Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Related Person Transactions
Other than the compensation agreements and other arrangements described in “Executive Compensation” and elsewhere in this Proxy Statement and the relationships and transactions described below, since January 1, 2022, there was no transaction or series of transactions to which we were or will be a party in which the amount involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000 and in which any director, executive officer, holder of more than five percent of our capital stock or any member of their immediate families had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
Collaboration with Novartis
In January 2016, we entered into a strategic collaboration agreement, or the Novartis Agreement, with Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Inc., or Novartis, to develop next-generation cancer therapies. Upon entering into the agreement, we received an upfront payment of $70.0 million from Novartis and granted Novartis a worldwide exclusive license to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize antibodies that target CD73. In addition, we initially granted Novartis the right to purchase exclusive option rights (each an “Option”) for up to four specified targets, including certain development, manufacturing and commercialization rights. As of January 2020, there were no Options remaining for purchase and exercise, and accordingly, the Company’s performance obligations under the Novartis Agreement ended. Under the Novartis Agreement, the Company is currently entitled to potential development milestones of $325,000 and sales milestones of $200,000, as well as tiered royalties on annual net sales by Novartis ranging from high single-digit to mid-teens percentages. Such amount of potential milestone payments assumes the successful clinical development of and achievement of all sales milestones for NZV930. Through December 31, 2022, we had received an aggregate of $80.0 million in option purchase and milestone payments from Novartis. In January 2016, we also received an equity investments of $13.5 million from Novartis.
Executive Officer and Director Compensation
See the section entitled “Executive Compensation” for information regarding compensation of our executive officers and directors.
Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into agreements to indemnify our directors and executive officers. These agreements will, among other things, require us to indemnify these individuals for certain expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and settlement amounts reasonably incurred by such person in any action or proceeding, including any action by or in our right, on account of any services undertaken by such person on behalf of our Company or that person’s status as a member of our Board of Directors to the maximum extent allowed under Delaware law.
Policies and Procedures for Related Person Transactions
Our Board of Directors has adopted a written related person transactions policy that requires such transactions to be approved by our Audit Committee. Pursuant to this policy, the Audit Committee has the primary responsibility for reviewing and approving or disapproving “related party transactions,” which are transactions between us and related persons in which the aggregate amount involved exceeds or may be expected to exceed $120,000 and in which a related person has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. For purposes of this policy, a related person is defined as a director, executive officer, nominee for director, or greater than 5% beneficial owner of our common stock, and their immediate family members.
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