Biggest changeAny of these events could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, or financial condition, including but not limited to: loss of customers; inability to process personal information or to operate in certain jurisdictions; limited ability to develop or commercialize our products; expenditure of time and resources to defend any claim or inquiry; adverse publicity; or substantial changes to our business model or operations. 66 Disruptions in our information technology systems or data or those of third parties upon which we rely, whether through breaches or failures of our systems, ransomware, unauthorized access or otherwise, may result in both an adverse impact to our products, as well as the unauthorized use, disclosure, modification or misappropriation of patient or other personal or sensitive information, the occurrence of fraudulent activity, or other information security-related incidents, all of which could result in adverse consequences, including but not limited to regulatory investigations or actions; litigation; fines and penalties; disruptions of our business operations; reputational harm; loss of revenue or profits; loss of customers or sales; and other adverse consequences, which could have a material and adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Biggest changeDisruptions in our information technology systems or data or those of third parties with whom we work, whether through breaches or failures of our systems, ransomware, unauthorized access or otherwise, may result in both an adverse impact to our products, as well as the unauthorized use, disclosure, modification or misappropriation of patient or other personal or sensitive information, the occurrence of fraudulent activity, or other information security-related incidents, all of which could result in adverse consequences, including but not limited to regulatory investigations or actions; litigation; fines and penalties; disruptions of our business operations; reputational harm; loss of revenue or profits; loss of customers or sales; and other adverse consequences, which could have a material and adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, there can be no guarantee that we will receive approval to sell our RNS System in every international market we target, nor can there be any guarantee that any sales would result even if such approval is received. Approval in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction, does not ensure approval in other jurisdictions.
In addition, there can be no guarantee that we will receive approval to sell our RNS System in every international market we target, nor can there be any guarantee that any sales would result even if any such approval is received. Approval in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction, does not ensure approval in other jurisdictions.
In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments, and if securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial negative impact on our common stock price.
In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments, and if securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial negative impact on our common stock price.
Such litigation or proceedings could substantially increase our operating losses and reduce the resources available for development activities or any future sales, marketing or distribution activities. We may not have sufficient financial or other resources to conduct such litigation or proceedings adequately.
Such litigation or proceedings could substantially increase our operating losses and reduce the resources available for development activities or any future sales, marketing or distribution activities. We may not have sufficient financial or other resources to conduct such litigation or proceedings adequately.
Our estimates of the annual total addressable markets for our RNS System are based on a number of internal and third-party estimates and assumptions, including, without limitation, our assumptions relative to the number of adults with drug-resistant focal epilepsy in the United States who are treated at CECs and outside of CECs each year; the number of neuromodulation procedures annually in the United States; the number and growth in number of CECs, epileptologists, and neurosurgeons, in the CECs and in the community setting; the growth in number of patients referred to CECs; the patients receiving neuromodulation therapy outside in the community setting; and the potential growth of our market opportunity with the expansion of treatment to patients in the community setting, as well as those suffering from generalized epilepsy or are under age 18.
Our estimates of the annual total addressable markets for our RNS System are based on a number of internal and third-party estimates and assumptions, including, without limitation, our assumptions relative to the number of adults with drug-resistant focal epilepsy in the United States who are treated at CECs and outside of CECs each year; the number of neuromodulation procedures annually in the United States; the number and growth in number of CECs, epileptologists, and neurosurgeons in the CECs and in the community setting; the growth in number of patients referred to CECs; the patients receiving neuromodulation therapy outside in the community setting; and the potential growth of our market opportunity with the expansion of treatment to patients in the community setting, as well as to those suffering from generalized epilepsy or who are under age 18.
An active or liquid market in our common stock may not be sustainable and the market price of our common stock may continue to be highly volatile and may fluctuate or decline substantially as a result of a variety of factors, some of which are beyond our control or are related in complex ways, including: • actual or anticipated fluctuations in our financial condition and results of operations; • variance in our financial performance from expectations of securities analysts or investors; • changes in the coverage decisions, reimbursement or pricing of our products; • changes in our projected operating and financial results; • changes in laws or regulations applicable to our products; • announcements by us or our competitors of significant business developments, acquisitions, or new offerings; • publicity associated with issues related to our products; 94 • our involvement in regulatory investigations or litigation; • future sales of our common stock or other securities, by us or our stockholders, as well as the anticipation of lock-up releases; • changes in senior management or key personnel; • the trading volume of our common stock; • changes in the anticipated future size and growth rate of our market; • general economic, regulatory, and market conditions, including economic recessions or slowdowns; • changes in the structure of healthcare payment systems; and • developments or disputes concerning our intellectual property or other proprietary rights.
An active or liquid market in our common stock may not be sustainable and the market price of our common stock may continue to be highly volatile and may fluctuate or decline substantially as a result of a variety of factors, some of which are beyond our control or are related in complex ways, including: • actual or anticipated fluctuations in our financial condition and results of operations; • variance in our financial performance from expectations of securities analysts or investors; • changes in the coverage decisions, reimbursement or pricing of our products; • changes in our projected operating and financial results; • changes in laws or regulations applicable to our products; • announcements by us or our competitors of significant business developments, acquisitions, or new offerings; • publicity associated with issues related to our products; • our involvement in regulatory investigations or litigation; • future sales of our common stock or other securities, by us or our stockholders, as well as the anticipation of lock-up releases; • changes in senior management or key personnel; • the trading volume of our common stock; • changes in the anticipated future size and growth rate of our market; • general economic, regulatory, and market conditions, including economic recessions or slowdowns; • changes in the structure of healthcare payment systems; and • developments or disputes concerning our intellectual property or other proprietary rights.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws include provisions that: • provide for a classified board of directors whose members serve staggered terms; • authorize our board of directors to issue, without further action by the stockholders, shares of undesignated convertible preferred stock with terms, rights, and preferences determined by our board of directors that may be senior to our common stock; • require that any action to be taken by our stockholders be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting and not by written consent; 91 • specify that special meetings of our stockholders can be called only by our board of directors, the chairperson of our board of directors, or our chief executive officer; • establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting, including proposed nominations of persons for election to our board of directors; • prohibit cumulative voting in the election of directors; • provide that our directors may be removed for cause only upon the vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of our outstanding shares of common stock; • provide that vacancies on our board of directors may be filled only by a majority of directors then in office, even though less than a quorum; and • require the approval of our board of directors or the holders of at least 66 2/3% of our outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote at an election of directors to adopt, to amend our bylaws and certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws include provisions that: • provide for a classified board of directors whose members serve staggered terms; • authorize our board of directors to issue, without further action by the stockholders, shares of undesignated convertible preferred stock with terms, rights, and preferences determined by our board of directors that may be senior to our common stock; • require that any action to be taken by our stockholders be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting and not by written consent; • specify that special meetings of our stockholders can be called only by our board of directors, the chairperson of our board of directors, or our chief executive officer; • establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting, including proposed nominations of persons for election to our board of directors; • prohibit cumulative voting in the election of directors; • provide that our directors may be removed for cause only upon the vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of our outstanding shares of common stock; • provide that vacancies on our board of directors may be filled only by a majority of directors then in office, even though less than a quorum; and • require the approval of our board of directors or the holders of at least 66 2/3% of our outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote at an election of directors to adopt, to amend our bylaws and certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation.
For example: • others may be able to make products that are similar to our products or utilize similar technology but that are not covered by the claims of our patents or that incorporate certain technology in our products that is in the public domain; • our intellectual property strategy may be limited, we may not seek protection for intellectual property that may ultimately become relevant to our business or our invention disclosure process may prove insufficient to encourage inventors to come forward with protectable intellectual property; • we, or our current or future licensors or collaborators, might not have been the first to make the inventions covered by the applicable issued patent or pending patent application that we own now or may own or license in the future; • we, or our current or future licensors or collaborators, might not have been the first to file patent applications covering certain of our or their inventions; • we, or our current or future licensors or collaborators, may fail to meet our obligations to the U.S. government regarding any future patents and patent applications funded by U.S. government grants, leading to the loss or unenforceability of patent rights; • others may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies without infringing our intellectual property rights; • it is possible that our current or future pending patent applications will not lead to issued patents; • it is possible that there are prior public disclosures that could invalidate our patents, or parts of our patents; • it is possible that there are unpublished applications or patent applications maintained in secrecy that may later issue with claims covering our products or technology similar to ours; • it is possible that our patents or patent applications omit individuals that should be listed as inventors or include individuals that should not be listed as inventors, which may cause these patents or patents issuing from these patent applications to be held invalid or unenforceable; • issued patents that we hold rights to may be held invalid or unenforceable, including as a result of legal challenges by our competitors or other third parties; • the claims of our patents or patent applications, if and when issued, may not cover our products or technologies; • the laws of foreign countries may not protect our proprietary rights or the rights of current or future licensors or collaborators to the same extent as the laws of the United States; • the inventors of our patents or patent applications may become involved with competitors, develop products or processes that design around our patents, or become hostile to us or the patents or patent applications on which they are named as inventors; 82 • our competitors or other third parties might conduct research and development activities in countries where we do not have patent rights and then use the information learned from such activities to develop competitive products for sale in our major commercial markets; • we have engaged in scientific collaborations in the past and will continue to do so in the future and our collaborators may develop adjacent or competing products that are outside the scope of our patents; • we may not develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable; • the patents of others may harm our business; or • we may choose not to file a patent in order to maintain certain trade secrets or know-how, and a third party may subsequently file a patent covering such intellectual property.
For example: • others may be able to make products that are similar to our products or utilize similar technology but that are not covered by the claims of our patents or that incorporate certain technology in our products that is in the public domain; • our intellectual property strategy may be limited, we may not seek protection for intellectual property that may ultimately become relevant to our business or our invention disclosure process may prove insufficient to encourage inventors to come forward with protectable intellectual property; • we, or our current or future licensors or collaborators, might not have been the first to make the inventions covered by the applicable issued patent or pending patent application that we own now or may own or license in the future; • we, or our current or future licensors or collaborators, might not have been the first to file patent applications covering certain of our or their inventions; • we, or our current or future licensors or collaborators, may fail to meet our obligations to the U.S. government regarding any future patents and patent applications funded by U.S. government grants, leading to the loss or unenforceability of patent rights; 75 • others may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies without infringing our intellectual property rights; • it is possible that our current or future pending patent applications will not lead to issued patents; • it is possible that there are prior public disclosures that could invalidate our patents, or parts of our patents; • it is possible that there are unpublished applications or patent applications maintained in secrecy that may later issue with claims covering our products or technology similar to ours; • it is possible that our patents or patent applications omit individuals that should be listed as inventors or include individuals that should not be listed as inventors, which may cause these patents or patents issuing from these patent applications to be held invalid or unenforceable; • issued patents that we hold rights to may be held invalid or unenforceable, including as a result of legal challenges by our competitors or other third parties; • the claims of our patents or patent applications, if and when issued, may not cover our products or technologies; • the laws of foreign countries may not protect our proprietary rights or the rights of current or future licensors or collaborators to the same extent as the laws of the United States; • the inventors of our patents or patent applications may become involved with competitors, develop products or processes that design around our patents, or become hostile to us or the patents or patent applications on which they are named as inventors; • our competitors or other third parties might conduct research and development activities in countries where we do not have patent rights and then use the information learned from such activities to develop competitive products for sale in our major commercial markets; • we have engaged in scientific collaborations in the past and will continue to do so in the future and our collaborators may develop adjacent or competing products that are outside the scope of our patents; • we may not develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable; • the patents of others may harm our business; or • we may choose not to file a patent in order to maintain certain trade secrets or know-how, and a third party may subsequently file a patent covering such intellectual property.
The commercial success of our RNS System will continue to depend on a number of factors, including the following: • the degree to which drug-resistant epilepsy remains a chronic and debilitating condition; • the actual and perceived effectiveness, safety and reliability, and clinical benefit, of our RNS System, especially relative to alternative neuromodulation devices such as VNS or DBS; • the prevalence and severity of any adverse patient events involving our RNS System; • our ability to provide earlier awareness of and education about our RNS System to patients and clinicians, including through our partnership with DIXI Medical; • the degree to which clinicians, patients and hospital facilities, including at CECs and outside of CECs, in the community setting, adopt our RNS System; • the availability, relative cost and perceived advantages and disadvantages of alternative technologies or treatment methods for epilepsy; • the results of additional clinical and other studies relating to the health, safety, economic or other benefits of our RNS System; 47 • whether key thought leaders in the medical community accept that our clinical efficacy and safety results are sufficiently meaningful to influence their decision to adopt our RNS System over other neuromodulation therapies; • the extent to which we are successful in educating clinicians, patients, and hospital facilities about the benefits of our RNS System, including as a result of the extended battery life of the neurostimulator; • our reputation among clinicians, patients and hospital facilities; • our ability to predict product performance; • the strength of our marketing and distribution infrastructure, including our ability to drive adoption and utilization of our RNS System, our ability to expand referral pathways to CECs and beyond, and our ability to grow the market outside of Level 4 CECs, in the community; • our ability to obtain, maintain, protect, enforce and defend our intellectual property rights, including in and to our RNS System; • our ability to maintain compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements, including those applicable to our RNS System; • our ability to continue to maintain a commercially viable manufacturing process at our manufacturing facility that is compliant with current Good Manufacturing Practices, or cGMP, and Quality Systems Regulations, or QSR; • our ability to maintain our contractual relationships with our vendors and component suppliers, including single-source vendors and suppliers, through which we obtain critical components for our RNS System; • the continued coverage of and adequate payment for the implantation procedure and for clinicians to provide ongoing care for patients implanted with our RNS System by third-party payors, including both private and government payors; and • our ability to continue to attract and retain key talent.
The commercial success of our RNS System will continue to depend on a number of factors, including the following: • the degree to which drug-resistant epilepsy remains a chronic and debilitating condition; • the actual and perceived effectiveness, safety and reliability, and clinical benefit, of our RNS System, especially relative to alternative neuromodulation devices such as VNS or DBS; • the prevalence and severity of any adverse patient events involving our RNS System; • our ability to provide earlier awareness of and education about our RNS System to patients and clinicians, including through our partnership with DIXI Medical; • the degree to which clinicians, patients and hospital facilities, including at CECs and outside of CECs, in the community setting, adopt our RNS System; • the availability, relative cost and perceived advantages and disadvantages of alternative technologies or treatment methods for epilepsy; • the results of additional clinical and other studies relating to the health, safety, economic or other benefits of our RNS System; 39 • whether key thought leaders in the medical community accept that our clinical efficacy and safety results are sufficiently meaningful to influence their decision to adopt our RNS System over other neuromodulation therapies; • the extent to which we are successful in educating clinicians, patients, and hospital facilities about the benefits of our RNS System, including as a result of the extended battery life of the neurostimulator; • our reputation among clinicians, patients and hospital facilities; • our ability to predict product performance; • the strength of our marketing and distribution infrastructure, including our ability to drive adoption and utilization of our RNS System, our ability to expand referral pathways to CECs and beyond, and our ability to grow the market outside of Level 4 CECs, in the community; • our ability to obtain, maintain, protect, enforce and defend our intellectual property rights, including in and to our RNS System; • our ability to maintain compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements, including those applicable to our RNS System; • our ability to continue to maintain a commercially viable manufacturing process at our manufacturing facility that is compliant with current Good Manufacturing Practices, or cGMP, and Quality Systems Regulations, or QSR; • our ability to maintain our contractual relationships with our vendors and component suppliers, including single-source vendors and suppliers, through which we obtain critical components for our RNS System; • the continued coverage of and adequate payment for the implantation procedure and for clinicians to provide ongoing care for patients implanted with our RNS System by third-party payors, including both private and government payors; and • our ability to continue to attract and retain key talent.
The laws that may affect our ability to operate include, among others: • the Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, knowingly and willingly soliciting, offering, receiving or paying remuneration, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind, to induce or reward either the referral of an individual, or the purchase, order or recommendation of, items or services for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, under a federal healthcare program, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs; • federal civil and criminal false claims laws, including the FCA, and civil monetary penalties laws, which prohibits, among other things, persons or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment of government funds and knowingly making, using or causing to be made or used, a false record or statement to get a false claim paid or to avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government; • the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which applies to our customers and some of their downstream vendors and contractors, imposes criminal and civil liability for, among other actions, knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program, including private third-party payors, or knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making a materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or 58 representation, or making or using any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or entry in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items or services; and • the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act, also known as Open Payments, which requires manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program to report annually, with certain exceptions to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, information related to payments or other “transfers of value” made to physicians, as defined by such law, other healthcare professionals (such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners), and teaching hospitals, and requires applicable manufacturers and group purchasing organizations to report annually to CMS ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members.
The laws that may affect our ability to operate include, among others: • the Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, knowingly and willingly soliciting, offering, receiving or paying remuneration, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind, to induce or reward either the referral of an individual, or the purchase, order or recommendation of, items or services for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, under a federal healthcare program, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs; 50 • federal civil and criminal false claims laws, including the FCA, and civil monetary penalties laws, which prohibits, among other things, persons or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment of government funds and knowingly making, using or causing to be made or used, a false record or statement to get a false claim paid or to avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government; • the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which applies to our customers and some of their downstream vendors and contractors, imposes criminal and civil liability for, among other actions, knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program, including private third-party payors, or knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making a materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or representation, or making or using any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or entry in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items or services; and • the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act, also known as Open Payments, which requires manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program to report annually, with certain exceptions to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, information related to payments or other “transfers of value” made to physicians, as defined by such law, other healthcare professionals (such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners), and teaching hospitals, and requires applicable manufacturers and group purchasing organizations to report annually to CMS ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members.
Additional risks related to operating in foreign countries include: • differing regulatory requirements in foreign countries, including with respect to data privacy and security; • differing reimbursement regimes in foreign countries, including price controls; • unexpected changes in tariffs, trade barriers, price and exchange controls and other regulatory requirements; • economic weakness, including inflation, or political instability in particular foreign economies and markets; • compliance with tax, employment, immigration and labor laws for employees living or traveling abroad; • foreign taxes, including withholding of payroll taxes; • foreign currency fluctuations, which could result in increased operating expenses or reduced revenue; • difficulties staffing and managing foreign operations; • workforce uncertainty in countries where labor unrest is more common than in the United States; • potential liability under the U.S.
Additional risks related to operating in foreign countries include: • differing regulatory requirements in foreign countries, including with respect to data privacy and security; • differing reimbursement regimes in foreign countries, including price controls; • unexpected changes in tariffs, trade barriers, price and exchange controls and other regulatory requirements; • economic weakness, including inflation, or political instability in particular foreign economies and markets; • compliance with tax, employment, immigration and labor laws for employees living or traveling abroad; • foreign taxes, including withholding of payroll taxes; • foreign currency fluctuations, which could result in increased operating expenses or reduced revenue; 49 • difficulties staffing and managing foreign operations; • workforce uncertainty in countries where labor unrest is more common than in the United States; • potential liability under the U.S.
Our continued success depends on, among other things, our ability to: • continue to demonstrate safety and efficacy in our Post-Approval Study and in ongoing commercial use; • expand our referral pathways; • expand the number of CECs implanting our RNS System and increase utilization across existing clinicians using the RNS System and adoption across new clinicians within these CECs; • increase the utilization and adoption of our RNS System outside of Level 4 CECs, in the community setting; • drive awareness to increase the number of drug-resistant epilepsy patients referred to CECs and treated outside of CECs, in the community setting; • maintain adequate reimbursement for implant procedures and for clinicians to provide ongoing care of patients treated with our RNS System; • attract and retain skilled research, development, sales, marketing and clinical personnel; • continue to innovate in order to improve therapy effectiveness and enhance the patient and provider experience; • adequately predict product performance; • obtain and maintain regulatory clearances and approvals, including for expanded indications; • cost-effectively manufacture, market and sell our RNS System; • obtain, maintain, protect, enforce and defend our intellectual property rights and operate our business without infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the intellectual property rights of others; • acquire products or technologies complementary to or necessary for our business; and • source materials, components, and sub-assemblies from suppliers on a cost-effective and timely basis. 53 Adoption of our RNS System depends on positive clinical data as well as clinician acceptance of the data and our products, and negative clinical data or perceptions among these clinicians would harm our sales, business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our continued success depends on, among other things, our ability to: • continue to demonstrate safety and efficacy in our Post-Approval Study and in ongoing commercial use; • expand our referral pathways; • expand the number of CECs implanting our RNS System and increase utilization across existing clinicians using the RNS System and adoption across new clinicians within these CECs; • increase the utilization and adoption of our RNS System outside of Level 4 CECs, in the community setting; • drive awareness to increase the number of drug-resistant epilepsy patients referred to CECs and treated outside of CECs, in the community setting; • maintain adequate reimbursement for implant procedures and for clinicians to provide ongoing care of patients treated with our RNS System; • attract and retain skilled research, development, sales, marketing and clinical personnel; • continue to innovate in order to improve therapy effectiveness and enhance the patient and provider experience; • adequately predict product performance; • obtain and maintain regulatory clearances and approvals, including for expanded indications; • cost-effectively manufacture, market and sell our RNS System; • obtain, maintain, protect, enforce and defend our intellectual property rights and operate our business without infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the intellectual property rights of others; • acquire products or technologies complementary to or necessary for our business; and • source materials, components, and sub-assemblies from suppliers on a cost-effective and timely basis. 45 Adoption of our RNS System depends on positive clinical data as well as clinician acceptance of the data and our products, and negative clinical data or perceptions among these clinicians would harm our sales, business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act, and we expect to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved and extended adoption period for accounting pronouncements.
We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act, and we expect to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, exemptions from the requirements 86 of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved and extended adoption period for accounting pronouncements.
If these third parties do not successfully carry out their duties or meet expected deadlines, or if the quality, completeness or accuracy of the data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical study protocols or for other reasons, our clinical studies or trials may need to be extended, delayed or terminated or may otherwise prove to be unsuccessful, and we may have to conduct additional studies, which would significantly increase our costs.
If these third parties do not successfully carry out their duties or meet expected deadlines, or if the quality, completeness or accuracy of the data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical study protocols or for 56 other reasons, our clinical studies or trials may need to be extended, delayed or terminated or may otherwise prove to be unsuccessful, and we may have to conduct additional studies, which would significantly increase our costs.
Misconduct by these parties could include intentional, reckless or negligent conduct or disclosure of unauthorized activities to us that violates: (i) the laws of the FDA and other similar foreign regulatory bodies, including those laws requiring the reporting of true, complete and accurate information to such regulators; (ii) manufacturing standards; (iii) healthcare fraud and abuse laws in the United States and similar foreign fraudulent misconduct laws; or (iv) laws that require the true, complete and accurate 59 reporting of financial information or data.
Misconduct by these parties could include intentional, reckless or negligent conduct or disclosure of unauthorized activities to us that violates: (i) the laws of the FDA and other similar foreign regulatory bodies, including those laws requiring the reporting of true, complete and accurate information to such regulators; (ii) manufacturing standards; (iii) healthcare fraud and abuse laws in the United States and similar foreign fraudulent misconduct laws; or (iv) laws that require the true, complete and accurate reporting of financial information or data.
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or the FCPA, or comparable foreign regulations; • challenges enforcing our contractual and intellectual property rights as well as intellectual property theft or compulsory licensing, especially in those foreign countries that do not respect and protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the United States; and 57 • business interruptions resulting from geopolitical actions, including tariffs, war and terrorism.
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or the FCPA, or comparable foreign regulations; • challenges enforcing our contractual and intellectual property rights as well as intellectual property theft or compulsory licensing, especially in those foreign countries that do not respect and protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the United States; and • business interruptions resulting from geopolitical actions, including tariffs, war and terrorism.
Our failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements could result in enforcement action by the FDA or state agencies, which may include any of the following actions: • untitled letters, warning letters, fines, injunctions, consent decrees and civil penalties; • removal from FDA’s Voluntary Improvement Program pilot; • unanticipated expenditures to address or defend such actions; • form 483s, or other compliance or enforcement notices, communications or correspondence, including customer notifications for repair, replacement or refunds; • recall, detention or seizure of our RNS System; • operating restrictions or partial suspension or total shutdown of production; • refusing or delaying our requests for 510(k) clearance or PMA of new products or modified products; • operating restrictions; • seizure or detention of products; 61 • withdrawing 510(k) clearances or PMAs that have already been granted; • refusal to grant export approval for our RNS System; • criminal prosecution; or • civil penalties.
Our failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements could result in enforcement action by the FDA or state agencies, which may include any of the following actions: • untitled letters, warning letters, fines, injunctions, consent decrees and civil penalties; • removal from FDA’s Voluntary Improvement Program pilot; • unanticipated expenditures to address or defend such actions; 53 • form 483s, or other compliance or enforcement notices, communications or correspondence, including customer notifications for repair, replacement or refunds; • recall, detention or seizure of our RNS System; • operating restrictions or partial suspension or total shutdown of production; • refusing or delaying our requests for 510(k) clearance or PMA of new products or modified products; • operating restrictions; • seizure or detention of products; • withdrawing 510(k) clearances or PMAs that have already been granted; • refusal to grant export approval for our RNS System; • criminal prosecution; or • civil penalties.
Claims related to our use of open source software could also result in litigation, require us to purchase costly licenses or require us to devote additional research and development resources to change the software underlying our technology, any of which would have a negative effect on our business, financial condition and operating results and may not be possible in a timely manner.
Claims related to our use of open-source software could also result in litigation, require us to purchase costly licenses or require us to devote additional research and development resources to change the software underlying our technology, any of which 77 would have a negative effect on our business, financial condition and operating results and may not be possible in a timely manner.
Before a new medical device or a new intended use for an existing medical device can be marketed in the United States, we must first submit and receive either 510(k) clearance pursuant to Section 510(k) of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, or the FDCA, or approval of a PMA application from the FDA, unless an exemption applies.
Before a new medical device or a new intended use for an existing medical device can be marketed in the United States, we must first submit and receive either 510(k) clearance pursuant to Section 510(k) of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, or the FDCA, or approval of a PMA application or PMA-S from the FDA, unless an exemption applies.
Our ability to obtain components 93 for our products could be disrupted if the operations of our suppliers were affected by a man-made or natural disaster or other business interruption. In addition, our corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility is located in Mountain View, California, near major earthquake faults and fire zones.
Our ability to obtain components for our products could be disrupted if the operations of our suppliers were affected by a man-made or natural disaster or other business interruption. In addition, our corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility is located in Mountain View, California, near major earthquake faults and fire zones.
Such proceedings also may result in substantial cost and require significant time from our management, even if the eventual outcome is favorable to us. 73 In addition, if we initiate legal proceedings against a third party to enforce a patent covering our products, the defendant could counterclaim that such patent is invalid or unenforceable.
Such proceedings also may result in substantial cost and require significant time from our management, even if the eventual outcome is favorable to us. In addition, if we initiate legal proceedings against a third party to enforce a patent covering our products, the defendant could counterclaim that such patent is invalid or unenforceable.
As the number of competitors in our market grows and the number of patents issued in this area increases, the possibility of patent infringement claims against us escalates. Moreover, we may face claims from non-practicing entities, or NPEs, which have no relevant product revenue and against whom our own patent 79 portfolio may have no deterrent effect.
As the number of competitors in our market grows and the number of patents issued in this area increases, the possibility of patent infringement claims against us escalates. Moreover, we may face claims from non-practicing entities, or NPEs, which have no relevant product revenue and against whom our own patent portfolio may have no deterrent effect.
The loss of exclusivity or the narrowing of our patent claims could limit our ability to stop others from using or commercializing similar or identical technology and products. 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.
The loss of exclusivity or the narrowing of our patent claims could limit our ability to stop others from using or commercializing similar or identical technology and products. 72 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.
In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us, we may be enjoined from further developing or commercializing the infringing products and/or have to pay substantial damages for use of the asserted intellectual property, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees were we found to willfully infringe such intellectual property.
In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us, we may be enjoined from further developing or commercializing the infringing products and/or have to pay substantial damages for use of the asserted intellectual property, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees were we found to willfully infringe such 73 intellectual property.
In addition, supply-chain attacks have increased in frequency and severity, and we cannot guarantee that third parties’ infrastructure in our supply chain or our third-party partners’ supply chains have not been compromised. We may expend significant resources or modify our business activities (including our clinical trial activities) to try to protect against security incidents.
In addition, supply-chain attacks have increased in frequency and severity, and we cannot guarantee that third parties’ infrastructure in our supply chain or our third-party partners’ supply chains have not been compromised. We expend resources or may have to modify our business activities (including our clinical trial activities) to try to protect against security incidents.
Additionally, certain data privacy and security obligations may require us to implement and maintain specific security measures or industry-standard or reasonable security measures to protect our information technology systems and sensitive information. While we have implemented security measures designed to protect against security incidents, there can be no assurance that these measures will be effective.
Additionally, certain data privacy and security obligations require us to implement and maintain specific security measures or industry-standard or reasonable security measures to protect our information technology systems and sensitive information. While we have implemented security measures designed to protect against security incidents, there can be no assurance that these measures will be effective.
We could be forced, including by court order, to cease commercializing the infringing product. In addition, we could be found liable for monetary damages, which may be significant. If we are found to have willfully infringed a third-party patent, we could be required to pay treble damages and attorneys’ fees.
We could be 67 forced, including by court order, to cease commercializing the infringing product. In addition, we could be found liable for monetary damages, which may be significant. If we are found to have willfully infringed a third-party patent, we could be required to pay treble damages and attorneys’ fees.
Many countries have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner may be compelled to grant licenses to third parties. In addition, many countries limit the enforceability of patents against government agencies or 77 government contractors. In these countries, the patent owner may have limited remedies, which could materially diminish the value of such patent.
Many countries have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner may be compelled to grant licenses to third parties. In addition, many countries limit the enforceability of patents against government agencies or government contractors. In these countries, the patent owner may have limited remedies, which could materially diminish the value of such patent.
We are required pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to include in our annual reports a report by management on, among other things, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. This assessment needs to include disclosure of any material weaknesses identified by our management in our internal 95 control over financial reporting.
We are required pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to include in our annual reports a report by management on, among other things, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. This assessment needs to include disclosure of any material weaknesses identified by our management in our internal control over financial reporting.
We publish privacy policies, marketing materials, and other statements regarding data privacy and security. If these policies, materials or statements are found to be deficient, lacking in transparency, deceptive, unfair, or misrepresentative of our practices, we may be subject to investigation, enforcement actions by regulators, or other adverse consequences.
We publish privacy policies, marketing materials, and other statements regarding data privacy and security. If these policies, materials or statements are found to be deficient, lacking in transparency, deceptive, unfair, misleading, or misrepresentative of our practices, we may be subject to investigation, enforcement actions by regulators, or other adverse consequences.
We could also encounter delays if a clinical study is suspended or terminated by us, by the IRBs or the Ethics Committees of institutions at which such studies are being conducted, by the Data Safety Monitoring Board for such 70 trial or by the FDA or other regulatory authorities.
We could also encounter delays if a clinical study is suspended or terminated by us, by the IRBs or the Ethics Committees of institutions at which such studies are being conducted, by the Data Safety Monitoring Board for such trial or by the FDA or other regulatory authorities.
Even if we are successful in defending against intellectual property claims, litigation or other legal proceedings relating to such claims may cause us to incur significant expenses, cause reputational harm, and could distract our 74 technical and management personnel from their normal responsibilities.
Even if we are successful in defending against intellectual property claims, litigation or other legal proceedings relating to such claims may cause us to incur significant expenses, cause reputational harm, and could distract our technical and management personnel from their normal responsibilities.
Our efforts to enforce or protect our proprietary rights related to trademarks, trade secrets, domain names or other intellectual property may be ineffective, could result in 81 substantial costs, diversion of resources, or adverse impact to our brand and could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our efforts to enforce or protect our proprietary rights related to trademarks, trade secrets, domain names or other intellectual property may be ineffective, could result in substantial costs, diversion of resources, or adverse impact to our brand and could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Despite our efforts to retain valuable employees, members of our management and other key personnel may terminate their employment with us on short notice. Our employment arrangements with our employees provide for at-will employment, which means that any of our employees could leave our employment at any time, with or without notice.
Despite our efforts to retain valuable employees, members of our management and other key personnel may terminate their employment with us on short notice. Our employment arrangements with our employees provide for at-will employment, which means that any of our employees could leave our employment at any time, with or without 47 notice.
We cannot be certain that violations of these laws and regulations, or releases of or exposure to hazardous substances, will not occur in the future or have not occurred in the past, including as a result of human error, accidents, equipment failure or other causes.
We cannot be certain that violations of these laws and regulations, or releases of or exposure to hazardous substances, will not occur in the future or have not occurred in the past, including as a result of human error, 57 accidents, equipment failure or other causes.
In addition, we may encounter delays if the FDA concludes that our financial relationships with investigators result in a perceived or actual conflict of interest that may have affected the interpretation of a study, the integrity of the data generated at the applicable clinical study site or the utility of the clinical study itself.
In addition, we may encounter delays if the FDA concludes that our financial relationships with investigators result in a perceived or actual conflict of interest that may have affected the interpretation of a study, the integrity of 58 the data generated at the applicable clinical study site or the utility of the clinical study itself.
We currently do not have an internal audit group, and we will need to hire additional accounting and financial staff with appropriate public company experience and technical accounting knowledge and compile the system and process documentation necessary to perform the evaluation needed to comply with Section 404.
We currently do not have an internal audit group, and we will need to hire additional accounting and financial staff with appropriate public 90 company experience and technical accounting knowledge and compile the system and process documentation necessary to perform the evaluation needed to comply with Section 404.
Our products may also contain hazardous substances, and they are subject laws and regulations relating to labeling requirements and to their sale, collection, recycling, treatment, storage and disposal. Compliance with these laws and regulations may be 69 expensive and noncompliance could result in substantial fines and penalties.
Our products may also contain hazardous substances, and they are subject laws and regulations relating to labeling requirements and to their sale, collection, recycling, treatment, storage and disposal. Compliance with these laws and regulations may be expensive and noncompliance could result in substantial fines and penalties.
A government mandated or voluntary product recall by us could occur because of, for example, component failures, device malfunctions or 63 other adverse events, such as serious injuries or deaths, or quality-related issues, such as manufacturing errors or design or labeling defects.
A government mandated or voluntary product recall by us could occur because of, for example, component failures, device malfunctions or other adverse events, such as serious injuries or deaths, or quality-related issues, such as manufacturing errors or design or labeling defects.
If the breadth or strength of protection provided by the patents we hold or pursue with respect to our products is challenged, it could dissuade companies from collaborating with us to develop, or threaten our ability to commercialize, our products. Patents have a limited lifespan.
If the breadth or strength of protection provided by the patents we hold or 65 pursue with respect to our products is challenged, it could dissuade companies from collaborating with us to develop, or threaten our ability to commercialize, our products. Patents have a limited lifespan.
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. 80 In addition, our patents or the patents of our licensing partners also may become involved in inventorship, priority or validity disputes.
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, our patents or the patents of our licensing partners also may become involved in inventorship, priority or validity disputes.
We will continue to incur increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management and board of directors will be required to devote substantial time to compliance with our public company responsibilities and corporate governance practices. As a public company, we have and will continue to incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses.
We will continue to incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management and board of directors will be required to devote substantial time to compliance with our public company responsibilities and corporate governance practices. As a public company, we have and will continue to incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses.
The value to employees of stock options that vest over time may be significantly affected by fluctuations in our stock price that are beyond our 55 control, and may at any time be insufficient to counteract more lucrative offers from other companies.
The value to employees of stock options that vest over time may be significantly affected by fluctuations in our stock price that are beyond our control, and may at any time be insufficient to counteract more lucrative offers from other companies.
There likely will continue to be legislative and regulatory proposals at the federal and state levels directed at containing or lowering the cost of healthcare. We cannot predict the initiatives that may be adopted in the future or 64 their full impact.
There likely will continue to be legislative and regulatory proposals at the federal and state levels directed at containing or lowering the cost of healthcare. We cannot predict the initiatives that may be adopted in the future or their full impact.
Additionally, if our projections regarding the revenue we anticipate receiving from our collaboration 87 with Rapport are inaccurate, we may not attain our revenue projections, which could harm our business, result in investors losing confidence in our financial reporting, and our stock price may decline.
Additionally, if our projections regarding the revenue we anticipate receiving from our collaboration with Rapport are inaccurate, we may not attain our revenue projections, which could harm our business, result in investors losing confidence in our financial reporting, and our stock price may decline.
In addition to data privacy and security laws, we are contractually subject to industry standards adopted by industry groups and, we are, or may become subject to such obligations in the future. Obligations related to data privacy and security are quickly changing, becoming increasingly stringent, and creating regulatory uncertainty.
In addition to data privacy and security laws, we are contractually subject to industry standards adopted by industry groups and, we are or may become subject to such obligations in the future. 60 Obligations related to data privacy and security are quickly changing, becoming increasingly stringent, and creating regulatory uncertainty.
There can be no assurance that such third parties will not breach their agreements with us, that we will have adequate remedies for any breach, or that our trade secrets will not otherwise become known or independently developed by competitors.
There can be no assurance that such 76 third parties will not breach their agreements with us, that we will have adequate remedies for any breach, or that our trade secrets will not otherwise become known or independently developed by competitors.
The covenants related to the Term Loan Agreement, as well as any future financing agreements into which we may enter, may restrict our ability to finance our operations and engage in, expand or otherwise pursue our business activities and strategies.
The covenants related to 81 the Term Loan Agreement, as well as any future financing agreements into which we may enter, may restrict our ability to finance our operations and engage in, expand or otherwise pursue our business activities and strategies.
These exclusive forum provisions may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and other employees.
These exclusive forum provisions may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits 88 against us and our directors, officers and other employees.
Any failure to obtain, maintain, protect, enforce or defend patent and other intellectual property protection with respect to our RNS System or other aspects of our business could harm our business, competitive position, financial condition and results of operations.
Any failure to obtain, maintain, protect, enforce or defend patent and other intellectual property 64 protection with respect to our RNS System or other aspects of our business could harm our business, competitive position, financial condition and results of operations.
We expect our RNS System will continue to be purchased by hospital facilities who will then seek reimbursement from third-party payors for brain-responsive neuromodulation for drug resistant focal epilepsy. 54 While third-party payors currently cover and provide reimbursement for both implant procedures of our RNS System as well as for clinicians providing ongoing patient care, we can give no assurance that these third-party payors will continue to provide coverage and adequate reimbursement, or that current reimbursement levels for diagnostic, implant or replacement procedures as well as clinician-provided ongoing patient care will continue.
We expect our RNS System will continue to be purchased by hospital facilities who will then seek reimbursement from third-party payors for brain-responsive neuromodulation for drug resistant focal epilepsy. 46 While third-party payors currently cover and provide reimbursement for both implant procedures of our RNS System as well as for clinicians providing ongoing patient care, we can give no assurance that these third-party payors will continue to provide coverage and adequate reimbursement, or that current reimbursement levels for diagnostic, implant or replacement procedures as well as clinician-provided ongoing patient care will continue.
These provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management by making it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of our board of directors, which is responsible for appointing the members of our management.
These provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management by making it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of our board of directors, which is 87 responsible for appointing the members of our management.
We have a compliance program, code of conduct and associated policies and procedures, but it is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct by our employees, contractors, and other third parties, including our customers, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent noncompliance may not be effective in protecting us from governmental investigations for failure to comply with applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare laws and regulations.
We have a compliance program, code of conduct and associated policies, procedures, and ongoing training, but it is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct by our employees, contractors, and other third parties, including our customers, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent noncompliance may not be effective in protecting us from governmental investigations for failure to comply with applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare laws and regulations.
If we are forced to lower or are unable to increase the price we charge for our RNS System, our gross margins will decrease, which will harm our ability to invest in and 56 grow our business.
If we are forced to lower or are unable to increase the price we charge for our RNS System, our gross margins will decrease, which will harm our ability to invest in and grow our business.
The occurrence of any of these issues could significantly harm our ability to manufacture our products and maintain sufficient quality standards, which would negatively impact our sales, business, financial condition, and results of operations. 50 We depend on a limited number of single-source suppliers and vendors in connection with the manufacture of our RNS System, which makes us vulnerable to supply shortages and price fluctuations that could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The occurrence of any of these issues could significantly harm our ability to manufacture our products and maintain sufficient quality standards, which would negatively impact our sales, business, financial condition, and results of operations. 42 We depend on a limited number of single-source suppliers and vendors in connection with the manufacture of our RNS System, which makes us vulnerable to supply shortages and price fluctuations that could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The 83 theft or unauthorized use or publication of our trade secrets and other confidential business information could reduce the differentiation of our products, substantially and adversely impact our sales and commercial operations and harm our business.
The theft or unauthorized use or publication of our trade secrets and other confidential business information could reduce the differentiation of our products, substantially and adversely impact our sales and commercial operations and harm our business.
Our ability to accurately forecast demand for our products, including our distributed DIXI Medical products, could be negatively affected by many factors, including our failure to accurately manage our expansion strategy, product introductions by competitors, our inability to forecast the lifecycle of our products, an increase or decrease in customer demand for our products or for competitor products, our failure to accurately forecast customer adoption of new products, unanticipated changes in general market conditions or regulatory matters and weakening of economic conditions or consumer confidence in future economic conditions.
Our ability to accurately forecast demand for our products, including our sales of DIXI Medical products, could be negatively affected by many factors, including our failure to accurately manage our expansion strategy, product introductions by competitors, our inability to forecast the lifecycle of our products, an increase or decrease in customer demand for our products or for competitor products, our failure to accurately forecast customer adoption of new products, unanticipated changes in general market conditions or regulatory matters and weakening of economic conditions or consumer confidence in future economic conditions.
Our quarterly and annual operating results may fluctuate due to a variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control, including, but not limited to: • the level of demand for our products and any future products, which may vary significantly from period to period; • expenditures that we may incur to acquire, develop or commercialize additional products and technologies; • the timing and cost of obtaining regulatory approvals or clearances to expand our indications and get future approvals of any future products or features; • pricing pressures; • our ability to expand the geographic reach of our commercial efforts; • the degree of competition in our industry and any change in the competitive landscape of our industry, including consolidation among our competitors or future partners; • coverage and reimbursement policies with respect to our products, and potential future products that compete with our products; • the timing and success or failure of preclinical or clinical studies for expanding the indications of our RNS System or any future products we develop or competing products; • positive or negative coverage in the media or clinical publications of our products or products of our competitors or our industry; • the timing of customer orders or scheduling of implants using our products and the number of available selling days in any quarterly period, which can be impacted by holidays, vacations, the mix of products sold and the geographic mix of where products are sold, including any related foreign currency impact; • the impact of hospital accessibility and staffing shortages on procedure volume or otherwise; • the timing and cost of, and level of investment in, research, development, licenses, regulatory approval, commercialization activities, acquisitions and other strategic transactions, or other significant events relating to our products, which may change from time to time; 96 • the cost of manufacturing our products, which may vary depending on the quantity of production and the terms of our agreements with third-party suppliers; and • future accounting pronouncements or changes in our accounting policies.
Our quarterly and annual operating results may fluctuate due to a variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control, including, but not limited to: • the level of demand for our products and any future products, which may vary significantly from period to period; • expenditures that we may incur to acquire, develop or commercialize additional products and technologies; 79 • the timing and cost of obtaining regulatory approvals or clearances to expand our indications and get future approvals of any future products or features; • pricing pressures; • our ability to expand the geographic reach of our commercial efforts; • the degree of competition in our industry and any change in the competitive landscape of our industry, including consolidation among our competitors or future partners; • coverage and reimbursement policies with respect to our products, and potential future products that compete with our products; • the timing and success or failure of preclinical or clinical studies for expanding the indications of our RNS System or any future products we develop or competing products; • positive or negative coverage in the media or clinical publications of our products or products of our competitors or our industry; • the timing of customer orders, scheduling or cancelling of implant procedures using our products and the number of available selling days in any quarterly period, which can be impacted by holidays, vacations, the mix of products sold and the geographic mix of where products are sold, including any related foreign currency impact; • the impact of hospital accessibility and staffing shortages on procedure volume or otherwise; • the timing and cost of, and level of investment in, research, development, licenses, regulatory approval, commercialization activities, acquisitions and other strategic transactions, or other significant events relating to our products, which may change from time to time; • the cost of manufacturing our products, which may vary depending on the quantity of production and the terms of our agreements with third-party suppliers; and • future accounting pronouncements or changes in our accounting policies.
In addition, our ability to obtain and maintain valid and enforceable patents depends on whether the differences between our 71 inventions and the prior art allow our inventions to be patentable over the prior art.
In addition, our ability to obtain and maintain valid and enforceable patents depends on whether the differences between our inventions and the prior art allow our inventions to be patentable over the prior art.
The Term Loan contains customary affirmative and restrictive covenants, including with respect to our ability to enter into fundamental transactions, incur additional indebtedness, grant liens, pay any dividend or make any distributions to our holders, make investments, merge or consolidate with any other person or engage in transactions with our affiliates, as well as financial maintenance covenants, including minimum liquidity and annual revenue covenants.
The Term Loan contains customary affirmative and restrictive covenants, including with respect to our ability to enter into fundamental transactions, incur additional indebtedness, grant liens, pay any dividend or make any distributions to our holders, make investments, merge or consolidate with any other person or engage in transactions with our affiliates, as well as minimum liquidity and annual revenue covenants.
In addition, if we experience a significant increase in demand, 51 additional supplies of components, materials, or services, or additional manufacturing capacity may not be available when required on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all, which may negatively affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
In addition, if we experience a significant increase in demand, 43 additional supplies of components, materials, or services, or additional manufacturing capacity may not be available when required on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all, which may negatively affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
If we are unable to successfully achieve substantial market acceptance and 48 adoption of our RNS System by additional clinicians, patients, and hospital facilities, or to expand the clinicians’ perspective as to the types of patients that can benefit from our RNS System, patients may be reluctant to use our products over alternative neuromodulation therapies.
If we are unable to successfully achieve substantial market acceptance and 40 adoption of our RNS System by additional clinicians, patients, and hospital facilities, or to expand the clinicians’ perspective as to the types of patients that can benefit from our RNS System, patients may be reluctant to use our products over alternative neuromodulation therapies.
Consequently, a catastrophic event at our facility could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Litigation and other legal proceedings may harm our business.
Consequently, a catastrophic event at our facility could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations. 89 Litigation and other legal proceedings may harm our business.
If we are unable to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if we identify additional material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, our reputation could be negatively impacted, we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, the market price of our common stock could decline, we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the Nasdaq Global Market, the SEC or other regulatory authorities and our access to the capital markets could be restricted in the future.
If we are unable to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if we identify additional material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and are unable to successfully remediate them, our reputation could be negatively impacted, we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, the market price of our common stock could decline, we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the Nasdaq Global Market, the SEC or other regulatory authorities and our access to the capital markets could be restricted in the future.
Our contracts may not contain limitations of liability, and even where they do, there can be no assurance that limitations of liability in our contracts are sufficient to protect us from liabilities, damages, or claims related to our data privacy and security obligations.
Some of our contracts do not contain limitations of liability, and even where they do, there can be no assurance that limitations of liability in our contracts are sufficient to protect us from liabilities, damages, or claims related to our data privacy and security obligations.
Since we produce our products in one manufacturing facility, any contamination of the controlled environment, equipment malfunction, supply issues, personnel issues, including human error, or failure to strictly follow 49 procedures can significantly reduce our yield.
Since we produce our products in one manufacturing facility, any contamination of the controlled environment, equipment malfunction, supply issues, personnel issues, including human error, or failure to strictly follow 41 procedures can significantly reduce our yield.
If we (or a third party upon whom we rely) experience a security incident or are perceived to have experienced a security incident, we may experience adverse consequences, such as government enforcement actions (for example, investigations, fines, penalties, audits, and inspections); additional reporting requirements and/or oversight; restrictions on processing sensitive information (including personal information); litigation (including class claims); indemnification obligations; negative publicity; reputational harm; monetary fund diversions; interruptions in our operations (including availability of data); financial loss; and other similar harms.
If we (or a third party with whom we work) experience a security incident or are perceived to have experienced a security incident, we may experience adverse consequences, such as government enforcement actions (for example, investigations, fines, penalties, audits, and inspections); additional reporting requirements and/or oversight; restrictions on processing sensitive information (including personal information); litigation (including class claims); indemnification obligations; negative publicity; reputational harm; monetary fund diversions; interruptions in our operations (including availability of data); financial loss; and other similar harms.
If we or the third parties on which we rely fail, or are perceived to have failed, to address or comply with applicable data privacy and security obligations, we could face significant consequences, including but not limited to: government enforcement actions (e.g., investigations, fines, penalties, audits, inspections, and similar); litigation (including class-action claims) and mass arbitration demands; additional reporting requirements and/or oversight; bans on processing personal information; and orders to destroy or not use personal information.
If we or the third parties with whom we work fail, or are perceived to have failed, to address or comply with applicable data privacy and security obligations, we could face significant consequences, including but not limited to: government enforcement actions (e.g., investigations, fines, penalties, audits, inspections, and similar); litigation (including class-action claims) and mass arbitration demands; additional reporting requirements and/or oversight; bans on processing personal information; and orders to destroy or not use personal information.
We have adopted a code of conduct, employee handbook, and compliance policies, but it is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct by our employees and other third parties, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent these activities may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to be in compliance with such laws or regulations.
We have adopted a code of conduct, employee handbook, compliance policies, and compliance training programs for all employees, but it is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct by our employees and other third parties, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent these activities may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to be in compliance with such laws or regulations.
We rely on third-party service providers and technologies to operate critical business systems to process sensitive information in a variety of contexts, such as and without limitation, cloud-based infrastructure, data center facilities, encryption and authentication technology, employee email, content delivery to customers, and other functions.
We rely on third parties and third-party technologies to operate critical business systems to process sensitive information in a variety of contexts, such as and without limitation, cloud-based infrastructure, data center facilities, encryption and authentication technology, employee email, content delivery to customers, and other functions.
Additionally, our customers may be subject to additional federal and state privacy and security laws, rules, regulations and standards, including HIPAA, that they may require us to comply with through contractual obligations. This patchwork of legislation and 65 regulation may give rise to conflicts or differing views of personal privacy rights.
Additionally, our customers may be subject to additional federal and state privacy and security laws, rules, regulations and standards, including HIPAA, that they require us to comply with through contractual obligations. This patchwork of obligations may give rise to conflicts or differing views of personal privacy rights.
Our collection, use, storage, disclosure, transfer and other processing of sensitive and personal information may subject us to stringent and evolving U.S. and foreign laws, regulations and rules, contractual obligations, industry standards, policies and other obligations related to data privacy and security.
Risks related to privacy, information technology and cybersecurity Our collection, use, storage, disclosure, transfer and other processing of sensitive and personal information may subject us to stringent and evolving U.S. and foreign laws, regulations and rules, contractual obligations, industry standards, policies and other obligations related to data privacy and security.
We also rely on third-party service providers to provide other products, services, parts, or otherwise to operate our business. Our ability to monitor these third parties’ information security practices is limited, and these third parties may not have adequate information security measures in place.
We also rely on third parties to provide other products, services, parts, or otherwise to operate our business. Our ability to monitor these third parties’ information security practices is limited, and these third parties may not have adequate information security measures in place.
Patients may also choose not to actively seek additional treatment for epilepsy or may 52 choose to try new therapeutic drugs that become available from time to time.
Patients may also choose not to actively seek additional treatment for epilepsy or may 44 choose to try new therapeutic drugs that become available from time to time.
Our operations are subject to pervasive and continuing FDA regulatory requirements, and failure to comply with these requirements could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our operations are subject to pervasive and continuing FDA regulatory requirements, and failure to comply with these requirements could harm our growth potential, and our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Using these third parties poses a number of risks, such as: • they may not perform to our standards or legal requirements; • they may not produce reliable results; • they may not perform in a timely manner; • they may not maintain confidentiality of our proprietary information; • disputes may arise with respect to ownership of rights to products developed with our partners; and • disagreements could cause delays in, or termination of, the research, development or commercialization of our products or result in litigation or arbitration.
Using these third parties poses a number of risks, such as: • they may not extend or renew their agreement with us; • they may not perform to our standards or legal requirements; • they may not produce reliable results; • they may not perform in a timely manner; • they may not maintain confidentiality of our proprietary information; • disputes may arise with respect to ownership of rights to products developed with our partners; and • disagreements could cause delays in, or termination of, the research, development or commercialization of our products or result in litigation or arbitration.
Furthermore, we may discover security issues that were not found during due diligence of such acquired or integrated entities, and it may be difficult to integrate companies into our information technology environment and security program. 67 In addition, our reliance on third-party service providers could introduce new cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities, including supply-chain attacks, and other threats to our business operations.
Furthermore, we may discover security issues that were not found during due diligence of such acquired or integrated entities, and it may be difficult to integrate companies into our information technology environment and security program. In addition, our reliance on third parties could introduce new cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities, including supply-chain attacks, and other threats to our business operations.
Such threats are prevalent and continue to rise, are increasingly difficult to detect, and come from a variety of sources, including traditional computer “hackers,” threat actors, “hacktivists,” organized criminal threat actors, personnel (such as through theft or misuse), sophisticated nation states, and nation-state-supported actors.
Such threats are prevalent and continue to rise, are increasingly difficult to detect, and originate from a variety of sources, including traditional computer “hackers,” threat actors, “hacktivists,” organized criminal threat actors, cyber criminals, personnel (such as through theft or misuse), sophisticated nation states, and nation-state-supported actors.
We or the third parties upon which we rely may at times fail (or be perceived to have failed) in our efforts to comply with our data privacy and security obligations. Moreover, despite our efforts, our personnel or third parties on whom we rely may fail to comply with such obligations, which could negatively impact our business operations.
We or the third parties with whom we work may at times fail (or be perceived to have failed) in our efforts to comply with our data privacy and security obligations. Moreover, despite our efforts, our personnel or third parties with whom we work may fail to comply with such obligations, which could negatively impact our business operations.
While the laws and regulations of other states also exempt some data processed in the context of clinical trials, these developments further complicate compliance efforts, and increase legal risk and compliance costs for us, and the third parties upon whom we rely.
While the laws and regulations of other states also exempt some data processed in the context of clinical trials, these developments further complicate compliance efforts, and increase legal risk and compliance costs for us, and the third parties with whom we work.