Letter of Intent for Supply and Development Agreement - VaxGen Inc. and Pasteur Merieux Serums et Vaccins
April 10, 1998
Dr. Charles de Taisne
Pasteur Merieux Connaught
1541 Avenue Marcel Merieux
Marcy-L'Etoile, France 69280
Re: Letter of Intent for Supply and Development Agreement
Dear Charles:
Based upon our discussions over the past month, and the information we have
exchanged, we are entering into this Letter of Intent for an agreement under
which VaxGen, Inc. ("VaxGen") will supply its HIV vaccines (the "VaxGen Bivalent
Vaccines") to Pasteur Merieux Serums et Vaccins ("PMC") for development,
clinical testing and commercial distribution of HIV vaccines (the "PMC
Combination Vaccines").
This Letter of Intent contemplates that the parties will negotiate the
definitive license, research and supply agreements (the "Agreements") and
complete such further due diligence as may be needed by not later than July 15,
1998. It is the intent of the parties that the parties will meet to begin
preparation of the Agreements by May 20, 1998.
This Letter of Intent is being entered into to confirm our understanding of the
principal terms and conditions of the transaction and our mutual willingness to
proceed in mutual good faith to work toward the definitive Agreements consistent
with these terms.
<PAGE> 2
Dr. Charles de Taisne
April 10, 1998
Page 2
The following is a summary of the assumptions we both agree we share as we go
forward:
ASSUMPTIONS
-----------
A. PMC is developing and clinically testing an HIV vaccine (the "PMC Vaccine").
The PMC Vaccine contains a prime (first immunization) inoculum of recombinant
vector, e.g. canary pox/HIV, and a boost (second or later immunization)
containing recombinant monovalent HIV gp120. In addition, PMC is also developing
other vectors and booster immunogens.
B. VaxGen is developing and clinically testing the VaxGen Bivalent Vaccines.
These vaccines contain a mixture of two recombinant HIV gp120s (Bivalent gp120).
The vaccine tested in the United States contains gp120 derived from two viruses
of the B clade (MN and GNE8); vaccine tested in Thailand contains gp120 derived
from one virus of the B clade and one of the E clade (MN and A244). It is
contemplated that VaxGen vaccines may include additional gp120 molecules in the
future.
C. PMC currently collaborates with Chiron Corporation on the PMC Vaccine. Chiron
supplies monovalent gp120 that PMC is testing as the boost. Entering into the
relationship contemplated by this Letter of Intent will not in any way breach
PMC agreements with Chiron.
<PAGE> 3
Dr. Charles de Taisne
April 10, 1998
Page 3
D. PMC desires to enter into commercial license and supply agreements with
VaxGen for Bivalent gp120. Bivalent gp120 will replace the current monovalent
gp120 that PMC obtains from Chiron.
E. VaxGen is willing to enter into such commercial license and supply agreements
with PMC, for VaxGen to supply the VaxGen Bivalent Vaccines to PMC for PMC's use
in creating new PMC Combination Vaccines. VaxGen is willing to supply PMC with
both its Bivalent B/B and B/E Vaccines.
F. The parties contemplate ongoing collaborative research and development
activities in the area of HIV vaccines.
G. VaxGen and PMC both plan to develop separately and market separately their
respective vaccines and acknowledge that they may become competitors in the
future.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
--------------------
In light of the assumptions Listed above the Agreements will contain the
following terms and conditions:
1. Each party will be permitted to proceed independently in all aspects
of the development, clinical testing, regulatory submissions, manufacturing and
marketing of their vaccines: PMC for the PMC
<PAGE> 4
Dr. Charles de Taisne
April 10, 1998
Page 4
Combination Vaccines and VaxGen for the VaxGen Bivalent Vaccines. Each party
shall bear all of the costs and perform all of the planning and efforts to bring
to market their respective vaccines.
2. VaxGen will supply PMC with Bivalent gp120s for the development and
clinical testing of the PMC Combination Vaccines. Upon regulatory approval of
the PMC Combination Vaccines, VaxGen will supply manufactured Bivalent gp120s
for sale as a boost component for these vaccines.
3. PMC understands that VaxGen's gp120s will be provided in experimental
form for use by PMC to solely develop PMC Combination Vaccines. PMC acknowledges
that it has an independent, and potentially competitive, research program
on-going with Transgene on the use of HIV envelope proteins as potential vaccine
boosts. To protect the confidentiality of both parties, PMC shall have the
option to accept or decline use of VaxGen's gp120s. PMC will not use the VaxGen
gp120s for comparative tests with other envelope proteins in the same clinical
trial (using a common group of randomized subjects), with envelope proteins of
third parties, including Transgene. Notwithstanding the above, PMC and VaxGen
acknowledge their intent to conduct certain research studies on a collaborative
basis in the future, each such program to be described in writing between the
parties, and to be subject to the Agreements.
<PAGE> 5
Dr. Charles de Taisne
April 10, 1998
Page 5
4. It is the intent of the parties that VaxGen will supply PMC with 100%
of the Bivalent gp120s that PMC requires for development, clinical testing, and
commercial marketing of the PMC Combination Vaccines. VaxGen will provide PMC
with all required doses of Bivalent gp120s during the term of the Agreements.
PMC will notify VaxGen of its needs for clinical testing of Bivalent gp120s at
least six months before the starting date of its clinical trials. PMC will
notify VaxGen of its needs for Bivalent gp120s for the commercial sale of the
PMC Combination Vaccines at least 18 months before the commencement of
commercial sale and thereafter the amounts VaxGen is required to supply for
commercial sale under the Agreements will be based on 18 months' notice of the
amounts required, updated on a rolling basis bimonthly. These
notice periods shall be subject to adjustment based upon agreement among VaxGen,
PMC and Genentech which may be reached after this Letter of Intent has been
concluded.
5. The cost of Bivalent gp120s to PMC for any purpose shall be
equivalent to the Fully Burdened Cost ("FBC") of Bivalent gp120s to VaxGen plus
ten percent (10%) of FBC. FBC is defined as the fully burdened cost of the
Bivalent gp120s from VaxGen's supplier, Genentech.
6. PMC agrees that should it decide to use HIV envelope proteins, other
than those provided by VaxGen in its PMC Combination vaccines, VaxGen shall have
the exclusive right to manufacture any such
<PAGE> 6
Dr. Charles de Taisne
April 10, 1998
Page 6
HIV envelope proteins. This right shall be subject to VaxGen providing PMC with
such envelope proteins at competitive pricing within the agreed time frames and
complying with GMP conditions. In the event VaxGen cannot meet such
requirements, PMC shall have the right to use other manufacturers as a second
source for such envelope proteins. Should VaxGen develop different or additional
gp120 proteins, PMC shall have the first right of refusal to acquire such
proteins from VaxGen. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that PMC
discovers a radically different form of envelope proteins (in a molecular form
that has substantially new properties, such as natural loss of glycosylation
sites or disulfide bonding, but not simple changes in amino acid structure due
to independent strain isolation), PMC shall have the right to manufacture such
molecule itself, but in the event that PMC out-sources manufacturing of such
gp120, it shall provide a first right of refusal to manufacture such gp120
molecule to VaxGen. The parties contemplate the co-development of combination
vaccines for worldwide use.
7. VaxGen will grant PMC a Worldwide license to sell Bivalent gp120s as
components of the PMC Combination Vaccines. The license to PMC will be limited
to the sale of Bivalent gp120s as components of PMC Combination Vaccines or to
such products as are mutually agreed, in writing, by VaxGen and PMC. The license
will not permit the sale by PMC of
<PAGE> 7
Dr. Charles de Taisne
April 10, 1998
Page 7
Bivalent gp120s as individual products. The parties will work to distinguish
products sold by VaxGen from those supplied by VaxGen to PMC.
8. As consideration for the worldwide license PMC will pay VaxGen a
royalty of seventeen percent (17%) of gross margin for the PMC Combination
Vaccines (including VaxGen gp120) that are sold in the United States, Canada,
Europe, Japan, and Australia, provided that the VaxGen gp120 has been registered
with the FDA. In the event the VaxGen gp120 is not approved by the FDA, the
royalty rate shall be eleven percent (11%) of gross margin. For purposes of this
Letter of Intent, gross margin shall mean revenue received by PMC from the sale
of PMC Combination Vaccines minus returns, applicable taxes and costs of goods
sold related to both the PMC vector and the VaxGen gp120. The Agreements will
define gross margin in such greater detail as may be appropriate and in
accordance with applicable accounting principles. While this does not preclude
either a 17% or 11% royalty rate (as contemplated above) in other countries or
regions of the world, it is understood that a lower royalty rate will be
required in certain other areas of the world (not specified herein) and that the
parties will negotiate, in good faith, an appropriate royalty rate in such
countries to assure a reasonable sharing of profit between PMC and VaxGen. It is
further understood that market dynamics, including any third party royalty
obligations which may arise, may lead to changes in selling price and profit
<PAGE> 8
Dr. Charles de Taisne
April 10, 1998
Page 8
margins as the Combination Vaccines gain worldwide use. The parties will in such
cases negotiate, in good faith, a reasonable sharing of profits between PMC and
VaxGen.
9. VaxGen and PMC may enter into a research and development program as
described in Exhibit B. VaxGen and PMC may, but are not obligated to, enter into
other joint research and development programs, each such program will be covered
by separate written agreement.
10. The parties have entered into a confidentiality agreement in the
form of the agreement attached as Exhibit A. The Agreements will contain similar
confidentiality provisions. Breach of the confidentiality provisions shall be
grounds for termination of the Agreements, but the parties shall have the other
remedies set forth in Exhibit A for enforcement of the confidentiality
provisions.
11. In addition to the standard default and termination provisions
contained in a commercial agreement, the following matters shall constitute a
default under the Agreements entitling the injured party to terminate the
Agreements as well as to seek damages:
(a) Commercial disparagement of the other party or its
products:
<PAGE> 9
Dr. Charles de Taisne
April 10, 1998
Page 9
(b) A party attempting to link in time or performance the
development, clinical testing, regulatory submission and
marketing of one party's vaccine with the other party's
vaccine;
(c) A party intentionally or otherwise delaying the
development, clinical testing, regulatory submission of
the other party's vaccine. If VaxGen, at any time prior to
full enrollment of its Phase III clinical trials,
determines that PMC is attempting to delay VaxGen's Phase
III trials, VaxGen may immediately terminate the
Agreements.
(d) The definitive Agreements will include customary
covenants, conditions, representations, warranties and
indemnities.
PROCEDURES AND OTHER MATTERS
----------------------------
Upon execution of this Letter of Intent the parties will provide each other with
copies of or access to the following Information:
(a) VaxGen will provide PMC a written summary of: (i) the
performance characteristics of its MNrgp120 compared to
the SF-2gp120 of Chiron; (ii) pre-clinical
<PAGE> 10
Dr. Charles de Taisne
April 10, 1998
Page 10
data on its current Bivalent gp120s; (iii) analysis of
VaxGen's view of patents related to HIV vaccines; and (iv)
preliminary information with respect to manufacturing of
the Bivalent gp120s.
(b) VaxGen will provide PMC with the opportunity to review a
written summary of the results of and excerpts from the
transcript of proceedings of a June 6, 1997 meeting among
representatives of VaxGen, members of the FDA, and members
of the FDA's Vaccine Advisory Committee.
(c) PMC will prepare and provide VaxGen with (i) a written
summary of clinical safety information concerning the
canary pox virus vector and the canary pox virus vector
with recombinant HIV genes; (ii) draft letters notifying
NIAID (to the attention of Tony Fauci) and to the FDA
(attention: Karen Goldenthal), notifying those agencies of
the state of our discussions.
(d) VaxGen will prepare and provide PMC with a draft letter
notifying AVEG (to the attention of Dr. Belshe)
<PAGE> 11
Dr. Charles de Taisne
April 10, 1998
Page 11
of the PMC/VaxGen collaboration and issues related to
providing bivalent gp120 and reagents to AVEG
investigators.
By April 10, 1998, PMC will execute this Letter of Intent (which will be
transmitted by facsimile) to VaxGen. Upon execution of this Letter of Intent and
not later than April 13, 1998, PMC will send the notice letters to NIAID and FDA
and VaxGen will send the notice letter to AVEG. It is understood by both parties
that additional items (e.g. information concerning existing agreements between
VaxGen and Genentech) will be required for due diligence prior to completion of
the Agreements. The parties will thereafter use their good faith, reasonable
efforts to complete the definitive Agreements and have them executed by their
authorized representatives within a reasonable period after April 10, 1998 but
in any event no later than July 15, 1998.
MATTERS OF IMMEDIATE AGREEMENT
------------------------------
The parties agree that the following matters are matters of immediate agreement
between the parties upon execution of this Letter of Intent:
(e) Exclusivity. Each party agrees that it will negotiate
exclusively concerning the matters described herein with
the other party from the date of this letter through
<PAGE> 12
Dr. Charles de Taisne
April 10, 1998
Page 12
the execution of the Agreements or the termination of this
Letter of Intent.
(f) Confidentiality. The parties have entered into a
confidentiality agreement which is attached hereto as
Exhibit A.
(g) Expenses. Each party will be solely responsible for paying
their own fees and expenses for legal counsel, advisors
and others in connection with this Letter of Intent and
the transactions contemplated hereunder.
(h) Ultimate Termination. If the definitive Agreements have
not been executed by the parties by July 15, 1998, this
Letter of Intent will terminate automatically, unless it
is extended by written agreement signed by duly appointed
representatives of both parties.
(i) Phase III Clinical Trials. Both parties acknowledge that
their candidate vaccines as herein described will enter
Phase III clinical trials at different times. VaxGen
represents that it will begin its Phase III trial in Q3
1998. PMC represents that it will not begin its Phase III
trial prior to Q4 1999, unless otherwise
<PAGE> 13
Dr. Charles de Taisne
April 10, 1998
Page 13
directed by a government agency with authority to direct
otherwise.
If your understanding is consistent with ours, please sign on the space provided
below and return this letter to me. We look forward to working with you to
complete this transaction.
Sincerely:
VAXGEN, INC.,
By /s/ ROBERT C. NOWINSKI
-------------------------------------
Robert C. Nowinski, Ph.D.
Chairman
AGREED:
PASTEUR MERIEUX CONNAUGHT
By /s/ (Signature illegible)
-------------------------------------
Its Senior Vice President Research and Development
<PAGE> 14
EXHIBIT B
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
1. The first clinical study between the parties shall be directed towards
the selection of a PMC vector, using Bivalent gp120 as boost. Upon
priming of a patient population with PMC vectors, VaxGen will then
provide GMP-grade bivalent gp120 for boosts of placebo and test groups.
2. Efforts to prepare homologous antigens for the PMC Combination Vaccine.
This includes plans to match envelope proteins from homologous viruses
in both canary pox/HIV vectors and gp120 boosts.
3. Efforts to develop vaccines for clade C viruses. PMC would market a
Combination Vaccine, while VaxGen would market a bivalent gp120 vaccine.
4. Development of adjuvants for use in subunit and combination vaccines.
5. VaxGen will provide PMC with gp120 proteins for purposes of studying the
effects of deglyco-sylation of the protein on immunogenicity.
6. PMC will provide DNA of a truncated gp160 to VaxGen. VaxGen will clone
and express the DNA in CHO cells. The purpose is to determine the
production levels of the protein, as well as to bypass the current PMC
process of heat inactivation of vaccinia virus.