Background
In 1998, CFFT made an award to Aurora Biosciences Corporation (“Aurora”) to conduct a feasibility study using high throughput screening for cystic fibrosis targets. On May 19, 2000, CFFT selected and provided support for Aurora to conduct high throughput screening with respect to the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (“CFTR”) target identified by CFFT. From that time until March 31, 2008 (the “Original Research Term”), Aurora, and then after its merger into Vertex, Vertex, conducted a research program with CFFT’s support aimed at identification and design of “Potentiator” and “Corrector” compounds, both of which are directed as a principal mode of therapeutic action at modulation of the biological effect of CFTR in different ways and with different anticipated results.
On May 24, 2004, the Parties executed the Original Agreement. The Original Agreement contemplated that during the course of the research program, Vertex, with CFFT’s agreement, would select either the Potentiator or the Corrector approach as its Primary Program (as defined in the Original Agreement, as amended), to which a majority of resources under the research program would be directed, and the other approach would be designated as an Alternative Program (as defined in the Original Agreement, as amended), to which the balance of resources would be directed.
In 2005, with the concurrence of CFFT, Vertex selected the Potentiator approach as the Primary Program, and designated a certain Potentiator, VX-770, as a Development Candidate under the terms of the Original Agreement, as amended. On March 16, 2006, the Parties executed the Second Amendment, which provided for funding for the accelerated development of Potentiator Compounds. On November 20, 2006, the Parties executed the Third Amendment, which allocated on-going CFFT funding to the Vertex Potentiator Back-up Program.
To further the discovery of Corrector Compounds of significant potential value as therapeutics, on January 6, 2006, the Parties executed the First Amendment, which provided, among other things, for continued funding for research relating to Corrector Compounds. On August 20, 2007, the Parties executed the Fourth Amendment, which re-allocated certain of the Corrector Research Program funding in order to support accelerated preclinical development of the Corrector Development Candidate VX-809. Upon termination of the Original Research Term, the Original Agreement, as amended, expired pursuant to Section 10.1, and certain provisions, set forth in Section 10.4 of the Original Agreement, as amended, survived.
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