Echo Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ECTE) (“Echoâ€), a medical device company developing its Symphony® CGM System as a non-invasive, wireless continuous glucose monitoring system, today announced that it entered into a strategic collaboration agreement with Medical Technologies Innovation Asia (MTIA), Ltd., Hong Kong, for a license arrangement and equity investment in Echo. Under the terms of the License, Development and Commercialization Agreement, dated December 9, 2013, between MTIA and Echo (the “Agreementâ€), Echo granted MTIA rights to develop, manufacture, market and distribute Echo’s Symphony CGM System on an exclusive basis for the Chinese market, including the Peoples’ Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
Under the terms of the Agreement, MTIA is responsible for development costs, as well as manufacturing and marketing costs, relating to the Symphony CGM System for the Chinese market, and for obtaining regulatory approval for the product in the licensed territories. Upon the earlier of regulatory approval from the China Food and Drug Administration or upon Echo’s termination of the Agreement, MTIA is entitled to reimbursement of development costs up to $1.5 million in the form of shares of Echo’s common stock valued at $2.71, which was the NASDAQ closing price on December 9, 2013. The parties will share net sales of the product generated in the territory. The term of the Agreement is ten (10) years, subject to certain rights to earlier termination for breach, change of control and certain performance obligations.
The worldwide market for glucose monitoring devices is approximately $10 billion, and is largely composed of blood glucose meters and test strips which provide single blood glucose values. Symphony has the potential to offer a non-invasive, continuous glucose monitoring solution for use in the emerging hospital market. This strategic partnership offers Echo both the potential to accelerate Symphony’s commercialization in China and to access to the Chinese market, where MTIA has established sales channels in more than 1,000 hospitals spanning the country’s provinces.
“This collaboration addresses a specific market need in China and we believe that, with our medical device expertise and extensive sales channels, the Symphony CGM System has the potential to revolutionize the standard of care for glucose monitoring in China,†said Bai Ge, Managing Director of MTIA. “We are exceptionally pleased to work together with Echo and look forward to a long and productive partnership.â€
As partial consideration for the Agreement, MTIA and its affiliate purchased 1,818,182 shares of Echo’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at $2.75 per share, a premium to NASDAQ’s closing market price of Echo’s common stock on December 9, 2013. MTIA will also receive 181,818 warrants, having a five-year term and an exercise price of $2.75 per warrant. The warrants are exercisable commencing on June 9, 2014. Additionally, Platinum Partners and certain of its affiliates, increased their position in Echo by purchasing 69,569 shares of Echo’s common stock at $2.75 per share, a premium to NASDAQ’s closing market price on December 9, 2013. Platinum is also purchasing 1,748,613 shares of Series E Convertible Preferred s at a purchase price of $2.75 per share which are convertible into shares of Echo’s common stock on a one-for-one basis. Platinum will also receive 181,818 warrants on the same terms and conditions as the warrants issued to MTIA. The securities are subject to certain piggy-back registration rights. As a result of the investment in the Company of $10 million, Echo will withdraw the registration statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company on December 2, 2013. The Company had filed the Form S-1 as a potential back-up financial alternative in the event that negotiations with MTIA were not successful.