It’s terminal: Are the standard ‘material breach’ and ‘insolvency’ clauses sufficient as the only express clauses terminating pharmaceutical licences and collaborations?

Alison Dennis, partner at Field Fisher Waterhouse, discusses painlessly terminating licensing agreements for pharmaceutical products

In the early stage of discussions between pharmaceutical companies negotiating collaboration or licensing agreements, the focus is on the activities which need to be engaged in to get a potential product developed and onto the market. The focus is rarely on the events which might bring the relationship to an end.