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CONTINGENCIES
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12 Months Ended | |
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Dec. 31, 2013
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| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | ||
| Legal Matters and Contingencies [Text Block] |
13. CONTINGENCIES
Litigation
The Company is party to a legal matter that existed with Novelos prior to the Acquisition. The following summarizes the status of that matter.
BAM Dispute
From its inception through 2010, Novelos was primarily engaged in the development of certain oxidized glutathione-based compounds for application as therapies for disease, particularly cancer. These compounds were originally developed in Russia and in June 2000, Novelos acquired commercial rights from the Russian company (“ZAO BAM”) which owned the compounds and related Russian patents. In April 2005, Novelos acquired worldwide rights to the compounds (except for the Russian Federation) in connection with undertaking extensive development activities in an attempt to secure FDA approval of the compounds as therapies. These development activities culminated in early 2010 in an unsuccessful Phase 3 clinical trial of an oxidized glutathione compound (NOV-002) as a therapy for non-small cell lung cancer. After the disclosure of the negative outcome of the Phase 3 clinical trial in 2010, ZAO BAM claimed that Novelos modified the chemical composition of NOV-002 without prior notice to or approval from ZAO BAM, constituting a material breach of the June 2000 technology and assignment agreement. In September 2010, Novelos filed a complaint in Massachusetts Superior Court seeking a declaratory judgment by the court that the June 2000 agreement has been entirely superseded by the April 2005 agreement and that the obligations of the June 2000 agreement have been performed and fully satisfied. ZAO BAM answered the complaint and alleged counterclaims. In August 2011, the Company filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings as to the declaratory judgment count and all counts of ZAO BAM’s amended counterclaims. On October 17, 2011, the court ruled in favor of the Company on each of the declaratory judgment claims and dismissed all counts of ZAO BAM’s counterclaim. Judgment in favor of the Company was entered on October 20, 2011. On November 14, 2011 ZAO BAM filed a notice of appeal. On November 1, 2013, ZAO BAM’s appeal was docketed with the Massachusetts Appeals Court. BAM has served its appellate brief. The Company’s opposition to BAM’s appellate brief will be due on or before March 25, 2014.
We do not anticipate that this litigation matter will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s future financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
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