In January 2012, the Company entered into an agreement with Novici Biotech, LLC (“Novici”) in which iBio’s President is a minority stockholder. Novici performs laboratory feasibility analyses of gene expression, protein purification and preparation of research samples. In addition, the Company and Novici collaborate on the development of new technologies and product candidates for exclusive worldwide commercial use by the Company. The accounts payable balance includes amounts due to Novici of approximately $178,000 and $181,000 at September 30, 2018 and June 30, 2018, respectively. Research and development expenses related to Novici were approximately $259,000 and $176,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Previously, Fraunhofer had been the Company’s most significant vendor solely on the basis of the three-party Yellow Fever vaccine development program among Fiocruz/Bio-Manguinhos, the Company, and Fraunhofer (described in greater detail below) but expenses have decreased due to changes and a decrease in technology services performed pursuant to the agreement with Fiocruz. The accounts payable balance under this three-party agreement includes amounts due Fraunhofer of approximately $75,000 as of both September 30, 2018 and June 30, 2018. See Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies.

 

On January 4, 2011, the Company entered into the Collaboration and License Agreement (the "CLA") which is a three-party agreement involving the Company, Fraunhofer and Fiocruz, a public entity, member of the Indirect Federal Public Administration and linked to the Health Ministry of Brazil, acting through its unit Bio-Manguinhos. The CLA provides for the development of a yellow fever vaccine to be manufactured and distributed within Latin America and Africa by Fiocruz. The CLA was supplemented by a bilateral agreement between iBio and Fraunhofer dated December 27, 2010 in which the Company engaged Fraunhofer as a contractor to provide the research and development services (both, together, the "Agreement"). The services are billed to Fiocruz at Fraunhofer's cost, so the Company's revenue is equivalent to expense and there is no profit.

 

On June 12, 2014, Fiocruz, Fraunhofer and iBio executed an amendment to the CLA (the "Amended Agreement") which provides for revised research and development, work plans, reporting, objectives, estimated budget, and project billing process. In both Fiscal 2019 and Fiscal 2018, under the Amended Agreement, no revenue was recognized for work performed for Fiocruz pursuant to the Amended Agreement by the Company’s subcontractor, Fraunhofer, and recognized research and development expenses of the same amount due Fraunhofer for that work. iBio and Fiocruz are currently evaluating plans for further collaboration without prospective reliance on older Fraunhofer-derived technology and data.  

 

In September 2013, the Company and Fraunhofer completed the Terms of Settlement for the TTA Seventh Amendment (the "Settlement Agreement"). Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, various contractual obligations existing at June 30, 2013 were released, terminated or modified. See Note 14 - Commitments and Contingencies for significant modifications.

 

On March 17, 2015, the Company filed a Verified Complaint in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware against Fraunhofer and Vidadi Yusibov, Fraunhofer's Executive Director. On November 3, 2017, the Company filed a Verified Complaint in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware against Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the European unit of Fraunhofer. This complaint follows iBio’s pending litigation filed in March 2015 against Fraunhofer USA, Inc., the U.S. unit of Fraunhofer. See Note 14 - Lawsuits for additional information.