The Company has entered into various research, development, license and supply agreements with Serum Institute and Pharmsynthez (as well as SynBio, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pharmsynthez), each a related party whose relationship has not materially changed from that disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on March 26, 2020 as amended on April 29, 2020.

On July 19, 2019, the Company acquired the XCART technology platform from Hesperix and Opko Pharmaceuticals LLC (“OPKO”). Dr. Dmitry Genkin, one of our directors and Chairman of Pharmsynthez, was a director and significant shareholder of Hesperix. In addition, the Company agreed to repay an approximate $225,000 loan that Dr. Genkin entered into with Hesperix. Mr. Adam Logal, one of our directors, is Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer of OPKO Health, Inc., the parent company of OPKO.

During the third quarter of 2019, the Company entered into a sponsored research agreement with Pharmsynthez related to experiments identified by the Company to support its efforts as it prepares for initial tech transfer of the XCART methods to a future academic collaborator. Under the agreement, the Company made a $350,000 payment to Pharmsynthez during the third quarter of 2019, which is refundable on pro rata basis if the project is terminated prematurely as a result of Pharmsynthez failing to perform the work. The Company expensed approximately $0.1 million related to this agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2020. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, was recorded as an advanced payment and included in Prepaid expenses and other on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

In October 2019, the Company entered into a loan agreement with Pharmsynthez (the “Pharmsynthez Loan”), pursuant to which the Company advanced Pharmsynthez an aggregate principal amount of up to $500,000 to be used for the development of a specific product under the August 2011 Stock Subscription and Collaborative Development of Pharmaceutical Products Agreement between the Company and SynBio. The Pharmsynthez Loan has a term of 15-months and accrues interest at a rate of 10% per annum. The Pharmsynthez Loan is guaranteed by all of the operating subsidiaries of Pharmsynthez, including SynBio and AS Kevelt, and is secured by all of the equity interests of the Company owned by Pharmsynthez and SynBio. The Company recognized approximately $13,000 of interest income related to this loan during the three months ended March 31, 2020. As of March 31, 2020, the Pharmsynthez Loan was included in Prepaid expenses and other on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2019, the Pharmsynthez Loan was included in Other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.