Arbutus Biopharma Corporation filed SEC Form 8-K: Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement, Other Events, Financial Statements and Exhibits
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In December 2021, Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (“Arbutus”) entered into a technology transfer and license agreement (the “License Agreement”) with Qilu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“Qilu”), pursuant to which Arbutus granted Qilu an exclusive (except as to certain retained rights), sublicensable, royalty-bearing license, under certain intellectual property owned by Arbutus, to develop, manufacture and commercialize its lead compound, imdusiran, in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan (“Greater China and Taiwan”).
In light of Qilu’s pipeline reprioritization efforts and Arbutus’ renewed focus on advancing its pipeline efficiently, on June 20, 2025, Arbutus and Qilu mutually agreed to conclude the strategic partnership and entered into a Termination Agreement filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1. There were no payments associated with the termination and all rights granted under the License Agreement for imdusiran in Greater China and Taiwan have reverted to Arbutus.
The foregoing summary of the material terms of the License Agreement is qualified in its entirety by the complete terms and conditions of the License Agreement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 3, 2022 as Exhibit 10.41 to Arbutus’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
On June 25, 2025, Arbutus issued a press release announcing the reacquisition of imdusiran rights in Greater China and Taiwan, the termination of the License Agreement with Qilu, and its new Scientific Advisory Board. A copy of the press release is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit Number | Description | |||
| 10.1† | Termination Agreement, dated June 20, 2025, by and between Arbutus Biopharma Corporation and Qilu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | |||
| 99.1 | Press Release dated June 25, 2025 | |||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
† Certain confidential portions of the agreement were omitted by means of marking such portions with brackets (due to the registrant customarily and actually treating such information as private or confidential and such omitted information not being material) pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC. Arbutus agrees to supplementally furnish a copy of any confidential portions to the SEC upon request.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Arbutus Biopharma Corporation | ||
| Date: June 25, 2025 | By: | /s/ Tuan Nguyen |
| Tuan Nguyen | ||
| Chief Financial Officer | ||