EXHIBIT 10.23
AMENDED AND RESTATED
COLLABORATION AGREEMENT (2006)
This amended
and restated agreement is between Biomira B.V. (formerly
Biomira Europe B.V.), a Netherlands corporation with offices
located at Amsterdam, The Netherlands ("BIOMIRA"), and Merck KGaA,
a German corporation with offices located at Darmstadt, Germany
("MERCK") and is effective as of
March 1, 2006.
WHEREAS BIOMIRA
and MERCK entered into an amended and restated collaboration
agreement effective as of May 7, 2001 (the "2001
COLLABORATION AGREEMENT") in relation to, inter alia, the
development of BLP25;
AND WHEREAS
BIOMIRA, Biomira International Inc. and MERCK entered into a
letter of intent effective as of January 26, 2006 to amend,
inter alia, certain provisions of the 2001 COLLABORATION
AGREEMENT;
AND WHEREAS
BIOMIRA and MERCK now wish to amend and restate the 2001
COLLABORATION AGREEMENT in accordance with, inter alia, such
letter of intent, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in this AGREEMENT;
NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the premises and covenants contained herein and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of which is hereby agreed to by the parties, and intending to be
legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree
as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Meaning
Whenever a term
is written in this AGREEMENT with all capital letters it shall have
the following meaning:
-
- 1.1.1
- "ADVERSE EVENT" means, with respect to PRODUCT
in a particular country in the TERRITORY, the occurrence of an
adverse event with respect to PRODUCT as defined by applicable law
or regulation in such country;
- 1.1.2
- "AFFILIATES" means any business entity that
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under
common control with either party to this AGREEMENT. A business
entity shall be deemed to "control" another business entity if it
owns, directly or indirectly, more than fifty (50%) percent of the
outstanding voting securities, capital stock, or other comparable
equity or ownership interest of such business entity. If the laws
of the jurisdiction in which such business entity operates prohibit
ownership by a party of more than fifty percent (50%), control
shall be deemed to exist at the maximum level of ownership allowed
by such jurisdiction;
- 1.1.3
- "AGREEMENT" means this amended and restated
collaboration agreement, together with all schedules and appendices
hereto and any amendments to or restatements of this amended and
restated collaboration agreement;
- 1.1.4
- "BIOMIRA COST OF GOODS" includes, but is not
limited to, with respect to PRODUCT in relation to a particular
country in the TERRITORY, [+]
- [+]
- Designates portions of this document that have
been omitted for confidentiality purposes
-
- 1.1.5
- "BIOMIRA IMPROVEMENTS" has the meaning
attributed to that term in section 9.2 of
this AGREEMENT;
- 1.1.6
- "BIOMIRA KNOW-HOW" means all proprietary
information and data in the FIELD including but not limited to
compounds, formulae, protocols, methods, techniques and results of
experimentation and testing, which, except for published patent
applications which are also included within this definition, is
generally not known to the public, and which are owned by BIOMIRA
or licensed in by BIOMIRA with the right to sublicense in the
manner contemplated by this AGREEMENT, and which directly relate to
research, CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT, use and/or sale of PRODUCT. For
greater certainty, BIOMIRA KNOW-HOW shall include BIOMIRA
IMPROVEMENTS and IMPROVEMENTS licensed in by BIOMIRA with the right
to sublicense in the manner contemplated by this AGREEMENT, which
arise or occur after the ORIGINAL EFFECTIVE DATE and which fall
within the ambit of the preceding sentence. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, BIOMIRA KNOW-HOW shall not include any subsequently
developed or acquired BIOMIRA KNOW-HOW to the extent covering any
active compound that is separate and clearly distinct from PRODUCT,
notwithstanding the fact that such active compound may be useful as
part of a combination therapy with PRODUCT;
- 1.1.7
- "BIOMIRA PATENT RIGHTS" means all rights in the
FIELD owned by BIOMIRA or licensed in by BIOMIRA with the right to
sublicense in the manner contemplated by this AGREEMENT in any of
the following patents: any patent issuing on any patent application
identified in appendix 1, as well as any patent issuing from
any continuing applications of the patents listed in
appendix 2, such applications including any divisions,
continuations, and continuation-in-part applications, as well as
any patents issuing on any reissue and/or reexamination
application, and including any patent term restoration of any such
patents. BIOMIRA PATENT RIGHTS also includes all rights in the
FIELD owned by BIOMIRA or licensed in by BIOMIRA with the right to
sublicense in the manner contemplated by this AGREEMENT in any
foreign patents which correspond to those described in the
preceding sentence and in any patents that claim BIOMIRA
IMPROVEMENTS, JOINT IMPROVEMENTS and/or IMPROVEMENTS.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, BIOMIRA PATENT RIGHTS shall not
include any subsequently developed or acquired BIOMIRA PATENT
RIGHTS to the extent covering any active compound that is separate
and clearly distinct from PRODUCT, notwithstanding the fact that
such active compound may be useful as part of a combination therapy
with PRODUCT;
- 1.1.8
- "BIOMIRA TECHNOLOGY" means all BIOMIRA PATENT
RIGHTS and/or BIOMIRA KNOW-HOW in the FIELD;
- 1.1.9
- "BLP25" means BIOMIRA's immunotherapeutic
vaccine composed of a 25-amino acid sequence of the
MUC1 cancer mucin, which vaccine is combined with the adjuvant
Lipid A and is encapsulated in a liposomal delivery system,
together with (i) any IMPROVEMENTS thereto (such as liposomal
IL-2 in a kit, synthetic Lipid A, or new delivery formats such
as unit dose liquid formulations and unit dose syringes) owned by
BIOMIRA or licensed in by BIOMIRA with the right to sublicense in
the manner contemplated by this AGREEMENT and which BIOMIRA and
MERCK agree in writing to implement and (ii) any PRODRUG
thereof;
- 1.1.10
- "CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT" means all activities
required for MARKET APPROVAL of PRODUCT in the TERRITORY (including
without limitation non-clinical and clinical trials, including but
not limited to, toxicology and absorption, distribution, metabolism
and elimination studies), as well as all clinical activities
desirable for optimized marketing of PRODUCT in the TERRITORY
(including without limitation Phase IIIb and
Phase IV
- [+]
- Designates portions of this document that have
been omitted for confidentiality purposes
2
-
- 1.1.11
- "COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING PLAN" shall mean the
manufacturing plans reviewed by the STEERING COMMITTEE pursuant to
section 3.2.2 of this AGREEMENT;
- 1.1.12
- "COMPETITIVE PRODUCT" [+]
- 1.1.13
- "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" has the meaning
attributed to that term in section 8.1 of
this AGREEMENT;
- 1.1.14
- "CORIXA LICENSE" means that certain adjuvant
license agreement dated as of October 20, 2004 with Corixa
Corporation, together with all schedules thereto and any amendments
to or restatements of such adjuvant license agreement;
- 1.1.15
- "DANA-FARBER LICENSE" means that certain license
agreement dated November 22, 1996 with the Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute, Inc., together with all schedules thereto and any
amendments to or restatements of such license agreement;
- 1.1.16
- "DEVELOPMENT PLAN" shall mean the development
plans reviewed by the STEERING COMMITTEE pursuant to
section 3.2.1 of this AGREEMENT;
- 1.1.17
- "DISTRIBUTOR" means, with respect to PRODUCT in
a particular country in the TERRITORY, a third party retained to
market, promote and/or sell PRODUCT in such country, but excluding
for greater certainty wholesalers and any such third party in
circumstances where the laws of such country require the use of
such third party to market, promote and/or sell PRODUCT in
such country;
- 1.1.18
- "DOMAIN NAMES" has the meaning attributed to
that term in section 5.12.6 of this AGREEMENT;
- 1.1.19
- "DOSE" means, with respect to PRODUCT and for
purposes of section 6.3 of this AGREEMENT, the amount of
PRODUCT currently (i.e., as at the date of this AGREEMENT)
specified to be taken at one time (being four vials each containing
250 micrograms of lipopeptide);
- 1.1.20
- "EFFECTIVE DATE" shall mean March 1, 2006,
or such other date as BIOMIRA and MERCK may agree upon
in writing;
- 1.1.21
- "END USER" shall mean, with respect to PRODUCT,
any person at arm's length with MERCK and its AFFILIATES that
acquires PRODUCT in final form for end use, including physicians
and hospitals but excluding DISTRIBUTORS and other agents;
- 1.1.22
- "EXECUTION DATE" shall mean the first day on
which the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976 , as amended, in relation to the
notification and report of the parties with respect to this
AGREEMENT has expired or been terminated, or such other date as
BIOMIRA and MERCK may agree upon in writing;
- 1.1.23
- "FIELD" shall mean the use of BLP25 for the
prevention and/or treatment of cancers in humans;
- 1.1.24
- "ICRT LICENSE" means that certain amended and
restated license agreement dated November 14, 2000 with
Imperial Cancer Research Technology Limited (now Cancer
Research
- [+]
- Designates portions of this document that have
been omitted for confidentiality purposes
3
-
- 1.1.25
- "IFRS" means international financial reporting
standards, consistently applied;
- 1.1.26
- "IMPROVEMENTS" has the meaning attributed to
that term in section 9.1 of this AGREEMENT;
- 1.1.27
- "INDICATION" means a specific health care
indication (e.g., non-small cell lung cancer) for which
PRODUCT is, as indicated on the label for the PRODUCT, specified
for the treatment and/or prevention thereof;
- 1.1.28
- "JOINT IMPROVEMENT PATENT RIGHTS" has the
meaning attributed to that term in section 10.1.1 of
this AGREEMENT;
- 1.1.29
- "JOINT IMPROVEMENTS" has the meaning attributed
to that term in section 9.1 of this AGREEMENT;
- 1.1.30
- "LAUNCH" shall mean, with respect to PRODUCT in
a particular country in the TERRITORY, the date of the first arms'
length sale of PRODUCT in such country after receipt of MARKET
APPROVAL for PRODUCT in such country;
- 1.1.31
- "MAJOR MARKET" shall mean any one of Germany,
France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain or Japan, and "MAJOR
MARKETS" shall mean all of such countries;
- 1.1.32
- "MANUFACTURING/CMC PROJECT TEAM" has the meaning
attributed to that term in section 3.2.4 of
this AGREEMENT;
- 1.1.33
- "MARKET APPROVAL" shall mean, with respect to
PRODUCT in a particular country in the TERRITORY, the date upon
which the last of all governmental or regulatory approvals required
for the sale of PRODUCT in that country has been granted, including
price approval for the PRODUCT (if required);
- 1.1.34
- "MARKETING PLAN" shall mean the marketing plans
reviewed by the STEERING COMMITTEE pursuant to section 3.2.3
of this AGREEMENT;
- 1.1.35
- "MERCK IMPROVEMENTS" has the meaning attributed
to that term in section 9.3 of this AGREEMENT;
- 1.1.36
- "MUC1" means cancer associated mucin-1;
- 1.1.37
- "NA TERRITORY" shall mean, collectively, Canada
(including Quebec) and its territories and the United States
of America and its territories;
- 1.1.38
- "NET SALES" shall mean, with respect to PRODUCT
in a particular country, the sum of the gross amounts invoiced for
all SALES (directly or indirectly) by MERCK, its AFFILIATES and
their respective sublicensees, DISTRIBUTORS, assignees and
transferees of PRODUCT to END USERS, less the following deductions
from such invoiced amounts which are actually incurred in
accordance with IFRS:
- 1.1.38.1
- credits or allowances actually granted for
spoiled or damaged PRODUCT or with respect to returned or rejected
PRODUCT, and for retroactive price adjustments;
- 1.1.38.2
- normal and customary trade, cash and quantity
discounts, allowances, rebates and credits actually allowed,
including allowances, adjustments, reimbursements, discounts,
chargebacks and rebates given to healthcare organizations and any
governmental or quasi-governmental body or agency, whether during
the actual SALES/royalty period or not;
- [+]
- Designates portions of this document that have
been omitted for confidentiality purposes
4
-
-
- 1.1.38.3
- sales, value added or similar taxes measured by
the billing amount, when included in billing;
- 1.1.38.4
- freight, postage, shipping, and insurance
charges related to delivery of PRODUCT from the applicable
MERCK/distributor warehouse measured by the billing amount, when
included in billing; and
- 1.1.38.5
- import and export duties actually
paid.
-
-
Any refund or reimbursement of any of the
foregoing amounts previously deducted from NET SALES shall be
appropriately credited upon receipt thereof.
If PRODUCT is SOLD in combination with another
product or products (for greater certainty the use of adjuvant
or other such PRODUCT enhancer stipulated to be mixed with PRODUCT
shall not be considered to be "another product" for purposes of
this section 1.1.38), "NET SALES" under such circumstances
shall be calculated by multiplying the "NET SALES" of the
combination by the fraction A/(A + B), in which A is the
amount invoiced for PRODUCT when SOLD separately, and B is the
total amount invoiced for any other product or products in
combination when SOLD separately;
- 1.1.39
- "ORIGINAL EFFECTIVE DATE" means May 7,
2001;
- 1.1.40
- "PRODRUG" means a chemical precursor of PRODUCT
which is to be cleaved in a human being directly into PRODUCT
and/or a metabolic intermediate thereof, but excluding for greater
certainty, antigen processing;
- 1.1.41
- "PRODUCT" shall mean BLP25;
- 1.1.42
- "ROW TERRITORY" shall mean all countries in the
world except the NA TERRITORY;
- 1.1.43
- "SALE" includes, with respect to PRODUCT, the
sale thereof to an END USER, and "SOLD" and "SELL" have a
corresponding meaning;
- 1.1.44
- "SALES REPORT" has the meaning attributed to
that term in section 7.2 of this AGREEMENT;
- 1.1.45
- "STEERING COMMITTEE" has the meaning attributed
to that term in section 3.1.1 of this AGREEMENT;
- 1.1.46
- "STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT" means that certain
agreement dated May 2, 2001 between Biomira Inc., Biomira
International Inc. and MERCK relating to the purchase of
Biomira Inc. common shares, together with all schedules
thereto and any amendments to or restatements of
such agreement;
- 1.1.47
- "SUPPLY AGREEMENT" means that certain amended
and restated supply agreement of even date herewith between MERCK
and Biomira International Inc. relating to the supply of
PRODUCT by Biomira International Inc. to MERCK, together with
all schedules thereto and any amendments to or restatements of such
amended and restated supply agreement;
- 1.1.48
- "TERRITORY" shall mean, collectively, the NA
TERRITORY and the ROW TERRITORY;
- 1.1.49
- "THIRD PARTY LICENSES" means, collectively, the
ICRT LICENSE, the DANA-FARBER LICENSE, the U of A LICENSE and any
other third party license or sublicense of any technology included
as part of the BIOMIRA TECHNOLOGY and/or the BIOMIRA MANUFACTURING
KNOW-HOW (as such term is defined in the SUPPLY
AGREEMENT);
- 1.1.50
- "TRADEMARK" means the trademarks and logos
selected for BLP25 pursuant to section 5.12 of this
AGREEMENT, being the trademarks [+]
- [+]
- Designates portions of this document that have
been omitted for confidentiality purposes
5
-
- 1.1.51
- "U of A LICENSE" means that certain license
dated December 1, 2001 with the University of Alberta in
relation to the Samuels MUC1 liposomal formulation patents,
together with all schedules thereto and any amendments to or
restatements of such license agreement; and
- 1.1.52
- "VALID CLAIM" means, with respect to PRODUCT in
a particular country in the TERRITORY, a claim of an issued and
unexpired patent included within the BIOMIRA PATENT RIGHTS which
has not been held unenforceable, unpatentable or invalid by a
decision of a court or other governmental agency of competent
jurisdiction, unappealable or unappealed within the time allowed
for appeal, and which has not been admitted to be invalid or
unenforceable through reissue, disclaimer
or otherwise.
ARTICLE 2
LICENSE GRANT
Section 2.1 BIOMIRA License
Grant
Subject to the
terms and conditions of this AGREEMENT and only for the purpose of
MERCK fulfilling its obligations and exercising its rights under
this AGREEMENT, BIOMIRA hereby grants to MERCK a license
(or in the case of BIOMIRA TECHNOLOGY that BIOMIRA has
licensed from a third party, a sublicense) under the BIOMIRA
TECHNOLOGY to use, import, develop, market and SELL and have used,
imported, developed, marketed and SOLD PRODUCT in the FIELD in the
NA TERRITORY and the ROW TERRITORY. Such license shall, except to
the extent otherwise provided in this AGREEMENT or otherwise
required by applicable law or regulation (as, for example, in the
European Union under applicable competition law), be exclusive for
the FIELD in the NA TERRITORY and in the ROW TERRITORY, subject to
the rights of BIOMIRA under this AGREEMENT.
MERCK shall
have no right to grant sublicenses under such licenses without the
prior written consent of BIOMIRA (such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld) and, to the extent applicable, complying
with the provisions of the THIRD PARTY LICENSES, except only for
purposes of exercising its right to appoint DISTRIBUTORS of PRODUCT
in the TERRITORY including AFFILIATES of MERCK (but again
always subject to and in compliance with the provisions of the
THIRD PARTY LICENSES). MERCK shall be responsible for the acts and
omissions of its DISTRIBUTORS, AFFILIATES and permitted
sublicensees and such acts and omissions shall be regarded for
purposes of this AGREEMENT as the acts and omissions of MERCK.
BIOMIRA agrees not to, and shall cause its wholly owned AFFILIATES
not to assert against MERCK or its permitted sublicensees any
patent not included in the BIOMIRA PATENT RIGHTS that is or might
be infringed by reason of MERCK or its permitted sublicensees
exercise of the licenses granted to MERCK under this
section 2.1. Further, BIOMIRA covenants and agrees that for so
long as MERCK has exclusive rights to all of the BIOMIRA TECHNOLOGY
under this AGREEMENT, BIOMIRA shall not grant to any third party
rights to the BIOMIRA TECHNOLOGY which would permit such third
party to make, use, import, develop, market or SELL or have made,
have used, imported, developed, marketed or SOLD PRODUCT for the
treatment of disease in humans.
Section 2.2 Term
of Grant
The licenses
granted in section 2.1 of this AGREEMENT shall remain in force
and effect on a country-by-country basis until the later of
(a) [+] (b) [+]. Upon the expiration of any such license
grant as aforesaid, MERCK shall thereafter, subject to
complying
- [+]
- Designates portions of this document that have
been omitted for confidentiality purposes
6
-
with any applicable provisions of the THIRD PARTY
LICENSES (including the payment of any and all royalties and other
amounts required to be paid thereunder), have a paid up, royalty
free, non-exclusive license under the BIOMIRA TECHNOLOGY to use,
import, develop, market and SELL, and have used, imported,
developed, marketed and SOLD PRODUCT in such country in
the FIELD.
Section 2.3 Third
Party Licenses and Corixa License
With respect to
the THIRD PARTY LICENSES to the extent not waived in writing by the
licensor under such THIRD PARTY LICENSES, BIOMIRA and MERCK hereby
incorporate by reference in this AGREEMENT any provisions specified
in such THIRD PARTY LICENSES to be included in sublicenses of the
subject matter of such THIRD PARTY LICENSES and to make such other
amendments to this AGREEMENT as may be required in connection with
the sublicensing of such THIRD PARTY LICENSES by BIOMIRA to MERCK.
MERCK also agrees to cooperate with BIOMIRA and its AFFILIATES in
fully complying in a timely manner with the terms of such THIRD
PARTY LICENSES and the CORIXA LICENSE and, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, MERCK shall provide to BIOMIRA or its
designated AFFILIATE in a timely manner or assist BIOMIRA or its
designated AFFILIATE in preparing in a timely manner any and all
reports, data, confirmations, approvals and other information that
may be required by BIOMIRA or its designated AFFILIATE in
connection therewith. BIOMIRA shall provide MERCK with examples of
applicable reports previously utilized by BIOMIRA and/or its
AFFILIATES for such purposes in order to assist MERCK in preparing
the necessary reports.
Section 2.4 Bankruptcy or
Insolvency
All rights and
licenses granted to MERCK under this article 2 are,
and shall be deemed to be, for purposes of applicable
bankruptcy law (including section 365(n) of the
United States Bankruptcy Code), licenses of rights to
"intellectual property" (including as such term is defined under
section 101(35A) of the United States Bankruptcy Code).
The parties agree that MERCK, as a licensee of such rights under
this AGREEMENT, shall retain and may fully exercise all of its
rights and elections under such applicable bankruptcy law,
including but not limited to MERCK's rights to continue to exercise
all rights licensed hereunder.
Section 2.5 BIOMIRA and MERCK
Rights
Notwithstanding
any provision to the contrary in this AGREEMENT, each of BIOMIRA
and its AFFILIATES and MERCK shall have the right at their own cost
to carry out research and clinical trials (up to but not
including Phase III) in the FIELD with respect to IMPROVEMENTS
to PRODUCT.
Section 2.6 Combination
Products
BIOMIRA shall
not prohibit MERCK from combining for use in the FIELD PRODUCT
licensed under this AGREEMENT with any
other product.
Section 2.7 Covenant Not to Sue
or Challenge
MERCK
(on behalf of itself and its AFFILIATES and their respective
sublicensees) agrees not to in any way challenge or contest
(including by way of an allegation of misuse or non-infringement),
nor assist any other person to challenge or contest, the validity
or enforceability of any of the BIOMIRA TECHNOLOGY including,
without limitation, the BIOMIRA PATENT RIGHTS.
- [+]
- Designates portions of this document that have
been omitted for confidentiality purposes
7
ARTICLE 3
DEVELOPMENT OVERSIGHT
Section 3.1 Steering
Committee
-
- 3.1.1
- Formation. Within thirty (30) days after the
EXECUTION DATE, the parties shall re-constitute a steering
committee (the "STEERING COMMITTEE") for the purpose of
overseeing and exchanging information with respect to the
development, (including CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT), manufacturing,
marketing and SALE of PRODUCT in the TERRITORY, all as hereinafter
specified in this article 3.
- 3.1.2
- Membership. The STEERING COMMITTEE shall be
composed of three (3) representatives of BIOMIRA and its
AFFILIATES and three (3) representatives of MERCK and its
AFFILIATES, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by BIOMIRA and
MERCK (but the number of representatives of BIOMIRA and its
AFFILIATES and the number of representatives of MERCK and its
AFFILIATES shall always be equal). The initial chair of the
STEERING COMMITTEE shall be a representative of BIOMIRA, and
thereafter the chair of the STEERING COMMITTEE shall alternate on
the anniversary of the EXECUTION DATE between a representative of
BIOMIRA and a representative of MERCK (i.e., the second chair
shall be a representative of MERCK, the third a representative of
BIOMIRA, and so on). The initial members of the re-constituted
STEERING COMMITTEE shall be:
- 3.1.3
- Member Changes. Each party shall notify the other party
in writing of any changes in its representatives to the STEERING
COMMITTEE.
- 3.1.4
- Meetings. The STEERING COMMITTEE shall meet not
less than once per calendar quarter during the period of CLINICAL
DEVELOPMENT of PRODUCT and during the period of SALE of PRODUCT, on
such dates and at such times and places as are agreed to by the
members of the STEERING COMMITTEE, acting reasonably.
Responsibility for arranging such meetings, including, at a
minimum, providing notice and an agenda and providing minutes of
the meeting, shall alternate between the parties. The first meeting
will take place as soon as practicable after the EXECUTION DATE,
but in no event later than forty-five (45) days after the
EXECUTION DATE, and will be organized by MERCK. Meetings may be
conducted in person or by telephone or video conference, and the
STEERING COMMITTEE may act without a meeting if, prior to such
action, a written consent thereto is signed by each member of the
STEERING COMMITTEE. The STEERING COMMITTEE may amend or expand upon
the foregoing procedures for its internal operation by written
agreement of BIOMIRA and MERCK.
- 3.1.5
- Expenses. Each party shall be responsible for the
costs and expenses (including travel, lodging and other such costs
and expenses) associated with the participation of its
representatives on the STEERING COMMITTEE.
- [+]
- Designates portions of this document that have
been omitted for confidentiality purposes
8
-
- 3.1.6
- Minutes. The party responsible for arranging a
meeting of the STEERING COMMITTEE as provided for in
section 3.1.4 of this AGREEMENT shall promptly prepare and
deliver to the other party within thirty (30) days after the
date of each meeting, minutes of such meeting setting forth a
summary of all matters addressed at such meeting of the STEERING
COMMITTEE in form and content reasonably acceptable to both
parties. Such minutes shall become official only upon written
approval by the STEERING COMMITTEE.
Section 3.2 Functions and
Authority
-
- 3.2.1
- Development Plans. The parties acknowledge that MERCK will
be responsible for the development (including CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT)
of PRODUCT to be SOLD in the NA TERRITORY and the ROW TERRITORY.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, MERCK shall present to the STEERING
COMMITTEE semi-annually for its review and consultation a
DEVELOPMENT PLAN, and will not make any material revisions to a
previously reviewed DEVELOPMENT PLAN without prior consultation
with the STEERING COMMITTEE. MERCK will consider seriously and in
good faith any comments that BIOMIRA representatives to the
STEERING COMMITTEE may have with respect to any such DEVELOPMENT
PLAN or material revision thereto, provided, however , that the final
decision on any such matter shall be made by MERCK.
- 3.2.2
- Manufacturing. The parties acknowledge that, except in
the circumstances specified in section 2.12 of the SUPPLY
AGREEMENT, Biomira International Inc. or its designated
AFFILIATE will be responsible for the manufacture and supply of
PRODUCT for sale in the NA TERRITORY and the ROW TERRITORY, all as
specified in the SUPPLY AGREEMENT. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Biomira International Inc. or its designated AFFILIATE shall
within six (6) months of the EXECUTION DATE provide a succinct
(i.e., one or two pages) status report in relation to
manufacturing to MERCK and meet with the appropriate manufacturing
personnel of MERCK to discuss the timing and content of a
COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING PLAN. Commencing on the date agreed to in
writing by Biomira International Inc. or its designated
AFFILIATE and MERCK during or following such discussions, Biomira
International Inc. or its designated AFFILIATE shall
thereafter present to the STEERING COMMITTEE semi-annually for its
review and consultation a COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING PLAN, and will
not make any material revisions to a previously reviewed COMMERCIAL
MANUFACTURING PLAN without prior consultation with the STEERING
COMMITTEE. Biomira International Inc. or its designated
AFFILIATE will consider seriously and in good faith any comments
that MERCK representatives to the STEERING COMMITTEE may have with
respect to any such COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING PLAN or material
revision thereto, provided,
however , that the final decision on any
such matter shall be made by Biomira International Inc. or its
designated AFFILIATE.
- 3.2.3
- Marketing. The parties acknowledge that, with
respect to the NA TERRITORY and the ROW TERRITORY, MERCK will be
responsible for the SALES and marketing of PRODUCT. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, MERCK shall present to the STEERING COMMITTEE
semi-annually for its review and consultation, beginning a
reasonable period of time prior to LAUNCH of PRODUCT in the NA
TERRITORY and/or the ROW TERRITORY, a MARKETING PLAN, and will not
make any material revisions to a previously reviewed MARKETING PLAN
without providing prior written notification (including
particulars) to the STEERING COMMITTEE. MERCK will consider
seriously and in good faith any comments that BIOMIRA
representatives to the STEERING COMMITTEE may have with respect to
any such MARKETING PLAN or material revision thereto,
provided, however ,
that the final decision on any such matter shall be made
by MERCK.
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- 3.2.4
- Manufacturing/CMC Project Team
: The STEERING COMMITTEE will
establish a MANUFACTURING/CMC PROJECT TEAM. The STEERING COMMITTEE
will approve the members of the MANUFACTURING/CMC PROJECT TEAM
comprising an equal number of individuals from BIOMIRA and its
AFFILIATES and from MERCK and its AFFILIATES. The chairperson of
the MANUFACTURING/CMC COMMITTEE shall be a member from BIOMIRA and
its AFFILIATES designated by BIOMIRA. The MANUFACTURING/CMC PROJECT
TEAM shall, subject to the final decision with respect to any
manufacturing matter residing with Biomira International Inc.
or its designated AFFILIATE as provided for in section 3.2.2,
be responsible for (i) assuring the security of supply of
PRODUCT, (ii) reviewing specifications, (iii) identifying
and resolving quality issues, (iv) reviewing potential changes
to the production processes for PRODUCT, and (v) overseeing
the implementation of the COMMERCIAL
MANUFACTURING PLAN.
ARTICLE 4
DEVELOPMENT AND MARKET APPROVAL
—NA TERRITORY AND ROW TERRITORY
Section 4.1 CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT
Studies and Costs
Unless
otherwise agreed to in writing by BIOMIRA and MERCK, MERCK will be
responsible for conducting, or having conducted, all development
(including CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT) and MARKET APPROVAL (including the
preparation, submission and prosecution of all regulatory authority
filings and applications required to obtain all necessary MARKET
APPROVALS to SELL PRODUCT in, among others, the NA TERRITORY and
the MAJOR MARKETS in the ROW TERRITORY) tasks (including all
studies) necessary and/or desirable for CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT of
PRODUCT in the NA TERRITORY and the ROW TERRITORY. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, MERCK agrees to undertake the
Phase III clinical trial of BLP25 in Stage III a/b
non-small cell lung cancer described in the protocol set forth in
appendix 3. MERCK will bear all costs in relation to all of
the foregoing.
Section 4.2 Regulatory
Filings
MERCK will, at
MERCK's expense, use commercially reasonable efforts to diligently
pursue the preparation, submission and prosecution and maintenance
of all regulatory authority filings and applications required to
obtain and maintain all necessary and/or desirable MARKET APPROVALS
to sell PRODUCT in each of the NA TERRITORY, the MAJOR MARKETS in
the ROW TERRITORY and in such other countries in the ROW TERRITORY
in which MERCK, using reasonable business judgment, determines to
sell such PRODUCTS, all in a prudent and skilful manner in
accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. BIOMIRA shall
provide reasonable assistance to MERCK in connection with preparing
and supporting the Chemistry, Manufacturing and Control sections of
applicable PRODUCT market applications and in regard to post-MARKET
APPROVAL requirements in respect of Chemistry, Manufacturing and
Control. MERCK shall keep BIOMIRA informed in respect of the
matters which are the subject of this section 4.2
and shall give due consideration to any concerns and
suggestions of BIOMIRA with respect thereto, provided, however , that the final
decision on the specifics of the preparation, submission and
prosecution and maintenance of such regulatory filings and
applications shall be made by MERCK. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this AGREEMENT, BIOMIRA or its applicable AFFILIATE
shall take such actions as are required to be taken by it to
transfer to MERCK the then current United States IND held by
BIOMIRA or such AFFILIATE in relation to BLP25 within ten
(10) business days of MERCK's reasonable written request to
do so.
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Section 4.3 Assistance
BIOMIRA agrees
to use reasonable commercial efforts to provide such assistance as
is reasonably requested by MERCK and as is reasonably necessary to
be performed by BIOMIRA in connection with the preparation and
prosecution of such filings and applications as described in
section 4.1. BIOMIRA shall be compensated by MERCK for such
assistance on the basis set forth in appendix 4 to this
AGREEMENT (as such amounts shall be adjusted annually to
account for normal wage increases), except to the extent that
BIOMIRA is specifically obligated under the SUPPLY AGREEMENT to
provide manufacturing assistance to MERCK without
remuneration.
Section 4.4 Reporting
At least
quarterly during the term of this AGREEMENT until all PRODUCT
approvals hereunder are obtained with respect to the NA TERRITORY
and the ROW TERRITORY, MERCK shall, with respect to the NA
TERRITORY and the ROW TERRITORY, provide BIOMIRA with a succinct
written summary report (i.e., one to two pages) which shall
describe the progress of the following: the clinical development
and testing of PRODUCT in clinical trials, all regulatory filings
and submissions made and the status thereof, all approvals obtained
and such other information as BIOMIRA may from time to time
reasonably request with respect to the subject matter of
article 4. Such reports and information shall be received by
BIOMIRA subject to the obligations of article 8. Further,
to the extent that any such report is provided by MERCK to
BIOMIRA at a meeting of the STEERING COMMITTEE, MERCK shall not be
required to again provide such report to BIOMIRA under this
section 4.4.
Section 4.5 MARKET
APPROVAL Owner
MERCK shall be
the record owner of all MARKET APPROVALS required for SALE of
PRODUCT in the NA TERRITORY and the ROW TERRITORY. Forthwith upon
the expiration or termination of this AGREEMENT with respect to
PRODUCT in a particular country in the ROW TERRITORY or the NA
TERRITORY, or if any of the licenses granted by BIOMIRA to MERCK in
this AGREEMENT become non-exclusive, MERCK shall in a timely manner
comply with section 11.6 of this AGREEMENT in relation to
PRODUCT in such country.
ARTICLE 5
PRODUCT MARKETING—NA TERRITORY AND ROW
TERRITORY
Section 5.1 Costs
and Expenses
MERCK shall
bear all costs and expenses associated with the promoting,
marketing, distributing and SALE of PRODUCT in
the TERRITORY.
Section 5.2 Sales
Force Training
MERCK shall be
responsible for developing or having developed (in accordance
with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements) training
programs and materials concerning promotion of PRODUCT in the
TERRITORY. MERCK shall also be responsible for developing or having
developed (in accordance with all applicable legal and
regulatory requirements) training programs and materials concerning
technical aspects of PRODUCT.
Section 5.3 Costs
of Sales Representatives and Specialty Personnel
MERCK shall be
responsible for all costs and expenses related to its sales
representatives (whether employees or contracted) in the TERRITORY.
MERCK shall be responsible for all costs and expenses
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11
related to "specialty" personnel (including
managed care representatives, professional relations, patient
advocacy, reimbursement, specialty sales, and the like) in
the TERRITORY.
Section 5.4 Distribution
MERCK shall
have the sole responsibility for distribution of PRODUCT in the
TERRITORY. In fulfilling its obligations with respect to the
distribution of PRODUCT in the TERRITORY, MERCK shall use
commercially reasonable efforts consistent with accepted
pharmaceutical practices. All costs incurred in relation to such
distribution shall be borne by MERCK.
Section 5.5 Label
Content
MERCK shall be
responsible for ensuring that the label and product insert for any
PRODUCT SOLD in the TERRITORY shall comply with all legal,
governmental and regulatory requirements. Insofar as it is not
contrary to law or regulation in any particular country in the
TERRITORY, the box and package insert, and the label to the extent
that space permits, shall include prominent reference to MERCK (or,
if applicable, any AFFILIATE of MERCK designated by MERCK) as
marketer and to Biomira International Inc. as manufacturer of
the PRODUCT. Any trademark or other content as may be from time to
time required pursuant to the CORIXA LICENSE shall be marked on
every PRODUCT label and/or insert in the manner required under the
CORIXA LICENSE.
Section 5.6 Product
Price
MERCK shall
determine the SALES price for PRODUCT SOLD in the
TERRITORY.
Section 5.7 Booking
Sales
MERCK shall
book all SALES of PRODUCT in the TERRITORY.
Section 5.8 Advertising and
Promotion
MERCK shall be
responsible for determining the sales strategy for SALE of PRODUCT
in the TERRITORY, and shall create, or have created all materials
for advertising and promotion of PRODUCT in the TERRITORY. All
costs and expenses incurred in relation to such advertising and
promotion shall be borne by MERCK.
Section 5.9 Customer Complaints
and Medical Inquiries
MERCK
(or its designated AFFILIATE) shall be responsible for
handling all customer complaints and inquiries regarding PRODUCT in
the TERRITORY. All complaints and inquiries received by BIOMIRA or
its agents shall be promptly referred to MERCK for response
according to applicable law. MERCK shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to handle such matters in a timely, prudent and
skilful manner, in compliance with applicable laws, regulations,
rules, policies and regulatory requirements and in accord with
MERCK's standard operating procedures. MERCK shall keep BIOMIRA
informed in a timely manner with respect to MERCK's activities in
regard to customer complaints and inquiries for PRODUCT. All
customer complaints specifically relating to the manufacture of
PRODUCT shall be referred to BIOMIRA and handled in accordance with
the terms of the SUPPLY AGREEMENT. All costs incurred in responding
to customer complaints and inquiries (other than those specifically
relating to the manufacture of PRODUCT by BIOMIRA and handled in
accordance with the terms of the SUPPLY AGREEMENT) shall be borne
by MERCK.
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Section 5.10 Adverse Event
Reporting
MERCK
(or its designated AFFILIATE) shall be responsible for
reporting all ADVERSE EVENTS regarding PRODUCT to the appropriate
regulatory authorities in the TERRITORY. All information received
by BIOMIRA or its agents shall be promptly transferred according to
applicable law to MERCK for handling. MERCK shall handle such
matter in a timely, prudent and skilful manner, in compliance with
all applicable laws, rules, policies, regulations and regulatory
requirements, and in accord with MERCK's standard operating
procedures. MERCK shall keep BIOMIRA informed in a timely manner
with respect to MERCK's activities with respect to ADVERSE EVENT
reporting for PRODUCT. All costs incurred in responding to and
reporting ADVERSE EVENTS regarding PRODUCT in the TERRITORY shall
be borne by MERCK. In the event that the parties determine its
necessity, then further details shall be set forth in a
pharmacovigilance data exchange agreement to be entered into by the
parties in due course.
Section 5.11 PRODUCT
Recall
MERCK
(or its designated AFFILIATE) shall be responsible for
initiating and implementing all PRODUCT recalls required by
controlling regulatory agencies and for all voluntary PRODUCT
market withdrawals in the TERRITORY. MERCK shall handle such
matters in a timely, prudent and skilful manner, in compliance with
all applicable laws, rules, policies, regulations and regulatory
requirements, and in accord with MERCK's standard operating
procedures. MERCK shall keep BIOMIRA informed in a timely manner
with respect to MERCK's activities in regard to recalls and market
withdrawals. All costs incurred in responding to recalls and market
withdrawals shall be borne by MERCK, except for a recall or
voluntary withdrawal which is attributable to the actions or
omissions of BIOMIRA or its AFFILIATES, in which case BIOMIRA shall
be solely responsible for the costs of such recall or market
withdrawal.
Section 5.12 Trademarks and
Branding
-
- 5.12.1
- Ownership and Filing. PRODUCT shall be marketed and sold in
the TERRITORY under the applicable TRADEMARK. BIOMIRA acknowledges
that MERCK shall be the owner of the TRADEMARKS in the TERRITORY.
BIOMIRA shall not knowingly do or cause to be done any act or thing
contesting, challenging or, in any way, impairing or intending to
impair any part of MERCK's right, title or interest in the
TRADEMARKS for the duration of this AGREEMENT. Further, BIOMIRA
shall not use or register in the TERRITORY any trademark which is
similar or identical to any of the TRADEMARKS on similar or
identical goods or services to those which are the subject of this
AGREEMENT for the duration of this AGREEMENT. MERCK shall
diligently pursue the filing, maintenance and defence of the
TRADEMARKS in the TERRITORY. All trademark-related costs
(including, without limitation, legal, third party, branding,
filing, maintenance and other such costs) of developing,
prosecuting, registering, maintaining and defending the TRADEMARKS
shall be borne by MERCK as of the EFFECTIVE DATE.
- 5.12.2
- Trademark License. MERCK hereby grants to BIOMIRA and its
designated AFFILIATES a royalty free, non-exclusive license to use,
display, reproduce and publish the TRADEMARKS in connection with
the (i) manufacture, and (ii) in the circumstances
expressly described in this AGREEMENT, use, marketing, promotion,
distribution and SALE of PRODUCT in any countries in the TERRITORY
where BIOMIRA or an AFFILIATE of BIOMIRA has the right to SELL
PRODUCT under this AGREEMENT for so long as such right to SELL
exists under this AGREEMENT. BIOMIRA and its designated AFFILIATES
shall have no right to grant sublicenses under such license without
the prior written consent of MERCK (such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld). Any goodwill arising from the use of the
TRADEMARKS by BIOMIRA or its designated AFFILIATES shall inure to
the benefit of
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MERCK. Further, such use shall be in accordance
with the applicable laws in the relevant jurisdiction, as well as
with any reasonable requirements of any brand guide that may be
provided by MERCK from time to time. When using any of the
TRADEMARKS under license, BIOMIRA and its designated AFFILIATES
shall use the identifiers ™ or ®,
as appropriate.
- 5.12.3
- Alternative Trademarks.
In the event that STIMUVAX,
[+] cannot be used for the PRODUCT in any country of the TERRITORY
due to legal or regulatory or other valid reasons, MERCK shall at
its discretion and cost develop and file one or several alternative
trademarks in the relevant country, which will (once agreed to in
writing by BIOMIRA, in a timely manner acting reasonably, as
specified in section 1.1.50 of this AGREEMENT) be considered
TRADEMARKS under this AGREEMENT.
- 5.12.4
- [+] such third party. Further, BIOMIRA
represents and warrants that, to the knowledge of BIOMIRA, there is
no action, suit, proceeding, alternative dispute resolution,
mediation or investigation pending or threatened against BIOMIRA
relating to the trademarks [+]. Within forty-five (45) days of
the EXECUTION DATE, MERCK shall pay to and reimburse BIOMIRA or its
designated AFFILIATE for all reasonable costs and expenses (other
than internal costs and expenses) incurred from the EFFECTIVE DATE
up to and including the EXECUTION DATE by BIOMIRA and its
AFFILIATES in connection with the TRADEMARKS, including, without
limitation, [+] paid by BIOMIRA or its AFFILIATE to MERCK in
respect of STIMUVAX (MERCK also confirms that BIOMIRA and its
AFFILIATES are released from all other obligations under the
STIMUVAX letter agreement dated December 21, 2004 including,
without limitation, [+]).
- 5.12.5
- Trademark Infringement.
For countries in which the
TRADEMARKS are used under license by BIOMIRA and/or its AFFILIATES,
BIOMIRA shall promptly report to MERCK particulars of any use by
any other party of a trademark, trade name or mode of advertising
which comes to BIOMIRA's or its designated AFFILIATES' attention
and which might qualify
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been omitted for confidentiality purposes
14
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-
as an infringement of the TRADEMARKS or as unfair
competition. In the event that it comes to the attention of BIOMIRA
or its designated AFFILIATES that any party alleges that the
TRADEMARKS are invalid or that they infringe any rights of a third
party, or that the TRADEMARKS are open to any other form of attack,
BIOMIRA or its designated AFFILIATES shall promptly report the
matter to MERCK. In any event described in this section BIOMIRA
shall not take any action, either amicably or legally, and shall
let MERCK or a nominee of MERCK take any action which MERCK, acting
reasonably, deems necessary, provided, however, that nothing herein
shall prevent BIOMIRA from defending and/or protecting its own
reasonable interests. BIOMIRA or its designated AFFILIATES, upon
MERCK's reasonable request and at MERCK's expense, shall cooperate
in any action so taken to the extent that such cooperation is not
materially adverse in interest to BIOMIRA and/or
its AFFILIATES.
- 5.12.6
- Domain Names. Any domain names (the "DOMAIN
NAMES") related to the TRADEMARKS in the TERRITORY shall be owned
by MERCK. BIOMIRA acknowledges that MERCK shall be the owner of the
DOMAIN NAMES in the TERRITORY. BIOMIRA shall not knowingly do or
cause to be done any act or thing contesting, challenging or, in
any way, impairing or intending to impair any part of MERCK's
right, title or interest in the DOMAIN NAMES in the TERRITORY for
the duration of this AGREEMENT. Further, BIOMIRA shall not use or
register in the TERRITORY any domain name which is similar or
identical to any of the DOMAIN NAMES on similar or identical goods
or services which are the subject of this AGREEMENT for the
duration of this AGREEMENT. MERCK shall diligently pursue the
filing, maintenance and defence of the DOMAIN NAMES in the
TERRITORY. All domain name-related costs (including, without
limitation, legal, third party, filing, maintenance and other such
costs) of prosecuting, registering, maintaining and defending the
DOMAIN NAMES or any alternate or additional domain names shall be
borne by MERCK.
- 5.12.7
- Domain License. To the extent required, MERCK hereby
grants to BIOMIRA and its de
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