Exhibit 10.1
Execution
Copy
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED
UNDER 17 C.F.R. §§ 200.80(b)4, AND
240.24b-2
AMENDED AND
RESTATED
STRATEGIC COLLABORATION
AND
LICENSE AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Strategic
Collaboration and License Agreement (the “Agreement”)
is executed this April 28, 2009 (the “Restatement
Date”), between ISIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a Delaware
corporation having an address at 1896 Rutherford Road, Carlsbad, CA
92008 (“Isis”) and ALNYLAM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a
Delaware corporation having an address at 300 Third Street,
Cambridge, Cambridge, MA 02142 (together with its wholly owned
subsidiaries Alnylam U.S., Inc., a Delaware corporation, and
Alnylam Europe AG, a company organized under the laws of Germany,
“Alnylam”). Isis and Alnylam may be referred to
herein as the “Parties,” or each individually as a
“Party.”
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Isis is the leader in RNA-based drug
discovery, has created technology, intellectual property,
expertise, facilities and resources to discover and develop
oligonucleotide drugs;
Alnylam is the leader in RNAi
therapeutics, has developed and acquired intellectual property,
expertise and technology in RNAi therapeutics, and is conducting
research, drug discovery and development focused on Double Stranded
RNA drugs;
Isis and Alnylam desire to create a
long-term strategic relationship that will enhance the positions of
both companies in RNA-based drug discovery;
Isis will continue to pursue
RNA-based drug discovery technology very broadly including all
potential mechanisms of action. Isis will work with Alnylam
as Isis’ primary means of participating in the potential
value of Double Stranded RNA Products, and will not enter into any
collaborations with Third Parties the primary purpose of which is
to discover Double Stranded RNA Products;
Alnylam will focus on RNAi
therapeutics and the use of Double Stranded RNA;
Isis and Alnylam are parties to the
Strategic Collaboration and License Agreement dated March 11,
2004 (as amended to date, the “Original Agreement”);
and
Isis and Alnylam now wish to amend
and restate the Original Agreement primarily to expand the Original
Agreement by providing each other exclusive licenses to research,
develop and commercialize Single Stranded RNAi Products for a
limited pool of gene targets, and co-exclusivity in the field of
Single Stranded RNAi Compounds.
The objectives of the strategic
relationship are to:
·
Enhance the leadership of Alnylam in
RNAi therapeutics.
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·
Enhance the potential of Alnylam to
develop Double Stranded RNA drugs.
·
Enhance the patent positions of each
Party with respect to Double Stranded RNA drugs and Single Stranded
RNAi Products.
·
Provide Isis with a means for
participating in the success of RNAi therapeutics.
·
Provide each party with exclusive
rights to research, develop and commercialize Single Stranded RNAi
Products for a limited pool of gene targets, and provide each other
co-exclusivity in the field of Single Stranded RNAi
Compounds.
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ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS; AMENDMENT AND
RESTATEMENT
1.1
Capitalized terms used herein and
not defined elsewhere herein have the meanings set forth in
Exhibit 1.1.
1.2
Effective as of the Restatement
Date, this Agreement restates and supersedes the Original Agreement
as amended through the Restatement Date. The terms and
conditions of the Original Agreement shall apply for the period
from the Effective Date until the Restatement Date unless otherwise
provided by this Agreement.
ARTICLE 2
EQUITY INVESTMENT
2.1
In connection with the Original
Agreement, Isis purchased from Alnylam 1,666,667 shares of
Series D Preferred Stock, at $6.00 per share (i.e., at an
aggregate purchase price of $10,000,002).
ARTICLE 3
MANUFACTURING SERVICES
RELATIONSHIP
3.1
[Intentionally Deleted]
ARTICLE 4
COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH EFFORTS;
PROTECTED TARGETS
4.1
Research Management
Committee .
(a)
To promote the success of the
collaboration objectives and RNAi technology, the Parties will
establish a Research Management Committee (“RMC”),
which will be comprised of equal numbers of representatives of each
of the Parties and will meet at least twice per calendar year,
alternating venues between the vicinities of Cambridge,
Massachusetts and Carlsbad, California, to share scientific
direction and data, to coordinate basic research experiments, and
to facilitate the guiding principles of the
collaboration.
(b)
Intellectual property
representatives of each Party will be invited to participate in RMC
meetings and such meetings will provide a forum to discuss patent
prosecution and enforcement issues and to allocate responsibility
for the filing and prosecution of any Joint Patents.
(c)
Through the RMC, the Parties will
update one another regarding the progress of the Research Program
(as defined below), including a summary of the work
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each Party has performed thereunder; and
regarding their respective Future Chemistry and Motif and Mechanism
Patents.
(d)
The RMC will establish a written
clearance policy that will govern any publication or presentation
by a Party in which such Party proposes to include any previously
undisclosed information or intellectual property Controlled by the
other Party.
(e)
The RMC and any subcommittees and
working groups established by the RMC will dissolve at the end of
the Research Term. Upon termination of the RMC, the Parties
will agree upon a strategy to make decisions about the items in
Sections 4.1 (b), (c), and (d).
4.2
Single Stranded RNAi
Collaboration .
Subject to Alnylam’s early termination right set forth in
Section 14.4, during the 3 year period following the
Restatement Date (the “Research Term”), the Parties
will collaborate in carrying out a research program focused on
Single Stranded RNAi Compounds (the “Research
Program”). The Parties may extend the Research Term by
mutual written agreement.
(a)
Research Plan
. The Research Program will be
carried out in accordance with a written research plan, including
without limitation the Budget (as defined below), which research
plan shall be mutually agreed upon by the Parties (the
“Research Plan”). The initial outline of the
Research Plan agreed to by the Parties as of the Restatement Date
is hereby incorporated into this Agreement by reference and is made
a part of this Agreement; provided , within [***] days of
the Restatement Date, the Parties will complete and agree in
writing on an initial Research Plan, including without limitation
an initial Budget, which is hereby incorporated into this Agreement
by reference and is made a part of this Agreement. The
purpose of the Research Plan is to detail the responsibilities and
activities of Isis and Alnylam with respect to carrying out the
Research Program. The Research Plan will include a
description of the specific activities to be performed by the
Parties in support of the Research Program, the allocation of Isis
FTEs and Alnylam FTEs to perform such activities, projected
timelines for completion of such activities, and an applicable
budget (the “Budget”). The Budget for the
Research Program must be mutually agreed by the Parties and will be
at least $3,000,000 per year during the Research Term, including
without limitation budgeted costs of Isis FTEs and Alnylam FTEs,
and external costs. Beginning in 2010, at least once
during September of each year of the Research Term, the RMC
will review the Research Plan and will amend the Research Plan, as
may be necessary, from time to time. In addition, each
Calendar Quarter the RMC will review the progress of the work under
the Research Plan, including spending against the Budget, and
recommend adjustments to the Budget as necessary to support the
Research Plan. The Research Plan, including without
limitation any Budget, may only be amended with the written
approval of the RMC. If the activities contemplated by the
Research Plan at any time do not justify the number of Isis FTEs
allocated to the Research Program, the Parties will work in good
faith to mutually agree to modify the scope of the Research Plan or
adjust the number of Alnylam funded FTEs and related Budget;
provided that the minimum Budget for the Research Plan shall
be as set forth in this Section 4.2(a). For clarity,
Alnylam shall not be required to agree to any Budget which exceeds
$3,000,000 per year.
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(b)
Research Staffing
. Subject to Alnylam’s
obligations under Section 4.2(c), the Research Plan will
provide for (and Isis will supply) a minimum of [***] Isis FTEs per
year during the initial two-year period of the Research Term to
perform activities in support of the Research Program and a minimum
of [***] Isis FTEs during the third year of the Research
Program. Each Party will supply the number of FTEs the
Research Plan specifies that such Party will supply, and will
conduct the Research Program diligently and in good scientific
manner, and in compliance with all applicable good laboratory
practices, and applicable legal requirements, to attempt to achieve
efficiently and expeditiously the objectives of the Research
Program. Each Party will comply with all Applicable Laws, in
the performance of work under this Agreement.
(c)
Research Funding
. Alnylam will fund 100% of
the costs of conducting the Research Program in accordance with the
Research Plan (collectively, the “Research Costs”) to
the extent that such Research Costs are incurred under the Budget,
including without limitation FTEs (whether employed by Isis or
Alnylam) plus any out-of-pocket expenses specified in the Research
Plan. By [***], 2009 with respect to the second Calendar
Quarter of 2009 and thereafter within [***] Days following [***]
each Calendar Quarter, Alnylam will pay Isis [***] for the
Alnylam-funded Isis FTEs assigned to the Research Program for such
Calendar Quarter (a prorated amount shall be payable for any
portion of a Calendar Quarter). With respect to any work to
be performed in support of the Research Program during the [***]
days following the Restatement Date, if the Parties have not agreed
on an initial Research Plan, then Alnylam will make [***] payments
for such work based on [***] Isis FTEs. No later than [***] days
following the end of each Calendar Quarter, Isis will provide
Alnylam with a report of the number of FTEs actually assigned to
the Research Program with a summary of the FTEs who performed under
the Research Program (“Actual FTE Costs”) and a
reasonably detailed accounting of all other Research Costs actually
incurred by Isis during such Calendar Quarter (“Actual
External Costs”). Alnylam shall not be responsible for
any Research Costs incurred by Isis that exceed the [***] amount in
the Budget for the work specified in the Research Plan to be
conducted by Isis (“Excess Amount”), unless the RMC
approves an amendment to the Budget to include such Excess
Amount. Similarly, (i) Alnylam will promptly provide
Isis a summary of the Alnylam FTEs who performed under the Research
Program for a given Calendar Quarter and a reasonably detailed
accounting of all other Research Costs actually incurred by Alnylam
during such Calendar Quarter, and (ii) Research Costs incurred
by Alnylam that exceed the total amount in the Budget for the work
specified in the Research Plan to be conducted by Alnylam will not
reduce the amounts committed in the Budget to fund Isis’
Research Costs. In addition, upon reasonable request, each
Party shall provide the other Party with reasonable documentation
of Research Costs incurred by such Party during the Research Term
and shall grant the other Party reasonable audit rights consistent
with the terms set forth in Section 9.3 in connection with
such Research Costs.
(d)
Materials Transfer
. In order to facilitate the
Research Program, either Party may provide to the other Party
certain materials for use by the other Party in furtherance of the
Research Program. All such materials shall be used by the
receiving Party in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Agreement solely for purposes of performing its rights and
obligations under this Agreement and the Research Plan, and the
receiving Party shall not transfer such materials to any Third
Party unless expressly
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contemplated by this Agreement or the Research
Plan, or upon the written consent of the supplying
Party.
4.3
Enabled Targets for Single
Stranded RNAi.
(a)
Enabled Targets
. Each Party will have a pool
(with respect to either Party, an “Enabled Target
Pool”; with respect to Isis, the “Isis Enabled Target
Pool”; and, with respect to Alnylam, the “Alnylam
Enabled Target Pool”) each containing [***] [***] slots for
which such Party can designate certain Gene Targets against which
such Party intends to research, develop and commercialize a
Single-Stranded RNAi Product (each such slot, an “Enabled
Target Slot” and any Gene Target occupying such a slot, an
“Enabled Target”); provided, however , that,
each time a Party (the “Advancing Party”) designates as
a Development Candidate a Single Stranded RNAi Product Designed for
one of such Advancing Party’s Enabled Targets, then
(i) such Enabled Target will be considered to have graduated
from the Advancing Party’s Enabled Target Pool (a
“Graduated Enabled Target”), (ii) the Advancing
Party will be permitted to designate a new Enabled Target to fill
the open Enabled Target Slot in the Advancing Party’s Enabled
Target Pool, and (iii) so long as the Advancing Party
continues to maintain an Active Program for the applicable Single
Stranded RNAi Product Designed for the Graduated Enabled Target,
such Graduated Enabled Target will remain an Enabled Target of such
Advancing Party hereunder. For purposes of clarity, except as
set forth in Sections 5.1(g)(i), 5.1(h)(i), 5.5, 6.6,
6.1(h)(i) and 6.1(i)(i), as applicable, neither Party may
research, develop or commercialize a Single Stranded RNAi Product
other than a Single Stranded RNAi Product Designed for one of such
Party’s Enabled Targets.
(b)
Designating Enabled
Targets . Within
thirty (30) days following completion of [***] , the Parties
will begin the process set forth below for selecting Enabled
Targets for inclusion in each Party’s Enabled Target
Pool. For clarity, at no time may either Party designate a
Gene Target which is in the other Party’s Enabled Target
Pool. Except as set forth in Section 4.3(e) below,
the Parties will designate Enabled Targets by taking alternating
turns (each Party’s designation of a new Gene Target (a
“Pick”) or affirmative election not to designate an
Enabled Target (a “Pass”) shall be considered a
“Turn”; and each round in which Isis and Alnylam have
each Picked or Passed once shall be considered a
“Round”) in one or more Rounds, as necessary. For
each Turn, a Party shall either Pick or Pass within five
(5) Business Days (it being understood that if a Party does
not provide affirmative notice of a Pick or Pass within such five
(5) Business Day-period, then such Party shall be deemed to
have “Passed” in such Turn). The Parties will
complete Rounds until the Parties have either (i) both filled
all of their respective Enabled Target Slots, or (ii) both
elected to Pass in the same Round, thereby completing a Round (such
point being the end of a “Selection Session”, which
Selection Session includes all of the Rounds completed since the
end of the last Selection Session (or, in the case of the first
Selection Session, all prior Rounds)). For purposes of
clarity, either Party may, prior to Picking or Passing in such
Party’s Turn in any ongoing Round, remove any existing Gene
Target(s) on its Enabled Target List in accordance with
Section 4.3(d) and use its Pick in such Turn to Pick a
different Gene Target as an Enabled Target on its Enabled Target
List, subject to the [***] Enabled Target Slot limitation.
Either Party may initiate a new Selection Session at any time by
providing written notice to the other Party (such new Selection
Session to begin on the
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first Business Day following the 30
th day following such notice). For each
new Selection Session, the Party who gets to take the first Turn in
the First Round will be determined in accordance with
Section 4.3(c) below.
(c)
Determining First Turn
. Alnylam will take the first
Turn in the first Round of the first Selection Session.
Thereafter:
(i)
If, immediately prior to the start
of a Selection Session, one Party (the “Lopsided
Party”) has fewer Enabled Targets in its Enabled Target Pool
than the number of Enabled Targets the other Party has in such
other Party’s Enabled Target Pool, then the Lopsided Party
will take the first Turn in the First Round. In such event
(1) in each Turn the Lopsided Party makes a [***] that is not
a [***] the other Party [***] until both Parties have an [***] in
their respective Enabled Target Pools (and then subsequent Rounds
in the Selection Session will continue in accordance with
Section 4.3(c)(iii) below with the other Party getting
the first Pick in the first such subsequent Round); and (2) if
the Lopsided Party [***] or [***] in a Turn, the other Party may
Pick or Pass (and then any subsequent Rounds in the Selection
Session will continue in accordance with
Section 4.3(c)(iii) below).
(ii)
If there is no Lopsided Party
immediately prior to the start of a Selection Session, then the
Party who was not the last Party to Pass in the prior
Selection Session shall be the first Party to take the first Turn
in the first Round of such new Selection Session (and then any
subsequent Rounds in the Selection Session will continue in
accordance with Section 4.3(c)(iii) below).
(iii)
For any subsequent Rounds in a
Selection Session, the Party who was not the first Party to
take a Turn in the most previous Round will have the first Turn in
the next Round.
(iv)
The Parties have attached as
Exhibit 4.3(c)(iv) examples of how the Parties intend
this Section 4.3(c) to operate.
(d)
Removing Enabled
Targets . From time
to time after the Restatement Date (except during the 30-day period
immediately preceding a Selection Session or when a Lopsided Party
is taking Turns under Section 4.3(c)(i)), each Party may
remove a Gene Target from its Enabled Target Pool upon written
notice to the other Party (which removal will create an open
Enabled Target Slot). In addition, on an Enabled
Target-by-Enabled Target basis, if the applicable Party has not
designated a Development Candidate comprising a Single Stranded
RNAi Product Designed for the applicable Enabled Target before the
[***]year anniversary of the date such Party added the applicable
Enabled Target to such Party’s Enabled Target Pool, then such
Gene Target will be automatically removed from such Party’s
Enabled Target Pool. Once a Party removes a Gene Target from
its Enabled Target Pool (whether voluntarily or by operation of
this Section 4.3(d)), such Gene Target shall no longer be
deemed an Enabled Target hereunder and the removing Party will be
prevented from later adding such Gene Target to its Enabled Target
Pool until [***] months have passed from the date such Gene Target
was removed.
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(e)
Isis Protected Targets
. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Alnylam may not designate as one of Alnylam’s
Enabled Targets any of the Gene Targets identified as an Isis
Protected Target in the letter Isis issued to Alnylam on the
Restatement Date (collectively, the “Isis Protected
Targets”).
(i)
With respect to any Isis Protected
Target Isis identified as an Isis Protected Target on the
Restatement Date due to a contractual restriction that prevents or
otherwise restricts Isis’ ability to grant a license to
Alnylam under Sections 5.1(g) and 5.1(h) (each an
“Isis Partnered Excluded Target”), (1) Isis shall
list in the above-reference letter such Isis Partnered Excluded
Targets separately such that they are clearly distinguished from
other Isis Protected Targets, (2) Isis shall diligently
enforce the relevant terms governing Isis’ rights to clear
any contractual restrictions on such Isis Partnered Excluded
Target, (3) once a particular contractual restriction clears
or expires on such Isis Partnered Excluded Target, such Gene Target
will no longer be considered an Isis Protected Target, such that
Alnylam may then designate such Gene Target as one of its Enabled
Targets in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and
(4) when practical (but at least every [***] months), Isis
shall update the list of Isis Protected Targets to remove Gene
Targets that are no longer Isis Partnered Excluded
Targets.
(ii)
For purposes of clarity, except as
permitted under Sections 6.1(h)(i) and 6.1(i)(i), Isis may not
research, develop or commercialize a Single-Stranded RNAi Product
Designed for any Isis Protected Target unless such Isis Protected
Target is designated as an Enabled Target by Isis pursuant to
Section 4.3(b) above or the remainder of this
Section 4.3(e)(ii). Notwithstanding anything in
this Section 4.3 to the contrary, with respect to any Isis
Partnered Excluded Target for which the applicable contractual
restriction has cleared or expired (each, a “Cleared
Target”) (A) Isis shall not have the right to designate
such a Cleared Target as one of its Enabled Targets until Isis has
provided written notice to Alnylam of such clearance (as part of
the regular updates contemplated in
Section 4.3(e)(i) above or otherwise) (such notice, a
“Clearance Notice”), and (B) in the first
Selection Session following Alnylam’s Receipt of the
applicable Clearance Notice with respect to a particular Cleared
Target, Isis may not Pick such Cleared Target as one of its Enabled
Targets until and unless Alnylam has had a full Turn in such
Selection Session in which it could Pick such Cleared Target as one
of its Enabled Targets and does not elect to Pick such Cleared
Target. For example, if two Gene Targets become Cleared
Targets (and Alnylam receives a Clearance Notice related thereto)
immediately prior to the start of a Selection Session and Isis has
the first Turn, (1) Isis may not Pick either such Cleared
Target in its first Turn, (2) in Alnylam’s next Turn,
Alnylam could Pick either such Cleared Target, and (3) once
Alnylam opts to Pick a Gene Target (whether or not such Pick was
for one of the two Cleared Targets) or Pass, Isis may then pick
either of the remaining two such Cleared Targets that it was
prohibited from Picking in its previous Turn.
(f)
Confidentiality
. The fact that a Party has
designated or removed a particular Gene Target within its Enabled
Target Pool is Confidential Information of such Party, subject to
the provisions of Article 12. Neither Party shall
disclose such Confidential Information of the other Party to any
Third Party, including its Third Party collaborators, or use such
Confidential Information of the other Party to guide its own (or
its Third Party collaborators’) decisions to pursue
particular Gene Targets, but either
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Party can use such Confidential Information to
decline a Third Party’s request for a license to such Gene
Target. The Isis Protected Targets are Isis’
Confidential Information.
(g)
Review Designating
Process . The
Parties agree that on or about the three year anniversary of the
Restatement Date, if either Party deems appropriate, the Parties
will, in good faith, review the process for designating Enabled
Targets for the purposes of improving the process for the mutual
benefit of both Parties, and if necessary, amend this
Section 4.3, to effect such improvements; provided, however,
that either Party shall have the right to refuse any such changes
in its sole discretion.
ARTICLE 5
LICENSES GRANTED BY ISIS TO ALNYLAM; AND
CO-EXCLUSIVITY COVENANT
5.1
License Grants
. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the
restrictions set forth in Section 5.3, Isis grants Alnylam the
following licenses:
(a)
Under Isis Current Motif and
Mechanism Patents and Isis Current Chemistry Patents, a license to
research, develop, make, have made, use, import, offer to sell and
sell Double Stranded RNA and Double Stranded RNA
Products.
(b)
Subject to the terms of
Section 11.8, under Isis Future Motif and Mechanism Patents,
Isis Future Chemistry Patents and Isis’ rights in Joint
Patents, a license to research, develop, make, have made, use,
import, offer to sell and sell Double Stranded RNA and Double
Stranded RNA Products.
(c)
Under the Isis Current Motif and
Mechanism Patents and Isis Current Chemistry Patents, a license to
research, develop, make, have made, use, import, offer to sell and
sell MicroRNA Products.
(d)
Subject to the terms of
Section 11.8, under the Isis Future Motif and Mechanism
Patents and Isis Future Chemistry Patents, a license to research,
develop, make, have made, use, import, offer to sell and sell
MicroRNA Products.
(e)
A royalty-free, fully paid, license
to practice any Know-How disclosed to Alnylam during the
performance of this Agreement, subject to the non-disclosure but
not the non-use provisions contained in Article 12.
(f)
A fully paid, royalty-free license
under Isis Manufacturing Patents to research, develop, make, have
made, use and import Alnylam Products for Research Use.
(g)
Under the Isis Current Motif and
Mechanism Patents and Isis Current Chemistry Patents, a license to
(i) research, develop, make, have made, use and import Single
Stranded RNAi Compounds and Single Stranded RNAi Products for
Research
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Use, and (ii) research, develop, make, have
made, use, import, offer to sell and sell Alnylam Single Stranded
RNAi Products.
(h)
Subject to the terms of
Section 11.8, under Isis Future Motif and Mechanism Patents,
Isis Future Chemistry Patents and Isis’ rights in Joint
Patents, a license to (i) research, develop, make, have made,
use and import Single Stranded RNAi Compounds and Single Stranded
RNAi Products for Research Use, and (ii) research, develop,
make, have made, use, import, offer to sell and sell Alnylam Single
Stranded RNAi Products.
(i)
Under Isis’ rights in Research
Program Patents, a royalty-free license for any and all purposes,
except to research, develop, make, have made, use, import,
offer to sell or sell any (1) oligonucleotides (or chemically
modified oligonucleotide analogs) designed to work via the RNase H
1 or 2 mechanism (including any oligonucleotide which has [***]),
(2) Double Stranded RNA Products, (3) MicroRNA Products,
(4) Single Stranded RNAi Products, or (5) Isis Single
Stranded Products.
5.2
License Exclusivity, Territory
and Sublicenses .
(a)
Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, including the restrictions set forth in
Section 5.3, the licenses from Isis to Alnylam granted in
Sections 5.1(a) and (b) are worldwide and co-exclusive
(with Isis), with the exclusive right to grant Naked Sublicenses;
the licenses from Isis to Alnylam granted in Sections 5.1 (c), (d),
(e), (f), (g)(i), (h)(i) and (i) are worldwide and
nonexclusive; and the licenses from Isis to Alnylam granted in
Sections 5.1 (g)(ii) and (h)(ii) are worldwide and
exclusive. Alnylam is not permitted to grant sublicenses
under the licenses granted in Sections 5.1(a) through 5.1(e),
except that Alnylam is permitted to grant (i) sublicenses in
connection with a Bona Fide Drug Discovery Collaboration,
(ii) sublicenses in connection with a Development
Collaboration, (iii) Naked Sublicenses and
(iv) sublicenses under the license granted in
Section 5.1(e) in connection with the discovery,
development or commercialization of any product. Furthermore,
Alnylam is not permitted to grant sublicenses under the licenses
granted in Section 5.1(f). Alnylam may grant sublicenses
under Section 5.1(i), subject to Section 7.7.
(b)
Alnylam may grant sublicenses under
the licenses granted in Sections 5.1(g) and 5.1(h) only
to further the research, development or commercialization of an
Alnylam Single Stranded RNAi Product that Alnylam has performed on
its own (or with Isis under the Research Plan) and [***] at least
[***]% of the work to discover and develop the Alnylam Single
Stranded RNAi Product through the [***] [***] (or a date that is
earlier than the [***] if requested by Alnylam and approved in
writing by Isis, such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld).
(c)
Alnylam cannot sublicense its right
to grant Naked Sublicenses under this Agreement except that Alnylam
may permit its sublicensees to grant further sublicenses in
connection with a sublicense to further the research, development
or commercialization of an Alnylam Product.
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(d)
Notwithstanding the foregoing,
(i) Alnylam acknowledged and permits the license Isis granted
[***], as amended through the Restatement Date, that granted [***]
a nonexclusive license under Isis Current Motif and Mechanism
Patents and Isis Current Chemistry Patents for the manufacture and
sale of chemically modified oligonucleotides for [***] only and
(ii) Isis may continue to grant licenses to Third Parties for
the purpose of manufacturing and selling oligonucleotides;
provided that , to the extent such licenses cover
Double Stranded RNA or Single Stranded RNAi Compounds, Isis will
restrict such licenses to [***].
5.3
Limitations on
Licenses .
(a)
The licenses granted under
Section 5.1 above are not intended to grant any rights to
Alnylam to practice the Isis Excluded Technology. If Alnylam
wishes to license any Isis Excluded Technology for which Isis has
the right to grant a license or sublicense, Isis will negotiate in
good faith an appropriate license.
(b)
Notwithstanding the licenses granted
to Alnylam under Section 5.1, Isis retains its rights in the
Isis Patent Rights and in the Joint Patents (i) exclusively
for the Isis Reserved DS-Targets, and (ii) exclusively for the
Isis Encumbered Targets. Once a particular contractual
restriction expires on an Isis Encumbered Target, Alnylam’s
licenses under Section 5.1 will no longer be limited under
this Section 5.3(b) for such target and such target shall
no longer be an Isis Encumbered Target. Isis will update the
[***] (as defined in the letter agreement dated March 9, 2004
between Alnylam and Isis) provided to Alnylam prior to the
Effective Date and subsequent [***] provided to Alnylam from time
to time to remove targets that are no longer Isis Encumbered
Targets promptly upon receipt of a written request from Alnylam to
update such [***], but will not be required to update such [***]
more frequently than [***] a calendar quarter. In addition,
the licenses granted by Isis to Alnylam under each of Sections
5.1(g)(i) and 5.1(h)(i) do not include the right to
research, develop, make, have made, use, or import Single Stranded
Compounds or Single Stranded RNAi Products, in each case that are
Designed for Isis’ Enabled Targets or the Isis Protected
Targets.
(c)
Licenses to Isis Patent Rights that
are joint patents with Third Parties (i.e., invented by one or more
Isis inventors and one or more non-Isis inventors) are licensed
subject to the retained rights of any non-Isis inventors and their
assignees and licensees. Any such retained rights of non-Isis
inventors and their assignees and licensees existing as of the
Restatement Date are set forth in Exhibit 5.3(c) attached
hereto.
(d)
Licenses to Isis Patent Rights that
are subject to contractual obligations between Isis and Third
Parties in effect as of the Restatement Date are licensed subject
to the restrictions and other terms described in
Exhibit 5.3(d) attached hereto. Alnylam hereby
agrees to comply, and to cause its sublicensees to comply, with
such restrictions and other terms.
5.4
Alnylam Covenant Regarding
Sublicensing of Isis Patent Rights . Alnylam shall use good faith efforts to
include sublicenses under the licenses under the Isis Patent Rights
granted to Alnylam in Sections 5.1(a) and 5.1(b) in any
Third Party collaboration
11
or license agreement in which Alnylam grants
rights to develop and commercialize Double Stranded RNA Products,
unless the technology covered by such licensed Isis Patent Rights
would not reasonably be expected to advance the goals of such Third
Party collaboration or license relationship.
5.5
Isis Covenant to Alnylam
Regarding Co-Exclusivity for Single Stranded RNAi
Products . Isis
hereby covenants to Alnylam, that, after the Restatement Date, Isis
will not itself, and will not grant to a Third Party a license
under the Isis Current Motif and Mechanism Patents, Isis Current
Chemistry Patents, Isis Future Motif and Mechanism Patents, Isis
Future Chemistry Patents, the Co-Exclusive ssRNAi Patents, and/or
Isis’ rights in any Joint Patents or Research Program Patents
to, research, develop, make, have made, use, import, offer to sell
and sell Single Stranded RNAi Compounds or Single Stranded RNAi
Products, except Isis may (i) research, develop, make, have
made, use and import Single Stranded RNAi Compounds or Single
Stranded RNAi Products for [***], (ii) grant a license to
Controlled Contractors to support work under the Research Plan,
(iii) grant a license to further the research, development or
commercialization of an Isis Single Stranded Product,
(iv) grant a license to further the research, development or
commercialization of an Isis Single Stranded RNAi Product solely in
conjunction with a permitted sublicense by Isis under
Section 6.3; and (v) continue to grant licenses to Third
Parties for the purpose of manufacturing and selling
oligonucleotides; provided that , to the extent such
licenses cover Single Stranded RNAi Compounds, Isis will restrict
such licenses to [***]. For purposes of clarity, this
Section 5.5 will not preclude Isis from (A) itself using
the [***], or (B) granting any Third Party a license under the
[***].
ARTICLE 6
LICENSES GRANTED BY ALNYLAM TO ISIS; AND
CO-EXCLUSIVITY COVENANT
6.1
License Grants
. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the
restrictions set forth in Section 6.5, Alnylam grants Isis the
following licenses:
(a)
A fully-paid, royalty-free,
nonexclusive license under Alnylam Current Motif and Mechanism
Patents and Alnylam Current Chemistry Patents to research, develop,
make, have made, use and import Isis Products other than Isis
Single Stranded RNAi Products for Research Use.
(b)
Subject to the terms of
Section 11.8, a fully paid, royalty-free nonexclusive license
under Alnylam Future Motif and Mechanism Patents and Alnylam Future
Chemistry Patents to research, develop, make, have made, use and
import Isis Products other than Isis Single Stranded RNAi Products
for Research Use.
(c)
A nonexclusive license under Alnylam
Current Motif and Mechanism Patents and Alnylam Current Chemistry
Patents to research, develop, make, have made, use, import, offer
to sell and sell Isis Single Stranded Products.
12
(d)
Subject to the terms of
Section 11.8, a nonexclusive license under Alnylam Future
Motif and Mechanism Patents and Alnylam Future Chemistry Patents to
research, develop, make, have made, use, import, offer to sell and
sell Isis Single Stranded Products.
(e)
Under the Alnylam Current Motif and
Mechanism Patents and Alnylam Current Chemistry Patents, a
nonexclusive license to research, develop, make, have made, use,
import, offer to sell and sell MicroRNA Products.
(f)
Subject to the terms of
Section 11.8, under the Alnylam Future Motif and Mechanism
Patents and Alnylam Future Chemistry Patents, a nonexclusive
license to research, develop, make, have made, use, import, offer
to sell and sell MicroRNA Products.
(g)
A worldwide, royalty-free, fully
paid, nonexclusive license to practice any Know-How disclosed to
Isis during the performance of this Agreement, subject to the
non-disclosure but not the non-use provisions contained in
Article 12.
(h)
A worldwide license under the
Alnylam Current Motif and Mechanism Patents and Alnylam Current
Chemistry Patents to (i) research, develop, make, have made,
use and import Single Stranded RNAi Compounds and Single Stranded
RNAi Products for Research Use, and (ii) research, develop,
make, have made, use, import, offer to sell and sell Isis Single
Stranded RNAi Products. The license granted to Isis under the
foregoing clause (i) shall be non-exclusive, and the license
granted to Isis under the foregoing clause (ii) shall be
exclusive.
(i)
Subject to the terms of
Section 11.8, a worldwide license under Alnylam Future Motif
and Mechanism Patents and Alnylam Future Chemistry Patents to
(i) research, develop, make, have made, use and import Single
Stranded RNAi Compounds and Single Stranded RNAi Products for
Research Use, and (ii) research, develop, make, have made,
use, import, offer to sell and sell Isis Single Stranded RNAi
Products. The license granted to Isis under the foregoing
clause (i) shall be non-exclusive, and the license granted to
Isis under the foregoing clause (ii) shall be
exclusive.
(j)
Under Alnylam’s rights in
Research Program Patents, a royalty-free license for any and all
purposes, except to research, develop, make, have made, use,
import, offer to sell or sell any (1) oligonucleotides (or
chemically modified oligonucleotide analogs) designed to work via
the RNase H 1 or 2 mechanism (including any oligonucleotide which
has [***]), (2) Double Stranded RNA Products,
(3) MicroRNA Products, (4) Single Stranded RNAi Products,
or (5) Isis Single Stranded Product.
6.2
License Option
. For each Gene Target in the
Isis DS-Target Pool (as further described below) Alnylam grants
Isis an option to obtain (on a Reserved DS-Target-by-Reserved
DS-Target basis), subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, including, but not limited to, the restrictions set
forth in Section 6.5, a non-exclusive license under
(i) Alnylam Current Motif and Mechanism Patents and
Alnylam
13
Current Chemistry Patents and (ii) subject
to the terms of Section 11.8, Alnylam Future Motif and
Mechanism Patents, Alnylam Future Chemistry Patents and
Alnylam’s rights in Joint Patents, to research, develop,
make, have made, use, import, offer for sale and sell Double
Stranded RNA Products that are Isis Products.
(a)
This option will expire on a
Reserved DS-Target-by-Reserved DS-Target basis if Isis has not paid
Alnylam the option fee set forth in Section 8.1 below before
the earlier of (i) the [***] with respect to such Reserved
DS-Target, (ii) the [***] anniversary of the date such
Reserved DS-Target [***] or the [***] anniversary of the date such
Reserved DS-Target [***] with a Third Party and Isis is
contractually able to revoke such Third Party’s rights or
(iii) the date [***] with respect to such Reserved
DS-Target.
(b)
For any Reserved DS-Target for which
Isis obtains a license from Alnylam under this Section 6.2,
Isis will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts (either on its own or
in an Antisense Drug Discovery Program or Development
Collaboration) to develop and commercialize Double Stranded RNA
Products that modulate such Reserved DS-Target.
6.3
Sublicenses
.
(a)
With respect to any license granted
by Alnylam pursuant to Section 6.1(a), 6.1(b), or 6.2, Isis
may only grant a sublicense to a Third Party solely for
(i) the purpose of enabling such Third Party to collaborate
with Isis in an Antisense Drug Discovery Program, or (ii) to
develop and commercialize an Isis Product in a Development
Collaboration. With respect to any license granted by
Alnylam pursuant to Section 6.1(c), 6.1(d), 6.1(e), 6.1(f),
6.1(g), Isis may grant a sublicense to a Third Party in connection
with the discovery, development or commercialization of any
product. Isis may grant sublicenses under
Section 6.1(j), subject to Section 8.5. With
respect to the licenses granted by Alnylam pursuant to
Section 6.1(h) and 6.1(i), Isis may only grant a
sublicense to a Third Party to further the research, development or
commercialization of an Isis Single Stranded RNAi Product that Isis
has performed on its own (or with Alnylam under the Research Plan)
and [***] at least [***]% of the work to discover and develop the
Isis Single Stranded RNAi Product through the [***] (or a date that
is earlier than the [***] if requested by Isis and approved in
writing by Alnylam, such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld).
(b)
Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, Isis may not enter into any drug
discovery collaboration the primary purpose of which is to discover
Double Stranded RNA Products and/or to develop Double Stranded RNA
Products to any point up to the [***].
6.4
DS-Target Pool
.
(a)
Reserved DS-Target
Slots . On the
Effective Date, Isis will have a pool (the “Isis DS-Target
Pool”) containing up to [***] slots for which Isis can
designate certain Gene Targets solely for Antisense Drug Discovery
Programs (each such slot, a “DS-Target Slot” and any
Gene Target occupying such a slot, a “Reserved
DS-Target”);
14
provided, however , that on January 1 of each year starting
with January 1, 2007, Isis will gain the right to purchase one
additional DS-Target Slot by paying Alnylam $[***] per each
additional DS-Target Slot. These rights are cumulative and,
subject to Section 17.2(c) do not expire during the
License Term. Furthermore, in the event that Isis pays the
$[***] license option fee for a Reserved DS-Target pursuant to
Section 8.1, such Reserved DS-Target will be considered to
have graduated from the Isis DS-Target Pool, and, subject to
Section 6.4(e), Isis will be permitted to designate a new
Reserved DS-Target to fill the open DS-Target Slot in the Isis
DS-Target Pool. For purposes of clarity, except as permitted
under Sections 6.1(h)(i) and 6.1(i)(i), Isis may not research,
develop or commercialize Single Stranded RNAi Products for a
Reserved DS-Target unless such Reserved DS-Target is designated as
an Enabled Target by Isis pursuant to
Section 4.3(a) above.
(b)
Initial Designations
. The letter delivered by Isis
to Alnylam on the Restatement Date sets forth the Reserved
DS-Targets as of the Restatement Date.
(c)
Removing/Adding
DS-Targets . After
the Restatement Date and no more than once in any [***] period (a
“Target Reallocation Period”), Isis may do any of the
following:
(i)
Remove a Gene Target from the Isis
DS-Target Pool (which, following such removal will create an open
DS-Target Slot); or
(ii)
Add a new Gene Target to any open
DS-Target Slot (subject to the procedures and provisions of
Section 6.4(e).
Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this Section 6.4(c), in any Target Reallocation
Period, Isis cannot remove a number of Reserved DS-Targets that
exceeds the number calculated by dividing the then current number
of DS-Target Slots by [***] and rounding down to the nearest whole
number. For the purpose of the limitation described in the
immediately preceding sentence, removing a Gene Target from the
Isis DS-Target Pool and then filling the open DS-Target Slot
created by such removal shall count as a single removal. Once
Isis removes a Gene Target from the Isis DS-Target Pool, Isis will
be prevented from later adding such Gene Target to the Isis
DS-Target Pool until [***] have passed from the date Isis removed
such Gene Target.
(d)
New Target Request
. When Isis wishes to add a
new Gene Target to occupy a vacant DS-Target Slot, it will provide
Alnylam with written notice (the “Request Notice”) of
the Gene Target it wishes to add (the “Proposed Reserved
DS-Target”). The Request Notice will include the gene
name, and the NCBI accession number or nucleic acid sequence for
the Proposed Reserved DS-Target.
(e)
New Target
Rejection/Approval . Within [***] of receipt of the Request
Notice, Alnylam will give Isis written notice if any of the
criteria set forth below applied to such Proposed Reserved
DS-Target at the time of Alnylam’s receipt of the Request
Notice. If, at such time, the Proposed Reserved DS-Target is
(i) subject to Alnylam’s own Active Program [***],
(ii) encumbered by a contractual obligation
15
between Alnylam and a Third Party that would
preclude Alnylam from granting a license under Section 6.2
with respect to the Proposed Reserved DS-Target or (iii) the
subject of Alnylam’s good faith negotiations to enter into a
contractual obligation within the [***] following receipt of the
Request Notice with a Third Party (as supported by a written
request from such Third Party) that would preclude Alnylam from
granting a license under Section 6.2 with respect to the
Proposed Reserved DS-Target, then the Proposed Reserved DS-Target
will be rejected and will not become a Reserved DS-Target. If
the Proposed Reserved DS-Target is not rejected under this
subsection (e), the Proposed Reserved DS-Target will become an Isis
Reserved DS-Target. Alnylam will promptly notify Isis in
writing if a rejected Proposed Reserved DS-Target later becomes
available to be designated as a Reserved DS-Target.
(f)
[Intentionally
Deleted] .
(g)
Diligence on Rejected
Targets . If
(i) Alnylam rejects a Proposed Reserved DS-Target under
Section 6.4(e) above and (ii) Alnylam has [***] with
respect to such rejected Proposed Reserved DS-Target by the [***]
anniversary of the date Alnylam rejected such Proposed Reserved
DS-Target if Alnylam is working on such target alone, or the [***]
anniversary of the date Alnylam rejected such Proposed Reserved
DS-Target if such rejected Proposed Reserved DS-Target is subject
to a contractual obligation between Alnylam and a Third Party that
would preclude Alnylam from granting a license under
Section 6.2 with respect to the rejected Proposed Reserved
DS-Target but Alnylam [***], then [***] such rejected Proposed
Reserved DS-Target [***].
(h)
Diligence Obligations in Third
Party Contractual Obligations . With the goal of minimizing contractual
encumbrances on Alnylam Patent Rights with respect to Gene Targets
in the absence of a reasonable intent to discover and develop
products that modulate such Gene Targets by Third Parties with
which Alnylam enters into such contractual obligations, Alnylam
intends to seek reasonable diligence obligations from Third Parties
in negotiating contracts between Alnylam and such Third Parties
that would constitute contractual obligations of Alnylam that would
preclude Alnylam from granting licenses to Isis under
Section 6.2 with respect to Proposed Reserved DS-Targets; or
that would prevent Alnylam from granting Isis licenses with respect
to Proposed Reserved DS-Targets; provided that Isis
hereby acknowledges that such diligence obligations are often
heavily negotiated in biotechnology license and collaboration
agreements and that this Section 6.4(h) shall not prevent
Alnylam from entering into contracts between Alnylam and Third
Parties in accordance with Alnylam’s reasonable business
judgment.
(i)
Confidentiality
. The fact that Isis has
designated or removed a particular Gene Target within the Isis
DS-Target Pool is Confidential Information of Isis, or that Alnylam
has rejected a particular Gene Target proposed for a DS-Target Slot
or disallowed the redesignation of a particular Gene Target is
Confidential Information of Alnylam, subject to the provisions of
Article 12. Neither Party shall disclose such
Confidential Information of the other Party to any Third Party,
including its Third Party collaborators, or use such Confidential
Information of the other Party to guide its own (or its Third Party
collaborators’) decisions to pursue particular Gene Targets,
but Alnylam
16
can use such Confidential Information of Isis to
decline a Third Party’s request for a license to such Gene
Target.
6.5
Limitations on
Licenses .
(a)
The licenses granted under Sections
6.1 and 6.2 above are not intended to grant any rights to Isis to
practice the Alnylam Excluded Technology. If Isis wishes to
license any Alnylam Excluded Technology for which Alnylam has the
right to grant a sublicense, Alnylam will negotiate in good faith
an appropriate license.
(b)
Licenses to Alnylam Patent Rights
that are joint patents with Third Parties (i.e., invented by one or
more Alnylam inventors and one or more non-Alnylam inventors) are
licensed subject to the retained rights of any non-Alnylam
inventors and their assignees and licensees. There are no
Alnylam Current Chemistry Patents or Alnylam Current Motif and
Mechanism Patents subject to such retained rights.
(c)
Licenses to Alnylam Patent Rights
that are subject to contractual obligations between Alnylam and
Third Parties in effect as of the Effective Date are licensed
subject to the restrictions and other terms described in
Exhibit 6.5(c) attached hereto. Isis hereby agrees
to comply, and to cause its sublicensees to comply, with such
restrictions and other terms.
(d)
Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein, the licenses to Alnylam Patent Rights hereunder
initially shall not include licenses to Patents licensed by Alnylam
from Stanford University under any agreement between Alnylam and
Stanford University in effect as of the Restatement Date;
provided that if any such licensed Patents become
issued Patents, Isis shall have the option of expanding its
licenses to Alnylam Patent Rights hereunder to include such issued
Patents by notifying Alnylam of such election and agreeing to pay
to Alnylam, in addition to all amounts otherwise payable to Alnylam
hereunder (and without any right under Section 8.2 to reduce
such otherwise payable amounts as a consequence of such additional
payment amounts), all amounts that (i) become payable by
Alnylam to Stanford University as a result of such expansion of
Isis’ licenses and Isis’ (and its Affiliates’ and
sublicensees’) exercise of its rights thereunder and
(ii) are described on Exhibit 6.5(d) attached
hereto.
(e)
In addition, the licenses granted by
Alnylam to Isis under each of Sections 6.1(h)(i),
6.1(i)(i) and 6.1(j) do not include the right to
research, develop, make, have made, use, or import Single Stranded
RNAi Compounds or Single Stranded RNAi Products, in each case that
are Designed for Alnylam’s Enabled Targets.
6.6
Alnylam Covenant to Isis
Regarding Co-Exclusivity for Single Stranded RNAi
Products . Alnylam
hereby covenants to Isis, that, after the Restatement Date, Alnylam
will not itself, and will not grant to a Third Party a license
under the Alnylam Current Motif and Mechanism Patents, Alnylam
Current Chemistry Patents, Alnylam Future Motif and Mechanism
Patents, Alnylam Future Chemistry Patents, the Co-Exclusive ssRNAi
Patents, and/or Alnylam’s rights in any Joint Patents or
Research Program Patents to, research, develop, make, have made,
use, import, offer to sell and sell Single Stranded RNAi Compounds
or Single Stranded RNAi Products, except
17
Alnylam may (i) research, develop, make,
have made, use or import Single Stranded RNAi Compounds or Single
Stranded RNAi Products for [***], (ii) grant a license to
Controlled Contractors to support work under the Research Plan,
(iii) grant a license to further the research, development or
commercialization of an Alnylam Single Stranded RNAi Product solely
in conjunction with a permitted sublicense by Alnylam under
Section 5.2; and (iv) continue to grant licenses to Third
Parties for the purpose of manufacturing and selling
oligonucleotides; provided that , to the extent such
licenses cover Single Stranded RNAi Compounds, Alnylam will
restrict such licenses to [***]. For purposes of clarity,
this Section 6.6 will not preclude Alnylam from
(A) itself using the [***], or (B) granting any Third
Party a license under the [***].
ARTICLE 7
LICENSE FEES AND ROYALTIES
PAYABLE TO ISIS
7.1
License Fees
.
(a)
In connection with the Original
Agreement, Alnylam paid Isis an initial, irrevocable, noncreditable
and non-refundable license fee of $5,000,000.
(b)
Alnylam will pay Isis an additional,
irrevocable, noncreditable and non-refundable license fee of
$11,000,000 within 5 Business Days following the Restatement
Date.
7.2
Royalties .
(a)
Subject to the terms and conditions
of, and during the term of, this Agreement, Alnylam will pay to
Isis royalties on sales of Alnylam Double Stranded RNA Products by
Alnylam, its Affiliates or sublicensees (except Naked Sublicensees)
equal to [***]% of Net Sales. Alnylam may reduce the royalty
due under this section by [***]% of any additional royalties that
Alnylam owes to Third Parties on such Alnylam Double Stranded RNA
Product that arise from Alnylam acquiring access to new
technologies after the Effective Date; provided, however
that (a) the royalty due under this section can never be less
than a floor of [***]% and (b) additional royalties arising as
the result of the addition, pursuant to Section 11.8, of Isis
Future Chemistry Patents or Isis Future Motif and Mechanism Patents
to the Isis Patent Rights licensed to Alnylam cannot be used to
reduce the royalty.
(b)
Subject to the terms and conditions
of, and during the term of, this Agreement, Alnylam will pay to
Isis royalties on sales of Alnylam Single Stranded RNAi Products by
Alnylam, its Affiliates or sublicensees equal to [***]% of Net
Sales; provided, however , that if Alnylam is the subject of
an Acquisition, the royalty payable under this
Section 7.2(b) on the Net Sales of Alnylam Single
Stranded RNAi Products after the date of such Acquisition will be
[***]%.
18
7.3
Research and Development
Milestones .
(a)
Single Stranded Research
Milestones.
Alnylam, its Affiliates or sublicensees will pay to Isis the
following milestone payments within [***] after the first
achievement of each of the following events:
|
Milestone Event
|
|
Milestone Payment
|
|
The earlier of (i) first In Vivo
Efficacy in Rodents and (ii) the 18-month anniversary of the
Restatement Date
|
|
US$10,000,000
|
|
First In Vivo Efficacy in NHP
|
|
US$5,000,000
|
|
First Initiation of Phase I Trial
|
|
US$5,000,000
|
Alnylam shall have the right to prepay Isis any
or all of the milestone payments set forth in this
Section 7.3(a) prior to achievement of the corresponding
milestone event(s), in which event such milestone
event(s) shall be deemed to have been achieved as of the date
of such early payment(s) by Alnylam, and such early payments
will be irrevocable, noncreditable and non-refundable. If
Alnylam decides to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
Section 14.4, the terms of Section 14.4(d) shall
apply. For purposes of clarity, Alnylam does not have the
right to prepay any of the milestones set forth in
Section 7.3(b) through 7.3(d) below.
(b)
Single Stranded Development
Milestones .
Alnylam, its Affiliates or sublicensees will pay to Isis the
following milestone payments for each Alnylam Single Stranded RNAi
Product within [***] after the first achievement of each of the
following events:
|
Milestone Event
|
|
Milestone Payment*
|
|
Initiation of Phase I Trial
|
|
US$[***]
|
|
Initiation of Phase III Trial
|
|
US$[***]
|
|
Filing NDA in U.S., EU or Japan
|
|
US$[***]
|
|
Marketing Approval in U.S., EU or
Japan
|
|
US$[***]
|
* If Alnylam is the subject of an Acquisition, any
milestone payments under this Section 7.3(b) that were
not due before the date of such Acquisition will [***] in
amount.
Each milestone payment under this
Section 7.3(b) will only be due on the [***] Alnylam
Single Stranded RNAi Product that modulates a particular Gene
Target to trigger such milestone payment, whether such milestone is
achieved by Alnylam or an Affiliate or sublicensee of
Alnylam.
(c)
Double Stranded Development
Milestones.
Alnylam, its Affiliates or sublicensees (except Naked Sublicensees)
will pay to Isis the following milestone payments for each Alnylam
Double Stranded RNA Product within [***] [***] after the first
achievement of each of the following events:
|
Milestone Event
|
|
Milestone Payment
|
|
Initiation of Phase I Trial
|
|
US$[***]
|
|
Initiation of Phase III Trial
|
|
US$[***]
|
|
Filing NDA
|
|
US$[***]
|
|
Marketing Approval
|
|
US$[***]
|
19
Each milestone payment under this
Section 7.3(c) will only be due on the [***] Alnylam
Double Stranded RNA Product that modulates a particular Gene Target
to trigger such milestone payment, whether such milestone is
achieved by Alnylam or an Affiliate or sublicensee of
Alnylam.
(d)
MicroRNA Milestone.
Alnylam, its Affiliates or
sublicensees will pay to Isis a milestone payment of US$[***] for
the [***] MicroRNA Product that is an Alnylam Product that
modulates a particular Gene Target within [***] after such MicroRNA
Product reaches the initiation of [***], and not for any other
MicroRNA Product that is an Alnylam Product that modulates the
particular Gene Target.
7.4
Sublicensing Revenue on Naked
Sublicenses and Single Stranded Sublicenses .
(a)
With respect to Sublicense Revenue
from each Naked Sublicense granted by Alnylam and its Affiliates
under this Agreement, Alnylam will pay Isis within [***] following
receipt by Alnylam of such Sublicense Revenue (i) fifty
percent (50%) of all such Sublicense Revenue that does not
constitute royalty payments, and (ii) [***] percent ([***]%)
of the amount that remains of the total royalties received under
such Naked Sublicense after Alnylam has paid the royalties that are
due from Alnylam to any Third Parties in connection with such Naked
Sublicense.
(b)
Alnylam will pay Isis a percentage
of Sublicense Revenue received by Alnylam and its Affiliates
pursuant to sublicenses (or right to obtain a sublicense) granted
by Alnylam to a Third Party as permitted by
Section 5.2(b). Alnylam shall make such payment within
[***] [***] following receipt by Alnylam of such Sublicense
Revenue. Such percentage will be calculated based on the year
in which Alnylam executes such sublicense agreement, and whether or
not Alnylam executes such sublicense before or after the
Product(s) that are the subject of such sublicense have met
the [***] under Section 7.3(b), using the following
table:
For Single Stranded RNAi Products
Alnylam Sublicenses Before [***]
|
Year
|
|
2009-
2011
|
|
2012-
2013
|
|
2014-
2015
|
|
2016-
2017
|
|
2017+
|
|
|
Applicable
Percentage
|
|
[***]
|
%
|
[***]
|
%
|
[***]
|
%
|
[***]
|
%
|
[***]
|
%
|
For Single Stranded RNAi Products
Alnylam Sublicenses [***] Such Products
|
Year
|
|
2009-
2012
|
|
2013
|
|
2014
|
|
2015+
|
|
|
Applicable
Percentage
|
|
[***]
|
%
|
[***]
|
%
|
[***]
|
%
|
[***]
|
%
|
20
(c)
If Alnylam grants a sublicense (or
right to obtain a sublicense) pursuant to which Alnylam will be
required to pay Isis Sublicense Revenue under
Section 7.4(b), then, so long as Alnylam pays Isis the
applicable Sublicense Revenue when due, Alnylam [***] have to pay
Isis [***] of the milestones that become due under
Section 7.3(b) after the execution of such sublicense
solely with respect to the Alnylam Single Stranded RNAi
Product(s) that are being developed and commercialized under
each such sublicense.
(d)
Notwithstanding any of the
foregoing, each of the applicable percentages set forth in the
tables above in Section 7.3(b) for any and all periods
following the [***] anniversary of the Restatement Date shall be
recalculated by multiplying each such percentage by the fraction of
X/Y, where X is [***] and Y is the total number of Isis Partnered
Excluded Targets for which contractual restrictions have not
expired or been cleared as of the [***] anniversary of the
Restatement Date. Such recalculation shall be made on the
thirtieth (30 th
) day following the [***]
anniversary of the Restatement Date, provided, however ,
that (i) no recalculation shall be made if the total number of
Isis Partnered Excluded Targets for which contractual restrictions
have not expired or been cleared as of the [***] anniversary of the
Restatement Date is less than or equal to [***]; (ii) the
applicable percentages, as so recalculated, shall apply only to all
sublicenses entered into between Alnylam and a Third Party
following the [***] anniversary of the Restatement Date; and
(iii) this Section 7.4(d) shall not adjust the
applicable percentages set forth in the tables above in
Section 7.3(b) as they apply to any sublicenses entered
into between Alnylam and a Third Party on or before the [***]
anniversary of the Restatement Date.
7.5
Technology Access Fees from Bona
Fide Collaborations .
(a)
Alnylam will pay Isis a percentage
of Technology Access Fees received by Alnylam and its Affiliates
pursuant to Bona Fide Drug Discovery Collaborations and Development
Collaborations entered into between Alnylam and a Third
Party. Alnylam shall make such payment to Isis within
[***][***] following receipt by Alnylam of such Technology Access
Fees. Such percentage will be calculated based on the year in
which Alnylam executes such Bona Fide Drug Discovery Collaboration
or Development Collaboration agreement using the following
table:
|
Year
|
|
2004/2005
|
|
2006
|
|
2007
|
|
2008+
|
|
|
Applicable
Percentage
|
|
[***]
|
%
|
[***]
|
%
|
[***]
|
%
|
[***]
|
%
|
However , Alnylam may credit any milestone payments made
by Alnylam under Section 7.3(c) above with respect to an
Alnylam Double Stranded RNA Product against any Technology Access
Fees that are later due under a Bona Fide Drug Discovery
Collaboration or Development Collaboration that involves the same
Alnylam Double Stranded RNA Product that triggered such milestone
payment.
(b)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, for
any Bona Fide Drug Discovery Collaboration or Development
Collaboration agreement, Alnylam will pay Isis a minimum fee,
payable upon the first Alnylam Product other than a Single Stranded
RNAi
21
Product developed pursuant to such Bona Fide
Drug Discovery Collaboration agreement reaching [***] (in which
event Alnylam shall pay Isis such minimum fee within [***]
following such initiation of [***]) or within [***] after the
execution of such Development Collaboration agreement, equal to the
lesser of (i) $[***] or (ii) [***]% of the Technology
Access Fees from such collaboration; provided, however that
Alnylam may credit any amounts paid Isis pursuant to
Section 7.5(a) above as the result of the same Bona Fide
Drug Discovery Collaboration or Development Collaboration agreement
against this minimum fee with such amounts credited only once, and
provided further that if following such payment, additional
Technology Access Fees are owed to Isis for such Bona Fide Drug
Discovery Collaboration or Development Collaboration, the amounts
paid under this Section 7.5(b) (after crediting of any
previous Technology Access Fees paid under
Section 7.5(a) in accordance with the immediately
preceding proviso) will be creditable against such future
Technology Access Fees.
7.6
Allocation of Sublicense Income
and Technology Access Fees . Each time Alnylam enters a collaboration
or license agreement (an “Isis IP Sublicense”) pursuant
to which Alnylam grants a sublicense under the Isis Patent Rights
to a Third Party, the CEO of Isis and the CEO of Alnylam will in
mutually discuss and agree in writing upon: (a) if the Isis IP
Sublicense only relates Double Stranded RNA, a good faith
determination as to whether such Isis IP Sublicense is a Naked
Sublicense or a Bona Fide Drug Discovery Collaboration or
Development Collaboration; and (b) if the Isis IP Sublicense
relates to Double Stranded RNA and Alnylam Single Stranded RNAi
Product(s), a good faith allocation of the consideration received
by Alnylam under such Isis IP Sublicense between the consideration
attributable to the components of such Isis IP Sublicense that
relate to (i) Double Stranded RNA and (ii) Alnylam Single
Stranded RNAi Product(s). Within [***] days following the execution
of each Isis IP Sublicense, Alnylam, through its CEO, will provide
Isis’ CEO a reasonably detailed and accurate description of
such Isis IP Sublicense for the purpose of enabling the CEOs to
perform the determination and allocation described in this
Section 7.6.
7.7
Revenue Sharing for
Research Program Patents . Alnylam will pay Isis 50% of
any payments received by Alnylam and its Affiliates pursuant to
licenses granted by Alnylam to a Third Party under the Research
Program Patents for any and all purposes, except to
research, develop, make, have made, use, import, offer to sell or
sell any (1) oligonucleotides (or chemically modified
oligonucleotide analogs) designed to work via the RNase H 1 or 2
mechanism (including any oligonucleotide which has [***]),
(2) Double Stranded RNA Products, (3) MicroRNA Products,
(4) Single Stranded RNAi Products, or (5) Isis Single
Stranded Product. Alnylam shall make such payment to Isis
within [***] following receipt by Alnylam of such
payments.
ARTICLE 8
LICENSE FEES, SUBLICENSE REVENUE
AND
ROYALTIES PAYABLE TO
ALNYLAM
8.1
Option Fee
. For each Isis Reserved
DS-Target for which Isis exercises its option granted pursuant to
Section 6.2, Isis will pay Alnylam an irrevocable,
22
noncreditable and non-refundable option fee of
$[***] due upon the date of exercise. Isis may credit any
$[***] payment made under Section 6.4(a) for the
DS-Target Slot occupied by such Reserved DS-Target against this
option fee. The option fee is only payable once per Gene
Target.
8.2
Royalties .
(a)
Subject to the terms and conditions
of, and during the term of, this Agreement, Isis will pay to
Alnylam royalties on sales of Double Stranded RNA Products that are
Isis Products by Isis, its Affiliates or sublicensees equal to
[***]% of Net Sales. Isis may reduce the royalty due under
this section by [***]% of any additional royalties that Isis owes
to Third Parties on such Double Stranded RNA Products that are Isis
Products that arise from Isis acquiring access to new technologies
after the Restatement Date; provided, however that
(i) the royalty due under this section can never be less than
a floor of [***]%, (ii) additional royalties arising as the
result of the addition, pursuant Section 11.8, of Alnylam
Future Chemistry Patents or Alnylam Future Motif and Mechanism
Patents to the Alnylam Patent Rights licensed to Isis, or as the
result of an expansion of Isis’ licenses pursuant to
Section 6.5(d), cannot be used to reduce the royalty and
(iii) Isis shall not be entitled to reduce, pursuant to this
sentence, its royalty obligation to Alnylam below a royalty
obligation equal to the lesser of (y) Alnylam’s
aggregate royalty obligations [***] existing as of the Effective
Date [***] [***] and (z) Alnylam’s aggregate royalty
obligations [***] [***] as such obligations may be reduced from
time to time after the Effective Date.
(b)
Subject to the terms and conditions
of, and during the term of, this Agreement, Isis will pay to
Alnylam royalties on Net Sales of Isis Single Stranded RNAi
Products by Isis, its Affiliates or sublicensees equal to [***]% of
Net Sales; provided , however , that if Isis is
the subject of an Acquisition, the royalty payable under this
Section 8.2(b) on the Net Sales of Isis Single Stranded
RNAi Products following such Acquisition will be [***]%.
8.3
Development Milestones
.
(a) Subject to Section 8.4, Isis, its
Affiliates or sublicensees will pay to Alnylam the following
milestone payments for each Double Stranded RNA Product that is an
Isis Product within [***] after the first achievement of each of
the following events:
|
Milestone Event
|
|
Milestone Payment
|
|
Initiation of Phase I
Trial
|
|
US$[***]
|
|
Initiation of Phase III
Trial
|
|
US$[***]
|
|
Filing NDA
|
|
US$[***]
|
|
Marketing Approval
|
|
US$[***]
|
Each milestone payment under this
Section 8.3(a) will only be due on [***] Double Stranded
RNA Product that is an Isis Product that modulates a particular
Gene Target to trigger such milestone payment, whether such
milestone is achieved by Isis or an Affiliate or sublicensee of
Isis.
23
(b) Isis, its Affiliates or sublicensees will pay to
Alnylam a milestone payment of US$[***] for the [***] Isis Single
Stranded Product that is an Isis Product that modulates a
particular Gene Target within [***] after such Isis Single Stranded
Product reaches the initiation of IND-Enabling Studies, and not for
any other Isis Single Stranded Product that modulates that
particular Gene Target.
(c) Isis, its Affiliates or sublicensees will pay to
Alnylam a milestone payment of US$[***] for the [***] MicroRNA
Product that is an Isis Product that modulates a particular Gene
Target within [***] after such MicroRNA Product reaches the
initiation of [***], and not for any other MicroRNA Product that is
an Isis Product that modulates the particular Gene
Target.
8.4
Sublicense Income on Single
Stranded RNAi Sublicenses .
(a)
With respect to Sublicense Revenue
from each sublicense (or right to obtain a sublicense) related to
an Isis Single Stranded RNAi Product granted by Isis and its
Affiliates under this Agreement after the Restatement Date, Isis
will pay Alnylam, within [***] following receipt by Isis of such
Sublicense Revenue, a percentage of all such Sublicense Revenue
that does not constitute royalty payments. Such percentage will be
calculated based on the year in which Isis executes such sublicense
agreement, and whether or not Alnylam has paid Isis the research
funding and applicable milestones under
Section 4.2(c) and 7.3(a), using the following
table:
|
Milestone Event
|
|
Applicable
Percentage
|
|
|
1
|
Sublicense executed after the Restatement Date
but before Alnylam pays Isis the $[***] milestone under
Section 7.3(a)
|
|
[***]
|
%
|
|
2
|
Sublicense executed after Alnylam pays Isis the
$[***] milestone under Section 7.3(a) but before
the 3 rd milestone event described below
|
|
[***]
|
%
|
|
3
|
Sublicense executed after Alnylam pays the first
3 years of research funding under Section 4.2(c) and the
$[***] milestone for First In Vivo Efficacy in NHP under
Section 7.3(a)
|
|
[***]
|
%
|
(b)
In the event that Isis enters an
Antisense Drug Discovery Program pursuant to which Isis
(i) grants a sublicense under the Alnylam Patent Rights to
further develop and/or commercialize an Isis Single Stranded RNAi
Product, (ii) commits to discover and/or develop Double
Stranded RNA Products or single stranded oligonucleotides that are
not Single Stranded RNAi Compounds, or (iii) grants a license
or sublicense to intellectual property which would not otherwise
result in any amounts becoming payable to Alnylam hereunder (an
“Other Isis Sublicense”), then in determining the
applicable payment due from Isis to Alnylam in connection with such
Antisense Drug Discovery Program, the CEO of Isis and the CEO of
Alnylam will mutually agree in writing upon a good faith allocation
of the consideration received by Isis under such Antisense Drug
Discovery Program between and among the consideration attributable
to the components of such Antisense Drug Discovery Program that
qualify as
24
(x) a sublicense to further develop and/or
commercialize an Isis Single Stranded Product, (y) a
collaboration to discover and/or develop Double Stranded RNA
Products or single stranded oligonucleotides that are not Single
Stranded RNAi Compounds, and (z) an Other Isis Sublicense; and
Isis will pay Alnylam Sublicense Income Fees under
Section 8.4(a) in accordance with such allocation.
Within 30 days following the execution of each such transaction,
Isis, through its CEO, will provide Alnylam’s CEO a
reasonably detailed and accurate description of such transaction
for the purpose of enabling Alnylam’s CEO to perform the
allocation described in this Section 8.4(b).
8.5
Revenue Sharing for Research
Program Patents .
Isis will pay Alnylam 50% of any payments received by Isis and its
Affiliates pursuant to licenses granted by Isis to a Third Party
under the Research Program Patents for any and all purposes,
except to research, develop, make, have made, use, import,
offer to sell or sell any (1) oligonucleotides (or chemically
modified oligonucleotide analogs) designed to work via the RNase H
1 or 2 mechanism (including any oligonucleotide which has [***]),
(2) Double Stranded RNA Products, (3) MicroRNA Products,
(4) Single Stranded RNAi Products, or (5) Isis Single
Stranded Product. Isis shall make such payment to Alnylam
within [***] following receipt by Isis of such payments.
ARTICLE 9
OTHER PAYMENT
TERMS
9.1
Payments . All payments by a Party under this
Agreement will be made in United States dollars by bank wire
transfer in next day available funds to such bank account in the
United States designated in writing by Alnylam or Isis, from time
to time. Royalties payable under Sections 7.2 and 8.2 shall
be payable on a quarterly basis within 45 days after the end of
each calendar quarter. The Party with such royalty obligation
(the “Royalty-Paying Party”) shall provide the other
Party with a report setting forth (i) gross sales of Alnylam
Products or Isis Products, as applicable, by the Royalty-Paying
Party, its Affiliates and sublicensees, (ii) all deductions
from such gross sales taken in calculating Net Sales,
(iii) Net Sales of Alnylam Products or Isis Products, as
applicable, by the Royalty-Paying Party, its Affiliates and
sublicensees, (iv) royalties payable based on such Net Sales
and (v) all other information relevant to the calculation of
such royalties, on a product-by-product and country-by-country
basis, for each calendar quarter within [***] after the end of such
calendar quarter.
9.2
Late Payments;
Collections . In
the event that any payment, including royalty, milestone,
Sublicense Revenue or Technology Access Fee payments, due hereunder
is not made when due, the payment will bear interest from the date
due at the lesser of (i) 1.5% per month, compounded monthly,
or (ii) the highest rate permitted by law; provided,
however , that in no event will such rate exceed the maximum
legal annual interest rate. If a Party disputes in writing
the amount of an invoice presented by the other Party within [***]
of receipt of such invoice, interest will only be due on the
correct amount as later determined or agreed. The payment of such
interest will not limit a Party from exercising any other rights it
may have as a consequence of the lateness of any payment. In
addition, each Party agrees to pay all external costs of
collection, including
25
reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by
the other Party in enforcing the payment obligations after a due
date has passed under this Agreement.
9.3
Audit Rights
.
(a)
Upon the written request of Isis or
Alnylam, as the case may be, and not more than once in each
calendar year, Isis or Alnylam will permit the other Party’s
independent certified public accountant to have access upon
reasonable advance notice and during normal business hours to its
records as may be reasonably necessary to verify the accuracy of
the royalty reports hereunder for the current year and the
preceding 2 years prior to the date of such request. The
accounting firm will disclose to the auditing Party only whether
the royalty reports are correct or incorrect, the specific details
concerning any discrepancies, and the corrected amount of Net Sales
and royalty payments. No other information will be provided
to the auditing Party. Once a Party has audited a particular
calendar year under this section, the Party will be precluded from
subsequently auditing such calendar year. In any sublicense
granted by a Party under this Agreement, such Party will endeavor
to secure a similar audit right and if reasonably requested by the
other Party will enforce such audit right.
(b)
If such accounting firm concludes
that additional royalties were owed during such period, the
delinquent Party will pay the additional royalties within 90 days
of the date such Party receives the accounting firm’s written
report. The fees charged by such accounting firm will be paid
by the auditing Party unless the additional royalties, milestones
or other payments owed by the audited Party exceed 5% of the
royalties, milestones or other payments paid for the time period
subject to the audit, in which case the audited Party will pay the
reasonable fees and expenses charged by the accounting
firm.
(c)
Each Party will treat all financial
information subject to review under this Section 9.3 or under
any sublicense agreement in accordance with the confidentiality
provisions of Article 12, and will cause its accounting firm
to enter into an acceptable confidentiality agreement obligating
such firm to retain all such financial information in confidence
pursuant to such confidentiality agreement.
9.4
Taxes . If laws, rules or regulations
require withholding of income taxes or other taxes imposed upon
payments set forth in Section 4.2(c) or Article 7 or
8, each Party will make such withholding payments as required and
subtract such withholding payments from the payments set forth in
Section 4.2(c) or Article 7 or 8. Each Party
will submit appropriate proof of payment of the withholding taxes
to the other Party within a reasonable period of time. The
Parties will cooperate to obtain the appropriate tax clearance
and/or recover any such withholdings if possible.
ARTICLE 10
ALNYLAM RIGHTS OF FIRST
NEGOTIATION; PREFERRED LICENSEE
10.1
Right of First
Negotiation . Isis
will notify Alnylam in writing once (i) Isis, on its own with
no subsequent rights to Third Parties, intends to initiate [***]
for an
26
Isis Product that is a Double Stranded RNA
Product or (ii) if a Third Party with which Isis has a
Development Collaboration or a collaboration on an [***] an Isis
Double Stranded RNA Product before or during clinical development
or commercialization with no subsequent rights to Third
Parties. Alnylam will have [***] from the receipt of such
notice to notify Isis in writing whether or not Alnylam wishes to
negotiate with Isis regarding the development and/or
commercialization of such Isis Product. If Alnylam fails to
respond to Isis’ notice within the [***] or if Alnylam
declines in writing to exercise its right of first negotiation,
then Isis will be free to develop and commercialize (either on its
own or with a Third Party) the Isis Product. If Alnylam
wishes to negotiate a license or development or commercialization
rights in such Isis Product, the Parties will negotiate in good
faith the terms of the license or collaboration agreement.
If, despite good faith negotiations, Alnylam and Isis do not reach
agreement within [***] from Alnylam’s exercise of its right
of first negotiation, then Isis will be free to develop and
commercialize (either on its own or with a Third Party) the Isis
Product; provided that during the period prior to the
latest of (x) the initiation of [***] the Isis Product,
(y) the [***] anniversary of the commencement of [***] for the
Isis Product or (z) in the case of an Isis Product [***] after
the commencement of [***], the [***] anniversary of Isis’
notice to Alnylam [***], Isis shall not enter into a license or
collaboration agreement with a Third Party for such Isis Product on
terms (the “More Favorable Terms”) that are in the
aggregate materially more favorable to the Third Party than the
terms on which Isis most recently offered in writing to grant such
rights to Alnylam without first offering the More Favorable Terms
to Alnylam.
10.2
Preferred Licensee
. If, after the Effective
Date, Alnylam grants to any Third Party that is not a Major
Pharmaceutical Company a license under the Alnylam Patent Rights to
develop and commercialize Double Stranded RNA Products, then if
(a) either (i) the [***] terms of such license are more
favorable to the Third Party than the [***] terms hereunder with
respect to Isis Products are to Isis or (ii) the [***] covered
by such license exceeds the [***] potentially licensed to Isis
hereunder for development and commercialization of Double Stranded
RNA Products, and (b) the roles to be played by Alnylam and
such Third Party in the development and commercialization of
Double-Stranded RNA Products under such Third Party license, the
nature of the Gene Targets covered by such Third Party license and
any other relevant terms of such Third Party license do not
collectively justify the conditions described in the preceding
clauses (a)(i) and/or (a)(ii), then Alnylam shall modify the
terms of its licenses to Isis hereunder with respect to such
conditions so that they are reasonably equivalent to those granted
to the Third Party.
ARTICLE 11
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY
11.1
Ownership of
Inventions .
(a)
Each Party will solely own all
inventions, technology, discoveries, or other proprietary property
(collectively, “Inventions”) that are made (as
determined by U.S. rules of inventorship) solely by employees
of or consultants to that Party under this Agreement.
27
(b)
Isis and Alnylam will jointly hold
title to all Inventions, whether or not patentable, that are made
(as determined by the U.S. rules of inventorship) jointly by
employees of or consultants to Isis and Alnylam, as well as to
Patents filed thereon. Such Inventions will be “Joint
Inventions,” and Patents claiming such Joint Inventions will
be “Joint Patents.” Isis and Alnylam will
promptly provide each other with notice whenever a Joint Invention
is made. The Parties agree and acknowledge that, except
insofar as this Agreement provides otherwise, the default rights
conferred on joint owners under US patent law, including the right
of each Party to independently practice, license and use a Joint
Patent, will apply in relation to the Joint Patents throughout the
world as though US patent law applied worldwide.
(c)
The Parties agree, upon reasonable
request, to execute any documents reasonably necessary to effect
and perfect each other’s ownership of any
Invention.
11.2
Filing and Prosecution of Isis
and Alnylam Patent Rights .
(a)
Isis and Alnylam will work closely,
through their interactions on the RMC to ensure that, to the
greatest degree permitted by United States and foreign patent laws,
Patents for Inventions relating to all aspects of Double Stranded
RNA and/or Single Stranded RNAi Compounds or Single Stranded RNAi
Products are obtained and shared.
(b)
Except as set forth in Sections
11.2(f) and 11.2(g) below, Isis will be responsible for
preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and taking such other
actions as are reasonably necessary or appropriate with respect to
the Isis Patent Rights.
(c)
Except as set forth in
Section 11.2(f) and 11.2(g) below, Alnylam will be
responsible for preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and
taking such other actions as are reasonably necessary or
appropriate with respect to the Alnylam Patent Rights.
(d)
Each Party will endeavor in good
faith to coordinate its efforts with those of the other Party to
minimize or avoid interference with the prosecution of the other
Party’s Patents. Neither Party will initiate or
participate in any opposition, reexamination, interference,
litigation or other proceeding for the purpose of narrowing or
invalidating any claim in a Patent of the other Party.
(e)
At either Party’s request, the
other Party will keep the requesting Party continuously informed of
and provide documentation of all significant matters relating to
the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of any
designated Patent.
(f)
Alnylam will be responsible for
preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and taking such other
actions as are reasonably necessary or appropriate with respect to
the Isis Special Patents. If Alnylam elects not to file for
or continue the prosecution (including any interferences,
oppositions, reissue proceedings and re-examinations) or
maintenance of an Isis Special Patent in any country, then, Alnylam
will notify Isis promptly in writing of its intention in sufficient
time to enable Isis to meet any deadlines by which an action must
be taken to establish or preserve any such rights in such Patent in
such country and Isis will have the right, but not the obligation,
to file for
28
or continue the prosecution or maintenance of
such Patent in such country, and Alnylam will cooperate with Isis
in regard thereto.
(g)
Solely with respect to
(i) Research Program Patents, or (ii) Patents licensed
under this Agreement that claim Inventions that primarily relate to
Single Stranded RNAi Compounds, but, in each case, excluding Joint
Patents, the Party who Controls such Patent (the “Responsible
Party”) will be responsible for preparing, filing,
prosecuting, maintaining and taking such other actions as are
reasonably necessary or appropriate with respect to such
Patent. If the Responsible Party decides to discontinue the
preparation, filing, prosecution or maintenance of such a Patent,
the Responsible Party will notify the other Party at least [***]
prior to any deadline that, if missed, would materially prejudice
the Patent, and the other Party will have the right, at such
Party’s own expense, to prepare, file, prosecute and maintain
such Patent.
11.3
Filing and Prosecution of Jointly
Owned Patents .
(a)
The Research Management Committee
will designate one of the Parties as being the responsible Party
for preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and taking such
other actions as are reasonably necessary or appropriate with
respect to any Joint Patent.
(b)
Each Party will keep the other Party
continuously informed of all significant matters relating to the
preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of Joint Patents,
and shall provide the other Party with copies of any substantial
prosecution papers within thirty days of receipt.
11.4
Costs and
Expenses.
(a)
Except as set forth in
Section 11.4(c) below, each Party will bear its own costs
and expenses in filing, prosecuting, maintaining and extending the
Alnylam Patent Rights and Isis Patent Rights,
respectively.
(b)
Except as set forth in
Section 11.4(c) below, the Parties will pay equal shares
of all costs and expenses in filing, prosecuting, maintaining and
extending the Joint Patents.
(c)
Alnylam will bear [***]% of its own
costs and expenses in filing, prosecuting, maintaining and
extending the Isis Special Patents. If Alnylam elects not to
file for or continue the prosecution (including any interferences,
oppositions, reissue proceedings and re-examinations) or
maintenance of an Isis Special Patent in any country, and Isis
assumes the continued prosecution of such Isis Special Patent (as
permitted by Section 11.2(f)) in such country, then the
Parties will [***] all of Isis’ costs and expenses in filing,
prosecuting, maintaining and extending the Isis Special Patent for
which Isis assumed prosecution.
11.5
Enforcement
.
(a)
Each Party will promptly advise the
other of any suspected or actual infringement of the Isis Patent
Rights, Alnylam Patent Rights, or Joint Patents by any
29
person that reasonably affects the other
Party’s business. The notice shall set forth the facts
of such infringement or misappropriation in reasonable
detail.
(b)
Subject to subsections (c) and
(h) below, Alnylam will have the sole and exclusive right, in
its sole discretion and at its expense, to assert and enforce any
Isis Patent Rights, Alnylam Patent Rights or Joint Patents against
any party engaging in an unlicensed or unauthorized making, having
made, using, selling, offering for sale or importing of any
allegedly infringing Double Stranded RNA.
(c)
For any enforcement by Alnylam under
subsection (b) above that includes Isis Patent Rights covering
a [***] chemical modification, Isis will actively participate in
the planning and conduct of such enforcement and will take the lead
of such enforcement to the extent that the scope or validity of any
such Isis Patent Rights covering a [***] chemical modification is
at risk.
(d)
Except as set forth in Sections
11.5(b) and (h),
(i)
Isis will have the sole and
exclusive right, in its sole discretion and at its expense, to
assert and enforce any Isis Patent Rights;
(ii)
Alnylam will have the sole and
exclusive right, in its sole discretion and at its expense, to
assert and enforce any Alnylam Patent Rights and the Isis Special
Patent Rights; and
(iii)
The RMC will agree in advance on the
enforcement of any Joint Patent and will apportion enforcement
responsibilities and recoveries amongst the parties.
(e)
The rights granted hereunder to
Alnylam to enforce certain licensed in or jointly owned Isis Patent
Rights are further limited as described in
Exhibit 5.3(d) attached hereto. The rights granted
hereunder to Isis to enforce certain licensed in or jointly owned
Alnylam Patent Rights are further limited as described in
Exhibit 6.5(c) attached hereto.
(f)
The nonenforcing Party will have the
right, at its own expense, to participate in the conduct of the
enforcement action and to be represented in such action by its own
counsel.
(g)
The enforcing Party will not enter
into any settlement that impacts the validity, scope or
interpretation of any claim of any Joint Patent or of any Patent of
the nonenforcing Party without prior written authorization of the
nonenforcing Party.
(h)
If the Party with enforcement rights
under section (b) or (d) above (the “Primary
Party”) fails to initiate proceedings against any actual or
suspected infringement within [***] of receipt of written request
for enforcement from the other Party (the “Step-in
Party”) and if the infringer is directly competing with a
Product (the “Affected Product”) of such Step-in Party,
then (i) if the license granted in this Agreement under which
the Step-in Party is selling the Affected Product is exclusive or
co-exclusive, the Step-in Party will have the right to assert
and enforce the patents that are allegedly being
30
infringed, or (ii) if the license granted
in this Agreement under which the Step-in Party is selling the
Affected Product is non-exclusive, the Step-in Party will have no
obligation to pay royalties during the period for which the Primary
Party fails to initiate proceedings or take other action (including
without limitation entering into a licensing arrangement) to
eliminate such infringement; provided that the provisions of
the immediately preceding clause (ii) shall not apply if the
Primary Party elects to grant the Step-in Party enforcement rights
with respect to such infringement. The Primary Party will not grant
a license to any such infringing Third Party with respect to any
directly competitive infringing product on terms materially more
favorable (milestones and royalties) than the terms of the license
granted hereunder to the Step-in Party or, solely with respect to
the Affected Product, will adjust the terms of such license so that
they are not materially less favorable than the terms of the
license granted to the infringing Third Party. In addition,
as a condition to the Step-in Party’s right (under clause
(i) of this Section 11.5(h)) to assert and enforce a
Patent Controlled by the Primary Party that is allegedly being
infringed, the Step-in Party must also assert and enforce any
relevant Patents Controlled by such Step-in Party against the
alleged infringer who is competing with the Affected
Product.
(i)
Except as otherwise agreed to by the
Parties as part of a cost-sharing arrangement, any recovery
realized as a result of such litigation, after reimbursement of any
reasonable litigation expenses of Isis and Alnylam, shall be
retained by the Party or Parties that brought and controlled such
litigation for purposes of this Agreement, except that any recovery
realized as a result of such litigation shall be treated as Net
Sales of Isis Products or Net Sales of Alnylam Products and
distributed as such Net Sales would have been
distributed.
11.6
[Intentionally Deleted]
11.7
Third Party Patents
. The Parties will consult
about the need to license any patents Controlled by Third Parties
that would be useful or necessary for either Party to research,
develop, make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale or import
Double Stranded RNA Products or Single Stranded RNAi
Products. If it is agreed that there is a desire to obtain a
license or to acquire any such patent, the Parties will negotiate
in good faith regarding (i) the share of the financial
obligations relating to the license or acquisition that each Party
will bear; (ii) the compensation of any acquisition costs
incurred in connection with obtaining the Patent rights; and
(iii) an agreement by the Parties to abide by all terms of the
agreement under which the patent rights are granted.
11.8
Future Licenses
. If after the Effective
Da