Note 6 - Related Party Transactions

Founders Agreement and Management Services Agreement with Fortress

Fortress entered into a Founders Agreement with Avenue in February 2015 (as amended, the “Fortress-Avenue Founders Agreement”), pursuant to which Fortress assigned to Avenue all of its rights and interest under Fortress’s license agreement with Revogenex for IV tramadol (the “IV Tramadol License Agreement”). As additional consideration for the transfer of rights under the original Fortress-Avenue Founders Agreement, Avenue also agreed to: (i) issue annually to Fortress, on the anniversary date of the Fortress-Avenue Founders Agreement, shares of common stock equal to two and one half percent (2.5%) of the fully-diluted outstanding equity of Avenue; (ii) pay an equity fee in shares of Avenue common stock, payable within five (5) business days of the closing of any equity or debt financing for Avenue or any of its respective subsidiaries that occurs after the effective date of the Founders Agreement and ending on the date when Fortress no longer has majority voting control in Avenue’s voting equity, equal to two and one half percent (2.5%) of the gross amount of any such equity or debt financing; and (iii) pay a cash fee equal to four and one half percent (4.5%) of Avenue’s annual net sales, payable on an annual basis, within ninety (90) days of the end of each calendar year. In the event of a change in control (as it is defined in the Founders Agreement), Fortress will be paid a one-time change in control fee equal to five (5x) times the product of (i) net sales for the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the change in control and (ii) four and one-half percent (4.5%).

Effective as of February 17, 2015, Fortress entered into a Management Services Agreement (the “Fortress-Avenue MSA”) with Avenue pursuant to which Fortress provides advisory and consulting services to Avenue pursuant to the terms thereof. The Fortress-Avenue MSA contained an initial five-year term and shall be automatically extended for additional five-year periods unless Fortress or the Company provides written notice of its desire not to automatically extend the term of the Fortress-Avenue MSA at least 90 days prior to the applicable expiration date. Services provided under the Fortress-Avenue MSA may include, without limitation, (i) advice and assistance concerning any and all aspects of Avenue’s operations, clinical trials, financial planning and strategic transactions and financings and (ii) conducting relations on behalf of Avenue with accountants, attorneys, financial advisors and other professionals (collectively, the “Services”). Avenue is obligated to utilize clinical research services, medical education, communication and marketing services and investor relations/public relation services of companies or individuals designated by Fortress, provided those services are offered at market prices. However, Avenue is not obligated to take or act upon any advice rendered from Fortress, and Fortress shall not be liable for any of Avenue’s actions or inactions based upon their advice. Fortress and its affiliates, including all members of Avenue’s Board of Directors, have been contractually exempt from fiduciary duties to Avenue relating to corporate opportunities. In consideration for the Services, Avenue will pay Fortress an annual consulting fee of $0.5 million (the “Annual Consulting Fee”), payable in advance in equal quarterly installments on the first business day of each calendar quarter in each year, provided, however, that such Annual Consulting Fee shall be increased to $1.0 million for each calendar year in which Avenue has net assets in excess of $100.0 million at the beginning of the calendar year. The Fortress-Avenue MSA fee was reinstated upon the consummation of the InvaGen Share Repurchase Agreement and termination of any prior investment agreements between InvaGen, Avenue and Fortress.

Founders Agreement and Management Services Agreement with Baergic

Pursuant to the Share Contribution Agreement between Avenue and Fortress, the Founders Agreement and Management Services Agreement that had previously been existing between Fortress and Baergic were assigned to Avenue, such that they now exist between Avenue and Baergic; those agreements are referred to herein as the Avenue-Baergic Founders Agreement and the Avenue-Baergic MSA, as applicable. The Annual Stock Dividend payable to the Company is 2.5% of common stock calculated as a percentage of fully diluted outstanding capital and became effective as of November 8, 2022. For the year ended December 31, 2022, Baergic recorded an Annual Stock Dividend of $10.5 thousand to Avenue on December 31, 2022, which was paid in shares on January 1, 2023.

The Avenue-Baergic Founders Agreement has an effective date of March 9, 2017, and a term of 15 years, which upon expiration automatically renews for successive one-year periods unless terminated by Avenue and Baergic or a Change in Control (as defined in the Avenue-Baergic Founders Agreement) occurs.

As additional consideration under the Avenue-Baergic Founders Agreement, Baergic will also: (i) pay an equity fee in shares of common stock, payable within five (5) business days of the closing of any equity or debt financing for Baergic that occurs after the effective date of the Avenue-Baergic Founders Agreement and ending on the date when Avenue no longer has majority voting control in the Baergic’s voting equity, equal to two and one-half (2.5%) of the gross amount of any such equity or debt financing; and (ii) pay a cash fee equal to four and one-half percent (4.5%) of the Baergic’s annual net sales, payable on an annual basis, within ninety (90) days of the end of each calendar year. In the event of a Change in Control, Baergic will pay a one-time change in control fee equal to five (5x) times the product of (A) net sales for the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the change in control and (B) four and one-half percent (4.5%).

The Avenue-Baergic MSA has an effective date of March 9, 2017, pursuant to which Avenue renders management, advisory and consulting services to the Company. The Avenue-Baergic MSA has an initial term of five years and is automatically renewed for successive five-year terms unless terminated in accordance with its provisions. Services provided under the Avenue-Baergic MSA may include, without limitation, (i) advice and assistance concerning any and all aspects of the Baergic’s operations, clinical trials, financial planning and strategic transactions and financings and (ii) conducting relations on behalf of the Baergic with accountants, attorneys, financial advisors and other professionals (collectively, the “Avenue Services”). Baergic is obligated to utilize clinical research services, medical education, communication and marketing services and investor relations/public relation services of companies or individuals designated by Avenue, provided those services are offered at market prices. However, Baergic is not obligated to take or act upon any advice rendered from Avenue and Avenue shall not be liable for any of its actions or inactions based upon their advice. Pursuant to the Avenue-Baergic MSA and Baergic’s Certificate of Incorporation, Avenue and its affiliates, including all members of Baergic’s Board of Directors, will have no fiduciary or other duty to communicate or present any corporate opportunities to Baergic or to refrain from engaging in business that is similar to that of Baergic. In consideration for the Avenue Services, Baergic will pay Avenue an annual consulting fee of $0.5 million (the “Avenue-Baergic Annual Consulting Fee”), payable in advance in equal quarterly installments on the first business day of each calendar quarter in each year, provided, however, that such Avenue-Baergic Annual Consulting Fee shall be increased to $1.0 million for each calendar year in which Baergic has net assets in excess of $100 million at the beginning of the calendar year.

Shared Services Agreement with Urica Therapeutics

Effective February 1, 2023, and amended on April 30, 2023, the Company and Urica entered into a sharing arrangement for a certain Avenue employee to be shared with Urica. During the arrangement, Urica has the authority to supervise the Avenue employee and will reimburse the Company for the employee’s salary and salary-related costs. The term of this agreement lasted until July 31, 2023 and can be extended for consecutive three-month periods. The amounts reimbursable to Avenue was $13,229 and $79,991 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023. The amounts were recorded as a reduction in research and development expenses on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The amount due to the Company as of September 30, 2023 that is related to the shared services agreement is $13,229 and is included in “Other receivables – related party” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.