SANUWAVE Health Inc

Overview

The Company is an ultrasound and shock wave technology company using patented systems of noninvasive, high-energy, acoustic shock waves or low intensity and non-contact ultrasound for regenerative medicine and other applications. Our focus is regenerative medicine utilizing noninvasive, acoustic shock waves or ultrasound to produce a biological response resulting in the body healing itself through the repair and regeneration of tissue, musculoskeletal, and vascular structures. Our two primary systems are UltraMIST® and PACE®. UltraMIST and PACE are the only two Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved directed energy systems for wound healing.

The UltraMIST system provides, through a fluid mist, low-frequency, non-contact, and pain free ultrasound energy deep inside the wound bed that promotes healing from within. The ultrasound acoustic waves promote healing by reducing inflammation and bacteria in the wound bed, while also increasing the growth of new blood vessels to the area. The UltraMIST system treatment must be administered by a healthcare professional. This proprietary technology has been cleared by the FDA for the promotion of wound healing through wound cleansing and maintenance debridement combined with ultrasound energy deposited inside the wound that stimulated tissue regeneration. The UltraMIST System is cleared for marketing in the U.S. by the FDA (K140782) but is not approved/cleared/licensed in any other jurisdiction.

The PACE systems use acoustic pressure shockwaves generated by the Company’s Pulsed Acoustic Cellular Expression (PACE) technology to converge at precise selected targets to produce an extremely short duration compression burst. The precise targeting of tissue with PACE® technology provides healthcare professionals with a tool to positively influence cellular form and function, which can result in pain relief, improved circulation, and tissue regeneration. The PACE® system treatment must be administered by a healthcare professional. The PACE® line of products is marketed in various jurisdictions:

Our portfolio of wound treatment solutions provides patients with noninvasive technology that boosts the body’s normal healing and tissue regeneration processes. The Company is marketing its UltraMIST and PACE systems for usage primarily in the United States.

Regarding the non-contact and non-thermal low frequency ultrasound UltraMIST system, the Company is focused on the following:

The Company is focused on further developing our PACE proprietary technology to activate healing in:

Merger Agreement with SEPA

On August 23, 2023, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among SEP Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“SEPA”), SEP Acquisition Holdings Inc., a Nevada corporation, and a wholly owned subsidiary of SEPA (“Merger Sub”). Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, a business combination between the Company and SEPA (the “Merger”) will be affected. More specifically, and as described in greater detail below, at the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”):

Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, the holders of (i) Company common stock, (ii) in the money options to purchase Company common stock, (iii) in the money warrants to purchase Company common stock, and (iv) convertible promissory notes, collectively will be entitled to receive 7,793,000 shares of Class A Common Stock of SEPA. Out-of-the-money options and out-of-the-money warrants will be assumed by SEPA and converted into options or warrants, respectively, exercisable for shares of Class A Common Stock based on the Conversion Ratio; however, such out-of-the-money options and out-of-the-money warrants shall not be reserved for issuance from the Merger Consideration.

The Merger Agreement contains certain conditions to Closing, including the following:

As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the holders of approximately 95% of our outstanding warrants covered by the preceding covenant and 100% of our outstanding convertible notes covered by the preceding covenant have committed to exchange such warrants and convertible notes for an aggregate of 1,217,222,186 shares and 219,841,980 shares, respectively, of our common stock immediately prior to the Closing.

On February 21, 2024, we held a special meeting of holders of the Company’s common stock where the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby (the “Business Combination”) was approved by a majority vote.

In February 2024, the Company amended the Merger Agreement to extend the date after which the Company or SEPA, in its discretion, can elect to terminate the Merger Agreement if any of the conditions to closing of the other party have not been met or waived, from February 28, 2024 to April 30, 2024.

UltraMIST - Ultrasound Healing Therapy

UltraMIST is an FDA approved powerful, non-contact, non-thermal ultrasound therapy system used to promote healing in a wide range of wound types. The system never touches the wound surface making it pain free. UltraMIST promotes wound healing below the skin surface by modulating cell membranes to drive increased blood flow and capillary formation. It also reduces and removes a wide range of bacteria, including biofilms, while preserving healthy structures. UltraMIST is FDA approved to treat malaises such as diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, venous leg ulcers, deep tissue pressure injuries, and surgical wounds.

PACE Technology for Regenerative Medicine

Our PACE system candidates, including our dermaPACE System, deliver high-energy acoustic pressure shockwaves to produce compressive and tensile stresses on cells and tissue structures. These mechanical stresses at the cellular level have been shown in pre-clinical work to promote angiogenic and positive modulated inflammatory responses, and quickly initiate the healing cascade. This has been shown in pre-clinical work to result in microcirculatory improvement, including increased perfusion and blood vessel widening, the production of angiogenic growth factors, enhanced new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) and the subsequent regeneration of tissue such as skin, musculoskeletal and vascular structures. PACE procedures trigger the initiation of an accelerated and modulated inflammatory response that speeds wounds into proliferation phases of healing and subsequently returns a chronic condition to an acute condition to help reinitiate the body’s own healing response. The Company believes our PACE technology is well suited for various applications due to its activation of a broad spectrum of cellular events critical for the initiation and progression of healing.

dermaPACE

The Company is focused on the development of products that treat unmet medical needs in large market opportunities. Our FDA approval in the United States for our, dermaPACE system is the first step in providing an option to a currently unmet need in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Diabetes is common, disabling, and deadly. In the United States, diabetes has reached epidemic proportions. Based on our research, foot ulcerations are one of the leading causes of hospitalization in diabetic patients and lead to billions of dollars in health care expenditures annually. dermaPACE is noninvasive and does not require anesthesia, making it a cost-effective, time-efficient, and painless approach to wound care. The dermaPACE’s noninvasive treatments are designed to produce the body’s own healing response and followed by simple standard of care dressing changes, are designed to allow for limited disruption to the patients’ normal lives and have no effect on mobility while their wounds heal.

The dermaPACE has received the European CE Mark approval to treat acute and chronic defects of the skin and subcutaneous soft tissue, such as in the treatment of pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, burns, and traumatic and surgical wounds. The dermaPACE is also licensed for sale in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. Additionally, our joint venture partner in Brazil, Diversa SA, received approval from the Brazilian Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (“National Health Surveillance Agency” or “ANVISA”) to market dermaPACE to treat diabetic foot ulcers in Brazil.

Profile

Additionally, the Company has developed and introduced Profile by SANUWAVE as an immediately available solution for pain management in sports medicine and physical therapy in the U.S. market. Profile by SANUWAVE is a therapeutic massager intended for the relief of minor muscle aches and pains via SANUWAVE’s Diffused Acoustic Pressure (DAP®) technology. DAP® delivers the beneficial, therapeutic field of the acoustic pressure waves without the impact and potential pain of a focused pulse. There is a significant need in the U.S. for pain management products and the Company believes the non-invasive delivery of therapeutic shockwaves for its treatment can help to serve this market.

Strategy

Our strategy is focused on the commercialization of our patented, non-invasive, and biological response-activating medical systems for the repair and regeneration of skin, musculoskeletal tissue, and vascular structures. Our wound care portfolio of regenerative medicine products help restore the body's normal healing processes, byactivating biologic signaling and angiogenic responses.

The key elements of our strategy include the following:

Scientific Advisors

The Company has established a network of scientific advisors that brings expertise in wound healing, orthopedics, cosmetics, clinical and scientific research, and FDA experience. The Company consults our scientific advisors on an as-needed basis on clinical and pre-clinical study design, product development, and clinical indications.

The Company pays consulting fees to certain members of our scientific advisory board for the services they provide to us, in addition to reimbursing them for incurred expenses. The amounts vary depending on the nature of the services.

Sales, Marketing and Distribution

The Company sells systems through a combination of direct sales representatives and independent distributors. The systems are used in hospitals, clinics, and alternate care facilities. Our primary sales are in the Unites States.

Manufacturing

The Company has developed a network of suppliers, manufacturers, and contract service providers to provide sufficient quantities of our products.

The Company is party to a manufacturing supply agreement with Minnetronix Medical in St. Paul, MN, covering the generator and treatment wand components of our products. Our generators and treatment wands are manufactured in accordance with applicable quality standards and applicable industry and regulatory standards. In addition, the Company performs the final product testing for generators and treatment wands internally.

The Company is party to a manufacturing supply agreement with Dynamic Group in Ramsey, MN, covering the applicator component of our products. Our applicators are manufactured in accordance with applicable quality standards and applicable industry and regulatory standards. Dynamic Group produces the applicators and applicator kits for our products.

The Company is party to a manufacturing supply agreement with Swisstronics Contract Manufacturing AG in Switzerland, a division of Cicor Technologies Ltd., covering the generator box component of our products. Our generator boxes are manufactured in accordance with applicable quality standards and applicable industry and regulatory standards. Swisstronics produces the applicators and applicator kits for our products. In addition, the Company programs and loads software for both the generator boxes and applicators and performs the final product testing and certifications internally.

Our facility in Eden Prairie, MN consists of 8,199 square feet and provides office, product development, quality control, and warehouse space. It is an FDA registered facility and is International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 13485:2016 certified.

Intellectual Property

Our success depends in part on our ability to obtain and maintain proprietary protection for our products, technology, and know-how, to operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of others and to prevent others from infringing upon our proprietary rights. The Company seeks to protect our proprietary position by, among other methods, filing United States and selected foreign patent applications and United States and selected foreign trademark applications related to our proprietary technology, inventions, products, and improvements that are important to the development of our business. Effective trademark, service mark, copyright, patent, and trade secret protection may not be available in every country in which our products are made available. The protection of our intellectual property may require the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources.

Patents

The Company considers the protection afforded by patents important to our business. The Company intends to seek and maintain patent protection in the United States and select foreign countries, where deemed appropriate for products that the Company develops. In general, our patents are effective, ranging from 6 months to 16 years. There are no assurances that any patents will result from our patent applications, or that any patents that may be issued will protect our intellectual property, or that any issued patents or pending applications will not be successfully challenged, including as to ownership and/or validity, by third parties. In addition, if the Company does not avoid infringement of the intellectual property rights of others, the Company may have to seek a license to sell our products, defend an infringement action or challenge the validity of intellectual property in court. Any current or future challenges to our patent rights, or challenges by us to the patent rights of others, could be expensive and time consuming.

The Company believes that our owned and licensed patent rights provide a competitive advantage with respect to others that might seek to utilize certain of our apparatuses and methods incorporating extracorporeal acoustic pressure shockwave technologies that the Company has patented. However, the Company does not hold patent rights that cover all of our products, product components, or methods that utilize our products. The Company also has not conducted a competitive analysis or valuation with respect to our issued and pending patent portfolio in relation to our current products and/or competitor products.

In August 2005, we entered into a license agreement with HealthTronics Inc. (“HealthTronics”) in connection with our acquisition of certain assets and intellectual property relating to orthopedic, tendinopathy, skin wounds, cardiac, dental, neural medical conditions and to all conditions in animals (the “Ortho Field”) from HealthTronics. The majority of the intellectual property licensed from HealthTronics was associated with the construction of shockwave devices, indications for orthopedic treatments, and wound care. These patents and patent applications have either expired or were not pursued in our portfolio.

Under our license to HealthTronics, Inc., we reserved exclusive rights in our purchased portfolio as to the Ortho Field. HealthTronics received field-exclusive and sublicensable rights under the purchased portfolio as to (1) certain HealthTronics lithotripsy devices in all fields other than the Ortho Field, and (2) all products in the treatment of renal, ureteral, gall stones and other urological conditions (the “Litho Field”). HealthTronics also received non-exclusive and non-sublicensable rights in the purchased portfolio as to any products in all fields other than the Ortho Field and Litho Field.

Pursuant to mutual amendment and other assignment-back rights under the patent license agreement with HealthTronics, we are also a licensee of certain patents and patent applications that have been assigned to HealthTronics. We received a perpetual, non-exclusive and royalty-free license to nine issued foreign patents. Our non-exclusive license is subject to HealthTronics’ sole discretion to further maintain any of the patents and pending applications assigned back to HealthTronics.

In August 2020, we entered into an asset purchase agreement with Celularity Inc. (“Celularity”), pursuant to which we acquired all of Celularity’s assets related to the MIST Therapy System and UltraMIST System, including all intellectual property and trademarks related to MIST and UltraMIST. These assets are for use in low frequency and non-contact ultrasound to treat wounds.

In August 2020, we entered into a License and Marketing Agreement with Celularity, pursuant to which we were granted an exclusive, royalty-bearing license to commercialize Biovance, a minimally processed human amniotic membrane, and Interfyl, a human connective tissue matrix, for the care and treatment of acute and chronic wounds performed in an operating room setting for worldwide commercialization, excluding the Asia Pacific region.

Under the terms of the agreement, Celularity was to provide Biovance and Interfyl product to us for commercialization in exchange for a quarterly license fee payment. In May 2021, we received notification of non-compliance with the terms of the agreement due to alleged non-payment of the quarterly license fee. Pursuant to the notification, we ceased commercialization of the licensed products and have not resumed commercialization.

The Company operates in an industry characterized by extensive patent litigation. If the Company becomes involved in future litigation or any other adverse intellectual property proceeding, for example, as a result of an alleged infringement, or a third party alleging an earlier date of invention, the Company may have to spend significant amounts of money and time and, in the event of an adverse ruling, the Company could be subject to liability for damages, including treble damages, invalidation of our intellectual property and injunctive relief that could prevent us from using technologies or developing products, any of which could have a significant adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operation. In addition, any claims relating to the infringement of third-party proprietary rights, or earlier date of invention, even if not meritorious, could result in costly litigation or lengthy governmental proceedings and could divert management’s attention and resources and require us to enter into royalty or license agreements which are not advantageous, if available at all.

Our patents directed to our material technologies and products are detailed in the tables below:

Shockwave Patent Portfolio – Devices Section

Shockwave Patent Portfolio – Indications for Medical Section

Ultrasound Patents – UltraMIST Patent Portfolio

Trademarks

Since other products on the market compete with our products, the Company believes that our product brand names are an important factor in establishing and maintaining brand recognition.

The Company has the following trademark registrations: SANUWAVE® (United States, European Community, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Taiwan and under the Madrid Protocol), dermaPACE® (United States, European Community, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Canada, China, Brazil, Mexico, and under the Madrid Protocol), angioPACE® (European Community and United Kingdom), PACE® - Pulsed Acoustic Cellular Expression (United States, European Community, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Canada), orthoPACE® (United States, United Kingdom, and European Community), DAP® - Diffused Acoustic Pressure (United States and European Community), Profile® (United States, European Community, and United Kingdom) Energy First® (United States), Healing Today, Curing Tomorrow® (United States), and UltraMIST® (United States).

Through the acquisition of UltraMIST®/MIST assets from Celularity Inc., the Company is the owner of the Celleration® (United States, Australia, Europe Community, and Japan), Proven Healing® (Madrid Protocol, European Community, and United Kingdom), MIST Ultrasound Healing Therapy & Design® (United States), MIST® (United States), MIST Therapy® (United States), and MIST & Design® (United States) registered trademarks.

The Company also maintains trademark registrations for: OssaTron® (United States), OSWT® (Switzerland) Evotron® (United States, Germany and Switzerland), Evotrode® (United States, Germany and Switzerland), Orthotripsy® (United States). The Company phased out the OssaTrode® (United States, Germany and Switzerland), Equitron® (United States and Switzerland). Reflectron® (Germany and Switzerland) and Reflectrode® (Germany and Switzerland), evoPACE® (Canada, Australia, European Community and Switzerland) trademarks, due to the fact that OssaTrode®, Equitron®, Reflectron® and Reflectrode® products are no longer available for sale in any market and evoPACE® is a product that was never commercialized.

Competition

The Company believes the advanced wound care market can benefit from our technology which up-regulates the biological factors that promote wound healing. Current medical technologies developed by Acelity L.P. Inc, (formerly Kinetic Concepts, Inc.) now owned by 3M, Organogenesis, Inc., Smith & Nephew plc, Derma Sciences, Inc., MiMedx Group, Inc., Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., Molnlycke Health Care, and Systagenix Wound Management (US), Inc. (now owned by Acelity) and Softwave Tissue Regeneration Technologies, manage wounds, but, in our opinion, do not provide the value proposition to the patients and care givers like our PACE technology has the potential to do. The leading medical device serving this market is the Vacuum Assisted Closure (“V.A.C.”) System marketed by KCI. The V.A.C. is a negative pressure wound therapy device that applies suction to debride and manage wounds.

There are also several companies that market extracorporeal shockwave device products targeting lithotripsy and orthopedic markets, including Dornier MedTech, Storz Medical AG, Electro Medical Systems (EMS) S.A., Softwave Tissue Regneration Technologies, and CellSonic Medical which could ultimately pursue the wound care market. Nevertheless, the Company believes that the PACE systems have a competitive advantage over all of these existing technologies by achieving wound closure by means of a minimally invasive process through innate biological response to PACE technology.

Regarding the companies that use low frequency ultrasound that creates a pressure wave producing micro-strains due to mechanical forces that deform cell membrane and therefore promote healing, there are technologies developed by Arobella Medical LLC, NanoVibronix, Chattanooga, and EDAP TMS to manage wound care. However, these treatment devices or medical systems are different in design and mode of application of the ultrasound when compared to SANUWAVE’s UltraMIST. The Company believes that UltraMIST has a competitive advantage over all of these existing technologies, due to broad medical indications, simplicity of use, wound healing results and the tolerability of the treatment by the patients, especially for painful wounds.

Developing and commercializing new products is highly competitive. The market is characterized by extensive research and clinical efforts and rapid technological change. The Company faces intense competition worldwide from medical device, biomedical technology and medical products and combination products companies, including major pharmaceutical companies. The Company may be unable to respond to technological advances through the development and introduction of new products. Most of our existing and potential competitors have substantially greater financial, marketing, sales, distribution, manufacturing and technological resources. These competitors may also be in the process of seeking FDA or other regulatory approvals, or patent protection, for new products. Our competitors may commercialize new products in advance of our products. Our products also face competition from numerous existing products and procedures, which currently are considered part of the standard of care. To compete effectively, our products will have to achieve widespread market acceptance.

Regulatory Matters

FDA Regulation

Each of our products must be approved or cleared by the FDA before it is marketed in the United States. Before and after approval or clearance in the United States, our products are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and/or the Public Health Service Act, as well as by other regulatory bodies. FDA regulations govern, among other things, the development, testing, manufacturing, labeling, safety, storage, record-keeping, market clearance or approval, advertising and promotion, import and export, marketing and sales, and distribution of medical devices and pharmaceutical products.

In the United States, the FDA subjects medical products to rigorous review. If the Company does not comply with applicable requirements, the Company may be fined, the government may refuse to approve our marketing applications or to allow us to manufacture or market our products, and the Company may be criminally prosecuted. Failure to comply with the law could result in, among other things, warning letters, civil penalties, delays in approving or refusal to approve a product candidate, product recall, product seizure, interruption of production, operating restrictions, suspension or withdrawal of product approval, injunctions, or criminal prosecution.

The FDA has determined that our technology and products constitute “medical devices.” The FDA determines what center or centers within the FDA will review the product and its indication for use and determines under what legal authority the product will be reviewed. For the current indications, our products are being reviewed by the Center for Devices and Radiological Health. However, the Company cannot be sure that the FDA will not select a different center and/or legal authority for one or more of our other product candidates, in which case the governmental review requirements could vary in some respects.

FDA Approval or Clearance of Medical Devices

In the United States, medical devices are subject to varying degrees of regulatory control and are classified in one of three classes depending on the extent of controls the FDA determines are necessary to reasonably ensure their safety and efficacy:

Each of our products require FDA authorization prior to marketing, by means of either a 510(k) clearance or a PMA approval. To request marketing authorization by means of a 510(k) clearance, the Company must submit a pre-market notification demonstrating that the proposed device is substantially equivalent to another legally marketed medical device, has the same intended use, and is as safe and effective as a legally marketed device and does not raise different questions of safety and effectiveness than does a legally marketed device. 510(k) submissions generally include, among other things, a description of the device and its manufacturing, device labeling, medical devices to which the device is substantially equivalent, safety and biocompatibility information, and the results of performance testing. In some cases, a 510(k) submission must include data from human clinical studies. Marketing may commence only when the FDA issues a clearance letter finding substantial equivalence. After a device receives 510(k) clearance, any product modification that could significantly affect the safety or effectiveness of the product, or that would constitute a significant change in intended use, requires a new 510(k) clearance or, if the device would no longer be substantially equivalent, would require a PMA. If the FDA determines that the product does not qualify for 510(k) clearance, then a company must submit, and the FDA must approve, a PMA before marketing can begin.

A PMA application must provide a demonstration of safety and effectiveness, which generally requires extensive pre-clinical and clinical trial data. Information about the device and its components, device design, manufacturing, and labeling, among other information, must also be included in the PMA. As part of the PMA review, the FDA will inspect the manufacturer’s facilities for compliance with quality system regulation requirements, which govern testing, control, documentation, and other aspects of quality assurance with respect to manufacturing. The PMA approval can include post-approval conditions, including, among other things, restrictions on labeling, promotion, sale and distribution, or requirements to do additional clinical studies post-approval. Even after approval of a PMA, a new PMA or PMA supplement is required to authorize certain modifications to the device, its labeling, or its manufacturing process. Supplements to a PMA often require the submission of the same type of information required for an original PMA, except that the supplement is generally limited to that information needed to support the proposed change from the product covered by the original PMA.

Obtaining medical device clearance, approval, or licensing in the United States or abroad can be an expensive process. International fee structures vary from minimal to substantial, depending on the country. In addition, the Company is subject to annual establishment registration fees in the United States and abroad. Device licenses require periodic renewal with associated fees as well. In the United States, there is an annual requirement for submitting device reports for Class III/PMA devices, along with an associated fee. Currently, the Company is registered as a Small Business Manufacturer with the FDA and as such are subject to reduced fees. If, in the future, our revenues exceed a certain annual threshold limit, the Company may not qualify for the Small Business Manufacturer reduced fee amounts and will be required to pay full fee amounts.

Post-Approval Regulation of Medical Devices

After a device is cleared or approved for marketing, numerous and pervasive regulatory requirements continue to apply. These include:

The Company continues to be subject to inspection by the FDA to determine our compliance with regulatory requirements, as are our suppliers, contract manufacturers, and contract testing laboratories.

International sales of medical devices manufactured in the United States that are not approved or cleared by the FDA are subject to FDA export requirements. Exported devices are subject to the regulatory requirements of each country to which the device is exported. Exported devices may also fall under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Commerce/Bureau of Industry and Security and compliance with export regulations may be required for certain countries.

Manufacturing Certifications

The Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP) – allows a single regulatory audit of a medical device manufacturer’s quality management system to satisfy the requirements of multiple regulatory authorities (RAs). Five RAs: The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Brazil’s Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA), Health Canada, MHLW/PMDA (Japan), and the FDA participated in a three-year MDSAP Pilot which concluded in December 2016. These RAs will continue to participate in MDSAP as the program moved into its operational phase starting January 2017, with Health Canada making a full transition from the Canadian Medical Devices Conformity Assessment System (CMDCAS) to MDSAP.

MDSAP uses recognized third-party auditors – auditing organizations (AOs) – to conduct a single quality management system audit that satisfies the requirements of multiple regulatory authorities. Manufacturers only needed to comply with the regulations from the jurisdictions where they sell their products. The MDSAP certificate indicates that a manufacturer complies with the regulatory requirements for the markets defined in the certificate. The certificate does not represent marketing authorization, nor does it require any regulatory authority to issue a marketing authorization or endorsement to the device manufacturer.

The Company has been certified to the MDSAP requirements for all five participating countries, most recently successfully completing a MDSAP recertification audit in September 2022. This certificate is valid for three years. Annual surveillance audits are required to maintain this certification.

Manufacturing cGMP Requirements

Manufacturers of medical devices are required to comply with FDA manufacturing requirements contained in the FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) set forth in the quality system regulations promulgated under section 520 of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. cGMP regulations require, among other things, quality control and quality assurance as well as the corresponding maintenance of records and documentation. The manufacturing facility for our products must meet cGMP requirements to the satisfaction of the FDA pursuant to a pre-PMA approval inspection before the Company can use it. The Company and some of our third-party service providers are also subject to periodic inspections of facilities by the FDA and other authorities, including procedures and operations used in the testing and manufacture of our products to assess our compliance with applicable regulations. Failure to comply with statutory and regulatory requirements subjects a manufacturer to possible legal or regulatory action, including the seizure or recall of products, injunctions, consent decrees placing significant restrictions on or suspending manufacturing operations, and civil and criminal penalties. Adverse experiences with the product must be reported to the FDA and could result in the imposition of marketing restrictions through labeling changes or in product withdrawal. Product approvals may be withdrawn if compliance with regulatory requirements is not maintained or if problems concerning safety or efficacy of the product occur following the approval.

International Regulation

We are subject to regulations and product registration requirements in many foreign countries in which we may sell our products, including in the areas of product standards, packaging requirements, labeling requirements, import and export restrictions and tariff regulations, duties and tax requirements. The time required to obtain clearance required by foreign countries may be longer or shorter than that required for FDA clearance, and requirements for licensing a product in a foreign country may differ significantly from FDA requirements.

United States Anti-Kickback and False Claims Laws

In the United States, there are Federal and state anti-kickback laws that prohibit the payment or receipt of kickbacks, bribes or other remuneration intended to induce the purchase or recommendation of healthcare products and services. Violations of these laws can lead to civil and criminal penalties, including exclusion from participation in Federal healthcare programs. These laws are potentially applicable to manufacturers of products regulated by the FDA as medical devices, such as us, and hospitals, physicians, and other potential purchasers of such products. Other provisions of Federal and state laws provide civil and criminal penalties for presenting, or causing to be presented, to third-party payers for reimbursement, claims that are false or fraudulent, or which are for items or services that were not provided as claimed. In addition, certain states have implemented regulations requiring medical device and pharmaceutical companies to report all gifts and payments over $50 to medical practitioners. This does not apply to instances involving clinical trials. Although we intend to structure our future business relationships with clinical investigators and purchasers of our products to comply with these and other applicable laws, it is possible that some of our business practices in the future could be subject to scrutiny and challenge by Federal or state enforcement officials under these laws.

Third Party Reimbursement

We anticipate that sales volumes and prices of the products we commercialize will depend in large part on the availability of coverage and reimbursement from third party payers. Third party payers include governmental programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, private insurance plans, and workers’ compensation plans. Even though a new product may have been approved or cleared by the FDA for commercial distribution, we may find limited demand for the device until adequate history of reimbursement has been obtained from governmental and private third-party payers.

The CPT code for UltraMIST is 97610. This Category 1 code describes a system used in wound care that uses low frequency ultrasonic energy to atomize a liquid and deliver continuous low frequency ultrasound to the wound bed. The CPT codes for the dermaPACE System using extracorporeal shock wave technology to treat diabetic foot ulcers are 0512T and 0513T. The codes 0512T and 0513T are for extracorporeal shock wave for integumentary wound healing, including topical application and dressing and high energy extracorporeal shockwave therapy for integumentary wound healing. While these are Category 3 codes because the dermaPACE System is considered experimental by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, this designation does not preclude billing and obtaining payment. Instead, claims are reviewed on an individual basis.

In international markets, reimbursement and healthcare payment systems vary significantly by country, and many countries have instituted price ceilings on specific product lines and procedures. There can be no assurance that procedures using our products will be considered medically reasonable and necessary for a specific indication, that our products will be considered cost-effective by third party payers, that an adequate level of reimbursement will be available or that the third-party payers’ reimbursement policies will not adversely affect our ability to sell our products profitably.

We believe that the overall escalating costs of medical products and services has led to, and will continue to lead to, increased pressures on the healthcare industry to reduce the costs of products and services. In addition, recent healthcare reform measures, as well as legislative and regulatory initiatives at the Federal and state levels, create significant additional uncertainties. There can be no assurance that third party coverage and reimbursement will be available or adequate, or that future legislation, regulation, or reimbursement policies of third-party payers will not adversely affect the demand for our products or our ability to sell these products on a profitable basis. The unavailability or inadequacy of third-party payer coverage or reimbursement would have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

Confidentiality and Security of Personal Health Information

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended (HIPAA), contains provisions that protect individually identifiable health information from unauthorized use or disclosure by covered entities and their business associates. The Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the agency responsible for enforcing HIPAA, has published regulations to address the privacy (the “Privacy Rule”) and security (the “Security Rule”) of protected health information (PHI). HIPAA also requires that all providers who transmit claims for health care goods or services electronically utilize standard transaction and data sets and to standardize national provider identification codes. In addition, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act enacted the HITECH Act, which extends the scope of HIPAA to permit enforcement against business associates for a violation, establishes new requirements to notify the Office for Civil Rights of HHS of a breach of HIPAA, and allows the Attorneys General of the states to bring actions to enforce violations of HIPAA.

We anticipate that, as we expand our PACE business, we may in the future be a covered entity under HIPAA. We have adopted policies and procedures to comply with the Privacy Rule, the Security Rule and the HIPAA statute as such regulations become applicable to our business. We currently don’t capture patient data through our PACE system.

In addition to the HIPAA Privacy Rule and Security Rule described above, we may become subject to state laws regarding the handling and disclosure of patient records and patient health information. These laws vary widely. Penalties for violation include sanctions against a laboratory’s licensure as well as civil or criminal penalties. Additionally, private individuals may have a right of action against us for a violation of a state’s privacy laws. We intend to adopt policies and procedures to ensure material compliance with state laws regarding the confidentiality of health information as such laws become applicable to us and to monitor and comply with new or changing state laws on an ongoing basis.

Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Regulations

Our operations are subject to extensive Federal, state, provincial and municipal environmental statutes, regulations and policies, including those promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Environment Canada, Alberta Environment, the Department of Health Services, and the Air Quality Management District, that govern activities and operations that may have adverse environmental effects such as discharges into air and water, as well as handling and disposal practices for solid and hazardous wastes. Some of these statutes and regulations impose strict liability for the costs of cleaning up, and for damages resulting from, sites of spills, disposals, or other releases of contaminants, hazardous substances and other materials and for the investigation and remediation of environmental contamination at properties leased or operated by us and at off-site locations where we have arranged for the disposal of hazardous substances. In addition, we may be subject to claims and lawsuits brought by private parties seeking damages and other remedies with respect to similar matters. We have not to date needed to make material expenditures to comply with current environmental statutes, regulations and policies. However, we cannot predict the impact and costs those possible future statutes, regulations and policies will have on our business.

Employees

As of December 31, 2023, we had a total of 31 full time employees in the United States. Of these, five were engaged in research and development which includes clinical, regulatory, and quality. None of our employees are represented by a labor union or covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We believe our relationship with our employees is good.

Corporate Information

We were formed as a Nevada corporation in 2004. Our corporate headquarters address 11495 Valleyview Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344, and our main telephone number is (800) 545-8810 or (952) 656-1029.

Available Information

We maintain a website atwww.sanuwave.com. We make available on our website, free of charge, our periodic reports and registration statements filed with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We make these reports available through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such reports with, or furnish such reports to the SEC. Our internet site and the information contained on or connected to that site are not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The SEC also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.