10-Q
1
tm2036053d1_10q.htm
FORM 10-Q
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
____________________________________________________
(Mark One)
x Quarterly
report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30,
2020
or
¨ Transition
report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-39577
____________________________________________________
Aziyo Biologics, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified
in its charter)
____________________________________________________
Delaware
47-4790334
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
2510 Prosperity Drive, Suite 370
Silver Spring, MD 20904
(Address of principal executive offices
and Zip Code)
(240) 247-1170
(Registrant’s telephone number, including
area code)
N/A
(Former name, former address and former
fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
Title of each class
Trading
Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per
share
AZYO
The Nasdaq Global Market
____________________________________________________
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to
file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ¨ No
x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted
electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405
of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such
files). Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated
filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions
of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging
growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
¨
Accelerated Filer
¨
Non-accelerated filer
x
Smaller reporting company
x
Emerging growth company
x
If an emerging
growth company, indicated by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with
any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)
Yes ¨ No x
As of November 9, 2020, there were
7,091,960 shares of the registrant’s Class A common stock and 3,134,162 shares of the registrant’s Class B
common stock outstanding.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
(the “Quarterly Report”) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements
contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical
facts contained in this Quarterly Report, including statements regarding our results of operations, financial position, seasonality,
business strategy and approach, including, without limitation, expectations regarding our products and their targeted effects,
plans for our sales and marketing growth and anticipated expansion of our product development and clinical and research activities,
expectations regarding our competitive advantages and overall clinical and commercial success, and the potential impact of COVID-19 pandemic
on our business. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our
actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed
or implied by the forward-looking statements.
Without limiting the foregoing, in some
cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “aim”, “believe,” “may,”
“will,” “should,” “expect,” “exploring,” “plan,” “anticipate,”
“could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplate,” “believe,”
“estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “seeks,” or “continue” or the negative
of these terms or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. No forward-looking
statement is a guarantee of future results, performance, or achievements, and one should avoid placing undue reliance on such statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on
our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us. Such beliefs and assumptions may or
may not prove to be correct. Additionally, such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking
statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, those identified in Part I, Item 2. “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors”
in this Quarterly Report. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:
· our ability to enhance our products, expand our product indications and develop, acquire and commercialize
additional product offerings;
· our dependence on our commercial partners and independent sales agents to generate a substantial
portion of our net sales;
· our failure to maintain our relationships with our existing contract manufacturing customers and
enter into agreements with new contract manufacturing customers, or if existing contract manufacturing customers reduce purchases
of our products;
· our ability to successfully expand, manage and maintain our direct sales force;
· our ability to achieve or sustain profitability;
· the adverse impacts of the novel strain of coronavirus disease, COVID-19 or any other future pandemic,
epidemic or outbreak of an infectious disease in the United States or worldwide;
· adverse changes in general domestic and global economic conditions and instability and disruption
of credit markets, including as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic or any other outbreak of an infectious disease;
· physician awareness of the distinctive characteristics, benefits, safety, clinical efficacy and
cost-effectiveness of our products;
· the continued and future acceptance of our products by the medical community;
· our ability to obtain regulatory approval or other marketing authorizations by the FDA and comparable
foreign authorities for our products and product candidates; and
· our ability to obtain, maintain and adequately protect our intellectual property rights.
Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment.
New risk factors and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all risk factors
and uncertainties.
You should read this Quarterly Report and
the documents that we reference in this Quarterly Report completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may
be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. Except
as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether
as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.
2
As used in this Quarterly Report, unless
otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” the
“Company” and “Aziyo” refer to the operations of Aziyo Biologics, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
We may use our website as a distribution
channel of material information about the Company. Financial and other important information regarding the Company is routinely
posted on and accessible through the Investor Relations sections of its website at www.aziyo.com . In addition, you may automatically
receive email alerts and other information about the Company when you enroll your email address by visiting the “Email Alerts”
option under the IR Resources menu of the Investor Relations of our website at www.aziyo.com . The reference to our website
address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on or available through our website, and you
should not consider such information to be a part of this Quarterly Report.
3
RISK FACTORS SUMMARY
Our business is subject to numerous risks
and uncertainties, including those described in Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report.
You should carefully consider these risks and uncertainties when investing in our common stock. The principal risks and uncertainties
affecting our business include the following:
• our long-term growth depends on our ability to enhance our products, expand our product indications
and develop, acquire and commercialize additional product offerings;
• a substantial portion of our net sales is generated through our commercial partners and independent
sales agents, which subjects us to various risks;
• our revenue and profitability could be materially and adversely affected if we fail to maintain
our relationships with our existing contract manufacturing customers and enter into agreements with new contract manufacturing
customers, or if existing contract manufacturing customers reduce purchases of our products. Our relationships with these customers
also subject us to certain risks;
• we plan to expand our direct sales force, and if we are unable to successfully expand, manage and
maintain our direct sales force, we may not be able to generate greater market share and revenue growth;
• we have incurred operating losses since our inception, expect to continue to incur significant
expenses and operating losses in the future, and may not be able to achieve or sustain profitability;
• our business has been, and may continue to be, adversely affected by the outbreak of the novel
strain of coronavirus disease, COVID-19, and may be adversely affected by any future pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of an infectious
disease in the United States or worldwide;
• adverse changes in general domestic and global economic conditions and instability and disruption
of credit markets, including as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic or any other outbreak of an infectious disease, could
adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity;
• our future growth depends on physician awareness of the distinctive characteristics, benefits,
safety, clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of our products;
• our success depends on the continued and future acceptance of our products by the medical community;
• we face significant and continuing competition from other companies, some of which have longer
operating histories, more established products and/or greater resources than we do, which could adversely affect our business,
financial condition and results of operations;
• pricing pressure, as a result of cost-containment efforts of our customers, purchasing groups,
third-party payors and governmental organizations, could adversely affect our sales and profitability;
• the processing of human and porcine tissue for our products is technically complex, requiring high
levels of quality control and precision, which subjects us to increased production risks;
• because we depend upon a limited number of third-party suppliers and manufacturers and, in certain
cases, exclusive suppliers for raw materials essential to our business, we may incur significant product development costs and
experience material delivery delays if we lose any significant supplier, which could materially and adversely affect our business,
financial condition and results of operations;
• the regulatory approval
and clearance processes of the FDA and comparable foreign authorities are lengthy, time consuming and inherently unpredictable,
and if we are ultimately unable to obtain regulatory approval or other marketing authorizations for our products and product candidates,
our business will be substantially harmed; and
• if we are unable to obtain, maintain and adequately protect our intellectual property rights, our
competitive position could be harmed or we could be required to incur significant expenses to enforce or defend our rights.
4
Table
of Contents
Page
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.
Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
6
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
7
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Deficit
8
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
9
Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
10
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results Of Operations
21
Item 3.
Quantitative And Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
33
Item 4.
Controls And Procedures
34
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
34
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
35
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
79
Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
80
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
80
Item 5.
Other Information
80
Item 6.
Exhibits
81
Signatures
83
5
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
AZIYO BIOLOGICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In Thousands,
Except for Share and Per Share Data)
(UNAUDITED)
September 30,
2020
December 31,
2019
Assets
Current assets:
Cash
$
1,544
$
2,482
Restricted cash
100
108
Accounts receivable, net
7,096
7,229
Inventory
9,788
7,190
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
3,685
1,437
Total current assets
22,213
18,446
Property and equipment, net
1,140
988
Intangible assets, net
22,714
25,262
Other assets
76
76
Total assets
$
46,143
$
44,772
Liabilities, Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Deficit
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
3,245
$
2,492
Accrued expenses
7,866
3,978
Payables to tissue suppliers
2,431
2,485
Current portion of long-term debt
2,890
1,692
Current portion of revenue interest obligation
2,750
2,750
Revolving line of credit
5,866
4,227
Deferred revenue and other current liabilities
537
650
Total current liabilities
25,585
18,274
Long-term debt
21,201
19,612
Long-term revenue interest obligation
16,667
16,596
Deferred revenue and other long-term liabilities
527
705
Preferred stock warrant liability
474
247
Total liabilities
64,454
55,434
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)
Convertible preferred stock
Series A Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 51,505,000 and 45,500,000 shares authorized, as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, 50,414,427 and 44,550,230 shares issued and outstanding, in September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively
56,593
44,449
Stockholders’ deficit:
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 4,801,180 and 4,514,543 shares authorized, as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 respectively, 648,679 and 648,277 issued and outstanding in September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively
1
1
Additional paid-in capital
-
1,826
Accumulated deficit
(74,905
)
(56,938
)
Total stockholders’ deficit
(74,904
)
(55,111
)
Total liabilities, convertible preferred stock and stockholders' deficit
$
46,143
$
44,772
The accompanying notes are an integral part
of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
Aziyo
Biologics, Inc.
CONDENSED
consolidated Statements of Operations
(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
(UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2020
2019
2020
2019
Net sales
$
11,774
$
11,138
$
30,216
$
30,847
Cost of goods sold
6,233
5,595
15,676
15,972
Gross Profit
5,541
5,543
14,540
14,875
Sales and marketing
4,174
4,435
12,471
11,592
General and administrative
3,195
2,448
8,894
6,741
Research and development
863
507
2,811
1,742
Loss from operations
(2,691
)
(1,847
)
(9,636
)
(5,200
)
Interest expense
1,465
1,249
4,248
3,935
Other expense, net
2,567
-
2,567
-
Loss before provision for income taxes
(6,723
)
(3,096
)
(16,451
)
(9,135
)
Income tax expense
8
8
18
21
Net loss
(6,731
)
(3,104
)
(16,469
)
(9,156
)
Accretion of Convertible Preferred stock
3,510
-
3,510
-
Net loss attributable to common stockholders
$
(10,241
)
$
(3,104
)
$
(19,979
)
$
(9,156
)
Net loss per share attributable
to common stockholders – basic and diluted
$
(15.79
)
$
(4.81
)
$
(30.82
)
$
(14.19
)
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic and diluted
648,436
645,142
648,331
645,142
The accompanying notes are an integral part
of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
7
Aziyo
Biologics, Inc.
CONDENSED
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Convertible
Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Deficit
(In Thousands, Except Share Amounts)
(UNAUDITED)
Convertible Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Number
of
Shares
Amount
Number
of
Shares
Amount
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
Accumulated
Deficit
Total
Stockholders’
Deficit
Balance,
December 31, 2018
41,500,000
$
41,411
645,143
$
1
$
1,592
$
(44,999
)
$
(43,406
)
Stock-based
compensation
-
-
-
-
164
-
164
Net
loss
-
-
-
-
-
(9,156
)
(9,156
)
Balance,
September 30, 2019
41,500,000
$
41,411
645,143
$
1
$
1,756
$
(54,155
)
$
(52,398
)
Balance, December 31,
2019
44,550,230
44,449
648,277
$
1
$
1,826
$
(56,938
)
$
(55,111
)
Issuance
of Convertible Preferred Stock, net of issuance costs of $9
5,864,197
8,634
-
-
-
-
-
Proceeds
from stock option exercises
-
-
402
-
2
-
2
Accretion
of Convertible Preferred stock
-
3,510
-
-
(2,012
)
(1,498
)
(3,510
)
Stock-based
compensation
-
-
-
-
184
-
184
Net
loss
-
-
-
-
-
(16,469
)
(16,469
)
Balance,
September 30, 2020
50,414,427
$
56,593
648,679
$
1
$
-
$
(74,905
)
$
(74,904
)
Convertible
Preferred Stock
Common
Stock
Number
of
Shares
Amount
Number
of
Shares
Amount
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
Accumulated
Deficit
Total
Stockholders’
Deficit
Balance, June 30, 2019
41,500,000
$
41,411
645,143
$
1
$
1,707
$
(51,051
)
$
(49,343
)
Stock-based compensation
-
-
-
-
49
-
49
Net loss
-
-
-
-
-
(3,104
)
(3,104
)
Balance, September 30,
2019
41,500,000
$
41,411
645,143
$
1
$
1,756
$
(54,155
)
$
(52,398
)
Balance, June 30, 2020
45,000,000
44,899
648,277
$
1
$
1,952
$
(66,676
)
$
(64,723
)
Issuance of Convertible Preferred
Stock, net of issuance costs of $9
5,414,427
8,184
-
-
-
-
-
Proceeds from stock option
exercises
-
-
402
-
2
-
2
Accretion of Convertible Preferred
Stock
-
3,510
-
-
(2,012
)
(1,498
)
(3,510
)
Stock-based compensation
-
-
-
-
58
-
58
Net loss
-
-
-
-
-
(6,731
)
(6,731
)
Balance, September 30,
2020
50,414,427
$
56,593
648,679
$
1
$
-
$
(74,905
)
$
(74,904
)
The accompanying
notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
8
Aziyo
Biologics, Inc.
CONDENSED
consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In Thousands)
(UNAUDITED)
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2020
2019
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss
$
(16,469
)
$
(9,156
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
2,921
2,886
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
2,340
-
Gain on revaluation of revenue interest obligation and other
227
-
Amortization of deferred financing costs
91
111
Interest expense recorded as additional revenue interest obligation
2,011
2,132
Interest expense recorded as Convertible Preferred Stock
39
-
Stock-based compensation
184
156
Operating expense satisfied through Convertible Preferred Stock issuance
814
-
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
134
695
Inventory
(2,598
)
(440
)
Prepaid expenses and other
(2,248
)
195
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
4,641
(605
)
Obligations to tissue suppliers
(55
)
204
Deferred revenue and other liabilities
(290
)
(830
)
Net cash used in operating activities
(8,258
)
(4,652
)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment
(525
)
(422
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(525
)
(422
)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net borrowings under revolving line of credit
1,639
3,909
Proceeds from long-term debt
2,995
-
Proceeds from issuance of Convertible Promissory Notes
2,000
-
Proceeds from Convertible Preferred Stock issuance, net
3,441
-
Proceeds from stock option exercises
2
-
Repayments of long-term debt
(300
)
(113
)
Payments on revenue interest obligation
(1,940
)
(1,387
)
Deferred financing costs
-
(43
)
Proceeds from Surgalign transition services agreement, net
-
874
Net cash provided by financing activities
7,837
3,240
Net decrease in cash and restricted cash
(946
)
(1,834
)
Cash and restricted cash, beginning of period
2,590
2,413
Cash and restricted cash, end of period
$
1,644
$
579
Supplemental Cash Flow and Non-Cash Financing Activities Disclosures:
Cash paid for interest
$
3,769
$
2,916
Cash paid for taxes
$
32
$
37
Conversion of Convertible Promissory Note to Convertible Preferred Stock
$
2,000
$
-
The accompanying
notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
9
Aziyo
Biologics, Inc.
NOTES
TO consolidated CONDENSED FINANCIAL Statements
(UNAUDITED)
Note
1. Organization and Description of Business
Aziyo Biologics, Inc.
(together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “Aziyo” or the “Company”) is a regenerative medicine company,
with a focus on patients receiving implantable medical devices. The Company has developed a portfolio of regenerative products
using both human and porcine tissue that are designed to be as close to natural biological material as possible. Aziyo’s
portfolio of core products span the implantable electronic devices/cardiovascular-related market, the orthopedic/spinal repair
market and the soft tissue reconstruction market (“Core Products”). These products are primarily sold to healthcare
providers or commercial partners. The Company also sells human tissue products under contract manufacturing and certain other
arrangements (“Non-Core Products”) with corporate customers.
Reverse
Stock Split and Initial Public Offering
On September 25,
2020, the Company’s Board of Directors and stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated
certificate of incorporation to effect a 1-for-13.9549 reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock, which was effected
on September 29, 2020. The par value of the common stock was not adjusted as a result of the reverse stock split. Accordingly,
all share and share-related information presented in these condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes
has been retroactively adjusted for all periods presented to give effect to the reverse stock split.
On October 13,
2020, in connection with our initial public offering (“IPO”), we issued and sold 2,941,176 shares of common stock,
consisting of 2,205,882 shares of Class A common stock and 735,294 shares of Class B common stock, at a price to the
public of $17.00 per share, resulting in net proceeds to us of approximately $43.0 million, after deducting the underwriting discount
of approximately $3.5 million and offering expenses of approximately $3.5 million.
Note
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis
of Presentation
The accompanying
condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in
the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions of the Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Certain information and note disclosures
normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted. The results for the nine
months ended September 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31,
2020, any other interim periods, or any future year or period.
The
accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements
and the related notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2019, which are included in the Company’s final prospectus
filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) on October 8, 2020 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
Securities Act). The financial information as of September 30, 2020 and for the three
and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 is unaudited, but in the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting
of normal and recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair statement of the results for these interim periods have been
included. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The condensed balance sheet as of December 31,
2019 was derived from the audited annual financial statements but does not contain all of the disclosures from the annual financial
statements.
In accordance
with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to
Continue as a Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40) , the Company has evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered
in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year
after the date that the consolidated financial statements are issued. The Company believes that the net proceeds from its IPO,
together with its existing cash and availability under its Revolving Line of Credit (the “Revolver”), will be sufficient
to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through at least one year after the issuance date of the condensed
consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.
10
The Company
expects its losses to continue for the foreseeable future and these losses will continue to have an adverse effect on our financial
position. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s commercialization and development
efforts, the Company is unable to predict when it will become profitable, and it may never become profitable. The Company’s
inability to achieve and then maintain profitability would negatively affect its business, financial condition, results of operations
and cash flows. As such, the Company may need additional funding to support its continuing operations and pursue its growth strategy.
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect
the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting period. Estimates and assumptions relating to inventories, receivables, long-lived assets, the valuation
of stock-based awards, the valuation of the preferred stock warrant liability and deferred income taxes are made at the end of
each financial reporting period by management. Management continually re-evaluates its estimates,
judgments and assumptions, and management’s evaluation could change. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Impact
of COVID-19
The Company
is closely monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its business. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared
COVID-19 a global pandemic and recommended various containment and mitigation measures worldwide. Since that time, the number
of procedures performed using the Company’s products has decreased significantly, as governmental authorities in the United
States have recommended, and in certain cases required, that elective, specialty and other non-emergency procedures and appointments
be suspended or canceled in order to avoid patient exposure to medical environments and the risk of potential infection with COVID-19,
and to focus limited resources and personnel capacity on the treatment of COVID-19 patients. As a result, beginning in March 2020,
a significant number of procedures using the Company’s products have been postponed or cancelled, which has negatively impacted
sales of its products. These measures and challenges will likely continue for the duration of the pandemic, which is uncertain,
and will likely continue to reduce the Company’s net sales and negatively impact its business, financial condition and results
of operations while the pandemic continues.
Net
Loss per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders
The Company
calculates basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders in conformity with the two-class method required
for participating securities. The Convertible Preferred Stock is considered a participating security. The two-class method requires
income (loss) available to common stockholders for the period to be allocated between common and participating securities based
upon their respective rights to share in the earnings as if all income (loss) for the period had been distributed. Under the two-class
method, the net loss attributable to common stockholders is not allocated to the Convertible Preferred Stock as the holders of
the preferred stock do not have a contractual obligation to share in losses.
Basic net
loss per share attributable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders
by the weighted-average shares outstanding during the period. For purposes of the diluted net income (loss) per share attributable
to common stockholders’ calculation, Convertible Preferred Stock, stock options, and preferred and common stock warrants
are considered to be common stock equivalents. All common stock equivalents have been excluded from the calculation of diluted
net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, as their effect would be anti-dilutive for all periods presented. Therefore,
basic and diluted net loss per share were the same for both periods presented.
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is defined as the
price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants
at the measurement date. To increase the comparability of fair value measures, the following hierarchy prioritizes the inputs
to valuation methodologies used to measure fair value:
Level
1 —Valuations based on quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active
markets.
Level
2 —Valuations based on observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level
1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and
liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
11
Level
3 —Valuations based on unobservable inputs reflecting the Company’s own assumptions,
consistent with reasonably available assumptions made by other market participants. These valuations require significant judgment.
The estimated
fair value of financial instruments disclosed in the financial statements has been determined by using available market information
and appropriate valuation methodologies. The carrying value of all current assets and current liabilities approximates fair value
because of their short-term nature.
Cash
and Restricted Cash
The Company
maintains its cash balances at banks and financial institutions. The balances are insured up to the legal limit. The Company maintains
cash balances that may, at times, exceed this insured limit.
Under the
provisions of the Revolving Credit Facility (see Note 5), the Company has a lockbox arrangement with the banking institution whereby
daily lockbox receipts are contractually utilized to pay down outstanding balances on the Revolver debt. Lockbox receipts that
have not yet been applied to the Revolver are classified as restricted cash in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The
following table provides a reconciliation of cash and restricted cash included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets to
the amounts included in the statements of cash flows (in thousands).
September 30,
September 30,
2020
2019
Cash
$ 1,544
$ 273
Restricted cash
100
306
Total cash and restricted cash shown in statements of cash flows
$ 1,644
$ 579
Accounts
Receivable and Allowances
Accounts
receivable in the accompanying balance sheets are presented net of allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns and other
credits. The Company grants credit to customers in the normal course of business, but generally does not require collateral or
any other security to support its receivables.
The Company
evaluates the collectability of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. In circumstances where a specific customer
is unable to meet its financial obligations to the Company, a provision to the allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded to
reduce the net recognized receivable to the amount that is reasonably expected to be collected. For all other customers, a provision
to the allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded based on factors including the length of time the receivables are past due,
the current business environment and the Company’s historical experience. Provisions to the allowance for doubtful accounts
are recorded to general and administrative expenses. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when it is probable
that the receivable will not be recovered.
Inventories
Inventories,
consisting of purchased materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead, are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable
value, with cost determined generally using the average cost method. Inventory write-downs for unprocessed and certain processed
donor tissue are recorded based on the estimated amount of inventory that will not pass the quality control process based on historical
data. At each balance sheet date, the Company also evaluates inventories for excess quantities, obsolescence or shelf life expiration.
This evaluation includes analysis of the Company’s current and future strategic plans, historical sales levels by product,
projections of future demand, the risk of technological or competitive obsolescence for products, general market conditions and
a review of the shelf life expiration dates for products. To the extent that management determines there is excess or obsolete
inventory or quantities with a shelf life that is too near its expiration for the Company to reasonably expect that it can sell
those products prior to their expiration, the Company adjusts the carrying value to estimated net realizable value.
Property
and Equipment
Property
and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method over the
following estimated useful lives of the assets:
Processing
and research equipment
5 years
Office
equipment and furniture
3 to 5 years
Computer
hardware and software
3 to 4 years
12
Leasehold
improvements are amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the
asset.
Repairs
and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.
Long-Lived
Assets
Purchased
intangible assets with finite lives are carried at acquired fair value, less accumulated amortization. Amortization is computed
over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets.
The Company
periodically evaluates the period of depreciation or amortization for long-lived assets to determine whether current circumstances
warrant revised estimates of useful lives. The Company reviews its property and equipment and intangible assets for impairment
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Impairment
exists when the carrying value of the company’s asset exceeds the related estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected
to be derived from the asset. If impairment exists, the carrying value of that asset is adjusted to its fair value. A discounted
cash flow analysis is used to estimate an asset's fair value, using assumptions that market participants would apply . The
results of impairment tests are subject to management’s estimates and assumptions of projected cash flows and operating
results. Changes in assumptions or market conditions could result in a change in estimated future cash flows and could result
in a lower fair value and therefore an impairment, which could impact reported results. There were no impairment losses during
either the three or nine months ended September 30, 2020 or 2019.
Revenue
Recognition
On January 1,
2019, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) No. 606, “Revenue
from Contracts with Customers”, utilizing the modified retrospective method applied to contracts that were not completed. The
adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on the timing and amounts of the Company’s revenue as the Company
did not have any material remaining performance obligations, or material costs to obtain or fulfill contracts with its customers
as of January 1, 2019.
The Company’s
revenue is generated from contracts with customers in accordance with ASC 606. The core principle of ASC 606 is that the Company
recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration
to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASC 606 revenue recognition model consists
of the following five steps: (1) identify the contracts with a customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in
the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations
in the contract and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.
The
Company enters into contracts to primarily sell and distribute products to healthcare providers
or commercial partners, or are produced and sold under contract manufacturing arrangements with corporate customers which are
billed under ship and bill contract terms. Revenue is recognized when the Company has met its performance obligations pursuant
to its contracts with its customers in an amount that the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for the transfer of control
of the products to the Company’s customers. For all product sales, the Company has no further performance obligations
and revenue is recognized at the point control transfers which occurs either when: i) the product is shipped via common
carrier; or (ii) the product is delivered to the customer or distributor, in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
A portion
of the Company's product revenue is generated from consigned inventory maintained at hospitals and from inventory physically held
by direct sales representatives. For these types of products sales, the Company retains control until the product has been used
or implanted, at which time revenue is recognized.
The
Company elected to account for shipping and handling activities as a fulfillment cost rather than a separate performance obligation.
Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling are included as part of the transaction price and recognized as revenue
when control of the underlying products is transferred to the customer. The related shipping and freight charges incurred by the
Company are included in sales and marketing costs.
Contracts
with customers state the final terms of the sale, including the description, quantity, and price of each implant distributed.
The payment terms and conditions in the Company’s contracts vary; however, as a common business practice, payment terms
are typically due in full within 30 to 60 days of delivery. The Company, at times, extends volume discounts to customers.
The Company
permits returns of its products in accordance with the terms of contractual agreements with customers. Allowances for returns
are provided based upon analysis of the Company’s historical patterns of returns matched against the revenues from which
they originated. The Company records estimated returns as a reduction of revenue in the same period revenue is recognized.
13
Deferred
Rent
The Company
recognizes rent expense by the straight-line method over the lease term. Funds received from the lessor used to reimburse the
Company for the cost of leasehold improvements are recorded as a deferred credit resulting from a lease incentive and are amortized
over the lease term as a reduction of rent expense.
Stock-Based
Compensation Plans
The Company
accounts for its stock-based compensation plans in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”)
718, Accounting for Stock Compensation . FASB ASC 718 requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for
all stock-based awards made to employees and directors, including employee stock options and restricted stock. Stock-based compensation
cost is measured at the grant date, based on the calculated fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense on a straight-line
basis over the requisite service period of the entire award.
Research
and Development Costs
Research
and development costs, which include mainly salaries, outside services and supplies, are expensed as incurred.
Concentration
of Credit Risk
Financial
instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash. At September 30,
2020, the Company maintained $1.9 million in bank deposit accounts that are in excess of the $0.25 million insurance provided
by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in one federally insured financial institution. The Company has not experienced any
losses in such accounts.
Comprehensive
Loss
Comprehensive
income (loss) comprises net income (loss) and other changes in equity that are excluded from net income (loss). For the three
and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s net loss equaled its comprehensive loss and accordingly,
no additional disclosure is presented.
Income
Taxes
The Company
uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred income taxes are recorded to reflect the tax consequences
on future years for differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each
year-end based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to
affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts that are more
likely than not to be realized.
The Company
is subject to income taxes in the federal and state jurisdictions. Tax regulations within each jurisdiction are subject to the
interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and require significant judgment to apply. In accordance with the authoritative
guidance on accounting for uncertainty in income taxes, the Company recognizes tax liabilities for uncertain tax positions when
it is more likely than not that a tax position will not be sustained upon examination and settlement with various taxing authorities.
Liabilities for uncertain tax positions are measured based upon the largest amount of benefit that is more likely than not (greater
than 50%) of being realized upon settlement. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income
tax matters in income tax expense.
Note
3. Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In November 2019,
the FASB issued ASU 2019-10, “Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivative and Hedging
(Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842), Effective Dates.” The FASB deferred the effective dates of the new credit losses standard
for all entities except SEC filers that are not smaller reporting companies (SRCs) to fiscal years beginning after December 15,
2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Board also aligned the effective dates of ASU 2017-04 on goodwill
impairment with the new effective dates of the credit losses standard. The FASB deferred the effective dates of its new standards
on hedging and leases for entities that are not public business entities (PBEs) (and for leases, for entities that are not non-for-profit
(NFP) entities that have issues, or are conduit bond obligors for, certain securities; and are not employee benefit plans (EBPs)
that file or furnish financial statements with or to the SEC) to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim
periods in the following year. The FASB is also reconsidering its philosophy on establishing effective dates for major standards
for private companies, NFPs, EBPs and smaller public companies. The board has developed a two-bucket approach that would give
these entities more time to implement major new standards. The Company is evaluating this standard to determine if adoption will
have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
14
In August 2018,
the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Disclosure Framework — Changes to
the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement.” The standard eliminates, adds, and modifies certain disclosure
requirements for fair value measurements. Entities will no longer be required to disclose the amount of and reasons for transfers
between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, but public companies will be required to disclose the range and weighted
average used to develop significant unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurements. The standard is effective for annual
reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Adoption of this new standard in the first quarter of 2020 did not have
a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In February 2016,
the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. The standard requires that lessees recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for
virtually all of their leases (other than leases that meet the definition of a short-term lease). The liability will be equal
to the present value of lease payments. The asset will be based on the liability subject to certain adjustments. For income statement
purposes, the FASB retained a dual model, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance. Operating leases will
result in straight-line expense (similar to current operating leases) while finance leases will result in a front-loaded expense
pattern (similar to current capital leases). In November 2019, the FASB issued 2019-10 which extended the adoption of ASU
2016-02 for the Company to be effective periods ending after December 15, 2021. While early adoption is permitted, the company
intends to adopt in accordance with the revised timeline provided by the FASB. The Company is evaluating this standard to determine
if adoption will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Note 4. Inventories
Inventories
were comprised of the following (in thousands):
September 30,
December 31,
2020
2019
Raw materials
$
1,285
$
928
Work in process
846
1,164
Finished goods
7,657
5,098
Total
$
9,788
$
7,190
During the
nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company recorded an inventory writedown of approximately $0.5 million relating
to quantities on-hand deemed to be excessive compared to near-term demand or whose remaining shelf-lives will limit salability.
Such writedown largely resulted from the impact on future sales of an existing dermis product after the Company’s launch
in mid-2019 of a new dermis offering.
Note
5. Long-Term Debt
On May 31,
2017, in connection with the Company’s acquisition of CorMatrix described in Note 6, Aziyo entered into a $12 million term
loan facility (the “Term Loan Facility”) and an $8 million asset-backed revolving line of credit (the “Revolving
Credit Facility”), which the Company’s borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility is limited by certain
qualifying assets, with a financial institution (the “May 2017 Financing”). The Term Loan Facility was amended
in December 2017, February 2018 and July 2019 (all amendments being considered modifications) such that an additional
$1.5 million, $3 million and $3.5 million, respectively were received by the Company bringing the total aggregate principal amount
outstanding under the Term Loan Facility to $20 million. Borrowings under the Term Loan Facility, as amended, bear interest at
a rate per annum equal to the sum of (x) the greater of (i) 2.25% and (ii) the applicable London Interbank Offered
Rate for U.S. dollar deposits divided by 1.00 minus the maximum effective reserve percentage for Eurocurrency funding (“LIBOR”)
plus (y) 7.25% (a reduction from 7.75% per annum prior to the July 2019 amendment). The agreement governing the Term
Loan Facility provides for interest only payments through January 2021 and interest and equal monthly principal payments
from February 2021 through maturity in July 2024 (a deferral from principal repayments from January 2020 through
December 2021 prior to July 2019 amendment). Both the Term Loan Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility include mandatory
and optional prepayments. The agreement governing the Term Loan Facility also includes an exit fee of 6.5% of the aggregate principal
amount and prepayment penalties of 2% to 4% if repaid prior to maturity. The Term Loan Facility also provides for a delay in the
payment of principal if certain conditions are met including a qualified initial public offering and no continuing default or
event of default. The weighted average interest rate on Term Loan Facility borrowings for the three months ended September 30,
2020 and 2019 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was 8.5%, 9.4%, 8.7% and 10.0%, respectively. Borrowings
under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (x) the greater of (i) 2.25%
and (ii) LIBOR plus (y) 4.95%. The agreement governing the Revolving Credit Facility includes an unused line fee in
an amount equal to 0.5% per annum of the unused borrowing capacity and prepayment penalties of 2% to 4% on the $8 million borrowing
capacity if terminated by the Company prior to its expiration in July 2024. The weighted average interest rate on the Revolving
Credit Facility borrowings for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 and for the nine months ended September 30,
2020 and 2019 was 6.2%, 7.1%, 6.1% and 7.3%, respectively. Both debt instruments contain events of default, including, most significantly,
a failure to timely pay interest or principal, insolvency, or an action by the Food and Drug Administration or such other material
adverse event impacting the operations of Aziyo. The debt instruments also include a financial covenant based on cumulative minimum
net product revenue, as defined, restrictions as to payment of dividends, and are secured by all assets of the Company. As of
September 30, 2020, Aziyo was in compliance with this financial covenant.
15
In consummating
the July 2019 Amendment to the Term Loan Facility, Aziyo paid origination fees of approximately $40,000 and accrued exit
fees of $0.4 million.
In conjunction
with the May 2017 Financing and the amendment thereto, the Company issued to the financial institution warrants to purchase
405,000 shares of Aziyo’s Convertible Preferred Stock at $1.00 per share. The warrants were exercisable through the first
to occur of (a) May 31, 2027 (in the case of warrants to purchase 360,000 shares of Convertible Preferred Stock) or
December 14, 2027 (in the case of warrants to purchase 45,000 shares of Convertible Preferred Stock), and (b) the earlier
of (i) a Sale Transaction (as defined in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation) or (ii) an initial public
offering of the Company’s common stock. All warrants were exercised in connection with the IPO noted in Note 1.
The Company
accounts for stock warrants in accordance with ASC Topic 815 Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity,”
as either derivative liabilities or as equity instruments depending on the specific terms of the warrant agreement. All of the
Company’s issued and outstanding Convertible Preferred Stock warrants are accounted for as a liability and are valued using
the Black Scholes model. Upon issuance, the Company valued such warrants at $286,267. The recognition of these warrants served
to reduce the recorded value of the associated Term Loan Facility borrowings. This resulting debt discount will be recognized
as interest expense through the maturity of the Term Loan Facility.
During 2017,
the Company restructured certain of its liabilities with a tissue supplier and entered into an unsecured promissory note totaling
$2.1 million. The note bears interest at 5% and includes quarterly interest-only payments in 2017 and quarterly interest and principal
payments from March 31, 2018 through August 31, 2020. The notes are subordinated in payment to the Term Loan Facility
and Revolving Credit Facility and in 2019, the Company’s senior lender restricted payment of certain amounts due.
On April 2,
2020, the Company issued convertible, subordinated promissory notes (the “Initial 2020 Bridge Notes”) with a total
principal of approximately $0.6 million. The Initial 2020 Bridge Notes have an interest rate of 5%, are repayable upon demand
by the holders any time after April 1, 2025 and shall automatically be converted into the Company’s shares of capital
stock upon the closing of an issuance of the Company’s shares of capital stock to one or more investors that results in
gross cash proceeds to the Company of at least Three Million Dollars ($3 million). The number of securities to be issued in connection
with the conversion of these notes shall equal (i) the sum of the outstanding principal amount of, and all accrued but unpaid
interest on, these notes divided by (ii) the cash purchase price per security paid by the investors in the financing. See
Note 7 for discussion of the conversion of these notes into Convertible Preferred Stock in September 2020.
On April 21,
2020 and April 29, 2020, the Company issued additional convertible, subordinated promissory notes (the “Additional
2020 Bridge Notes” and, together with the Initial 2020 Bridge Notes, the “2020 Bridge Notes”) with a total principal
of approximately $1.4 million. The Additional 2020 Bridge Notes have an interest rate of 5%, are repayable upon demand by the
holders any time after April 1, 2025 and shall automatically be converted into the Company’s shares of capital stock
upon the closing of an issuance of the Company’s shares of capital stock to one or more investors that results in gross
cash proceeds to the Company of at least Three Million Dollars ($3 million). The number of securities to be issued in connection
with the conversion of these notes shall equal (i) the sum of the outstanding principal amount of, and all accrued but unpaid
interest on, these notes divided by (ii) the cash purchase price per security paid by the investors in the financing. See
Note 7 for discussion of the conversion of these notes into Convertible Preferred Stock in September 2020.
On May 7,
2020, Aziyo entered into a promissory note with Silicon Valley Bank that provided for the receipt by the Company of loan proceeds
totaling approximately $3.0 million (the “PPP loan”) pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program under the Coronavirus
Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). The PPP Loan matures on May 7, 2022 and bears interest
at a rate of 1.0% per annum (unaudited). Monthly amortized principal and interest payments are deferred for ten months after the
date of disbursement. The PPP Loan contains events of default and other provisions customary for a loan of this type. If the PPP
Loan amount, or any portion thereof, is forgiven pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program under the CARES Act, the amount so
forgiven shall be applied to principal. The Company is not yet able to determine the amount that might be forgiven, and as such,
has recorded the PPP loan as a liability until Aziyo is released as the primary obligor for all or a portion of the loan. The
PPP loan has been recorded within long-term debt in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
16
September 30,
December 31,
2020
2019
Term Loan Facility, net of unamortized
discount and deferred financing costs
$ 19,703
$ 19,612
Note to Tissue Supplier
1,392
1,692
PPP loan
2,996
-
Total
24,091
21,304
Current Portion
(2,890 )
(1,692 )
Long-Term Debt
$ 21,201
$ 19,612
The
fair value of all debt instruments, which is based on inputs considered to be Level 2 under
the fair value hierarchy, approximates the respective carrying values as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.
The
Company has a warrant outstanding to purchase up to 7,656 shares of common stock, at an exercise price of $5.44 per share,
which had been issued in connection with a prior financing arrangement. This warrant is fully vested and was exercisable
through the earliest to occur of (i) March 1, 2027, (ii) the consummation of a Sale Transaction (as defined in
the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation), or (iii) the initial public offering of the Company’s common
stock. This warrant was fully exercised in connection with the IPO described in Note
1.
Note
6. Revenue Interest Obligation
On May 31,
2017, the Company completed an asset purchase agreement with CorMatrix Cardiovascular, Inc. (“CorMatrix”) and
acquired all CorMatrix commercial assets and related intellectual property (the “CorMatrix Acquisition”). As part
of the CorMatrix Acquisition, the Company assumed a restructured, long-term obligation (the “Revenue Interest Obligation”)
to Ligand Pharmaceuticals (“Ligand”) with an estimated present value on the acquisition date of $27.7 million. Subject
to annual minimum payments of $2.75 million per year, the terms of the Revenue Interest Obligation require Aziyo to pay Ligand,
5% of future sales of the products Aziyo acquired from CorMatrix, including CanGaroo, ProxiCor, Tyke and Vascure, as well as products
substantially similar to those products, such as the version of CanGaroo Aziyo is currently developing that is designed to have
anti-infective properties. Furthermore, a $5.0 million payment will be due to Ligand if cumulative sales of these products exceed
$100.0 million and a second $5.0 million will be due if cumulative sales exceed $300.0 million during the ten-year term of the
agreement which expires on May 31, 2027.
The
Company has recorded the present value of the estimated total future payments under the Revenue Interest Obligation as a long-term
obligation, with the annual minimum payments serving to establish the short-term portion. Interest
expense related to the Revenue Interest Obligation for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 and for the nine
months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was approximately $0.7 million, $0.7 million, $2.0 million and $2,1 million, respectively.
Note
7. Preferred Stock
At inception,
Aziyo was capitalized through the sale of 19.5 million shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per
share (the “Convertible Preferred Stock”). Since inception, the Company has issued an additional 30.9 million shares
of Convertible Preferred Stock yielding proceeds of approximately $30.4 million were used for general corporate purposes and the
CorMatrix Acquisition. During the year ended December 31, 2019 and the nine months ended September 30, 2020, Convertible
Preferred Stock offerings totaled approximately $3.0 million and $5.4 million, respectively. The proceeds raised in the 2019 offering
included the conversion of a $0.75 million Convertible Promissory Note (issued in November 2019), and the related accrued
interest, into the Convertible Preferred Stock.
The Convertible
Preferred Stock issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 occurred largely on September 11, 2020 at which
time the Company completed the sale of 3.0 million shares of Convertible Preferred Stock for net proceeds of approximately $3.0
million. At the same time, the 2020 Bridge Notes of $2.0 million (issued in April 2020), and related accrued interest, converted
into approximately 2.0 million shares of Convertible Preferred Stock.
The fair
value of the 3.0 million shares of Convertible Preferred Stock described above exceeded the purchase price of the Convertible
Preferred Stock by $3.5 million. Such excess was accounted for as a deemed dividend to the Convertible Preferred Stock and was
recorded as “Accretion of Convertible Preferred Stock” in the consolidated statement of operations to arrive at “Net
Loss Attributable to Common Shareholders” and will be included in the numerator of basic Earnings Per Share. With respect
to the statements of changes in convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ deficit, these deemed dividends have been
recorded such that Additional Paid-in Capital was first eliminated and any residual dividends served to reduce Accumulated Deficit.
Additionally, the fair value of the 2.0 million shares of Convertible Preferred Stock issued upon conversion of Convertible Bridge
Notes exceeded the face value of the Convertible Bridge Notes by $2.3 million. Such excess has been recorded as Loss on Early
Extinguishment of Debt within Other Expenses in the accompanying Statements of Operations.
17
As
consideration for the advisory services provided to Aziyo in connection with the CorMatrix Acquisition, an agreement was executed
between Aziyo and HighCape Partners Management, L.P. whereby upon consummation by Aziyo of a sale transaction, as defined in the
Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, or an initial public offering of the Company’s common stock, Aziyo would be
required to pay HighCape a fee totaling $0.75 million. In September 2020, our obligation
in respect of this fee was extinguished in connection with the issuance of 375,000 shares of Convertible Preferred Stock. Such
Convertible Preferred Stock and the associated expense was recorded at its fair value of approximately $0.8 million.
Dividends
The holders
of Convertible Preferred Stock are entitled to receive noncumulative dividends as declared by the Board of Directors. The holders
of Convertible Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends prior and in preference to any payment of any dividend on
common stock. No dividends have been declared by the Board of Directors from inception through September 30, 2020.
Conversion
The Convertible
Preferred Stock is convertible at the election of the holders into shares of the Company’s common stock that would result
in a conversion ratio of one share of common stock for every 13.9549 shares of Convertible Preferred Stock held. In addition to
this voluntary conversion, each share of Convertible Preferred Stock will automatically be converted into shares of common stock
upon (i) the written consent of the required holders (as defined) or (ii) the closing of the sale of shares of common
stock to the public at a price of at least $5.00 per share (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend,
stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to the common stock), in an underwritten public offering
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, resulting in at least $30 million
of gross proceeds to the Company. In case of an underwritten public offering, immediately prior to closing, the holders of Convertible
Preferred Stock are entitled to receive additional shares (the “Liquidation Shares”) of common stock as determined
by dividing the Convertible Preferred Stock Preference Amount, as defined below, by the price per Common Shares in the underwritten
public offering.
At the closing
of the IPO, all outstanding shares of the Convertible Preferred Stock converted into 6,578,220 shares of common stock, including
the Liquidation Shares, and the related carrying value was reclassified to common stock and additional paid-in capital. There
were no shares of Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding as of the closing of the IPO on October 13, 2020.
Redemption
and Balance Sheet Classification
The Convertible
Preferred Stock does not have a mandatory redemption date. However, while it is not mandatorily redeemable, the Convertible Preferred
Stock was reclassified into mezzanine equity because it will become redeemable at the option of the stockholders upon the occurrence
of certain deemed liquidation events that are considered not solely within the Company’s control. That is, unless a majority
of the holders of the then outstanding preferred stock, on an as-if-converted to common stock basis, elect otherwise, deemed liquidation
events include a sale of all or substantially all of Aziyo’s assets or a sale of at least fifty percent (50%) of the issued
and outstanding voting securities, capital stock, or other comparable equity or ownership interest in Aziyo.
Upon issuance
of the Convertible Preferred Stock, the Company assessed the embedded conversion and liquidation features of the securities. The
Company determined that the preferred stock did not require the Company to separately account for the liquidation features.
Note
8. Commitments and Contingencies
Operating
Leases
The Company
leases two production facilities and one administrative and research facility under non-cancelable operating lease arrangements
that expire through July 2023. All leases contain renewal options and escalation clauses based upon increases in the lessors’
operating expenses and other charges.
The Company
records rent expense on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease and the difference between the average rent expense and
cash payments for rent is recorded as deferred rent and is included in other current and long-term liabilities on the balance
sheet. Rent expense for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 and for the nine months ended September 30,
2020 and 2019 was approximately $0.3 million, $0.3 million, $0.9 million and $0.8 million, respectively, and is included as a
component of either cost of goods sold or general and administrative expenses.
18
Cook
Biotech License and Supply Agreements
Aziyo has
entered into a license agreement with Cook Biotech (“Cook”) for an exclusive, worldwide license to the porcine tissue
for use in the Company’s Cardiac Patch and CanGaroo products, subject to certain co-exclusive rights retained by Cook. The
term of such license is through the date of the last to expire of the licensed Cook patents, which is anticipated to be July 2031.
Along with this license agreement, Aziyo entered into a supply agreement whereby Cook would be the exclusive supplier to Aziyo
of the licensed porcine tissue. Under certain limited circumstances, Aziyo has the right to manufacture the licensed product and
pay Cook a royalty of 3% of sales of the Aziyo-manufactured tissue. The supply agreement expires on the same date as the related
license agreement. No royalties were paid to Cook during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2020 or 2019. Aziyo
has also entered into an amendment to the Cook license agreement (the “Cook Amendment”) in order to add fields of
exclusive use. Specifically, the Cook Amendment provides for a worldwide exclusive license to the porcine tissue for use with
neuromodulation devices in addition to cardiovascular devices. The Cook Amendment includes license fee payments of  $0.1
million per year in each of the years 2020 through 2026. Such license payments would accelerate if a change in control, as defined,
occurs within Aziyo. The Company, in its sole discretion, can terminate the license agreement at any time.
Legal
Proceedings
From time
to time, the Company may become involved in legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. As of September 30,
2020, the Company was not a party to, or aware of, any material legal matters or claims.
Note 9. Net Loss Per Share
Attributable to Common Stockholders
Three Months Ended
September, 30
Nine Months Ended
September, 30
2020
2019
2020
2019
Numerator:
Net loss attributable to common shareholders
$ (10,241 )
$ (3,104 )
$ (19,979 )
$ (9,156 )
Denominator:
Weighted average number of common shares, basic and diluted
648,436
645,142
648,331
645,142
Net loss per common share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted
$ (15.79 )
$ (4.81 )
$ (30.82 )
$ (14.19 )
The Company’s
potential dilutive securities have been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share as the effect would be anti-dilutive.
Therefore, the weighted average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate both basic and diluted net loss per share
attributable to common stockholders is the same. The Company excluded the following potential common shares, presented based on
amounts outstanding at period end, from the computation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders:
Three Months Ended,
September 30,
Nine Months Ended,
September 30,
2020
2019
2020
2019
Convertible Preferred Stock
3,612,668
2,973,866
3,612,668
2,973,866
Options to purchase common stock
287,996
289,152
287,996
289,152
Common stock warrants
7,656
7,656
7,656
7,656
Preferred stock warrants
29,022
29,022
29,022
29,022
Total
3,937,342
3,299,696
3,937,342
3,299,696
Note
10. Related Party Transactions
The Company
has a management services agreement with an affiliate of HighCape Partners through which strategic, operational and management
consulting services are provided to the Company. Fees for such services are $0.25 million per year. During both the nine months
ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company recorded expenses totaling $0.19 million for these services, respectively.
As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, approximately $0.2 million and $10,000, respectively, was recorded as
an accrued expense related to such management fees.
19
Note 11. Segment Information
The Company operates as one segment, regenerative
medicines. The segment is based on financial information that is utilized by the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker
(“CODM”), who is the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, to assess performance and allocate resources.
For the three and nine months ended September 30,
2020 and 2019, the Company’s net sales disaggregated by the major sources – Core Products and Non-Core Products (see
Note 1) - were as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
Sales by product
2020
2019
2020
2019
Core Products
$ 10,345
$ 7,878
$ 25,956
$ 21,562
Non-Core Products
1,429
3,260
4,260
9,285
Total Net Sales
$ 11,774
$ 11,138
$ 30,216
$ 30,847
Note 12. Subsequent Events
On October 7, 2020, in connection
with the Company’s IPO, the Company adopted the Aziyo Biologics, Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Award Plan (the “2020
Plan”), which authorizes the grant of equity awards initially equal to 1,636,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, plus
any shares of Class A Common Stock which as of such date were available for issuance under the Aziyo Biologics, Inc.
2015 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan, plus an annual increase, as set forth in the 2020 Plan. Additionally, the Company also adopted
the Aziyo Biologics, Inc. 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”), which authorizes the issuance upon the
terms and subject to the provisions of the ESPP of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock (the “ESPP Reserve”)
initially equal to 143,150 shares of Class A Common Stock, plus an annual increase, as set forth in the ESPP. Upon adoption
of the 2020 Plan, the Company granted stock options to purchase 588,907 shares of Class A Common Stock with an exercise price
of $17.00 per share (the IPO price per share) which vest, subject to continued service, in equal annual installments over a four
year period and have a term of ten years. On October 8, 2020, the Company granted restricted stock units (“RSU”)
covering 147,883 shares of Class A Common Stock, which vest in their entirety on the third anniversary date of the RSU grant,
or upon a Change in Control (as defined in the 2020 Plan), if earlier, subject to continued service.
20
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis
should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere
in this Quarterly Report, as well as the audited financial statements and the related notes thereto, and the discussion under “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business” included in our Prospectus
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on October 8, 2020 (the “Prospectus”).
This discussion contains forward-looking statements reflecting our current expectations, estimates, plans and assumptions concerning
events and financial trends that involve risks and may affect our future operating results and financial position. Actual results
and the timing of events may differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors,
including those discussed in the sections entitled “Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors Summary”
and in Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report.
Overview
We are a commercial-stage regenerative
medicine company focused on creating the next generation of differentiated products and improving outcomes in patients undergoing
surgery, concentrating on patients receiving implantable medical devices. From our proprietary tissue processing platforms, we
have developed a portfolio of advanced regenerative medical products that are designed to be very similar to natural biological
material. Our proprietary products, which we refer to as our Core Products, are designed to address the implantable electronic
device/cardiovascular, orthopedic/spinal repair and soft tissue reconstruction markets, which represented a combined $3 billion
market opportunity in the United States in 2020. To expand our commercial reach, we have commercial relationships with major medical
device companies, such as Boston Scientific and Medtronic, to promote and sell some of our Core Products. We believe our focus
on our unique regenerative medicine platforms and our Core Products will ultimately maximize our probability of continued clinical
and commercial success and will create a long-term competitive advantage for us.
We estimate that more than two million
patients were either implanted with medical devices, such as pacemakers, defibrillators, neuro-stimulators, spinal fusion and trauma
fracture hardware or tissue expanders for breast reconstruction, in the United States in 2019. This number is driven by advances
in medical device technologies and an aging population with a growing incidence of comorbidities, including diabetes, obesity and
cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases. These comorbidities can exacerbate various immune responses and other complications
that can be triggered by a device implant.
Our Core Products are targeted to address
unmet clinical needs with the goal of promoting healthy tissue formation and avoiding complications associated with medical device
implants, such as scar-tissue formation, capsular contraction, erosion, migration, non-union of implants and implant rejection.
We believe that we have developed the only biological envelope, which is covered by a number of patents, that forms a natural,
systemically vascularized pocket for holding implanted electronic devices. We have a proprietary processing technology for manufacturing
bone regenerative products for use in orthopedic/spinal repair that preserves a cell’s ability to regenerate bone and decelerates
cell apoptosis or programmed cell death. We have a patented cell removal technology that produces undamaged extracellular matrices
for use in soft tissue reconstruction. In pre-clinical and clinical studies, our products have supported and, in some cases, accelerated
tissue healing, and thereby improved patient outcomes.
Our Non-Core Products are those fulfilled
through tissue processing contracts at our Richmond, California facility. These contracts serve to utilize as much as possible
of the starting human biological material from which we produce our orthopedic/spinal repair and soft tissue reconstruction products,
leverage our existing overhead and improve our cash flow. The resulting processed materials, including particulate bone, precision
milled bone, cellular bone matrix, acellular dermis and other soft tissue products, are sold to medical/surgical companies as finished
products and as a subcomponent of their products. Additionally, we process amniotic membrane as finished product for selected customers.
We process all of our products at our two
manufacturing facilities in Roswell, Georgia and Richmond, California, and stock inventory of raw materials, components and finished
goods at those locations. We rely on a single or limited number of suppliers for certain raw materials and components. Except for
the porcine tissue supplier of our raw materials for our CanGaroo and cardiovascular products, which is Cook Biotech, we generally
have no long-term supply agreements with our suppliers, as we obtain supplies on a purchase order basis. Specifically, we acquire
donated human tissue directly through tissue procurement firms engaged by us. We primarily ship our Core Products from our facilities
directly to hospital customers.
Since inception, we have financed our operations
primarily through private placements of our convertible preferred stock, amounts borrowed under our credit facilities and sales
of our products. We have devoted the majority of our resources to acquisitions and integration, manufacturing and administrative
costs, research and development, clinical activity and investing in our commercial infrastructure through our direct sales force
and our commercial partners in order to expand our presence and to promote awareness and adoption of our products. As of September 30,
2020, we had 156 employees, of which 25 were direct sales representatives.
21
We have incurred significant operating
losses since our inception. We incurred a net loss of $11.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, and incurred
net losses of  $16.5 million and $9.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Our accumulated deficit as of September 30, 2020 was $74.9 million.
We expect to continue to incur significant
expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future as we seek to grow our sales organization and expand our product development
and clinical and research activities. In addition, we expect to continue to incur additional costs and expenses associated with
operating as a public company.
Our ability to achieve profitability will
depend on our ability to generate sales from existing or new products sufficient to exceed our ongoing operating expenses and capital
requirements. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties affecting product sales and our ongoing commercialization and product
development efforts, we are unable to predict with any certainty whether we will be able to increase sales of our products or the
timing or amount of ongoing expenditures we will be required to incur. Accordingly, even if we are able to increase sales of our
products, we may not become profitable. As a result, we anticipate that we will need additional funding to support our continuing
operations and pursue our growth strategy. Until such time as we are able to generate sufficient sales from our products, we expect
to finance our operations through equity offerings, debt financings or other capital sources, which may include collaborations
or license agreements with other companies or other strategic transactions. We may not be able to raise additional funds or enter
into such other agreements or arrangements when needed on favorable terms or at all. If we fail to raise capital or enter into
such agreements as and when needed, we will be unable to execute our growth strategy and may be forced to reduce or terminate some
or all of our operations.
We believe that the net proceeds from our
initial public offering consummated on October 13, 2020 (the “IPO”), together with our existing cash and our availability
under our Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below), will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure
requirements through 2022. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could exhaust our available
capital resources sooner than we expect.
Impact of COVID-19
We are closely monitoring the impact of
the COVID-19 pandemic on our business. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and
recommended various containment and mitigation measures worldwide. Since that time, the number of procedures performed using our
products has decreased significantly, as governmental authorities in the United States have recommended, and in certain cases required,
that elective, specialty and other non-emergency procedures and appointments be suspended or canceled in order to avoid patient
exposure to medical environments and the risk of potential infection with COVID-19, and to focus limited resources and personnel
capacity on the treatment of COVID-19 patients. As a result, beginning in March 2020, a significant number of procedures using
our products have been postponed or cancelled, which has negatively impacted sales of our products. These measures and challenges
will likely continue for the duration of the pandemic, which is uncertain, and will likely continue to reduce our net sales and
negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations while the pandemic continues.
In addition, numerous state and local jurisdictions,
including those where our facilities are located, have imposed, and others in the future may impose or re-impose, “shelter-in-place”
orders, quarantines, executive orders and similar government orders and restrictions for their residents to control the spread
of COVID-19. Such orders or restrictions have resulted in reduced operations at our manufacturing facilities, travel restrictions
and cancellation of events, and have restricted the ability of our sales representatives and those of our commercial partners and
independent sales agents to attend procedures in which our products are used, among other effects, thereby significantly and negatively
impacting our operations.
The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic
impacts our future financial condition and results of operations will depend on future events and developments, which are highly
uncertain and cannot be predicted, including the severity and spread of the disease and the effectiveness of actions to contain
the disease or treat its impact, among others. As new information regarding COVID-19 continues to emerge, it is difficult to predict
the degree to which this disease will ultimately have on our business.
Components of Our Results of Operations
Net Sales
We recognize revenue on the sale of our
Core Products and our Non-Core Products. With respect to our Core Products, CanGaroo and our cardiovascular products are sold to
hospitals and other healthcare facilities primarily through our direct sales force, commercial partners or independent sales agents.
Our orthopedic/spinal repair products are sold through commercial partners. Our soft tissue reconstruction product SimpliDerm is
sold directly to hospitals and other healthcare facilities through direct sales and independent sales agents. Our contract manufacturing
products are sold directly to corporate customers. Gross to net sales adjustments include sales returns and prompt payment and
volume discounts.
22
Expenses
In recent years, we have incurred significant
costs in the operation of our business. We expect our expenses to continue to increase for the foreseeable future as we grow our
sales and marketing organization, expand our product development and clinical activities and increase our administrative infrastructure.
As a result, we will need to generate significant net sales in order to achieve profitability. Below is a breakdown of our main
expense categories and the related expenses incurred in each category:
Costs of Goods Sold
Our cost of goods sold relate to purchased
raw materials and the processing and conversion costs of such raw materials consisting primarily of salaries and benefits, supplies,
quality control testing and the manufacturing overhead incurred at our processing facilities in Richmond, California and Roswell,
Georgia. Both facilities have additional capacity, which if utilized, would further leverage our fixed overhead. Cost of goods
sold also includes the amortization of intangibles generated from the CorMatrix Acquisition in 2017.
Sales and Marketing Expenses
Sales and marketing expenses are primarily
related to our direct sales force, consisting of salaries, commission compensation, fringe benefits, meals and other expenses.
Auto and travel costs have also historically contributed to sales and marketing expenses, albeit to a lesser extent due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. Outside of our direct sales force, we incur significant expenses relating to commissions to our CanGaroo commercial
partners and independent sales agents. Additionally, this expense category includes distribution costs as well as market research,
trade show attendance, advertising and public relations and customer service expenses. We expect sales and marketing expenses to
grow commensurate with sales increases, and to an even larger degree in the near-term due to a continued focus on growing our direct
sales force and increasing marketing activities, particularly with respect to our CanGaroo and SimpliDerm product lines.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative, or G&A,
expenses consist of compensation, consulting, legal, human resources, information technology, accounting, insurance and general
business expenses. We expect our G&A expenses to increase as a result of operating as a public company, especially as a result
of hiring additional personnel and incurring greater director and officer insurance premiums, greater investor and public relations
costs, and additional costs associated with accounting, legal, tax-related and other services associated with maintaining compliance
with exchange listing and SEC requirements.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development, or R&D, expenses
consist primarily of salaries and fringe benefits, laboratory supplies, clinical trials and outside service costs. Our product
development efforts primarily relate to new offerings in support of the orthopedic/spinal repair market and activities associated
with the development of a CanGaroo envelope with anti-infective properties. We also conduct clinical trials to validate the performance
characteristics of our products and to capture patient data necessary to support our commercial efforts.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the Three Months Ended
September 30, 2019 and 2020
Three Months Ended September 30,
2020
2019
Change 2019 / 2020
(in thousands,
except percentages)
Amount
% of Net
Sales
Amount
% of Net
Sales
$
%
Net Sales
$ 11,774
100.0 %
$ 11,138
100.0 %
$ 636
5.7 %
Cost of goods sold
6,233
52.9 %
5,595
50.2 %
638
11.4 %
Gross Profit
5,541
47.1 %
5,543
49.8 %
(2 )
(0.0 )%
Sales and marketing
4,174
35.4 %
4,435
39.8 %
(261 )
(5.9 )%
General and administrative
3,195
27.1 %
2,448
22.0 %
747
30.5 %
Research and development
863
7.3 %
507
4.5 %
356
70.2 %
Loss from operations
(2,691 )
(22.9 )%
(1,847 )
(16.6 )%
(844 )
45.7 %
Interest expense
1,465
12.4 %
1,249
11.2 %
216
17.3 %
Other (income) expense, net
2,567
21.8 %
-
-
2,567
NM
Loss before provision of income taxes
(6,723 )
(57.1 )%
(3,096 )
(27.8 )%
(3,627 )
117.2 %
Income tax expense
8
0.1 %
8
0.1 %
-
0.0 %
Net loss
$ (6,731 )
(57.2 %)
$ (3,104 )
(27.9 )%
$ (3,627 )
116.9 %
Accretion of Convertible Preferred Stock
3,510
29.8 %
-
-
3,510
NM
Net loss attributable to common stockholders
$ (10,241 )
(87.0 )%
$ (3,104 )
(27.9 )%
$ (7,137 )
229.9 %
23
NM = not meaningful
Net Sales
Net sales grew $0.6 million, or 5.7%, to
$11.8 million in the three months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $11.1 million in the three months ended September 30,
2019. The increase in net sales was due to the significant growth of our Core Products net sales, which grew $2.5 million, partially
offset by a decrease of $1.8 million in net sales of our Non-Core Products.
Net sales information for our Core Products
and Non-Core Products is summarized as follows:
Three Months Ended September 30,
2020
2019
Change 2019 / 2020
(in thousands, except percentages)
Amount
% of Net
Sales
Amount
% of Net
Sales
$
%
Products:
​
​
​
​
​
Core Products
$ 10,345
87.9 %
$ 7,878
70.7 %
$ 2,467
31.3 %
Non-Core Products
1,429
12.1 %
3,260
29.3 %
(1,831 )
(56.2 )%
Total Net Sales
$ 11,774
100.0 %
$ 11,138
100.0 %
$ 636
5.7 %
Net sales generated by our Core Products
grew $2.5 million, or 31.3%, to $10.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $7.9 million in the
three months ended September, 30 2019. The Core Products net sales growth can be largely attributed to the volume growth of our
orthopedic/spinal repair products and SimpliDerm, the latter of which was launched in the second half of 2019. The growth in our
orthopedic/spinal repair products was due to a broadening of our commercial relationships.
Net sales generated by our Non-Core Products
decreased $1.8 million, or 56.2%, to $1.4 million in the three months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $3.3 million in
the three months ended September 30, 2019. Despite initial shipments to three new customers during the three months ended
September 30, 2020, net sales generated by our Non-Core Products decreased largely due to the reduction in the volume of products
purchased by one significant contract customer following the expiration of its contract with us in the first half of 2020.
Cost of Goods Sold
Cost of goods sold was $6.2 million and
$5.6 million in the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and included, in each case, $0.8 million
of intangible asset amortization expenses. Gross margin in the three months ended September 30, 2020 was 47.1%, a decline
from 49.8% in the corresponding prior year period. Gross margin, excluding intangible asset amortization, in the three months ended
September 30, 2020 was 54.3%, a decline from 57.4% in the corresponding prior year period. Gross margin, excluding intangible
asset amortization, is a non-GAAP financial measure. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a discussion regarding our
use of gross margin, excluding intangible asset amortization, including its limitations and a reconciliation to the most directly
comparable GAAP financial measure. The decline in gross margin was due to an extended plant maintenance shutdown for two consecutive
weeks during the third quarter of 2020. This shutdown caused idle capacity during such period resulting in plant costs being charged
directly to cost of goods sold during this shutdown period rather than being a component of inventory. An extended shutdown occurred
in the fourth quarter of 2019 and as such, did not impact our gross margin in the corresponding prior year period.
Operating Expense
Sales and Marketing
24
Sales and marketing expenses decreased
$0.3 million, or 5.9%, to $4.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $4.4 million in the three
months ended September 30, 2019. As a percentage of sales, sales and marketing expenses fell to 35.4% in the three months
ended September 30, 2020 from 39.8% in the three months ended September 30, 2019. The slight decrease was primarily due
to declines in salesperson travel costs due to hospital restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
General and Administrative
G&A expenses increased $0.8 million,
or 30.5 %, to $3.2 million in the year three months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $2.4 million in the three months
ended September 30, 2019. As a percentage of net sales, G&A expenses increased from 22.0% to 27.1% in the three months
ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The dollar increase was primarily due to a fee of $0.8 million paid to HighCape
Partners Management, L.P. in September 2020. In connection with the CorMatrix Acquisition, we had agreed to pay HighCape Partners
Management, L.P. a one-time advisory fee of $750,000 upon the first to occur of any sale transaction (as defined in our certificate
of incorporation, as then in effect) and the closing of an initial public offering. In September 2020, our obligation
in respect of this fee was extinguished in connection with the issuance of 375,000 shares of Convertible Preferred Stock which
was recorded at its fair value.
Research and Development
R&D
expenses increased to $0.9 million being incurred in the three months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $0.5 million in
the three months ended September 30, 2019. We continue to focus our R&D efforts on the development of our pipeline products
in the orthopedic/spinal repair and CanGaroo product groups with the growth in R&D expenses in the three months ended
September 30, 2020 largely attributable to the work performed on the development of our CanGaroo anti-infective product. With
respect to the costs of the individual development projects, the majority of our costs are internal salaries and benefits as well
as laboratory supplies. These costs represent shared resources amongst all projects.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased to approximately
$1.5 million in the three months ended September 30, 2020 compared to approximately $1.2 million in the three months ended
September 30, 2019. The increase in interest expense in the three months ended September 30, 2020 was due to an increase
in the average outstanding balance of our Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below) as well as the interest associated with
the Silicon Valley Bank Promissory Note (as defined below) entered into by us in May 2020 under the Paycheck Protection Program
of the CARES Act.
Other Expense, net
Other expense, net was approximately $2.6
million in the three months ended September 30, 2020 and $0 in the three months ended September 30, 2019. The increase
in the three months ended September 30, 2020 was primarily attributable to the loss on early extinguishment of debt of $2.3
million. See Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion.
Accretion of Series A Preferred
Stock
Accretion of Series A Preferred Stock
was $3.5 million in the three months ended September 30, 2020 and $0 in the three months ended September 30, 2019. The
Accretion of Series A Preferred Stock relates to $3.5 million of deemed dividends related to the sale of the Convertible Preferred
Stock in September 2020 below its fair value. See Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere
in this Quarterly Report for additional information.
Comparison of the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2020 and 2019
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2020
2019
Change 2019 / 2020
(in thousands, except percentages)
Amount
% of Net
Sales
Amount
% of Net
Sales
$
%
Net Sales
$ 30,216
100.0 %
$ 30,847
100.0 %
$ (631 )
(2.0 )%
Cost of goods sold
15,676
51.9 %
15,972
51.8 %
(296 )
(1.9 )%
Gross Profit
14,540
48.1 %
14,875
48.2 %
(335 )
(2.3 )%
Sales and marketing
12,471
41.3 %
11,592
37.6 %
879
7.6 %
General and administrative
8,894
29.4 %
6,741
21.9 %
2,153
31.9 %
Research and development
2,811
9.3 %
1,742
5.6 %
1,069
61.4 %
Loss from operations
(9,636 )
(31.9 )%
(5,200 )
(16.9 )%
(4,436 )
85.3 %
Interest expense
4,248
14.1 %
3,935
12.8 %
313
7.9 %
Other (income) expense, net
2,567
8.5 %
-
0.0 %
2,567
NM
Loss before provision of income taxes
(16,451 )
(54.4 )%
(9,135 )
(29.6 )%
(7,316 )
80.1 %
Income tax expense
18
0.1 %
21
0.1 %
(4 )
(18.2 )%
Net loss
$ (16,469 )
(54.5 )%
$ (9,156 )
(29.7 )%
$ (7,312 )
79.9 %
Accretion of Convertible Preferred Stock
3,510
11.6 %
-
-
3,510
NM
Net loss attributable to common stockholders
$ (19,979 )
(66.1 )%
$ (9,156 )
(29.7 )%
$ (10,822 )
118.2 %
25
NM = not meaningful
Net Sales
Net sales decreased $0.6 million, or 2.0%,
to $30.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $30.8 million in the nine months ended September 30,
2019. The decrease in net sales was due to a decline of  $5.0 million in net sales of our Non-Core Products, partially
offset by $4.4 million of growth in net sales of our Core Products.
Net sales information for our Core Products and Non-Core Products
is summarized as follows:
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2020
2019
Change 2019 / 2020
(in thousands, except percentages)
Amount
% of Net
Sales
Amount
% of Net
Sales
$
%
Products:
​
​
​
​
​
Core Products
$ 25,956
85.9 %
$ 21,562
69.9 %
$ 4,394
20.4 %
Non-Core Products
4,260
14.1 %
9,285
30.1 %
(5,025 )
(54.1 )%
Total Net Sales
$ 30,216
100 %
$ 30,847
100 %
$ (631 )
(2.0 )%
Net sales generated by our Core Products
grew $4.4 million, or 20.4%, to $26.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $21.6 million in the
nine months ended September 30, 2019. The Core Products net sales growth can be largely attributed to the volume growth of
our orthopedic/spinal repair products and SimpliDerm, the latter of which was launched in the second half of 2019. The growth in
our orthopedic/spinal repair products was due to a broadening of our commercial relationships. This growth in net sales of our
Core Products occurred despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which negatively affected our sales principally during the
second quarter of 2020.
Net sales generated by our Non-Core Products
decreased $5.0 million, or 54.1%, to $4.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 from $9.3 million in the nine
months ended September 30, 2019. This decrease was due to both the reduction in the volume of products purchased by one significant
contract customer following the expiration of its contract with us in the first half of 2020, as well as the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic, which negatively affected our sales principally during the second quarter of 2020.
Cost of Goods Sold
Cost of goods sold decreased $0.3 million,
or 1.9%, to $15.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $16.0 million in the nine months ended September 30,
2019, and included, in each case, $2.5 million of intangible asset amortization expenses. Gross margin was 48.1%, in the nine months
ended September 30, 2020 compared to 48.2% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Gross margin, excluding intangible
asset amortization, was 56.6%, in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to 56.5% in the nine months ended September 30,
2019. Cost of goods sold for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 included approximately $0.4 million of costs due to
an extended plant maintenance shutdown for two consecutive weeks during the third quarter of 2020. This shutdown caused idle capacity
during such period resulting in plant costs being charged directly to cost of goods sold during this shutdown period rather than
being a component of inventory. An extended shutdown occurred in the fourth quarter of 2019 and as such, did not impact our gross
margin in the corresponding prior year period. Cost of goods sold for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 included inventory
write-downs, due to excessive or expiring product, totaling $0.5 million, caused largely by the launch of SimpliDerm which reduced
demand for certain other dermis inventory.
26
Operating Expenses
Sales and Marketing
Sales and marketing expenses increased
$0.9 million, or 7.6%, to $12.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $11.6 million in the nine
months ended September 30, 2019. As a percentage of sales, sales and marketing expenses rose to 41.3% in the nine months ended
September 30, 2020 from 37.6% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increase was primarily due to a significant
increase in the number of personnel in our direct sales force which enabled us to cover new territories, as well as additions to
our marketing and hospital contracting functions. Collectively, these personnel additions increased expenses in the nine months
ended September 30, 2020 by $1.4 million which was partially offset by declines in salesperson travel costs due to hospital
restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
General and Administrative
G&A expenses increased $2.2 million,
or 31.9%, to $8.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $6.7 million in the nine months ended September 30,
2019. As a percentage of net sales, G&A expenses rose to 29.4% in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 from 21.9%
in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The dollar increase was primarily due to senior leadership additions beginning
during late 2019, including the hiring of our Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Medical Officer, to support and drive the growth
of the business, which increased G&A expenses by $1.4 million. Also contributing to the overall increase in the year-over-year
period was a fee of $0.8 million paid to HighCape Partners Management, L.P. in September 2020, as discussed above under the
heading “ Comparison of the Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 and 2020 — General and Administrative Expenses.”
Research and Development
R&D expenses increased $1.1 million,
or 61.5%, to $2.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $1.7 million in the nine months ended September 30,
2019. We continue to focus our R&D efforts on the development of our pipeline products in the orthopedic/spinal repair and
CanGaroo product groups, with the growth in R&D expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 largely attributable
to the work performed on the development of our CanGaroo anti-infective product. Additionally, during the nine months ended September 30,
2020, increased clinical trial activities also caused higher R&D costs compared to the same prior year period. With respect
to the costs of the individual development projects, the majority of our costs are internal salaries and benefits as well as laboratory
supplies. These costs represent shared resources amongst all projects.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased to approximately
$4.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to approximately $3.9 million in the nine months ended September 30,
2019. The increase in interest expense in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was due to an increase in the average outstanding
balance of our Revolving Credit Facility as well as the interest associated with the $3.0 million Silicon Valley Bank Promissory
Note, entered into by us in May 2020 under the Paycheck Protection Program of the CARES Act.
Other Expense, net
Other expense, net was approximately
$2.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and $0 in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The
increase in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was primarily attributable to the loss on early extinguishment of
debt of $2.3 million. See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion.
Accretion of Series A Preferred
Stock
Accretion of Series A Preferred
Stock was $3.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and $0 in the nine months ended September 30,
2019. The Accretion of Series A Preferred Stock relates to $3.5 million of deemed dividends related to the sale of the
Convertible Preferred Stock in September 2020 below its fair value. See Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial
statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report for additional information.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This Quarterly Report presents our gross
margin, excluding intangible asset amortization, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. We calculate
gross margin, excluding intangible asset amortization, as gross profit, excluding amortization expense relating to intangible assets
we acquired in the CorMatrix Acquisition, divided by net sales. Gross margin, excluding intangible asset amortization, is a supplemental
measure of our performance, is not defined by or presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or
GAAP, has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to our GAAP gross margin,
gross profit or any other financial performance measure presented in accordance with GAAP. We present gross margin, excluding intangible
asset amortization, because we believe that it provides meaningful supplemental information regarding our operating performance
by removing the impact of amortization expense, which is not indicative of our overall operating performance. We believe this provides
our management and investors with useful information to facilitate period-to-period comparisons of our operating results. Our management
uses this metric in assessing the health of our business and our operating performance, and we believe investors’ understanding
of our operating performance is similarly enhanced by our presentation of this metric.
27
Although we use gross margin, excluding
intangible asset amortization, as described above, this metric has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered
in isolation or as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. In addition, other companies, including
companies in our industry, may use other measures to evaluate their performance, which could reduce the usefulness of this non-GAAP
financial measure as a tool for comparison.
The following table presents a reconciliation
of our gross margin, excluding intangible asset amortization, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019
to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, which is our GAAP gross margin (in thousands).
Three Months Ended September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2020
2019
2020
2019
Net sales
$ 11,774
$ 11,138
$ 30,216
$ 30,847
Gross profit
$ 5,541
$ 5,543
$ 14,540
$ 14,875
Intangible asset amortization expense
$ 849
$ 849
$ 2,548
$ 2,548
Gross profit, excluding intangible asset amortization
$ 6,390
$ 6,392
$ 17,088
$ 17,423
Gross margin
47.1 %
49.8 %
48.1 %
48.2 %
Gross margin, excluding intangible asset amortization
54.3 %
57.4 %
56.6 %
56.5 %
Seasonality
Historically, we have experienced seasonality
in our first and fourth quarters, and we expect this trend to continue. We have experienced and may in the future experience higher
sales in the fourth quarter as a result of hospitals in the United States increasing their purchases of our products to coincide
with the end of their budget cycles. Satisfaction of patient deductibles throughout the course of the year also results in increased
sales later in the year, once patients have paid their annual insurance deductibles in full, which reduces their out-of-pocket
costs. Conversely, our first quarter generally has lower sales than the preceding fourth quarter as patient deductibles are re-established
with the new year, which increases their out-of-pocket costs.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of September 30, 2020, we had
cash of approximately $1.6 million and availability under our Revolving Credit Facility of $2.1 million. Since inception, we
have financed our operations primarily through private placements of our convertible preferred stock, amounts borrowed under
our credit facilities and sales of our products. Our historical cash outflows have primarily been associated with acquisition
and integration, manufacturing costs, general and marketing, research and development, clinical activity and investing in our
commercial infrastructure through our direct sales force and our commercial partners in order to expand our presence and to
promote awareness and adoption of our products. As of September 30, 2020, our accumulated deficit was $74.9 million.
On October 13, 2020, in connection
with our IPO, we issued and sold 2,941,176 shares of common stock, consisting of 2,205,882 shares of Class A common stock
and 735,294 shares of Class B common stock, at a price to the public of $17.00 per share, resulting in net proceeds to us
of approximately $43.0 million, after deducting the underwriting discount of approximately $3.5 million and offering expenses of
approximately $3.5 million.
We expect our losses to continue for the
foreseeable future and these losses will continue to have an adverse effect on our financial position. Because of the numerous
risks and uncertainties associated with our commercialization and development efforts, we are unable to predict when we will become
profitable, and we may never become profitable. Our inability to achieve and then maintain profitability would negatively affect
our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. As discussed below under “— Funding Requirements,”
we may need additional funding to support our continuing operations and pursue our growth strategy.
28
We believe that the net proceeds from our
initial public offering consummated on October 13, 2020 (the “IPO”), together with our existing cash and our availability
under our Revolving Credit Facility, will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through
2022. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could exhaust our available capital resources
sooner than we expect.
Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2019 and 2020
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2020
2019
Net cash (used in) provided by:
(in thousands)
Operating activities
$ (8,258 )
$ (4,652 )
Investing activities
(525 )
(422 )
Financing activities
7,837
3,240
Net decrease in cash
$ (946 )
$ (1,834 )
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities during
the nine months ended September 30, 2020 totaled $8.3 million, primarily driven by a $16.5 million net loss reduced by non-cash
related items, including $2.9 million in depreciation on fixed assets and amortization of intangible assets, $2.0 million in interest
expense recorded as additional revenue interest obligation, $0.8 million of operating expenses satisfied through a preferred stock
issuance and a $2.3 million loss on early extinguishment of debt. Working capital reductions of  $0.4 million also contributed
to the net cash used for operations.
Net cash used in operating activities during
the nine months ended September, 2019 totaled $4.7 million primarily driven by a $9.2 million net loss reduced by non-cash related
items, including $2.9 million in depreciation on fixed assets and amortization of intangible assets as well as $2.1 million in
interest expense recorded as additional revenue interest obligation. Working capital reductions of  $0.8 million also contributed
to the net cash used for operations.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities during
the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 totaled approximately $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively, and were,
in each case, related to the purchase of property and equipment.
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities
in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 totaled $7.8 million, which includes $3.0 million of proceeds from a Paycheck
Protection Program loan under the CARES Act, net borrowings from the Revolving Credit Facility of approximately $1.6 million, approximately
$2.0 million in proceeds from the issuance of the 2020 Bridge Notes, and proceeds from Convertible Preferred Stock Issuance of approximately
$3.4 million. These increases from financing activities were offset by approximately $1.9 million in payments on the revenue interest
obligation.
Net cash provided by financing activities
in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 totaled $3.2 million, which was generated primarily from the $3.9 million of net
borrowings from the Revolving Credit Facility offset by approximately $1.4 million in payments on revenue interest obligation.
Credit Facilities
General
On July 15, 2019, Aziyo and Aziyo
Med, LLC, which we refer to collectively as the Borrowers, entered into an amended and restated term loan credit agreement (the
“Term Loan Credit Agreement”), with Midcap Financial Trust, as agent and lender, and the other lenders party thereto,
which provided for the conversion of our existing term loans into borrowing under the Term Loan Credit Agreement (consisting of
a $8.5 million tranche (Term Loan Tranche 1), a $5.0 million tranche (Term Loan Tranche 2) and a $3.0 million tranche
(Term Loan Tranche 3)), and established a new $3.5 million tranche (Term Loan Tranche 4) and a new $5.0 million tranche
(Term Loan Tranche 5). Commitments in respect of Term Loan Tranche 5 terminated without being borrowed on June 30, 2020. We
refer to Term Loan Tranche 1, Term Loan Tranche 2, Term Loan Tranche 3 and Term Loan Tranche 4 collectively as the Term Loan Facility.
29
On July 15, 2019, the Borrowers also
entered into an amended and restated revolving credit agreement (the “Revolving Credit Agreement”), with Midcap Funding
IV Trust, as agent and lender, and the other lenders party thereto, which provided for an $8.0 million asset-based revolving
credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”).
As
of September 30, 2020, we had $19.7 million of indebtedness outstanding under our Term Loan Facility (net of  $0.3 million
of unamortized discount and deferred financing costs) and $ 5.9 million outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility
(with $2.1 million of additional borrowings available thereunder).
Interest Rates and Fees
Borrowings under the Term Loan Facility
accrue interest at a rate per year equal to the LIBOR Rate (as defined below) plus a margin of 7.25%. Borrowings under the Revolving
Credit Facility bear interest at the per annum rate equal to the LIBOR Rate plus a margin of 4.95%. The LIBOR Rate is defined as
the greater of 2.25% and the applicable London Interbank Offered Rate for U.S. dollar deposits divided by 1.00 minus the maximum
effective reserve percentage for Eurocurrency funding.
Under the terms of the Revolving Credit
Facility, we can borrow up to an amount (the “Borrowing Base”), equal to (1) 85.0% of the aggregate net amount
at such time of the Eligible Accounts (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement), plus (2) 50% of the value of the Eligible
Inventory (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement), valued at the lower of first-in-first-out cost or market cost, and after
factoring in all rebates, discounts and other incentives or rewards associated with the purchase of the applicable Eligible Inventory
(provided that the Borrowing Base will be automatically adjusted down, if necessary, such that the aggregate availability from
Eligible Inventory shall never exceed the lesser of  (x) an amount equal to 40.0% of the Borrowing Base and (y) $2,000,000).
The amount available for borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility may also be reduced by certain reserve amounts that may
be established by the administrative agent from time to time .
In addition to paying interest on the principal
amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility, we are required to pay an unused line fee to the lenders under the Revolving
Credit Facility in respect of the unutilized commitments thereunder equal to 0.50% multiplied by the lesser of  (1) the
unutilized commitments and (2) $8,000,000 minus 40% of the Borrowing Base.
Mandatory Prepayments
The Term Loan Credit Agreement requires
the Borrowers to prepay amounts outstanding under the Term Loan Facility, subject to certain exceptions, with: (1) 100% of
any net casualty proceeds in excess of $250,000 with respect to assets upon which the agent maintains a lien and (2) 100%
of the net cash proceeds of non-ordinary course asset sales or sales pertaining to collateral upon which the Borrowing Base is
calculated. In addition, the Borrowers are required to prepay all outstanding obligations under the Term Loan Facility upon the
termination of all commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility and the repayment of the outstanding borrowings thereunder.
The Revolving Credit Agreement requires
the Borrowers to prepay amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility (or provide cash collateral up to the amount of
any outstanding letter of credit obligations) to the extent outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility exceed the
lesser of (1) $8,000,000 and (2) the Borrowing Base.
Optional Prepayment
The Borrowers may prepay the Term Loan
Facility in whole but not in part at any time with at least 10 business days’ prior written notice, provided, however, that
such prepayment shall be accompanied by a portion of the Exit Fee (as defined below) equal to the amount prepaid divided by the
then-outstanding principal amount of borrowings outstanding under the Term Loan Facility, and a prepayment fee equal to the amount
prepaid multiplied by, in the case of Term Loan Tranche 1, Term Loan Tranche 2 or Term Loan Tranche 3, 3.0% until July 15,
2021 and 2.0% thereafter, and, in the case of Term Loan Tranche 4, 4.0% until November 21, 2020, 3.0% until November 21,
2021 and 2.0% thereafter. The “Exit Fee” is defined as an amount equal to 6.50% multiplied by the aggregate principal
amount of all borrowings advanced to the Borrowers under the Term Loan Facility.
The Borrowers may prepay the Revolving
Credit Facility in whole or in part at any time, provided, however, that any such partial prepayment shall be in an amount equal
to $100,000 or a higher integral multiple of $25,000.
30
Amortization and Final Maturity
The Borrowers are required to make interest-only
payments prior to February 1, 2021, the Initial Amortization Start Date. Commencing on the Initial Amortization Start Date,
and continuing on the first day of each calendar month thereafter, in addition to interest payments, the Borrowers must repay an
amount equal to the total principal amount of borrowings under the Term Loan Facility divided by 42, for a 42-month straight-line
amortization of equal monthly principal payments; provided, however, that if certain conditions are satisfied prior to December 1,
2020 (including our completion of a qualified initial public offering and no continuing default or event of default), the Initial
Amortization Start Date may, upon our request, be extended to August 1, 2021, in which case the principal payments to be made
in respect of borrowings under the Term Loan Facility shall be in an amount equal to the total principal amount of borrowings under
the Term Loan Facility divided by 36, for a 36-month straight-line amortization of equal monthly principal payments. The remaining
unpaid balance on the Term Loan Facility, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and any remaining unpaid amount
of the Exit Fee, is due and payable on July 15, 2024.
Outstanding borrowings under the Revolving
Credit Facility do not amortize and are due and payable on July 15, 2024.
Security
All obligations under the Term Loan Facility
and the Revolving Credit Facility are, and any future guarantees of those obligations will be, secured by, among other things,
and in each case subject to certain exceptions, a first priority lien on and security interest in, upon, and to all of each Borrower’s
assets, including all goods, equipment, inventory, contract rights or rights to payment of money, leases, license agreements, franchise
agreements, general intangibles, commercial tort claims, documents, instruments (including any promissory notes), chattel paper
(whether tangible or electronic), cash, deposit accounts, securities accounts, fixtures, letter of credit rights (whether or not
the letter of credit is evidenced by a writing), securities, and all other investment property, supporting obligations, and financial
assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, wherever located.
Covenants and Other Matters
The Term Loan Credit Agreement and the
Revolving Credit Agreement each contain a number of covenants that, among other things and subject to certain exceptions, restrict
the ability of the Borrowers to:
· incur additional indebtedness;
· incur certain liens;
· pay dividends or make other distributions on equity interests;
· enter into agreements restricting their subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends;
· redeem, repurchase or refinance subordinated indebtedness;
· consolidate, merge or sell or otherwise dispose of their assets;
· make investments, loans, advances, guarantees and acquisitions;
· enter into transactions with affiliates;
· amend or modify their governing documents;
· amend or modify certain material agreements;
· alter the business conducted by them and their subsidiaries; and
· enter into sale and leaseback transactions.
In addition, the Term Loan Credit Agreement
and the Revolving Credit Agreement contain a financial covenant, which is tested on a monthly basis, and requires us to achieve
a specified Minimum Net Product Revenue (as defined in the applicable credit agreement) for the preceding 12-month period.
The Term Loan Credit Agreement and the
Revolving Credit Agreement each contains events of default, including, most significantly, a failure to timely pay interest or
principal, insolvency, or an action by the FDA or such other material adverse event impacting the operations of Aziyo.
The Term Loan Credit Agreement and the
Revolving Credit Agreement also contain certain customary representations and warranties and affirmative covenants, and certain
reporting obligations. In addition, the lenders will be permitted to accelerate all outstanding borrowings and other obligations,
terminate outstanding commitments and exercise other specified remedies upon the occurrence of certain events of default (subject
to certain grace periods and exceptions), which include, among other things, payment defaults, breaches of representations and
warranties, covenant defaults, certain cross-defaults and cross-accelerations to other indebtedness, certain events of bankruptcy
and insolvency, certain judgments and changes of control.
PPP Loan
In May 2020, we entered into a promissory
note with Silicon Valley Bank, or SVB, under the Paycheck Protection Program of the CARES Act pursuant to which SVB agreed to make
a loan to us in the amount of approximately $3.0 million. The PPP Loan matures in May 2022, bears interest at a rate of 1.0%
per annum and requires no payments during the first six months from the date of the loan. The PPP Loan is unsecured and guaranteed
by the Small Business Administration, or the SBA.
31
Under the terms of the PPP Loan, the principal
amount of the loan may be forgiven to the extent it is used for qualifying expenses as described in the CARES Act and we otherwise
request forgiveness in accordance with the terms of the PPP Loan and the requirements of the SBA. The agreement governing the PPP
Loan also provides that if we knowingly use the proceeds of such loan for unauthorized purposes, we may be subject to liability,
including charges of fraud. We will be required to repay any principal amount of the PPP Loan that is not forgiven, together with
accrued and unpaid interest, in equal monthly installments prior to the maturity date of the loan. In addition, we are permitted
to prepay the PPP Loan at any time without penalty or premium. SVB will be permitted to accelerate all outstanding borrowings and
other obligations and exercise other specified remedies upon the occurrence of certain events of default, which include, among
other things, payment defaults, breaches of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, certain cross-defaults and cross-accelerations
to other indebtedness, certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency, certain judgments and changes to our ownership or business
structure.
2020 Bridge Notes
In April 2020, we entered into a bridge
note purchase agreement pursuant to which we issued approximately $2.0 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible promissory
notes (the “2020 Bridge Notes”), to HighCape Partners QP, HighCape Partners and Deerfield. The 2020 Bridge Notes had
a maturity date of April 1, 2025 and accrued interest at a rate of 5.0% per year. The aggregate principal amount of, and accrued
interest on, the 2020 Bridge Notes automatically converted into an aggregate of 2,039,427 shares of our Series A convertible
preferred stock upon the closing of our Series A convertible preferred stock financing in September 2020.
Funding Requirements
We expect to continue to incur significant
expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future as we grow our sales organization and expand our product development and
clinical and research activities. In addition, we expect to incur additional costs and expenses associated with operating as a
public company.
Based on our current and planned business
operations, we believe that the net proceeds from the IPO, together with our existing cash and our availability under our Revolving
Credit Facility, will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through 2022. We have based
this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could exhaust our available capital resources sooner than we expect.
If our available cash balances and cash flow from operations, if any, are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, we
may seek to raise additional capital through equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations or licensing arrangements. We may
also consider raising additional capital in the future to expand our business, pursue strategic investments or take advantage of
financing opportunities. Our present and future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including, among other things:
· continued patient, physician and market acceptance of our products;
· the scope, rate of progress and cost of our current and future pre-clinical studies and clinical
trials;
· the cost of our research and development activities and the cost and timing of commercializing
new products or technologies;
· the cost and timing of expanding our sales and marketing capabilities;
· the cost of filing and prosecuting patent applications and maintaining, defending and enforcing
our patent or other intellectual property rights;
· the cost of defending, in litigation or otherwise, any claims that we infringe, misappropriate
or otherwise violate third-party patents or other intellectual property rights;
· the cost and timing of additional regulatory approvals;
· costs associated with any product recall that may occur;
· the effect of competing technological and market developments;
· the expenses we incur in manufacturing and selling our products;
· the extent to which we acquire or invest in products, technologies and businesses, although we
currently have no commitments or agreements relating to any of these types of transactions;
· the costs of operating as a public company;
· unanticipated general, legal and administrative expenses; and
· the effects on any of the above of the current COVID-19 pandemic or any other pandemic, epidemic
or outbreak of infectious disease.
32
In addition, our operating plans may change
as a result of any number of factors, including those set forth above and other factors currently unknown to us, and we may need
additional funds sooner than anticipated. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible
debt securities, your ownership interest may be materially diluted, and the terms of such securities could include liquidation
or other preferences that adversely affect your rights as a common stockholder. Debt financing and preferred equity financing,
if available, may involve agreements that include restrictive covenants that limit our ability to take specific actions, such as
incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures, creating liens, redeeming shares of our common stock and/or declaring dividends.
If we raise funds through collaborations, licensing agreements or other strategic alliances, we may have to relinquish valuable
rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates, or grant licenses on terms that may
not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings or other arrangements when
needed, we may be required to delay the development or commercialization of our products, license to third parties the rights to
commercialize products or technologies that we would otherwise seek to commercialize and reduce marketing, customer support or
other resources devoted to our products or cease operations. See Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors — Risks
Related to our Business — Our future capital needs are uncertain and we may need to raise funds in the future,
and such funds may not be available on acceptable terms or at all.”
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of September 30, 2020, we did not
have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined under SEC Regulation S-K Item 303(a)(4)(ii).
Contractual Obligations
Except as updated in the Prospectus, there
have been no material changes to our contractual obligations as of December 13, 2019, as described under the section of the
Prospectus entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations —
Contractual Obligations.”
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We are exposed to market risks in the ordinary
course of our business, including risks relating to changes in interest rates, foreign currency and inflation. The following discussion
provides additional information regarding these risks.
Interest Rate Risk
Our primary exposure to market risk relates
to changes in interest rates. Borrowings under our Term Loan Facility and Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at variable rates,
subject to an interest rate floor. Interest rate risk is highly sensitive due to many factors, including U.S. monetary and tax
policies, U.S. and international economic factors and other factors beyond our control. A hypothetical 10% relative change in interest
rates on our variable rate indebtedness outstanding at September 30, 2020 would not have had a material effect on our financial
statements. We do not currently engage in hedging transactions to manage our exposure to interest rate risk.
Credit Risk
As of September 30, 2020, our cash
and cash equivalents were maintained with one financial institution in the United States. While our deposit accounts are insured
up to the legal limit, the balances we maintain may, at times, exceed this insured limit. We believe this financial institution
has sufficient assets and liquidity to conduct its operations in the ordinary course of business with little or no credit risk
to us.
Our accounts receivable relate to sales
to customers. To minimize credit risk, ongoing credit evaluations of all customers’ financial condition are performed. Two
customers represented 10% or more of our accounts receivable as of September 30, 2020.
33
Foreign Currency Risk
Our business is primarily conducted in
U.S. dollars. Any transactions that may be conducted in foreign currencies are not expected to have a material effect on our financial
condition, results of operations or cash flows. As we grow our operations, our exposure to foreign currency risk could become more
significant.
Impact of Inflation
Inflationary factors, such as increases
in our cost of goods sold or other operating expenses, may adversely affect our operating results. While it is difficult to accurately
measure the impact of inflation due to the imprecise nature of the estimates required, we do not believe inflation had a material
effect on our financial condition or results of operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. We cannot
assure you, however, that we will be able to increase the selling prices of our products or reduce our operating expenses in an
amount sufficient to offset the effects future inflationary pressures may have on our gross margin. Accordingly, we cannot assure
you that our financial condition and results of operations will not be materially impacted by inflation in the future.
JOBS Act
Section 107 of the JOBS Act permits
us, as an “emerging growth company,” to take advantage of an extended transition period for adopting new or revised
accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to avail ourselves of this
exemption and, as a result, for so long as we remain an emerging growth company, unless we subsequently choose to affirmatively
and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period, our financial statements may not be comparable to the financial statements
of issuers who are required to comply with the effective dates for new or revised accounting standards that are applicable to public
companies. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that we can elect to opt out of the extended transition period at any time,
which election is irrevocable.
We will remain an emerging growth company
until the earliest of: (i) the last day of the first fiscal year in which our annual gross revenues are $1.07 billion or more;
(ii) the last day of 2025; (iii) the date that we become a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2
under the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our common equity held by non-affiliates is $700 million or more
as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter; or (iv) the date on which we have issued
more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the previous three years.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls
and Procedures
In designing and evaluating our disclosure
controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can
provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and
procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply judgment in evaluating
the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and
Procedures
The Company’s management has evaluated,
with the participation of the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls
and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered
by this Quarterly Report. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures
were effective as of September 30, 2020.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial
Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control
over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the three months
ended September 30, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control
over financial reporting.
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
From time to time, we may be involved in
claims and proceedings arising in the course of our business. The outcome of any such claims or proceedings, regardless of the
merits, is inherently uncertain. We are not currently party to any material legal proceedings, and we are not aware of any pending
or threatened legal proceeding against us that we believe could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results,
cash flows or financial condition.
34
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Investing in our common stock involves
a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and the other information in this
Quarterly Report, including our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes, as well as our other
public filings with the SEC, before making an investment in our common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations
and prospects could be materially and adversely affected if any of these risks occurs, and as a result, the market price of our
common stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. This Quarterly Report also contains forward-looking
statements that involve risks and uncertainties. See “Forward-Looking Statements.” Our actual results could differ
materially and adversely from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those
set forth below.
Risks Related to Our Business
Our long-term growth depends on our
ability to enhance our products, expand our product indications and develop, acquire and commercialize additional product offerings.
Our industry is highly competitive and
subject to rapid change and technological advancements. Competition intensifies as technical advances in each field are made and
become more widely known. We can give no assurance that others will not develop products, services and processes with significant
advantages over the products, services and processes that we offer or are seeking to develop. It is, therefore, important to our
business that we continue to enhance our existing product offerings, expand our product indications and develop or otherwise introduce
and successfully commercialize new products. Developing, acquiring and commercializing products is expensive and time-consuming
and could divert management’s attention away from our core business. Even if we are successful in developing additional products,
the success of any new product offering or enhancements to any of our existing products will depend on several factors, including
our ability to:
· properly identify and anticipate physician and patient needs;
· develop and introduce new products and product enhancements in a timely manner;
· distinguish our products from those of our competitors;
· develop an effective and dedicated sales and marketing team;
· enter into successful agreements with commercial partners, independent sales agents and other third
parties where it is beneficial for us to do so;
· adequately protect our intellectual property, avoid infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating
the intellectual property rights of third parties and obtain and maintain necessary intellectual property licenses from third parties;
· demonstrate, if required, the safety and efficacy of new products with data from pre-clinical studies
and clinical trials;
· obtain the necessary regulatory clearances or approvals for new products, product enhancements
and expanded indications;
· maintain full compliance with FDA, European Union Medical Devices regulations and other regulatory
requirements applicable to new devices or products or modifications of existing devices or products;
· provide adequate training to potential users of our products;
· receive adequate coverage and reimbursement for our products; and
· otherwise compete effectively against products and enhancements developed by our competitors.
If we are not successful in expanding our
indications and developing, acquiring and commercializing new products and product enhancements, our ability to increase our net
sales may be impaired, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, our research and development efforts may require a substantial investment of time and resources before we are adequately
able to determine the commercial viability of a new product, technology or other innovation.
Even if we are able to successfully develop
and commercialize new product offerings or enhancements, they may be quickly rendered obsolete by changing customer preferences
or the introduction by our competitors of products embodying new technologies or features and/or otherwise not produce sales in
excess of the costs of development, any of which could also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and
results of operations. Furthermore, to the extent we seek to enhance our products and broaden our product portfolio through acquisitions
or other commercial transactions, we will be subject to additional risks. See “— We regularly evaluate opportunities
to make acquisitions of, investments in, and licenses or other commercial arrangements involving, other companies or technologies,
and to enter into other strategic transactions. These transactions entail significant risks. ”
35
A substantial portion of our net
sales is generated through our commercial partners and independent sales agents, which subjects us to various risks.
We currently rely on the efforts of our
commercial partners and independent sales agents to generate a substantial portion of our net sales, and we expect to continue
to rely on these third parties to generate a substantial portion of our net sales in the future while we work to grow our direct
sales force. As a result, the impairment or termination of these relationships for any reason, or the failure of these parties
to diligently sell our products and comply with applicable laws and regulations, could materially and adversely affect our ability
to generate revenue and profits. Because our commercial partners and independent sales agents control the relationships with our
end customers, if our relationship with any commercial partner or independent sales agent ends, we will likely also lose our relationship
with their customers. Furthermore, our success is partially dependent on the willingness and ability of the sales representatives
and other employees of our commercial partners and independent sales agents to diligently sell our products. However, we cannot
guarantee that they will be successful in marketing our products. In addition, because our commercial partners and independent
sales agents do not sell our products exclusively, they may focus their sales efforts and resources on other products that produce
better margins or greater commissions for them or are incorporated into a broader strategic relationship with a partner. Because
we do not control the sales representatives and other employees of our commercial partners, we cannot guarantee that our sales
processes, regulatory compliance and other priorities will be consistently communicated and executed. In addition, we do not have
staff in many of the areas covered by our commercial partners and independent sales agents, which makes it particularly difficult
for us to monitor their performance. While we may take steps to mitigate the risks associated with noncompliance by our commercial
partners and independent sales agents, there remains a risk that they will not comply with regulatory requirements or our requirements
and policies. Actions by the sales representatives and other employees of our commercial partners and independent sales agents
that are beyond our control could result in flat or declining sales in that territory, harm to the reputation of our company or
our products or legal liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results
of operations. In addition to the risk of losing customers, the operation of local laws and our agreements with our commercial
partners and independent sales agents would make it difficult for us to replace a commercial partner or independent sales agent
we feel is underperforming.
In order to increase our sales, particularly
with respect to our Core Products, we intend to develop relationships and arrangements with additional commercial partners and/or
independent sales agents, which we may not be able to do on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If we are unable to establish
new commercial partner and independent sales agent relationships and maintain our relationships with our existing commercial partners
and independent sales agents, in each case, on commercially reasonable terms, we will be unable to increase sales of our products
and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
In addition, certain of our commercial
partners may, from time to time, account for a significant portion of our net sales and/or accounts receivable. Sales to Surgalign
Holdings, one of our commercial partners, accounted for 11% of our net sales during the nine months ended September 30, 2020
and represented 10% of our accounts receivable as of September 30, 2020. Sales to Medtronic, also one of our commercial partners,
accounted for 16% of our net sales during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and represented 29% of our accounts receivable
as of September 30, 2020. The loss of one or more significant commercial partners, or a material reduction in their purchases
of our products, would adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. We are also subject to the
risk that any such commercial partner will experience financial difficulties that prevent them from making payments to us on a
timely basis or at all.
Our revenue and profitability could
be materially and adversely affected if we fail to maintain our relationships with our existing contract manufacturing customers
and enter into agreements with new contract manufacturing customers, or if existing contract manufacturing customers reduce purchases
of our products. Our relationships with these customers also subject us to certain risks.
Our
contract manufacturing operations are an important component of our business, enabling us to utilize as much as possible of the
human biological material from which we produce our core orthopedic/spinal repair and soft tissue reconstruction products, leverage
our existing overhead and improve our cash flow. In addition, we have historically generated a significant portion of our total
net sales from sales of our Non-Core Products, which is composed primarily of purchases from our contract manufacturing customers.
Sales of our Non-Core Product sales which represented approximately 14.1% and 30.1% of our total net sales for the nine months
ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 respectively, and this decrease largely resulted from a reduction in volume of products
purchased by one significant contract customer following the expiration of its contract. As a result, if we are unable to maintain
our relationships with our existing contract manufacturing customers and establish relationships with new contract manufacturing
customers on terms that are favorable to us, or if our existing contract manufacturing customers materially reduce their purchases
of our products, our sales and profitability may be further adversely affected.
36
In addition, although we have invested,
and expect to continue to invest, significant time and resources cultivating our relationships with these customers, these relationships
subject us to certain risks. For example, our contract manufacturing customers may use their experience with our products to develop
their own solutions, which they may be able to produce at a lower cost than the price they pay for our products. This is particularly
true given that many of our customers are large, established companies that may be able to achieve greater economies of scale in
manufacturing and production and/or experience synergies from vertical integration. In addition, our contract manufacturing customers
routinely audit and inspect our facilities, processes and practices to ensure that our manufacturing process and products meet
their internal standards and applicable regulatory standards. To date, we have passed all such audits and inspections. However,
we may not do so in the future, and any failure to perform to our customers’ satisfaction in these audits could significantly
harm our relationships with them and our reputation, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition
and results of operations. Furthermore, the need to comply with our customers’ internal requirements could result in increased
development, manufacturing, warranty and administrative costs. A significant increase in these costs could adversely affect our
business, financial condition and results of operations. There is also a risk that we may be unable to supply products in the quantities
and of the quality required by these customers within their required timeframes, which would also jeopardize our relationships
with them. Disagreements or disputes may also arise from time to time. Any of these events, to the extent they cause our customers
to reduce purchases of our products or terminate their relationships with us, could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, our sales to these customers
may be impacted by changes in their buying habits over which we have no control. Such changes may be driven by, among other things,
changes in market share, cyclicality, inventory reductions, spending patterns, cost-cutting measures, product development activity
and timelines and changes in supply chain management, as well as the impact of general economic conditions. These customers may
also experience financial difficulties or other problems that may prevent them from making payments to us on a timely basis or
at all. Any of these events could cause our operating results to fluctuate from period to period, make it more difficult for us
to manage our inventory and production schedules and otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of
operations.
We plan to expand our direct sales
force, and if we are unable to successfully expand, manage and maintain our direct sales force, we may not be able to generate
greater market share and revenue growth.
Prior to the CorMatrix Acquisition, we
had a very small direct sales force and sold our Core Products primarily through independent sales agents or to other companies
for resale or incorporation into their products. Though our orthopedic/spinal repair products are now primarily sold through our
commercial partners, we currently utilize our direct sales force to sell CanGaroo and our cardiovascular products, as well as our
SimpliDerm product. As of September 30, 2020, our direct sales organization consisted of 25 sales representatives, who are
focused on increasing market access and market penetration by selling our products, managing our commercial partners, who assist
in selling CanGaroo, and providing technical assistance. Our operating results are directly dependent upon the efforts of these
employees. If our direct sales force fails to adequately promote, market and sell our products and effectively manage and assist
our commercial partners, our net sales may be adversely affected.
In addition, in order to expand our network
of hospital and physician customers, drive deeper penetration in our current accounts and provide additional technical assistance
to our commercial partners, we plan to expand the size and geographic scope of our direct sales force. This growth may require
us to split or adjust existing sales territories, which may adversely affect our ability to retain customers in those territories.
Additionally, our future success will depend largely on our ability to continue to hire, train, retain and motivate skilled sales
personnel with significant industry experience and technical knowledge of regenerative medicine and related products. Because the
competition for their services is high, we cannot assure you we will be able to hire and retain additional personnel on favorable
or commercially reasonable terms, if at all. Failure to hire or retain qualified sales personnel would prevent us from expanding
our business and generating additional revenue. In addition, it typically takes a substantial period of time before newly hired
sales personnel are effective. Though we currently utilize commercial partners and independent sales agents to sell certain of
our products, there is no guarantee that we will be able to establish relationships with additional parties, or that our existing
commercial partners and independent sales agents will purchase or otherwise commercialize any products we may seek to introduce
in the future. If we are unable to expand our sales and marketing capabilities, we may not be able to effectively commercialize
our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are working to grow our direct
sales force for certain of our products, which may result in higher fixed costs and may slow our ability to reduce costs in the
face of a sudden decline in demand for our products.
A key component of our growth involves
expanding the size and geographic scope of our direct sales force. A direct sales force may subject us to higher fixed costs than
those of other companies that market competing products primarily through third parties due to the costs that we will bear associated
with employee benefits, training and managing sales personnel. As a result, we could be at a competitive disadvantage relative
to competitors who rely more heavily on third parties to market and sell their products. Additionally, these fixed costs may slow
our ability to reduce costs in the face of a sudden decline in demand for our products, which could have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We have incurred operating losses
since our inception, expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses in the future, and may not be able to
achieve or sustain profitability.
We have incurred net losses since our inception
in 2015. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, we had net losses of  $11.6 million and $11.9 million, respectively,
and for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2020, we had net losses of  $9.1 million and $13.0 million, respectively.
As of September 30, 2020, we had an accumulated deficit of  $74.9 million. To date, we have financed our operations
primarily through private placements of our convertible preferred stock, amounts borrowed under our credit facilities and sales
of our products. We have devoted the majority of our resources to acquisition and integration, manufacturing costs, research and
development, clinical activity and investing in our commercial infrastructure through our direct sales force and commercial partners
in order to expand our presence and to promote awareness and adoption of our products.
37
We expect that our operating expenses will
continue to increase as we grow our sales organization, expand our product development and clinical and research activities, and
incur additional costs associated with being a public company. As a result, we expect to continue to incur operating losses in
the future and may never achieve profitability. Furthermore, even if we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain
or increase profitability on an ongoing basis. If we do not achieve or sustain profitability, it will be more difficult for us
to finance our business and accomplish our strategic objectives, either of which would have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and results of operations and cause the market price of our Class A common stock to decline. In addition,
failure of our products to significantly penetrate existing or new markets would negatively affect our business, financial condition
and results of operations.
Our business has been, and may continue
to be, adversely affected by the outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus disease, COVID-19, and may be adversely affected by
any future pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of an infectious disease in the United States or worldwide.
If a pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of
an infectious disease occurs in the United States or worldwide, our business may be adversely affected. In December 2019,
a novel strain of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, was identified in Wuhan, China. Since then, SARS-CoV-2, and the resulting disease, COVID-19,
has spread to most countries and all 50 states within the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted our business,
financial condition and results of operations by significantly decreasing and delaying the number of procedures performed using
our products, and we expect the pandemic to continue to negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Similar to the general trend in elective and other surgical procedures, the number of procedures performed using our products has
decreased significantly as healthcare organizations in the United States have prioritized the treatment of patients with COVID-19
or have otherwise altered their operations to prepare for and respond to the pandemic. For example, in the United States, governmental
authorities have recommended, and in certain cases required, that elective, specialty and other non-emergency procedures and appointments
be suspended or canceled in order to avoid patient exposure to medical environments and the risk of potential infection with the
novel coronavirus, and to focus limited resources and personnel capacity on the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Beginning in March 2020,
a significant number of procedures using our products have been postponed or cancelled, which has negatively impacted sales of
our products. Decreases in procedures have been most prevalent in regions experiencing significant outbreaks, while healthcare
organizations in other regions have continued to undertake procedures using our products at reduced levels as compared to before
the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic could also adversely impact the initiation, continuation and completion of our clinical trials
by, for example, delaying procedures using our products or reducing the number of patients, healthcare providers or clinical facilities
available or willing to participate in the clinical trials. These delays could result in increased costs, delays in advancing our
product development, delays in testing the effectiveness of our technology or termination of the clinical studies altogether. These
measures and challenges will likely continue for the duration of the pandemic, which is uncertain, and may continue to reduce our
net sales and negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations while the pandemic continues. Further,
even after the pandemic ultimately subsides, we anticipate there will be a substantial backlog of patients seeking procedures and
appointments for a variety of medical conditions and, as a result, patients seeking procedures performed using our products will
have to navigate limited provider capacity. We believe this limited capacity of providers, hospitals and other healthcare facilities
could have a significant adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations during and following the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Numerous state and local jurisdictions,
including those where our facilities are located, have imposed, and others in the future may impose, “shelter-in-place”
orders, quarantines, executive orders and similar government orders and restrictions for their residents to control the spread
of COVID-19. Such orders or restrictions have resulted in reduced operations at our manufacturing facilities, travel restrictions
and cancellation of events and have restricted the ability of our sales representatives and those of our commercial partners and
independent sales agents to attend procedures in which our products are used, among other effects, thereby significantly and negatively
impacting our operations. Other disruptions or potential disruptions include restrictions on the ability of our sales representatives
and other personnel, and those of our commercial partners and independent sales agents, to travel and access customers for training
and case support; inability of our suppliers to manufacture and deliver to us on a timely basis or at all; delays in our ability
to obtain medical records for tissue donors, which we need in order to release our products; disruptions in our production schedule
and ability to manufacture and assemble products; inventory shortages or obsolescence; delays in actions of regulatory bodies;
delays in clinical trials and studies; diversion of or limitations on employee resources that would otherwise be focused on the
operations of our business, including because of sickness of employees or their families or the desire of employees to avoid contact
with groups of people; delays in growing or reductions in our direct sales force, including through delays in hiring, lay-offs,
furloughs or other losses of sales representatives; restrictions in our ability to ship our products to customers; business adjustments
or disruptions of certain third parties, including suppliers, medical institutions and clinical investigators with whom we conduct
business; negative impact on our customers’ credit profiles, which may adversely impact our future collection experience;
and additional government requirements or other incremental mitigation efforts that may further impact our or our suppliers’
capacity to manufacture our products. The extent, to which the COVID-19 pandemic or any future pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of
an infectious disease impacts our business, will depend on future events and developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot
be predicted, including the severity and spread of the disease and the effectiveness of actions to contain the disease or treat
its impact, among others. As new information regarding COVID-19 continues to emerge, it is difficult to predict what impact this
disease will ultimately have on our business.
38
Adverse changes in general domestic
and global economic conditions and instability and disruption of credit markets, including as a result of the current COVID-19
pandemic or any other outbreak of an infectious disease, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations
and liquidity.
We are subject to risks arising from adverse
changes in general domestic and global economic conditions, including any recession, economic slowdown or disruption of credit
markets. While the potential economic impact brought by, and the duration of, any pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of an infectious
disease, including COVID-19, may be difficult to assess or predict, the current COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in, and may continue
to result in, significant disruption of global financial markets. These events, and any financial crisis that may occur in the
future, could make it more difficult and more expensive for hospitals and health systems to obtain credit, which may contribute
to pressures on their operating margins. As a result, hospitals and health systems may curtail and reduce capital and overall spending,
which may have a significant adverse effect on our business. In addition, the current economic downturn that has resulted from
the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted and may continue to result in, and any economic downturn that may occur in the future may also
result in, higher unemployment and a reduction in the number of individuals covered by private insurance, which may result in an
increase in the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals. Higher unemployment may also result in a shift in reimbursement patterns
as unemployed individuals switch from private plans to public plans such as U.S. Medicaid or Medicare. As economic conditions deteriorate
and unemployment increases, any significant shift in coverage for the unemployed may have an unfavorable impact on our business.
In addition, the current COVID-19 pandemic
and any other disruption in the capital and credit markets could impede our access to capital, which could be further adversely
affected if we are unable to maintain our current credit ratings. Should we have limited access to additional financing sources,
we may need to defer capital expenditures or seek other sources of liquidity, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms
or at all. Similarly, if our suppliers face challenges in obtaining credit or other financial difficulties, they may be unable
to provide the materials required to manufacture our products. All of these factors related to global economic conditions, which
are beyond our control, could adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
Our future growth depends on physician
awareness of the distinctive characteristics, benefits, safety, clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of our products.
We focus our sales, marketing and training
efforts on physicians, surgeons and other healthcare professionals. The acceptance of our products depends in part on our ability
to educate these individuals as to the distinctive characteristics, benefits, safety, clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness
of our products compared to alternative products, procedures and therapies. We support our direct sales force, commercial partners
and independent sales agents through in-person educational programs and online medical educational materials, among other things.
We also produce marketing materials, including materials outlining our products, for our sales teams using printed, video and multimedia
formats. However, our efforts to educate physicians, surgeons and other healthcare professionals regarding our products may not
be successful, particularly in markets in which we rely exclusively on the efforts of our commercial partners and independent sales
agents. A failure to educate physicians and surgeons may impair our ability to achieve market acceptance of our products and adversely
affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our success depends on the continued
and future acceptance of our products by the medical community.
Even if we are able to increase awareness
of our products among healthcare professionals, there can be no assurance that this will translate into greater acceptance of our
products by the medical community. We believe physicians, surgeons and other healthcare professionals will only adopt our products
if they determine, based on experience, clinical data and published peer reviewed journal articles, that the use of our products
in a particular procedure is a favorable alternative to other available methods. Physicians also are more interested in using cost-effective
products as they face increasing cost-containment pressure. In general, physicians may be slow to change their medical treatment
practices and adopt our products for a variety of reasons, including, among others:
· their lack of experience using our products;
· lack of evidence supporting additional patient benefits from use of our products over conventional
methods;
· pressure to contain costs;
· preference for other treatment modalities or our competitors’ products;
· perceived liability risks generally associated with the use of new products and procedures;
· limited availability of coverage and/or reimbursement from third-party payors; and
· the time that must be dedicated to learning how to use our products.
39
The degree of market acceptance of our
products will continue to depend on a number of factors, some of which are outside of our control, including, among other things:
· the actual and perceived safety and efficacy of our products;
· the potential and perceived advantages of our products over alternative treatments;
· clinical data and the clinical indications for which our products are approved;
· product labeling or product insert requirements of the FDA, the European Union or other regulatory
authorities, including any limitations or warnings contained in approved labeling;
· the cost of using our products relative to the use of our competitors’ products or alternative
treatment modalities;
· relative convenience and ease of administration;
· the strength of marketing and distribution support;
· the timing of market introduction of competitive products;
· publicity concerning our products or competing products and treatments;
· our reputation and the reputation of our products;
· the prevalence and severity of any adverse events patients experience involving our products;
· the shelf life of our products and our ability to manage the logistics of the end-user supply chain;
and
· sufficient and readily accessible third-party insurance coverage and reimbursement for procedures
incorporating our products.
In addition, we believe recommendations
for, and support of our products by, influential physicians are essential for market acceptance and adoption. If we do not receive
this support (e.g., because we are unable to demonstrate favorable long-term clinical data or otherwise), physicians and hospitals
may not use our products, which would significantly impair our ability to increase our sales and prevent us from achieving and
sustaining profitability.
Unfavorable results from any of our
pre-clinical studies or clinical trials, comparative effectiveness, economic or other studies, or from similar trials or studies
conducted by others, may negatively affect the use or adoption of our products by physicians, hospitals and payors, which could
have a negative impact on the market acceptance of our products and their profitability.
We regularly conduct a variety of pre-clinical
studies and clinical trials, comparative effectiveness studies and economic and other studies of our products in an effort to generate
clinical and real-world outcomes and cost effectiveness data in order to obtain product approval and drive further penetration
in the markets we serve. If a clinical study conducted by us or a third party fails to demonstrate statistically significant results
supporting performance, use benefits or compelling health or economic outcomes from using our products, physicians may elect not
to use our products. Furthermore, in the event of an adverse clinical study outcome, our products may not achieve “standard-of-care”
status, where they exist, for the conditions in question, which could deter the adoption of our products. Also, if serious adverse
events are reported during the conduct of a study, it could affect continuation of the study, product approval or clearance and
product adoption. In addition, U.S. and foreign regulatory authorities routinely conduct audits of clinical studies and such audits
may result in adverse regulatory actions. If we are unable to develop a body of statistically significant evidence from our clinical
study program, whether due to adverse results or the inability to complete properly designed studies, domestic and international
public and private payors could refuse to cover procedures using our products, limit the manner in which they cover our products
or reduce the price they are willing to pay or reimburse for procedures using our products. Any of these events could have a negative
impact on market acceptance of procedures using our products and their profitability, which could have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We will need to continue to expand
our organization, and managing growth may be more difficult than we expect.
Managing our growth may be more difficult
than we expect. We anticipate that a period of significant expansion will be required to penetrate and service the markets for
our existing and anticipated future products and to continue to develop new products. This expansion will place a significant strain
on our management, operational and financial resources. To manage the expected growth of our operations and personnel, we must
both modify our existing operational and financial systems, procedures and controls and implement new systems, procedures and controls.
We must also expand our finance, administrative and operations staff. Management may be unable to hire, train, retain, motivate
and manage necessary personnel or to identify, manage and exploit existing and potential strategic relationships and market opportunities.
If we fail to meet these challenges effectively, there may be an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results
of operations.
We regularly evaluate opportunities
to make acquisitions of, investments in, and licenses or other commercial arrangements involving, other companies or technologies,
and to enter into other strategic transactions. These transactions entail significant risks.
Our success depends, in part, on our ability
to continually enhance and broaden our product offerings in response to changing customer demands, competitive pressures and advances
in technologies. Accordingly, although we have no current commitments with respect to any acquisition or investment, we regularly
review potential acquisitions of, investments in, and licenses or other commercial arrangements involving, complementary businesses,
products or technologies instead of developing them ourselves. In addition, in regularly evaluating our financial and operating
performance, we may decide to sell one or more of our product lines or another portion of our business. Opportunities to engage
in these transactions may not be readily available to us at commercially reasonable prices, on other terms acceptable to us or
at all. Even if such opportunities are available, these transactions involve significant risks. In connection with one or more
of these transactions, we may:
40
· issue additional equity securities that would dilute the value of your investment in us;
· use cash that we may need in the future to operate our business;
· incur debt that could have terms unfavorable to us or that we might be unable to repay;
· structure the transaction in a manner that has unfavorable tax consequences, such as a stock purchase
that does not permit a step-up in the tax basis for the assets acquired;
· incur asset impairment or other acquisition-related charges, or unforeseen costs, expenditures
and risks;
· be unable to realize the anticipated benefits, such as increased revenues, cost savings or synergies
from additional sales of existing or newly acquired products;
· experience dissynergies in shared functions following a divestment of any portion of our business;
· be unable to successfully integrate, operate, maintain and manage any newly acquired operations;
· divert management’s attention from the existing business to integrate, operate, maintain
and manage any newly acquired operations and personnel, or to manage the complexities involved in separating divested operations,
services, products and personnel;
· be unable to secure the services of key employees related to an acquisition or, in the case of
a divestiture, lose one or more of our key employees;
· face increased scrutiny and review of our company and operations from government and other regulatory
authorities; and
· otherwise be unable to succeed in the marketplace with the acquisition.
The occurrence of any of the above could
materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, business acquisitions
also involve the risk of unknown liabilities associated with the acquired business, which could be material. Such liabilities could
include lack of compliance with government regulations that could subject us to investigation, civil and criminal sanctions, litigation
and/or other actions that make it impossible to realize the anticipated benefits of the transaction. For example, we may acquire
a company that was not compliant with FDA quality requirements or was making payments or other forms of remuneration to physicians
to induce them to use their products. Incurring unknown liabilities or the failure to complete or realize the anticipated benefits
of an acquisition, investment or other commercial arrangement, whether resulting from one or more of the factors described above
or otherwise, could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
New lines of business and new products
and services may subject us to additional risks.
From time to time, we may implement or
acquire new lines of business or introduce new products and services within our existing business lines. There are risks and uncertainties
associated with these efforts, particularly in instances where the markets are not fully developed or are evolving. In developing
and commercializing new lines of business and new products and services, we may invest significant time and resources. External
factors, such as regulatory compliance obligations, competitive alternatives, lack of market acceptance and shifting market preferences,
may also affect the successful implementation of a new line of business or a new product or service. Failure to successfully plan
for and manage these risks in the development and implementation of new lines of business or new products or services could have
a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
41
We face significant and continuing
competition from other companies, some of which have longer operating histories, more established products and/or greater resources
than we do, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We operate in highly competitive markets
that are characterized by intense competition, subject to rapid change and significantly affected by new product introductions,
technological advancements and other market activities of industry participants. Our competitors have historically dedicated, and
will continue to dedicate, significant resources to promote their products and to develop new products that compete with ours.
Customers in our target markets consider many factors when selecting a product, including product efficacy, ease of use, price,
availability of payor coverage and adequate third-party reimbursement for procedures using the product, customer support services
for technical-, clinical- and reimbursement-related matters and customer preference for, and loyalty to, particular products or
a particular manufacturer. We expect competition to remain intense as competitors introduce additional competing products and enhancements
to their existing products, and continue expanding into geographic markets where we currently operate or plan to expand. Product
introductions or enhancements by competitors, which may have advanced technology, better features or lower pricing, may make our
products obsolete or less competitive. As a result, we will be required to devote continued efforts and financial resources to
develop and commercialize new products and enhancements to our existing products, deliver cost-effective clinical outcomes, manage
our costs and expand our geographic reach.
Many of our current and potential competitors
have longer operating histories and substantially greater financial, technical, marketing, sales, distribution and other resources
than we do, which may prevent us from achieving significant market penetration or improved operating results. Certain competitors’
products, such as competitors of SimpliDerm, are subject to a simpler reimbursement process than are our products. Competitors
may also be able to leverage their market share and other resources to set prices at a level below that which is profitable for
us. These companies may also enjoy other competitive advantages, including, without limitation:
· greater company, product and brand recognition;
· better quality and greater volume of clinical data;
· more effective marketing to and education of physicians and other healthcare professionals;
· greater control of key intellectual property and more expansive portfolios of intellectual property
rights;
· more experience in obtaining and maintaining regulatory clearances or approvals for products and
product enhancements;
· more established relationships with hospitals and other healthcare providers, physicians, suppliers,
customers and third-party payors;
· additional lines of products, and the ability to bundle products to offer greater incentives to
gain a competitive advantage;
· more established sales, marketing and worldwide distribution networks;
· better product support and service;
· superior product safety, reliability and durability;
· more effective pricing and revenue strategies; and
· more effective clinical training programs.
Our ability to achieve and maintain profitability
will depend, in part, on our ability to develop or acquire proprietary products that reach the market in a timely manner, receive
adequate coverage and reimbursement for procedures using our products, and are safer and more effective than their alternatives,
as well as our ability to otherwise compete effectively on the factors listed above. If we are unable to do so, our sales and/or
margins will decrease, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Pricing pressure as a result of cost-containment
efforts of our customers, purchasing groups, third-party payors and governmental organizations could adversely affect our sales
and profitability.
Medical technology companies, healthcare
systems and group purchasing organizations, or GPOs, have intensified competitive pricing pressure as a result of industry trends
and new technologies. Rising healthcare costs have resulted in numerous cost reform initiatives by legislators, regulators and
third-party payors. This cost reform has triggered a consolidation trend in the healthcare industry to aggregate purchasing power
and, as a result, purchasing decisions are increasingly shifting to hospitals, integrated delivery networks, or IDNs, and other
hospital groups, and away from individual surgeons and physicians. Many existing and potential facility customers for our products
within the United States are members of GPOs and IDNs, including accountable care organizations or public-based purchasing organizations,
and our business is partly dependent on contracts with these organizations. Purchases of our products can be contracted under national
tenders or with larger hospital GPOs. GPOs and IDNs negotiate pricing arrangements with healthcare product manufacturers and distributors
and offer the negotiated prices to affiliated hospitals and other members. GPOs and IDNs typically award contracts on a category-by-category
basis through a competitive bidding process and, at any given time, we are typically in various stages of responding to bids and
negotiating and renewing GPO and IDN agreements. Bids are generally solicited from multiple manufacturers or service providers
with the intention of obtaining lower pricing. Due to the highly competitive nature of the bidding process and the GPO and IDN
contracting processes in the United States, we may not be able to obtain or maintain contract positions with major GPOs and IDNs
across our product portfolio. Furthermore, GPO and IDN contracts are typically terminable without cause upon 60 to 90 days’
notice. In addition, while having a contract with a major purchaser for a given product category can facilitate sales, there can
be no guarantee that sales volumes for those products will be maintained. For example, GPOs and IDNs are increasingly awarding
contracts to multiple suppliers for the same product category and, even when we are the sole contracted supplier of a GPO or IDN
for a certain product category, members of the GPO or IDN are generally free to purchase from other suppliers. If we are unable
to maintain and renew our contracts with our current GPO and IDN customers and negotiate contracts with new customers on favorable
terms, or if sales volumes under these agreements decline, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be
materially and adversely affected.
42
In addition, most of our customers purchase
our products directly and then bill third-party payors for procedures using those products. Because there is typically no separate
reimbursement for supplies used in surgical procedures, the additional cost associated with the use of our products can affect
the profit margin of the hospital or surgery center where the procedure is performed. Some of our target customers may be unwilling
to adopt our products in light of the additional associated cost or may negotiate for lower pricing. Further, any decline in the
amount payors are willing to reimburse our customers for procedures using our products, including those as a result of healthcare
reform initiatives, could make it difficult for existing customers to continue using or to adopt our products and could create
additional pricing pressure for us. In addition to these competitive forces, we continue to see pricing pressure as hospitals introduce
new pricing structures into their contracts and agreements, including fixed price formulas, capitated pricing and episodic or bundled
payments intended to contain healthcare costs. If we are forced to lower the price we charge for our products, our margins will
decrease, which could impair our ability to grow our business and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition
and results of operations and impair our ability to grow our business.
Outside the United States, centralized
governmental healthcare authorities may exert pricing pressures in an effort to lower healthcare costs. Implementation of healthcare
reforms and competitive bidding contract tenders may limit the price or the level at which reimbursement is provided for our products
and adversely affect both our pricing flexibility and the demand for our products. Healthcare providers may respond to such cost-containment
pressures by substituting lower-cost products or other therapies for our products. Our failure to offer acceptable prices to these
customers could adversely affect our sales and profitability in these markets.
We expect that market demand, government
regulation, third-party coverage and reimbursement policies and societal pressures will continue to change the healthcare industry
worldwide, resulting in further business consolidations and alliances among our customers, which may exert further downward pressure
on the prices for our products.
The processing of human and porcine
tissue for our products is technically complex, requiring high levels of quality control and precision, which subjects us to increased
production risks.
We manufacture our human and porcine tissue
products using technically complex processes requiring specialized facilities, highly specific raw materials, skill and diligence
by our personnel and other production constraints. The complexity of these processes, as well as strict company and government
standards for the manufacture and storage of our products, subjects us to production risks. In addition to ongoing production risks,
process deviations or unanticipated effects of approved process changes may result in non-compliance with regulatory requirements,
including stability requirements or specifications. For example, our bone allograft products FiberCel, ViBone and OsteGro V, must
be shipped and maintained within a specified temperature range. If environmental conditions deviate from that range, our products’
remaining shelf-lives could be impaired or their safety and efficacy could be adversely affected, making them unsuitable for use.
The occurrence of this or any other actual or suspected production or distribution problem can lead to lost inventories, customer
returns and, in some cases, recalls, with consequential damage to our reputation and customer relationships and the risk of product
liability. The investigation and remediation of any potential or identified problems can cause production delays and result in
substantial additional expenses and lost revenue. In addition, we may experience difficulties in scaling up processing and production
of our human and porcine tissue products, including problems related to yields, quality control and assurance, tissue availability,
adequacy of control policies and procedures and availability of skilled personnel. Furthermore, developing and maintaining our
production capabilities has required, and will continue to require, the investment of significant resources, and we cannot guarantee
that we will be able to achieve economies of scale. If we are unable to process and produce our human tissue products on a timely
basis, at acceptable quality and costs and in sufficient quantities, or if we experience technological problems, delays in production,
failure in the storage of our products or other loss of supply, our business would be materially and adversely affected.
Performance issues, service interruptions
or price increases by our shipping carriers could adversely affect our business, harm our reputation and impair our ability to
provide our products on a timely basis or at all.
Expedited, reliable shipping is essential
to our operations. We rely heavily on providers of transport services for reliable, timely and secure point-to-point transport
of our products to our customers and for tracking of these shipments. Should a carrier encounter delivery performance issues such
as loss, delays, damage or destruction of any of our products, it would be costly to replace these products in a timely manner
and such occurrences may damage our reputation and lead to decreased demand for our products and increased cost and expense to
our business. This risk is particularly high with respect to FiberCel, ViBone and OsteGro V, which must be shipped and maintained
within a specified temperature range. In addition, any significant increase in shipping rates could adversely affect our operating
margins and results of operations. Similarly, strikes, severe weather, natural disasters, equipment malfunctions or other service
interruptions affecting the delivery services we use, would impair our ability to process orders for our products on a timely basis
or at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
43
If our facilities are damaged or
become inoperable, we will be unable to continue to research, develop and supply our products and, as a result, there will be an
adverse effect on our business until we are able to secure new facilities and rebuild our inventory.
We do not have redundant facilities. We
perform most of our research and development activity and manufacture our tissue-based products at our facility in Richmond, California.
The SIS ECM biomaterial used in our medical device products are manufactured by Cook Biotech Incorporated, or Cook Biotech, at
their facility in West Lafayette, Indiana and converted to a finished product at our facility in Roswell, Georgia. Regulatory
approvals of our products are limited to one or more specifically approved manufacturing facilities. As a result, if we fail to
produce enough of a product at a facility, or if any of our production facilities were to be shut down or otherwise become unavailable
for any reason, finding alternative manufacturing capabilities and obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals would require a
considerable amount of time and expense and would cause a significant disruption in service to our customers.
Disruption to our facilities could arise
for a variety of reasons, including technical, labor or other difficulties, equipment malfunction, contamination due to a COVID-19
infection or otherwise, the failure of our employees to follow specific protocols and procedures, the destruction of, or damage
to, any facility (as a result of a natural or man-made disaster, including, but not limited to, a tornado, flood, fire, power outage
or other event), quality control issues or other reasons. Any disruption in the operation of our facilities as a result of any
of the above could impair our product development and commercialization efforts and result in lost sales, lost customers and harm
to our reputation, any of which would negatively impact our growth prospects and profitability and have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, certain of these events, such as natural or man-made
disasters, would cause us to incur additional losses, including the time and expense required to repair and/or replace our equipment
and to rebuild our inventory. Although we possess insurance for damage to our property and the disruption of our business, this
insurance may not be sufficient to cover all of our potential losses and may not continue to be available to us on acceptable terms
or at all.
Because we depend upon a limited
number of third-party suppliers and manufacturers and, in certain cases, exclusive suppliers for products essential to our business,
we may incur significant product development costs and experience material delivery delays if we lose any significant supplier,
which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We obtain some of our raw materials from
a limited group of suppliers and rely on a single supplier to source the SIS ECM biomaterial used to manufacture CanGaroo and our
cardiovascular products for reasons of quality assurance, cost-effectiveness, availability or constraints resulting from regulatory
requirements. For us to be successful, our suppliers must be able to provide us with products and components in substantial quantities,
in compliance with regulatory requirements, in accordance with agreed upon specifications, at acceptable costs and on a timely
basis. Our efforts to maintain a continuity of supply and high quality and reliability may not be successful on a timely basis
or at all. Manufacturing disruptions experienced by our suppliers may jeopardize our supply of finished products. Due to the stringent
regulations and requirements of the FDA and other similar non-U.S. regulatory agencies regarding the manufacture of our products,
we may not be able to quickly establish additional or replacement sources for certain raw materials. A change in suppliers could
require significant effort or investment in circumstances where the items supplied are integral to product performance or incorporate
unique technology. Transitioning to a new supplier could be time-consuming and expensive, may result in interruptions in our operations
and product delivery, could affect the performance specifications of our products or could require that we modify the design of
those systems.
A reduction or interruption in manufacturing,
or an inability to secure alternative sources of raw materials or components, could have a material and adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. One or more of our suppliers may refuse to extend us credit with respect
to our purchasing or leasing of equipment, supplies, products or components, or may only agree to extend us credit on significantly
less favorable terms or subject to more onerous conditions. This could significantly disrupt our ability to purchase or lease required
equipment, supplies, products and components in a cost-effective and timely manner, and could have a material adverse effect on
our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any casualty, natural disaster or other disruption of any of our sole-source
suppliers’ operations, for example due to a COVID-19 infection of employees of the supplier, or any unexpected loss of any
existing exclusive supply contract, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, if a change in manufacturer results in a significant change to any product, a new 510(k) clearance from the FDA
or similar international regulatory authorization may be necessary before we implement the change, which could cause substantial
delays.
44
Certain of our products are dependent
on the availability of tissue from human donors, and any disruption in supply could adversely affect our business, financial condition
and results of operations.
The products we manufacture for the orthopedic/spinal
repair and soft tissue reconstruction markets, as well as our contract manufacturing products, require that we obtain human tissue.
The success of our business depends, in part, on the availability of tissue from human donors. Any inability to obtain tissue from
our sources will interfere with our ability to effectively meet demand for these products. The recovery of human tissue for our
products is very labor-intensive, and it is, therefore, difficult to maintain a steady supply stream. In addition, the availability
of acceptable donors is relatively limited and may be impacted by regulatory changes, general public opinion of the donation process
and the reputation of our company and the third-party procurement firms with which we partner to manage the donation process. Media
reports or other negative publicity concerning both improper methods of tissue recovery from donors and disease transmission from
donated tissue, including bones and dermis, may limit widespread acceptance of our products. Unfavorable reports of improper or
illegal tissue recovery practices, both in the United States and internationally, as well as incidents of improperly processed
tissue leading to transmission of disease, may broadly affect the rate of future tissue donation and market acceptance of allograft
technologies and donated tissue use. Potential patients may not be able to distinguish our products, technologies and tissue recovery
and processing procedures from others engaged in tissue recovery. In addition, unfavorable reports about us or any of our third-party
procurement firms may make families of potential donors or donors themselves, from whom we are required to obtain consent before
processing tissue, reluctant to agree to donate tissue to for-profit tissue processors. Any disruption in the supply of any human
tissue component could materially harm our ability to manufacture our products until a new source of supply, if any, could be found.
We may be unable to find a sufficient alternative supply channel within a reasonable period of time, on commercially reasonable
terms or at all, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Increased prices for raw materials
used in our products could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our profitability is affected by the prices
of the raw materials used in the manufacture of our products. These prices may fluctuate based on a number of factors beyond our
control, including changes in supply and demand, general economic conditions, labor costs, delivery costs, competition, import
duties, excises and other indirect taxes, currency exchange rates and government regulation. Due to the highly competitive nature
of the healthcare industry and the cost containment efforts of our customers and third-party payors, we may be unable to pass along
cost increases for key components or raw materials through higher prices to our customers. If the cost of key components or raw
materials increases, and we are unable to fully recover these increased costs through price increases or offset these increases
through other cost reductions, we could experience lower margins and profitability. Significant increases in the prices of raw
materials that cannot be recovered through productivity gains, price increases or other methods could adversely affect our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
If we are not able to accurately
forecast demand for our products and manage our inventory, our margins could decrease and we could lose sales, either of which
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
While we must maintain sufficient inventory
levels to operate our business successfully and meet customer demand for our products, we must be careful to avoid amassing excess
inventory. To ensure adequate inventory supply, we must forecast inventory needs and place orders with our suppliers based on our
estimates of future demand for our products. Demand for our products can change rapidly and unexpectedly, including during the
time between when raw materials are ordered from our suppliers and the finished product is offered for sale. Our ability to accurately
forecast demand for our products could be negatively affected by a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, including
our failure to accurately manage our expansion strategy, product introductions by competitors, an increase or decrease in customer
demand for our products or for products of our competitors, our failure to accurately forecast customer acceptance of new products,
unanticipated changes in general market conditions, reimbursement or regulatory matters and weakening of economic conditions. Inventory
levels that exceed the demand for our products may result in inventory write-downs or write-offs, which would adversely affect
our gross margins. For example, in 2019, our launch of SimpliDerm resulted in reduced demand for certain of our other dermis inventory
and resulted in inventory write-downs. Conversely, if we underestimate demand for our products, additional supplies of raw materials
or additional manufacturing capacity may not be available when required on terms that are acceptable to us or at all, and suppliers
or our third-party manufacturer may not be able to allocate sufficient capacity in order to meet our increased requirements. As
a result, we may not be able to meet customer demand for our products, resulting in lost sales and potential damage to our reputation
and customer relationships, any of which would adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, while we seek to maintain
sufficient levels of inventory in order to protect ourselves from supply interruptions, our products generally have a shelf life
of two to three years. We are, therefore, subject to the risk that a portion of our inventory will become obsolete or expire, which
could have a material adverse effect on our profitability and cash flows due to the resulting inventory impairment charges and
costs required to replace such inventory.
45
If hospitals and other healthcare
providers are unable to obtain coverage or adequate reimbursement for procedures performed with our products, it is unlikely our
products will be widely used.
In the United States, the commercial success
of our existing products and any products we may develop or acquire in the future will depend, in part, on the extent to which
governmental payors at the federal and state levels, including Medicare and Medicaid, private health insurers and other third-party
payors, provide coverage and establish adequate reimbursement levels for procedures utilizing our products. Hospitals and other
healthcare providers that purchase our products for treatment of their patients generally rely on third-party payors to pay for
all or part of the costs and fees associated with our products as part of a “bundled” rate for the associated procedures.
The existence of coverage and adequate reimbursement for procedures using our products by government and private payors is critical
to market acceptance of our existing and future products. Neither hospitals nor surgeons are likely to use our products if they
do not receive adequate reimbursement for the procedures utilizing our products.
Many private payors currently base their
reimbursement policies on the coverage decisions and payment amounts determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,
or CMS, which administers the Medicare program. Others may adopt different coverage or reimbursement policies for procedures performed
with our products, while some governmental programs, such as Medicaid, have reimbursement policies that vary from state to state,
some of which may not pay for the procedures performed with our products in an adequate amount, if at all. Because the Medicare
and Medicaid programs are increasingly used as models for how private payors and other governmental payors develop their coverage
and reimbursement policies, a Medicare national or local non-coverage decision, denying coverage for procedures using one or more
of our products, could result in private and other third-party payors also denying coverage. Third-party payors also may deny reimbursement
for procedures using our products if they determine that a product used in a procedure was not medically necessary, was not used
in accordance with cost-effective treatment methods, as determined by the third-party payor, or was used for an unapproved use.
Unfavorable coverage or reimbursement decisions by government programs or private payors underscore the uncertainty that our products
face in the market and could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Many hospitals and clinics in the United
States belong to GPOs, which typically incentivize their hospital members to make a relatively large proportion of purchases of
similar products from a limited number of vendors that have contracted to offer discounted prices. Such contracts often include
exceptions for purchasing certain innovative new technologies, however. Accordingly, the commercial success of our products may
also depend to some extent on our ability to either negotiate favorable purchase contracts with key group purchasing organizations
and/or persuade hospitals and clinics to purchase our product “off contract.”
The healthcare industry in the United States
has experienced a trend toward cost containment as government and private payors seek to control healthcare costs by paying service
providers lower rates. While it is expected that hospitals will be able to obtain coverage for procedures using our products, the
level of payment available to them for such procedures may change over time. State and federal healthcare programs, such as Medicare
and Medicaid, closely regulate provider payment levels and have sought to contain, and sometimes reduce, payment levels. Private
payors frequently follow government payment policies and are likewise interested in controlling increases in the cost of medical
care. In addition, some payors are adopting pay-for-performance programs that differentiate payments to healthcare providers based
on the achievement of documented quality-of-care metrics, cost efficiencies or patient outcomes. These programs are intended to
provide incentives to providers to deliver the same or better results while consuming fewer resources. As a result of these programs,
and related payor efforts to reduce payment levels, hospitals and other providers are seeking ways to reduce their costs, including
the amounts they pay to medical device manufacturers. We may not be able to sell our products profitably if third-party payors
deny or discontinue coverage or reduce their levels of payment below that which we project, or if our production costs increase
at a greater rate than payment levels. Adverse changes in payment rates by payors to hospitals could adversely impact our ability
to market and sell our products and negatively affect our financial performance.
In international markets, medical device
regulatory requirements and healthcare payment systems vary significantly from country to country, and many countries have instituted
price ceilings on specific product lines. We cannot assure you that our products will be considered cost-effective by international
third-party payors, that reimbursement will be available or, if available, that the third-party payors’ reimbursement policies
will not adversely affect our ability to sell our products profitably. Any failure to receive regulatory or reimbursement approvals
would negatively impact market acceptance of our products in any international markets in which those approvals are sought.
We face the risk of product liability
claims and may not be able to obtain or maintain adequate product liability insurance.
Our business exposes us to the risk of
product liability claims that are inherent in the manufacturing, processing, investigating and marketing of medical devices and
human and animal tissue products. We are, and may in the future be, subject to product liability claims and lawsuits, including
potential class actions or mass tort claims, alleging that our products have resulted or could result in an unsafe condition or
injury. Product liability claims may be made by patients and their families, healthcare providers or others selling our products.
Product liability claims may include, among other things, allegations of defects in manufacturing, defects in design, a failure
to warn of dangers inherent in the product, negligence, strict liability or a breach of warranties. We may be subject to such claims
even if the apparent injury is due to the actions of others or the pre-existing health of the patient. For example, we rely on
physicians and other healthcare providers to properly and correctly use our products. If these physicians or other healthcare providers
are not properly trained or are negligent in using our products, the capabilities of our products may be diminished or the patient
may suffer critical injury. In addition, we may be subject to product liability claims, as well as a number of other risks, as
a result of physicians and other healthcare providers using our products “off-label.” See “— The misuse
or off-label use of our products may harm our reputation in the marketplace, result in injuries that lead to product liability
suits or result in costly investigations, fines or sanctions by regulatory bodies if we are deemed to have engaged in the promotion
of these uses, any of which could be costly to our business. ”
46
Defending a lawsuit, regardless of merit,
could be costly, divert management attention and result in adverse publicity, which could result in the withdrawal of, or reduced
acceptance of, our products in the market. If we cannot successfully defend against product liability claims, we could incur substantial
liability and costs. In addition, regardless of merit or eventual outcome, product liability claims may result in:
· harm to our business reputation;
· investigations by regulators;
· significant legal costs;
· distraction of management’s attention from our primary business;
· substantial monetary awards to patients or other claimants;
· loss of revenue;
· exhaustion of any available insurance and our capital resources; and
· decreased demand for our products.
Although we have product liability insurance
that we believe is adequate, this insurance is subject to deductibles and coverage limitations, and we may not be able to maintain
this insurance. Also, it is possible that claims could exceed the limits of our coverage or be excluded from coverage under our
policy, and may increase the cost of maintaining our coverage. If we are unable to maintain product liability insurance at an acceptable
cost or on acceptable terms with adequate coverage or otherwise protect ourselves against potential product liability claims, or
if we underestimate the amount of insurance we need, we could be exposed to significant liabilities, which may harm our business.
One or more product liability claims could have a significant adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of
operations.
We bear the risk of warranty claims
on our products.
We bear the risk of warranty claims on
our products. We may not be successful in claiming recovery under any warranty or indemnity provided to us by our suppliers or
vendors in the event of a successful warranty claim against us by a customer, and any recovery from such supplier or vendor may
not be adequate. Furthermore, we may not have any, or have an adequate, warranty provided by our supplier. In addition, warranty
claims brought by our customers related to third-party components may arise after our ability to bring corresponding warranty claims
against such suppliers expires, which could result in costs to us.
Defects, failures or quality issues
associated with our products could lead to product recalls or safety alerts, adverse regulatory actions, litigation, including
product liability claims, and negative publicity, any of which may erode our competitive advantage and market share and have a
material adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.
Quality is extremely important to us and
our customers due to the serious and costly consequences of product failure. Quality and safety issues may occur with respect to
any of our products, and our future operating results will depend on our ability to maintain an effective quality control system
and effectively train and manage our workforce with respect to our quality system. The development, manufacture and control of
our products are subject to extensive and rigorous regulation by numerous government agencies, including the FDA, the Competent
Authorities of the European Union and similar foreign agencies. Compliance with these regulatory requirements, including but not
limited to the FDA’s Quality System Regulation, or QSR, current Good Manufacturing Practices, or GMPs and adverse events/recall
reporting requirements in the United States and other applicable regulations worldwide, is subject to continual review and is monitored
rigorously through periodic inspections by the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities. If we fail to comply with our reporting
obligations, the FDA, the Competent Authorities of the European Union or other regulatory authority could take action, including
issuance of warning letters and/or untitled letters, administrative actions, criminal prosecution, imposition of civil monetary
penalties, revocation of our device clearance, seizure of our products or delay in the clearance of future products.
The FDA and foreign regulatory authorities
may also require post-market testing and surveillance to monitor the performance of approved products. Our facilities and those
of our suppliers, commercial partners and independent sales agents are also subject to periodic regulatory inspections. If the
FDA or a foreign authority were to conclude that we have failed to comply with any of these requirements, it could institute a
wide variety of enforcement actions, ranging from a public warning letter to more severe sanctions, such as product recalls or
seizures, withdrawals, monetary penalties, consent decrees, injunctive actions to halt the manufacture or distribution of products,
import detentions of products made outside the United States, export restrictions, restrictions on operations or other civil or
criminal sanctions. Civil or criminal sanctions could be assessed against our officers, employees, or us. Any adverse regulatory
action, depending on its magnitude, may restrict us from effectively manufacturing, marketing and selling our products.
47
If our products do not function as designed,
or are designed improperly, we or the third-party manufacturer of such products may withdraw such products from the market, whether
by choice or as a result of regulatory requirements. In August 2019, we recalled and discarded certain production lots of
CanGaroo from the market due to suture breakage. In January 2018, we recalled five of our allograft tissue implants because
a pre-sterilized donor culture should have been disqualified, each of which had a negative effect on our business, financial condition
and results of operations. Any product recall we or a third-party manufacturer may conduct in the future, whether voluntary or
required, may have also negatively affect our business financial condition and results of operations, and this effect may be material.
In addition, we cannot predict the results
of future legislative activity or future court decisions, any of which could increase regulatory requirements, subject us to government
investigations or expose us to unexpected litigation. Any regulatory action or litigation, regardless of the merits, may result
in substantial costs, divert management’s attention from other business concerns and place additional restrictions on our
sales or the use of our products. In addition, negative publicity, including regarding a quality or safety issue, could damage
our reputation, reduce market acceptance of our products, cause us to lose customers and decrease demand for our products. Any
actual or perceived quality issues may also result in issuances of physician’s advisories against our products or cause us
to conduct voluntary recalls. Any product defects or problems, regulatory action, litigation, negative publicity or recalls could
disrupt our business and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our operating results may fluctuate
significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year due to the seasonality of our business, as well as a variety of other factors,
many of which are outside of our control.
Our quarterly and annual results of operations
may vary significantly in the future, and period-to-period comparisons of our operating results may not be meaningful. Accordingly,
the results of any one quarter or other period should not be relied upon as an indication of our future performance. Our quarterly
and annual financial results may fluctuate as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are outside our control and, as a
result, may not fully reflect the underlying performance of our business. One such factor includes seasonal variations in our sales.
We have experienced and may in the future experience higher sales in the fourth quarter as hospitals in the United States increase
their purchases of our products to coincide with the end of their budget cycles. Satisfaction of patient deductibles through the
course of the year also results in increased sales later in the year. In general, our first quarter usually has lower sales than
the preceding fourth quarter as patient deductibles are re-established with the new year, thereby increasing their out-of-pocket
costs.
Other factors that may cause fluctuations
in our quarterly and annual results include, among other things:
· the timing of medical procedures using our products;
· the announcement or introduction of new products by our competitors;
· failure of government health benefit programs and private health plans to cover our products or
to timely and adequately reimburse the users of our products;
· the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or any other pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of an infectious
disease in the United States or worldwide that impacts the number of procedures being performed;
· the rate of reimbursement for procedures using our products by government and private insurers;
· whether our products are granted pass-through reimbursement status or included in the “bundled”
reimbursement structure;
· changes in purchasing patterns by our commercial partners or customers, or the loss of any significant
customer or group of customers;
· our ability to upgrade and develop our systems and infrastructure to accommodate growth;
· the amount and timing of operating costs and capital expenditures relating to the expansion of
our business, operations and infrastructure;
· changes in, or enactment of, new laws or regulations promulgated by federal, state or local governments;
· changes in our supply or manufacturing costs;
· cost containment initiatives or policies developed by government and commercial payors that create
financial incentives not to use our products;
· our inability to demonstrate that our products are cost-effective or superior to competing products;
· our ability to develop new products;
· the degree of competition in our industry and any changes in the competitive landscape;
48
· discovery of product defects during the manufacturing process;
· initiation of a government investigation into potential non-compliance with laws or regulations,
or the initiation of a voluntary or involuntary recall with respect to one or more of our products;
· sanctions imposed by federal or state governments due to non-compliance with laws or regulations;
and
· general economic conditions as well as economic conditions specific to the healthcare industry.
We have based our current and future expense
levels largely on our investment plans and estimates of future events, although certain of our expense levels are, to a large extent,
fixed. We may be unable to adjust spending in a timely manner to compensate for any unexpected revenue shortfall. Accordingly,
any significant shortfall in sales relative to our planned expenditures would have an immediate adverse effect on our business,
results of operations and financial condition. Further, as a strategic response to changes in the competitive environment or to
changes in laws and regulations, we may from time to time make certain pricing, service or marketing decisions (e.g., reduce prices)
that could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Due to the foregoing
factors, our revenue and operating results are and will remain difficult to forecast.
Our indebtedness and our Revenue
Interest Obligation to Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated may limit our flexibility in operating our business and adversely affect
our financial health and competitive position.
As
of September 30, 2020, we had $19.7 million of indebtedness outstanding, consisting of  $19.7 million outstanding under
our Term Loan Facility (as defined under Part I, Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources — Credit Facilities”) (net of  $0.3
million of unamortized discount and deferred financing costs), $5.9 million outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility (as
defined under Part I, Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources — Credit Facilities”) (with $2.1 million of additional borrowings
available thereunder), $3.0 million outstanding pursuant to a promissory note under the Paycheck Protection Program of the Coronavirus
Aid, Relief and Economic Stability Act, or the CARES Act (the “PPP Loan”), and a $1.4 million promissory note payable
to one of our suppliers. In addition, we are party to a royalty agreement with Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, or Ligand,
pursuant to which we assumed a restructured, long-term obligation to Ligand (the “Revenue Interest Obligation”), that
requires us to pay Ligand 5.0% of future sales of the products we acquired from CorMatrix (as well as products substantially similar
to those products), subject to annual minimum payments of  $2.75 million and certain milestone payments if sales of the
acquired products exceed certain thresholds. See Part I, Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgment
and Estimates  — Revenue Interest Obligation.”
In order to service this indebtedness and
our Revenue Interest Obligation, and any additional indebtedness or other long-term obligations we may incur in the future, we
need to generate sufficient levels of cash from our operating activities. Our ability to generate cash is subject, in part, to
our ability to successfully execute our business strategy, as well as general economic, financial, competitive, regulatory and
other factors beyond our control. We cannot assure you that our business will be able to generate sufficient levels of cash from
operations or that future borrowings or other financings will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to service
our indebtedness, satisfy our obligations under the Revenue Interest Obligation and fund our other liquidity needs. To the extent
we are required to use cash from operations or the proceeds of any future financing to service our indebtedness and satisfy our
obligations under the Revenue Interest Obligation instead of funding working capital, capital expenditures or other general corporate
purposes, we will be less able to plan for, or react to, changes in our business, industry and in the economy generally. This will
place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less indebtedness.
In addition, the agreements governing our
Term Loan Facility and Revolving Credit Facility contain, and any agreements evidencing or governing other future indebtedness
may also contain, certain covenants that limit our ability to engage in certain transactions that may be in our long-term best
interests. Subject to certain limited exceptions, these covenants limit our ability to, among other things:
· incur additional indebtedness;
· incur certain liens;
· pay dividends or make other distributions on equity interests;
· enter into agreements restricting their subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends;
· redeem, repurchase or refinance subordinated indebtedness;
· consolidate, merge or sell or otherwise dispose of their assets;
· make investments, loans, advances, guarantees and acquisitions;
· enter into transactions with affiliates;
49
· amend or modify their governing documents;
· amend or modify certain material agreements;
· alter the business conducted by them and their subsidiaries; and
· enter into sale and leaseback transactions.
In addition to these covenants, the agreements
governing our Term Loan Facility and Revolving Credit Facility also contain a financial covenant, which is tested on a monthly
basis, and requires us to achieve a specified minimum net product revenue (as defined therein) for the preceding 12-month period.
While we were in compliance with all covenants under these agreements as of September 30, 2020, we have had past breaches
requiring waivers and there can be no guarantee that we will not breach these covenants in the future. Our ability to comply with
these covenants may be affected by events and factors beyond our control. In the event that we breach one or more covenants, our
lenders may choose to declare an event of default and require that we immediately repay all amounts outstanding, terminate any
commitment to extend further credit and foreclose on the collateral granted to them to collateralize such indebtedness. The occurrence
of any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, we may be able to incur significant
additional indebtedness in the future. Although the agreements governing our Term Loan Facility and Revolving Credit Facility contain
restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness by us, such restrictions are subject to a number of qualifications and
exceptions, and the indebtedness incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. Also, these restrictions
do not prohibit us from incurring obligations that do not constitute indebtedness as defined therein. To the extent that we incur
additional indebtedness or such other obligations, the risks associated with our substantial indebtedness described above will
increase.
We may be unable to obtain forgiveness
of the PPP Loan, in whole or in part, in accordance with the provisions of the CARES Act, which could adversely affect our financial
condition.
In May 2020, we entered into a promissory
note with Silicon Valley Bank, or SVB, under the Paycheck Protection Program of the CARES Act pursuant to which SVB agreed to make
a loan to us in the amount of approximately $3.0 million. The PPP Loan matures in May 2022, bears interest at a rate of 1.0%
per annum and requires no payments during the first six months from the date of the loan.
The PPP Loan is unsecured and guaranteed
by the Small Business Administration, or the SBA. Under the terms of the PPP Loan, the principal amount of the loan may be forgiven
to the extent it is used for qualifying expenses as described in the CARES Act and we otherwise request forgiveness in accordance
with the terms of the PPP Loan and the requirements of the SBA. While we expect to request that a significant portion of the principal
amount of the PPP Loan be forgiven and to comply with all corresponding requirements, we cannot guarantee that we will be successful
in obtaining forgiveness of all or any part of such principal amount. We will be required to repay any principal amount of the
PPP Loan that is not forgiven, together with accrued and unpaid interest, in equal monthly installments prior to the maturity date
of the loan, which would further restrict our operating and financial flexibility.
Our future capital needs are uncertain
and we may need to raise funds in the future, and such funds may not be available on acceptable terms or at all.
We believe that the net proceeds from our
IPO, together with our existing cash and our availability under our Revolving Credit Facility, will enable us to fund our operating
expenses and capital expenditure requirements through 2022. However, we have based these estimates on assumptions that may prove
to be incorrect, and we could spend our available financial resources much faster than we currently expect. Any future funding
requirements will depend on many factors, including, among other things:
· continued patient, physician and market acceptance of our products;
· the scope, rate of progress and cost of our current and future pre-clinical studies and clinical
trials;
· the cost of our research and development activities and the cost of commercializing new products
or technologies;
· the cost and timing of expanding our sales and marketing capabilities;
· the cost of filing and prosecuting patent applications and maintaining, defending and enforcing
our patent or other intellectual property rights;
· the cost of defending, in litigation or otherwise, any claims that we infringe, misappropriate
or otherwise violate third-party patents or other intellectual property rights;
· the cost and timing of additional regulatory approvals;
· costs associated with any product recall that may occur;
· the effect of competing technological and market developments;
50
· the expenses we incur in manufacturing and selling our products;
· the costs of developing and commercializing new products or technologies;
· the extent to which we acquire or invest in products, technologies and businesses, although we
currently have no commitments or agreements relating to any of these types of transactions;
· the costs of operating as a public company;
· unanticipated general, legal and administrative expenses; and
· the effects on any of the above of the current COVID-19 pandemic or any other pandemic, epidemic
or outbreak of infectious disease.
In addition, our operating plan may change
as a result of any number of factors, including those set forth above and other factors currently unknown to us, and we may need
additional funds sooner than anticipated. Any additional equity or debt financing that we raise may contain terms that are not
favorable to us or our stockholders. If we raise additional funds by selling additional shares of our common stock or other securities
convertible (directly or indirectly) into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our common stock, the issuance of such securities
will result in dilution to our stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock, or securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our common stock, in future transactions may be higher or lower than
the price per share paid by you. Furthermore, investors purchasing any securities we may issue in the future may have rights superior
to your rights as a holder of our common stock.
In addition, any future debt financing
into which we enter may impose upon us covenants that restrict our operations, including limitations on our ability to incur liens
or additional debt, pay dividends, repurchase our common stock, make certain investments and engage in certain merger, consolidation
or asset sale transactions. If we raise additional funds through collaboration and licensing arrangements with third parties, it
may be necessary to relinquish some rights to our technologies or our products, or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable
to us.
Furthermore, we cannot be certain that
additional funding will be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all. If we do not have, or are not able to obtain, sufficient
funds, we may have to delay development or commercialization of our products or license to third parties the rights to commercialize
products or technologies that we would otherwise seek to commercialize. We also may have to reduce marketing, customer support
or other resources devoted to our products or cease operations. Any of these factors could harm our business, financial condition
and results of operations.
Security breaches, loss of or damage
to data, system failures and other disruptions could compromise sensitive information related to our business or our customers’
patients, or prevent us from accessing critical information and expose us to liability, which could adversely affect our business
and our reputation.
In the ordinary course of our business,
we may become exposed to, or collect and store, sensitive data, including procedure-based information and legally protected health
information, credit card, and other financial information, insurance information and other potentially personally identifiable
information. We also store sensitive intellectual property and other proprietary business information. Regardless of any precautions
we may take, our information technology, or IT, and infrastructure, and that of our technology partners and providers, may be vulnerable
to cyberattacks by hackers or viruses or breaches due to employee error, malfeasance or other disruptions. We rely extensively
on IT systems, networks and services, including internet sites, data hosting and processing facilities and tools, physical security
systems and other hardware, software and technical applications and platforms, some of which are managed, hosted, provided and/or
used by third parties or their vendors, to assist in conducting our business. A significant breakdown, invasion, corruption, destruction
or interruption of critical information technology systems or infrastructure, by our workforce, others with authorized access to
our systems or unauthorized persons could negatively impact operations. The ever-increasing use and evolution of technology, including
cloud-based computing, creates opportunities for the unintentional dissemination or intentional destruction of confidential information
stored in our or our third-party providers’ systems, portable media or storage devices. We could also experience a business
interruption, theft of confidential information or reputational damage from industrial espionage attacks, malware or other cyber-attacks,
which may compromise our system infrastructure or lead to data leakage, either internally or at our third-party providers.
Unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or
confidential patient or employee data, including personally identifiable information, whether through breach of computer systems,
systems failure, employee negligence, fraud or misappropriation, or otherwise, or unauthorized access to or through our information
systems and networks, whether by our employees or third parties, could result in negative publicity, legal liability and damage
to our reputation. Unauthorized disclosure of personally identifiable information could also expose us to sanctions for violations
of data privacy laws and regulations around the world. Although we have general liability and cybersecurity insurance coverage,
our insurance may not cover all claims, continue to be available to us on reasonable terms or be sufficient in amount to cover
one or more large claims; additionally, the insurer may disclaim coverage as to any claim. The successful assertion of one or more
large claims against us that exceed or are not covered by our insurance coverage or changes in our insurance policies, including
premium increases or the imposition of large deductible or co-insurance requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our
business, prospects, operating results and financial condition.
51
Despite our security measures, there can
be no assurance that our efforts will prevent breakdowns or breaches to our or our third-party providers’ databases or systems,
or any resulting unauthorized access to, or disclosure and use of, non-public or other legally protected information. Phishing,
social engineering and other attacks upon IT systems are increasing in their frequency, levels of persistence, sophistication and
intensity, and are being conducted by sophisticated and organized groups and individuals with a wide range of motives and expertise.
In addition to unauthorized access to or acquisition of personal information, confidential information, intellectual property or
other sensitive information, such attacks could include the deployment of harmful malware and ransomware, and may use a variety
of methods, including denial-of-service attacks, social engineering and other means, to attain such unauthorized access or acquisition
or otherwise affect service reliability and threaten the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information. Because the
techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently and often are
not foreseeable or recognized until launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement
adequate preventative measures. Any such breakdowns or breaches, or resulting access, disclosure, or other loss of information,
could significantly disrupt our business and result in legal claims or proceedings, liability under laws that protect the privacy
of personal information, and damage to our reputation, any of which could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
Our success depends on our ability
to retain and motivate key management personnel and other employees and consultants, to attract, retain and motivate additional
qualified personnel and to effectively navigate changes in our senior management team.
Our success depends to a significant extent
on our ability to attract, retain and motivate key management personnel and other employees and consultants for our business, including
scientific, technical and sales and marketing personnel. There is currently a shortage of skilled executives and other personnel
in our industry, which is likely to continue. As a result, competition for skilled personnel is intense and the turnover rate can
be high. We may not be able to attract and retain personnel on acceptable terms, given the competition among numerous regenerative
medicine and other healthcare companies, for individuals with similar skill sets. Many of the companies that we compete against
for qualified personnel have substantially greater financial and other resources and different risk profiles than we do. They may
also provide more diverse opportunities, better chances for career advancement and/or more attractive compensation. Some of these
characteristics may be more appealing to high quality candidates than what we can offer. Furthermore, in order to offer attractive
compensation, we may need to increase the level of cash compensation that we pay to them, which will reduce funds available for
research and development and support of our commercialization and sales growth objectives. There can be no assurance that we will
have sufficient cash available to offer our employees and consultants attractive compensation or that we will realize any corresponding
benefits from the payment of such compensation. We are also vulnerable to the risk that these individuals may take actions, either
within or outside the scope of their duties, that intentionally or unintentionally tarnish our brand and reputation or otherwise
adversely affect our business. We also cannot prevent our senior management team from terminating their employment with us. Losing
the services of any member of our senior management team could materially harm our business until a suitable replacement is found,
and such replacement may not have equal experience and capabilities. In addition, we do not maintain “key person” insurance
policies on the lives of any of our management team or other employees. The inability to recruit or a loss of the services of any
executive, key employee or consultant may impede the progress of our research, development, commercialization and sales growth
objectives, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and our ability
to grow our business.
In addition, we have recently added a new
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Medical Officer. These changes, and any other changes to our senior
management team we experience in the future, subject us to a number of additional risks, including risks pertaining to the coordination
of responsibilities and tasks, the creation of new management systems and processes, differences in management style, effects on
corporate culture and the need for transfer of historical knowledge. If our management team does not work together harmoniously,
efficiently allocate responsibilities between themselves and implement and abide by effective controls, our operations will be
adversely affected.
Our sales into foreign markets expose
us to risks associated with international sales and operations.
Though we have historically focused our
market development and commercial activities primarily in the United States, we have obtained marketing registrations, developed
commercial and distribution capabilities and are currently selling CanGaroo and our cardiovascular products in several countries
outside the United States primarily through independent sales agents. Our international sales subject us to additional risks as
compared to those we face in the United States.
The sale and shipment of our products across
international borders subject us to extensive U.S. and foreign governmental trade, import and export and customs regulations and
laws, including but not limited to, the Export Administration Regulations and trade sanctions against embargoed countries, which
are administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control within the Department of the Treasury, or OFAC, as well as the laws and
regulations administered by the Department of Commerce. These regulations limit our ability to market, sell, distribute or otherwise
transfer our products or technology to prohibited countries or persons.
Compliance with these regulations and laws
is costly, and failure to comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations could adversely affect us in a variety of ways
that include, but are not limited to, significant criminal, civil and administrative penalties, including imprisonment of individuals,
monetary fines, denial of export privileges, seizure of shipments and restrictions on certain business activities. The failure
to comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations could also result in the disruption of our distribution and sales activities.
52
These risks may limit or disrupt our sales
and commercialization efforts outside the United States, restrict the movement of funds or result in the deprivation of contractual
rights or the taking of property by nationalization or expropriation without fair compensation. Operating in international markets
also requires significant management attention and financial support, and, as a result, will divert these resources away from our
other operations.
We are subject to anti-bribery, anti-corruption
and anti-money laundering laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, as well as export control laws, customs laws,
sanctions laws and other laws governing our operations. If we fail to comply with these laws, we could be subject to civil or criminal
penalties, other remedial measures and legal expenses, any of which would adversely affect our business, financial condition and
results of operations.
We currently are and, as we increase our
international presence and global sales, will increasingly be, exposed to trade and economic sanctions and other restrictions imposed
by the United States, the European Union and other governments and organizations. The U.S. Departments of Justice, Commerce, State
and Treasury and other federal agencies and authorities have a broad range of civil and criminal penalties they may seek to impose
against corporations and individuals for violations of economic sanctions laws, export control laws, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act, or the FCPA, and other federal statutes and regulations, including those established by OFAC. In addition, the U.K. Bribery
Act of 2010, or the Bribery Act, prohibits both domestic and international bribery, as well as bribery across both private and
public sectors. An organization that “fails to prevent bribery” by anyone associated with the organization can be charged
under the Bribery Act unless the organization can establish the defense of having implemented “adequate procedures”
to prevent bribery. Under these laws and regulations, as well as other anti-corruption laws, anti-money laundering laws, export
control laws, customs laws, sanctions laws and other laws governing our operations, various government agencies may require export
licenses, may seek to impose modifications to business practices, including cessation of business activities in sanctioned countries
or with sanctioned persons or entities and modifications to compliance programs, which may increase compliance costs, and may subject
us to fines, penalties and other sanctions. A violation of these laws or regulations would negatively affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
As our international operations increase,
we expect to implement policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by us and our directors, officers, employees, representatives,
consultants and agents with the FCPA, OFAC restrictions, the Bribery Act and other export control, anti-corruption, anti-money-laundering
and anti-terrorism laws and regulations. We cannot assure you, however, that any such policies and procedures will be sufficient
or that directors, officers, employees, representatives, consultants and agents have not engaged, and will not engage, in conduct
for which we may be held responsible, nor can we assure you that our business partners have not engaged, and will not engage, in
conduct that could materially affect their ability to perform their contractual obligations to us or result in our being held liable
for such conduct. Violations of the FCPA, OFAC restrictions, the Bribery Act or other export control, anti-corruption, anti-money
laundering and anti-terrorism laws or regulations may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, and we may be subject to other
liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our officers, employees, independent
contractors, principal investigators, consultants, commercial partners and independent sales agents may engage in misconduct or
activities that are improper under other laws and regulations, which would create liability for us.
We are exposed to the risk that our officers,
employees, independent contractors (including contract research organizations, or CROs), principal investigators, consultants,
commercial partners and independent sales agents may engage in fraudulent conduct or other illegal activity and/or may fail to
disclose unauthorized activities to us. Misconduct by these parties could include, but is not limited to, intentional, reckless
and/or negligent failures to comply with the laws and regulations of the FDA and its foreign counterparts, including, but not limited
to, those relating to the manufacture, processing, packing, holding, investigating or distributing in commerce of medical devices,
biological products and/or HCT/Ps, requiring the reporting of true, complete and accurate information to such regulatory bodies
(including any safety problems associated with the use of our products), and relating to the conduct of clinical trials and the
protection of human research subject.
In particular, companies involved in the
manufacture of medical products are subject to laws and regulations intended to ensure that medical products that will be used
in patients are safe and effective, and specifically that they are not adulterated or contaminated, that they are properly labeled,
and have the identity, strength, quality and purity that which they are represented to possess. Further, companies involved in
the research and development of medical products are subject to extensive laws and regulations intended to protect research subjects
and ensure the integrity of data generated from clinical trials and of the regulatory review process. Any misconduct in any of
these areas, whether by our own employees or by contractors, vendors, business associates, consultants or other entities acting
as our agents, could result in regulatory sanctions, criminal or civil liability and serious harm to our reputation. It is not
always possible to identify and deter misconduct, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective
in preventing such conduct, mitigating risks, or reducing the chance of governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits
stemming from a failure to comply with these laws or regulations. If any such investigations or other actions or lawsuits are instituted
against us, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations, including,
without limitation, the imposition of significant fines and other sanctions that may materially impair our ability to run a profitable
business. Even if we are successful in defending against the imposition of any such fines or other sanctions, we could be required
to incur substantial legal fees and other costs, and management’s attention will be diverted from our core business operations,
either of which would negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
53
Our ability to use certain tax attributes
to offset future income tax liabilities may be subject to limitations.
We have certain net operating losses and
other tax attributes, including net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) for federal income tax purposes of approximately
$32.1 million and state NOLs of approximately $10.5 million as of December 31, 2019. If not utilized, $17.6 million of our
NOLs will begin to expire for federal income tax purposes beginning in 2036, and our state NOLs will expire beginning in 2030.
Our ability to utilize our federal NOLs will depend on our future income, and there is a risk that our NOLs could expire unused
and be unavailable to offset future income tax liabilities, which could adversely affect our operating results.
In addition, our ability to utilize our
NOLs may be subject to an annual limitation under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. In general, under
Sections 382 and 383 of the Code, a corporation that undergoes an “ownership change” is subject to limitations on its
ability to utilize its pre-change NOLs or tax credits to offset future taxable income. If we undergo an ownership change or have
previously undergone an ownership change, our ability to utilize federal NOLs or tax credits could be limited by Sections 382 and
383 of the Code. Additionally, future changes in our stock ownership, many of which are outside of our control, could result in
an ownership change under Sections 382 and 383 of the Code. Our state NOLs or credits may also be impaired under state tax law.
Accordingly, we may not be able to utilize a material portion of our federal and state NOLs or credits. Our ability to utilize
our NOLs or credits is conditioned upon our attaining profitability and generating U.S. federal and state taxable income. Valuation
allowances have been provided for all deferred tax assets related to our federal and state NOLs.
In addition, other tax attributes, such
as interest carryforwards, are also subject to various limits on their use under the Code. We have established valuation allowances
for our interest carry forwards to reflect these limitations and their anticipated impact on our ability to utilize these tax attributes
following the adoption of the December 2017 tax reform legislation known as H.R. 1, commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and
Jobs Act, or the TCJA, in the United States.
Changes in tax laws, unfavorable
resolution of tax contingencies or exposure to additional income tax liabilities could have a material impact on our results of
operations or financial condition.
We are subject to income taxes as well
as non-income based taxes in the United States. We may from time to time be subject to tax audits in various jurisdictions. Tax
authorities may disagree with certain positions we have taken and assess additional taxes. We regularly assess the likely outcomes
of any tax audits to which we are subject in order to determine the appropriateness of our tax provision and have established contingency
reserves for material, known tax exposures. However, the calculation of such tax exposures involves the application of complex
tax laws and regulations in many jurisdictions, as well as interpretations as to the legality under state aid rules of the
European Union of tax advantages granted in certain jurisdictions. Therefore, there can be no assurance that we will accurately
predict the outcomes of any tax audits to which we may be subject or that issues raised by tax authorities will be resolved at
a financial cost that does not exceed our related reserves and the actual outcomes of any such audit could have a material impact
on our results of operations or financial condition.
Changes in tax laws and regulations, or
their interpretation and application, in the jurisdictions where we are subject to tax, could materially impact our effective tax
rate. For example, changes in tax law implemented by the TCJA became effective in 2018 and 2019, and we expect the U.S. Treasury
to continue to issue future notices and regulations under the TCJA. Certain provisions of the TCJA and the regulations issued thereunder
could have a significant impact on our future results of operations as could interpretations made by us in the absence of regulatory
guidance and judicial interpretations. In addition, in 2018, we established valuation allowances against certain deferred tax assets
(including interest carry forwards) to reflect certain limitations on these assets and their anticipated impact on our ability
to utilize these tax assets following the adoption of the TCJA. We are continuing to examine the impact of TCJA. As the expected
impact of certain aspects of the legislation is unclear and subject to change, we note that the TCJA could adversely affect our
business, financial condition and results of operations.
Additionally, the U.S. Congress, government
agencies in jurisdictions outside the United States where we do business and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development,
or OECD, have recently focused on issues related to the taxation of multinational corporations. One example is in the area of “base
erosion and profit shifting,” where profits are claimed to be earned for tax purposes in low-tax jurisdictions, or payments
are made between affiliates from a jurisdiction with high tax rates to a jurisdiction with lower tax rates. The OECD has released
several components of its comprehensive plan to create an agreed set of international rules for fighting base erosion and
profit shifting. As a result, the tax laws in the United States and other countries, in which we do business, could change on a
prospective or retroactive basis and any such changes could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results
of operations.
54
As we conduct clinical studies designed
to generate long-term data on some of our existing products, the data we generate may not be consistent with our existing data
and may demonstrate less favorable safety or efficacy.
We are currently collecting and plan to
continue collecting long-term clinical data regarding the quality, safety and effectiveness of some of our existing products. The
clinical data collected and generated as part of these studies will further strengthen our clinical evaluation concerning safety
and performance of these products. We believe that this additional data will help with the marketing of our products by providing
surgeons and physicians with additional confidence in their long-term safety and efficacy. If the results of these clinical studies
are negative, these results could reduce demand for our products and significantly reduce our ability to achieve expected net sales.
We do not expect to undertake such studies for all of our products and will only do so in the future where we anticipate the benefits
will outweigh the costs and risks. For these reasons, surgeons and physicians could be less likely to purchase our products than
competing products for which longer-term clinical data are available. Also, we may not choose or be able to generate the comparative
data that some of our competitors have or are generating and we may be subject to greater regulatory and product liability risks.
If we are unable to or determined not to collect sufficient long-term clinical data supporting the quality, safety and effectiveness
of our existing products, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Our estimates of market opportunity
and forecasts of market and sales growth may prove to be inaccurate, and even if the markets in which we compete achieve the forecasted
growth, our business could fail to grow at similar rates, if at all.
Market opportunity estimates and growth
forecasts are inherently uncertain. Our estimates of the annual total addressable markets for our products are based on a number
of internal and third-party estimates and assumptions, including, without limitation, the number of implantable electronic device
procedures and orthopedic/spinal repair procedures, as well as the number of procedures using biologic products annually in the
United States. While we believe our assumptions and the data underlying our estimates are reasonable, these assumptions and estimates
may not be correct and the conditions supporting our assumptions or estimates may change at any time, thereby reducing the predictive
accuracy of these underlying factors. As a result, our estimates of the annual total addressable market for any of our products
may prove to be incorrect. If the actual number of procedures, the price at which we are able to sell any of our products, or the
annual total addressable market is smaller than we have estimated, it may impair our sales growth and have an adverse impact on
our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Government Regulation
The regulatory approval and clearance
processes of the FDA and comparable foreign authorities are lengthy, time consuming and inherently unpredictable, and if we are
ultimately unable to obtain regulatory approval or other marketing authorizations for our products and product candidates, our
business will be substantially harmed.
The medical device and biologics industries
are regulated extensively by governmental authorities, principally the FDA, the E.U. legislative bodies, and corresponding state
and foreign regulatory agencies and authorities. The time required to obtain approval, clearance, certification of conformity or
other marketing authorizations from the FDA, European Union Notified Bodies, and comparable foreign authorities is unpredictable
but can often take many years following the commencement of clinical trials and depends upon numerous factors, including the substantial
discretion of the regulatory authorities. In addition, policies, regulations, or the type and amount of clinical data necessary
to gain clearance or approval may change during the course of a product candidate’s clinical development and may vary among
jurisdictions.
Before we can market or sell a new medical
device or a new use of or a claim for or significant modification to an existing medical device in the United States, we must obtain
either clearance from the FDA under Section 510(k) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or FDCA, or approval
of an application for premarket approval, or PMA, unless an exemption applies. In the United States, we have obtained 510(k) premarket
clearance from the FDA to market products such as our CanGaroo, VasCure, ProxiCor and Tyke products. In the 510(k) premarket
clearance process, the FDA must determine that a proposed device is “substantially equivalent” to a device legally
on the market, known as a “predicate” device, with respect to intended use, technology and safety and effectiveness,
in order to clear the proposed device for marketing. Clinical data is sometimes required to support a finding of substantial equivalence.
Under certain conditions, a medical device is required to be approved under a PMA before it may be legally marketed. The PMA pathway
requires an applicant to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the device based, in part, on extensive data, including, but
not limited to, technical, nonclinical, clinical trial, manufacturing and labeling data. The PMA process is typically required
for devices that are deemed to pose the greatest risk, such as life-sustaining, life-supporting or implantable devices. However,
some devices are automatically subject to the PMA pathway regardless of the level of risk they pose because they have not previously
been classified into a lower risk class by the FDA. Manufacturers of these devices may request that FDA review such devices in
accordance with the de novo classification procedure, which allows a manufacturer whose novel device would otherwise require
the submission and approval of a PMA prior to marketing to request down-classification of the device on the basis that the device
presents low or moderate risk. If the FDA agrees with the down classification based on a de novo submission, the FDA will
authorize the device for marketing. This device type can then be used as a predicate device for future 510(k) submissions.
The process of obtaining regulatory clearances
or approvals, or completing the de novo classification process, to market a medical device can be costly and time consuming,
and we may not be able to successfully obtain pre-market reviews on a timely basis, if at all. If the FDA requires us to go through
a lengthier, more rigorous examination for our products than we expect, our product introductions or modifications could be delayed
or canceled, which could cause our sales to decline. Further, even where a PMA is not required, we cannot assure you that we will
be able to obtain 510(k) clearances with respect to such product candidates or modifications to previously cleared products.
55
The FDA or any foreign regulatory bodies
can delay, limit or deny approval or clearance of our product candidates or require us to conduct additional nonclinical or clinical
testing or abandon a program for many reasons, including:
· the FDA or the applicable foreign regulatory agency’s disagreement with the design or implementation
of our clinical trials;
· negative or ambiguous results from our clinical trials or results that may not meet the level of
statistical significance required by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory agencies for approval;
· serious and unexpected drug or device-related side effects experienced by participants in our clinical
trials or by individuals using devices similar to our products or natural product candidates;
· our inability to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA or the applicable foreign regulatory
body that our product candidates are safe and effective for their intended uses, or in the case of the 510(k) clearance process,
that our product candidate is substantially equivalent to a predicate device;
· the FDA’s or the applicable foreign regulatory agency’s disagreement with the interpretation
of data from pre-clinical studies or clinical trials;
· our inability to demonstrate the clinical and other benefits of our product candidates outweigh
any safety or other perceived risks;
· the FDA’s or the applicable foreign regulatory agency’s requirement for additional
pre-clinical studies or clinical trials;
· the FDA’s or the applicable foreign regulatory agency’s disagreement regarding the
formulation, labeling or the specifications of our products or future product candidates;
· the FDA’s or the applicable foreign regulatory agency’s failure to approve the manufacturing
processes or facilities of third-party manufacturers with which we contract; or
· the potential for approval or clearance policies or regulations of the FDA or the applicable foreign
regulatory agencies to significantly change in a manner rendering our clinical data insufficient for approval.
Of the large number of products in development,
only a small percentage successfully complete the FDA or foreign regulatory approval processes and are commercialized. The lengthy
approval or marketing authorization process, as well as the unpredictability of future clinical trial results, may result in our
failing to obtain regulatory clearance, approval or other marketing authorization to market our product candidates, which would
significantly harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Even if we eventually complete clinical
testing and receive approval or clearance of an FDA or foreign marketing application for our product candidates, the FDA or the
applicable foreign regulatory agency may grant clearance, approval or other marketing authorization contingent on the performance
of costly additional clinical trials, including post-market clinical trials. The FDA or the applicable foreign regulatory agency
also may clear, approve or authorize for marketing a product candidate for a more limited indication or patient population than
we originally requested, and the FDA or applicable foreign regulatory agency may not approve or authorize the labeling that we
believe is necessary or desirable for the successful commercialization of a product candidate. Any delay in obtaining, or inability
to obtain, applicable regulatory clearance, approval or other marketing authorization would delay or prevent commercialization
of that product candidate and would materially adversely impact our business and prospects.
Our products may cause or contribute
to adverse medical events or be subject to failures or malfunctions that we are required to report to the FDA, and if we fail to
do so, we would be subject to sanctions that could harm our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.
The discovery of serious safety issues with our products, or a recall of our products either voluntarily or at the direction of
the FDA or another governmental authority, could have a negative impact on us.
Some of our marketed products are subject
to Medical Device Reporting, or MDR, obligations, which require that we report to the FDA or the Competent Authorities of the European
Union, any incident in which our products may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury, or in which our products
malfunctioned and, if the malfunction were to recur, it could likely cause or contribute to a death or serious injury. The timing
of our obligation to report under the MDR regulations is triggered by the date we become aware of the adverse event as well as
the nature of the event. We may fail to report adverse events of which we become aware within the prescribed timeframe. We may
also fail to recognize that we have become aware of a reportable adverse event, especially if it is not reported to us as an adverse
event or if it is an adverse event that is unexpected or removed in time from the use of our product. If we fail to comply with
our reporting obligations, the FDA, or the Competent Authorities of the European Union, could take action, including warning letters,
untitled letters, administrative actions, criminal prosecution, imposition of civil monetary penalties, revocation of our device
clearance or approval, seizure of our products or delay in clearance or approval of future products.
56
The FDA, the Competent Authorities of the
European Union, and foreign regulatory bodies have the authority to require the recall of commercialized products in the event
of material deficiencies or defects in design or manufacture of a product or in the event that a product poses an unacceptable
risk to health. The FDA’s authority to require a recall must be based on a finding that there is reasonable probability that
the device could cause serious injury or death. We may also choose to voluntarily recall a product if any material deficiency is
found. A government-mandated or voluntary recall by us could occur as a result of an unacceptable risk to health, component failures,
malfunctions, manufacturing defects, labeling or design deficiencies, packaging defects or other deficiencies or failures to comply
with applicable regulations. Product defects or other errors may occur in the future.
Depending on the corrective action we take
to redress a product’s deficiencies or defects, the FDA may require, or we may decide, that we will need to obtain new clearances
or approvals for the device before we may market or distribute the corrected device. Seeking such clearances or approvals may delay
our ability to replace the recalled devices in a timely manner. Moreover, if we do not adequately address problems associated with
our devices, we may face additional regulatory enforcement action, including FDA warning letters, product seizure, injunctions,
administrative penalties or civil or criminal fines.
Companies are required to maintain certain
records of recalls and corrections, even if they are not reportable to the FDA. We may initiate voluntary withdrawals or corrections
for our products in the future that we determine do not require notification of the FDA. If the FDA disagrees with our determinations,
it could require us to report those actions as recalls, and we may be subject to enforcement action. A future recall announcement
could harm our reputation with customers, potentially lead to product liability claims against us and negatively affect our sales.
Any corrective action, whether voluntary or involuntary, as well as defending ourselves in a lawsuit, will require the dedication
of our time and capital, distract management from operating our business and may harm our reputation and financial results.
Modifications to our medical device
products may require new 510(k) clearances or other marketing authorizations, and if we make modifications to such products
without obtaining requisite marketing authorization, we may be required to cease marketing or recall the modified products until
clearances or other marketing authorizations are obtained.
Any modification to a cleared or approved
medical device that could significantly affect its safety or effectiveness, or that would constitute a major change in its intended
use, design or manufacture, requires a new 510(k) clearance or, possibly, approval of a PMA. The FDA requires every manufacturer
to make this determination in the first instance, but the FDA may review any manufacturer’s decision. The FDA may not agree
with our decisions regarding whether new clearances or approvals are necessary. We may make modifications or add features to any
of our product candidates that are cleared under the 510(k) clearance process in the future that we believe do not require
a new 510(k) clearance or approval of a PMA. If the FDA disagrees with our determination and requires us to submit new 510(k) notifications
or PMA applications for modifications to our products for which we have concluded that new clearances or approvals are unnecessary,
we may be required to cease marketing or to recall the modified product until we obtain clearance or approval, and we may be subject
to significant regulatory fines or penalties. In addition, the FDA may not approve or clear our products for the indications that
are necessary or desirable for successful commercialization or could require clinical trials to support any modifications. Any
delay or failure in obtaining required clearances or approvals for such changes would adversely affect our ability to introduce
new or enhanced products in a timely manner, which in turn would harm our future growth. Any of these actions would harm our operating
results.
The misuse or off-label use of our
products may harm our reputation in the marketplace, result in injuries that lead to product liability suits or result in costly
investigations, fines or sanctions by regulatory bodies if we are deemed to have engaged in the promotion of these uses, any of
which could be costly to our business.
Our currently marketed products have been
cleared by the FDA for specific indications. For example, our SimpliDerm product has been labeled for use to repair or replace
damaged or inadequate integumental tissue and our CanGaroo envelope is intended to securely hold an implantable electronic device
to create a stable environment when implanted in the body. We train our marketing personnel and direct sales force to not promote
our devices for uses outside of the FDA-approved indications for use, known as “off-label uses.” We cannot, however,
prevent a physician from using our products off-label, when in the physician’s independent professional medical judgment,
he or she deems it appropriate. There may be increased risk of injury to patients if physicians attempt to use our products off-label.
Furthermore, the use of our products for indications other than those authorized by the FDA or by any foreign regulatory body may
not effectively treat such conditions, which could harm our reputation in the marketplace among physicians and patients.
If the FDA or any foreign regulatory body
determines that our promotional materials or training constitute promotion of an off-label use, it could request that we modify
our training or promotional materials or subject us to regulatory or enforcement actions, including the issuance or imposition
of an untitled letter, which is used for violators that do not necessitate a warning letter, injunction, seizure, civil fine or
criminal penalties. It is also possible that other federal, state or foreign enforcement authorities might take action under other
regulatory authority, such as false claims laws, if they consider our business activities to constitute promotion of an off-label
use, which could result in significant penalties, including, but not limited to, criminal, civil and administrative penalties,
damages, fines, disgorgement, exclusion from participation in government healthcare programs and the curtailment of our operations.
57
In addition, physicians may misuse our
products or use improper techniques if they are not adequately trained, potentially leading to injury and an increased risk of
product liability. If our devices are misused or used with improper technique, we may become subject to costly litigation by our
customers or their patients. As described above, product liability claims could divert management’s attention from our core
business, harm our reputation, be expensive to defend and result in sizeable damage awards against us that may not be covered by
insurance.
Failure to comply with post-marketing
regulatory requirements could subject us to enforcement actions, including substantial penalties, and might require us to recall
or withdraw a product from the market.
We are subject to ongoing and pervasive
regulatory requirements governing, among other things, the manufacture, marketing, advertising, medical device reporting, sale,
promotion, import, export, registration and listing of devices. For example, we must submit periodic reports to the FDA as a condition
of receiving 510(k) clearances and other marketing authorizations. These reports include information about failures and certain
adverse events associated with the device after its clearance. Failure to submit such reports, or failure to submit the reports
in a timely manner, could result in enforcement action by the FDA. Following its review of the periodic reports, the FDA might
ask for additional information or initiate further investigation.
The regulations to which we are subject
are complex and have become more stringent over time. Regulatory changes could result in restrictions on our ability to continue
or expand our operations, and higher than anticipated costs or lower than anticipated sales. Even after we have obtained the proper
regulatory clearance to market a device, we have ongoing responsibilities under FDA regulations and applicable foreign laws and
regulations. The FDA, state and foreign regulatory authorities have broad enforcement powers. Our failure to comply with applicable
regulatory requirements could result in enforcement action by the FDA, state or foreign regulatory authorities, which may include
any of the following sanctions:
· untitled letters or warning letters;
· fines, injunctions, consent decrees and civil penalties;
· recalls, termination of distribution, administrative detention or seizure of our products;
· customer notifications or repair, replacement or refunds;
· operating restrictions or partial suspension or total shutdown of production;
· delays in or refusal to grant our requests for future clearances or approvals or foreign marketing
authorizations of new products, new intended uses or modifications to existing products;
· withdrawals or suspensions of our current 510(k) clearances, resulting in prohibitions on
sales of our products;
· FDA refusal to issue certificates to foreign governments needed to export products for sale in
other countries; and
· criminal prosecution.
Any of these sanctions could result in
higher than anticipated costs or lower than anticipated sales and have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial
condition and results of operations.
In addition, the FDA may change its clearance
policies, adopt additional regulations or revise existing regulations, or take other actions, which may prevent or delay clearance
or approval of our future products under development or impact our ability to modify our currently cleared products on a timely
basis. Such policy or regulatory changes could impose additional requirements upon us that could delay our ability to obtain new
clearances or approvals, increase the costs of compliance or restrict our ability to maintain our clearances of our current products.
Over the last several years, the FDA has proposed reforms to its 510(k) clearance process, and such proposals could include
increased requirements for clinical data and a longer review period, or could make it more difficult for manufacturers to utilize
the 510(k) clearance process for their products. For example, in November 2018, FDA officials announced steps that the
FDA intends to take to modernize the premarket notification pathway under Section 510(k) of the FDCA. Among other things,
the FDA announced that it planned to develop proposals to drive manufacturers utilizing the 510(k) pathway toward the use
of newer predicates. These proposals included plans to potentially sunset certain older devices that were used as predicates under
the 510(k) clearance pathway, and to potentially publish a list of devices that have been cleared on the basis of demonstrated
substantial equivalence to predicate devices that are more than 10 years old. These proposals have not yet been finalized or adopted,
and the FDA may work with Congress to implement such proposals through legislation. Accordingly, it is unclear the extent to which
any proposals, if adopted, could impose additional regulatory requirements on us that could delay our ability to obtain new 510(k) clearances,
increase the costs of compliance or restrict our ability to maintain our current clearances, or otherwise create competition that
may negatively affect our business.
More recently, in September 2019,
the FDA finalized guidance describing an optional “safety and performance based” premarket review pathway for manufacturers
of  “certain, well-understood device types” to demonstrate substantial equivalence under the 510(k) clearance
pathway by showing that such device meets objective safety and performance criteria established by the FDA, thereby obviating the
need for manufacturers to compare the safety and performance of their medical devices to specific predicate devices in the clearance
process. The FDA is developing a list of device types appropriate for the “safety and performance based” pathway and
will continue to develop product-specific guidance documents that identify the performance criteria for each such device type,
as well as the testing methods recommended in the guidance documents, where feasible. The FDA may establish performance criteria
for classes of devices for which we or our competitors seek or currently have received clearance, and it is unclear the extent
to which such performance standards, if established, could impact our ability to obtain new 510(k) clearances or otherwise
create competition that may negatively affect our business.
58
In addition, FDA regulations and guidance
are often revised or reinterpreted by the FDA in ways that may significantly affect our business and our products. Any new statutes,
regulations or revisions or reinterpretations of existing regulations may impose additional costs or lengthen review times of any
future products or make it more difficult to obtain clearance or approval for, manufacture, market or distribute our products.
We cannot determine what effect changes in regulations, statutes, legal interpretation or policies, when and if promulgated, enacted
or adopted may have on our business in the future. Such changes could, among other things, require: additional testing prior to
obtaining clearance or approval; changes to manufacturing methods; recall, replacement or discontinuance of our products; or additional
record keeping.
The FDA’s and other regulatory authorities’
policies may change and additional government regulations may be promulgated that could prevent, limit or delay regulatory clearance
or approval of our product candidates. We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise
from future legislation or administrative action, either in the United States or abroad. If we are slow or unable to adapt to changes
in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we are not able to maintain regulatory compliance,
we may lose any marketing approval that we may have obtained and we may not achieve or sustain profitability.
Our HCT/P products are subject to
extensive government regulation, and our failure to comply with these requirements could cause our business to suffer.
In the United States, we sell human tissue-derived
bone allografts, such as ViBone, FiberCel and OsteGro V, which are referred to by the FDA as HCT/Ps. Certain HCT/Ps are regulated
by the FDA solely under Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act, or PHSA, and are referred to as “Section 361
HCT/Ps,” while other HCT/Ps are subject to FDA’s regulatory requirements applicable to medical devices or biologics.
Section 361 HCT/Ps do not require 510(k) clearance, PMA approval, biologics license application, or BLA, or other premarket
authorization from FDA before marketing. We believe our HCT/Ps are regulated solely under Section 361 of the PHSA and, therefore,
we have not sought or obtained 510(k) clearance, PMA approval, or licensure through a BLA. The FDA could disagree with our
determination that our human tissue products are Section 361 HCT/Ps and could determine that these products are biologics
requiring a BLA or medical devices requiring 510(k) clearance or PMA approval, and could require that we cease marketing such
products and/or recall them pending appropriate clearance, approval or license from the FDA. For example, in public comments, the
FDA has suggested that the use of human-derived acellular dermal matrices, such as SimpliDerm, may not be considered HCT/Ps when
utilized in breast reconstruction procedures. As a result, we may be required to conduct clinical studies and/or seek approval
of a PMA before we are able to market SimpliDerm for use in breast reconstruction.
Even though we believe that our HCT/Ps
are not subject to premarket approval or review, HCT/Ps are subject to donor eligibility and screening, Good Tissue Practices,
product labeling and post-market reporting requirements. If we or our suppliers fail to comply with these requirements, we could
be subject to FDA enforcement action, including, for example, warning letters, fines, injunctions, product recalls or seizures
and, in the most serious cases, criminal penalties.
The clinical trial process is lengthy
and expensive with uncertain outcomes. We have limited data and experience regarding the safety and efficacy of our products. Results
of earlier studies may not be predictive of future clinical trial results, or the safety or efficacy profile for such products.
Clinical testing is difficult to design
and implement, can take many years, can be expensive and carries uncertain outcomes. The long-term effects of using our products
in a large number of patients have not been studied, and the results of short-term clinical use of such products do not necessarily
predict long-term clinical benefits or reveal long-term adverse effects.
The results of pre-clinical studies and
clinical trials of our products conducted to date and ongoing or future studies and trials of our current, planned or future products
may not be predictive of the results of later clinical trials, and interim results of a clinical trial do not necessarily predict
final results. Our interpretation of data and results from our clinical trials do not ensure that we will achieve similar results
in future clinical trials. In addition, pre-clinical and clinical data are often susceptible to various interpretations and analyses,
and many companies that have believed their products performed satisfactorily in pre-clinical studies and earlier clinical trials
have, nonetheless, failed to replicate results in later clinical trials. Products in later stages of clinical trials may fail to
show the desired safety and efficacy despite having progressed through nonclinical studies and earlier clinical trials. Failure
can occur at any stage of clinical testing. Our clinical studies may produce negative or inconclusive results, and we may decide,
or regulators may require us, to conduct additional clinical and non-clinical testing in addition to those we have planned.
59
The initiation and completion of any of
clinical studies may be prevented, delayed or halted for numerous reasons. We may experience delays in our ongoing clinical trials
for a number of reasons, which could adversely affect the costs, timing or successful completion of our clinical trials, including
related to the following:
· we may be required to submit an investigational device exemption, or IDE, application to the FDA,
which must become effective prior to commencing certain human clinical trials of medical devices, and the FDA may reject our IDE
application and notify us that we may not begin clinical trials;
· regulators and other comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree as to the design or
implementation of our clinical trials;
· regulators and/or IRBs, or other reviewing bodies may not authorize us or our investigators to
commence a clinical trial or to conduct or continue a clinical trial at a prospective or specific trial site;
· we may not reach agreement on acceptable terms with prospective CROs and clinical trial sites,
the terms of which can be subject to extensive negotiation and may vary significantly among different CROs and trial sites;
· clinical trials may produce negative or inconclusive results, and we may decide, or regulators
may require us, to conduct additional clinical trials or abandon product development programs;
· the number of subjects or patients required for clinical trials may be larger than we anticipate,
enrollment in these clinical trials may be insufficient or slower than we anticipate, and the number of clinical trials being conducted
at any given time may be high and result in fewer available patients for any given clinical trial, or patients may drop out of
these clinical trials at a higher rate than we anticipate;
· our third-party contractors, including those manufacturing products or conducting clinical trials
on our behalf, may fail to comply with regulatory requirements or meet their contractual obligations to us in a timely manner or
at all;
· we might have to suspend or terminate clinical trials for various reasons, including a finding
that the subjects are being exposed to unacceptable health risks;
· we may have to amend clinical trial protocols or conduct additional studies to reflect changes
in regulatory requirements or guidance, which we may be required to submit to an IRB and/or regulatory authorities for re-examination;
· regulators, IRBs or other parties may require or recommend that we or our investigators suspend
or terminate clinical research for various reasons, including safety signals or noncompliance with regulatory requirements;
· the cost of clinical trials may be greater than we anticipate;
· clinical sites may not adhere to the clinical protocol or may drop out of a clinical trial;
· we may be unable to recruit a sufficient number of clinical trial sites;
· regulators, IRBs or other reviewing bodies may fail to approve or subsequently find fault
with our manufacturing processes or facilities of third-party manufacturers with which we enter into agreement for clinical and
commercial supplies, the supply of devices or other materials necessary to conduct clinical trials may be insufficient, inadequate
or not available at an acceptable cost, or we may experience interruptions in supply;
· approval policies or regulations of the FDA, the European Union or applicable foreign regulatory
agencies may change in a manner rendering our clinical data insufficient for approval; and
· our current or future products may have undesirable side effects or other unexpected characteristics.
In addition, disruptions caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic may increase the likelihood that we encounter such difficulties or delays in initiating, enrolling, conducting
or completing our planned and ongoing clinical trials. Any of these occurrences may significantly harm our business, financial
condition and prospects. In addition, many of the factors that cause, or lead to, a delay in the commencement or completion of
clinical trials may also ultimately lead to the denial of regulatory approval of our product candidates.
Patient enrollment in clinical trials and
completion of patient follow-up depend on many factors, including the size of the patient population, the nature of the trial protocol,
the proximity of patients to clinical sites, the eligibility criteria for the clinical trial, patient compliance, competing clinical
trials and clinicians’ and patients’ perceptions as to the potential advantages of the product being studied in relation
to other available therapies, including any new treatments that may be approved for the indications we are investigating. For example,
patients may be discouraged from enrolling in our clinical trials if the trial protocol requires them to undergo extensive post-treatment
procedures or follow-up to assess the safety and efficacy of a product candidate, or they may be persuaded to participate in contemporaneous
clinical trials of a competitor’s product candidate. In addition, patients participating in our clinical trials may drop
out before completion of the trial or experience adverse medical events unrelated to our products. Delays in patient enrollment
or failure of patients to continue to participate in a clinical trial may delay commencement or completion of the clinical trial,
cause an increase in the costs of the clinical trial and delays, or result in the failure of the clinical trial.
60
Even if our future products are cleared
or approved in the United States, commercialization of our products in foreign countries would require clearance or approval by
regulatory authorities in those countries. Clearance or approval procedures vary among jurisdictions and can involve requirements
and administrative review periods different from, and greater than, those in the United States, including additional pre-clinical
studies or clinical trials. Any of these occurrences could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results
of operations.
Disruptions at the FDA and other
government agencies caused by funding shortages or global health concerns could hinder their ability to hire, retain or deploy
key leadership and other personnel, or otherwise prevent new or modified products from being developed, cleared or approved or
commercialized in a timely manner or at all, which could negatively impact our business.
The ability of the FDA to review and clear
or approve new products can be affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding levels, statutory, regulatory
and policy changes, the FDA’s ability to hire and retain key personnel and accept the payment of user fees and other events
that may otherwise affect the FDA’s ability to perform routine functions. Average review times at the FDA have fluctuated
in recent years as a result. In addition, government funding of other government agencies that fund research and development activities
is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable. Disruptions at the FDA and other agencies may
also slow the time necessary for medical devices and biologics or modifications to cleared or for approved medical devices and
biologics to be reviewed and/or approved by necessary government agencies, which would adversely affect our business. For example,
over the last several years, including for 35 days beginning on December 22, 2018, the U.S. government has shut down several
times and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA, have had to furlough critical FDA employees and stop critical activities.
Separately, in response to the COVID-19
pandemic, on March 10, 2020, the FDA announced its intention to postpone most foreign inspections of manufacturing facilities
and products, and, on March 18, 2020, the FDA temporarily postponed routine surveillance inspections of domestic manufacturing
facilities. Subsequently, on July 10, 2020, the FDA announced its intention to resume certain on-site inspections of domestic
manufacturing facilities subject to a risk-based prioritization system. The FDA intends to use this risk-based assessment system
to identify the categories of regulatory activity that can occur within a given geographic area, ranging from mission critical
inspections to resumption of all regulatory activities. Regulatory authorities outside the United States may adopt similar restrictions
or other policy measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, or if global health concerns
continue to prevent the FDA, the European Union or other regulatory authorities from conducting their regular inspections, reviews,
or other regulatory activities, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA, the European Union or other regulatory authorities
to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We are subject to certain federal,
state and foreign fraud and abuse laws, health information privacy and security laws and physician payment transparency laws, which,
if violated, could subject us to substantial penalties. Additionally, any challenge to or investigation into our practices under
these laws could cause adverse publicity and be costly to respond to, and thus could harm our business.
There are numerous U.S. federal and state,
as well as foreign, laws pertaining to healthcare fraud and abuse, including anti-kickback, false claims and physician transparency
laws. Our business practices and relationships with providers and hospitals are subject to scrutiny under these laws. We may also
be subject to patient information privacy and security regulation by both the federal government and the states and foreign jurisdictions
in which we conduct our business. The healthcare laws and regulations that may affect our ability to operate include:
· the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, persons and entities from
knowingly and willfully soliciting, offering, receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind,
to induce either the referral of an individual or furnishing or arranging for a good or service, for which payment may be made,
in whole or in part, under federal healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid. A person or entity does not need to have
actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it to have committed a violation;
· the federal civil and criminal false claims laws, including the federal civil False Claims Act,
which prohibit, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment
from Medicare, Medicaid or other federal healthcare programs that are false or fraudulent. Moreover, the government may assert
that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or
fraudulent claim for purposes of the federal civil False Claims Act. Private individuals can bring False Claims Act “qui
tam” actions, on behalf of the government and such individuals, commonly known as “whistleblowers,” may share
in amounts paid by the entity to the government in fines or settlement. When an entity is determined to have violated the federal
civil False Claims Act, the government may impose civil penalties, including treble damages, and exclude the entity from participation
in Medicare, Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs;
61
· the federal Civil Monetary Penalties Law, which prohibits, among other things, offering or transferring
remuneration to a federal healthcare beneficiary that a person knows or should know is likely to influence the beneficiary’s
decision to order or receive items or services reimbursable by the government from a particular provider or supplier;
· the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which created additional
federal criminal statutes that prohibit, among other things, executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program and making
false statements relating to healthcare matters. Similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, a person or entity does not need
to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it to have committed a violation;
· the federal Physician Sunshine Act, which requires certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics
and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program,
or CHIP, to report annually to CMS, information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians, which is defined
broadly to include doctors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists and chiropractors, and teaching hospitals, and applicable manufacturers
and group purchasing organizations, to report annually ownership and investment interests held by such physicians and their immediate
family members. Manufacturers are required to submit annual reports to CMS and failure to do so may result in civil monetary penalties
for all payments, transfers of value or ownership or investment interests not reported in an annual submission, and may result
in liability under other federal laws or regulations. Effective January 1, 2022, these reporting obligations will extend to
include payments and transfers of value made to certain nonphysician providers such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners;
and
· analogous state and foreign law equivalents of each of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback
and false claims laws, which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers
or patients; state laws that require device companies to comply with the industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the
applicable compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government or otherwise restrict payments that may be made to healthcare
providers and other potential referral sources; state laws that require device manufacturers to report information related to payments
and other transfers of value to physicians and other healthcare providers or marketing expenditures; and state laws related to
insurance fraud in the case of claims involving private insurers.
These laws and regulations, among other
things, constrain our business, marketing and other promotional activities by limiting the kinds of financial arrangements we may
have with hospitals, physicians or other potential purchasers of our products, as well as independent sales agents and distributors.
Due to the breadth of these laws, the narrowness of statutory exceptions and regulatory safe harbors available, and the range of
interpretations to which they are subject, it is possible that some of our current or future practices might be challenged under
one or more of these laws.
To enforce compliance with the healthcare
regulatory laws, certain enforcement bodies have recently increased their scrutiny of interactions between healthcare companies
and healthcare providers, which has led to a number of investigations, prosecutions, convictions and settlements in the healthcare
industry. Responding to investigations can be time-and resource-consuming and can divert management’s attention from the
business. Additionally, as a result of these investigations, healthcare providers and entities may have to agree to additional
compliance and reporting requirements as part of a consent decree or corporate integrity agreement. Any such investigation or settlement
could increase our costs or otherwise have an adverse effect on our business. Even an unsuccessful challenge or investigation into
our practices could cause adverse publicity, and be costly to respond to. If our operations are found to be in violation of any
of the healthcare laws or regulations described above or any other healthcare regulations that apply to us, we may be subject to
penalties, including administrative, civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, exclusion from participation in government healthcare
programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, imprisonment, contractual damages, reputational harm, disgorgement and the curtailment
or restructuring of our operations.
In addition, members of our management
and companies with which they are affiliated or have been affiliated with in the past, have been, and may in the future be, involved
in investigations, prosecutions, convictions or settlements in the healthcare industry. For example, Kevin Rakin, the chairman
of our board of directors, was named as a defendant in United States ex rel. Webb v. Advanced BioHealing, Inc., or ABH, a
whistleblower suit relating to sales methods employed by sales representatives of ABH, a biotechnology company for which Mr. Rakin
served as its chief executive officer. All claims in the lawsuit were dismissed with prejudice pursuant to a settlement agreement,
in which Mr. Rakin expressly denied that he engaged in any wrongful conduct, and Mr. Rakin agreed to pay to the United
States $2.5 million. Any investigations, prosecutions, convictions or settlements involving members of our management and companies
with which they are or have been affiliated may be detrimental to our reputation and could negatively affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
Healthcare policy changes, including
recently enacted legislation reforming the U.S. healthcare system, could harm our cash flows, financial condition and results of
operations.
In March 2010, the Affordable Care
Act, or ACA, was enacted in the United States, which made a number of substantial changes in the way healthcare is financed by
both governmental and private insurers. Among other ways in which it may impact our business, the ACA established a new Patient-Centered
Outcomes Research Institute to oversee and identify priorities in comparative clinical effectiveness research in an effort to coordinate
and develop such research, implemented payment system reforms, including a national pilot program on payment bundling to encourage
hospitals, physicians and other providers to improve the coordination, quality and efficiency of certain healthcare services through
bundled payment models, and expanded the eligibility criteria for Medicaid programs.
62
Since its enactment, there have been judicial,
U.S. Congressional and executive branch challenges to certain aspects of the ACA, and we expect there will be additional challenges
and amendments to the ACA in the future. For example, the TCJA was enacted, which includes a provision repealing, effective January 1,
2019, the tax-based shared responsibility payment imposed by the ACA on certain individuals who fail to maintain qualifying health
coverage for all or part of a year that is commonly referred to as the “individual mandate”. On December 14, 2018,
a U.S. District Court judge in the Northern District of Texas ruled that the individual mandate is a critical and inseverable feature
of the ACA and, therefore, because it was repealed as part of the Tax Act, the remaining provisions of the ACA are invalid as well.
On December 18, 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit affirmed the District Court’s decision that the
individual mandate was unconstitutional but remanded the case back to the District Court to determine whether the remaining provisions
of the ACA are invalid as well. On March 2, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the petitions for writs of certiorari to
review the case, although it is unclear when a decision will be made or how the Supreme Court will rule. In addition, there may
be other efforts to challenge, repeal or replace the ACA. We are continuing to monitor any changes to the ACA that, in turn, may
potentially impact our business in the future.
In addition, other legislative changes
have been proposed and adopted since the ACA was enacted. On August 2, 2011, the Budget Control Act of 2011 was signed into
law, which, among other things, reduced Medicare payments to providers by 2% per fiscal year, effective on April 1, 2013 and,
due to subsequent legislative amendments to the statute, was to remain in effect through 2029. The CARES Act, which was signed
into law on March 27, 2020, temporarily suspended these reductions from May 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020, and
extended the sequester by one additional year, through 2030. In addition, on January 2, 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief
Act of 2012 was signed into law, which, among other things, reduced Medicare payments to several providers, including hospitals,
and increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover overpayments to providers from three to five years.
We expect additional state and federal
healthcare reform measures to be adopted in the future, any of which could limit reimbursement for healthcare products and services,
which could result in reduced demand for our products or additional pricing pressure.
Failure to comply with data protection
laws and regulations could lead to government enforcement actions (which could include civil or criminal penalties), private litigation
and/or adverse publicity and could negatively affect our operating results and business.
We and our commercial partners, independent
sales agents, suppliers and other business partners may be subject to federal, state and foreign data protection laws and regulations
(i.e., laws and regulations that address data privacy and security). In the United States, numerous federal and state laws and
regulations, including state data breach notification laws, state health information privacy laws, and federal and state consumer
protection laws and regulations (e.g., Section 5 of the FTC Act), that govern the collection, use, disclosure and protection
of health-related and other personal information could apply to our operations or the operations of our partners. We may also be
subject to U.S. federal rules, regulations and guidance concerning data security for medical devices, including guidance from the
FDA. In addition, we may obtain health information from third parties (including research institutions from which we obtain clinical
trial data) that are subject to privacy and security requirements under HIPAA. Depending on the facts and circumstances, we could
be subject to criminal penalties if we knowingly obtain, use, or disclose individually identifiable health information maintained
by a HIPAA-covered entity in a manner that is not authorized or permitted by HIPAA.
In addition, the California Consumer Privacy
Act, or CCPA, became effective on January 1, 2020. The CCPA gives California residents expanded rights to access and delete
their personal information, opt out of certain personal information sharing and receive detailed information about how their personal
information is used by requiring covered companies to provide new disclosures to California consumers (as that term is broadly
defined) and provide such consumers new ways to opt out of certain sales of personal information. The CCPA provides for civil penalties
for violations, as well as a private right of action for data breaches that is expected to increase data breach litigation. Although
there are limited exemptions for certain health-related information, including certain clinical trial data, the CCPA may increase
our compliance costs and potential liability. Additionally, a new California ballot initiative, the California Privacy Rights Act,
appears to have garnered enough signatures to be included on the November 2020 ballot, and if voted into law by California
residents, would impose additional data protection obligations on companies doing business in California, including additional
consumer rights processes and opt outs for certain uses of sensitive data. It would also create a new California data protection
agency specifically tasked to enforce the law, which would likely result in increased regulatory scrutiny of California businesses
in the areas of data protection and security. Similar laws have been proposed in other states and at the federal level, and if
passed, such laws may have potentially conflicting requirements that would make compliance challenging.
63
Foreign data protection laws, including
the E.U. General Data Protection Regulation, or the GDPR, which became effective in May 2018, may also apply to health-related
and other personal information obtained outside of the United States. The GDPR imposes stringent data protection requirements for
the processing of personal data in the European Economic Area, or EEA. The GDPR imposes several stringent requirements for controllers
and processors of personal data, including, for example, higher standards for obtaining consent from individuals to process their
personal data, more robust disclosures to individuals and a strengthened individual data rights regime, shortened timelines for
data breach notifications, limitations on retention and secondary use of information (including for research purposes), increased
requirements pertaining to health data and pseudonymised (i.e., key-coded) data and additional obligations when we contract third
party processors in connection with the processing of the personal data. The GDPR also imposes strict rules on the transfer
of personal data out of the EEA, to the United States and other third countries. Recent legal developments in Europe have created
complexity and uncertainty regarding transfers of personal data from the EEA to the United States, e.g. on July 16, 2020,
the Court of Justice of the European Union, or the CJEU, invalidated the E.U.-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework, or the Privacy Shield,
under which personal data could be transferred from the EEA to U.S. entities who had self-certified under the Privacy Shield scheme.
While the CJEU upheld the adequacy of the standard contractual clauses (a standard form of contract approved by the European Commission
as an adequate personal data transfer mechanism, and potential alternative to the Privacy Shield), it made clear that reliance
on them alone may not necessarily be sufficient in all circumstances. European data protection law provides that E.U. and EEA member
states may make their own further laws and regulations limiting the processing of health-related data, which could limit our ability
to use and share personal data or could cause our costs to increase, and harm our business and financial condition. Failure to
comply with the requirements of GDPR and the applicable national data protection and marketing laws may result in fines of up to
€20,000,000 or up to 4% of the total worldwide annual turnover of the preceding financial year, whichever is higher, and other
administrative penalties as well as individual claims for compensation.
In addition, the United Kingdom leaving
the European Union could also lead to further legislative and regulatory changes. It remains unclear how the United Kingdom data
protection laws or regulations will develop in the medium to longer term and how data transfer to the United Kingdom from the European
Union and the EEA will be regulated, especially following the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union on January 31,
2020. However, the United Kingdom has transposed the GDPR into domestic law with the Data Protection Act 2018, which remains in
force following the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union. Compliance with these and any other applicable privacy
and data security laws and regulations is a rigorous and time-intensive process, and we may be required to put in place additional
mechanisms ensuring compliance with the new data protection rules. If we fail to comply with any such laws or regulations, we may
face significant fines and penalties that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Compliance with U.S. and foreign privacy
and security laws, rules and regulations could require us to take on more onerous obligations in our contracts, require us
to engage in costly compliance exercises, restrict our ability to collect, use and disclose data, or in some cases, impact our
ability, or the ability of our commercial partners, independent sales agents, suppliers or other business partners, to operate
in certain jurisdictions. Each of these constantly evolving laws can be subject to varying interpretations. Failure to comply with
U.S. and foreign data protection laws and regulations could result in government investigations and enforcement actions (which
could include civil or criminal penalties), fines, private litigation and/or adverse publicity and could negatively affect our
operating results and business. Moreover, patients about whom we or our partners obtain information, as well as the providers who
share this information, may contractually limit our ability to use and disclose the information. Claims that we have violated individuals’
privacy rights, failed to comply with data protection laws, or breached our contractual obligations, even if we are not found liable,
could be expensive and time-consuming to defend and could result in adverse publicity that could have a material and adverse effect
on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Intellectual Property
If we are unable to obtain, maintain
and adequately protect our intellectual property rights, our competitive position could be harmed or we could be required to incur
significant expenses to enforce or defend our rights.
Our commercial success will depend in part
on our success in obtaining and maintaining issued patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights in the United States
and elsewhere and protecting our proprietary technology. If we do not adequately protect our intellectual property and proprietary
technology, competitors may be able to use our technologies or the goodwill we have acquired in the marketplace and erode or negate
any competitive advantage we may have, which could harm our business and ability to achieve profitability.
Some of our intellectual property rights
depend on licensing agreements with third parties, and our patent coverage includes protection provided by licensed patents. If
in the future we no longer have rights to one or more of these licensed patents, our patent coverage may be compromised, which
in turn could adversely affect our ability to protect our products and defend against competitors.
We have sought to protect our proprietary
position by filing patent applications in the United States and abroad related to our products that we view as important to our
business. This process is expensive and time-consuming, and we may not be able to file and prosecute all necessary or desirable
patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. In addition, we cannot provide any assurances that any of our patents
have, or that any of our pending patent applications that mature into issued patents will include, claims with a scope sufficient
to protect our existing products, any enhancements we may develop to our existing products or any new products we may develop or
acquire and introduce in the future. We, or our licensors, may fail to identify patentable aspects of inventions made in the course
of development and commercialization activities before it is too late to obtain patent protection on them. Therefore, we may miss
potential opportunities to strengthen our patent position. Other parties may have developed technologies that may be related or
competitive to our system, may have filed or may file patent applications and may have received or may receive patents that overlap
or conflict with our patent applications, either by claiming the same methods or devices or by claiming subject matter that could
dominate our patent position.
64
The patent positions of regenerative medicine
companies, including our patent position, may involve complex legal, scientific and factual questions, and, therefore, the scope,
validity, ownership and enforceability of any patent claims that we may obtain cannot be predicted with certainty. Patents, if
issued, may be challenged, deemed unenforceable, narrowed, invalidated or circumvented. Proceedings challenging our patents could
result in either loss of the patent or denial of the patent application or loss or reduction in the scope of one or more of the
claims of the patent or patent application. In addition, such proceedings may be costly. Thus, any patents that we currently own
or may own may not provide any protection against competitors. Furthermore, an adverse decision in an interference proceeding can
result in a third party receiving the patent right sought by us, which in turn could affect our ability to commercialize our products.
In recent years, patent rights have been the subject of significant litigation. Changes in either the patent laws or interpretation
of the patent laws in the United States and other countries may diminish the value of our owned or licensed patents or narrow the
scope of our patent protection.
Though an issued patent is presumed valid
and enforceable, its issuance is not conclusive as to its inventorship, scope, validity or enforceability, and it may not provide
us with adequate proprietary protection or competitive advantages against competitors with similar products. Competitors could
attempt to replicate some or all of the competitive advantages we derive from our development efforts, willfully infringe, misappropriate
or otherwise violate our intellectual property rights, design around our patents or develop and obtain patent protection for more
effective technologies, designs or methods.
CanGaroo and SimpliDerm are the only current
products covered by issued patents. We rely on unpatented trade secrets and know-how for several of our current products to develop
and maintain our competitive position. However, trade secrets and know-how can be difficult to protect and enforce against third
parties. Accordingly, we cannot be certain that these intellectual property rights will provide us with adequate protection or
enable us to prevent third parties from developing or commercializing competitive products.
We may be unable to prevent the unauthorized
disclosure or use of our technical knowledge or trade secrets by consultants, suppliers, vendors, current and former employees,
distributors, commercial partners or independent sales agents. The laws of some foreign countries do not protect our proprietary
rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States, and we may encounter significant problems in protecting our proprietary
rights in these countries.
Our ability to enforce our patent rights
depends on our ability to detect infringement. It may be difficult to detect infringers who do not advertise the components that
are used in their products. Moreover, it may be difficult or impossible to obtain evidence of infringement in a competitor’s
or potential competitor’s product. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate and the damages or other remedies
awarded, if we were to prevail, may not be commercially meaningful.
In addition, proceedings to enforce or
defend our patents could put our patents at risk of being invalidated, held unenforceable or interpreted narrowly, which could
limit our ability to stop or prevent us from stopping others from using or commercializing similar or identical technology and
products, or limit the duration of the patent protection of our technology and products. Such proceedings could provoke third parties
to assert claims against us, including that some or all of the claims in one or more of our patents are invalid or otherwise unenforceable.
If any of the patents covering our products are narrowed, invalidated or found unenforceable, or if a court found that valid, enforceable
patents held by third parties covered one or more of our products, our competitive position could be harmed or we could be required
to incur significant expenses to enforce or defend our rights.
The degree of future protection for our
proprietary rights is uncertain, and we cannot ensure that:
· any of our patents, or any of our pending patent applications, if issued, will include claims having
a scope sufficient to protect our products;
· any of our pending patent applications will issue as patents;
· we will be able to successfully commercialize our products on a substantial scale, if approved,
before the relevant patents we currently have, or may have, expire;
· we were the first to conceive and reduce to practice the inventions covered by each of our patents
and pending patent applications;
· we were the first to file patent applications for these inventions;
· others will not develop similar or alternative technologies that do not infringe, misappropriate
or otherwise violate our owned or licensed patents and other intellectual property rights;
· any of our patents will ultimately be found to be valid and enforceable;
· ownership of our patents or patent applications will not be challenged by third parties;
65
· any patents issued to us will provide a basis for an exclusive market for our commercially viable
products, will provide us with any competitive advantages or will not be challenged by third parties;
· our competitors will not conduct research and development activities in countries where we do not
have patent rights, or in countries where research and development safe harbor laws exist, and then use the information learned
from such activities to develop competitive products for sale in our major commercial markets;
· we will develop additional proprietary technologies or products that are separately patentable;
or
· our commercial activities or products will not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate the
patents and other intellectual property rights of others.
· Should any of these events occur, they could have a material and adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
We may not enter into invention assignment
and confidentiality agreements with all of our employees and contractors and such agreements could be ineffective or breached.
We rely, in part, upon unpatented trade
secrets, unpatented know-how and continuing technological innovation to develop and maintain our competitive position, which we
seek to protect, in part, by confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, independent sales agents, collaborators
and third-party vendors. We also seek to enter agreements with our employees and consultants that obligate them to assign any inventions
created during their work for us to us and have non-compete agreements with some, but not all, of our consultants. However, we
may not obtain these agreements in all circumstances and the assignment of intellectual property under such agreements may not
be self-executing. If the employees, consultants or collaborators that are parties to these agreements breach or violate their
respective terms, we may not have adequate remedies for any such breach or violation. It is possible that technology relevant to
our business will be independently developed by a person that is not a party to such an agreement. Furthermore, if the employees
and consultants who are parties to these agreements breach or violate the terms of these agreements, we may not have adequate remedies
for any such breach or violation, and we could lose our trade secrets through such breaches or violations. Further, our trade secrets
could otherwise become known or be independently discovered by our competitors. Any of the foregoing could have a material and
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The patent protection we obtain for
our products may not be sufficient enough to provide us with any competitive advantage or our patents may be challenged.
Our owned and licensed patents and pending
patent applications, if issued, may not provide us with any meaningful protection or prevent competitors from designing around
our patent claims to circumvent our patents by developing similar or alternative technologies or products in a non-infringing manner.
For example, a third party may develop a competitive product that provides benefits similar to one or more of our products but
falls outside the scope of our patent protection or license rights. If the patent protection provided by the patents and patent
applications we hold or pursue with respect to our products is not sufficiently broad to impede such competition, our ability to
successfully commercialize our products could be negatively affected, which would harm our business.
It is possible that defects of form in
the preparation or filing of our patents or patent applications may exist, or may arise in the future, for example with respect
to proper priority claims, inventorship, claim scope, or requests for patent term adjustments. If we or our collaborators or licensors,
fail to establish, maintain or protect such patents and other intellectual property rights, such rights may be reduced or eliminated.
If our collaborators or licensors are not fully cooperative or disagree with us as to the prosecution, maintenance or enforcement
of any patent rights, such patent rights could be compromised. If there are material defects in the form, preparation, prosecution
or enforcement of our patents or patent applications, such patents may be invalid and/or unenforceable, and such applications may
never result in valid and enforceable patents. Any of these outcomes could impair our ability to prevent competition from third
parties, which may have an adverse impact on our business.
Pending patent applications cannot be enforced
against third parties practicing the technology claimed in such applications unless and until a patent issues from such applications.
Assuming the other requirements for patentability are met, currently, the first to file a patent application is generally entitled
to the patent. However, prior to March 16, 2013, in the United States, the first to invent was entitled to the patent. Publications
of discoveries in the scientific literature often lag behind the actual discoveries, and patent applications in the United States
and other jurisdictions are not published until 18 months after filing, or in some cases not at all. Therefore, we cannot be certain
that we were the first to make the inventions claimed in our patents or pending patent applications, or that we were the first
to file for patent protection of such inventions. Similarly, we cannot be certain that parties from whom we do or may license or
purchase patent rights were the first to make relevant claimed inventions, or were the first to file for patent protection for
them. If third parties have filed prior patent applications on inventions claimed in our patents or applications that were filed
on or before March 15, 2013, an interference proceeding in the United States can be initiated by such third parties to determine
who was the first to invent any of the subject matter covered by the patent claims of our applications. If third parties have filed
such prior applications after March 15, 2013, a derivation proceeding in the United States can be initiated by such third
parties to determine whether our invention was derived from theirs.
66
Moreover, because the issuance of a patent
is not conclusive as to its inventorship, scope, validity or enforceability, our owned and licensed patents or pending patent applications
may be challenged in the courts or patent offices in the United States and abroad. There is no assurance that all of the potentially
relevant prior art relating to our patents and patent applications has been found. If such prior art exists, it may be used to
invalidate a patent, or may prevent a patent from issuing from a pending patent application. For example, such patent filings may
be subject to a third-party submission of prior art to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, or to other patent offices
around the world. Alternately or additionally, we may become involved in post-grant review procedures, oppositions, derivation
proceedings, ex parte reexaminations, inter partes review, supplemental examinations or interference proceedings or challenges
in district court, in the United States or in various foreign patent offices, including both national and regional, challenging
patents or patent applications in which we have rights, including patents on which we rely to protect our business. In addition,
if we seek to enforce our patents against third parties, third parties may initiate such challenges in response. An adverse determination
in any such challenges may result in loss of the patent or in patent or patent application claims being narrowed, invalidated or
held unenforceable, in whole or in part, or in denial of the patent application or loss or reduction in the scope of one or more
claims of the patent or patent application, any of which could limit our ability to stop others from using or commercializing similar
or identical technology and products, or limit the duration of the patent protection of our technology and products. In addition,
given the amount of time required for the development, testing and regulatory review of new product candidates, patents protecting
such candidates might expire before or shortly after such candidates are commercialized. Any of the foregoing could have a material
and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Litigation or other proceedings or
third-party claims of intellectual property infringement, misappropriation or other violations could require us to spend significant
time and money, prevent us from selling our products and adversely affect our stock price.
Our commercial success will depend in part
on not infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the patents or other proprietary rights of third parties. Significant
litigation regarding patent rights occurs in our industry. Our competitors in both the United States and abroad, many of which
have substantially greater resources and have made substantial investments in patent portfolios and competing technologies, may
have applied for or obtained or may in the future apply for and obtain, patents that will prevent, limit or otherwise interfere
with our ability to make, use and sell our products. We do not always conduct independent reviews of patents issued to third parties.
In addition, patent applications in the United States and elsewhere can be pending for many years before issuance, or unintentionally
abandoned patents or applications can be revived, so there may be applications of others now pending or recently revived patents
of which we are unaware. These applications may later result in issued patents, or the revival of previously abandoned patents,
that will prevent, limit or otherwise interfere with our ability to make, use or sell our products. Third parties may, in the future,
assert claims that we are employing their proprietary technology without authorization, including claims from competitors or from
non-practicing entities that have no relevant product sales and against whom our own patent portfolio may have no deterrent effect.
As we continue to commercialize our products in their current or updated forms, launch new products and enter new markets, we expect
competitors may claim that one or more of our products infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate their intellectual property
rights as part of business strategies designed to impede our successful commercialization and entry into new markets. The large
number of patents, the rapid rate of new patent applications and issuances, the complexities of the technology involved and the
uncertainty of litigation may increase the risk of business resources and management’s attention being diverted to patent
litigation. We may in the future receive letters or other threats or claims from third parties inviting us to take licenses under,
or alleging that we infringe, their patents.
Moreover, we may become party to future
adversarial proceedings regarding our patent portfolio or the patents of third parties. Such proceedings could include supplemental
examination or contested post-grant proceedings, such as review, reexamination, inter parties review, interference or derivation
proceedings before the USPTO and challenges in U.S. District Court. Patents may be subjected to opposition, post-grant review or
comparable proceedings lodged in various foreign, both national and regional, patent offices. The legal threshold for initiating
litigation or contested proceedings may be low, so that even lawsuits or proceedings with a low probability of success might be
initiated. Litigation and contested proceedings can also be expensive and time-consuming, and our adversaries in these proceedings
may have the ability to dedicate substantially greater resources to prosecuting these legal actions than we can. We may also occasionally
use these proceedings to challenge the patent rights of others. We cannot be certain that any particular challenge will be successful
in limiting or eliminating the challenged patent rights of the third party.
Any lawsuits resulting from such allegations
could subject us to significant liability for damages and/or invalidate our proprietary rights. Any potential intellectual property
litigation also could force us to do one or more of the following:
· stop making, selling or using products or technologies that allegedly infringe, misappropriate
or otherwise violate the asserted intellectual property;
· lose the opportunity to license our technology to others or to collect royalty payments based upon
successful protection and assertion of our intellectual property rights against others;
· incur significant legal expenses;
67
· pay substantial damages or royalties to the party whose intellectual property rights we may be
found to be infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating;
· pay the attorney’s fees and costs of litigation to the party whose intellectual property
rights we may be found to be infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating;
· redesign those products that contain the allegedly infringing intellectual property, which could
be costly, disruptive and infeasible; and
· attempt to obtain a license to the relevant intellectual property from third parties, which may
not be available on reasonable terms or at all, or from third parties who may attempt to license rights that they do not have.
Any litigation or claim against us, even
those without merit, may cause us to incur substantial costs, and could place a significant strain on our financial resources,
divert the attention of management from our core business and harm our reputation. If we are found to infringe, misappropriate
or otherwise violate the intellectual property rights of third parties, we could be required to pay substantial damages (possibly
treble damages) and/or substantial royalties and could be prevented from selling our products unless we obtain a license or are
able to redesign our products to avoid infringement, misappropriation or violation. Any such license may not be available on reasonable
terms, if at all, and there can be no assurance that we would be able to redesign our products in a way that would not infringe,
misappropriate or otherwise violate the intellectual property rights of others. We could encounter delays in product introductions
while we attempt to develop alternative methods or products. If we fail to obtain any required licenses or make any necessary changes
to our products or technologies, we may have to withdraw existing products from the market or may be unable to commercialize one
or more of our products.
In addition, we generally indemnify our
customers with respect to infringement by our products of the proprietary rights of third parties. Third parties may assert infringement
claims against our customers. These claims may require us to initiate or defend protracted and costly litigation on behalf of our
customers, regardless of the merits of these claims. If any of these claims succeed or settle, we may be forced to pay damages
or settlement payments on behalf of our customers or may be required to obtain licenses for the products they use. If we cannot
obtain all necessary licenses on commercially reasonable terms, our customers may be forced to stop using our products.
We may not have sufficient resources to
bring these actions to a successful conclusion. There could also be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or
other interim proceedings or developments. If securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could
have a material adverse effect on the market price of shares of our Class A common stock. Any of the foregoing could have
a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we are unable to protect the confidentiality
of our trade secrets, our business and competitive position could be harmed.
In addition to patent protection, we also
rely upon copyright and trade secret protection, as well as non-disclosure agreements and invention assignment agreements with
our employees, consultants, independent sales agents and other third parties, to protect our confidential and proprietary information.
In addition to contractual measures, we try to protect the confidential nature of our proprietary information using commonly accepted
physical and technological security measures. Such measures may not, for example, in the case of misappropriation of a trade secret
by an employee or third party with authorized access, provide adequate protection for our proprietary information. Our security
measures may not prevent an employee or consultant from misappropriating our trade secrets and providing them to a competitor,
and recourse we take against such misconduct may not provide an adequate remedy to protect our interests fully. Unauthorized parties
may also attempt to copy or reverse engineer certain aspects of our products that we consider proprietary. Enforcing a claim that
a party illegally disclosed or misappropriated a trade secret can be difficult, expensive and time-consuming, and the outcome is
unpredictable. Even though we use commonly accepted security measures, trade secret violations are often a matter of state law,
and the criteria for protection of trade secrets can vary among different jurisdictions. In addition, trade secrets may be independently
developed by others in a manner that could prevent legal recourse by us. If any of our confidential or proprietary information,
such as our trade secrets, were to be disclosed or misappropriated, or if any such information was independently developed by a
competitor, it could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may be unable to enforce our intellectual
property rights throughout the world.
Obtaining, maintaining and enforcing intellectual
property rights is expensive and it is cost prohibitive to do so throughout the world. Accordingly, we may determine not to obtain,
maintain or enforce intellectual property rights in certain jurisdictions. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not
protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. Many companies have encountered significant
problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in certain foreign jurisdictions. This could make it difficult
for us to stop infringement of our foreign patents, if obtained, or the misappropriation or other violation of our other intellectual
property rights. For example, some foreign countries have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner must grant licenses
to third parties. In addition, some countries limit the enforceability of patents against third parties, including government agencies
or government contractors. In these countries, patents may provide limited or no benefit. Patent protection must ultimately be
sought on a country-by-country basis, which is an expensive and time-consuming process with uncertain outcomes. Accordingly, we
may choose not to seek patent protection in certain countries, and we will not have the benefit of patent protection in such countries.
68
Proceedings to enforce our patent rights
in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business.
Accordingly, our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights in such countries may be inadequate. In addition, changes
in the law and legal decisions by courts in the United States and foreign countries may affect our ability to obtain adequate protection
for our technology and the enforcement of our intellectual property. Any of the foregoing could have a material and adverse effect
on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Third parties may assert ownership
or commercial rights to inventions we develop.
Third parties may in the future make claims
challenging the inventorship or ownership of our intellectual property. We have written agreements with collaborators that provide
for the ownership of intellectual property arising from our collaborations. In addition, we may face claims by third parties that
our agreements with employees, contractors or consultants obligating them to assign intellectual property to us are ineffective
or in conflict with prior or competing contractual obligations of assignment, which could result in ownership disputes regarding
intellectual property we have developed or will develop and interfere with our ability to capture the commercial value of such
intellectual property. Litigation may be necessary to resolve an ownership dispute, and if we are not successful, we may be precluded
from using certain intellectual property or may lose our exclusive rights in such intellectual property. Either outcome could harm
our business and competitive position. Any of the foregoing could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
Third parties may assert that our
employees or consultants have wrongfully used or disclosed confidential information or misappropriated trade secrets.
We employ individuals who previously worked
with other companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. Although we try to ensure that our employees and consultants
do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or our employees,
consultants or independent contractors have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed intellectual property or personal data,
including trade secrets or other proprietary information, of a former employer or other third party. Litigation may be necessary
to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending any such claims or settling those claims, in addition to paying monetary
damages or a settlement payment, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. Even if we are successful in defending
against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees. Any of
the foregoing could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Recent changes in U.S. patent laws
may limit our ability to obtain, defend and/or enforce our patents.
Recent patent reform legislation could
increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our
issued patents. The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or the Leahy-Smith Act, includes a number of significant changes to U.S. patent
law. These include provisions that affect the way patent applications are prosecuted and also affect patent litigation. The USPTO
recently developed new regulations and procedures to govern administration of the Leahy-Smith Act, and many of the substantive
changes to patent law associated with the Leahy-Smith Act, and in particular, the first to file provisions, which became effective
on March 16, 2013, could affect us. The first to file provisions limit the rights of an inventor to patent an invention if
the inventor was not the first to file an application for patenting that invention, even if such invention was the first invention.
Accordingly, it is not clear what, if any, impact the Leahy-Smith Act will have on the operation of our business. This will require
us to be cognizant going forward of the timing from invention to filing of a patent application and be diligent in filing patent
applications, but circumstances could prevent us from promptly filing patent applications on our inventions.
In addition, the Leahy-Smith Act and its
implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the enforcement and defense of our issued patents. For example,
the Leahy-Smith Act provides that an administrative tribunal known as the Patent Trial and Appeals Board, or PTAB, provides a venue
for challenging the validity of patents at a cost that is much lower than district court litigation and on timelines that are much
faster. This applies to all of our U.S. patents, even those issued before March 16, 2013. Furthermore, because of a lower
evidentiary standard in USPTO proceedings compared to the evidentiary standard in U.S. federal courts necessary to invalidate a
patent claim, a third party could potentially provide evidence in a USPTO proceeding sufficient for the USPTO to hold a claim invalid
even though the same evidence would be insufficient to invalidate the claim if first presented in a district court action. Although
it is not clear what, if any, long-term impact the PTAB proceedings will have on the operation of our business, patent challenge
proceedings before the PTAB since its inception in 2013 have resulted in the invalidation of many U.S. patent claims. The availability
of the PTAB as a lower-cost, faster and potentially more potent tribunal for challenging patents could increase the likelihood
that our own patents will be challenged, thereby increasing the uncertainties and costs of maintaining and enforcing them. Any
failure by us to adequately address the uncertainties and costs surrounding recent patent legislation could have a material and
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
69
Obtaining and maintaining our patent
protection depends on compliance with various procedural, document submission, fee payment and other requirements imposed by governmental
patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or eliminated for non-compliance with these requirements.
Periodic maintenance and annuity fees on
any issued patent are due to be paid to the USPTO and European and other patent agencies over the lifetime of a patent. In addition,
the USPTO and European and other patent agencies require compliance with a number of procedural, documentary, fee payment and other
similar provisions during the patent application process. While an inadvertent failure to make payment of such fees or to comply
with such provisions can in many cases be cured by payment of a late fee or by other means in accordance with the applicable rules,
there are situations in which such noncompliance will result in the abandonment or lapse of the patent or patent application, and
the partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. Non-compliance events that could result in abandonment
or lapse of a patent or patent application include failure to respond to official actions within prescribed time limits, non-payment
of fees and failure to properly legalize and submit formal documents within prescribed time limits. If we or our licensors fail
to maintain the patents and patent applications covering our product candidates or if we or our licensors otherwise allow our patents
or patent applications to be abandoned or lapse, our competitors might be able to enter the market, which would hurt our competitive
position, could impair our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates in any indication for which they are approved,
and could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, any of the intellectual property
rights that we own or license that are developed through the use of U.S. government funding will be subject to additional federal
regulations. Pursuant to the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, or Bayh-Dole Act, the government will receive a license under inventions developed
under a government-funded program and may require us to manufacture products embodying such inventions in the United States. Under
certain circumstances, the government may also claim ownership in such inventions or compel us to license them to third parties.
Any failure by us to comply with federal regulations regarding intellectual property rights that were developed through the use
of U.S. government funding could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we do not obtain patent term extension
in the United States under the Hatch-Waxman Amendments and in foreign countries under similar legislation, thereby potentially
extending the term of marketing exclusivity for our product candidates, our business may be materially harmed.
Patents have a limited lifespan. In the
United States, if all maintenance fees are timely paid, the natural expiration of a patent is generally 20 years from its earliest
U.S. non-provisional filing date. Various extensions may be available, but the life of a patent, and the protection it affords,
is limited. Even if patents covering our product candidates are obtained, once the patent life has expired for a product, we may
be open to competition from competitive products. Given the amount of time required for the development, testing and regulatory
review of new product candidates, patents protecting such candidates might expire before or shortly after such candidates are commercialized.
As a result, our owned and licensed patent portfolio may not provide us with sufficient rights to exclude others from commercializing
products similar or identical to ours.
In the United States, a patent that covers
an FDA-approved drug, biologic or medical device may be eligible for a term extension designed to restore the period of the patent
term that is lost during the premarket regulatory review process conducted by the FDA. Depending upon the timing, duration and
conditions of FDA marketing approval of our product candidates, we may be able to extend the term of a patent covering each product
candidate under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, referred to as the Hatch-Waxman Amendments
and similar legislation in the European Union. The Hatch-Waxman Amendments permit a patent term extension of up to five years for
a patent covering an approved product as compensation for effective patent term lost during product development and the FDA regulatory
review process. However, we may not receive an extension if we fail to apply within applicable deadlines, fail to apply prior to
expiration of relevant patents or otherwise fail to satisfy applicable requirements. Moreover, the length of the extension could
be less than we request. A patent term extension cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the
date of product approval, and only claims covering such approved product, a method for using it or a method for manufacturing it
may be extended. In the European Union, our product candidates may be eligible for term extensions based on similar legislation.
If we are unable to obtain patent term extension or the term of any such extension is less than we request, the period during which
we can enforce our patent rights for that product will be shortened and our competitors may obtain approval to market competing
products sooner. As a result, our revenue from applicable products could be reduced, possibly materially.
Further, under certain circumstances, patent
terms covering our products or product candidates may be extended for time spent during the pendency of the patent application
in the USPTO (referred to as Patent Term Adjustment, or PTA). The laws and regulations underlying how the USPTO calculates the
PTA is subject to change and any such PTA granted by the USPTO could be challenged by a third-party. If we do not prevail under
such a challenge, the PTA may be reduced or eliminated, resulting in a shorter patent term, which may negatively impact our ability
to exclude competitors. Because PTA added to the term of patents covering products has particular value, our business may be adversely
affected if the PTA is successfully challenged by a third party and our ability to exclude competitors is reduced or eliminated.
Any of the foregoing could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
70
We depend on certain technologies
that are licensed to us. We do not control the intellectual property rights covering these technologies, and any loss of our rights
to these technologies or the rights licensed to us could prevent us from selling our products and adversely impact our business.
We are a party to license agreements under
which we are granted rights to intellectual property that is important to our business, and we may need to enter into additional
license agreements in the future. We rely on these licenses in order to be able to use and sell various proprietary technologies
that are material to our business, as well as technologies we intend to use in our future commercial activities. For example, we
expect that we will be dependent on our licensing arrangements with Cook Biotech, relating to CanGaroo and our cardiovascular products.
Our rights to use these technologies and the inventions claimed in the licensed patents are subject to the continuation of and
our compliance with the terms of those license agreements. Our existing license agreements impose, and we expect that future license
agreements will also impose on us, various diligence obligations, milestone payments, royalties and other obligations. If we fail
to comply with our obligations under these agreements, or if we are subject to a bankruptcy proceeding, the licensor may have the
right to terminate the license, in which case we would not be able to market products covered by the license, which would adversely
affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
As we have done previously, we may need
to obtain additional licenses from third parties in order to advance our research or allow commercialization of our products and
technologies. The in-licensing and acquisition of third-party intellectual property is a competitive area, and a number of more
established companies are also pursuing strategies to in-license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights that we may
consider attractive or necessary. These established companies may have a competitive advantage over us due to their size, cash
resources and greater clinical development and commercialization capabilities. Furthermore, companies that perceive us to be a
competitor may be unwilling to assign or license rights to us. Accordingly, we may not be able to obtain any of these licenses
on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Even if we are able to obtain a license, it may be non-exclusive, thereby giving our
competitors access to the same technologies licensed to us. In the event that we are not able to acquire a license, we may be required
to expend significant time and resources to develop or license replacement technology. If we are unable to do so, we may be unable
to develop or commercialize the affected products and technologies, which could materially harm our business. In addition, the
third parties owning such intellectual property rights could seek either an injunction prohibiting our sales, or, with respect
to our sales, an obligation on our part to pay royalties or other forms of compensation and damages.
In some cases, we may not have the right
to control the prosecution, maintenance or filing of the patents that are licensed to us, or the enforcement of these patents against
infringement by third parties. Some of our patents and patent applications were not filed by us, but were either acquired by us
or are licensed from third parties. Thus, these patents and patent applications were not drafted by us, and we did not control
or have any input into the prosecution of these patents and patent applications prior to our acquisition of, or our entry into
a license with respect to, such patents and patent applications. We cannot be certain that the drafting or prosecution of these
patents and patent applications will result or has resulted in valid and enforceable patents. Further, since we do not always retain
complete control over our ability to enforce our licensed patent rights against third-party infringement, we cannot be certain
that our licensor will elect to enforce these patents to the extent that we would choose to do so, or in a way that will ensure
that we retain the rights we currently have under the applicable license agreement. If our licensor fails to properly enforce the
patents subject to our license agreement in the event of third-party infringement, our ability to retain our competitive advantage
with respect to the applicable products may be materially and adversely affected.
Licensing of intellectual property is an
important part of our business and involves complex legal, business and scientific issues. Disputes may arise between us and our
licensors regarding intellectual property that is subject to a license agreement, including, with respect to, among other things:
· the scope of rights granted under the license agreement and other interpretation-related issues;
· whether our licensor had the right to grant the rights granted to us under the license agreement;
· whether and the extent to which our technology and processes infringe, misappropriate or otherwise
violate intellectual property of the licensor that is not subject to the license agreement;
· our right to sublicense patent and other rights to third parties under collaborative development
relationships;
· our involvement in the prosecution and enforcement of the licensed patents and our licensor’s
overall patent enforcement strategy;
· our diligence obligations with respect to the use of the licensed technology in relation to our
development and commercialization of our products and technologies, and what activities satisfy those diligence obligations;
· the ownership of inventions and know-how resulting from the joint creation or use of intellectual
property by our licensors and us and our partners; and
· the amounts of royalties, milestones or other payments due under the license agreement.
71
In addition, we may become the owner of
intellectual property that was obtained through assignments, which may be subject to re-assignment back to the original assignor
upon our failure to prosecute or maintain such intellectual property, upon our breach of the agreement pursuant to which such intellectual
property was assigned, or upon our bankruptcy.
The resolution of any contract interpretation
disagreement that may arise could narrow what we believe to be the scope of our rights to the relevant intellectual property or
technology, or increase what we believe to be our financial or other obligations under the relevant agreement. If disputes over
intellectual property that we have licensed prevent or impair our ability to maintain our current licensing arrangements on acceptable
terms, or if intellectual property is re-assigned back to the original assignor, we may be unable to successfully develop and commercialize
or continue selling products that utilize the affected intellectual property, any of which could impair our ability to execute
our growth strategy and could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may not be able to protect and
enforce our trademarks and trade names, or build name recognition in our markets of interest, thereby harming our competitive position.
We have not yet registered certain of our
trademarks in all of our potential markets. If we apply to register these and other trademarks in the United States and other countries,
our applications may not be allowed for registration in a timely fashion or at all, and our registered trademarks may not be maintained
or enforced. In addition, the registered or unregistered trademarks or trade names that we own may be challenged, infringed, circumvented,
declared generic, lapsed or determined to be infringing on or dilutive of other marks. We may not be able to protect our rights
in these trademarks and trade names, which we need in order to build name recognition. In addition, third parties may file for
registration of trademarks similar or identical to our trademarks, thereby impeding our ability to build brand identity and possibly
leading to market confusion. If they succeed in registering or developing common law rights in such trademarks, and if we are not
successful in challenging such rights, we may not be able to use these trademarks to develop brand recognition of our technologies,
products or services. In addition, there could be potential trade name or trademark infringement claims brought by owners of other
registered trademarks or trademarks that incorporate variations of our registered or unregistered trademarks or trade names. Further,
we may in the future enter into agreements with owners of such third party trade names or trademarks to avoid potential trademark
litigation which may limit our ability to use our trade names or trademarks in certain fields of business.
In addition, opposition or cancellation
proceedings may in the future be filed against our trademark applications and registrations, and our trademarks may not survive
such proceedings. In addition, third parties may file first for our trademarks in certain countries. If they succeed in registering
such trademarks, and if we are not successful in challenging such third party rights, we may not be able to use these trademarks
to market our products in those countries. If we do not secure registrations for our trademarks, we may encounter more difficulty
in enforcing them against third parties than we otherwise would. If we are unable to establish name recognition based on our trademarks
and trade names, we may not be able to compete effectively, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition, results of operations and prospects.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
We expect that the price of our Class A
common stock will fluctuate substantially and you may not be able to sell the shares you purchase at or above the price you paid
for such shares.
The market price of our Class A common
stock is likely to be highly volatile and may fluctuate substantially due to a variety of factors, many of which are outside of
our control, including, among other things:
· the volume and timing of sales of our products;
· the introduction of new products or product enhancements by us or others in our industry;
· developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic;
· disputes or other developments with respect to our or others’ intellectual property rights;
· our ability to develop, obtain regulatory clearance or approval for, and market new and enhanced
products on a timely basis;
· changes or proposed changes in laws or regulations or differing interpretations or enforcement
thereof affecting our business;
· product liability claims, other litigation or regulatory investigations;
· annual or quarterly variations in our results of operations or those of others in our industry,
or results of operations that otherwise vary from those expected by securities analysts and investors;
· publications, reports or other media exposure of our products or those of others in our industry,
or of our industry generally;
72
· announcements by us or others in our industry, or by our or their respective suppliers, distributors
or other business partners, regarding, among other things, significant contracts, price reductions, capital commitments or other
business developments, the entry into or termination of strategic transactions or relationships, securities offerings or other
financing initiatives, and public reaction thereto;
· additions or departures of key management personnel;
· changes in governmental regulations or in reimbursement;
· changes in earnings estimates or recommendations by securities analysts, or other changes in investor
perceptions of the investment opportunity associated with our common stock relative to other investment alternatives;
· the development and sustainability of an active trading market for our Class A common stock;
· general market conditions and other factors, including factors unrelated to our operating performance
or the operating performance of our competitors; and
· other factors discussed in Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of this Quarterly
Report.
In recent years, the stock markets generally
have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance
of those companies, including, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Broad market and industry factors may significantly affect
the market price of our Class A common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. If the market price of shares
of our Class A common stock does not ever exceed the price you paid for your shares, you may not realize any return on your
investment in us and may lose some or all of your investment.
In addition, in the past, class action
litigation has often been instituted against companies whose securities have experienced periods of volatility in market price.
Securities litigation brought against us following volatility in our stock price, regardless of the merit or ultimate results of
such litigation, could result in substantial costs, which would hurt our financial condition and operating results and divert management’s
attention and resources away from our business.
Our principal stockholders have significant
voting power and may take actions that may not be in the best interests of our other stockholders.
As of November 9, 2020, our principal
stockholders each holding more than 5% of our Class A common stock collectively control approximately 56.5% of our
outstanding Class A common stock. As a result, these stockholders, if they act together, will be able to control the
management and affairs of our company and most matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors
and approval of significant corporate transactions. The interests of these stockholders may not be the same as or may even
conflict with your interests. For example, these stockholders could attempt to delay or prevent a change in control of the
company, even if such change in control would benefit our other stockholders, thereby depriving our other stockholders of an
opportunity to receive a premium for their common stock as part of a sale of the company or our assets. Conversely, these
stockholders may pursue acquisitions, divestitures and other transactions that, in their judgment, could enhance the value of
their investment, even though such transactions might involve risks to you. Even in the absence of any actual conflict of
interest, the degree of control possessed by these stockholders may affect the prevailing market price of our Class A
common stock due to investors’ perceptions that such conflicts of interest may exist or arise. As a result, this
concentration of ownership may not be in the best interests of our other stockholders and may impair your ability to realize
any return on your investment in us and may impair your ability to avoid losing some or all of your investment.
A significant portion of our total
outstanding shares are eligible to be sold into the market in the near future, which could cause the market price of our Class A
common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.
Sales of a substantial number of shares
of our common stock in the public market, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to
sell their shares, could reduce the market price of our Class A common stock. As of November 9, 2020, we had outstanding
10,226,122 shares of Class A and Class B, collectively. This includes the 2,941,176 shares that we sold in our IPO, which
may be resold in the public market immediately without restriction. As a holder of our Class B common stock, Deerfield only
has the right to convert each share of our Class B common stock into one share of Class A common stock at its election
to the extent that as a result of such conversion, it would not beneficially own in excess of 4.9% of any class of our securities
registered under the Exchange Act. As a result, Deerfield may not be deemed an “affiliate” for purposes of Rule 144
and, as a result, any securities it purchases may be freely tradable. Approximately 7.3 million of the remaining shares are restricted
as a result of securities laws or lock-up agreements (which may be waived, with or without notice, by Piper Sandler &
Co. and Cowen and Company, LLC) but will become eligible to be sold at various times beginning 180 days after the date of the Prospectus,
unless held by one of our affiliates, in which case the resale of those securities will be subject to volume limitations under
Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Because Deerfield may not be deemed an “affiliate”
for purposes of Rule 144, up to approximately 2.4 million shares of Class B common stock that Deerfield holds may become
freely tradable and not subject to volume limitations following the 180-day lock-up period. Moreover, as of the date of this Quarterly
Report, holders of an aggregate of up to approximately 7.1 million shares of our common stock have rights, subject to certain conditions
and limitations, to require us to file registration statements covering their shares or to include their shares in registration
statements that we may file for ourselves or other stockholders, until such rights terminate pursuant to the terms of our Investor
Rights Agreement. We also intend to register all shares of Class A common stock that we may issue under our equity compensation
plans. Once we register these shares, they can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance, subject to volume limitations
applicable to affiliates and the lock-up agreements.
73
The market price of our common stock may
drop significantly when the restrictions on resale by our existing stockholders lapse or when we are required to register the sale
of our stockholders’ remaining shares of our common stock. A decline in the trading price of our common stock might impede
our ability to raise capital through the issuance of additional shares of our Class A common stock or other equity securities
and may impair your ability to sell shares of our common stock at a price higher than the price you paid for them or at all.
The dual class structure of our common
stock and the option of the holders of shares of our Class B common stock to convert into shares of our Class A common
stock may limit your ability to influence corporate matters.
Our Class A common stock has one
vote per share, while our Class B common stock is non-voting. Nonetheless, each share of our Class B common stock may
be converted at any time into one share of Class A common stock at the option of its holder, subject to the limitations provided
for in our certificate of incorporation that prohibit the conversion of our Class B common stock into shares of Class A
common stock to the extent that, upon such conversion, such holder would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% of any class of our
securities registered under the Exchange Act. Consequently, if holders of Class B common stock exercise their option to make
this conversion, such exercise will have the effect of increasing the relative voting power of those prior holders of our Class B
common stock (subject to the ownership limitation described in the previous sentence) and increasing the number of outstanding
shares of our voting common stock, and correspondingly decreasing the relative voting power of the current holders of our Class A
common stock, which may limit your ability to influence corporate matters. Because our Class B common stock is generally
non-voting, stockholders who own more than 10% of our common stock overall but 10% or less of our Class A common stock will
not be required to report changes in their ownership from transactions in our Class B common stock pursuant to Section 16(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and would not be subject to the short-swing profit provisions
of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
You may be diluted by the future
issuance of additional common stock in connection with our incentive plans, acquisitions or otherwise.
As of November 18, 2020, we had 192,908,040
shares of Class A common stock authorized but unissued and 16,865,838 shares of Class B common stock authorized but unissued.
We are authorized under our certificate of incorporation to issue these shares of common stock and other securities convertible
into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our common stock for the consideration and on the terms and conditions established
by our board of directors in its sole discretion, whether in connection with acquisitions or otherwise. As of November 18,
2020, we had 287,395 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options under our 2015 Plan
at a weighted average exercise price of  $6.43 per share, 164,071 of which were vested as of such date, 736,790 shares of
Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options and the settlement of RSUs granted under our 2020 Plan to
certain of our executive officers, employees and consultants, with respect to such stock options, at a weighted average exercise
price of  $17.00 per share, 899,210 additional shares of our Class A common stock reserved for future issuance under
our 2020 Plan, not including the additional shares of Class A common stock that will be reserved for future issuance under
our 2020 Plan pursuant to provisions in the 2020 Plan that automatically increase the number of shares of our Class A common
stock reserved for future issuance thereunder, and 143,150 shares of our Class A common stock that will become available for
future issuance under our 2020 ESPP, not including the additional shares of Class A common stock that will be reserved for
future issuance under our 2020 ESPP pursuant to provisions in the 2020 ESPP that automatically increase the number of shares of
our Class A common stock reserved for future issuance thereunder. Any additional shares of common stock that we issue, including
under our 2020 Plan, 2020 ESPP or other equity incentive plans that we may adopt in the future, would dilute the percentage ownership
and voting power held by investors who purchase our common stock. In the future, we may also issue additional securities if we
need to raise capital, including, but not limited to, in connection with acquisitions, which could constitute a material portion
of our then-outstanding shares of our common stock.
We are an “emerging growth
company” and a “smaller reporting company,” and the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth
companies and smaller reporting companies may make our common stock less attractive to investors.
We are an “emerging growth company,”
as defined in the JOBS Act, and a “smaller reporting company,” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act.
Emerging growth companies and smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements
that are applicable to other publicly-traded entities that are not emerging growth companies or smaller reporting companies.
74
With respect to emerging growth companies,
these exemptions include:
· the option to present only two years of audited financial statements , in addition to any required
unaudited interim financial statements, with a correspondingly reduced Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations;
·
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.