Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

December 1, 2011

 

Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

300 Elliott Avenue West, Suite 500

Seattle, WA 98119

Attn: Anna Wight, Vice President Legal

 

Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

7000 Shoreline Court, Suite 270

South San Francisco, CA 94080

Attn: Cheni Kwok, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development

 

Dear Cheni and Anna:

 

This letter relates to the License Agreement, dated as of November 17, 2011 (the “License Agreement”), between Verastem, Inc. (“Verastem”) and Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

For purposes of the License Agreement (including the Common Stock Warrant Agreement described therein), we wish to clarify that the number of shares of Verastem’s common stock as to which the warrant referenced in Section 4.3 of the License Agreement (the “Warrant”) is exercisable (currently 500,000 shares) shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to Verastem’s common stock occurring at any time after the date of the License Agreement and prior to the issuance of the Common Stock Warrant Agreement pursuant to the License Agreement.

 

In addition, we wish to clarify that the provisions of Section 2(e) of the Common Stock Warrant Agreement apply to, and shall adjust the securities, cash or other property deliverable upon exercise of the Warrant as a result of, any Reorganization whether occurring before or after issuance of the Warrant.

 

Please sign below to acknowledge your agreement herewith. 

 

Very truly yours,

 

VERASTEM, INC.

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ Robert Forrester
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name: Robert Forrester
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title: COO
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED: 

 

PONIARD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ Ronald Martell
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name: Ronald Martell
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title: CEO
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

215 First St.  Suite 440  Cambridge, MA  02142  P: (617) 252-9325  F: (617) 812-0059  www.verastem.comExhibit 10.2

 

Verastem, Inc.
 215 First Street, Suite 440
 Cambridge, MA 02142

 

March 6, 2013

 

BY E-MAIL

 

Roberta Hunt

The Scripps Research Institute
 10550 North Torrey Pines Road
 La Jolla, CA 92037

 

Fred Craves

Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

300 Elliott Avenue West, Suite 500

Seattle, WA 98119

 

Re:                             Modifying Patent Prosecution Rights and Obligations under the TSRI Agreement and Verastem Agreement

 

Dear Sirs or Madams:

 

This letter agreement (the “Letter Agreement”) is entered into by and among Verastem, Inc. (“Verastem”), The Scripps Research Institute (“TSRI”), and Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Poniard”). Reference is hereby made to the License Agreement by and among TSRI and Poniard, dated as of May 5, 2008 (the “TSRI Agreement”), and the License Agreement by and among Verastem and Poniard, dated as of November 17, 2011 (the “Verastem Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined have the meaning set forth in the TSRI Agreement or the Verastem Agreement, as applicable.

 

This Letter Agreement is intended to modify the rights and obligations of Verastem, TSRI and Poniard under the TSRI Agreement and the Verastem Agreement with respect to the Licensed Patent Rights (as defined in the TSRI Agreement) that have been sublicensed by Poniard to Verastem under the Verastem Agreement (the “TSRI Patent Rights”). For the sake of clarity, the TSRI Patent Rights include the Licensed Patent Rights (as defined in the Verastem Agreement) that are Controlled (as defined in the Verastem Agreement) by Poniard pursuant to the TSRI Agreement. Exhibit A attached hereto sets forth the TSRI Patent Rights as of the date of this Letter Agreement (the “Effective Date”). Annually, or earlier upon request by Verastem, TSRI shall update Exhibit A to reflect the current patent applications and patents included in the TSRI Patent Rights.

 

1

 

Pursuant to Sections 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3 of the TSRI Agreement, TSRI is responsible for the preparation, filing and prosecution of the patent applications within the TSRI Patent Rights and for the maintenance of the patents issuing therefrom, and Poniard is required to pay or reimburse all costs and expenses paid or incurred by TSRI with respect to such patent prosecution and maintenance activities (the “TSRI Patent Rights Costs”) within thirty (30) days after receipt of an itemized invoice therefor. TSRI must keep Poniard timely informed with regard to such patent prosecution and maintenance activities, and provide Poniard, and Poniard’s counsel, with reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the text of each patent application within the TSRI Patent Rights before filing. TSRI is also required to provide Poniard with copies of all relevant patent applications, amendments, related correspondence and other related matters.

 

Pursuant to Section 5.1.1 of the Verastem Agreement, Verastem has agreed to reimburse Poniard for the TSRI Patent Rights Costs and Poniard has agreed to (a) keep Verastem timely informed with regard to the patent application and maintenance processes and other submissions for the TSRI Patent Rights; (b) give Verastem, and Verastem’s counsel, reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the text of each patent application within the TSRI Patent Rights before filing; and (c) include Verastem’s comments in any comments provided to TSRI, in each case to the extent that TSRI has granted such rights to Poniard.

 

Notwithstanding Sections 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3 of the TSRI Agreement or Section 5.1.1 of the Verastem Agreement, each of Verastem, Poniard and TSRI agree that, effective upon the Effective Date, Verastem shall directly reimburse TSRI for the TSRI Patent Costs incurred on or after the Effective Date in accordance with the terms of Section 8.3 of the TSRI Agreement, and that all of Poniard’s rights and obligations under Sections 8.1 and 8.2 of the TSRI Agreement with respect to the TSRI Patent Rights shall be transferred to Verastem. Accordingly, Poniard hereby assigns to Verastem and Verastem hereby assumes, all of Poniard’s rights and obligations under Sections 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3 of the TSRI Agreement solely with respect to the TSRI Patent Rights, and TSRI hereby acknowledges and consents to the assignment and assumption of such rights and obligations. Verastem and Poniard agree that, as of the Effective Date, Section 5.1.1 of the Verastem Agreement shall no longer apply to the TSRI Patent Rights.

 

Except as expressly set forth in this Letter Agreement, all of the terms and conditions of the TSRI Agreement and Verastem Agreement shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect, and are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects.

 

Please indicate your acceptance of the terms and conditions set forth in this Letter Agreement by executing a copy of this letter and returning it to Verastem. Upon your execution of this Letter Agreement, it will be a binding contract among Verastem, TSRI and Poniard, and will be binding on the successors and assigns thereof.

 

This Letter Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Letter Agreement, following its execution, may be delivered via facsimile or other form of electronic delivery, which shall constitute delivery of an execution original for all purposes.

 

[Signature pages follow.]

 

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Sincerely, 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
VERASTEM, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Daniel Paterson
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Daniel Paterson
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
(Printed)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
V.P., Head of Corporate Dev,
    

 

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED BY:

 

THE SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ Thomas E. Northrup
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Thomas E. Northrup, Ph.D., J.D.
    
	
Name:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
General Counsel
    
	
 
    	
(Printed)
    	
 
    	
 
    	
The Scripps Research Institute
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED BY:

 

PONIARD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ Fred Craves
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Fred Craves
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
(Printed)
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
DirectorExhibit 10.3

 

THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST.  REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [* * *] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

CONSENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

 

This CONSENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of the 4th day of September, 2013, by and between and Verastem, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Verastem”) and Encarta, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Encarta”) and is joined in by Poniard (assignment for the benefit of creditors), LLC, a California limited liability company, in its sole and limited capacity as Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors of Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Poniard ABC”) for the limited purposes set forth herein.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, by resolution of the board of directors of Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Washington corporation (“Poniard”), Poniard transferred ownership of all of its right, title and interest in and to all of its assets, properties and rights, tangible and intangible, wherever located (the “Assets”), to Poniard ABC, and in so doing, designated Poniard ABC to act, pursuant to Washington state law, as the Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors of Poniard;

 

WHEREAS, on or about March 11, 2013, Poniard filed with the Superior Court of the State of Washington King County (the “Court”) a Petition for Appointment of General Receiver over the Assets.  By order dated March 12, 2013, the Court appointed Poniard ABC as a general receiver in connection with Poniard’s receivership in the Court;

 

WHEREAS, on June 24, 2013, Poniard ABC filed with the Court a motion seeking (i) a hearing with the Court and (ii) authorization of the sale of the Assets (the “Sale Motion”).  Pursuant to the Sale Motion, Poniard requested entry of an order (the “Approval Order”) that, among other things, authorized Poniard ABC to enter into such documents and agreements as may be necessary to implement the sale transaction;

 

WHEREAS, on August 2, 2013, the Court entered the Approval Order approving the Sale Motion, and approving and authorizing Poniard ABC to enter into and implement that certain Asset Purchase Agreement by and between Poniard ABC and Encarta, dated as of June 20, 2013, and all associated agreements and transactions (the “Purchase Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, upon the Closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, that certain License Agreement dated November 17, 2011 between Verastem and Poniard, as such agreement may have been amended from time to time, and any ancillary agreements related or necessary thereto, including that certain Letter Agreement dated as of December 1, 2011 by and between Verastem and Poniard and that certain Letter Agreement dated as of March 6, 2013 by and among Verastem, Poniard and The Scripps Research Institute (collectively, the “Verastem License Agreement”), and any and all of Poniard ABC’s right, title, benefit, privileges and interest which it has in, to and under the Verastem License Agreement, shall be assigned, transferred, conveyed and delivered by Poniard ABC to Encarta; and

 

 

THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST.  REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [* * *] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

WHEREAS, Encarta wishes to accept, assume, comply with, perform and discharge all of Poniard ABC’s rights and obligations under the Verastem License Agreement, and Verastem wishes to consent to the assignment of the Verastem License Agreement to Encarta and to accept the exercise and performance of all of Poniard ABC’s rights and obligations under the Verastem License Agreement from Encarta, in each case, upon and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the applicable terms and conditions set forth in the Verastem License Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Verastem, Encarta and Poniard ABC intending to be legally bound hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Definitions.  Capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Verastem License Agreement and the rules of usage set forth therein shall apply hereto.

 

2.                                      Effectiveness.  This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above (such date, the “Effective Date”).

 

3.                                      Acknowledgment and Consent.  Verastem hereby acknowledges that (i) the Verastem License Agreement is in full force and effect, and (ii) to Verastem’s knowledge, there are no defaults under the Verastem License Agreement and no events which with the giving of notice or the passage of time would constitute a default under the Verastem License Agreement.  Verastem hereby consents to the assignment of the Verastem License Agreement by Poniard ABC to Encarta pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.  Verastem hereby agrees to accept Encarta’s exercise and performance of all of the rights and obligations of Poniard ABC under the Verastem License Agreement (including those rights and obligations that existed prior to the Effective Date), in each case, upon and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and all applicable terms and conditions set forth in the Verastem License Agreement.

 

4.                                      Assumption.  Encarta hereby accepts, assumes and agrees to comply with, perform and discharge, all of the rights and obligations of Poniard ABC under the Verastem License Agreement (including those rights and obligations that existed prior to the Effective Date), in each case, upon and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and all applicable terms and conditions set forth in the Verastem License Agreement.  On and after the Effective Date, the term “Poniard” as used in the Verastem License Agreement shall be deemed to be replaced by and refer to Encarta.

 

2

 

THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST.  REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [* * *] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

5.                                      Poniard ABC Acknowledgement.  Poniard ABC hereby acknowledges Verastem’s consent to the assignment of the Verastem License Agreement by Poniard ABC to Encarta and Encarta’s acceptance, assumption and agreement to comply with, perform and discharge of all of the rights and obligations of Poniard ABC under the Verastem License Agreement (including those rights and obligations that existed prior to the Effective Date), in each case, upon and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and all applicable terms and conditions set forth in the Verastem License Agreement.

 

6.                                      Representations and Warranties.  Encarta hereby represents and warrants to Verastem that, as of the Effective Date:

 

a.                                      Encarta has provided Verastem with true, correct and complete copies of the Purchase Agreement and all ancillary documentation related to the Verastem License Agreement executed in connection with the Closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement;

 

b.                                      Encarta owns or otherwise Controls (or will own or otherwise Control upon the Closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement) all of the Licensed Patent Rights and documented Licensed Know-How;

 

c.                                       the License Agreement dated as of May 5, 2008 by and between The Scripps Research Institute (“Scripps”) and Poniard, as such agreement may have been amended from time to time, and any ancillary agreements related or necessary thereto (the “Scripps License Agreement”) has been assigned (or will be assigned upon the Closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement) to Encarta in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions set forth in the Scripps License Agreement;

 

d.                                      Scripps has consented in writing to the assignment of the Scripps License Agreement by Poniard ABC to a third party provided that, as a condition to such consent, Scripps shall have received any unpaid amounts due under the Scripps License Agreement;

 

e.                                       Encarta has accepted, assumed and agreed (or will accept, assume and agree upon the Closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement) to comply with, perform and discharge, all of the rights and obligations of Poniard ABC under the Scripps License Agreement (including those rights and obligations that existed prior to the Effective Date), in each case, subject to all applicable terms and conditions set forth in the Scripps License Agreement;

 

3

 

THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST.  REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [* * *] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

f.                                        To Encarta’s knowledge, Encarta has cured, to the satisfaction of Scripps, any and all breaches under the Scripps License Agreement that existed prior to the Effective Date; and

 

g.                                       To Encarta’s knowledge, Encarta is not currently in material breach (or will not be in material breach upon the Closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement) of any of its obligations under the Scripps License Agreement.

 

7.                                      Payments under Verastem License Agreement.  Verastem hereby acknowledges and agrees that the first dosing of the first patient in a Phase I Clinical Trial for a Licensed Product (the “First Milestone Event”) occurred on July 16, 2013.  On or before [* * *], Verastem shall pay to Encarta, and Poniard ABC hereby directs Verastem to pay to Encarta, the First Milestone Event payment of [* * *] as set forth in Section 4.2 of the Verastem License Agreement (the “First Milestone Payment”), and, on or before [* * *], Verastem and Encarta shall enter into the Common Stock Warrant Agreement (which shall be in the form attached as Exhibit D to the Verastem License Agreement) in accordance with Section 4.3 of the Verastem License Agreement and that certain Letter Agreement dated as of December 1, 2011 by and between Verastem and Poniard, in each case, in accordance with this Section 7 and all applicable terms and conditions set forth in the Verastem License Agreement.  Encarta hereby acknowledges and agrees that the payment of the First Milestone Payment and execution and delivery of the Common Stock Warrant Agreement in accordance with this Section 7 shall be timely and in full satisfaction of Verastem’s obligations under Sections 4.2 and 4.3 of the Verastem License Agreement solely with respect to the First Milestone Event.

 

8.                                      Miscellaneous.

 

a.                                      Any notices to be delivered to Encarta under the Verastem License Agreement shall be delivered in accordance with Section 11.14 of the Verastem License Agreement to the following address(es):

 

Encarta, Inc.

750 Battery Street, Ste. 400

San Francisco, California 94111

Facsimile:  (415) 837-0503

Email:  fred@baycitycapital.com

Attention:  Fred Craves

 

With a copy to:

Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, P.C.

660 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1600

Newport Beach, CA 92660

Facsimile:  (949) 823-5132

Email:  lcohn@sycr.com

Attention:  Lawrence B. Cohn, Esq.

 

4

 

THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST.  REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [* * *] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

b.                                      This Agreement shall be deemed to be part of and incorporated into the Verastem License Agreement.  Except as expressly set forth herein, all of the terms and conditions of the Verastem License Agreement shall remain unchanged and are ratified, confirmed in all respects, and remain in full force and effect.

 

c.                                       This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

d.                                      This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

e.                                       This Assignment may be executed and delivered by facsimile or portable document format in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

[SIGNATURES ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE]

 

5

 

THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST.  REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [* * *] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the Effective Date.

 

	
 
    	
VERASTEM, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Daniel Paterson
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:   Daniel Paterson
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   Chief Business Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ENCARTA, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Fred Craves
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:   Fred Craves
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   Chief Executive Officer
    

 

6

 

THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST.  REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [* * *] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

The undersigned hereby joins this Agreement for purposes of evidencing its agreement to be bound by and to comply with the terms of Sections 5 and 7 of this Agreement.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Agreement to be executed as of the Effective Date.

 

	
 
    	
PONIARD   (ASSIGNMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF CREDITORS), LLC, SOLELY AS ASSIGNEE FOR THE   BENEFIT OF CREDITORS OF PONIARD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Michael A. Maidy
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:   Michael A. Maidy
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:Manager
    

 

7

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