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Exhibit 10.29
Confidential Materials omitted and filed
separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Asterisks denote omissions.
COLLABORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND LICENSE
AGREEMENT
This COLLABORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND LICENSE AGREEMENT (the
"Agreement"), effective as of this 8th day of June, 2005 (the
"Effective Date"), is made by and between Trimeris, Inc., having a
principal place of business at 3500 Paramount Parkway, Morrisville,
North Carolina 27560, U.S.A. ("Trimeris"), and ChemBridge Research
Laboratories, Inc. (together with its Affiliates, "CRL"), having a
principal place of business at 16981 Via Tazon, Suite K, San Diego,
California 92127, U.S.A.
RECITALS
WHEREAS CRL has skills, expertise and experience in the
application of discovery chemistry and biology for use in
identifying small molecule modulators for drug targets, and has
identified, developed, rights to and owns proprietary chemistry and
biological technologies suitable for preclinical drug discovery as
high throughput biological screening assays and medicinal
chemistry;
WHEREAS Trimeris has identified, developed, rights to and owns
proprietary biological models, assays, and materials that have the
potential to be used as the basis for drug discovery programs for
Targets (as defined below) specific for Trimeris;
WHEREAS Trimeris and CRL desire to collaborate to identify
Compounds (as defined below) with activity as anti-viral agents
against the Targets, with the goal of delivering Compounds with
desired activity and selectivity for developing Products (as
defined below) in the Field (as defined below) with the Compounds
and information which result from the Research Collaboration (as
defined below).
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the covenants,
conditions and undertakings hereinafter set forth, it is agreed by
and between the Parties as follows:
TABLE OF
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ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following
rules shall govern the interpretation of this Agreement:
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a.
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The definitions of all terms defined herein shall
apply equally to the singular, plural, and possessive forms of such
terms.
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b.
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All references to "Sections," or "Articles", or
"Exhibits" shall mean the corresponding Sections of, Articles of
and Exhibits to this Agreement.
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As used herein, the following terms will have the
meanings set forth below:
1.1 "Active" shall mean a compound developed and tested under
the Research Plan which meets potency and selectivity guidelines
with respect to a Target, as provided in the Research Plan. The
potency and selectivity guidelines defining an "Active" may be
amended from time to time, based on SAR and available data, by the
Joint Research Committee ("JRC") in accordance with the JRC
Decision-Making Process.
1.2 "ADMET" shall mean studies that are designed to examine
preliminary adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion or
toxicology profiles of a Compound in vitro and/or in animals, which
may or nay not be conducted under GLP conditions.
1.3 Affiliate" shall mean any corporation or other entity,
whether de jure or de facto, which is directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by or under common control of a Party
hereto for so long as such control exists. For the purposes of this
Section 1.3, "control" shall mean the direct or indirect
ownership of at least fifty percent ( ³ 50%) of the voting
securities, income interest, a comparable equity in such or other
voting rights of such subject entity having the power to vote on or
direct the affairs of the entity, or if not meeting the preceding,
the maximum voting right that may be held by the particular entity
under the laws of the country where such entity exists. In case of
CRL, affiliates shall include ChemBridge Corporation, having a
principal place of business at 16981
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Via Tazom, Suite G, San Diego, CA, 92127, U.S.A.;
and ChemBridge Ltd., having a principal place of business at 1
Malya Pyrogovskaya, Moscow, 119435, Russian Federation.
1.4 "Change of Control" shall have the meaning as set forth in
Section 2.15.
1.5 "Chemist" shall mean a scientist with the sufficient
knowledge and training in medicinal and synthetic organic
chemistry, including but not limited to the design and synthesis of
chemical entities, and whom possesses unique skills and expertise,
to enable timely performance of the obligations as set out in the
Research Plan, and with scientific qualifications that meets or
exceeds industry standards for a research chemist performing in a
drug discovery collaboration between two companies.
1.6 "Collaboration Technology" shall mean all Inventions and
other intellectual property, including without limitation any
Know-How and Patent Rights relating thereto, made solely by either
CRL or solely by Trimeris, or jointly by CRL and Trimeris in the
course of performing or in connection with the Research
Collaboration. It is understood and agreed that Collaboration
Technology shall not include any CRL Technology, or Trimeris
Technology, or Development Technology.
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1.6.1 "Know-How" shall mean all ideas, inventions, data,
instructions, processes, formulas, expert opinions and information,
including, without limitation, biological, chemical,
pharmacological, toxicological, pharmaceutical, physical and
analytical, clinical, safety, manufacturing and quality control
data and information developed either solely by CRL or Trimeris, or
jointly by CRL and Trimeris during performing and in connection
with the Research Collaboration, in each case, which is necessary
for the development, manufacture, use or sale or commercialization
of Compounds and/or Products, to the extent CRL or Trimeris has the
right to license or sublicense the same; provided, however, that
Know-How does not include any CRL Technology, Trimeris Technology,
Development Technology, or any inventions otherwise included in the
Patent Rights.
1.6.2 "Patent Rights" shall mean (i) all patents and patent
applications the subject of which is an invention conceived and
reduced to practice either solely by CRL or Trimeris, or
jointly
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by CRL and Trimeris in the performance of or in
connection with the Research Collaboration, that claim a Compound
(including, but not limited to, their progeny and derivatives and
all non-covalent derivatives, acid addition salts and cationic
salts, and all diastereomeric and enantiomeric forms thereof), and
including without limitation a Focused Library Compound, a Lead
Compound, Development Compound, a Compound, or method of use or
process for the synthesis or manufacture thereof or
composition-of-matter containing such Compound, and (ii) any
divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues,
reexaminations, extensions or other governmental actions which
extend any of the subject matter of the patent applications or
patents in (i) above; provided, however, that Patent Rights
shall not include any CRL Technology, or Trimeris Technology, or
Development Technology.
1.7 "Compound" shall mean any one or more chemical entity(ies)
that is (i) specifically designed by Trimeris and/or CRL in
the course of performing or in connection with the Research Plan;
or (ii) designed by Trimeris and/or CRL, and synthesized by
CRL, in the course of performing or in connection with the Research
Plan; or (iii) synthesized by CRL in the course of performing
or in connection with the Research Plan; or (iv) has been
designated as a Development Compound under Section 2.4.4(c)
below. Except as expressly provided for in this Section 1.7,
or in Section 2.4.4(c) below, it is understood and agreed that
Library Compounds shall not be deemed Compounds. Compounds shall
not include any Trimeris Technology.
1.8 "CRL Library" shall mean the collection of CRL proprietary
chemical entities and other chemical libraries that CRL makes
available on a non-exclusive basis to Third Parties; provided,
however, CRL Library shall not include any Compounds.
1.9 "CRL Technology" shall mean certain know-how, intellectual
property or patents, as shown by contemporaneous documentation,
that is (i) developed, licensed and/or owned by CRL, prior to
the Effective Date, or (ii) developed, licensed and/or owned
by CRL at any time outside of the Research Collaboration, or
(iii) developed during the term of the Research Collaboration
and not having specific application to the Research Plan (i.e. such
know-how, intellectual property, or patents having application only
outside of the specific composition of matter, method of synthesis,
manufacture, sale or importation of a Compound and/or a
Product).
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1.10 "Database Mining Compound" shall mean a
chemical entity that is received by CRL from a third party vendor
or is a Library Compound. A Database Mining Compound shall not be
deemed a Compound unless it is a Library Compound designated as a
Development Compound under Section 2.4.4(c) below.
1.11 "Development Compound" shall mean any Compound that is
selected by Trimeris for preclinical drug development or is entered
into IND Enabling Studies, whichever occurs first.
1.12 "Development Technology" shall mean certain know-how,
intellectual property or patents, as shown by contemporaneous
documentation, developed, licensed or owned by Trimeris, or jointly
developed by Trimeris and a Third Party, during the development by
or on behalf of Trimeris of a Development Compound or Product
pursuant to this Agreement.
1.13 "Field" shall mean the discovery, development and
commercialization of small chemical molecules for the diagnosis of,
or the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of all human
conditions and/or diseases.
1.14 "Focused Library" shall mean a library of Compounds,
consisting of a total of approximately [**] to approximately [**]
Compounds, which is created to specifically explore the SAR of an
Active, the timeline for making and testing of a Focused Library to
be determined by amendment of the Research Plan by the JRC.
1.15 "Focused Library Compound" shall mean any Compound that is
contained in a Focused Library.
1.16 "FTE" shall mean a full-time person dedicated to the
Research Collaboration or, in the case of a less than full-time,
dedicated person, a full-time, equivalent person year based upon a
total of one thousand eight hundred eighty (1,880) hours per
year of work in connection with the Research Plan. [**].
1.17 "GLP" shall mean Good Laboratory Practice, as defined in
the U.S. Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
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1.18 "IND" shall mean an Investigational New Drug
application, as defined in the U.S. Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and
the regulations promulgated thereunder, for initiating clinical
trials in the United States, or any corresponding foreign
application, registration or certification.
1.19 "IND Enabling Studies" shall mean studies performed
specifically for inclusion in an IND, including without limitation
ADMET and GLP toxicology, as well as formulation and manufacturing
development necessary to obtain the permission of regulatory
authorities to begin human clinical testing. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, IND Enabling Studies shall not include any non-GLP
studies, including ADMET or formulation studies, undertaken by
Trimeris pursuant to the Research Plan prior to the designation of
a Compound as a Development Compound.
1.20 "International Territory" shall mean all countries and
territories outside of the U.S. Territory.
1.21 "Invention" shall mean any new and useful process,
manufacture, compound or composition of matter, patentable or
unpatentable, or any improvement thereof, conceived or first
reduced to practice, or demonstrated to have utility by a Party,
pursuant to the Research Plan and during the term of the Research
Collaboration.
1.22 "JRC" or "Joint Research Committee" shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 3.1.
1.23 "LC-MS/ELSD" shall mean liquid chromatography mass
spectrometry with evaporative light scattering detector.
1.24 "Lead Compound" shall mean any Focused Library Compound
that meets the JRC guidelines for a Lead Compound and is so
designated in writing by the JRC, in accordance with the JRC
Decision-Making Process, for further investigation pursuant to the
Research Collaboration.
1.25 "Library Compound" shall mean any chemical entity that is
contained in the CRL Library.
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1.26 "NDA" shall mean a New Drug Application, as
defined in the U.S. Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the regulations
promulgated therein, or any corresponding foreign application,
registration or certification.
1.27 "Net Sales" shall mean the gross invoice price for all
Products sold by Trimeris, its Affiliates or Sublicensees ("Selling
Party"), under this Agreement in arm’s length sales to Third
Parties, less deductions allowed to the Third Party customer by the
Selling Party on such sales that are for: (a) trade, quantity,
and cash discounts, including charge-backs; (b) credits,
rebates (including those to managed-care entities and government
agencies), and allowances or credits to customers on account of
rejection or returns (including, but not limited to, wholesaler and
retailer returns) or on account of retroactive price reductions
affecting such Product; (c) freight, postage, transportation
insurance, packaging materials for dispatch of Product, and duties;
and (d) sales and excise taxes, other consumption taxes,
customs duties and compulsory payments to governmental authorities
and any other governmental charges imposed upon the sale of such
Product to Third Parties. In addition, the Selling Party may
exclude from Net Sales a reasonable provision for uncollectible
accounts to the extent such reserve is determined in accordance
with generally accepted accounting standards, consistently applied
across all product lines of Selling Party but not to exceed 3% of
gross invoiced amounts, until such amounts are actually collected.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Net Sales shall not include sales
among Trimeris, its Affiliates and Sublicensees for resale of
Product, provided that such resale shall be included within Net
Sales.
1.28 "Party" shall mean CRL or Trimeris individually, and
"Parties" shall mean CRL and Trimeris collectively, unless
otherwise specifically indicated.
1.29 "Phase I" shall mean human clinical trials conducted under
the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (or any
corresponding foreign regulatory counterpart), the principal
purpose of which is to establish safety, or safety and proof of
concept of efficacy, wherein the dosing with a Development Compound
or Product is done over a period of thirty (30) days or less,
and which is performed for purposes of supporting an NDA
application, or its corresponding foreign regulatory
counterpart.
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1.30 "Phase II" shall mean human clinical trials
conducted under the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (or any corresponding foreign regulatory
counterpart), the principal purpose of which is to establish safety
and dose response activity, wherein the dosing with a Development
Compound or Product is done over a period of at least thirty one
(31) days, and which is performed for purposes of supporting
an NDA application, or its corresponding foreign regulatory
counterpart.
1.31 "Phase III" shall mean human clinical trials conducted
under the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (or any
corresponding foreign regulatory counterpart), the principal
purpose of which is to establish acceptable safety and
statistically significant efficacy of one or more particular doses
of a Development Compound or Product in patients being studied, and
which will (or are intended to) satisfy the requirements of a
pivotal trial for purposes of obtaining approval to market a
Product in a country by the health regulatory authority in such
country to market such Product.
1.32 "Product" shall mean any human diagnostic, human
therapeutic and/or human prophylactic product for use within the
Field and incorporating a Compound.
1.33 "Research Collaboration" shall mean the research activities
undertaken by the Parties pursuant to ARTICLE 2 below.
1.34 "Research Plan" shall mean the written research plan
(including a detailed budget) governing the joint effort of the
Parties in conducting the Research Collaboration, which may be
amended in writing from time to time by the Joint Research
Committee, as it deems necessary or appropriate. The initial
Research Plan is attached hereto as APPENDIX A.
1.35 "Research Use License" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.4.4(c).
1.36 "SAR" shall mean the relationship between the biological
activity of a chemical entity and its molecular structure.
1.37 "Stage I Research" shall mean the research activities
undertaken by the Parties pursuant to Sections 2.4.1 and 2.4.2
below.
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1.38 "Sublicensee" shall mean, with respect to a
particular Product, a Third Party to whom Trimeris has granted a
license or sublicense under CRL Technology pursuant to
Section 4.2.1 to either make, have made, offer for sale,
import, export or sell such Product. As used in this Agreement,
"Sublicensee" shall also include a Third Party to whom Trimeris has
granted the right to distribute such Product, provided that such
Third Party has responsibility for marketing and promotion of such
Product within the Field and country for which such distribution
rights are granted.
1.39 "Target(s)" shall mean any one or more of (a) the HIV
gp120 glycoprotein, including all genetic variants of such
glycoprotein, or (b) the HIV gp41 glycoprotein, including all
genetic variants of such glycoprotein.
1.40 "Target Screening Assay" shall mean an in vitro assay
utilized by or on behalf of Trimeris to detect or measure the
modulation of a Target by interaction with a Library Compound or
Compound.
1.41 "Third Party" shall mean any person or entity other than
CRL and Trimeris, and their respective Affiliates.
1.42 "Trimeris Technology" shall mean certain know-how,
intellectual property or patents, as shown by contemporaneous
documentation, that is (i) developed, licensed and/or owned by
Trimeris, prior to the Effective Date; or (ii) developed,
licensed and/or owned by Trimeris at any time outside of the
Research Collaboration; or (iii) developed during the term of
the Research Collaboration and not having specific application to
the Research Plan (i.e. such know-how, intellectual property, or
patents having application only outside of the specific composition
of matter, method of synthesis, manufacture, sale or importation of
Compounds and/or Products); or (iv) Development Technology
developed, licensed or owned solely by Trimeris, or by Trimeris and
a Third Party.
1.43 "U.S. Territory" shall mean the United States of America,
excluding Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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1.44 "Valid Claim" shall mean a claim of an
issued, unexpired and unabandoned patent within the Patent Rights,
which has not been held invalid in a final decision of a court of
competent jurisdiction, which has not been appealed or from which
no appeal may be taken, and which has not been disclaimed or
admitted to be invalid or unenforceable through reissue or
otherwise, and such that making, having made, offering for sale,
importing, exporting or selling a Product would infringe such
claim.
ARTICLE 2
RESEARCH COLLABORATION
2.1 Goals . The goal of the Research Collaboration is to
develop Products for use in the Field pursuant to a Research Plan,
which Research Plan is expected to consist of multiple steps, as
the research under the Research Plan progresses.
2.2 Conduct of the Research Collaboration . Subject to
the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Parties agree to
conduct research under the Research Collaboration, which shall be
funded as set forth in Section 2.8 below. During the term of
the Research Collaboration, CRL and Trimeris shall collaborate and
shall each use their commercially reasonable efforts to conduct the
Research Collaboration in accordance with the Research Plan within
the time schedules contemplated therein, and to keep the other
Party informed as to the progress and results of the Research
Collaboration hereunder.
2.3 Research Plan . The Research Collaboration shall be
carried out in accordance with a mutually agreed upon written
Research Plan, which shall establish specific research objectives
and the research tasks to be performed and resources to be provided
by each Party according to the terms and conditions specified in
Section 2.4. The Research Plan shall, among other things,
establish: (i) the scope of the research activities which will
be performed; (ii) the research objectives, work plan
activities and time schedules with respect to the Research
Collaboration; (iii) the respective obligations of the Parties
with respect to the Research Collaboration; and
(iv) guidelines for determining when a Compound shall be
deemed an Active or a Lead Compound. As of the Effective Date, the
initial "Research Plan" shall be attached and incorporated herein
as APPENDIX A. The
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Research Plan shall be reviewed on an ongoing
basis, and may be amended during Stage I Research by the JRC,
provided that any changes or adjustments in the allocation of CRL
resources to a Target research program that are recommended by the
JRC be made in accordance with the provisions outlined in
Section 2.7.2 and ARTICLE 3, such adjustments to fall within
the specific CRL resource allocation specified therein.
2.4 Research Collaboration Activities .
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addition, at Trimeris’ request, CRL shall
make available to Trimeris a copy of any and all quality control
data and methods used for characterization of the Compounds and
Focused Library Compounds delivered to Trimeris. The Parties
recognize that during Stage I Research CRL will create at least one
(1) Initial Focused Library , as defined in the Research Plan
under APPENDIX A and approved by the JRC; and that subsequent Stage
I Research may comprise the creation and subsequent analysis of
more than one (1) Focused Library and/or the creation of
multiple Focused Libraries, provided however that any changes or
adjustments in the allocation of CRL resources to the gp120 Target
research program for the purpose of generating one or more Focused
Libraries as recommended by the JRC be made in accordance with the
provisions outlined in Section 2.7.2 and ARTICLE 3, such
adjustments to fall within the specific CRL resource allocation
specified therein.
(b) Trimeris Responsibilities . In accordance with the
Research Plan, Trimeris shall assay the Database Mining Compounds,
Compounds, and Focused Library Compounds, made available to it
pursuant to this Section 2.4.2(a), for in vitro
activity in the Target Screening Assay(s) in accordance with the
Research Plan, and for purposes of establishing SAR data with
respect to such Database Mining Compounds, Compounds, and Focused
Library Compounds.
(c) Designation of Lead Compounds . In accordance with
the responsibilities of the JRC and its decision making process in
accordance with Section 3.1, the JRC shall designate Lead
Compounds which will be further evaluated under the Research Plan
for possible designation as Development Compounds.
2.4.3 Focused Library Exclusivity . All Focused Library
Compounds made for either the gp120 Target or the gp41 Target
pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed Compounds, and shall be
made solely available to Trimeris on an exclusive basis, and such
Focused Library Compounds shall not be included in any CRL Library
supplied to a Third Party by CRL under a separate agreement.
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(c) It is understood between the Parties that CRL
is in the business of providing compound libraries to Third
Parties, and except as expressly provided herein, nothing herein
shall prevent or restrict CRL from providing Library Compounds to
Third Parties, or from using the Library Compounds for any purposes
for other than to screen against the Targets to its best knowledge.
It is further understood that CRL may grant to Third Parties rights
to acquire licenses in the Library Compounds similar to those
granted to Trimeris hereunder except to screen against the Targets
(as specified in 2.11.1); accordingly, Trimeris’ right to
designate any particular Library Compound as a Development
Compound, and CRL’s grant of rights to Trimeris thereto under
Section 4.2, are limited to the extent that CRL has, prior to
Trimeris’ request, granted a Third Party a license or other
right with respect to such a Library Compound. In the event that
Trimeris wishes to designate a Library Compound as a Development
Compound pursuant to Section 2.4.4(c), CRL must inform
Trimeris within five (5) business days whether or not CRL has
previously granted a Third Party rights that would prevent CRL from
granting Trimeris an exclusive license to such Library Compound and
designation by Trimeris of such Library Compound as a Development
Compound. In the event that CRL informs Trimeris that CRL has not
granted to a Third Party rights that would prevent CRL from
granting Trimeris an exclusive license to such Library Compound as
a Development Compound, such Library Compound shall be deemed a
Development Compound under this Agreement. In the event CRL informs
Trimeris that CRL has granted a Third Party rights that would
prevent CRL from granting Trimeris an exclusive license to such
Library Compound as a Development Compound, and within five
(5) business days of so informing Trimeris, Trimeris shall
automatically be granted by CRL a nonexclusive, sublicensable,
royalty-free, non-transferable license and right to use such
Library Compound solely for research purposes by Trimeris or its
Third Party contractors, for a term of ten (10) years ("
Research Use License "), as long as the rights to such
Library Compound granted by CRL to the Third Party does not
preclude the granting by CRL to Trimeris of such Research Use
License. A chemical entity or entities developed by Trimeris as a
result of such Research Use License which does not infringe a Valid
Claim of a CRL patent existing as of the date of granting of such
Research Use License to Trimeris shall: (i) be solely owned by
Trimeris, including all right, title, interest, and intellectual
property to any such chemical entity; and (ii) constitute
Trimeris Technology. It is understood and agreed that so long as
CRL complies with this Section 2.4.4(c), CRL shall have no
liability with respect to any
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conflict of Trimeris’ rights and those
rights granted to Third Parties by CRL regarding such Library
Compound. A Research Use License granted under this
Section 2.4.4(c), shall be separate and distinct from the
license rights granted to Trimeris by CRL under Section 4.1.2
of this Agreement. CRL makes no representation or warranty that any
Library Compound designated by Trimeris as a Development Compound
does not or will not infringe the intellectual property rights of
any Third Party.
2.5 General Resources and Responsibilities .
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2.5.1 CRL Responsibilities . During the term of the
Research Collaboration, CRL shall be primarily responsible for the
following activities, in connection with the Research Collaboration
as specified in the Research Plan:
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(a) Supply of Database Mining Compounds to Trimeris as specified
under Sections 2.4.1 and 2.4.2;
(b) Design, chemical synthesis, purification, and analysis of
Compounds and Focused Library Compounds;
(c) Computational chemistry and structure-based drug design and
pharmacophore mapping as well as de novo virtual library
generation;
(d) Transfer protocols and materials, and provide assistance to
Trimeris, pursuant to this Agreement, and also as specified in the
Research Plan; and
(e) Medicinal chemistry in support of the generation of Focused
Libraries, chemical optimization of Lead Compound(s).
2.5.2 Trimeris Responsibilities . During the Research
Term, Trimeris shall be primarily responsible for the following
activities, among others, as specified in the Research Plan or in
connection with the Research Collaboration:
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(b) Assist CRL in the design of additional
Compounds and/or Focused Libraries for the gp120 target and the
gp41 Target as needed;
(c) Primary and secondary analysis for activity and
selectivity;
(d) Anti-viral activity assays;
(e) Dose-response titrations in viral inhibition assays;
(f) ADMET studies on Compounds;
(g) In vivo proof of concept;
(h) In vitro and ex vivo metabolite profiling;
(i) Providing information for structural biology; and
(j) Initiation of pre-clinical studies.
2.6 Conduct of Research Collaboration . During the term
of the Research Collaboration, each Party shall:
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2.6.1 undertake its obligations under the Research Collaboration
as set forth in the Research Plan, provided however that any
changes or adjustments in the allocation of CRL resources to the
gp120 Target research program and/or the gp41 Target research
program or within such programs as recommended by the JRC be made
in accordance with the provisions outlined in Section 2.7.2
and ARTICLE 3, such adjustments to fall within the specific CRL
resource allocation specified therein;
2.6.2 use all reasonable efforts and proceed diligently to
perform the work set out for such Party to perform the Research
Plan, including without limitation by using personnel with such
sufficient skills and experience, together with sufficient
equipment and facilities to perform its obligations under the
Research Plan;
2.6.3 conduct the Research Plan in good scientific manner and in
compliance in all material respects with the requirements of
applicable laws, rules and regulations, and all other requirements
of any applicable good laboratory practices to attempt to achieve
its objectives efficiently and expeditiously;
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2.6.4 within thirty (30) days following the
end of each calendar month during the first six months of the term
of the Research Collaboration furnish the other Party with a
reasonably detailed written report summarizing the activities
conducted by such Party under the Research Plan during such month;
and
2.6.5 provide reasonable and informal access to, and
communication with, any and all of such Party’s FTEs assigned
to the Research Collaboration, as well as to records pertaining to
research activities under the Research Plan on a need-to-know basis
and in accordance with Section 2.10 herein.
2.7 Staffing of the Research Collaboration
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2.7.1 For the first [**] of the term of the Research
Collaboration, CRL shall devote [**] FTEs to the Research Plan as
follows:
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(a) [**], located at CRL’s San Diego facility, each of
whose efforts under the Research Collaboration will be considered a
[**] for billing purposes;
(b) [**], located at CRL’s facility in the Russian
Federation, each of whose efforts under the Research Collaboration
will be considered a [**] for billing purposes; and
(c) [**] located at CRL’s San Diego facility, responsible
for senior level project management, molecular modeling,
analytical, purification and any other chemistry support as
necessary for CRL to meet its obligations and perform its
activities pursuant to the Research Plan and whose efforts under
the Research Collaboration will be considered a [**] for billing
purposes.
2.7.2 FTE adjustments [**] after the Effective
Date . For the term of the Research Collaboration beyond the
first [**] of the Research Collaboration, the Parties agree as
follows:
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(a) Trimeris, in its sole discretion and at its sole option, can
adjust by either increasing or decreasing the level of CRL’s
FTEs from the initial level of [**] FTEs to an adjusted level of
between [**] FTEs; provided, however, that the number of CRL
FTEs shall in any event be
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reasonable in light of CRL’s Research
Collaboration responsibilities. Trimeris shall give CRL [**]
written notice of the desire to make such adjustment of FTE levels,
with such adjusted level of FTEs taking effect at the end of the
[**] notice period. Trimeris can opt to adjust the level of FTEs
multiple times during the term of the Research Collaboration, so
long as Trimeris provides CRL with [**] written notice of such
adjustment. The JRC shall be timely advised of any such adjustment
in the FTE level so that the JRC can then re-apportion FTE
allocation with respect to CRL’s obligations and activities
under the Research Plan. CRL shall then adapt the skill set of
CRL’s FTEs to facilitate such re-apportioned FTE allocation
between its San Diego Facility and its Russian Federation facility,
provided that CRL must maintain at least [**] FTE within the San
Diego Facility covering senior level project management as long as
the FTE level set by Trimeris is at least [**] FTE. All such CRL
FTE’s shall be billable to Trimeris [**] unless otherwise
determined in writing by CRL as specified in
Section 2.8.3(d).
(b) At a time no later than [**] from the Effective Date of this
Agreement, the JRC shall convene to review the progress made under
the Research Plan, and to determine whether or not Stage I Research
for each Target is timely attaining the specific objectives set
forth in the Research Plan. Based on the results of the JRC review
process, Trimeris will then determine whether to terminate the
Agreement as specified in ARTICLE 13 or to continue with the
Research Collaboration.
(c) At any time after [**] from the Effective Date of the
Agreement, Trimeris, in its sole discretion and at its sole option,
can terminate the Research Collaboration activities under the
Research Plan with respect to either the gp41 Target or the gp120
Target, and then adjust the level of CRL’s FTEs for
performing research related to the remaining Target according to
the process set forth in Section 2.7.2(a) herein. CRL shall
then adapt the skill set of CRL’s FTEs to facilitate such
adjustment in FTE allocation.
2.7.3 For the term of the Research Collaboration, Trimeris will
provide, at its own costs, the personnel as necessary for Trimeris
to meet its obligations and perform its activities pursuant to the
Research Plan.
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2.8 Research Collaboration Funding
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2.8.1 Research Tax Credits . To the extent permitted by
law, Trimeris shall have the sole right to claim any tax credits
due on account of research expenses and milestone payments Trimeris
incurs under this Agreement.
2.8.2 Equipment, Supplies, and Capital Expenditures .
Unless the Parties otherwise agree in writing, or as specified
below under Section 2.8.2(a), the Parties acknowledge and
agree that CRL is solely responsible for the cost of all equipment,
supplies, chemicals, solvents, laboratory scale reagents,
materials, handling, disposal, and capital items that CRL uses (or
is required to use) in connection with the obligations of CRL under
the Research Collaboration. Unless the Parties otherwise agree in
writing, the Parties acknowledge and agree that Trimeris is solely
responsible for the cost of all equipment, supplies, chemicals,
solvents, reagents, materials, handling, disposal, and capital
items that Trimeris uses (or is required to use) in connection with
the obligations of Trimeris under the Research Collaboration.
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(a) Costs for Extraordinary Research Use Reagents . The
Parties agree that if Trimeris makes a request for CRL to
synthesize one or more particular Compounds either individually or
collectively as part of a Focused Library to support the Research
Plan and CRL would need to purchase a research reagent from a Third
Party that costs more than [**] dollars ($[**]) to effect such
Compound synthesis ("Extraordinary Research Use Reagent"), then CRL
will ask the JRC to approve in advance such expense in writing.
Upon receiving JRC written approval to proceed with the purchase of
the Extraordinary Research Use Reagent, Trimeris will reimburse CRL
for [**] percent ([**]%) of the costs of such Extraordinary
Research Use Reagent in accordance with the terms and conditions
specified in Section 2.8.4 .
(b) Reagent costs for synthesis of bulk amounts of Compounds
by CRL . The Parties hereby agree that if the JRC makes a
request in writing for CRL to synthesize more than [**] of any
individual Compound to support the Research Plan, then Trimeris
will reimburse CRL for [**] percent ([**]%) the cost of any and all
Third Party reagents purchased by CRL to effect the synthesis of
more than [**] of any individual Compound to support the Research
Plan.
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2.9 Term and Termination of Research Collaboration . The
term of the Research Collaboration shall commence on the Effective
Date and shall end by a termination of the Research Collaboration
or this Agreement pursuant to Article 13.
2.10 Records; Inspection .
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2.10.1 Records . CRL and Trimeris shall each maintain
records of the Research Collaboration (or cause such records to be
maintained) in sufficient detail and in good scientific manner as
will properly reflect: (a) all work done and results achieved
by the respective Party in the performance of the Research Plan
(including all data in the form required under any applicable
governmental regulations and as directed by the JRC); and
(b) all FTEs used in connection with, including the number of
FTEs utilized in performing its activities related to each of the
two Targets under, the Research Plan. Each Party shall have the
right, during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice, to
inspect and copy all such records of the other Party to the extent
reasonably required in connection with the performance of its
obligations or exercise of its rights under this Agreement; however
such inspection may be made no more than once per calendar year.
Each Party shall maintain such records and the information of the
other Party contained therein in confidence in accordance with
ARTICLE 10.
2.10.2 Reports and Information Exchange . Each of
Trimeris and CRL shall use commercially reasonable and diligent
efforts to disclose to the other Party all material information
relating to the Research Collaboration, including without
limitation any Actives, Focused Library
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Compounds, Lead Compounds, Development Compound,
or Compound promptly after such information is learned or its
materiality is appreciated. In addition to the exchange of reports
under Section 2.6.4, during the term of the Research
Collaboration each Party shall keep the JRC informed as to its
progress under the Research Plan by means of written reports to the
JRC. Such written reports shall be provided to the JRC at least
seven (7) days in advance of each bimonthly meeting of the
JRC, and shall contain in reasonable detail a description of the
work done and include all results achieved and data generated in
performance of the Research Plan since the last report. The written
reports submitted to the JRC shall be forwarded by the JRC to
senior management representatives of the respective Parties, as
determined by the JRC.
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(a) Within thirty (30) days following June 30
th and
December 30 th
in a calendar year during the Research
Collaboration, CRL shall provide Trimeris with a reasonably
detailed written report describing the progress to date of all
activities for which CRL was allocated responsibility during such
six (6) month period under the Research Plan. Each written
report by CRL shall summarize the results and experimental
procedures of the activities conducted by CRL and include a
description of all Collaboration Technology and Compound
structures, except that CRL will not disclose the chemical
structure of a Database Mining Compound which was not designated as
an Active by the JRC. CRL shall make available to Trimeris:
analytical data related to Compounds; physical chemical
characterization data of Compounds; Compound numbers, lot numbers,
names of Compound, and dates when Compounds were prepared; full
details of synthesis methods (especially new methods or
modifications and new applications of existing methods) for all
Actives, Lead Compounds, and Development Compounds; Compound
purification conditions and protocols, chemical reaction schemes,
conditions, protocols, yields, and certificate of analysis; and
such other matters as Trimeris may reasonably request. CRL shall
provide a final report to Trimeris within thirty (30) days
after the earlier of (i) completion of the Research Plan, or
(ii) termination or expiration of this Agreement. In no event
shall CRL be required to disclose to Trimeris any CRL Technology,
except as provided for in this ARTICLE 2.
(b) Within thirty (30) days following June 30
th and
December 30 th
in a calendar year during the Research
Collaboration, Trimeris shall provide CRL with a reasonably
detailed written report describing the progress to date of all
activities for which Trimeris was
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allocated responsibility during such six
(6) month period under the Research Plan. Each written report
by Trimeris shall summarize the results and experimental procedures
of the activities conducted by Trimeris that include hits generated
from Target Screening Assays, analysis, toxicology studies, in
vitro activity studies, and SAR. Each such written report will
contain the results and general protocols for all experiments
performed by Trimeris using Database Mining Compounds, Compounds
and any other compound derived from active substances generated
under the Research Plan, including, but not limited to, Target
Screening Assays, in-vitro activity studies, SAR,
in-vivo activity, toxicity, ADME, non-GLP pharmacokinetic
and/or pharmacodynamic studies. Trimeris shall not be required to
disclose to CRL any Trimeris Technology, except as provided for in
this ARTICLE 2.
2.11 Exclusivity pertaining to the gp41 Target and the gp120
Target .
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2.11.1 CRL . Except as set forth herein, prior to
termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 13.1, CRL
shall not knowingly conduct, participate in, or fund, directly or
indirectly, alone or with a Third Party, drug discovery research
and/or drug development efforts directed to the identification of,
or grant any right to exploit, chemical entities for use against
either the gp41 Target or the gp120 Target, except pursuant to this
Agreement. The provisions of this Section 2.11.1 shall apply
so long as Trimeris is utilizing commercially reasonable efforts
(as described in Section 8.1) to pursue the research,
development and/or commercialization of Compound(s) or Product(s)
pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in this
Agreement.
2.11.2 Trimeris. Except as provided in Sections 2.11.2
(a) and (b) herein, nothing in this Agreement shall
prevent or restrict Trimeris from using its screening assays and
analytical methods to assay compound libraries provided by Third
Parties, and/or to do any one or more of develop, commercialize,
make, have made, use (for any purpose), own or license compounds
provided by Third Parties related to the gp41 Target or the gp120
Target.
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(a) During the first [**] of the term of Research Collaboration,
nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or restrict Trimeris from
using its screening assays and analytical methods to assay compound
libraries provided by Third Parties, and/or to do any one or more
of
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develop, commercialize, make, use (for any
purpose), have made, own, sell or license compounds provided by
Third Parties related to the gp120 Target, except that Trimeris
will not knowingly work with a Third Party with a compound which is
identified to be in the same chemical family as a chemical entity
provided to Trimeris by CRL.
(b) During the Limited Exclusivity Period (as defined below in
Section 2.11.2(c)) applicable to Trimeris only, Trimeris shall
not knowingly conduct, participate in, or fund, directly or
indirectly, with a Third Party, drug discovery research and/or drug
development efforts directed to the identification of small
molecule chemical entities with a molecular size of [**] for use
against the gp120 Target, except pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) Limited Exclusivity Period . For purposes of this
Agreement, the "Limited Exclusivity Period" shall mean the period
beginning [**] after the Effective Date of the Agreement and
terminating by the earlier of either: (i) exercise by
Trimeris’ of its option to terminate the Limited Exclusivity
Period pursuant to Section 2.11.2(d) herein; or (ii) [**]
from the Effective Date; or (iii) termination of this
Agreement.
(d) Trimeris can, at its sole discretion and option, terminate
the Limited Exclusivity Period by giving written notice to CRL of
Trimeris’ termination of the Limited Exclusivity Period. If
Trimeris elects the option to terminate the Limited Exclusivity
Period prior to its expiration, CRL shall remain bound by the
exclusivity provisions specified in Section 2.11.1.
2.12 Effect of Termination of Limited Exclusivity Period
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2.12.1 If Trimeris terminates the Limited Exclusivity Period
prior to its expiration (as specified in
Section 2.11.2(c)(ii)) and Trimeris then terminates the
Agreement prior to Trimeris’ selection of a Development
Compound for the gp120 Target, and if during the Limited
Exclusivity Period CRL provided FTEs to the Research Collaboration
funded [**], Trimeris shall pay to CRL at the time the Agreement is
terminated a Limited Exclusivity Period termination fee ("Limited
Exclusivity Period Termination Fee") equal to [**] percent ([**]%)
of the aggregate FTE payments made by Trimeris to CRL after the
[**] of the term of the Research Collaboration, provided, however,
that in no event shall the Limited Exclusivity Period Termination
Fee due and payable to CRL exceed [**] dollars ($[**]).
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2.12.2 If Trimeris terminates the Limited
Exclusivity Period prior to its expiration, and Trimeris
subsequently declares a first Development Compound for the gp120
Target, Trimeris shall pay CRL the applicable milestone after
selection of such Development Compound, and no Limited Exclusivity
Period Termination Fee shall be due and payable to CRL by
Trimeris.
2.12.3 If Trimeris terminates the Limited Exclusivity Period
prior to its expiration and CRL had elected to provide [**] to the
Research Collaboration after the [**] pursuant to
Section 2.8.3(d), then no Limited Exclusivity Period
Termination Fee shall be due and payable to CRL by Trimeris upon
termination of the Agreement by Trimeris.
2.13 Certain Matters Relating to Acquisition of CRL . If
(i) this Agreement is assigned upon a Change of Control of
CRL, and (ii) at the time of such Change of Control, the
surviving entity had ongoing, or subsequently undertakes, a program
for drug discovery research and/or drug development efforts
specifically directed to the identification of chemical entities
for use against a Target, then subject to the provisions of
Section 2.11.1, then:
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