4. Collaboration and Stock Purchase Agreements

Caelum

Agreement with Alexion

In January 2019, Caelum, a subsidiary of the Company at that time, entered into a Development, Option and Stock Purchase Agreement (the "DOSPA") and related documents by and among Caelum, Alexion Therapeutics, Inc. ("Alexion"), the Company and Caelum security holders parties thereto (including Fortress, the "Sellers"). Under the terms of the agreement, Alexion purchased a 19.9% minority equity interest in Caelum for $30 million. Additionally, Alexion has agreed to make potential payments to Caelum upon the achievement of certain developmental milestones, in exchange for which Alexion obtained a contingent exclusive option to acquire the remaining equity in Caelum. The agreement also provides for potential additional payments, in the event Alexion exercises the purchase option, for up to $500 million, which includes an upfront option exercise payment and potential regulatory and commercial milestone payments.  Alexion’s 19.9% ownership does not participate in the potential additional payments.

The Company deconsolidated its holdings in Caelum immediately prior to the execution of the DOSPA. Following the DOSPA execution, the Company owns approximately 40% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Caelum. The following table provides a summary of the assets and liabilities of Caelum impacted by the deconsolidation:

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In connection with this transaction the Company recorded a gain resulting from the deconsolidation of Caelum on its consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019:

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In December 2019, following FDA feedback which resulted in the redesign and expansion of Caelum’s planned clinical development program for CAEL-101, Caelum entered into an Amended and Restated DOSPA (“A&R DOSPA”), which amended the terms of the existing agreement with Alexion. The amendment modified the terms of Alexion’s option to acquire the remaining equity in Caelum based on data from the expanded Phase II/III trials. The amendment also modified the development-related milestone events associated with the initial $30.0 million in contingent payments, provided for an additional $20.0 million in upfront funding, as well as funding of $60.0 million in exchange for an additional equity interest in Caelum at fair value upon achievement of a specific development-related milestone event.

On December 12, 2020, AstraZeneca (“AZ”) announced its intention to acquire Alexion, with the acquisition expected to close by the third quarter of 2021, as the acquisition is subject to approval by both AZ and Alexion shareholders, as well as certain regulatory approvals, share listing approvals, and other customary closing conditions.  The acquisition of Alexion by AZ triggers the Change of Control clause in the A&R DOSPA, such that Alexion’s purchase option expires on the date that is six months after the closing of any Change of Control.

Avenue

Agreement with InvaGen

On November 12, 2018, Avenue entered into a Stock Purchase and Merger Agreement (the “Avenue SPMA”) with InvaGen Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“InvaGen”), and Madison Pharmaceuticals Inc. (the “Merger Sub”), under which Avenue would be sold to InvaGen in a two-stage transaction. The first stage of the strategic transaction between InvaGen and Avenue closed in February 2019. InvaGen acquired approximately 5.8 million shares of Avenue’s common stock at $6.00 per share for total gross consideration of $35.0 million, representing a 33.3% stake in Avenue’s capital stock on a fully diluted basis. At the second stage closing, InvaGen would acquire the remaining shares of Avenue’s common stock, pursuant to a reverse triangular merger with Avenue remaining as the surviving entity.  The second stage closing is subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions, including conditions pertaining to the FDA approval, labeling, scheduling and the absence of any Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy or similar restrictions in effect with respect to IV Tramadol, as well as the expiration of any waiting period applicable to the acquisition under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (“HSR”).  

In October 2020, InvaGen communicated to Avenue that it believes a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Avenue SPMA) has occurred due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on potential commercialization and projected sales of IV Tramadol, which means it is possible InvaGen could attempt to avoid its obligation to consummate the second stage closing under the Avenue SPMA, terminate the Avenue SPMA, and/or pursue monetary claims against Avenue and/or Fortress. Avenue disagrees with InvaGen’s assertion that a Material Adverse Effect has occurred and has advised InvaGen of this position.

In February 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) accepted the submission of Avenue’s’ New Drug Application (“NDA”) for IV Tramadol for review and assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (“PDUFA”) date of October 10, 2020. In October 2020, Avenue announced that it had received a Complete Response Letter (“CRL”) from the FDA regarding Avenue’s NDA for IV Tramadol.  The FDA held a Type A meeting with Avenue in November 2020 to discuss the issues outlined in the CRL. On February 12, 2021 Avenue resubmitted its NDA to the FDA for IV Tramadol. The NDA resubmission followed the receipt of the official minutes from Avenue’s Type A meeting with the FDA. The NDA resubmission included revised language relating to the proposed product label and a report relating to terminal sterilization validation.  On February 26, 2021, Avenue received an acknowledgement letter from the FDA that Avenue’s resubmission of its NDA is a complete, class 1 response to the CRL, and a PDUFA goal date was set for April 12, 2021.

In connection with the resubmission of Avenue’s NDA, InvaGen communicated to Avenue that it believes the proposed label for IV Tramadol under certain circumstances would constitute a Material Adverse Effect on the purported basis that the proposed label for IV Tramadol would make the product commercially unviable, and in addition that the indiciation that the FDA approves may fail to satisfy a condition precedent to InvaGen’s obligation to consummate the second stage closing of the Avenue SPMA. Avenue has notified InvaGen that it disagrees with InvaGen’s assertions.  Nevertheless, InvaGen may seek to avoid its obligation to consummate the second stage closing under the Avenue SPMA, terminate the Avenue SPMA, and/or pursue monetary claims against Avenue and/or Fortress.

Over the past several months, Avenue has communicated with InvaGen relating to InvaGen’s assertions. Nevertheless, InvaGen has communicated to Avenue its desire to consider all options on the proposed merger, including the option to not consummate the merger. This indicates that InvaGen may attempt to avoid its obligations under the Avenue SPMA to consummate the merger, terminate the Avenue SPMA, and/or pursue monetary claims against Avenue and/or Fortress. As a result, the possible timing and likelihood of the completion of the merger are uncertain, and, accordingly, there can be no assurance that such transaction will be completed on the expected terms, anticipated schedule, or at all. During the pendency of any dispute regarding these matters, Avenue may be, and so long as the Avenue SPMA remains in place Avenue will be, prohibited from engaging in a change-of-control transaction, selling its rights to IV Tramadol or effecting an equity or debt financing, in each case without the prior written consent of InvaGen.

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Subject to the terms and conditions described in the Avenue SPMA, InvaGen may also provide interim financing to Avenue in an amount of up to $7.0 million during the time period between February 8, 2019 and the Merger Transaction. Any amounts drawn on the interim financing will be deducted from the aggregate consideration payable to Company stockholders by virtue of the Merger Transaction. There have been no amounts drawn upon this interim financing as of December 31, 2020.

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Prior to the closing of the Merger Transaction, Avenue will enter into a Contingent Value Rights Agreement (the “CVR Agreement”) with a trust company as rights agent, pursuant to which holders of common shares of Avenue, other than InvaGen (each, a “Holder”), will be entitled to receive on Contingent Value Right (“CVR”) for each share held immediately prior to the Merger Transaction.

Each CVR represents the right of its holder to receive a contingent cash payment pursuant to the CVR Agreement upon the achievement of certain milestones. If, during the period commencing on the day following the closing of the Merger Transaction until December 31, 2028, IV Tramadol generates at least $325 million or more in Net Sales (as defined in the CVR Agreement) in a calendar year, each Holder shall be entitled to receive their pro rata share of (i) if the product generated less than $400 million in Net Sales during such calendar year, 10% of Gross Profit (as defined in the CVR Agreement), (ii) if the product generated between $400 million and $500 million in Net Sales during such calendar year, 12.5% of Gross Profit, or (iii) if the product generated more than $500 million in Net Sales during such calendar year, 15% of Gross Profit. Additionally, at any time beginning on January 1, 2029 that IV Tramadol has generated at least $1.5 billion in aggregate Net Sales, then with respect to each calendar year in which IV Tramadol generates $100 million or more in Net Sales, each Holder shall be entitled to receive their pro rata share of an amount equal to 20% of the Gross Profit generated by IV Tramadol. These additional payments will terminate on the earlier of December 31, 2036 and the date (which may be extended by up to 6 months) that any person has received approval from the FDA for an Abbreviated New Drug Application or an FDA AP-rated 505(b)(2) NDA using IV Tramadol.