HERON THERAPEUTICS, INC. /DE/

Investing in our common stock involves risks. We operate in a rapidly changing environment that involves a number of risks that could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results, some of which are beyond our control. In addition to the other information described below, the risks and uncertainties that we believe are most important for you to consider are discussed in Part I, Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in our 2024 Annual Report, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other reports, including our financial statements and the related notes thereto, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the information contained in the section entitled "Forward-Looking Statements." The occurrence of any of the events or developments described below could adversely our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. In such an event, the market price of our common stock could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business operations. Other than the factors described below, there are no material changes to the risk factors described in the 2024 Annual Report.

Changes in government policies, laws, and regulations and with respect to the government workforce may have a negative impact on our business and the markets in which we operate.

The laws and regulations governing our operations, as well as their interpretation, may change from time to time, and new laws and regulations may be enacted. Similarly, operational changes at government agencies, including actions intended to reduce government spending at agencies that regulate significant parts of our business, such as the FDA and CMS, could have a significant impact on the implementation of laws and regulations that impact our business.

For example, the layoffs and reorganizations at several U.S. health agencies, including the FDA, the Department of Health and Human Services (the "HHS"), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, are expected to impact the FDA's ability to review and approve new medicines and conduct necessary inspections. Over the last several years, the U.S. government has also shut down several times and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA and SEC, have had to furlough critical employees and stop critical activities. In addition, government funding of agencies on which our operations may rely, including those that fund research and development activities, is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable. Such disruptions at the FDA and other agencies may also increase the time necessary for new drugs or modifications to approved drugs to be reviewed and/or approved by necessary government agencies, which would adversely affect our business. There is also a great degree of uncertainty related to the impact of recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions and executive orders on the enforcement and decision-making authority of regulatory agencies, including those in the FDA, which may lead to delays, if not cancellations, of pending and proposed regulations at federal agencies and subject significant regulatory actions by the agencies to presidential supervision and control.

Accordingly, any change in these laws or regulations, changes in their interpretation, or newly enacted laws or regulations and any failure by us to comply with these laws or regulations could require changes to certain of our business practices, negatively impact our operations, cash flow or financial condition, impose additional costs on us or otherwise adversely affect our business. For example, significant changes to U.S. trade policy, including potential new or increased tariffs, along with countermeasures by the affected countries, may impact global trade, create sourcing challenges with respect to raw materials and instruments and increase our costs, potentially harming our business. The U.S. has recently imposed increased tariffs on certain countries, focusing on those with which it has the largest trade deficits. Other countries have responded, and may continue to respond, by announcing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports. The tariffs have disrupted and may continue to disrupt the global markets and escalate geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and other countries. The extent of the impact of such tariffs and proposed regulations on our business specifically, or on the U.S. market and global economy generally, are uncertain and unpredictable, and could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Further, the U.S. may also enact other regulations or policies that affect trade or otherwise impact the pharmaceutical industry by restricting U.S. pharmaceutical companies from contracting with certain countries for the development, research or manufacturing of pharmaceutical products. For example, the U.S. Department of Commerce initiated national security investigations into the importation of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which could result in the imposition of new tariffs on imports within the pharmaceutical industry.

In addition, the U.S. announced a 100% tariff, effective October 1, 2025, on any branded or patented pharmaceuticals imported into the U.S., unless the relevant drug manufacturer has or is in the process of building a manufacturing facility in the U.S. The imposition of such tariffs is currently delayed as the U.S. administration seeks to negotiate drug pricing agreements with large drug manufacturers. The outcome of such ongoing negotiations is currently unclear and the final terms and impact remain uncertain. While we currently do not anticipate a material impact from such tariffs on our business or operations, such tariffs could have implications on drug pricing, drug production levels and patient access, and may result in supply chain or other operational disruptions. Further, if we are required to change our current manufacturing partners or suppliers now or in the future in order to avoid such tariffs, the terms of new agreements that we may enter into may not be favorable to us and related operational disruptions may heighten manufacturing and compliance risks and derail commercialization plans.

Moreover, uncertainty with respect to legislation, regulation and government policy at the federal, state and local levels, has introduced new and difficult-to-quantify macroeconomic and geopolitical risks with potentially far-reaching implications. There are currently a number of laws and regulations in the U.S. that have recently been adopted but not yet implemented, have been proposed or are being considered to which we or our customers may become subject, including healthcare reform initiatives and potential spending and tax proposals, but at this time their impact on our business and results of operations remains uncertain. Changes in legislation, regulation or policy increase the likelihood that we will fail to appropriately adapt to changes in our compliance obligations, particularly when such changes happen abruptly, such as following a change in government. Any of the foregoing changes could increase our litigation and regulatory exposure, directly impact our results of operations and cash flows, adversely affect our ability to provide our products, or adversely impact the demand for our Products. Such changes may also impact our business by creating increased volatility and uncertainty in the markets in which we operate. At this time, we cannot predict the ultimate content, timing, or effect of these changes, including any legislative, regulatory and other actions under the new U.S. administration, or estimate the overall impact of any such changes on our business, results of operations and financial condition.