Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

License Agreements, Clinical Research Support Agreements and Sponsored Research Agreements

v3.8.0.1
License Agreements, Clinical Research Support Agreements and Sponsored Research Agreements
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
License Agreement Disclosure [Abstract]  
License Agreement Disclosure [Text Block]
Note 3 - License Agreements, Clinical Research Support Agreements and Sponsored Research Agreements
 
For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 the Company recorded the following expense in research and development for licenses acquired:
 
 
 
For the year ended December 31,
 
For the period from
March 13, 2015
(Inception) to
December 31,
 
($ in thousands)
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
City of Hope
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CAR T
 
$
-
 
$
1,683
 
$
2,147
 
IL13Rα2
 
 
500
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
IV/ICV
 
 
125
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
PSCA
 
 
300
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
HER2
 
 
600
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
CS-1
 
 
600
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
Harvard University - CRISPR
 
 
250
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
Fortress PIK Dividend
 
 
9,558
 
 
4,396
 
 
190
 
UCLA - PSCA
 
 
200
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
Fred Hutch - CD20
 
 
300
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
Total
 
$
12,433
 
$
6,079
 
$
2,337
 
 
License Agreements
 
City of Hope
 
In March 2015, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement with City of Hope National Medical Center (“City of Hope” or “COH”) to acquire intellectual property rights pertaining to CAR-T (the “Original Agreement”). Pursuant to the Original Agreement, the Company paid COH an upfront fee of $2.0 million in April 2015 (included in research and development-licenses acquired expenses on the Statement of Operations) and granted COH 1.0 million Class A common shares of the Company, representing 10% ownership. The Class A common shares provide the COH with the right to appoint a Director, to the Board of Directors of the Company, as of December 31, 2017 COH has not exercised this right. Additional payments totaling $2.0 million were due upon the completion of two financial milestones, and payments totaling $14.5 million, for each patent, upon the completion of six development goals. Future mid-single digit royalty payments were due on net sales of licensed products, with a minimum annual royalty of $1.0 million
 
The Company valued the stock grant to COH utilizing a discounted cash flow model to determine the weighted market value of invested capital, discounted by a lack of marketability of 44.8%, weighted average cost of capital of 30%, and net of debt utilized, resulting in a value of $0.147 per share or $0.1 million on March 31, 2015. During the year ended December 31, 2015, in connection with the grant, $0.1 million of expenses were included in research and development - licenses acquired on the Statements of Operations.
 
Effective October 2016, Mustang closed on gross proceeds of $10.0 million from third party investors in connection with its private placement, which triggered the issuance of additional 293,588 shares of Mustang Class A common stock to COH (the “COH Anti-Dilution Shares”) in connection with the COH License. The shares were valued utilizing a weighted market model at approximately $5.73 per share or $1.7 million in total. Since Mustang only had 1.0 million Class A common shares authorized at December 31, 2016, of which all were issued to COH, Mustang recorded the contingent issuance as a current liability. In February 2017, COH executed a waiver and acknowledgement agreement permitting issuance of the COH Anti-Dilution Shares in the form of Mustang Common Stock, and such shares were issued.
 
In February, 2017, the Company and COH amended and restated the Original Agreement by entering into three separate amended and restated exclusive license agreements, one relating to CD123, one relating to IL13Rα2 and one relating to the Spacer technology, that amended the Original Agreement in certain other respects, and collectively replace the Original Agreement in its entirety. The total potential consideration payable to COH by the Company, in equity or cash, did not, in the aggregate, change materially from the Original Agreement. As of December 31, 2017, COH owns 1,000,000 Class A common shares and 293,588 common shares representing approximately 5.0% of ownership.
 
CD123 License
 
In February 2017, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Exclusive License Agreement with COH to acquire intellectual property rights pertaining to patent rights related to CD123 (the “CD123 License”). Pursuant to the CD123 License, the Company and COH acknowledge that an upfront fee has already been paid under the Original Agreement. In addition, COH is eligible to receive an annual maintenance fee of $25,000 and milestone payments totaling approximately $14.5 million upon and subject to the achievement of certain milestones. Royalty payments in the mid-single digits are due on net sales of licensed products. The Company is obligated to pay COH a percentage of certain revenues received in connection with a sublicense in the mid-teens to mid-thirties, depending on the timing of the sublicense in the development of any product. In addition, equity grants made under the Original Agreement were acknowledged, and the anti-dilution provisions of the Original Agreement were carried forward
 
IL13Rα2 License
 
In February 2017, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Exclusive License Agreement with COH to acquire intellectual property rights pertaining to patent rights related to IL13Rα2 (the “IL13Rα2 License”). Pursuant to the IL13Rα2 License, the Company and COH acknowledge that an upfront fee has already been paid under the Original Agreement. In addition, COH is eligible to receive an annual maintenance fee of $25,000 and milestone payments totaling approximately $14.5 million upon and subject to the achievement of certain milestones. Royalty payments in the mid-single digits are due on net sales of licensed products. The Company is obligated to pay COH a percentage of certain revenues received in connection with a sublicense in the mid-teens to mid-thirties, depending on the timing of the sublicense in the development of any product. In addition, equity grants made under the Original Agreement were acknowledged, and the anti-dilution provisions of the Original Agreement were carried forward.
 
Spacer License
 
In February 2017, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Exclusive License Agreement with COH to acquire intellectual property rights pertaining to patent rights related to Spacer (the “Spacer License”). Pursuant to the Spacer License, the Company and COH acknowledged that an upfront fee has already been paid under the Original Agreement. In addition, COH will receive an annual maintenance fee of $10,000. No royalties are due if the Spacer technology is used in conjunction with a CD123 CAR or an IL13Rα2 CAR, and royalty payments in the low single digits are due on net sales of licensed products if the Spacer technology is used in conjunction with other intellectual property. The Company is obligated to pay COH a percentage of certain revenues received in connection with a sublicense in the mid-thirties. In addition, equity grants made under the Original Agreement were acknowledged, and the anti-dilution provisions of the Original Agreement were carried forward. 
 
IV/ICV License
 
In February 2017, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement (the “IV/ICV License”) with COH to acquire intellectual property rights in patent applications related to the intraventricular and intracerebroventricular methods of delivering T cells that express CARs. Pursuant to the IV/ICV License, in March 2017, the Company paid COH an upfront fee of $0.1 million. COH is eligible to receive a milestone payment totaling approximately $0.1 million, upon and subject to the achievement of a milestone, and an annual maintenance fee. Royalty payments in the low single digits are due on net sales of licensed products.
   
HER2 Technology License 
 
On May 31, 2017, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement (the “HER2 Agreement”) with the COH for the use of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) CAR T technology (HER2 Technology), which will initially be applied in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. Pursuant to the HER2 Agreement, the Company paid an upfront fee of $0.6 million and will owe an annual maintenance fee of $50,000 (beginning in 2019). Additional payments are due for the achievement of ten development milestones totaling $14.9 million and royalty payments in the mid-single digits are due on net sales of licensed products.
 
CS1 Technology License 
 
On May 31, 2017, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement (the “CS1 Agreement) with the COH for the use of CS1-specific CAR T technology (“CS1 Technology”) to be directed against multiple myeloma. Pursuant to the CS1 Agreement, the Company paid an upfront fee of $0.6 million and will owe an annual maintenance fee of $50,000 (beginning in 2019). Additional payments are due for the achievement of ten development milestones totaling $14.9 million and royalty payments in the mid-single digits are due on net sales of licensed products.
 
PSCA Technology License 
 
On May 31, 2017, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement (the “PSCA Agreement”) with the COH for the use of prostate stem cell antigen (“PSCA”) CAR T technology (“PSCA Technology”) to be used in the treatment of prostate cancer. Pursuant to the PSCA Agreement, the Company paid an upfront fee of $0.3 million and will owe an annual maintenance fee of $50,000 (beginning in 2019). Additional payments are due for the achievement of ten development milestones totaling $14.9 million and royalty payments in the mid-single digits are due on net sales of licensed products.
 
University of California License
 
On March 17, 2017, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement with the Regents of the University of California (the “UCLA License”) to acquire intellectual property rights in patent applications related to the engineered anti-prostate stem cell antigen antibodies for cancer targeting and detection. Pursuant to the UCLA License, the Company paid UCLA the upfront fee of $0.2 million and will owe an annual maintenance fee of $15,000 for the first two years, $25,000 for years three and four, and $50,000 per year thereafter. Additional payments are due for the achievement of seven development milestones, totaling $14.3 million, and royalty payments in the mid-single digits are due on net sales of licensed products.
 
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center License
 
On July 3, 2017, Mustang entered into an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (“Fred Hutch”) for the use of a CAR T therapy related to autologous T cells engineered to express a CD20-specific chimeric antigen receptor (the “CD20 Technology License”). Pursuant to the CD20 Technology License, the Company paid Fred Hutch an upfront fee of $0.3 million and will owe an annual maintenance fee of $50,000 on each anniversary of the license until the achievement by the Company of regulatory approval of a licensed product using CD20 Technology. Additional payments are due for the achievement of eleven development milestones totaling $39.1 million and royalty payments in the mid-single digits are due on net sales of licensed products.
 
Harvard College License
 
On November 20, 2017, the Company entered into an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with President and Fellows of Harvard College (the “Harvard Agreement”) for the use of gene editing, via the use of CRISPR/Cas9, to be used in enhancing the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell therapies for solid tumor indications and to generate universal off the shelf CAR T cell therapies for both liquid and solid tumor indications. Pursuant to the Harvard Agreement, the Company paid Harvard College an upfront fee of $0.3 million and will owe an annual maintenance fee of $25,000 and $50,000 for calendar years 2018 and 2019, respectively, and $100,000 for each subsequent calendar year during the term of the agreement. Additional payments are due for the achievement of seven development milestones totaling $16.7 million and royalty payments in the low-single digits are due on the net sales of licensed products.
 
Sponsored Research and Clinical Trial Agreements 
 
City of Hope
 
In March 2015, the Company entered into a sponsored research agreement with COH in which the Company will fund continued research in the amount of $2.0 million per year, payable in four equal installments, until 2020. The research covered under this arrangement is for IL13Rα2, CD123 and the Spacer technology. For the year ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company recorded $2.0 million, $2.0 million and 1.5 million, respectively, in research and development expenses on the statement of operations in connection with this agreement.
 
CD123 Clinical Research Support Agreement
 
In February 2017, the Company entered into a Clinical Research Support Agreement for CD123 (the “CD123 CRA”). Pursuant to the terms of the CD123 CRA the Company made an upfront payment of $19,450 and will contribute an additional $97,490 per patient in connection with the on-going investigator-initiated study. Further, the Company agreed to fund approximately $0.2 million over three years pertaining to the clinical development of CD123. For the year ended December 31, 2017 the Company recorded $1.4 million in research and development expenses under the CD123 CRA on the statement of operations.
 
IL13Rα2 Clinical Research Support Agreement 
 
In February 2017, the Company entered into a Clinical Research Support Agreement for IL13Rα2 (the “IL13Rα2 CRA”). Pursuant to the terms of the IL13Rα2 CRA the Company made an upfront payment of approximately $9,300 and will contribute an additional $0.1 million related to patient costs in connection with the on-going investigator-initiated study. Further, the Company agreed to fund approximately $0.2 million over three years pertaining to the clinical development of IL13Rα2. For the year ended December 31, 2017 the Company recorded $1.4 million in research and development expenses under the IL13Rα2 CRA on the statement of operations.
 
CD20 Clinical Trial Agreement with Fred Hutch
 
Also, on July 3, 2017, in conjunction with the CD20 Technology License from Fred Hutch, Mustang entered into an investigator-initiated clinical trial agreement (“CD20 CTA”) to provide partial funding for a Phase 1/2 clinical trial at Fred Hutch evaluating the safety and efficacy of the CD20 Technology in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. In connection with the CD20 CTA, the Company agreed to fund up to $5.3 million of costs associated with the clinical trial, which commenced during the fourth quarter of 2017. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded $0.6 million of expense in connection with this agreement.
 
CRISPR Sponsored Research Agreement with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc.
 
On November 28, 2017, the Company entered into a Sponsored Research Agreement (the “SRA”) with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Inc. (“BIDMC”) to perform research relating to gene editing, via the use of CRISPR/Cas9, to be used in enhancing the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell therapies for solid tumor indications and to generate universal off the shelf CAR T cell therapies for both liquid and solid tumor indications. The Company agreed to fund approximately $0.8 million over a three-year period. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded approximately $0.1 million of expense in connection with this agreement.
 
Consulting Agreements
 
In December 2016, the Company entered into two consulting agreements, one with two COH scientists, whereby effective January 1, 2017, in exchange for services provided to the Company each consultant shall be paid $60,000 per year, paid quarterly, through January 31, 2019. Further, each consultant has agreed to serve on our Scientific Advisory Board on an as needed basis and will receive additional compensation for those services. In addition, for services provided during the fourth quarter of 2016, pursuant to the terms of the agreement each consultant earned $60,000, which was paid in the first quarter of 2017. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded $120,000 and $120,000 respectively, on the statement of operations in connection with these agreements.