Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On January 6, 2023, (the “Effective Date”), Kronos Bio, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group (“Genentech”). Pursuant to the Agreement, the parties have agreed to initially collaborate on two discovery research programs in oncology, each focused on a designated transcription factor, to discover small-molecule GLP-Tox-ready candidates that modulate transcription factor targets selected by Genentech. Each discovery research program will primarily consist of (i) a mapping phase with the goal of identifying the transcription regulatory network for such designated transcription factor, and (ii) a screening phase having the goal of identifying and characterizing multiple screening hits suitable for nomination as a preclinical development program.
The Company will lead discovery and research activities under the discovery research programs and will use its proprietary drug discovery platform, including the small molecule microarray (SMM), for hit finding. Following the completion of initial discovery and research activities, Genentech will have the exclusive right to pursue further preclinical and clinical development and commercialization of compounds identified in the discovery research programs and designated by Genentech (each, a “Hit Program”).
Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company is entitled to receive an upfront payment of $20.0 million from Genentech. In addition, the Company is eligible for additional milestone payments upon achievement of certain preclinical, clinical and regulatory (including first-sale) milestones, totaling up to $177 million for the first development candidate per Hit Program, and is eligible to receive net sales milestones of up to $100 million for the first licensed product per Hit Program. The Company is also eligible to receive tiered royalties in the low- to high-single digits on any products that are commercialized by Genentech as a result of the collaboration.
The term of the discovery research programs under the Agreement will be up to 24 months, which may be extended by six months at the Company’s option subject to satisfying certain conditions.
Unless earlier terminated, the Agreement will remain in effect for each product licensed under the Agreement until expiration of the royalty term for such licensed product. Genentech has the right to terminate this Agreement in its entirety, or with respect to a particular discovery research program or Hit Program, in its sole discretion, at any time by providing 60 days’ advance written notice to the Company. Each party may also terminate the Agreement upon the other party’s material breach that remains uncured for 90 days (or 45 days in the event of nonpayment), or in the event of certain insolvency events involving the other party.