Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

University of Mississippi ("UM") Agreements

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University of Mississippi ("UM") Agreements
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
University Of Mississippi Agreements [Abstract]  
University of Mississippi ("UM") Agreements
2. University of Mississippi ("UM") Agreements
In July 2013, the Company entered into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with UM to engage in joint research of extracting, manipulating, and studying cannabis in certain forms to develop intellectual property ("IP") with the intention to create and commercialize therapeutic medicines. Nemus will own all IP developed solely by its employees and will jointly own all IP developed jointly between Nemus and UM employees. The term of the MOU agreement is five years and the parties agree to negotiate separate research agreements upon the identification of patentable technologies as well as any deemed to be a trade secret. The agreement can be terminated by either party upon providing a three- month written notice.
On May 15, 2014, the Company entered into an Option Agreement in which UM granted Nemus a three-month option for conducting due diligence to exclusively license a suppository dosage form containing Dronabinol Hemi succinate and other esters ("NPC 4718"). UM waived its normal option fee of $7,500 per month during the option period. Upon exercise of the option, the Company agreed to negotiate in good faith a license agreement, which is discussed below.
On July 1, 2014, the Company entered into three additional Option Agreements, pursuant to which UM granted Nemus three-month exclusive options for conducting due diligence on the following three cannabinoid extracts to exclusively license them for the purposes of obtaining FDA approval and commercializing the extracts:
1) UM 1490 – transmucosal delivery of cannabinoids
2) UM 5070 – treatment for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ("MRSA") infections
3) UM 8790 – ocular delivery of cannabinoids
On August 12, 2014, Nemus provided the requisite written notice to UM and exercised its option to exclusively license UM's rights to UM 1490, UM 5070 and UM 8790.
On September 29, 2014, the Company executed three license agreements for UM 1490, UM 5070 and UM 8790, respectively, which contain certain milestone and royalty payments, as defined therein. These licenses also require the Company to reimburse UM for patent costs incurred related to these products under license. In the case of UM 8790 the Company was required to reimburse sunk patent expenses of $70,678 in February 2015; this amount was reflected in accrued license and patent reimbursement fees as of December 31, 2014. These license agreements will terminate upon expiration of the patents, breach or default of the license agreements, or upon 60 days written notice by the Company to UM.
On October 15, 2014, we signed a renewable option agreement for the rights to explore other routes of delivery of UM5050 not yet agreed upon and/or in combination with other cannabinoids or other compatible compounds. There was a one-time up-front option payment and the option period was for six months expiring on March 31, 2015. At the end of the option period, the Company has the right to renew for an additional six months under the same financial terms and conditions. See additional discussion under Subsequent Events (Note 6).
In March of 2015, the Company entered into a research agreement with UM to begin studies concerning the medical utility of cannabinoids as anti-infective therapeutics for MRSA.  The fee payable to UM under the agreement is based on the achievement of certain milestones in the project. The Company recognized $14,700 of research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2015 which represents work completed to date under this contract.  The agreement also grants an exclusive option to license the technology from UM within 180 days from the commencement of the agreement. Either party may terminate the agreement with 30 days written notice.