Restitution of enrichment by mistake – AstraZeneca recovers USD 2m for candidate drugs mistakenly interpreted to be ‘Collaboration Compounds’

In Astex Therapeutics v AstraZeneca, AstraZeneca were able to recover USD 2m by way of restitution of enrichment for two milestone payments made to Astex by mistake under a collaboration agreement. Astex and AstraZeneca entered into an agreement to develop a BACE inhibitor for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.  After expiry of the collaboration term, the development could be (and was) carried on by AstraZeneca alone. The agreement provided for AstraZeneca to make milestone payments to Astex if a licensed product contained a collaboration compound (a compound discovered as a direct result of the project) and for Astex to receive royalty payments on any sales of licensed products which contained a collaboration compound.

While continuing the development on its own, AstraZeneca developed two compounds. Both were nominated by AstraZeneca as candidate drugs (collaboration compounds meeting AstraZeneca’s criteria for clinical testing). Two milestone payments of USD 1m were made to Astex in relation to one of the compounds.

AstraZeneca notified Astex that it no longer considered the compounds to be collaboration compounds. The issues to be determined by the court were: (i) were the compounds, collaboration compounds; (ii) if not, was AstraZeneca entitled to recover the two milestone payments; (iii) was the collaboration agreement capable of expiring (as opposed to being terminated).

As to (i), the court had to determine the meaning of the language of the agreement when read in the context of the factual background available to the parties at the time of the agreement, excluding prior negotiations (Wood v Capita followed). On the evidence, neither of the compounds were collaboration compounds because they had not been found as a direct result of the research project.

As to (ii), Arnold J followed the principles of law relating to restitution of enrichment set out in Jazztel v Revenue and Customers Commissioners. AstraZeneca had to show that it had been mistaken at the time it made the milestone payments and that the mistake resulted in the payment. Any causative mistake of fact or law was enough. AstraZeneca was held to be mistaken as to the contractual status of the compound at the time which led to the milestone payments. AstraZeneca was entitled to restitution of the USD 2m paid.

As to (iii), the judge granted a declaration that the agreement was capable of expiring and the terms on which it would expire: namely, when AstraZeneca no longer pursued pre-clinical research referable to the results of the collaboration.

Update November 2018: Astex's appeal was dismissed (save in relation to the question of indemnity costs).  The Court of Appeal held "...on the proper interpretation of the Agreement the Program ended when the Collaboration Term ended, with the consequence that Astex did not thereafter become entitled to any payments in respect of CD1 or CD2 [the two compounds AztraZeneca had developed on its own]"