Item 1. Business
Item 1. Business
Overview
MIMEDX is a pioneer and leader in placental biologics focused on helping humans heal by addressing unmet clinical needs. With more than a decade of helping clinicians manage chronic and other hard-to-heal wounds, MIMEDX is dedicated to providing a leading portfolio of products for applications in the wound care, burn, and surgical sectors of healthcare. The Company’s vision is to be the leading global provider of healing solutions through relentless innovation to restore quality of life.
With deep expertise and real-world data in the field of placental biologics, MIMEDX develops and distributes placental tissue allografts that are manufactured using patent-protected, proprietary processes for multiple sectors of healthcare. Today, our product portfolio is made up entirely of human placental allografts, which are human tissues that are derived from one person (the donor) and used to produce products that treat multiple people (the recipients). MIMEDX has supplied roughly three million allografts, through all shipments, filling direct orders and consignment orders, through December 31, 2023. Our products help clinicians treat patients suffering from chronic and other hard-to-heal wounds. These wounds can be slow to respond or unresponsive to conventional treatments and may benefit from advanced treatments, such as through the use of our products, in order to support the healing process.
The manufacturing of our product offering begins with donated birth tissue, namely the placenta, umbilical cord and placental disc, which we source through a large donor network developed over multiple years with leading hospitals and clinician groups. In partnership with these facilities, we are able to obtain donated birth tissue from consenting mothers, which then are shipped to our manufacturing facilities in Marietta, Georgia, and undergo a series of testing followed by our proprietary tissue manufacturing workflow, which we refer to as the PURION® process. We employ Current Good Tissue Practices (“ CGTP ”) and terminal sterilization to produce our allografts. MIMEDX provides products primarily for use in the wound care, burn, and surgical sectors of healthcare. All of our products sold in the United States are regulated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (“ FDA ”), and to the extent we sell our products outside the United States, by other regulatory agencies in such international markets.
We devote significant research and development resources and expertise to the therapeutic potential of placental tissue in an effort to grow our product offering, develop innovative products that address a wide range of chronic and acute health conditions affecting large patient populations, and generate best-in-class clinical evidence and data to support the use of our products.
Market Overview
Domestic sales currently account for substantially all of our revenue today. In the United States, our primary areas of clinical use include applications in surgical settings as well as for the treatment of wounds and burns. Additionally we are actively pursuing international expansion, primarily targeting Japan, as discussed below.
Wound
The unmet need for healing solutions is large and growing, with an estimated 2.1% of the total U.S. population, or approximately 7 million people, suffering from chronic, non-healing wounds 1 . The treatment of chronic wounds is often referred to as Advanced Wound Care (“ AWC ”). Chronic wounds are defined and characterized as those that do not progress through the normal process of healing and remain open for an extended period of time, which, depending on the wound, can be from several weeks to a few months. There are numerous underlying causes of these wounds, with this patient population typically sharing some combination of comorbidities, including age, obesity, smoking history, diabetes and heart and vascular diseases. Due to the rising incidence of each of these factors, we expect the AWC market will continue to grow.
Patients present with chronic wounds in a variety of care settings and these wounds vary in severity and complexity to treat. Our products can be found in many of these sites of service, including the private physician office (e.g., podiatry clinics), wound care centers, hospital inpatient and outpatient settings, nursing homes and federal facilities, such as those operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (“ VA ”). The most common types of chronic and hard-to-heal wounds appear in the lower extremities, presenting as diabetic foot ulcers (“ DFUs ”), venous leg ulcers (“ VLUs ”), and pressure ulcers, among others. Taken together, nearly 60% of the chronic wounds in the U.S. are categorized as chronic leg ulcers (which include DFUs and VLUs), with 47% treated with Advanced Wound Care dressings such as skin substitutes 2 . These wounds require intervention and active management by clinicians and are treated in a variety of sites-of-service, with numerous products aimed at achieving healing for the patie
1 Chronic Wounds: Economic Impact & Costs to Medicare, https://www.woundcarestakeholders.org/news/studies-and-publications/chronic-wounds-economic-impact-costs-to-medicare
2 GlobalData: 2022 Wound Care Management- Tissue Engineered Skin Subs U.S. Updated May 2022
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nt. The costs associated with treatment and management of patients with acute and chronic wounds is also high, with some estimates of the Medicare spend associated with such wounds approaching $100 billion annually.
The large and increasing number of patients requiring advanced treatment represents a significant cost burden on the healthcare system. The overall cost of treating chronic wounds is rising sharply, and the current annual estimated cost in the United States exceeds $28 billion 3 .
Complications from non-healing chronic wounds can ultimately result in significant, life-altering adverse outcomes, such as limb amputation 4 . Ineffective wound management is linked to numerous poor outcomes for patients, up to and including the potential for amputation of the extremity where the wound is present. Amputation is a catastrophic event for patients, with significant impacts to their quality of life, the lives of their caretakers and the expense burden on the healthcare system. Today, up to one-fifth of diabetic patients who develop a DFU will require some form of amputation. Further, patients who undergo a major lower extremity amputation have an increased five-year mortality rate that is comparable to, and in some cases higher than, patients with many forms of cancer 5 .
Advances in managing chronic and hard-to-heal wounds with solutions such as our EPIFIX® product have been shown to help contribute to improved outcomes for these patients. It is estimated that up to 85% of amputations are avoidable with a holistic, multispecialty team approach that incorporates innovative treatments, such as MIMEDX’s products, and adherence to treatment parameters. MIMEDX is a leader in the cellular tissue products/skin substitute segment of the AWC category and the amniotic tissue allograft sub-category.
The AWC market is comprised of many product types, such as medical devices, advanced dressings, xenografts, biological products, and Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue - Based Products ( “HTC/Ps” ), which are used as skin substitutes to treat severe and chronic wounds. Not included in AWC are traditional wound care dressings, such as bandages, gauzes and ointments, which typically are used in the treatment of non-severe or non-chronic wounds.
The prevalence of both acute and chronic wounds has grown not only in the U.S., but also globally. While historically we have focused primarily on the U.S. market, we are in the process of expanding our footprint internationally, most notably with the recent launch of our EPIFIX product in Japan. EPIFIX is the first and currently the only amniotic tissue product approved in Japan for wound treatment across a broad range of conditions. We believe our first-mover advantage, favorable reimbursement rate, and strong distribution partner set us up for long-term success in this large and growing market.
Traditional dressings such as bandages, gauzes and ointments, along with treatment of active infection and debridement, currently represent the “standard of care” for treating chronic wounds such as DFUs and VLUs. If, after four weeks of standard of care therapy, the wound has not responded appropriately or improved, clinical research has shown that advanced therapy such as a skin substitute can be beneficial as part of the patient’s treatment plan. However, oftentimes advanced therapies are not employed due to current treatment guidelines, product access, or medical education around the clinical and economic benefits of AWC products, including skin substitutes. We believe this represents a large opportunity for us to expand the market and drive initiatives resulting in market growth. According to recent data, MIMEDX’s EPIFIX is the current product of choice for physicians choosing to use an amniotic skin substitute product as a barrier or cover. Our EPIFIX, EPICORD® and EPIEFFECT® products can be stored at room temperature for up to five years, in contrast to certain other skin substitutes currently on the market that have performance, storage or handling limitations. In addition, we market multiple sizes of EPIFIX, EPICORD and EPIEFFECT sheets for use as protective barriers, which enables a healthcare provider to select an appropriate size graft based on the size of the wound to reduce product waste. Our EPICORD, EPICORD Expandable and EPIEFFECT product lines also offer an alternative treatment option to address larger, deeper wounds in a cost-effective way at a point earlier in the treatment algorithm.
With broad payor coverage, the largest body of Level 1 clinical evidence among placental allograft products and a dedicated sales team calling on each of the major sites-of-service, we expect to continue to expand our presence in the AWC market, driving future growth of our business 6 .
Surgical
3 Chronic Wounds: Economic Impact & Costs to Medicare, https://www.woundcarestakeholders.org/news/studies-and-publications/chronic-wounds-economic-impact-costs-to-medicare
4 Five year mortality and direct costs of care for people with diabetic foot complications are comparable to cancer, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7092527/#CR1
5 Epidemiology and Risk of Amputation in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus and Peripheral Artery Disease, https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/ATVBAHA.120.314595
6 Zelen CM, et al. Int Wound J. 2013;10(5):502-507. 2. Zelen CM. J Wound Care. 2013;22(7):347-351. 3. Zelen CM, et al. Wound Medicine. 2014;4:1-4. 4. Zelen CM, et al. Int Wound J. 2014;11(2):122-128. 5. Zelen CM, et al. Int Wound J. 2015;12(6):724-732. 6. Zelen CM, et al. Int Wound J. 2016;13(2):272-282. 7. Tettelbach W,et al. Int Wound J. 2019;16(1):122-130. 8. Serena TE, et al. Wound Repair Regen. 2014;22(6):688-693. 9. Bianchi C, et al. Int Wound J. 2018;15(1):114-122. 10. Bianchi C, et al. Int Wound J. 2019;16(3):761-767
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In addition to our presence in the AWC settings, our products are also used in a variety of surgical settings, and our strategic goals include building a body of evidence and real-world use data for our products in a wide range of procedures. The applications in Surgical range from those involving the closure of an acute wound (which we refer to as “ Surgical Recovery ”), to those where our allografts are used inside the body to protect or reinforce tissues and/or regions of interest.
Acute wounds are defined as those that are recent, are acquired from an incision or trauma and have yet to progress through the sequential stages of wound healing. Acute wounds can be caused accidentally or they can arise in the normal course of a wide-range of surgical procedures. When acute wounds present in patients with similar comorbidities to those of chronic wound patients, the risk of a slow or ineffective healing wound increases, and the risk of a surgical site infection or other similar complication increases for the patient.
In other surgical settings, the need to protect sensitive nerves, tissues or other areas may occur during the course of a procedure and presents an opportunity for the use of our products. We believe our placental-based allografts are ideally suited for these applications in a growing number of surgical specialties that we are targeting and expect the utilization of our products to continue to grow over time in this market.
Our strategy is to continue to deliver advanced products that serve patient needs within the Advanced Wound Care and Surgical markets and increase access to our products through clinical data generation and physician education. We estimate that the combined U.S. wound and surgical market for our products is currently $2.0 billion ($1.1 billion in wound; $0.9 billion in surgical) and is largely under-penetrated 7 . We expect the U.S. wound and surgical market will grow at an annual rate of 7-10% over the next three to five years beginning in 2023 8 .
Our Strategic Priorities
We manage our business by focusing on the following strategic priorities, which we believe are paramount to the success of MIMEDX over the short- and long-term.
Our first priority is to build our leadership position in Wound & Surgical. Achievement of this priority is measured by our ability to grow in all sites-of-service, regain share in the private office setting and expand our presence throughout the Surgical end markets.
Our second priority is to develop opportunities for MIMEDX in adjacent markets. We believe our ability to continue to innovate and develop new products has provided us with a rich product pipeline that will result in numerous product launches in future periods. In addition to these in-house efforts, we are actively evaluating opportunities to expand inorganically through acquisitions, licensing agreements or other arrangements that would afford us the opportunity to augment the Company’s growth profile and expand our offering in existing and new care settings.
In 2023, we made several decisions related to the Company’s strategy and also made structural changes to our organization, including disbanding our Regenerative Medicine business unit given the substantial uncertainties surrounding clinical trial costs and outcomes, as well as regulatory pathways and timing, which had the effect of improving our profitability and cash flow compared to prior periods. Moving forward, we plan to continue to focus on enhancing efficiencies across our organization and setting expense, profitability and cash flow targets as we grow our business.
By incorporating a strategy to advance the scientific and therapeutic potential of placental tissue and rigorously demonstrate the clinical and economic effectiveness of our products, we believe we can differentiate the value of our portfolio and address multiple areas of significant unmet clinical need. We have focused our priorities on initiatives across our organization that position us to realize our commercial ambitions over the long-term while also generating a profitable, cash flow positive business capable of self-funding our future growth objectives.
Our Product Portfolio & Pipeline
We sell our placenta-based allograft products under our own brands. We maintain strict controls on quality at each step of the manufacturing process beginning at the time of procurement. Our Quality Management System is focused on compliance with the American Association of Tissue Banks’ (“ AATB ”) standards, the FDA’s CGTP regulations, and applicable foreign regulations.
Our primary platform technologies include tissue allografts derived from human placental membrane (EPIFIX®, AMNIOFIX®, EPIEFFECT® and AMNIOEFFECT®), tissue allografts derived from human umbilical cord (EPICORD® and AMNIOCORD®), and a particulate extracellular matrix derived from human placental disc (AXIOFILL®).
7 GlobalData Tissue Engineered-Skin Sub Data Model Wound Management Year 2020 – retrieved Sept 2021
8 GlobalData Tissue Engineered-Skin Sub Data Model Wound Management Year 2020 – retrieved Sept 2021
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EPIFIX, EPICORD and EPIEFFECT products are marketed for external use, such as in Advanced Wound Care applications, while our AMNIOFIX, AMNIOCORD and AMNIOEFFECT products are positioned for use in Surgical applications, including lower extremity repair, plastic surgery, vascular surgery and multiple orthopedic repairs and reconstruction, and our AXIOFILL product is positioned for use in the replacement or supplementation of damaged or inadequate integumental tissue.
Wound Portfolio
EPIFIX
EPIFIX is a protective barrier allograft comprised of dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane that may be used in the treatment of chronic wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), venous leg ulcers (VLUs), and pressure ulcers. EPIFIX is available in an assortment of sheet configurations and sizes to accommodate various wounds.
EPICORD
EPICORD is a dehydrated human umbilical cord allograft that may be used to provide a protective environment for the healing process. Compared to EPIFIX, EPICORD is thicker than our amniotic membrane allografts and can be applied in deeper wounds or in areas where suturing the allograft in place may be advantageous. EPICORD is available as a sheet or an expandable form that can expand to twice its size.
EPIEFFECT
EPIEFFECT is a lyophilized, tri-layer placental tissue allograft that contains amnion, intermediate layer, and chorion membranes. This product was launched in October 2023 and represents the latest innovation in our product pipeline to deliver a thick, robust allograft to the market in a wide range of sizes for use as a barrier during chronic wound treatment, including deep or tunneling wound areas.
Surgical Portfolio
AMNIOFIX
AMNIOFIX is a protective barrier allograft comprised of dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane that may be used in Surgical Recovery applications. AMNIOFIX is available in an assortment of sheet configurations and sizes for internal use, including in the areas of lower extremity repair, spine, orthopedic, sports medicine, gastrointestinal, urologic, and other general surgery applications.
MIMEDX also has a micronized version of this product that it no longer markets or sells in the United States. As further discussed below under the heading “ Government Regulation and Compliance - 2017 FDA Guidance and Transition Policy for HCT/Ps ,” the FDA clarified in its 2017 guidance that it regards micronized amniotic membrane products as subject to FDA licensure as biological products under Section 351 of the Public Health Service Act ( “Section 351” ).
AMNIOCORD
AMNIOCORD is a dehydrated human umbilical cord allograft that may be used to provide a protective environment for the healing process. These products are thicker than our amniotic membrane allografts and can be used in surgical settings where an allograft needs to be applied to a deeper area or needs to be sutured in place.
AMNIOEFFECT
AMNIOEFFECT is a tri-layer placental tissue allograft that contains amnion, intermediate layer, and chorion membranes. This product is designed to meet the needs of surgeons performing procedures where a more robust allograft with expansive size offerings is desired.
AXIOFILL
AXIOFILL is an extracellular matrix derived from human placental disc, and is designed to provide a cost-effective human collagen scaffold that is conducive for use in large, complex wounds and those of irregular geometries. Our AXIOFILL product has seen most uptake by clinicians primarily focused on Surgical applications.
We continue to research new opportunities for amniotic and other placental tissue, and we have additional offerings in various stages of conceptualization and development.
Placenta Donation Program
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In order to obtain the source material for our human birth tissue-based product portfolio, we partner with physicians and hospitals to recover donations of these materials at hospitals around the United States. Through our donor program, a mother who delivers a healthy baby via Caesarean section can donate her placenta and umbilical cord tissue in lieu of having it discarded as medical waste. After consent for donation is obtained, a blood sample from each donor is tested for communicable diseases, and the donor is screened for risk factors in order to determine eligibility in compliance with federal regulations and AATB standards. We operate a licensed tissue bank that is registered as a tissue establishment with the FDA, and we are an accredited member of the AATB. All donor records and test results are reviewed by our Medical Director and staff prior to the release of the tissue for distribution.
We have developed a large, geographically diverse, network of hospitals across the United States that participate in our placenta donation program, and we employ a dedicated staff that work with these hospitals. We also utilize third-party providers of placenta donations on an as- needed basis to mitigate business risk. We believe that we will be able to obtain an adequate supply of tissue to meet anticipated demand for the foreseeable future.
Processing (Manufacturing)
The Company has developed and patented a unique and proprietary technique (PURION) for processing allografts from the donated placental tissue. This technique specifically focuses on preserving the tissue’s natural growth factor content and regulatory proteins and maintaining the structure and collagen matrix of the tissue. Our patented and proprietary processing method employs aseptic processing techniques in addition to terminal sterilization for increased product safety. Despite starting with similar placental tissues, all placental tissue products and processing methods are not the same – we believe that our proprietary process preserves more of the natural beneficial characteristics of the tissue than the processes used by many of our competitors.
The PURION process produces an allograft that retains the tissue’s inherent biological properties and regulatory proteins (including cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors) found in the placental tissue and produces an allograft that is safe and easy for healthcare providers to use. Our allografts can be stored at room temperature and have a five-year shelf life. Each sheet allograft incorporates specialized visual markings that assist the health care practitioner with allograft placement and orientation.
To ensure the safety of human tissue products, the FDA enforces CGTP manufacturing regulations. We believe that MIMEDX has developed robust systems to comply with, and is in compliance with, these regulations. As an important part of the Company’s product safety compliance, MIMEDX products are terminally sterilized to an internationally recognized industry standard in addition to having been processed via the PURION process.
Our facilities are subject to periodic announced and unannounced inspections by regulatory authorities and may undergo compliance inspections conducted by the FDA and corresponding state and foreign agencies. We are registered with the FDA as a tissue establishment and are subject to the FDA’s CGTP quality program regulations, state regulations, and regulations promulgated by various regulatory authorities outside the United States.
The FDA initiated inspections covering our Marietta, Georgia, and Kennesaw, Georgia, processing facilities from February 22, 2023, through March 2, 2023. During the inspections, the FDA communicated that our product, AXIOFILL, appeared to be regulated under Section 351 of the Public Health Service Act (the “ PHS Act ”). Based on this position, the FDA inspected the facilities related to AXIOFILL production using regulations 21 CFR 210 and 211, relating to finished pharmaceutical products in addition to 21 CFR 1271, relating to HCT/Ps (as defined below). The FDA issued a Form 483, which is a list of inspectional observations, at the conclusion of each inspection. Specifically, the FDA issued a Form 483 consisting of one (1) observation at our Marietta, Georgia, processing facility, and a Form 483 consisting of six (6) observations at our Kennesaw, Georgia, processing facility. All observations were related to our AXIOFILL product and 21 CFR 211. There were no observations relating to noncompliance with 21 CFR 1271.
MIMEDX engaged with the FDA regarding the inspections’ observations and the appropriate classification of AXIOFILL. MIMEDX received a Warning Letter on December 21, 2023, relating to the inspections and classification of AXIOFILL. MIMEDX continues to engage with the FDA on this matter, working through the process outlined by the FDA to obtain a formal determination of AXIOFILL’s classification.
In December 2019, the FDA also conducted inspections at each of our Marietta, Georgia and Kennesaw, Georgia processing facilities. The FDA also issued a Form 483 for each facility at the conclusion of the inspection, which consisted of nine observations at our Marietta, Georgia processing facility and 14 observations at our Kennesaw, Georgia processing facility. During the FDA’s audit of our facilities in 2023, it was confirmed that these observations were closed out and/or resolved.
Intellectual Property
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Our intellectual property includes owned and licensed patents, owned and licensed patent applications and patents pending, proprietary manufacturing processes and trade secrets, and trademarks associated with our technology. We believe that our patents, proprietary manufacturing processes, trade secrets, trademarks, and technology licensing rights provide us with important competitive advantages.
Patents and Patent Applications
Due to the substantial expertise and investment of time, effort and financial resources required to bring new regenerative biomaterial products and implants to the market, the importance of obtaining and maintaining patent protection for significant new technologies, products and processes cannot be underestimated. As of the date of the filing of this Annual Report, in addition to international patents and patent applications, we own 74 U.S. patents related to our amniotic tissue technology and products, and 25 additional patent applications covering aspects of this technology are pending at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The vast majority of our domestic patents covering our core amniotic tissue technology and products will not begin to expire until August 2027. Globally, the Company has over 200 issued and pending patents.
Marketing and Sales
Our direct sales team includes field sales representatives and field sales management, who call on hospitals, wound care clinics, physician offices, and federal health care facilities such as the Department of Veterans Affairs (the “ VA ”) and Department of Defense (“ DoD ”) hospitals. Our direct sales force primarily focuses on the Wound and Surgical categories through multiple sites of service. We also maintain a network of independent sales agents that focus on Surgical applications leveraging the complementary products in their portfolios, and provide access to certain customers, as well as sales coverage for areas where we do not have a full-time sales representative.
We also sell our products through distributors. Distributors purchase products from us at wholesale prices and resell products to providers and end users. For example, in Japan, our distribution partner, Gunze Medical, purchases products from us and is responsible for sales to the end users for the approved indications of use and at the prevailing reimbursement rate for the product.
Coverage and Reimbursement
With the exception of government accounts, most purchasers of our products include physicians, hospitals, or ambulatory surgery centers (“ ASCs ”) that rely on reimbursement by third-party payers. Accordingly, our growth substantially depends on adequate levels of third-party reimbursement for our products from these payers. Third-party payers are sensitive to the cost of products and services and are increasingly seeking to implement cost containment measures to control, restrict access to, or influence the purchase of health care products and services. In the U.S., such payers include U.S. federal healthcare programs (e.g., Medicare and Medicaid), private insurance plans, managed care programs, and workers’ compensation plans. Federal healthcare programs have prescribed coverage criteria and reimbursement rates for medical products, services, and procedures. Similarly, private, third-party payers have their own coverage criteria and negotiate reimbursement amounts for medical products, services, and procedures with providers. In addition, in the U.S., an increasing percentage of insured individuals are receiving their medical care through managed care programs (including managed federal healthcare programs) which monitor and may require pre-approval of the products and services that a member receives. Ultimately, however, each third-party payer determines whether and on what conditions they will provide coverage for our products, and such decisions often include each payer’s assessment of the science and efficacy of the applicable product.
A portion of our products is purchased by U.S. government accounts (e.g., the VA and the Public Health Service, including the Indian Health Service), which do not depend on reimbursement from third-party payers. In order for us to be eligible to have our products purchased by such federal agencies and paid for by the Medicaid program, federal law requires us to participate in the VA Federal Supply Schedule (“ FSS ”) pricing program.
Medicare Coverage
The largest third-party payer in the United States is the Medicare program, which is a federally-funded program that provides healthcare coverage for senior citizens and certain disabled individuals. The Medicare program is administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“ CMS ”), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”). Medicare Administrative Contractors (“ MACs ”) are private insurance companies that serve as agents of CMS in the administration of the Medicare program and are responsible for making coverage decisions and paying claims for the designated Medicare jurisdiction. There are seven Part A/B MACs in the U.S., which cover 12 unique geographical jurisdictions. Each MAC also has its own standards and process for determining coverage and reimbursement for a procedure or product. Private payers often follow the lead of governmental payers in making coverage and reimbursement determinations. Therefore, achieving favorable Medicare coverage and reimbursement is usually a significant gating factor for successful adoption of a new product or clinical application by private payers.
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The coverage and reimbursement framework for products under Medicare is determined in accordance with the Social Security Act and pursuant to regulations promulgated by CMS, as well as the agency’s coverage and reimbursement guidance. In some cases, CMS does not specify coverage, leaving each of the MACs to determine whether and on what conditions they will provide coverage for the product. Such decisions are based on each MAC’s assessments of the science and efficacy of the applicable product. As noted below under the heading “Research and Development,” we have devoted significant resources to clinical studies to provide data to the MACs, as well as other payers, in order to demonstrate the clinical efficacy and economic effectiveness of our tissue technologies. As of the date of this report, both EPIFIX and EPICORD allografts are eligible for coverage by all MACs. In January 2019, EPIFIX and EPICORD received separate CMS HCPCS Codes, Q4186 and Q4187, distinguishing each product in coverage and reimbursement policies. On July 1, 2023, EPIEFFECT received a CMS Code Q4278, also.
For Medicare reimbursement purposes, our EPIFIX and EPICORD allografts are classified as “skin substitutes.” Current reimbursement methodology varies between the hospital outpatient department (“ HOPD ”) and ASC setting versus the physician office. Currently, within the HOPD and ASC places of service, skin substitutes are reimbursed under a “packaged” or “bundled” methodology that provides a single payment for both the application of the product as well as the product itself. CMS classifies skin substitutes into low cost or high cost groups, based on a geometric mean unit cost and per day cost. For 2022, the geometric mean unit cost threshold applicable to both our EPIFIX and EPICORD allograft products was $48 per square centimeter, and the per day cost threshold was $949. For 2023, the geometric mean unit cost threshold applicable to both our EPIFIX and EPICORD allograft products was $47 per square centimeter, and the per day cost threshold was $949. For 2024, the geometric mean unit cost threshold applicable to our EPIFIX, EPICORD and EPIEFFECT allograft products is $47 per square centimeter, and the per day cost threshold was $807. The national HOPD average packaged (“bundled”) rate for our EPIFIX and EPICORD allograft products was $1,549 in 2019, $1,623 in 2020, $1,715 in 2021, $1,749.26 in 2022, and $1,725 in 2023. The national HOPD average packaged (“bundled”) rate for our EPIFIX, EPICORD and EPIEFFECT products in 2024 is $1,738. CMS assigns lower national rates to the ASC to reflect a less resource-intensive place of service. Revenue in the ASC setting constitutes less than 1% of the Company’s annual net sales. Medicare payments for most items and services, including EPIFIX and EPICORD sheet products, have been subject to sequestration reductions of approximately 2% periodically from 2013.
Currently, providers that administer EPIFIX, EPICORD or EPIEFFECT allografts and other skin substitutes in the physician office setting are reimbursed based on the size of the graft, computed on a per square centimeter basis. The payment rate is calculated using the manufacturer’s reported average sales price (“ ASP ”) submitted quarterly to CMS. This payment methodology applies to physician offices, as well as places of service such as patient home, assisted living and nursing home. The Medicare payment rates are updated quarterly based on this ASP information for many skin substitute products but not all. EPIFIX, EPICORD and EPIEFFECT are included on the Medicare national ASP Drug Pricing File. The published skin substitute Medicare payment rate established by statute is ASP plus 6%. Reimbursement for products not included on the Medicare national ASP Drug Pricing File are at the discretion of each MAC, which typically is invoice cost or wholesale acquisition cost (“ WAC ”) plus 6%.
In 2022, CMS announced plans to potentially change the reimbursement mechanism for skin substitutes in the physician office setting but did not propose or enact any national changes to the rules for these products. In March 2023, the Office of Inspector General published a report entitled, “Some Skin Substitute Manufacturers Did Not Comply with New ASP Reporting Requirements,” which detailed extensive problematic expenditure issues associated with the current Medicare reimbursement landscape in the private physician office setting for some skin substitute products. In alignment with many industry stakeholders, including MIMEDX, the report recommended that all skin substitute products transition to ASP-based payments as soon as possible in an effort to substantially reduce Medicare expenditures for these products. Over the last several quarters, there has been a notable increase in the number of skin substitute products listed on the Medicare ASP list, but non-ASP or WAC-based products still remain available in the marketplace.
In August 2023, three MACs published changes to their Local Coverage Determinations (“ LCDs ”) that were intended to go into effect on October 1, 2023, before ultimately being abandoned. These LCDs included language that would have lowered the number of allowed applications of a product below what is commonly used in standard practice by physicians today (supported by clinical evidence) and reflected by LCDs currently in force with the MACs. Additionally, the LCDs outlined those skin substitute products which would explicitly be eligible for coverage and those which would not. While these LCDs ultimately were not implemented, the MACs have indicated plans to bring forth a new proposed LCD for skin substitutes in the future, which could include elements that could be unfavorable to our business.
Private Payers
We have devoted considerable resources to clinical trials to support coverage and reimbursement of our products. An increasing number of private payers reimburse for EPIFIX and EPICORD in the physician office, the HOPD and the ASC settings, and we have complete national commercial coverage for the use of EPIFIX in the treatment of DFUs. Coverage and reimbursement
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vary according to the patient’s health plan and related benefits. The majority of health plans currently provide coverage for EPIFIX and EPICORD for the treatment of DFUs, and many include treatment of VLUs. MIMEDX has secured payer coverage for over 300 million covered lives, allowing a significant number of patients access to our products. Information contributing to the coverage determination included a third-party technical brief (by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (“ AHRQ ”)) that evaluated a number of skin substitutes for treating chronic wounds, in which EPIFIX was noted to have the most Randomized Controlled Trials, a low risk of overall study bias, and statistically significant findings.
Our newest product, EPIEFFECT, has also started to receive private reimbursement in certain regions of the U.S. and we are focused on continuing to increase the number of covered lives eligible for this product in the future.
We have established and continue to grow a reimbursement support group to educate providers and patients with regard to accurate coverage and reimbursement information regarding our products, and plan to continue investing in clinical data supportive of coverage for our products in additional clinical areas of use.
Hospital Use
Products administered in the hospital inpatient setting are bundled when submitted as part of the hospital’s claim under a diagnosis-related group (“ DRG ”). In these cases, we continue to educate the hospital that our products are cost-effective, and have the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce the length of stay. We are working to develop additional health economic data to support this effort. As noted above, the ability to sell products in a hospital is dependent upon demonstrating to the hospital the product’s efficacy and cost effectiveness.
Seasonality
Revenues during our fourth quarter tend to be stronger than other quarters because many hospitals increase their purchases of our products during the fourth quarter to coincide with the end of their budget cycles in the United States. Satisfaction of patient deductibles through the course of the year also results in increased revenues later in the year. In general, our first quarter usually has lower revenues than the preceding fourth quarter, the second and third quarters have higher revenues than the first quarter, and the fourth quarter revenues are the highest in the year.
Customer Concentration
For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, our top ten customers accounted for 20%, 19% and 19%, r espectively, of our net sales, and net sales to all U.S. government accounts comprised approximately 2%, 2% and 3%, respectively, of our net sales.
Competition
Due to lower barriers to entry in the Section 361 HCT/P regulated market, competition in the placenta-based and allograft tissue field is intense and subject to new entrants and evolving market dynamics. Companies within the industry compete on the basis of price, ease of handling, logistics and efficacy. Another important factor is third-party reimbursement, which is difficult to obtain as it is a time-consuming and expensive process. We believe our success in obtaining third-party reimbursement, our strong position with group purchasing organizations, and the established clinical evidence for our products are competitive advantages.
In February 2020, the AHRQ published a technology assessment analyzing Skin Substitutes for Treating Chronic Wounds. AHRQ conducted a literature search yielding 164 studies and 81 Supplemental Evidence and Data for Systematic Reviews (“ SEADs ”) submissions. Only 22 randomized, controlled trials (“ RCTs ”) met the inclusion criteria to be reviewed in the AHRQ analysis, and out of the 22 RCTs MIMEDX had six RCTs included in the final brief. Of the 22 studies reviewed, only 12 were assessed as low risk of bias, of which five were MIMEDX RCTs. This important government assessment highlights our commitment to providing unbiased level 1 clinical evidence in advanced wound treatment. This dedication to elevating the standard of care is further underscored by the fact that the AHRQ points out in its assessment that MIMEDX was the only entity to provide two studies out of the 22 evaluated that performed a subgroup analysis of patients with DFUs that received adequate debridement. Both studies reported an increase in wounds healed with adequate debridement.
AWC therapies employ technologies to aid in wound healing in cases where the wound is chronic and healing progress has stalled or stopped. The primary competitive products in the skin substitutes category include, among others, placental-tissue allografts, tissue-engineered living skin equivalents, porcine-, bovine- and fish skin-derived xenografts and collagen matrix products. Xenografts, or tissue transplants from non-human species, serve mainly as an extracellular matrix and have to undergo aggressive processing to remove immunogenic animal products from the tissue. In addition, challenges with xenografts include limited clinical published data, and some products may require suturing or stapling to the wound bed, making handling
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more difficult. Furthermore, other skin substitutes currently on the market require cryogenic freezer storage and have limited shelf life.
Our main competitors in the skin substitute market include Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation, Organogenesis, Inc., and Smith & Nephew plc, which sell a variety of AWC products, including skin substitutes and placental tissue allografts. In addition, the overall market is competitive, with a large number of other, smaller and oftentimes privately-held competitors that compete regionally and nationally.
Government Regulation and Compliance
The products we sell are regulated by the FDA in the United States. The products currently manufactured and processed by the Company are derived from human tissue. Generally, our products currently sold in the United States are regulated as Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue - Based Products ( “HCT/Ps” ), and are subject solely to Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (“ Section 361 ”) and related regulations, which do not require pre-market clearance or approval by the FDA. We do not currently sell in the United States those cellular and tissue-based products considered to be drugs, devices, and/or biological products (“ Section 351 HCT/Ps ”) subject to licensure under Section 351 of the Public Health Service Act ( “Section 351” ) and related regulations. Section 351 HCT/Ps are regulated as biological products, and, in order to be lawfully marketed in the United States, require FDA pre-market approval.
Tissue Products
In 1997, the FDA proposed a regulatory framework for cells and tissues. This framework was intended to provide adequate protection of public health while enabling the development of new therapies and products with limited regulatory burden. A key innovation in the system was that covered HCT/Ps would be regulated solely under Section 361 and would not be subject to pre-market clearance. The registration and listing rules were finalized in January 2001 in 21 CFR Part 1271. Additional rules regarding donor eligibility and good tissue practices were soon adopted. Together, these rules form a comprehensive system intended to encourage significant innovation.
The FDA requires each HCT/P establishment to register and establish that its product meets the requirements to qualify for regulation solely under Section 361. To be a Section 361 HCT/P, a cellular or tissue-based product generally must meet all four of the following criteria (fully set forth in 21 CFR Part 1271):
• it must be minimally manipulated;
• it must be intended for homologous use;
• its manufacture must not involve combination with another article, except for water, crystalloids or a sterilizing, preserving or storage agent; and
• it must not have a systemic effect and must not be dependent upon the metabolic activity of living cells for its primary function.
Certain amniotic and other birth tissues are considered cellular and tissue-based articles and are therefore eligible for regulation solely as a Section 361 HCT/P depending on whether the specific product at issue and the claims made for it are consistent with the criteria set forth above. HCT/Ps that do not meet these criteria are subject to more extensive regulation as drugs, medical devices, biological products, or combination products.
Products Regulated Solely as Section 361 HCT/Ps
The FDA has specific regulations governing HCT/Ps, including some regulations specific to Section 361 HCT/Ps, which are set forth in 21 CFR Part 1271. All establishments that manufacture Section 361 HCT/Ps must register and list their HCT/Ps with the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research within five days after commencing operations. In addition, establishments are required to update their registration annually in December or within 30 days of certain changes and submit changes in HCT/P listing at the time of or within six months of such change.
The regulations in 21 CFR Part 1271 also require establishments to comply with donor screening, eligibility and testing requirements, and CGTP to prevent the introduction, transmission and spread of communicable diseases. The CGTP govern, as may be applicable, the facilities, controls, and methods used in the manufacture of all HCT/Ps, including processing, storage, recovery, labeling, packaging, and distribution of Section 361 HCT/Ps. CGTP require us, among other things, to maintain a quality program, train personnel, control, and monitor environmental conditions as appropriate, control and validate processes, properly store, handle and test our products and raw materials, maintain our facilities and equipment, keep records and comply with standards regarding recovery, pre-distribution, distribution, tracking and labeling of our products, and complaint handling. 21 CFR Part 1271 also mandates compliance with adverse reaction and CGTP deviation reporting and labeling requirements.
The FDA conducts periodic inspections of HCT/P manufacturing facilities, and contract manufacturers’ facilities, to assess compliance with CGTP. Such inspections can occur at any time, with or without written notice, at such frequency as determined
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by the FDA in its sole discretion. To determine compliance with the applicable provisions, the inspection may include, but is not limited to, an assessment of the establishment’s facilities, equipment, finished and unfinished materials, containers, processes, HCT/Ps, procedures, labeling, records, files, papers and controls required to be maintained under 21 CFR Part 1271. If the FDA were to find serious non-compliant manufacturing or processing practices during such an inspection, it could take regulatory actions that could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
2017 FDA Guidance and Transition Policy for HCT/Ps
In November 2017, the FDA released four guidance documents that, collectively, the agency described as a “comprehensive policy framework” for applying existing laws and regulations governing regenerative medicine products, including HCT/Ps. One guidance document in particular, “ Regulatory Considerations for Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue – Based Products: Minimal Manipulation and Homologous Use – Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff ,” offered important clarity.
The guidance documents confirmed that sheet forms of amniotic membrane generally are appropriately regulated as solely Section 361 HCT/Ps when intended for use as a barrier or covering. We continually evaluate our marketing materials for each of our products to align with FDA guidance.
Second, the guidance documents confirmed the FDA’s stance that all micronized amniotic membrane products are more than minimally manipulated, and therefore do not qualify as Section 361 HCT/Ps. However, the guidance documents also stated that the FDA intended to exercise enforcement discretion under limited conditions with respect to the IND application and pre-market approval requirements for certain HCT/Ps through November 2020, which was later extended through May 2021. This period of enforcement discretion was intended to give sponsors time to evaluate their products, have a dialogue with the agency and, if necessary, begin clinical trials and file the appropriate pre-market applications. The FDA’s approach was risk-based, and the guidance documents clarified that high-risk products and uses could be subject to immediate enforcement action.
This enforcement discretion applied across our industry, and during the period, the Company continued to market its products under this policy of enforcement discretion. After May 31, 2021, the Company ceased marketing or selling in the United States its products that were impacted by enforcement discretion, including its micronized dehydrated human amnion chorion membrane ( “mDHACM” ) products.
The Company is engaged with the FDA regarding the classification of AXIOFILL and certain of its other products. If the FDA makes a final determination that these products do not meet the requirements for regulation solely under Section 361 then, in order to continue to market the products, the Company would be required to obtain the appropriate FDA clearance or approval.
The FDA has broad regulatory compliance and enforcement powers. If the FDA determines that the Company has failed to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, it can take a variety of compliance or enforcement actions, such as issuing an FDA Form 483 notice of inspectional observations; sending a warning letter or untitled letter; issuing an order of retention, destruction, or cessation of marketing; imposing civil money penalties; suspending or delaying issuance of approvals; requiring product recalls; imposing a total or partial shutdown of production; withdrawing approvals or clearances already granted; pursuing product seizures, consent decrees or other injunctive relief; and criminal prosecution through the Department of Justice (“ DOJ ”).
FDA Post–Market Regulation
Tissue processors regulated solely under Section 361 are still required to register as a tissue establishment with the FDA. As a registered tissue establishment, we are required to comply with regulations regarding labeling, record keeping, donor eligibility, screening, and testing. We are also required to process the tissue in accordance with established CGTP, as well as report any deviations from core CGTP requirements or adverse reactions caused by a possible transmission of an infectious disease attributed to our tissue. Our facilities are also subject to periodic inspections to assess our compliance with the regulations.
Other Regulation Specific to Tissue Products
National Organ Transplant Act
Procurement of certain human organs and tissue for transplantation is subject to the restrictions of the National Organ Transplant Act (“ NOTA ”), which prohibits the transfer of certain human organs, including skin and related tissue, for valuable consideration, but permits the reimbursement of reasonable expenses associated with the removal, transportation, implantation, processing, preservation, quality control, and storage of human tissue and skin. Our wholly-owned subsidiary, MiMedx Tissue Services, LLC, is registered with the FDA as an establishment that manufactures human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue- based products and is involved with the recovery and storage of donated human placental tissues. We reimburse tissue banks, hospitals, and physicians for their services associated with the recovery and storage of donated human tissue.
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Tissue Bank Laws, Regulations, and Related Accreditation
As discussed above, we are required to register with the FDA as an establishment that manufactures human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products. We are licensed, registered, or permitted as a tissue bank in California, New York, Delaware, Illinois, Oregon, and Maryland. Additionally, we received and actively maintain AATB accreditation. The AATB has issued operating standards for tissue banking. Compliance with these standards is required in order to become an AATB-accredited tissue establishment. AATB standards include specific requirements for recovery, screening, testing, labeling, processing, and storing of birth tissue. We maintain compliance with AATB standards and our state licensure requirements.
To the extent we sell our products outside of the United States, we also are subject to laws and regulations of foreign countries.
Other Healthcare Laws and Compliance Requirements
In the United States, our activities are potentially subject to regulation by various federal, state and local authorities in addition to the FDA, including CMS, other divisions of the HHS (e.g., the Office of Inspector General), the DOJ and individual United States Attorney offices within the DOJ, and state and local governments. These regulations include those described below.
• The federal Anti-Kickback Statute (“ AKS ”), which is a criminal law that prohibits, among other things, any person from knowingly and willfully offering, soliciting, receiving or providing any remuneration (including any kickback, bribe or rebate), directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind, to induce or reward referrals, purchases or orders, or arranging for or recommending the purchase, order or referral of any item or service for which payment may be made in whole or in part by a federal healthcare program, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The term “remuneration” has been broadly interpreted to include anything of value. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act amended the intent requirement of the federal AKS, so that a person or entity no longer needs to have actual knowledge of this statute or specific intent to violate it. A conviction for violation of the AKS results in criminal fines and requires mandatory exclusion from participation in federal health care programs. Although there are a number of statutory exceptions and regulatory safe harbors to the federal AKS that protect certain common industry practices from prosecution, the exceptions and safe harbors are drawn narrowly, and arrangements may be subject to scrutiny or penalty if they do not fully satisfy all elements of an available exception or safe harbor.
• The federal False Claims Act (“ FCA ”) imposes significant civil liability on any person or entity that knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a claim for payment to the U.S. government, including the Medicare and Medicaid programs, that is false or fraudulent. The FCA also allows a private individual or entity as a whistleblower to sue on behalf of the government to recover civil penalties and treble damages. FCA liability is potentially significant in the healthcare industry because the statute provides for significant damages (treble) and mandatory penalties per false claim or statement. As a result of a modification made by the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009, a claim includes “any request or demand” for money or property presented to the U.S. government.
• The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“ HIPAA ”) fraud and abuse provisions prohibit executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program, willfully obstructing a criminal investigation of a health care offense, or making false statements or concealing a material fact relating to payment for healthcare benefits, items or services.
• While manufacturers of human cell and tissue products regulated solely under Section 361 are not subject to the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act and its implementing regulations (together with the Act, the “ Sunshine Act ”), in the future, if we expand our product portfolio beyond those regulated solely under Section 361, this law will require us (with certain exceptions) to report information to CMS related to certain payments or other transfers of value we make to U.S.-licensed physicians and teaching hospitals, and for reports submitted on or after January 1, 2022, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse anesthetists and certified nurse-midwives. Such information will subsequently be made publicly available by CMS on the Open Payments website. There is a risk that CMS or another government agency may take the position that our products are not human cell and tissue products regulated solely under Section 361, and thereby assert that we are currently subject to the Sunshine Act, which could subject us to civil penalties and the administrative burden of having to comply with the law.
• Federal conflicts of interest laws, the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, and local site policies for each federal institution we call upon govern our interactions with federal employees at our various government accounts ( e.g. , DoD, VA, etc .) and impose a number of limitations on such interactions.
• There are state 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 payer, including commercial insurers, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and often are not preempted by federal laws, thus complicating compliance efforts.
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In addition, we may be subject to data privacy and security regulation by both the federal government and the states in which we conduct our business. HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (“ HITECH ”) and its implementing regulations, imposes certain requirements relating to the privacy, security and transmission of protected health information. Among other things, HITECH made HIPAA’s privacy and security standards directly applicable to “business associates,” independent contractors or agents of covered entities that receive or obtain protected health information in connection with providing a service on behalf of a covered entity. HITECH also created four new tiers of civil monetary penalties, amended HIPAA to make civil and criminal penalties directly applicable to business associates and possibly other persons and gave state attorneys general new authority to file civil actions for damages or injunctions in federal courts to enforce the federal HIPAA laws and seek attorneys’ fees and costs associated with pursuing federal civil actions. In addition, state laws govern the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and may not have the same effect, thus complicating compliance efforts.
International Regulation (Japan)
In 2021, MIMEDX received regulatory approval from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (JMHLW) to market EPIFIX in Japan. Under JMHLW guidelines, EPIFIX is classified as a Class IV Medical Device and “Specified Biological Product” and is approved for the treatment of refractory ulcers, such as DFUs and VLUs that do not respond to conventional therapy. As a condition of the final approval, MIMEDX will conduct post-market surveillance, consisting of a limited study of over 75 participants. The JMHLW has the ultimate responsibility of granting final approval on all Class III and IV Medical Devices and “Specified Biological Products.” All approved products in Japan, including EPIFIX, are regulated by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (“ PMDA ”), which acts as the technical arm of the JMHLW. The PMDA serves in a similar function as the FDA in the United States, and is responsible for ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of pharmaceuticals and medical devices in Japan. The PMDA provides review and approval of medical devices, QMS/GLP/GCP inspections, and collection and analysis of adverse event reports.
MIMEDX also secured reimbursement approval from JMHLW in September 2022 with an awarded rate of 35,100 Yen/cm 2 , and subsequently entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Gunze Medical for sales of EPIFIX in Japan. Insurance coverage for EPIFIX will provide doctors and patients in Japan with new treatment options and optimal wound care.
Research and Development
Our research and development group has extensive experience in developing products for our target markets, and works to design products that are intended to improve patient outcomes, simplify techniques, shorten procedures, reduce hospitalization and rehabilitation times and, as a result, reduce costs. Our research and development group also works to establish scientific evidence in support of the use of our products. Clinical trials that demonstrate the safety, efficacy and cost effectiveness of our products are key to obtaining broader third-party reimbursement for our products. In addition to our internal staff, we contract with outside laboratories and physicians who aid us in our research and development process. See Part II, Item 7, below, for information regarding expenditures for research and development in each of the last three fiscal years.
Environmental, Social & Governance Matters (“ESG”)
At MIMEDX, we are committed to improving people’s health and lives through innovation that makes healing possible. Our product offering is derived from donated human placental and umbilical cord tissue, which are processed into products used by health professionals to treat patients suffering from both acute and chronic hard-to-heal wounds. We are continuously looking to expand the breadth of our product offering, further leveraging birth tissue that would otherwise become medical waste, and have a product pipeline that includes innovations for wound and surgical end markets. Our Core Values define how we lead the field with rigorous science, help clinicians elevate the standard of care, provide a safe and healthy environment for our employees, and work and grow as a company.
In an effort to deliver long-term value to all of our stakeholders, we incorporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives that are relevant to our business. These ESG objectives are informed by a combination of feedback from our stakeholders as well as leading ESG frameworks, such as the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Medical Equipment & Supplies standards, under the oversight of our Board of Directors.
Environmental Matters
Stewardship is a Core Value at MIMEDX. We are stewards of a precious, life-protecting and life-giving resource – human birth tissue – which currently represent the biological source material for all of our products. Without our placental donation and recovery program, this material would most likely be discarded as medical waste at the hospital. We do not produce a significant amount of emissions from our operations.
Environmental Management
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We recently worked with a third-party to conduct an environmental, health, and safety gap assessment in order to accurately benchmark our environmental impact. The review looked at several areas including:
• Air Pollution Control Management
• Battery Handling and Disposal
• Community Right-to-Know (Hazardous Material Reporting)
• Hazardous Waste Management
• SARA Title III (Release Reporting)
• Solid Waste Management
• Spill, Prevention, Control and Countermeasure
• State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES)
• Storm Water Management
• Universal Waste Management
• Waste Oil Management
We are evaluating the results of this exercise in order to consider implementation of measures in support of our Environmental Management program.
Waste Management
We work with waste removal providers to responsibly dispose of medical waste and biohazardous waste and have a program in place for the management of all medical and biohazardous waste processed in our facilities. In addition, we follow applicable packaging requirements for regulated medical waste, and conduct regular required training for all employees responsible for packaging medical waste for shipment. Our waste management initiatives also include the shredding and recycling of paper waste from our facilities, our transition to digital systems where possible to reduce print waste, and the distribution of electronic tablets to our sales teams to minimize printing needs, shipping costs, and printed materials.
Our facilities management team collects recyclable and reusable material when possible, including for cardboard, plastics, batteries, fluorescent lamps, and ballasts. We have significantly reduced the use of plastic and aluminum materials with the installation of filtered water and soda machines within our facilities. The packaging of our product cartons is recyclable and, since 2015, has been reduced in size by 50%.
Human Capital
As of December 31, 2023, we had 895 full time employees. Generally, we consider our relationships with our employees to be good, and none of our employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We conduct regular surveys of employees to monitor engagement levels and act on feedback received through this process.
Our Diversity and Inclusion
MIMEDX values the diversity of perspective, experience, and background within our Company. We have stated goals to promote diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, or sexual orientation. Intimidation or harassment of any kind are not acceptable in our workplace.
Our business requires a workforce with a wide range backgrounds, experiences, skills, and knowledge and a culture that blends this diversity into an effective team. In order for our employees to do their best work, and for us to achieve our mission, everyone at MIMEDX must feel respected, valued, and included. Comprised of employees across the Company, our Inclusion and Diversity Council reviews programs created to support best practices for our work environment challenges, champion diversity, and provide an intentional link for each employee to the company values and goals.
The table below provides an overview of MIMEDX’s diversity as of December 31, 2023:
Board of Directors Women and minorities hold one-third of the seats on our Board, including the Chair of the Board.
Employee Gender Diversity Women represented 56% of our workforce.
Women represented 55% of our new hires in 2023.
Employee Ethnic/Racial Diversity Black or African American: 25%
Hispanic or Latino: 9%
Other Non-White (including American Indian, Alaskan Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Other Pacific Islander): 9%
Recruiting, Retaining, and Engaging Talent
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Talent is our greatest asset and we are dependent on being able to recruit, develop, and retain talent that share our Core Values. We use tools, such as an interview guide and a process reviewed by our Inclusion and Diversity Council, designed to prevent us from bias in our hiring decisions. We are currently in compliance with affirmative action reporting. As part of our Affirmative Action Plan, we leverage targeted outreach in our hiring process to ensure our postings reach underrepresented groups.
We are focused on retaining our talented professionals who we believe are key to the Company’s success. Our human resource group continuously monitors and benchmarks employee turnover and other trends in our industry and on a regional level to ensure MIMEDX is competitive and responsive to changes in the broader marketplace. Combining this data with feedback from exit interviews in any instances of voluntary employee turnover, we are able to use these actionable insights to improve employee engagement, provide opportunities for career development, evolve our total rewards offering and evaluate implementation of additional resources to enhance the employee experience at MIMEDX.
Compensation and Benefits
We offer all full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, including:
• Health coverage, including Medical, Dental, Vision insurance, a wellness incentive program and virtual and text-based healthcare
• Paid Parental and Caregiver leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid company holidays
• 401(k) plan, including Employer match
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan opportunity.
Our History
Our current business began on February 8, 2008 when Alynx, Co., our predecessor company, acquired MiMedx, Inc., a development-stage medical device company, the assets of which included licenses to two development-stage medical device technology platforms which we do not currently market. On March 31, 2008, Alynx, Co. merged into MiMedx Group, Inc., a Florida corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary that had been formed for purposes of the merger, with MiMedx Group, Inc. as the surviving corporation in the merger. In January 2011, we acquired all of the outstanding equity interests of Surgical Biologics, LLC (n/k/a MiMedx Tissue Services, LLC).
Available Information
We are required to file proxy statements, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K with the SEC. The SEC maintains an internet site, www.sec.gov, where these reports are available free of charge. We also make these reports available free of charge on our website, www.mimedx.com, under the heading “ Investors–SEC Filings .” In addition, our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Ethics and Compliance Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charters as well as our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, are on our website under the heading “ Investors–Corporate Governance .” The reference to our website does not constitute incorporation by reference of any information contained on that site.
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