Annotations
This collaboration agreement (“Agreement ”) for the development and commercialization of a gonorrhea drug is between Entasis Therapeutics Limited, a U.K.-registered subsidiary of an antibiotic resistance biotech firm, and Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (“DNDi ”), a nonprofit drug research and development organization. DNDi acted through the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (“GARDP ”), which was then an unincorporated DNDi partnership with the World Health Organization. The parties agreed to jointly develop gonorrhoea products using Zolliflodacin, an oral antibiotic developed with support from the National Institutes of Health (“NIH ”). The Agreement is effective as of July 4, 2017. In 2019, GARDP, which had become an independent nonprofit foundation, replaced DNDi as a contractual party on the same terms as in the original Agreement.
When the Agreement was executed, Entasis had already filed an investigational new drug application with the FDA, and completed two phase 1 clinical trials and a phase 2 trial. The Agreement contemplates that the parties will conduct additional studies, beginning with a QT trial in the United States, which measures the drug’s impact on an aspect of the heart’s functioning, that Entasis will conduct (“QT Study ”). When the QT study is complete, DNDi will sponsor an international, multicenter phase III study (“Phase III MC Trial ”). The parties will collaborate on Phase III MC Trial design. DNDi must also conduct chemistry, manufacturing and control (“CMC ”) activities as part of drug development. The regulatory strategy is based in part on Entasis obtaining authorization from the FDA and EMA first.
A Joint Steering Committee (“JSC ”) manages the collaboration in accordance with a development plan, regulatory plan, and manufacturing and supply plan. The development and regulatory plans were attached to the Agreement but redacted. The manufacturing and supply plan was to be negotiated after the collaboration began.
Each party grants the other an exclusive license in its background technology and foreground technology, which the Agreement calls “collaboration technology ”. Both parties must share manufacturing know-how. Entasis must share API know-how needed for some DNDi development activities. The Agreement does not contemplate jointly-owned foreground technology.
The Agreement includes provisions to prevent antibiotic resistance, including a prohibition on development for “future indications” without both parties’ consent. When negotiating a manufacturing and supply plan, the parties must minimize the number of manufacturing sublicencees in order to ensure continued efficacy and responsible use of the product.
Entasis’ territory includes specified high-income countries. DNDi will commercialize products for the rest of the world. The schedule that defines each party’s exact Territory is redacted, however territory information is available in this GARDP press release .
Provision Language
11. Indemnification and Liability
Insurance
11.9 Each Party shall maintain at its own cost sufficient insurance to cover its liabilities set out in this Clause 11 . Subject to applicable law, the foregoing requirement may be met by way of self–insurance. Upon request from the other Party, each Party shall communicate to the other any insurance policies covering its responsibilities under this Agreement and copies of relevant insurance certificates.