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Coeptis Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (COEP)
:COEP
US Market

Coeptis Therapeutics Holdings (COEP) Risk Analysis

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Public companies are required to disclose risks that can affect the business and impact the stock. These disclosures are known as “Risk Factors”. Companies disclose these risks in their yearly (Form 10-K), quarterly earnings (Form 10-Q), or “foreign private issuer” reports (Form 20-F). Risk factors show the challenges a company faces. Investors can consider the worst-case scenarios before making an investment. TipRanks’ Risk Analysis categorizes risks based on proprietary classification algorithms and machine learning.

Coeptis Therapeutics Holdings disclosed 37 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Coeptis Therapeutics Holdings reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.

Risk Overview Q3, 2024

Risk Distribution
37Risks
41% Finance & Corporate
24% Tech & Innovation
19% Legal & Regulatory
5% Production
5% Ability to Sell
5% Macro & Political
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
This chart displays the stock's most recent risk distribution according to category. TipRanks has identified 6 major categories: Finance & corporate, legal & regulatory, macro & political, production, tech & innovation, and ability to sell.

Risk Change Over Time

S&P500 Average
Sector Average
Risks removed
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Coeptis Therapeutics Holdings Risk Factors
New Risk (0)
Risk Changed (0)
Risk Removed (0)
No changes from previous report
The chart shows the number of risks a company has disclosed. You can compare this to the sector average or S&P 500 average.

The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.

Risk Highlights Q3, 2024

Main Risk Category
Finance & Corporate
With 15 Risks
Finance & Corporate
With 15 Risks
Number of Disclosed Risks
37
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 31
37
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 31
Recent Changes
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Sep 2024
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Sep 2024
Number of Risk Changed
0
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 3
0
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 3
See the risk highlights of Coeptis Therapeutics Holdings in the last period.

Risk Word Cloud

The most common phrases about risk factors from the most recent report. Larger texts indicate more widely used phrases.

Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 37

Finance & Corporate
Total Risks: 15/37 (41%)Above Sector Average
Share Price & Shareholder Rights7 | 18.9%
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1
Nasdaq may delist the Company's securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors' ability to make transactions in the Company's securities and subject the Company to additional trading restrictions.
The Company's securities are currently listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market ("Nasdaq") effective as of the opening of business on June 13, 2023, and it is anticipated that the Company's securities will continue to be listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market. However, there can be no assurance that the Company's securities will maintain such listing at all times. To maintain the listing of the Company's securities on Nasdaq, the Company must maintain certain financial, distribution, liquidity and stock price levels to satisfy Nasdaq's continued listing requirements. The Company must, among other things, maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share, a minimum market value of listed securities of $35 million and a minimum of 300 public shareholders. The foregoing is a brief description of The Nasdaq Capital Market continued listing requirements applicable to the Company's securities, and more detailed information about such requirements is set forth in Nasdaq Rules 5550 and 5560. If the Company is unable to maintain a minimum bid price for its shares of $1.00 per share, or to satisfy any other continued listing requirement, Nasdaq may delist the Company's securities from trading on its exchange. Such a delisting would likely have a negative effect on the price of the Company's securities and may impair your ability to sell or purchase the Company's securities when you wish to do so. On January 29, 2024, we received notice from the Listing Qualifications Staff of Nasdaq indicating that, based upon the closing bid price of our common stock for the prior 30 consecutive business days, we were not in compliance with the requirement to maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share for continued listing on Nasdaq as set forth In Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company has been provided an initial period of 180 calendar days, or until July 29, 2024, to regain compliance. If we do not regain compliance during the compliance period ending July 29, 2024, then Nasdaq may grant us a second 180 calendar day period to regain compliance, provided we meet the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly-held shares and all other initial listing standards for The Nasdaq Capital Market, other than the minimum closing bid price requirement, and notify Nasdaq of our intent to cure the deficiency. If we do not regain compliance within the allotted compliance periods, including any extensions that may be granted by Nasdaq, we may be subject to delisting. If Nasdaq determines to delist our common stock, we will have the right to appeal to a Nasdaq hearing panel. If Nasdaq delists the Company's securities from trading on its exchange and the Company is not able to list its securities on another Nasdaq trading tier or on another national securities exchange, the Company's securities may be quoted on an over-the-counter market. However, if this were to occur, the Company could face significant material adverse consequences, including: - a limited availability of market quotations for its securities;- reduced liquidity for its securities;- a determination that the Common Stock is a "penny stock" which will require brokers trading in the common stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for the Company's securities;- a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and - a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2
The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation designates a state or federal court located within the State of Delaware as the exclusive forum for substantially all disputes between the Company and its stockholders, which could limit the Company's stockholders' ability to choose the judicial forum for disputes with the Company or its directors, officers, or employees.
The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation will provide that, unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, any other court located in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction, will be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, other employee or stockholder of the Company to the Company or the Company's stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Company or its officers or directors arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer of the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the law of the State of Delaware; provided, that, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state court sitting in the State of Delaware. Additionally, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation will provide that, unless the Company consents to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act; provided, however, that such provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. However, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce this provision and investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for state and federal courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of the securities of the Company will be deemed to have notice of and consented to these provisions. These exclusive-forum provisions may limit or make more costly a stockholder's ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum of its choosing for disputes with the Company or its directors, officers, or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits against the Company and its directors, officers, and other employees. If a court were to find these exclusive-forum provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, the Company may incur additional costs associated with resolving the dispute in other jurisdictions, which could harm its results of operations.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3
Delaware law and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws contain certain provisions, including anti-takeover provisions that limit the ability of stockholders to take certain actions and could delay or discourage takeover attempts that stockholders may consider favorable.
The Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, and the DGCL, contain provisions that could have the effect of rendering more difficult, delaying, or preventing an acquisition deemed undesirable by the Company Board and therefore depress the trading price of the common stock. These provisions could also make it difficult for stockholders to take certain actions, including electing directors who are not nominated by the current members of the Company Board or taking other corporate actions, including effecting changes in management. Among other things, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws include provisions regarding: - the ability of the Company Board to issue shares of preferred stock, including "blank check" preferred stock and to determine the price and other terms of those shares, including preferences and voting rights, without stockholder approval, which could be used to significantly dilute the ownership of a hostile acquirer;- the limitation of the liability of, and the indemnification of, the Company's directors and officers;- the right of the Company Board to elect a director to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of the Company Board or the resignation, death or removal of a director, which prevents stockholders from being able to fill vacancies on the Company Board;- a prohibition on stockholder action by written consent (except as required for holders of future series of preferred stock), which forces stockholder action to be taken at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and could delay the ability of stockholders to force consideration of a stockholder proposal or to take action, including the removal of directors;- the requirement that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by the Company Board, the chairman of the Company Board, which could delay the ability of stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or to take action, including the removal of directors;- controlling the procedures for the conduct and scheduling of the Company Board and stockholder meetings;- the requirement for the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of the voting stock, voting as a single class, to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision of the Company's Bylaws and certain provisions in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, respectively, which could preclude stockholders from bringing matters before annual or special meetings of stockholders and delay changes in the Company Board and also may inhibit the ability of an acquirer to effect such amendments to facilitate an unsolicited takeover attempt;- the ability of the Company Board to amend the Bylaws by an affirmative vote of a majority of the Board, which may allow the Company Board to take additional actions to prevent an unsolicited takeover and inhibit the ability of an acquirer to amend the Bylaws to facilitate an unsolicited takeover attempt; and - advance notice procedures with which stockholders must comply to nominate candidates to the Company Board or to propose matters to be acted upon at a stockholders' meeting, which could preclude stockholders from bringing matters before annual or special meetings of stockholders and delay changes in the Company Board and also may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer's own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of Company. These provisions, alone or together, could delay or prevent hostile takeovers and changes in control or changes in the Company Board or management. In addition, as a Delaware corporation, the Company will generally be subject to provisions of Delaware law, including Section 203 of the DGCL. Any provision of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or Delaware law that has the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control could limit the opportunity for stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of the Company's capital stock and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for the common stock.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 4
We are an "emerging growth company" and the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies may make our securities less attractive to investors.
We are an "emerging growth company," as defined in the JOBS Act. For so long as we remain an emerging growth company, we are permitted and plan to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are applicable to public companies that are not emerging growth companies. These provisions include, but are not limited to: an exemption from compliance with the auditor attestation requirement in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation arrangements in our periodic reports, registration statements and proxy statements; and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. In addition, the JOBS Act permits emerging growth companies to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies. We intend to take advantage of the exemptions discussed above. As a result, the information we provide will be different than the information that is available with respect to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies or that are not taking advantage of such exemptions. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) December 31, 2025, (ii) the first fiscal year after our annual gross revenue exceed $1.07 billion, (iii) the date on which we have, during the immediately preceding three-year period, issued more than $1.00 billion in non-convertible debt securities, or (iv) the end of any fiscal year in which the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700.0 million as of the end of the second quarter of that fiscal year. We cannot predict whether investors will find our common stock less attractive if we rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities, and the market price of our securities may be more volatile.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 5
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business or publish negative reports about our business or our industry, the trading price and volume of our securities could decline.
The trading market for our securities will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business, our market and our competitors. We do not have any control over these analysts. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our shares or change their opinion of our shares, the trading price for our securities would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause the trading price or volume of our securities to decline.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 6
The Company's business and operations could be negatively affected if it becomes subject to any securities litigation or shareholder activism, which could cause the Company to incur significant expense, hinder execution of business and growth strategy and impact its stock price.
In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company's securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought against that company. Shareholder activism, which could take many forms or arise in a variety of situations, has been increasing recently. Volatility in the stock price of the common stock or other reasons may in the future cause it to become the target of securities litigation or shareholder activism. Securities litigation and shareholder activism, including potential proxy contests, could result in substantial costs and divert management's and board of directors' attention and resources from the Company's business. Additionally, such securities litigation and shareholder activism could give rise to perceived uncertainties as to the Company's future, adversely affect its relationships with service providers and make it more difficult to attract and retain qualified personnel. Also, the Company may be required to incur significant legal fees and other expenses related to any securities litigation and activist shareholder matters. Further, its stock price could be subject to significant fluctuation or otherwise be adversely affected by the events, risks and uncertainties of any securities litigation and shareholder activism.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 7
Our Board of Directors may change our policies without shareholder approval.
Our policies, including any policies with respect to investments, leverage, financing, growth, debt and capitalization, will be determined by our Board of Directors or officers to whom our Board of Directors delegate such authority. Our Board of Directors will also establish the amount of any dividends or other distributions that we may pay to our shareholders. Our Board of Directors or officers to which such decisions are delegated will have the ability to amend or revise these and our other policies at any time without shareholder vote. Accordingly, our shareholders will not be entitled to approve changes in our policies, which policy changes may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Accounting & Financial Operations3 | 8.1%
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 1
We have a limited operating history and a history of operating losses, and expect to incur significant additional operating losses.
We began our business in 2017 and have a limited operating history. Although we have enlisted the assistance of pharmaceutical experts, our lack of experience may cause us to encounter unforeseen problems that could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. Further, there is limited historical financial information upon which to base an evaluation of our performance.
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 2
We have incurred significant losses in prior periods, and losses in the future could cause the quoted price of our Common Stock to decline or have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, our ability to pay its debts as they become due, and on its cash flows.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, we incurred a net loss of $21,266,537 and, as of that date, we had an accumulated deficit of $87,356,260. For the year ended December 31, 2022, we incurred a net loss of $37,574,217 and, as of that date, had an accumulated deficit of $66,089,723. Any losses in the future could cause the quoted price of our Common Stock to decline or have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, its ability to pay its debts as they become due, and on its cash flows. To date, we have generated only minimal product revenue. We expect that our planned product development and strategic expansion pursuits will increase losses significantly over the next five years. In order to achieve profitability, we will be required to generate significant revenue. We cannot be certain that we will generate sufficient revenue to achieve profitability. We anticipate that we will continue to generate operating losses and experience negative cash flow from operations at least through the end of 2023 or longer. We cannot be certain that we will ever achieve profitability or that, if profitability is achieved, that is will be maintained. If our revenue grows at a slower rate than we anticipate or if our product development, marketing and operating expenses exceed our expectations or cannot be adjusted accordingly, our business, results of operation and financial condition will be materially adversely affected and we may be unable to continue operations. We will not be able to generate meaningful product revenue unless and until one of our product candidates or co-development products successfully completes clinical trials and receives regulatory approval. As some of our current and projected future product candidates or co-development products are, and we expect will be, at an early proof-of-concept stage, we do not expect to receive revenue from any of these products for several years, if at all. We intend to seek to obtain revenue from collaboration or licensing agreements with third parties. We expect that we will need to rely on key third-party agreements, in order to be in a position to realize material revenues in the future, and we may never enter into any such agreements or realize material, ongoing future revenue. Even if we eventually generate revenues, we may never be profitable, and, if we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis.
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 3
We have previously identified weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and we may identify additional weaknesses in the future or otherwise fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, which may result in material misstatements of our Consolidated Financial Statements or cause us to fail to meet our periodic reporting obligations or cause our access to the global markets to be impaired.
In connection with the preparation of our 2022 financial statements, Management self-identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. In the past we have not designed and maintained an effective control environment or sufficient accounting and reporting protocols or effectively selected and developed control activities that mitigate risks. The material weaknesses were self-diagnosed, and were not issued by our independent auditors, Turner, Stone & Company, LLP. These self-diagnosed material weaknesses resulted in deficiencies surrounding the controls related to the preparation, review, and analysis of accounting information and financial statements. Those controls were not adequately designed or appropriately implemented to identify material misstatements in financial reporting on a timely basis. We have begun an implementation plan to remediate these self-diagnosed material weaknesses. With the oversight of senior management and our audit committee, we are focused on hiring additional accounting personnel with technical accounting and financial reporting experience and have implemented improved process level and management review controls with respect to the completeness, accuracy, and validity of complex accounting measurements on a timely basis. We also have supplemented internal accounting resources with external advisors to assist with performing technical accounting activities. These measures are expected to result in future costs for the Company. On May 17, 2023, the Company announced that Brian Cogley was appointed as the Company's new Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. He replaced Christine Sheehy, who remains with the Company to support the finance team and also in her new role as Vice President of Compliance and Corporate Secretary. Mr. Cogley has over 15 years of accounting and finance experience, having previously held positions of increasing authority at two "Big 4" accounting firms and served on the management teams of multiple companies in diverse industries. An accountant by training, Mr. Cogley arrives at Coeptis with a career in corporate finance and accounting during which he advised and led the financial operations for companies in multiple industries including life sciences, pharmaceuticals, financial services, and manufacturing. Mr. Cogley's diverse experience and knowledge of the Sarbanes-Oxley control environment and SEC reporting requirements will help bolster the Company's internal controls and operational efficiency. Our efforts may not remediate these self-diagnosed material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and may not prevent additional material weaknesses from being identified in the future. Our failure to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could result in errors in our Consolidated Financial Statements that could result in a restatement of our Consolidated Financial Statements, and could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations, any of which could diminish investor confidence in us and cause a decline in our equity value.
Debt & Financing3 | 8.1%
Debt & Financing - Risk 1
Our holding company structure makes us dependent on our subsidiaries for our cash flow and could serve to subordinate the rights of our shareholders to the rights of creditors of our subsidiaries, in the event of an insolvency or liquidation of any such subsidiary.
Our Company acts as a holding company and, accordingly, substantially all of our operations are conducted through our subsidiaries. Such subsidiaries will be separate and distinct legal entities. As a result, substantially all of our cash flow will depend upon the earnings of our subsidiaries. In addition, we will depend on the distribution of earnings, loans or other payments by our subsidiaries. No subsidiary will have any obligation to provide our company with funds for our payment obligations. If there is an insolvency, liquidation or other reorganization of any of our subsidiaries, our shareholders will have no right to proceed against their assets. Creditors of those subsidiaries will be entitled to payment in full from the sale or other disposal of the assets of those subsidiaries before our company, as a shareholder, would be entitled to receive any distribution from that sale or disposal.
Debt & Financing - Risk 2
We currently do not have sufficient cash to fully implement our business plan.
We have experienced a lack of adequate capital resources causing us to be unable to fully implement our full business plan. We believe that we need to raise or otherwise obtain additional financing beyond our current cash position in order to satisfy our existing obligations and fully implement our business plan. We do not expect to have positive cash flow for the foreseeable future. If we are not successful in obtaining additional financing we will not be able to fully implement our business plan and we may not be able to continue our operations.
Debt & Financing - Risk 3
We need to obtain financing in order to continue our operations and pursue strategic transactions.
On a prospective basis, we will require both short-term financing for operations and long-term capital to fund our expected growth. We currently have no existing bank lines of credit and have not established any definitive sources for additional financing. We believe that cash on hand will be sufficient to meet our short-term financial requirements through the 1st quarter of 2024 assuming that we elect not to pursue and consummate strategic transactions prior to that time. However, we will require additional funds if we want to fully implement our business plan and growth strategy, including strategic transactions, which funds could come in the form of equity, debt (including secured debt) or a combination of the two. Additional financing may not be available to us, or if available, then it may not be available upon terms and conditions acceptable to us. If adequate funds are not available, then we may be required to delay, reduce or eliminate product development or clinical programs. Our inability to take advantage of opportunities in the industry because of capital constraints may have a material adverse effect on our business and our prospects. If we fail to obtain the capital necessary to fund our operations, we will be unable to advance our development programs and complete our clinical trials. In addition, our research and development expenses could exceed our current expectations. This could occur for many reasons, including: - some or all of our product candidates and co-development candidates fail in clinical or preclinical studies and we are forced to seek additional product candidates;- our product candidates and co-development candidates require more extensive clinical or preclinical testing than we currently expect;- we advance more of our product candidates and co-development candidates than expected into costly later stage clinical trials;- we advance more preclinical product candidates and co-development candidates than expected into early-stage clinical trials;- we are required, or consider it advisable, to acquire or license rights from one or more third parties; or - we determine to acquire or license rights to additional product candidates and co-development candidates or new technologies. While we expect to seek additional funding through public or private financings, we may not be able to obtain financing on acceptable terms, or at all. In addition, the terms of our financings may be dilutive to, or otherwise adversely affect, holders of our common stock and other capital securities. We may also seek additional funds through arrangements with collaborators or other third parties. These arrangements would generally require us to relinquish rights to some of our technologies, product candidates or products, and we may not be able to enter into such agreements, on acceptable terms, if at all. If we are unable to obtain additional funding on a timely basis, we may be required to curtail or terminate some or all of our development programs, including some or all of our product candidates.
Corporate Activity and Growth2 | 5.4%
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 1
There is a substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
The report of our independent registered public accounting firm that accompanies our consolidated financial statements includes an explanatory paragraph indicating there is a substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, citing our need for additional capital for the future planned expansion of our activities and to service our ordinary course activities (which may include servicing of indebtedness). The inclusion of a going concern explanatory paragraph in the report of our independent registered public accounting firm will make it more difficult for us to secure additional financing or enter into strategic relationships on terms acceptable to us, if at all, and likely will materially and adversely affect the terms of any financing that we might obtain. Our financial statements do not include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 2
If we are unable to manage future expansion effectively, our business may be adversely impacted.
In the future, we may experience rapid growth in our business, which could place a significant strain on our operations, in general, and our internal controls and other managerial, operating and financial resources, in particular. If we are unable to manage future expansion effectively, our business would be harmed. There is, of course, no assurance that we will enjoy rapid development in our business.
Tech & Innovation
Total Risks: 9/37 (24%)Below Sector Average
Innovation / R&D5 | 13.5%
Innovation / R&D - Risk 1
If clinical trials for our product candidates are prolonged, delayed or stopped, we may be unable to obtain regulatory approval and commercialize our product candidates on a timely basis, or at all, which would require us to incur additional costs and delay our receipt of any product revenue.
We may experience delays in our ongoing or future pre-clinical studies or clinical trials, and we do not know whether future pre-clinical studies or clinical trials will begin on time, need to be redesigned, enroll an adequate number of patients or be completed on schedule, if at all. The commencement or completion of these planned clinical trials could be substantially delayed or prevented by many factors, including, but not limited to: - discussions with the FDA or other regulatory agencies regarding the scope or design of our clinical trials;- the limited number of, and competition for, suitable sites to conduct our clinical trials, many of which may already be engaged in other clinical trial programs, including some that may be for the same indication as our product candidates;- any delay or failure to obtain approval or agreement to commence a clinical trial in any of the countries where enrollment is planned;- inability to obtain sufficient funds required for a clinical trial;- clinical holds on, or other regulatory objections to, a new or ongoing clinical trial;- delay or failure to manufacture sufficient supplies of product candidates for our clinical trials;- delay or failure to reach agreement on acceptable clinical trial agreement terms or clinical trial protocols with prospective sites or clinical research organizations ("CROs"), the terms of which can be subject to extensive negotiation and may vary significantly among different sites or CROs;- delay or failure to obtain institutional review board ("IRB") approval to conduct a clinical trial at a prospective site;- slower than expected rates of patient recruitment and enrollment;- failure of patients to complete the clinical trial;- the inability to enroll a sufficient number of patients in studies to ensure adequate statistical power to detect statistically significant treatment effects;- unforeseen safety issues, including severe or unexpected drug-related adverse effects experienced by patients, including possible deaths;- lack of efficacy during clinical trials;- termination of our clinical trials by one or more clinical trial sites;- inability or unwillingness of patients or clinical investigators to follow our clinical trial protocols;- inability to monitor patients adequately during or after treatment;- clinical study sites failing to comply with regulatory requirements or meet their contractual obligations to us in a timely manner, or at all, deviating from the protocol or dropping out of a study;- inability to address any non-compliance with regulatory requirements or safety concerns that arise during the course of a clinical trial;- the need to repeat or terminate clinical trials as a result of inconclusive or negative results or unforeseen complications in testing; and - our clinical trials may be suspended or terminated upon a breach or pursuant to the terms of any agreement with, or for any other reason by, current or future strategic partners that have responsibility for the clinical development of any of our product candidates. Changes in regulatory requirements, policies and guidelines may also occur and we may need to significantly amend clinical trial protocols to reflect these changes with appropriate regulatory authorities. These changes may require us to renegotiate terms with CROs or resubmit clinical trial protocols to IRBs for re-examination, which may impact the costs, timing or successful completion of a clinical trial. Our clinical trials may be suspended or terminated at any time by the FDA, other regulatory authorities, the IRB overseeing the clinical trial at issue, any of our clinical trial sites with respect to that site, or us. Any failure or significant delay in commencing or completing clinical trials for our product candidates may adversely affect our ability to obtain regulatory approval and our commercial prospects and our ability to generate product revenue will be diminished.
Innovation / R&D - Risk 2
Clinical trials are expensive, time consuming, difficult to design and implement, and involve uncertain outcomes. Results of previous pre-clinical studies and clinical trials may not be predictive of future results, and the results of our current and planned clinical trials may not satisfy the requirements of the FDA or other regulatory authorities.
Positive or timely results from pre-clinical or early-stage trials do not ensure positive or timely results in late-stage clinical trials or product approval by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities. We will be required to demonstrate with substantial evidence through well-controlled clinical trials that our product candidates are safe and effective for use in a diverse population before we can seek regulatory approvals for their commercialization. Our planned clinical trials may produce negative or inconclusive results, and we or any of our current and future strategic partners may decide, or regulators may require us, to conduct additional clinical or pre-clinical testing. Success in pre-clinical studies or early-stage clinical trials does not mean that future clinical trials or registration clinical trials will be successful because product candidates in later-stage clinical trials may fail to demonstrate sufficient safety and efficacy to the satisfaction of the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities, despite having progressed through pre-clinical studies and initial clinical trials. Product candidates that have shown promising results in early clinical trials may still suffer significant setbacks in subsequent clinical trials or registration clinical trials. For example, a number of companies in the biopharmaceutical industry, including those with greater resources and experience than us, have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials, even after obtaining promising results in earlier clinical trials. Similarly, pre-clinical interim results of a clinical trial are not necessarily predictive of final results.
Innovation / R&D - Risk 3
We may find it difficult to enroll patients in our clinical trials given the limited number of patients who have the diseases for which our product candidates are being studied which could delay or prevent the start of clinical trials for our product candidates.
Identifying and qualifying patients to participate in clinical trials of our product candidate is essential to our success. The timing of our clinical trials depends in part on the rate at which we can recruit patients to participate in clinical trials of our product candidates, and we may experience delays in our clinical trials if we encounter difficulties in enrollment. If we experience delays in our clinical trials, the timeline for obtaining regulatory approval of our product candidates will most likely be delayed. Many factors may affect our ability to identify, enroll and maintain qualified patients, including the following: - eligibility criteria of our ongoing and planned clinical trials with specific characteristics appropriate for inclusion in our clinical trials;- design of the clinical trial;- size and nature of the patient population;- patients' perceptions as to risks and benefits of the product candidate under study and the participation in a clinical trial generally in relation to other available therapies, including any new drugs that may be approved for the indications we are investigating;- the availability and efficacy of competing therapies and clinical trials;- pendency of other trials underway in the same patient population;- willingness of physicians to participate in our planned clinical trials;- severity of the disease under investigation;- proximity of patients to clinical sites;- patients who do not complete the trials for personal reasons; and - issues with CROs and/or with other vendors that handle our clinical trials.
Innovation / R&D - Risk 4
Our competitors and potential competitors may develop products and technologies that make ours less attractive or obsolete.
Many companies, universities, and research organizations developing competing product candidates have greater resources and significantly greater experience in financial, research and development, manufacturing, marketing, sales, distribution, and technical regulatory matters than we have. In addition, many competitors have greater name recognition and more extensive collaborative relationships. Our competitors could commence and complete clinical testing of their product candidates, obtain regulatory approvals, and begin commercial-scale manufacturing of their products faster than we or our co-development partners are able to for our products. They could develop products that would render our product candidates and co-development candidates, and those of our collaborators, obsolete and noncompetitive. If we are unable to compete effectively against these companies, then we may not be able to commercialize our product candidates or achieve a competitive position in the market. This would adversely affect our ability to generate revenues.
Innovation / R&D - Risk 5
The drug development and approval process is uncertain, time-consuming and expensive.
The process of obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals for new therapeutic products is lengthy, expensive and uncertain. It also can vary substantially based on the type, complexity, and novelty of the product. We, or our co-development partners, must provide the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities with preclinical and clinical data demonstrating that our products are safe and effective before they can be approved for commercial sale. Clinical development, including preclinical testing, is a long, expensive and uncertain process. It may take us several years to complete our testing, and failure can occur at any stage of testing. Any preclinical or clinical test may fail to produce results satisfactory to the FDA. Preclinical and clinical data can be interpreted in different ways, which could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. Negative or inconclusive results from a preclinical study or clinical trial, adverse medical events during a clinical trial or safety issues resulting from products of the same class of drug could cause a preclinical study or clinical trial to be repeated or a program to be terminated, even if other studies or trials relating to the program are successful.
Trade Secrets4 | 10.8%
Trade Secrets - Risk 1
Protecting and defending against intellectual property claims may have a material adverse effect on our business.
From time to time, we may receive notice that others have infringed on our proprietary rights or that we have infringed on the intellectual property rights of others. There can be no assurance that infringement or invalidity claims will not materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Regardless of the validity or the success of the assertion of claims, we could incur significant costs and diversion of resources in protecting or defending against claims, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. We may not have the funds or resources available to protect our intellectual property.
Trade Secrets - Risk 2
Patent litigation or other litigation in connection with our intellectual property rights may lead to publicity that may harm our reputation and the value of our common stock may decline.
During the course of any patent litigation, there may be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions, and other interim proceedings or developments in the litigation. If securities analysts or investors regard these announcements as negative, the value of our common stock may decline. General proclamations or statements by key public figures may also have a negative impact on the perceived value of our intellectual property.
Trade Secrets - Risk 3
We will be required to comply with our obligations in our intellectual property licenses and other agreements with third parties.
If we fail to comply with our obligations in our intellectual property licenses and other agreements with third parties, we could lose license rights that are important to our business. We are not currently party to any intellectual property license agreement with any third parties, but we anticipate that in-licensing and co-development will be strategies that we utilize as we continue to pursue our growth strategy. We expect to enter into licenses and co-development and other agreements in the future, and we expect these agreements to impose, various diligences, milestone payment, royalty, insurance and other obligations on us. If we fail to comply with these obligations, the licensor may have the right to terminate the license, in which event we might not be able to market any product that is covered by the licensed patents. We may need to resort to litigation to enforce or defend our intellectual property rights, including any patents issued to us. If a competitor or collaborator files a patent application claiming technology also invented by us, in order to protect our rights, we may have to participate in an expensive and time-consuming interference proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. We cannot guarantee that our product candidates will be free of claims by third parties alleging that we have infringed their intellectual property rights. Third parties may assert that we are employing their proprietary technologies without authorization and they may resort to litigation to attempt to enforce their rights. Third parties may have or obtain patents in the future and claim that the use of our technology or any of our product candidates infringes their patents. We may not be able to develop or commercialize combination product candidates because of patent protection others have. Our business will be harmed if we cannot obtain a necessary or desirable license, can obtain such a license only on terms we consider to be unattractive or unacceptable, or if we are unable to redesign our product candidates or processes to avoid actual or potential patent or other intellectual property infringement. Obtaining, protecting and defending patent and other intellectual property rights can be expensive and may require us to incur substantial costs, including the diversion of management and technical personnel. An unfavorable ruling in patent or intellectual property litigation could subject us to significant liabilities to third parties, require us to cease developing, manufacturing or selling the affected products or using the affected processes, require us to license the disputed rights from third parties, or result in awards of substantial damages against us. There can be no assurance that we would prevail in any intellectual property infringement action, will be able to obtain a license to any third-party intellectual property on commercially reasonable terms, successfully develop non-infringing alternatives on a timely basis, or license non-infringing alternatives, if any exist, on commercially reasonable terms. Any significant intellectual property impediment to our ability to develop and commercialize our products could seriously harm our business and prospects.
Trade Secrets - Risk 4
We will be required to sustain and further build our intellectual property rights.
We do not currently have any intellectual property rights in our name in respect of our current assets, and instead have rights in respect of our current assets through agreements with third parties. We intend to fully protect any product, formulation and process that we develop with appropriate intellectual property registrations. If we fail to sustain and further build our direct and indirect intellectual property rights, competitors will be able to take advantage of our research and development efforts to develop competing products. If we are not able to protect our proprietary technology, trade secrets, and know-how, our competitors may use our inventions to develop competing products. Our future patents and patent applications, even if granted, may not protect us against our competitors. Patent positions generally, including those of other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, are or will be generally uncertain and involve complex legal, scientific and factual questions. The standards which the United States Patent and Trademark Office uses to grant patents, and the standards which courts use to interpret patents, are not always applied predictably or uniformly and can change, particularly as new technologies develop. Consequently, the level of protection, if any, that will be provided by our direct or indirect patent rights from time to time if we attempt to enforce them, and they are challenged, is uncertain. In addition, the type and extent of patent claims that will be issued to us in the future is uncertain. Any patents that are issued may not contain claims that permit us to stop competitors from using similar technology. In addition, we may also rely on unpatented technology, trade secrets, and confidential information. We may not be able to effectively protect our rights to this technology or information. Other parties may independently develop substantially equivalent information and techniques or otherwise gain access to or disclose our technology. We will generally require each of our employees, consultants, collaborators, and certain contractors to execute a confidentiality agreement at the commencement of an employment, consulting, collaborative, or contractual relationship with us. However, these agreements may not provide effective protection of our technology or information or, in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure, they may not provide adequate remedies. Patent positions are often uncertain and involve complex legal and factual questions. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect proprietary rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. Whether filed in the United States or abroad, our patent applications may be challenged or may fail to result in issued patents. In addition, any future patents we obtain may not be sufficiently broad to prevent others from practicing our technologies or from developing or commercializing competing products. Furthermore, others may independently develop or commercialize similar or alternative technologies or drugs, or design around our patents. Our patents may be challenged, invalidated or fail to provide us with any competitive advantages. We may not have the funds available to protect our patents or other technology; such protection is costly and can result in further litigation expenses. If we do not obtain or we are unable to maintain adequate patent or trade secret protection for our products in the United States, competitors could duplicate them without repeating the extensive testing that we will be required to undertake to obtain approval of the products by the FDA. Regardless of any patent protection, under the current statutory framework the FDA is prohibited by law from approving any generic version of any of our products for a period of years that would be determined based on the nature of the product (i.e. an orphan drugs would get 7 years, a new chemical entity would get 5 years and a new clinical investigation would get 3 years). Upon the expiration of that period, or if that time period is altered, the FDA could approve a generic version of our product unless we have patent protection sufficient for us to block that generic version. Without sufficient patent protection, the applicant for a generic version of our product would be required only to conduct a relatively inexpensive study to show that its product is bioequivalent to our product and may not have to repeat the studies that we will need to conduct to demonstrate that the product is safe and effective. In the absence of adequate patent protection in other countries, competitors may similarly be able to obtain regulatory approval in those countries of products that duplicate our products.
Legal & Regulatory
Total Risks: 7/37 (19%)Below Sector Average
Regulation7 | 18.9%
Regulation - Risk 1
Even if we are able to obtain regulatory approvals for any of our product candidates, if they exhibit harmful side effects after approval, our regulatory approvals could be revoked or otherwise negatively impacted, and we could be subject to costly and damaging product liability claims.
Even if we receive regulatory approval for our product candidates, we will have tested them in only a small number of patients during our clinical trials. If our applications for marketing are approved and more patients begin to use our product, new risks and side effects associated with our products may be discovered. As a result, regulatory authorities may revoke their approvals; we may be required to conduct additional clinical trials, make changes in labeling of our product, reformulate our product or make changes and obtain new approvals for our and our suppliers' manufacturing facilities. We might have to withdraw or recall our products from the marketplace. We may also experience a significant drop in the potential sales of our product if and when regulatory approvals for such product are obtained, experience harm to our reputation in the marketplace or become subject to lawsuits, including class actions. Any of these results could decrease or prevent any sales of our approved product or substantially increase the costs and expenses of commercializing and marketing our product.
Regulation - Risk 2
Even if we receive regulatory approvals for marketing our product candidates, if we fail to comply with continuing regulatory requirements, we could lose our regulatory approvals, and our business would be adversely affected.
The FDA continues to review products even after they receive initial approval. If we receive approval to commercialize any product candidates, the manufacturing, marketing and sale of these drugs will be subject to continuing regulation, including compliance with quality systems regulations, good manufacturing practices, adverse event requirements, and prohibitions on promoting a product for unapproved uses. Enforcement actions resulting from our failure to comply with government and regulatory requirements could result in fines, suspension of approvals, withdrawal of approvals, product recalls, product seizures, mandatory operating restrictions, criminal prosecution, civil penalties and other actions that could impair the manufacturing, marketing and sale of our potential products and our ability to conduct our business.
Regulation - Risk 3
The regulatory approval process is costly and lengthy, and we may not be able to successfully obtain all required regulatory approvals.
The preclinical development, clinical trials, manufacturing, marketing and labeling of pharmaceuticals are all subject to extensive regulation by numerous governmental authorities and agencies in the United States and other countries. We must obtain regulatory approval for each of our product candidates before marketing or selling any of them. It is not possible to predict how long the approval processes of the FDA or any other applicable federal or foreign regulatory authority or agency for any of our products will take or whether any such approvals ultimately will be granted. The FDA and foreign regulatory agencies have substantial discretion in the drug approval process, and positive results in preclinical testing or early phases of clinical studies offer no assurance of success in later phases of the approval process. Generally, preclinical and clinical testing of products can take many years and require the expenditure of substantial resources, and the data obtained from these tests and trials can be susceptible to varying interpretations that could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. If we encounter significant delays in the regulatory process that result in excessive costs, this may prevent us from continuing to develop our product candidates. Any delay in obtaining, or failure to obtain, approvals could adversely affect the marketing of our products and our ability to generate product revenue. The risks associated with the approval process include: - failure of our product candidates to meet a regulatory agency's requirements for safety, efficacy and quality;- limitation on the indicated uses for which a product may be marketed;- unforeseen safety issues or side effects; and - governmental or regulatory delays and changes in regulatory requirements and guidelines.
Regulation - Risk 4
Failure to obtain regulatory and pricing approvals in foreign jurisdictions could delay or prevent commercialization of our products abroad.
If we succeed in developing any products, we intend to market them in the European Union and other foreign jurisdictions. In order to do so, we must obtain separate regulatory approvals and comply with numerous and varying regulatory requirements. The approval procedure varies among countries and can involve additional testing. The time required to obtain approval abroad may differ from that required to obtain FDA approval. The foreign regulatory approval process may include all of the risks associated with obtaining FDA approval and additional risks associated with requirements particular to those foreign jurisdictions where we will seek regulatory approval of our products. We may not obtain foreign regulatory approvals on a timely basis, if at all. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries, and approval by one foreign regulatory authority does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other foreign countries or by the FDA. We and our collaborators may not be able to file for regulatory approvals and may not receive necessary approvals to commercialize our products in any market outside the United States. The failure to obtain these approvals could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Regulation - Risk 5
Federal laws or regulations on drug importation could make lower cost versions of our future products available, which could adversely affect our revenues, if any.
The prices of some drugs are lower in other countries than in the United States because of government regulation and market conditions. Various proposals have been advanced to permit the importation of drugs from other countries to provide lower cost alternatives to the products available in the United States. In addition, the MMA requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promulgate regulations for drug reimportation from Canada into the United States under some circumstances, including when the drugs are sold at a lower price than in the United States. A prime example of the effort to provide safe, lower cost drugs to consumers is Safe Importation Action Plan that was released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which plan is describes steps the HHS and FDA will take to allow the safe importation of certain drugs originally intended for non-US markets. If the laws or regulations are changed to permit or more easily permit the importation of drugs into the United States in circumstances that are currently not permitted, such a change could have an adverse effect on our business by making available lower priced alternatives to our future products.
Regulation - Risk 6
Federal legislation may increase the pressure to reduce prices of pharmaceutical products paid for by Medicare, which could adversely affect our revenues, if any.
The Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, or MMA, expanded Medicare coverage for drug purchases by the elderly and disabled beginning in 2006. The legislation uses formularies, preferred drug lists and similar mechanisms that may limit the number of drugs that will be covered in any therapeutic class or reduce the reimbursement for some of the drugs in a class. More recently, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 also contained certain provisions with the potential to affect pricing of pharmaceutical products. As a result of the expansion of legislation, including recent healthcare insurance legislation, and the expansion of federal coverage of drug products, we expect that there will be additional pressure to contain and reduce costs. These cost reduction initiatives could decrease the coverage and price that we receive for our products in the future and could seriously harm our business. While the MMA applies only to drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, private payers often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own reimbursement systems, and any limits on or reductions in reimbursement that occur in the Medicare program may result in similar limits on or reductions in payments from private payers.
Regulation - Risk 7
The design or our execution of clinical trials may not support regulatory approval.
The design or execution of a clinical trial can determine whether its results will support regulatory approval and flaws in the design or execution of a clinical trial may not become apparent until the clinical trial is well advanced. In some instances, there can be significant variability in safety or efficacy results between different trials of the same product candidate due to numerous factors, including changes in trial protocols, differences in size and type of the patient populations, adherence to the dosing regimen and other trial protocols and the rate of dropout among clinical trial participants. We do not know whether any clinical trials we may conduct will demonstrate consistent or adequate efficacy and safety to obtain regulatory approval to market our product candidates. Further, the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities have substantial discretion in the approval process and in determining when or whether regulatory approval will be obtained for any of our product candidates. Our product candidates may not be approved even if they achieve their primary endpoints in future clinical trials. The FDA or foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with our trial design and our interpretation of data from pre-clinical studies and clinical trials. In addition, any of these regulatory authorities may change requirements for the approval of a product candidate even after reviewing and providing comments or advice on a protocol for clinical trial that has the potential to result in FDA or other agencies' approval. In addition, such regulatory authorities may also approve a product candidate for fewer or more limited indications than we request or may grant approval contingent on the performance of costly post-marketing clinical trials. The FDA or foreign regulatory authorities may not approve the labeling claims that we believe would be necessary or desirable for the successful commercialization of our product candidates which may have a material adverse effect on our business.
Production
Total Risks: 2/37 (5%)Below Sector Average
Employment / Personnel2 | 5.4%
Employment / Personnel - Risk 1
If we are unable to recruit and retain key personnel, our business may be harmed.
If we are unable to attract and retain key personnel, our business may be harmed. Our failure to enable the effective transfer of knowledge and facilitate smooth transitions with regard to our key employees could adversely affect our long-term strategic planning and execution.
Employment / Personnel - Risk 2
The Company's ability to be successful will depend upon the efforts of the Company's Board and our key personnel and the loss of such persons could negatively impact the operations and profitability of the Company's business.
The Company's ability to be successful is dependent upon the efforts of the Company's board members and key personnel, in particular our President and Chief Executive Officer David Mehalick. We cannot assure you that the Company's board members and key personnel will be effective or successful or remain with the Company. In addition to the other challenges they will face, such individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a public company, which could cause the Company's management to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such requirements. We have employment agreements in place with Mr. Mehalick, Colleen Delaney and Daniel Yerace, but no other persons. The loss of service of Mr. Mehalick, in particular, for any reason, could seriously impair our ability to effectuate our business plan, which could have a materially adverse effect on our business and future results of operations. We also have not purchased any key-man life insurance.
Ability to Sell
Total Risks: 2/37 (5%)Below Sector Average
Competition1 | 2.7%
Competition - Risk 1
Competition in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries may result in competing products, superior marketing of other products and lower revenues or profits for us.
There are many companies that are seeking to develop products and therapies for the treatment of the same diseases that we are currently targeting. Many of our competitors have substantially greater financial, technical, human and other resources than we do and may be better equipped to develop, manufacture and market technologically superior products. In addition, many of these competitors have significantly greater experience than we do in undertaking preclinical testing and human clinical studies of new pharmaceutical products and in obtaining regulatory approvals of human therapeutic products. Accordingly, our competitors may succeed in obtaining FDA approval for superior products. Other risks and uncertainties include: - our ability to successfully complete preclinical and clinical development of our products and services. - our ability to manufacture sufficient amounts of products for development and commercialization activities. - our ability to obtain, maintain and successfully enforce adequate patent and other proprietary rights protection of our products and services. - the scope, validity and enforceability of patents and other proprietary rights held by third parties and their impact on our ability to commercialize our products and services. - the accuracy of our estimates of the size and characteristics of the markets to be addressed by our products and services, including growth projections. - market acceptance of our products and services. - our ability to identify new patients for our products and services. - the accuracy of our information regarding the products and resources of our competitors and potential competitors. - the content and timing of submissions to and decisions made by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agencies. - our ability to obtain reimbursement for our products and services from third-party payors, and the extent of such coverage. - our ability to establish and maintain strategic license, collaboration and distribution arrangements. - the continued funding of our collaborations and joint ventures, if any are ultimately established. - the possible disruption of our operations due to terrorist activities and armed conflict, including as a result of the disruption of operation of our subsidiaries and our customers, suppliers, distributors, couriers, collaborative partners, licensees and clinical trial sites. Positive or timely results from preclinical studies and early clinical trials do not ensure positive or timely results in late-stage clinical trials or product approval by the FDA or any other regulatory authority. Product candidates that show positive preclinical or early clinical results often fail in later stage clinical trials. Data obtained from preclinical and clinical activities is susceptible to varying interpretations, which could delay, limit, or prevent regulatory approvals. We have limited experience in conducting the clinical trials required to obtain regulatory approval. We may not be able to conduct clinical trials at preferred sites, enlist clinical investigators, enroll sufficient numbers of participants, or begin or successfully complete clinical trials in a timely fashion, if at all. Any failure to perform may delay or terminate the trials. Once Phase 1 human trials are initiated, the pre-defined clinical outcome(s) may not be achieved. As a result, additional clinical trials may be required if clinical trial results are negative or inconclusive, which will require us to incur additional costs and significant delays. If we do not receive the necessary regulatory approvals, we will not be able to generate product revenues and may not become profitable.
Sales & Marketing1 | 2.7%
Sales & Marketing - Risk 1
Our business plan is not based on independent market studies.
We have not commissioned any independent market studies concerning our business plans. Rather, our plans for implementing our business strategy and achieving profitability are based on the experience, judgment and assumptions of our management. If these assumptions prove to be incorrect, we may not be successful in our business operations.
Macro & Political
Total Risks: 2/37 (5%)Below Sector Average
Economy & Political Environment1 | 2.7%
Economy & Political Environment - Risk 1
Healthcare reform measures could adversely affect our business.
The efforts of governmental and third-party payers to contain or reduce the costs of healthcare may adversely affect the business and financial condition of pharmaceutical companies. In the United States and in foreign jurisdictions there have been, and we expect that there will continue to be, a number of legislative and regulatory proposals aimed at changing the healthcare system. For example, in some countries other than the United States, pricing of prescription drugs is subject to government control, and we expect proposals to implement similar controls in the United States to continue. The pendency or approval of such proposals could result in a decrease in our common stock value or limit our ability to raise capital or to enter into collaborations or license rights to our products.
Natural and Human Disruptions1 | 2.7%
Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 1
The COVID-19 pandemic could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China. In January 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern." This worldwide outbreak has resulted in the implementation of significant governmental measures, including lockdowns, closures, quarantines and travel bans intended to control the spread of the virus. Companies are also taking precautions, such as requiring employees to work remotely, imposing travel restrictions and temporarily closing businesses and facilities. These restrictions, and future prevention and mitigation measures, have had an adverse impact on global economic conditions and are likely to have an adverse impact on consumer confidence and spending, which could materially adversely affect the supply of, as well as the demand for, our products. Uncertainties regarding the economic impact of COVID-19 is likely to result in sustained market turmoil, which could also negatively impact our business, financial condition and cash flows. If our operations or productivity continue to be impacted throughout the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak and government-mandated closures, which may negatively impact our business, financial condition and cash flows. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will further impact our business will depend on future developments and, given the uncertainty around the extent and timing of the potential future spread or mitigation and around the imposition or relaxation of protective measures, we cannot reasonably estimate the impact to our business at this time. The extent of COVID-19's effect on our operational and financial performance will depend on future developments, including the duration, spread and intensity of the outbreak, all of which are uncertain and difficult to predict considering the rapidly evolving landscape. As a result, it is not currently possible to ascertain the overall impact of COVID-19 on our business. However, if the pandemic continues for a prolonged period it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows and adversely impact the trading price of our Common Stock.
See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.

FAQ

What are “Risk Factors”?
Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky.
    The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment.
      They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result.
        It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.
          How do companies disclose their risk factors?
          Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process.
            Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”.
              Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report.
                According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.
                  How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?
                  Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing.
                    You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector.
                      Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements.
                        A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.
                          What are all the risk factor categories?
                          TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below.
                          1. Financial & Corporate
                          • Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results.
                          • Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing.
                          • Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments.
                          • Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances.
                          2. Legal & Regulatory
                          • Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company.
                          • Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation.
                          • Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy.
                          • Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives.
                          3. Production
                          • Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory.
                          • Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers.
                          • Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls.
                          • Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation.
                          4. Technology & Innovation
                          • Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development.
                          • Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology.
                          • Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks.
                          • Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying.
                          5. Ability to Sell
                          • Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers.
                          • Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes.
                          • Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration.
                          • Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation.
                          6. Macro & Political
                          • Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions.
                          • Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19.
                          • International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company.
                          • Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.
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