ferring In August 2012, as subsequently amended and restated in December 2016, GlyPharma entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Ferring International Center, S.A. (“Ferring”), pursuant to which Ferring granted GlyPharma an exclusive, worldwide, sublicensable license under certain patent rights and know-how controlled by Ferring relating to apraglutide and certain know-how controlled by Ferring relating to specified alternate drug compounds, to research, develop, manufacture, make, have made, import, export, use, sell, distribute, promote, advertise, dispose of or offer to sell (i) products containing apraglutide whose manufacture, use or sale is covered by a valid claim of the licensed patents, or licensed products and (ii) products, containing a specified alternate drug compound, or alternate drug products. In April 2021, the license agreement was transferred and assigned to VectivBio AG, a subsidiary of VectivBio. Under the license agreement, as partial consideration for the rights Ferring granted to it, VectivBio AG is required to pay Ferring a high single-digit percentage royalty on worldwide annual net sales of licensed products and alternate drug products until, on a country-by-country basis and licensed product-by-licensed product or alternate drug product-by-alternate drug product basis, as applicable, the date on which the manufacture, use or sale of such licensed product or alternate drug product, as applicable, ceases to be covered by a valid claim of a patent within the licensed patents in such a country. GlyPharma was also required to issue Ferring a certain number of warrants and Class A preferred shares pursuant to a shareholders’ agreement. The equity obligations under the license agreement have been fully performed by GlyPharma. The Company is also obligated to pay Ferring a specified percentage of the annual consideration VectivBio AG or its affiliates, including the Company, received in connection with sales of licensed product or alternate drug product by any third parties to which VectivBio AG or its affiliates, including the Company, grant a sublicense of any of the rights licensed to VectivBio AG by Ferring under this license agreement. Such percentage is in the high single digits for sales of both licensed products and alternate drug products, and such payments are owed for the duration of the royalty term for licensed products or alternate drug products, as applicable. Other Collaboration and License Agreements Collaboration and License Option Agreement with COUR In November 2021, the Company entered into the COUR Collaboration Agreement, pursuant to which the Company has been granted an option (the “Option”) to acquire an exclusive license to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize, in the U.S., products containing CNP-104, a tolerizing immune modifying nanoparticle (“CNP-104”) for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis (“PBC”). COUR has initiated a clinical study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacodynamic effects and efficacy of CNP-104 in PBC patients. Pursuant to the terms of the COUR Collaboration Agreement, the Company made an upfront, non-refundable payment of $6.0 million to COUR during the year ended December 31, 2021, and agreed to pay $13.5 million in non-contingent payments and milestone payments in connection with certain development activities and regulatory milestones. After reviewing the data from the clinical study for CNP-104, if the Company exercises the Option, the Company will pay COUR $35.0 million in exchange for the license, subject to the Company’s right to apply a credit against such payment as described below. Upon commercialization, COUR will be eligible to receive commercial milestone payments of up to $440.0 million over the term of the agreement and royalties in the high-single digits to low-double digits percentage of the aggregated annual net sales in the U.S. of products containing CNP-104. In April 2023, the Company and COUR executed an amendment to the COUR Collaboration Agreement, in which the Company agreed to pay a one-time, non-refundable, upfront payment of $6.0 million to COUR in exchange for the right to apply a credit of $6.6 million against future amounts due to COUR in connection with the exercise of the Option, commercial milestones, or royalties. In connection with such payment, COUR also granted the Company a right of first negotiation over certain additional potential research and development programs. The $6.0 million payment was recognized as research and development expense in the second quarter of 2023.
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