Skip to main content

PACIFIC BIOSCIENCES OF CALIFORNIA, INC.

For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Mar 17, 2025.

View on SEC.gov

About this filing

A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.

FY2024 · Filed Mar 17, 2025

PACB$2.26-7.2%Stored close · as of Nov 6, 2026

What changed in Risk Factors?

Read the current filing

Previous report: 10-K

Period ended 2023-12-31; filed 2024-02-28.

0001299130-24-000054

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Current report: 10-K

Period ended 2024-12-31; filed 2025-03-17.

0001299130-25-000061

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The baseline is this issuer’s latest earlier reporting period of the same form that was filed before the current report. A previous 10-Q is a different quarter, not a year-over-year comparison. Amendments are excluded.

Compared 334 previous paragraphs and 354 current paragraphs.

245 unchanged; 78 reworded; 25 added; 9 removed; 2 previous and 6 current paragraphs rearranged.

Tables are not compared: 0 previous and 0 current tables excluded. Dates, whitespace, punctuation and numbering changes are ignored; changes to financial figures remain significant.

A changed paragraph is not evidence that risk increased or decreased. An unchanged paragraph does not establish that risk stayed the same.

Added paragraphs (25)

Current report

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Current report

•our ability to implement required expense reduction initiatives;

Current report

•the possibility that our goodwill or intangible assets could become impaired;

Current report

•adverse effects resulting from enhanced trade tariffs, import restrictions, export restrictions, or other trade barriers;

Current report

We evaluate goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite useful lives for impairment annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value of such assets may be less than the carrying value. We also perform regular reviews to determine if any event has occurred that may indicate that the carrying values of our intangible assets with finite lives and other finite-lived assets are impaired. Events that would indicate impairment and trigger an interim impairment test include, but are not limited to, unexpected adverse business conditions, weak demand for a specific product line or business, economic factors, shifting focus to certain lines of business, unanticipated technological changes or competitive activities, loss of key personnel, changes in business strategy, and acts by governments or courts. The occurrence of any of these events, may require us to record future impairment charges. For example, we recorded $184.5 million of impairment charges during the year ended December 31, 2024 as described in additional detail in Note 4. Balance Sheet Components in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any such charges may adversely affect our results of operations.

Current report

Expense reduction initiatives could be disruptive to our operations and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition, and we may not realize some or all of the anticipated benefits of these initiatives, whether in the time frame anticipated or at all.

Current report

Our expense reduction initiatives comprise, among other things, workforce reductions, facilities downsizing and a refined pipeline of development activities. For example, during the second quarter of 2024 we initiated plans to reduce certain of our annualized run-rate operating expenses by the end of the year, with the intent of better aligning our organizational structure and resources with our strategic initiatives. The implementation of these expense reduction initiatives, including the impact of workforce reductions, could impair our ability to invest in developing, marketing and selling new and existing products, be disruptive to our operations, make it difficult to attract or retain employees, result in higher than anticipated charges, divert the attention of management, result in a loss of accumulated knowledge, impact our customer and supplier relationships, and otherwise adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, our ability to complete our expense reduction initiatives and achieve the anticipated benefits within the expected time frame is subject to estimates and assumptions and may vary materially from our expectations, including as a result of factors that are beyond our control. Furthermore, our efforts to stabilize our business may not be successful.

Current report

Our business may be adversely affected by epidemics or other public health emergencies.

Current report

Our business could be adversely impacted by the effects of epidemics or other public health emergencies. These impacts could include, but are not necessarily limited to:

Current report

•shutdowns or business disruptions experienced by manufacturers, suppliers and other third parties with whom we conduct business;

Current report

•disruptions or interruptions to our supply chains;

Current report

•changes in applicable public health regulations that require us to modify our business practices and operations; and

Current report

The extent to which any epidemic or other public health emergency impacts our business and financial results inherently depends on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of a particular public health matter and the actions to contain it or treat its impact, among others. Even after an epidemic or public health emergency has subsided, we may continue to experience an adverse impact to our business as a result of economic aftershocks, including recessionary effects and inflationary pressures.

Current report

Further, changes to U.S. immigration policies, such as such as the implementation of more restrictive interpretations by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of regulatory requirements for H-1B and other visa programs, could restrain the flow of technical and professional talent into the U.S. and may inhibit our ability to hire qualified personnel. If some of our employees’ temporary work permits expire and are not renewed, we may face increased turnover rates and labor shortages, which could result in higher labor costs.

Current report

We have, and may in the future, use promotional pricing and similar measures to attract purchases of our products. These measures may not be successful in attracting purchases and, even if successful, may negatively impact our gross margins.

Current report

Changes in tax law and differences in interpretation of tax laws and regulations could adversely impact our business and financial condition.

Current report

We operate in multiple jurisdictions and are subject to tax laws and regulations of the U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. governments. Tax laws, regulations and administrative practices in these jurisdictions may be subject to significant changes, with or without advance notice. Changes in tax laws, regulations or rulings, changes in interpretations of existing laws and regulations or changes in accounting principles could negatively and materially affect our financial position, cash flows, and results of operations.

Current report

The FDA has historically exercised enforcement discretion in not enforcing the medical device regulations against laboratories developing and offering LDTs. In May 2024, the FDA issued a final rule that phases out its enforcement discretion for LDTs, unless exempt, and amends the FDA’s regulations to make explicit that in vitro diagnostics are medical devices under the FDCA, including when the manufacturer of the diagnostic product is a laboratory. The American Clinical Laboratory Association and a private laboratory have initiated litigation against the agency to challenge the implementation of this final rule. We will continue to evaluate the impact of this final rule, this litigation, as well as any future lawsuits brought against the FDA, and future legislative and administration actions on our business. Further, the U.S. Supreme Court recently overruled the Chevron doctrine, which gave deference to regulatory agencies’ statutory interpretations in litigation against federal government agencies, such as the FDA, where the law is ambiguous. This landmark Supreme Court decision may invite various stakeholders to bring lawsuits against the FDA to challenge longstanding decisions of the FDA, which could undermine the FDA’s authority and lead to uncertainties in the industry. We cannot predict the full impact of this decision on our business or that of our customers.

Current report

•establish that our board of directors is divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, with each class serving staggered terms (until our board of directors is fully declassified beginning with the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders);

Current report

The Side Letter to our 2029 Notes imposes operating restrictions on us.

Current report

On November 21, 2024, in connection with the issuance of the 2029 Notes, the Company and SB Northstar LP (“SBN”) entered into a letter agreement (the “Letter Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company and SBN agreed that, for so long as SBN and its affiliates hold at least $180 million aggregate principal amount of the 2029 Notes, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to certain negative covenants that restrict the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ ability to incur additional indebtedness and create liens, in each case, subject to the exceptions set forth in the Letter Agreement, including exceptions which permit the Company to incur up to $75 million in aggregate principal amount of secured indebtedness pursuant to Credit Facilities (as defined in the Letter Agreement).

Current report

Additionally, the Letter Agreement restricts the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries from guaranteeing any indebtedness or incurring certain indebtedness outside of the ordinary course of business unless, in each case, the Company and its subsidiaries concurrently provide a guarantee of the Company’s obligations under the 2029 Notes.

Current report

These covenants may adversely affect our ability to finance our operations, meet or otherwise address our capital needs, pursue business opportunities or react to market conditions, or otherwise restrict our activities or business plans.

Current report

A breach of any of the covenants under the Letter Agreement could result in an event of default under the 2029 Notes. As of December 31, 2024, we were in compliance with all covenants under the Letter Agreement. However, if an event of default occurs, SBN could accelerate our obligations under the 2029 Notes. Any such acceleration could result in an event of default under our other indebtedness, including the 2030 Notes.

Current report

Our products depend on the availability of genetic data and its utilization in clinical research by academic and governmental research institutions, commercial testing and service laboratories, genome centers, public health labs, hospitals and clinical research institutes, CROs, pharmaceutical companies, and agricultural companies. As a result, changes in the regulatory environment affecting such institutions could adversely affect our business or results of operations. For example, reduced allocations to government agencies that fund research and development activities, such as the recent announcements regarding NIH funding involving a cap on the institute’s indirect funding rates, or targeted cancellations by the U.S. federal government of certain grants or contracts may significantly impact the markets in which we compete.
Removed paragraphs (9)

Previous report

Our business may be adversely affected by health epidemics, including any resurgence of COVID-19 cases or other similar outbreaks.

Previous report

Our business has been and could be further adversely impacted by the effects of COVID-19 or other epidemics or pandemics. Although it is not possible at this time to estimate the impact that health epidemics, including the results of the COVID-19 pandemic and any future resurgence of COVID-19 cases or other similar outbreaks, could have on our business, any pandemic or public health outbreaks or related disruptions and the measures taken by the governments of countries affected could disrupt the supply chain and the manufacture of our products.

Previous report

Our manufacturing partners and suppliers have been and could continue to be disrupted by conditions related to COVID-19 or other epidemics or pandemics, possibly resulting in disruption to the production of our products. If our manufacturing partners or suppliers are unable or fail to fulfill their obligations to us for any reason, we may not be able to manufacture our products and satisfy customer demand or our obligations under sales agreements in a timely manner, and our business could be harmed as a result. There is significant uncertainty relating to the long-term effect of COVID-19 or other epidemics or pandemics on our business. Infections may resurge or become more widespread and any ensuing disruptions to business activities or supply chains could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition, and operating results. Because our semiconductor manufacturers are located in a region where immunization rates in certain communities may be low, new and emerging variants of COVID-19 or other epidemics or pandemics could impact workforce availability at those locations and disrupt supply. For example, the Chinese government may re-impose lockdowns or similar measures to combat the spread of health epidemics such as COVID-19 or other similar outbreaks and such measures have had, and may continue to have in the future, a negative impact on manufacturing and/or supply chains, as well as customer demand for our products and demand through certain distributors.

Previous report

For example, the COVID-19 pandemic caused us to modify our business practices, including limiting certain of our commercial operations and limiting certain employees from working in the office. We offered, and if there is a resurgence of COVID-19 or other similar outbreaks, we may again offer a significant percentage of our employees flexibility in the amount of time they work in an office, which could adversely impact the productivity of certain employees and harm our business, including our future operating results. This may also present risks for our strategy and may present operational, cybersecurity, and workplace culture challenges that may adversely affect our business.

Previous report

Even after the COVID-19 pandemic has further subsided, we may continue to experience an adverse impact to our business as a result of its global economic impact, including recessionary effects and inflationary pressures. Specifically, difficult macroeconomic conditions, such as decreases in discretionary capital expenditure spending, changes to the government funding environment, a reduction in or the lapsing of COVID-19-related governmental stimulus measures, increased and prolonged unemployment or a decline in consumer confidence as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or other epidemics or pandemics, as well as limited or significantly reduced points of access of our products, could have a continuing adverse effect on the demand for some of our products and, consequently, related maintenance and support services. The degree of impact of COVID-19 or other epidemics or pandemics on our business will depend on several factors, such as the duration and the extent of the pandemic, the risk of waning immunity among persons already vaccinated and an increase in fatigue or skepticism with respect to initial or booster vaccinations, as well as actions taken by governments, businesses, and consumers in response to the pandemic, all of which continue to evolve and remain uncertain at this time.

Previous report

We have experienced significant changes to our leadership team since 2020, including the appointment of our current President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Commercial Officer, Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, and Chair of the Board.

Previous report

The FDA has historically exercised enforcement discretion in not enforcing the medical device regulations against laboratories developing and offering LDTs. In 2017, the FDA announced that it would not issue final guidance on the oversight of LDTs, and manufacturers of products used for LDTs, but would seek further public discussion on an appropriate oversight approach, and give Congress an opportunity to develop a legislative solution. The FDA has issued warning letters to certain genomics labs for illegally marketing genetic tests that claim to predict patients’ responses to specific medications, noting that the FDA has not created a legal “carve-out” for LDTs and retains discretion to take action when appropriate, such as when certain genomic tests raise significant public health concerns.

Previous report

In August 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") announced rescission of guidance and other informal issuances of FDA regarding pre-market review of LDT absent notice-and-comment rulemaking, stating that, absent notice-and-comment rulemaking LDTs are not required to obtain FDA pre-market authorization. In November 2021, HHS under the Biden administration issued a statement that withdrew the August 2020 policy announcement stating that HHS does not have a policy on LDTs that is separate from FDA’s longstanding approach.

Previous report

Legislative and administrative proposals to amend the FDA's oversight of LDTs have been introduced in recent years, including the Verifying Accurate Leading-edge IVCT Development Act of 2021 (the "VALID Act"), which aims to create a new category of medical products separate from medical devices called “in vitro clinical tests,” or IVCTs, and bring all such products within the scope of the FDA’s oversight. To date, Congress has not passed the VALID Act, but may revisit the VALID Act or similar policy riders and enact other FDA programmatic reforms in the future. In October 2023, through rulemaking, the FDA proposed to amend the definition of "in vitro diagnostic products" in FDA regulations to include laboratories that manufacture such products and to phase out the FDA's general enforcement discretion approach for LDTs so that IVDs manufactured by a laboratory would be regulated similarly to IVDs. It is unclear when the FDA will finalize and begin enforcing such rule and how future legislation by federal and state governments and FDA regulation will impact the industry, including our business and that of our customers.
Reworded paragraphs (78)

Previous wording

•reliance on a limited number of customers for a significant portion of our revenues, including academic, research and government institutions;

Current wording

•our reliance on a limited number of customers for a significant portion of our revenues, including academic, research and government institutions, which may be impacted by reductions in funding or targeted cancellations of certain grants or contracts by the U.S. federal government;

Previous wording

•the potential adverse impact of health epidemics, including any resurgence of COVID-19 cases or other similar outbreaks;

Current wording

•the potential adverse impact of health epidemics;

Previous wording

We have made and expect to continue making substantial investments to develop new products and enhance our existing products through our acquisitions and research and development efforts. For example, we commenced commercial shipments of Revio, our new long-read sequencing system in the first quarter of 2023, and commenced commercial shipments of Onso, our new SBB short-read platform, in the third quarter of 2023. Our future success is substantially dependent on our ability to successfully develop and commercialize our products, including Revio and Onso, as well as acquired technologies, which are anticipated to be used in demanding scientific research that requires substantial levels of accuracy and precision. In addition, we may not be successful in transitioning our prior generation products to our Revio product, or transitioning users of other third party short-read sequencing platforms to Onso, and could incur related obsolete inventory charges and losses on firm purchase commitments. Customers may also be slower than we anticipate in making new capital equipment acquisitions, especially in the current economic environment. Due to challenges we may experience in developing and marketing our existing products and launching new products, we may not be able to effectively:

Current wording

We have made and expect to continue making substantial investments to develop new products and enhance our existing products through our acquisitions and research and development efforts. For example, we commenced commercial shipments of Revio, our new long-read sequencing system in the first quarter of 2023, and commenced commercial shipments of Onso, our new SBB short-read platform, in the third quarter of 2023. We also began taking orders and shipping our new Vega benchtop long-read sequencing system in the fourth quarter of 2024. Our future success is substantially dependent on our ability to successfully develop and commercialize our products, as well as acquired technologies, which are anticipated to be used in demanding scientific research that requires substantial levels of accuracy and precision. In addition, we may not be successful in transitioning our prior generation products to our Revio and Vega products, or transitioning users of other third party sequencing platforms to our portfolio of products, and could incur related obsolete inventory charges and losses on firm purchase commitments. Customers may also be slower than we anticipate in making new capital equipment acquisitions, especially in the current economic environment. Due to challenges we may experience in developing and marketing our existing products and launching new products, we may not be able to effectively:

Previous wording

•manage the timeliness of our new product introductions and the rate at which sales of our new products may cannibalize sales of our older products or manage sales and marketing of multiple sequencing platforms;

Current wording

•manage the timeliness of our new product introductions and the rate at which sales of our new products may cannibalize sales of our existing products or manage sales and marketing of multiple sequencing platforms;

Previous wording

•drive adoption of our current and future products, including the Sequel II/IIe, Revio and Onso systems, and products under development;

Current wording

•drive adoption of our current and future products;

Previous wording

•deliver our beta systems to our external beta testing sites or complete our external beta testing program on our currently expected timelines;

Current wording

•deliver our early access systems to our external early access testing sites or complete our external early access testing program on our currently expected timelines;

Previous wording

•overcome unexpected challenges discovered during beta testing;

Current wording

•overcome unexpected challenges discovered during early access testing;

Previous wording

We have generally incurred net losses each quarter since inception, and we cannot be certain if or when we will produce sufficient revenue from our operations to support our costs. Even if profitability is achieved in the future, we may not be able to sustain profitability on a consistent basis. We expect to continue to incur substantial losses and negative cash flow from operations for the foreseeable future.

Current wording

We have generally incurred net losses each quarter since inception, and we cannot be certain if or when we will produce sufficient revenue from our operations to support our costs. Even if profitability is achieved in the future, we may not be able to sustain profitability on a consistent basis. We expect to continue to incur substantial losses and negative cash flow from operations for the foreseeable future. Although we initiated expense reduction plans during the second quarter of 2024, we do not expect to be profitable in 2025, and there can be no assurance that these expense reduction initiatives will be successful in helping us achieve profitability.

Previous wording

Any or all of the foregoing may have a material adverse effect on our business, operations, financial condition, and prospects. An impairment in value of our tangible or intangible assets could also be recorded as a result of weaker economic conditions.

Current wording

Any or all of the foregoing may have a material adverse effect on our business, operations, financial condition, and prospects. An impairment in value of our tangible or intangible assets could also be recorded as a result of weaker economic conditions. For more information on impairment considerations, see “—The commercialization and sales of our current or future products may be unsuccessful or less successful than anticipated. While we plan to continue pursuing new products and expand into adjacent markets, we have limited experience in managing and selling multiple products and, as a result, may face challenges selling in new markets and fail to successfully carry out these initiatives, which may adversely impact our business, financial condition or results of operation.” above.

Previous wording

Our operations have consumed substantial amounts of cash since inception, and we expect to continue to incur substantial losses and negative cash flow from operations for the foreseeable future. Additional funds may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. We have incurred significant debt, and we may incur additional debt, in the future. As of December 31, 2023, we had outstanding approximately $459.0 million aggregate principal amount of 1.50% convertible senior notes due 2028 (the “2028 Notes”) and $441.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 1.375% convertible senior notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes” and, together with the 2028 Notes, the “Notes”). We may not have sufficient cash to make required payments under the terms of this debt, and should this occur, debt holders have rights senior to common stockholders to make claims on our assets. We may not be able to issue equity securities due to unacceptable terms and conditions to us in the capital markets. To the extent that we intend to raise additional funds through the sale of our common stock, downward fluctuations in our stock price could adversely affect such fundraising efforts. Furthermore, equity financings normally involve shares sold at a discount to the current market price and fundraising through sales of additional shares of common stock or other equity securities will have a dilutive effect on our existing investors. We may be required to seek equity financing at a time when the market price for our common stock is low, which will further contribute to dilution for existing holders.

Current wording

Our operations have consumed substantial amounts of cash since inception, and we expect to continue to incur substantial losses and negative cash flow from operations for the foreseeable future. Additional funds may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. We have incurred significant debt, and we may incur additional debt in the future. As of December 31, 2024, we had outstanding approximately $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 1.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2029 (the “2029 Notes”) and $441.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 1.375% Convertible Senior Notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes” and together with the 2029 Notes, the “Notes”). As discussed in Note 5. Convertible Senior Notes in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we exchanged the remaining approximately $459.0 million in aggregate principal amount of our 1.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 (the “2028 Notes”) for (i) $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2029 Notes, (ii) 20,451,570 shares of common stock and (iii) $50.0 million of cash (the “Exchange Transaction”). The Exchange Transaction closed on November 21, 2024. We may not have sufficient cash to make required payments under the terms of this debt, and should this occur, debt holders have rights senior to common stockholders to make claims on our assets. In addition, if we do not have sufficient cash to make the required payments at maturity, we may need to raise additional capital, which could result in dilution of our existing investors, or refinance or restructure our debt, which will depend on, among other things, the condition of the capital markets and our financial condition at such time, and which may be at higher interest rates. We may not be able to issue equity securities due to unacceptable terms and conditions to us in the capital markets. To the extent that we intend to raise additional funds through the sale of our common stock, downward fluctuations in our stock price could adversely affect such fundraising efforts. Furthermore, equity financings normally involve shares sold at a discount to the current market price and fundraising through sales of additional shares of common stock or other equity securities will have a dilutive effect on our existing investors. We may be required to seek equity financing at a time when the market price for our common stock is low, which would further dilute ownership for existing common stockholders.

Previous wording

We believe that our growth will depend, in part, on our ability to fund our commercialization efforts and our efforts to develop new products, including any improvements to our existing products. To the extent our existing resources are not sufficient, it may require us to delay, or even not allow us to conduct any or all of these activities that we believe would be beneficial for our future growth. We may need to raise additional funds through public or private debt or equity financing or alternative financing arrangements, which may include collaborations or licensing arrangements. If we are unable to raise funds on favorable terms, or at all, we may have to reduce our cash burn rate and may not be able to support our commercialization efforts, launching of new products, or operations, or to increase or maintain the level of our research and development activities.

Current wording

We believe that our growth will depend, in part, on our ability to fund our commercialization efforts and our efforts to develop new products and improve our existing products. To the extent our existing resources are not sufficient, it may require us to delay, or even not allow us to conduct any or all of these activities that we believe would be beneficial for our future growth. We may need to raise additional funds through public or private debt or equity financing or alternative financing arrangements, which may include collaborations or licensing arrangements. If we are unable to raise funds on favorable terms, or at all, we may have to reduce our cash burn rate and may not be able to support our commercialization efforts, launching of new products, or operations, or to increase or maintain the level of our research and development activities.

Previous wording

If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flows or to raise adequate funds to finance our forecasted expenditures, we may have to make significant changes to our operations, including delaying or reducing the scope of, or eliminating some or all of, our development programs. We also may have to reduce sales, marketing, engineering, customer support or other resources devoted to our existing or new products, or we may need to cease operations. Any of these actions could materially impede our ability to achieve our business objectives and could materially harm our operating results. If our cash, cash equivalents and investments are insufficient to fund our projected operating requirements and we are unable to raise capital, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and prospects.

Current wording

If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flows or to raise adequate funds to finance our forecasted expenditures, we may have to make significant changes to our operations, including delaying or reducing the scope of, or eliminating some or all of, our development programs. We also may have to reduce sales, marketing, engineering, customer support or other resources devoted to our existing or new products, or we may need to cease operations. Any of these actions could materially impede our ability to achieve our business objectives and could materially harm our operating results, and there can be no assurance that any of these actions would be successful. If our cash, cash equivalents and investments are insufficient to fund our projected operating requirements and we are unable to raise capital, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and prospects.

Previous wording

As part of our business strategy, we have acquired and expect to continue to pursue acquisitions of complementary businesses, technologies, or assets. We may also pursue technology license arrangements, strategic alliances or investments that complement our business as we have previously with our acquisitions of Circulomics, Omniome and Apton in July 2021, September 2021 and August 2023, respectively.

Current wording

As part of our business strategy, we have acquired and expect to continue to pursue acquisitions of complementary businesses, technologies, or assets. We may also pursue technology license arrangements, strategic alliances or investments that complement our business.

Previous wording

If we are unable to successfully develop and timely manufacture our current and future products, including with respect to SMRT Cells, Sequel II/IIe Systems, Revio, Onso, and other SMRT Cell, HiFi, and SBB products under development, and related products, our business may be adversely affected.

Current wording

If we are unable to successfully develop and timely manufacture our current and future products, including with respect to SMRT Cells, Sequel, Sequel II/IIe, Revio, Onso, and Vega systems, and other SMRT Cell, HiFi, and SBB products under development, and related products, our business may be adversely affected.

Previous wording

In light of the highly complex technologies involved in our products, there can be no assurance that we will be able to manufacture and commercialize our current and future products on a timely basis or continue providing adequate support for our existing products. The commercial success of our products, including the Sequel, Sequel II/IIe, Revio and Onso Systems, and the products under development, including acquired technologies, depends on a number of factors, including performance and reliability of the systems, our anticipating and effectively addressing customer preferences and demands, the success of our sales and marketing efforts, effective forecasting and management of product demand, purchase commitments and inventory levels, effective management of manufacturing and supply costs, and the quality of our products, including consumables such as SMRT Cells and reagents. Should we face delays in or discover unexpected defects during the further development or manufacturing process of instruments or consumables related to our products, including with respect to SMRT Cells, reagents, Sequel II/IIe Systems, Revio, Onso, and other SMRT Cell, HiFi, and SBB products under development, including acquired technologies, and including any delays or defects in software development or product functionality, the timing and success of the continued rollout and scaling of our products may be significantly impacted, which may materially and negatively impact our revenue and gross margin. The ability of our customers to successfully utilize our products will also depend on our ability to deliver high quality SMRT Cells and reagents. We have designed SMRT Cells and other consumables specifically for the Sequel, Sequel II/IIe, and Revio Systems, and may need to develop in the future, other customized SMRT Cells and consumables for our future products. Our production of the SMRT Cells for the Sequel and Sequel II/IIe Systems has been and may in the future, including with respect to the Revio system, be below desired levels and yields, and we have experienced and may experience in the future manufacturing delays, product or quality defects, SMRT Cell variability, and other issues. For example, the COVID–19 pandemic has impacted and, any resurgence of COVID-19, or the outbreak of other similar health epidemics could result in more pronounced impacts to our manufacturing and our ability to supply products. The performance of our consumables is critical to our customers’ successful utilization of our products, and any defects or performance issues with our consumables would adversely affect our business. All of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our ability to sell our products or result in other material adverse effects on our business, operations, financial condition, operations and prospects.

Current wording

Considering the highly complex technologies involved in our products, there can be no assurance that we will be able to manufacture and commercialize our current and future products on a timely basis or continue providing adequate support for our existing products. The commercial success of our products, including the Sequel, Sequel II/IIe, Revio, Onso and Vega systems, and the products under development, including acquired technologies, depends on a number of factors, including performance and reliability of the systems, our anticipating and effectively addressing customer preferences and demands, the success of our sales and marketing efforts, effective forecasting and management of product demand, purchase commitments and inventory levels, effective management of manufacturing and supply costs, and the quality of our products, including consumables such as SMRT Cells and reagents. Should we face delays in or discover unexpected defects during the further development or manufacturing process of instruments or consumables related to our products, including with respect to SMRT Cells, reagents, Sequel, Sequel II/IIe, Revio, Onso, and Vega systems, and other SMRT Cell, HiFi, and SBB products under development, including acquired technologies, and including any delays or defects in software development or product functionality, the timing and success of the continued rollout and scaling of our products may be significantly impacted, which may materially and negatively impact our revenue and gross margin. The ability of our customers to successfully utilize our products will also depend on our ability to deliver high quality SMRT Cells and reagents. We have designed SMRT Cells and other consumables specifically for the Sequel, Sequel II/IIe, Revio and Vega systems, and may need to develop in the future, other customized SMRT Cells and consumables for our future products. Our production of the SMRT Cells for the Sequel and Sequel II/IIe systems has been and may in the future, including with respect to the Revio system, be below desired levels and yields, and we have experienced and may experience in the future manufacturing delays, product or quality defects, SMRT Cell variability, and other issues. The performance of our consumables is critical to our customers’ successful utilization of our products, and any defects or performance issues with our consumables would adversely affect our business. All of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our ability to sell our products or result in other material adverse effects on our business, operations, financial condition, operations and prospects.

Previous wording

If the continued rollout of our current and future products, including with respect to the SMRT Cell, the Sequel II/IIe, Revio, and Onso Systems, is delayed or is not successful or less successful than anticipated, then we may not be able to achieve an acceptable return, if any, on our substantial research and development efforts, and our business may be materially and adversely affected. The expenses or losses associated with delayed or unsuccessful product development or lack of market acceptance of our existing and new products, including the SMRT Cell, Sequel II/IIe Systems, Revio, and Onso, could materially and adversely affect our business, operations, financial condition, and prospects.

Current wording

If the continued rollout of our current and future products, including with respect to the SMRT Cell, the Sequel, Sequel II/IIe, Revio, Onso and Vega systems, is delayed or is not successful or less successful than anticipated, then we may not be able to achieve an acceptable return, if any, on our substantial research and development efforts, and our business may be materially and adversely affected. The expenses or losses associated with delayed or unsuccessful product development or lack of market acceptance of our existing and new products, including the SMRT Cell and the Sequel, Sequel II/IIe, Revio, Onso and Vega systems could materially and adversely affect our business, operations, financial condition, and prospects.

Previous wording

We have dedicated significant resources to developing our current products, including sequencing systems and consumables based on our proprietary SMRT sequencing technology and our Sequel and Sequel II/IIe Systems. We are also engaged in substantial and complex research and development efforts, which, if successful, may result in the introduction of new products in the future, including in connection with the SMRT Cell, the Sequel II/IIe Systems, Revio and Onso, in addition to other products currently under development, including acquired technologies. Our research and development efforts are complex and require us to incur substantial expenses and we may not be able to develop, manufacture and commercialize new products or obtain regulatory approval if necessary. We may divert significant resources to research and development initiatives that do not result in commercialized products, and even if these efforts do result in commercialized products, there can be no assurance that such products will compete successfully in the market or achieve an acceptable return, if any, on our research and development efforts and expenses. Moreover, our joint research and development efforts with partners require significant management attention and operational resources. If we are unable to successfully manage such joint research and development efforts, our future results may be adversely impacted. Furthermore, we will need to continue to expand our internal capabilities or seek new partnerships or collaborations, or both, in order to successfully develop, market, sell and commercialize our products for and in the markets we seek to reach. If we are unable to do so or are delayed, then this could materially and adversely affect our business, operations, financial condition, and prospects.

Current wording

We have dedicated significant resources to developing our current products. We are also engaged in substantial and complex research and development efforts, which, if successful, may result in the introduction of new products in the future, including in connection with the SMRT Cell and the Sequel II/IIe, Revio, Onso and Vega systems, in addition to other products currently under development, including acquired technologies. Our research and development efforts are complex and require us to incur substantial expenses and we may not be able to develop, manufacture and commercialize new products or obtain regulatory approval if necessary. We may divert significant resources to research and development initiatives that do not result in commercialized products, and even if these efforts do result in commercialized products, there can be no assurance that such products will compete successfully in the market or achieve an acceptable return, if any, on our research and development efforts and expenses. Moreover, our joint research and development efforts with partners require significant management attention and operational resources. If we are unable to successfully manage such joint research and development efforts, our future results may be adversely impacted. Furthermore, we will need to continue to expand our internal capabilities or seek new partnerships or collaborations, or both, in order to successfully develop, market, sell and commercialize our products for and in the markets we seek to reach. If we are unable to do so or are delayed, then this could materially and adversely affect our business, operations, financial condition, and prospects.

Previous wording

We must successfully manage new product introductions and transitions, including with respect to the Revio and Onso Systems and each of their related consumables, and the development of acquired technologies, and we may incur significant costs during these transitions and development, and these efforts may not result in the benefits we anticipate.

Current wording

We must successfully manage new product introductions and transitions and the development of acquired technologies, for which we may incur significant costs during these transitions and development, and these efforts may not result in the benefits we anticipate.

Previous wording

If our products and services fail to deliver the performance, scalability or results expected by our current and future customers, or are not delivered on a timely basis, our reputation and credibility may suffer, our current and future sales and revenue may be materially harmed and our business may not succeed. For instance, if we are not able to successfully execute on the commercialization of the Revio HiFi long-read sequencing system, and the Onso SBB short-read sequencing system, and each of their related consumables, and any future products that may be developed for research, medical and clinical uses, including acquired technologies, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the introduction of future products, including with respect to future long-read and short-read products, and related consumables, has and may in the future lead to our limiting or ceasing development of further enhancements to our existing products as we focus our resources on new products, and has resulted and could in the future result in reduced marketplace acceptance and loss of sales of our existing products, materially adversely affecting our revenue and operating results. The introduction of new products, including the recent commercialization of our Revio and Onso systems, has had and may in the future also have a negative impact on our revenue in the near-term as our current and future customers have delayed or cancelled and may in the future delay or cancel orders of existing products in anticipation of new products and we may also be pressured to decrease prices for our existing products. Our experience in managing product transitions is limited, and we have experienced, and may in the future experience, difficulty in managing or forecasting customer reactions, purchasing decisions or transition requirements with respect to newly launched products. We have incurred and may continue to incur significant costs in completing these transitions, including costs of write-downs of our products, as current or future customers transition to new products. If we do not successfully manage these product transitions, including with respect to the Revio and Onso Systems and each of their related consumables, and any future long-read and short-read products, our business, operations, financial condition, and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

Current wording

If our products and services fail to deliver the performance, scalability or results expected by our current and future customers, or are not delivered on a timely basis, our reputation and credibility may suffer, our current and future sales and revenue may be materially harmed and our business may not succeed. For instance, if we are not able to successfully execute on the commercialization of the Revio HiFi long-read sequencing system, the Onso SBB short-read sequencing system, and the Vega benchtop long-read sequencing system, and each of their related consumables, and any future products that may be developed for research, medical and clinical uses, including acquired technologies, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the introduction of future products, including with respect to future long-read and short-read products, and related consumables, has and may in the future lead to our limiting or ceasing development of further enhancements to our existing products as we focus our resources on new products, and has resulted and could in the future result in reduced marketplace acceptance and loss of sales of our existing products, materially adversely affecting our revenue and operating results. The introduction of new products, including the recent commercialization of our Revio, Onso and Vega systems, has had and may in the future also have a negative impact on our revenue in the near-term as our current and future customers have delayed or cancelled and may in the future delay or cancel orders of existing products in anticipation of new products and we may also be pressured to decrease prices for our existing products. Our experience in managing product transitions is limited, and we have experienced, and may in the future experience, difficulty in managing or forecasting customer reactions, purchasing decisions or transition requirements with respect to newly launched products. We have incurred and may continue to incur significant costs in completing these transitions, including costs of write-downs of our products, as current or future customers transition to new products. If we do not successfully manage these product transitions, including with respect to the Revio, Onso and Vega systems and each of their related consumables, and any future long-read and short-read products, our business, operations, financial condition, and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

Previous wording

Although we believe these leadership transitions are in the best interest of our stakeholders, these transitions may result in the loss of personnel with deep institutional or technical knowledge. Further, the transition could potentially disrupt our operations and relationships with employees, suppliers, partners, and customers due to added costs, operational inefficiencies, decreased employee morale and productivity and increased turnover. We must successfully recruit and integrate our new leadership team members within our organization to achieve our operating objectives; as such, the leadership transition may temporarily affect our business performance and results of operations while the new members of our leadership team become familiar with our business. In addition, our competitors may seek to use this transition and the related potential disruptions to gain a competitive advantage over us. Furthermore, these changes may increase our dependency on the other members of our leadership team that remain with us, who are not contractually obligated to remain employed with us and may leave at any time. Any such departure could be particularly disruptive given that we are already experiencing leadership transitions and, to the extent we experience additional management turnover, competition for top management is high such that it may take some time to find a candidate that meets our requirements. Our future operating results depend substantially upon the continued service of our key personnel and in significant part upon our ability to attract and retain qualified management personnel. If we are unable to mitigate these or other similar risks, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.

Current wording

We have in recent years experienced significant changes to our leadership team, and although we believe these leadership transitions are in the best interest of our stakeholders, these transitions may result in the loss of personnel with deep institutional or technical knowledge. Further, the transition could potentially disrupt our operations and relationships with employees, suppliers, partners, and customers due to added costs, operational inefficiencies, decreased employee morale and productivity and increased turnover. We must successfully recruit and integrate our new leadership team members within our organization to achieve our operating objectives; as such, the leadership transition may temporarily affect our business performance and results of operations while the new members of our leadership team become familiar with our business. In addition, our competitors may seek to use this transition and the related potential disruptions to gain a competitive advantage over us. Furthermore, these changes may increase our dependency on the other members of our leadership team that remain with us, who are not contractually obligated to remain employed with us and may leave at any time. Any such departure could be particularly disruptive given that we are already experiencing leadership transitions and, to the extent we experience additional management turnover, competition for top management is high such that it may take some time to find a candidate that meets our requirements. Our future operating results depend substantially upon the continued service of our key personnel and in significant part upon our ability to attract and retain qualified management personnel. If we are unable to mitigate these or other similar risks, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.

Previous wording

Our success depends upon the continuing services of members of our senior management team and scientific and engineering personnel. In particular, our scientists and engineers are critical to our technological and product innovations, and we will need to hire additional qualified personnel. Our industry, is characterized by high demand and intense competition for talent, and the turnover rate has been and may continue to be high. We compete for qualified management and scientific personnel with other life science companies, academic institutions and research institutions, particularly those focusing on genomics. This competition had been exacerbated by the increase in employee resignations in 2021 and 2022 that had been experienced by us and reported by employers nationwide. In addition, we have experienced significant turnover in our senior management team in recent periods. To induce valuable employees to remain at our company, in addition to salary and cash incentives, we have issued stock options and restricted stock units that vest over time. The value to employees of stock options and restricted stock units that vest over time may be significantly affected by movements in our stock price that are beyond our control and may at any time be insufficient to counteract more lucrative offers from other companies. We may face challenges in retaining and recruiting such individuals due to sustained declines in our stock price that could reduce the retention value of equity awards. The loss of qualified employees, or an inability to attract, retain, and motivate employees, could prevent us from pursuing collaborations and materially and adversely affect our support of existing products, product development and launches, business growth prospects, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, we will need to continue to recruit, hire and retain sales personnel to support the commercialization of our existing and new products. Our employees could leave our company with little or no prior notice and would be free to work for a competitor. In addition, changes to U.S. immigration policies, particularly to H-1B and other visa programs, could restrain the flow of technical and professional talent into the U.S. and may inhibit our ability to hire qualified personnel. If one or more of our senior executives or other key personnel were unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, we may not be able to replace them easily or at all, and other senior management may be required to divert attention from other aspects of the business. In addition, we do not have “key person” life insurance policies covering any member of our management team or other key personnel. Further, our vaccination and return to office protocols related to COVID-19 or other epidemics or pandemics may also impact the recruitment and retention of key employees. The loss of any of these individuals or any inability to attract or retain qualified personnel, includi…

Excerpt shortened here; the source contains the full paragraph.

Current wording

Our success depends upon the continuing services of members of our senior management team and scientific and engineering personnel. In particular, our scientists and engineers are critical to our technological and product innovations, and we will need to hire additional qualified personnel. Our industry, is characterized by high demand and intense competition for talent, and the turnover rate has been and may continue to be high. Our employees can leave our company with little to no prior notice and would be free to work for a competitor. We compete for qualified management and scientific personnel with other life science companies, academic institutions and research institutions, particularly those focusing on genomics. We also compete for qualified sales personnel to support the commercialization of our existing and new products. Workforce reductions, such as the workforce reduction we implemented in 2024, and other expense reduction efforts may be negatively received by potential or current employees, and accordingly result in attrition or difficulty in recruiting desirable candidates. Additionally, we may face challenges in retaining and recruiting key personnel due to sustained declines in our stock price that could reduce the retentive value of stock options, restricted stock units and other equity awards we issue as compensation. We may not be able to provide adequate cash or other incentives to adequately counterbalance any negative perceptions about the value of our equity awards. Moreover, the value of any equity awards that we do grant to our personnel may be significantly affected by movements in our stock price that are beyond our control. The loss of qualified employees, or an inability to attract, retain, and motivate employees, could prevent us from pursuing collaborations and materially and adversely affect our support of existing products, product development and launches, business growth prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

Previous wording

Although nucleic acid sequencing technology is well-established, our SMRT Sequencing technology is relatively new and evolving. We cannot be sure that our current or future products will gain acceptance in the marketplace at levels sufficient to support our costs. Our success depends, in part, on our ability to expand overall demand for nucleic acid sequencing to include new applications that are not practicable with other current technologies and to introduce new products that capture a larger share of growing overall demand for sequencing. To accomplish this, we must successfully commercialize, and continue development of, our proprietary SMRT Sequencing technology for use in a variety of life science and other research applications, including uses by academic, government and clinical laboratories, as well as pharmaceutical, diagnostic, biotechnology, and agriculture companies, among others. However, we may be unsuccessful in these efforts and the sale and commercialization of the SMRT Cell, Sequel II/IIe, Revio and Onso Systems, and related products may not grow sufficiently to cover our costs.

Current wording

Although nucleic acid sequencing technology is well-established, our SMRT Sequencing technology is relatively new and evolving. We cannot be sure that our current or future products will gain acceptance in the marketplace at levels sufficient to support our costs. Our success depends, in part, on our ability to expand overall demand for nucleic acid sequencing to include new applications that are not practicable with other current technologies and to introduce new products that capture a larger share of growing overall demand for sequencing. To accomplish this, we must successfully commercialize, and continue development of, our proprietary SMRT Sequencing technology for use in a variety of life science and other research applications, including uses by academic, government and clinical laboratories, as well as pharmaceutical, diagnostic, biotechnology, and agriculture companies, among others. However, we may be unsuccessful in these efforts and the sale and commercialization of our products may not grow sufficiently to cover our costs.

Previous wording

There can be no assurance that we will be successful in adding new products or securing additional customers for our current and future products, including with respect to the SMRT Cell, Sequel II/IIe Systems, Revio and Onso. If we are unable to successfully develop acquired technologies and sell acquired technology products, we may fail to achieve our strategic commercial initiatives in connection with the planned release of new products and anticipated entry into new markets. Our ability to further penetrate existing applications and any new applications depends on a number of factors, including the cost, performance and perceived value associated with our products, as well as customers’ willingness to adopt a different approach to nucleic acid sequencing. Potential customers may have already made significant investments in other sequencing technologies and may be unwilling to invest in new technologies. We are experiencing pricing pressures caused by industry competition and increased demand for lower-priced instruments and lower operational costs. We have limited experience commercializing and selling products outside of the academic and research settings, and we cannot guarantee success in acquiring additional customers. Furthermore, we cannot guarantee that our products will be satisfactory to potential customers or that our products will perform in accordance with customer expectations.

Current wording

There can be no assurance that we will be successful in adding new products or securing additional customers for our current and future products. If we are unable to successfully develop acquired technologies and sell acquired technology products, we may fail to achieve our strategic commercial initiatives in connection with the planned release of new products and anticipated entry into new markets. Our ability to further penetrate existing applications and any new applications depends on a number of factors, including the cost, performance and perceived value associated with our products, as well as customers’ willingness to adopt a different approach to nucleic acid sequencing. Potential customers may have already made significant investments in other sequencing technologies and may be unwilling to invest in new technologies. We are experiencing pricing pressures caused by industry competition and increased demand for lower-priced instruments and lower operational costs. We have limited experience commercializing and selling products outside of the academic and research settings, and we cannot guarantee success in acquiring additional customers. Furthermore, we cannot guarantee that our products will be satisfactory to potential customers or that our products will perform in accordance with customer expectations.

Previous wording

Our products are complex and involve a large number of unique components, many of which require precise manufacturing. The nature of our products requires customized components that are currently available only from a limited number of sources, and in some cases, single sources. We have chosen to source certain critical components from a single source, including suppliers for our SMRT Cells, reagents, and instruments. We cannot assure you that product supplies will not be limited or interrupted, especially with respect to our sole source third-party manufacturing and supply collaborators, or that product supplies will be of satisfactory quality or continue to be available at acceptable prices. In particular, any replacement of our manufacturers could require significant effort and expertise because there may be a limited number of qualified replacements. We may be unable to negotiate binding agreements with our current and future sole source third-party manufacturing and supply collaborators or, in the event that such collaborators’ services become interrupted for any reason, find replacement manufacturers to support our development and commercial activities at commercially reasonable terms. We do not always have arrangements in place for a redundant or second-source supply for our sole source vendors in the event they cease to provide their products or services to us or fail to provide sufficient quantities in a timely manner. If we are required to purchase these components from alternative sources, it could take several months or longer to qualify the alternative sources. If we are unable to source these product components from sole-source third-party manufacturing and supply collaborators for any reason, including in connection with acts of terrorism, hostilities, military conflict and acts of war, including between China and Taiwan, or secure a sufficient supply of these product components on a timely basis, or if these components do not meet our expectations or specifications for quality and functionality, our operations and manufacturing would be materially and adversely affected, we could be unable to meet customer demand and our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

Current wording

Our products are complex and involve a large number of unique components, many of which require precise manufacturing. The nature of our products requires customized components that are currently available only from a limited number of sources, and in some cases, single sources. We have chosen to source certain critical components from a single source, including suppliers for our SMRT Cells, reagents, and instruments. We cannot assure you that product supplies will not be limited or interrupted, especially with respect to our sole source third-party manufacturing and supply collaborators, or that product supplies will be of satisfactory quality or continue to be available at acceptable prices. In particular, any replacement of our manufacturers could require significant effort and expertise because there may be a limited number of qualified replacements. We may be unable to negotiate binding agreements with our current and future sole source third-party manufacturing and supply collaborators or, in the event that such collaborators’ services become interrupted for any reason, find replacement manufacturers to support our development and commercial activities at commercially reasonable terms. We do not always have arrangements in place for a redundant or second-source supply for our sole source vendors in the event they cease to provide their products or services to us or fail to provide sufficient quantities in a timely manner. If we are required to purchase these components from alternative sources, it could take several months or longer to qualify the alternative sources. If we are unable to source these product components from sole-source third-party manufacturing and supply collaborators for any reason, including in connection with acts of terrorism, hostilities, military conflict and acts of war, including between China and Taiwan, or secure a sufficient supply of these product components on a timely basis and at an acceptable cost, or if these components do not meet our expectations or specifications for quality and functionality, our operations and manufacturing would be materially and adversely affected, we could be unable to meet customer demand and our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

Previous wording

The operations of our third-party manufacturing partners and suppliers have had and may in the future be disrupted by conditions unrelated to our business or operations or that are beyond our control, including but not limited to international trade restrictions, inflation, supply chain disruptions, and conditions related to COVID-19 or other epidemics or pandemics. If our manufacturing partners or suppliers are unable or fail to fulfill their obligations to us for any reason, we may not be able to manufacture our products and satisfy customer demand or our obligations under sales agreements in a timely manner, and our business could be harmed as a result. For example, the global shortage of semiconductors, which has been reported since early 2021, has caused challenges for us in our supply chain and resulted in some cost increases that have and may continue to adversely impact margins. During these periods of shortages or delays, the price of components may increase, or the components may not be available at all. Our suppliers have raised their prices and may continue to raise prices that we may not be able to pass on to our customers, which could adversely affect our business, including our competitive position, market share, revenues, and profit margins in material ways. We may not be able to secure enough components at reasonable prices or of acceptable quality to build new products in a timely manner in the quantities or configurations needed. For example, the Chinese government may re-impose lockdowns or similar measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 or other similar outbreaks and these measures have had, and may continue to have in the future, a negative impact on manufacturing and/or supply chains, in addition to customer demand for our products and demand through certain distributors. If as a result of global economic or political instability, such as the political uncertainty in the Middle East associated with the Israel and Hamas conflict, an escalation of the war in Ukraine, potential uncertainty related to Taiwan and its relationship with China, other disease outbreaks, or supply issues, we or our contractors could experience shortages, business disruptions or delays for materials sourced or manufactured in the affected countries, and their ability to supply us with instruments or product components may be affected. From time to time, certain components of our systems and reagents may reach the end of their life cycles or become obsoleted by our suppliers, and we would have to procure alternative sources for these end-of-life products. If we encounter delays or difficulties in securing the quality and quantity of materials we require for our products, our supply chain would be interrupted, which would adversely affect sales. If any of these events occur, our business and operating results could be harmed. Accordingly, if any of the foregoing occurs, our ability to commercialize our products, revenue and gross margins could suffer …

Excerpt shortened here; the source contains the full paragraph.

Current wording

The operations of our third-party manufacturing partners and suppliers have had and may in the future be disrupted by conditions unrelated to our business or operations or that are beyond our control, including but not limited to changing international trade policies, inflation, supply chain disruptions, and conditions related to epidemics or pandemics. If our manufacturing partners or suppliers are unable or fail to fulfill their obligations to us for any reason, we may not be able to manufacture our products and satisfy customer demand or our obligations under sales agreements in a timely manner, and our business could be harmed as a result. We have and may continue to face challenges in our supply chain, which has and may continue to adversely impact margins. During periods of shortage or delay, the price of components may increase or the components may not be available at all. Our suppliers have raised prices and may continue to raise prices that we may not be able to pass on to our customers, which could adversely affect our business, including our competitive position, market share, revenues, and profit margins in material ways. We may not be able to secure enough components at reasonable prices or of acceptable quality to build new products in a timely manner in the quantities or configurations needed. Various government policies have had, and may continue to have in the future, a negative impact on manufacturing and/or supply chains, in addition to customer demand for our products and demand through certain distributors. If as a result of global economic or political instability, such as the uncertainty in the Middle East, an escalation of the war in Ukraine, potential uncertainty related to Taiwan and its relationship with China, changing international trade policies, other disease outbreaks, or supply issues, we or our contractors could experience shortages, business disruptions or delays for materials sourced or manufactured in the affected countries, and their ability to supply us with instruments or product components may be affected. Occasionally, system components and reagents reach the end of their life cycles or become obsolete, requiring us to source alternatives. If we encounter delays or difficulties in securing the quality and quantity of materials we require for our products, our supply chain would be interrupted, which would adversely affect sales. If any of these events occur, our business and operating results could be harmed. Accordingly, if any of the foregoing occurs, our ability to commercialize our products, revenue and gross margins could suffer until lockdowns related to epidemics or pandemics are lifted, supply issues or business disruptions are resolved and/or other sources can be developed.

Previous wording

In addition, because our semiconductor suppliers are in regions that may have communities with low vaccination rates, any variants of COVID-19 that evolve in the future or other outbreaks could lead to increased infections among workers that could further disrupt the supply chain. Our current manufacturing process is characterized by long lead times between the placement of orders for and delivery of our products. If we do not accurately anticipate our needs or if we receive insufficient components to manufacture our products on a timely basis to meet customer demand, our sales and our gross margin may be adversely affected, and our business could be materially harmed. If we are unable to reduce our manufacturing costs and establish and maintain reliable, high-volume manufacturing suppliers as we scale our operations and expand our product offerings, our business, operations, financial condition, and prospects could be materially and adversely harmed.

Current wording

Our current manufacturing process is also characterized by long lead times between the placement of orders for and delivery of our products. If we do not accurately anticipate our needs or if we receive insufficient components to manufacture our products on a timely basis to meet customer demand, our sales and our gross margin may be adversely affected, and our business could be materially harmed. If we are unable to reduce our manufacturing costs and establish and maintain reliable, high-volume manufacturing suppliers as we scale our operations and expand our product offerings, our business, operations, financial condition, and prospects could be materially and adversely harmed.

Previous wording

There is no assurance that we will be able to manufacture our products so that they consistently achieve the product specifications and quality that our customers expect, including any products developed for clinical uses. Problems in the design or quality of our products, including low manufacturing yields of SMRT Cells, flow cells, or sub-performing reagent lots may have a material adverse effect on our brand, business, financial condition, and operating results, and could result in us losing our ISO certifications. If we were to lose our ISO certifications, then our customers might choose not to purchase products from us. There is also no assurance that we will be able to increase manufacturing yields and decrease costs, particularly if high rates of inflation continue, or that we will be successful in forecasting customer demand or manufacturing and supply costs, or that product supplies, including reagents or integrated chips, will not be limited or interrupted, or will be of satisfactory quality or continue to be available at acceptable prices. Furthermore, while we are undertaking efforts to increase our manufacturing scale and capability, we may not be able to increase manufacturing to meet anticipated demand or may experience downtime in our manufacturing facilities, including, for example, if our suppliers are unable to meet our increased demand at a time when the supply chain is under duress due to potential dislocations and disruptions in product and employee availability (whether due to health epidemics or pandemics or otherwise). An inability to manufacture products and components that consistently meet specifications, in necessary quantities and at commercially acceptable costs, will have a negative impact, and may have a material adverse effect on our business, product development timelines, financial condition and results of operations.

Current wording

There is no assurance that we will be able to manufacture our products so that they consistently achieve the product specifications and quality that our customers expect, including any products developed for clinical uses. Problems in the design or quality of our products, including low manufacturing yields of SMRT Cells, flow cells, or sub-performing reagent lots may have a material adverse effect on our brand, business, financial condition, and operating results, and could result in us losing our ISO certifications. If we were to lose our ISO certifications, then our customers might choose not to purchase products from us. There is also no assurance that we will be able to increase manufacturing yields and decrease costs, particularly if high rates of inflation continue, or that we will be successful in forecasting customer demand or manufacturing and supply costs, or that product supplies, including reagents or integrated chips, will not be limited or interrupted, or will be of satisfactory quality or continue to be available at acceptable prices. Furthermore, while we are undertaking efforts to increase our manufacturing scale and capability, we may not be able to increase manufacturing to meet anticipated demand or may experience downtime in our manufacturing facilities, including, for example, if our suppliers are unable to meet our increased demand at a time when the supply chain is under duress due to potential dislocations and disruptions in product and employee availability (whether due to pandemics, government policy or otherwise). An inability to manufacture products and components that consistently meet specifications, in necessary quantities and at commercially acceptable costs, will have a negative impact, and may have a material adverse effect on our business, product development timelines, financial condition and results of operations.

Previous wording

Our industry is characterized by rapid and significant technological changes, frequent new product introductions and enhancements and evolving industry standards. These new and evolving technologies may be superior to, impair, or render obsolete the products we currently offer or the technologies currently underlying our products. Our future success depends on our ability to continually improve our products, to develop and introduce new products that address the evolving needs of our customers on a timely and cost-effective basis and to pursue new opportunities. These new opportunities may be outside the scope of our proven expertise or in areas where demand is unproven, and new products and services developed by us may not gain market acceptance or may not adequately perform to capture market share. Our inability to develop and introduce new products and to gain market acceptance of our existing and new products could harm our future operating results. Unanticipated difficulties or delays in replacing existing products with new products or in commercializing our existing or new products in sufficient quantities and of acceptable quality to meet customer demand, including with respect to the SMRT Cell, Sequel II/IIe Systems, Revio and Onso, could diminish future demand for our products and may materially and adversely harm our future operating results.

Current wording

Our industry is characterized by rapid and significant technological changes, frequent new product introductions and enhancements and evolving industry standards. These new and evolving technologies may be superior to, impair, or render obsolete the products we currently offer or the technologies currently underlying our products. Our future success depends on our ability to continually improve our products, to develop and introduce new products that address the evolving needs of our customers on a timely and cost-effective basis and to pursue new opportunities. These new opportunities may be outside the scope of our proven expertise or in areas where demand is unproven, and new products and services developed by us may not gain market acceptance or may not adequately perform to capture market share. Our inability to develop and introduce new products and to gain market acceptance of our existing and new products could harm our future operating results. Unanticipated difficulties or delays in replacing existing products with new products or in commercializing our existing or new products in sufficient quantities and of acceptable quality to meet customer demand, including with respect to the SMRT Cell and the Sequel, Sequel II/IIe, Revio, Onso and Vega systems, could diminish future demand for our products and may materially and adversely harm our future operating results.

Previous wording

The size of the markets for our products, including our Revio and Onso instruments, may be smaller than estimated, and new market opportunities may not develop as quickly as we expect, or at all, limiting our ability to successfully sell our products.

Current wording

The size of the markets for our products, including our Revio, Onso and Vega instruments, may be smaller than estimated, and new market opportunities may not develop as quickly as we expect, or at all, limiting our ability to successfully sell our products.

Previous wording

The market for sequencing systems and consumables products is evolving, making it difficult to accurately predict the size of the markets for our current and future products, including our Revio and Onso instruments. Our estimates of the total addressable market for our current and future products are based on a number of internal and third-party estimates and assumptions that may be incorrect, including the assumptions that academic, governmental, corporate, or other sources of funding will continue to be available to life sciences researchers at times and in amounts necessary to allow them to purchase our products. In addition, sales of new products may take time to develop and mature and we cannot be certain that these market opportunities will develop as we expect. While we believe our assumptions and the data underlying our estimates of the total addressable market for our products are reasonable, these assumptions and estimates may not be correct and the conditions supporting our assumptions or estimates, or those underlying the third-party data we have used, may change at any time, thereby reducing the accuracy of our estimates. As a result, our estimates of the total addressable market and growth opportunities for our products may be incorrect.

Current wording

The market for sequencing systems and consumables products is evolving, making it difficult to accurately predict the size of the markets for our current and future products, including our Revio, Onso and Vega instruments. Our estimates of the total addressable market for our current and future products are based on a number of internal and third-party estimates and assumptions that may be incorrect, including the assumptions that academic, governmental, corporate, or other sources of funding will continue to be available to life sciences researchers at times and in amounts necessary to allow them to purchase our products. In addition, sales of new products may take time to develop and mature and we cannot be certain that these market opportunities will develop as we expect. While we believe our assumptions and the data underlying our estimates of the total addressable market for our products are reasonable, these assumptions and estimates may not be correct and the conditions supporting our assumptions or estimates, or those underlying the third-party data we have used, may change at any time, thereby reducing the accuracy of our estimates. As a result, our estimates of the total addressable market and growth opportunities for our products may be incorrect.

Previous wording

The future growth of the market for our current and future products depends on many factors beyond our control, including recognition and acceptance of our products by the research and scientific communities, the growth, prevalence and costs of competing products and solutions and the development of robust ecosystems supporting our products and their methodologies. For example, the market acceptance and growth of long-read sequencing technologies, like our Revio system, depends on a variety of factors, including the availability and cost-effectiveness of related tools for high quality sample collection and preparation and advanced bioinformatic tools to process results; as well as the perceived advantages and disadvantages of long-read sequencing compared to short-read or other sequencing technologies: consequently, if potential customers conclude the costs of adopting long-read sequencing technologies outweigh the benefits, the market for our Revio systems may be negatively impaired. There can be no assurance that our current or future products will gain traction in the market. If the markets for our current and future products are smaller than estimated or do not develop as we expect, our growth may be limited, and it could materially and adversely affect our business, operations, financial condition and prospects.

Current wording

The future growth of the market for our current and future products depends on many factors beyond our control, including recognition and acceptance of our products by the research and scientific communities, the growth, prevalence and costs of competing products and solutions and the development of robust ecosystems supporting our products and their methodologies. For example, the market acceptance and growth of long-read sequencing technologies, like our Revio and Vega systems, depends on a variety of factors, including the availability and cost-effectiveness of related tools for high quality sample collection and preparation and advanced bioinformatic tools to process results; as well as the perceived advantages and disadvantages of long-read sequencing compared to short-read or other sequencing technologies: consequently, if potential customers conclude the costs of adopting long-read sequencing technologies outweigh the benefits, the market for our Revio and Vega systems may be negatively impaired. There can be no assurance that our current or future products will gain traction in the market. If the markets for our current and future products are smaller than estimated or do not develop as we expect, our growth may be limited, and it could materially and adversely affect our business, operations, financial condition and prospects.

Previous wording

There are also several companies that are in the process of developing or have already developed and commercialized new, competing or potentially competing technologies, products and/or services, including ONT Ltd. and its subsidiaries, against whom we have filed complaints for patent infringement in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware and, previously, with the U.S. International Trade Commission, in the High Court of England and Wales and in the District Court of Mannheim, Germany. ONT Ltd. previously filed claims against us in the High Court of England and Wales and the District Court of Mannheim, Germany, also for patent infringement, and its subsidiary, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Inc. (“ONT Inc.”), filed counterclaims against us in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware seeking declaratory judgements of non-infringement, invalidity and unenforceability of the asserted patents, as well as antitrust, false advertising and unfair competition counterclaims that were subsequently dismissed by that court. Roche is developing potentially competing sequencing products. Increased competition may result in pricing pressures, which could harm our sales, profitability or market share. Our failure to further enhance our existing products and to introduce new products to compete effectively could materially and adversely affect our business, operations, financial condition, and prospects.

Current wording

There are also several companies that are in the process of developing or have already developed and commercialized new, competing or potentially competing technologies, products and/or services, including ONT Ltd. and its subsidiaries, against whom we have filed complaints for patent infringement in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware and, previously, with the U.S. International Trade Commission, in the High Court of England and Wales and in the District Court of Mannheim, Germany. ONT Ltd. previously filed claims against us in the High Court of England and Wales and the District Court of Mannheim, Germany, also for patent infringement. Roche is developing potentially competing sequencing products. Increased competition may result in pricing pressures, which could harm our sales, profitability or market share. Our failure to further enhance our existing products and to introduce new products to compete effectively could materially and adversely affect our business, operations, financial condition, and prospects.

Previous wording

We have enlisted and may continue to enlist third parties to assist with sales, distribution and customer support. There is no guarantee that we will be successful in attracting desirable sales and distribution partners, that we will be able to enter into arrangements with such partners on terms favorable to us or that we will be able to retain such partners on a going-forward basis. If our sales and marketing efforts, or those of any of our third-party sales and distribution partners, are not successful, or our products do not perform in accordance with customer expectations, our technologies and products may not gain market acceptance, which could materially and adversely impact our business, operations, financial condition, and prospects.

Current wording

We have enlisted and may continue to enlist third parties to assist with sales, equipment leasing, distribution and customer support. There is no guarantee that we will be successful in attracting desirable sales and distribution partners, that we will be able to enter into arrangements with such partners on terms favorable to us or that we will be able to retain such partners on a going-forward basis. If our sales and marketing efforts, or those of any of our third-party sales and distribution partners, are not successful, or our products do not perform in accordance with customer expectations, our technologies and products may not gain market acceptance, which could materially and adversely impact our business, operations, financial condition, and prospects.

Previous wording

We receive a significant portion of our revenue from a limited number of customers. For example, for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, one of our customers, who is our primary distributor in China, accounted for approximately 12% and 13% of our total revenue, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2023, no single customer accounted for 10% or greater of our total revenue. Many of these customers make large purchases on a purchase-order basis rather than pursuant to long-term contracts. As a consequence of the concentrated nature of our customer base and their purchasing behavior, our quarterly revenue and results of operations have fluctuated, and may fluctuate in the future, from quarter to quarter and are difficult to forecast. For example, the cancellation of orders or acceleration or delay in anticipated product purchases or the acceptance of shipped products by our larger customers has materially affected, and in the future could materially affect, our revenue and results of operations in any quarterly period. We have been, and may in the future be, unable to sustain or increase our revenue from our larger customers, or offset any discontinuation or decrease of purchases by our larger customers with purchases by new or other existing customers. To the extent one or more of our larger customers experience significant financial difficulty, bankruptcy or insolvency, this could have a material adverse effect on our sales and our ability to collect on receivables, which could materially and adversely harm our financial condition and results of operations.

Current wording

We receive a significant portion of our revenue from a limited number of customers. For the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, no customer accounted for 10% or more of our total revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2022, one customer, who is our primary distributor in China, exceeded 10% of our total revenue. Many of these customers make large purchases on a purchase-order basis rather than pursuant to long-term contracts. As a consequence of the concentrated nature of our customer base and their purchasing behavior, our quarterly revenue and results of operations have fluctuated, and may fluctuate in the future, from quarter to quarter and are difficult to forecast. For example, the cancellation of orders or acceleration or delay in anticipated product purchases or the acceptance of shipped products by our larger customers has materially affected, and in the future could materially affect, our revenue and results of operations in any quarterly period. We have been, and may in the future be, unable to sustain or increase our revenue from our larger customers, or offset any discontinuation or decrease of purchases by our larger customers with purchases by new or other existing customers. To the extent one or more of our larger customers experience significant financial difficulty, bankruptcy or insolvency, this could have a material adverse effect on our sales and our ability to collect on receivables, which could materially and adversely harm our financial condition and results of operations.

Previous wording

Products using our SMRT sequencing and SBB technology are highly complex and may develop or contain undetected defects or errors. Our customers have previously experienced reliability issues with our existing products, including the Sequel System and the Sequel II/IIe Systems. In addition, it is possible our customers could experience reliability issues with current or future products, including the Sequel II/IIe, Revio and Onso Systems. Despite internal and external testing, defects, or errors may arise in our products, which could result in a failure to obtain, maintain, or increase market acceptance of our products, diversion of development resources, injury to our reputation and increased warranty, service, and maintenance costs. New products, including Revio and Onso, or enhancements to our existing products, including the SMRT Cell and Sequel II/IIe Systems, in particular may contain undetected errors or performance problems that are discovered only after delivery to customers. If our products have reliability or other quality issues or require unexpected levels of support in the future, the market acceptance and utilization of our products may not grow to levels sufficient to support our costs and our reputation and business could be harmed. Low utilization rates of our products could cause our revenue and gross margins to be adversely affected. We provide a warranty for our sequencing instruments and consumables, which is generally limited to replacing, repairing, or at our option, giving credit for any sequencing instrument or consumable with defects in material or workmanship. Service contracts for our sequencing instruments may be separately purchased. Defects or errors in our products may also discourage customers from purchasing our products. The costs incurred in correcting any defects or errors may be substantial and could materially and adversely affect our operating margins. If our service and support costs increase, our business and operations may be materially and adversely affected.

Current wording

Our products are highly complex and may develop or contain undetected defects or errors. Our customers have previously experienced reliability issues with our existing products, including the Sequel and Sequel II/IIe systems. In addition, it is possible our customers could experience reliability issues with current or future products, including the Sequel II/IIe, Revio, Onso and Vega systems. Despite internal and external testing, defects, or errors may arise in our products, which could result in a failure to obtain, maintain, or increase market acceptance of our products, diversion of development resources, injury to our reputation and increased warranty, service, and maintenance costs. New products, including the Revio, Onso and Vega systems, or enhancements to our existing products, including the SMRT Cell and the Sequel II/IIe systems, in particular may contain undetected errors or performance problems that are discovered only after delivery to customers. If our products have reliability or other quality issues or require unexpected levels of support in the future, the market acceptance and utilization of our products may not grow to levels sufficient to support our costs and our reputation and business could be harmed. Low utilization rates of our products has and could in the future cause our revenue and gross margins to be adversely affected. We provide a warranty for our sequencing instruments and consumables, which is generally limited to replacing, repairing, or at our option, giving credit for any sequencing instrument or consumable with defects in material or workmanship. Service contracts for our sequencing instruments may be separately purchased. Defects or errors in our products may also discourage customers from purchasing our products. The costs incurred in correcting any defects or errors may be substantial and could materially and adversely affect our operating margins. If our service and support costs increase, our business and operations may be materially and adversely affected.

Previous wording

We are subject to risks associated with political conflicts between the U.S. and China. A significant portion of our revenue is generated from China. For example, for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, one of our customers, who is our primary distributor in China, accounted for approximately 12% and 13% of our total revenue, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2023, no single customer accounted for 10% or greater of our total revenue. In addition, certain components, some of which are critical components, of our products are manufactured in China. These components are either sourced directly from companies in China or indirectly from third parties that source from companies in China.

Current wording

We are subject to risks associated with political conflicts between the U.S. and China. A portion of our revenue is generated from China. For the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, no customer accounted for 10% or more of our total revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2022, one customer, who is our primary distributor in China, exceeded 10% of our total revenue. In addition, certain components, some of which are critical components, of our products are manufactured in China. These components are either sourced directly from companies in China or indirectly from third parties that source from companies in China.

Previous wording

Consequently, we are subject to significant risks associated with the trading relationship between the U.S. and China, which is currently characterized by significant uncertainty. Tariffs imposed by the U.S. and China have increased, and may continue to increase, our costs. Additionally, export restrictions imposed by the U.S. may impact our ability to export certain products to customers or distributors in China and restrict our ability to use certain integrated circuits in our products, and it is possible that additional restrictions will be put in place that could impact our ability to provide our products to customers or distributors in China or source components from China. Moreover, the Chinese government may retaliate against U.S. trade restrictions in ways that could impact our business. Given the relatively fluid regulatory environment in China and the United States and uncertainty how the U.S. or foreign governments will act with respect to export controls, tariffs, international trade agreements and policies, there could be additional import, export, tax, or other regulatory changes in the future. Any such changes could directly and adversely impact our financial results and results of operations. For more information, see “—Enhanced trade tariffs, import restrictions, export restrictions, Chinese regulations or other trade barriers may materially harm our business.”

Current wording

Consequently, we are subject to significant risks associated with the trading relationship between the U.S. and China, which is currently characterized by significant uncertainty. Tariffs imposed by the U.S. and China have increased, and may continue to increase, our costs. Additionally, export restrictions imposed by the U.S. may impact our ability to export certain products to customers or distributors in China and restrict our ability to use certain integrated circuits in our products, and it is possible that additional restrictions will be put in place that could impact our ability to provide our products to customers or distributors in China or source components from China. Moreover, the Chinese government may retaliate against U.S. trade restrictions in ways that could impact our business, including through the imposition of tariffs on imports from the U.S. and/or the imposition of export controls affecting the export of certain items from China. Given the relatively fluid regulatory environment in China and the United States and uncertainty how the U.S. or foreign governments will act with respect to export controls, tariffs, international trade agreements and policies, there could be additional import, export, tax, or other regulatory changes in the future. Any such changes could directly and adversely impact our financial results and results of operations. For more information, see “—Enhanced trade tariffs, import restrictions, export restrictions or other trade barriers may materially harm our business.”

Previous wording

•interruptions to operations in China as a result of potential disease outbreaks, including any further COVID-19 related outbreaks, and natural catastrophic events, which have in the past and can result in the future in business closures, transportation restrictions, import and export complications and cause shortages in the supply of raw materials or disruptions in manufacturing;

Current wording

•interruptions to operations in China as a result of potential disease outbreaks or natural catastrophic events, which have in the past and can result in the future in business closures, transportation restrictions, import and export complications and cause shortages in the supply of raw materials or disruptions in manufacturing;

Previous wording

Substantially all of our consumable chips are partly manufactured by a company based in Taiwan. Our supply of consumables chips and other critical components may be materially and adversely affected by diplomatic, geopolitical, military and other developments affecting the relationship between China and Taiwan. Recent military exercises in the Taiwan Strait have contributed to geopolitical uncertainty regarding the future of the relationship between China and Taiwan. Current or future diplomatic, geopolitical, military or other tensions between China and Taiwan may lead to circumstances that negatively affect the availability of such consumable chips and other critical components to us, which could limit or prohibit our ability to manufacture consumable chips and other critical components or lead to an increase in our supply costs if we cannot find a similar cost alternative supplier, which could materially and adversely impact our business, operations, prospects, financial condition and results, and results of operations.

Current wording

Substantially all of our consumable chips are partly manufactured by a company based in Taiwan. Our supply of consumables chips and other critical components may be materially and adversely affected by diplomatic, geopolitical, military and other developments affecting the relationship between China and Taiwan. Recent military exercises in the Taiwan Strait have contributed to geopolitical uncertainty regarding the future of the relationship between China and Taiwan. Current or future diplomatic, geopolitical, military or other tensions between China and Taiwan, including trade disputes, may lead to circumstances that negatively affect the availability of such consumable chips and other critical components to us, which could limit or prohibit our ability to manufacture consumable chips and other critical components or lead to an increase in our supply costs if we cannot find a similar cost alternative supplier, which could materially and adversely impact our business, operations, prospects, financial condition and results, and results of operations.

Previous wording

We operate on a December 31st year-end and believe that there are significant seasonal factors which may cause sales of our products, and particularly our sequencing instruments, to vary on a quarterly or yearly basis, contribute to lengthy sales cycles for our sequencing instruments, and increase the magnitude of quarterly or annual fluctuations in our operating results. We believe that this seasonality results from a number of factors, including the procurement and budgeting cycles of many of our customers, especially government-funded customers, which often coincide with government fiscal year ends. For example, the U.S. government’s fiscal year-end occurs in our third quarter and may result in increased sales of our products during this quarter if government-funded customers have unused funds that may be forfeited, or future budgets that may be reduced if funds remain unspent at fiscal year-end. Furthermore, Lunar New Year celebrations, which occur during our first quarter, and may last for a week or longer, resulting in closure of many of our customers’ offices in China and across the Asia-Pacific region have caused, and may in the future cause, decreased sales of our consumables during our first quarter. These factors have contributed, and in the future may contribute, to substantial fluctuations in our quarterly operating results.

Current wording

Sales of our products, particularly our sequencing instruments, are subject to significant seasonality due to several factors, including the procurement and budgeting cycles of many of our customers, especially government-funded customers, which often coincide with government fiscal year ends and significant holidays disrupting business and sales activities in key markets. These factors have contributed, and in the future may contribute, to substantial fluctuations in our quarterly operating results.

Showing the first 40 of 78 pairs. Open the source sections for the rest.

Rearranged current paragraphs (6)

Current report — wording carried from elsewhere

•potential cybersecurity incidents and security breaches;

Current report — wording carried from elsewhere

•disruption to customer demand for our products.

Current report — wording carried from elsewhere

If one or more of our senior executives or other key personnel were unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, we may not be able to replace them easily or at all, and other senior management may be required to divert attention from other aspects of the business. In addition, we do not have “key person” life insurance policies covering any member of our management team or other key personnel. The loss of any of these individuals or any inability to attract or retain qualified personnel, including scientists, engineers, sales personnel and others, could prevent us from pursuing collaborations and materially and adversely affect our support of existing products, product development and introductions, business growth prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

Current report — wording carried from elsewhere

Our products are currently labeled and promoted as research use only (“RUO”) products and are not currently designed, or intended to be used, for clinical diagnostic tests or as medical devices. However, in the future, certain of our products or related applications, such as those that may be developed for clinical uses, could be subject to regulation by the FDA, or the FDA’s regulatory jurisdiction could be expanded to include our products. Also, even if our products are labeled, promoted, and intended as RUO, the FDA or comparable agencies of other countries could disagree with our conclusion that our products are intended for research use only or deem our sales, marketing and promotional efforts as being inconsistent with the FDA’s guidance on RUO products. For example, our customers may independently elect to use our RUO labeled products in their own LDTs for clinical diagnostic use, which could subject our products to government regulation, and the regulatory clearance or approval and maintenance process for such products may be uncertain, expensive, and time-consuming.

Current report — wording carried from elsewhere

Enhanced trade tariffs, import restrictions, export restrictions, or other trade barriers may materially harm our business.

Current report — wording carried from elsewhere

Investor advocacy groups, institutional investors, investment funds, proxy advisory services, stockholders, and customers are increasingly focused on environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) practices of companies. Additionally, public interest and legislative pressure related to public companies’ ESG practices continues to grow. For example, the SEC has adopted final rules regarding climate-related disclosures in public companies’ periodic reporting. Following several legal challenges, the SEC has issued an order staying the implementation of such rules. If the SEC prevails and lifts the stay on implementation, our compliance costs may increase.
Rearranged previous paragraphs (2)

Previous report — wording carried elsewhere

These circumstances may include written or verbal sales and marketing claims or links to articles regarding a product’s performance in clinical applications and a manufacturer’s provision of technical support for clinical applications.

Previous report — wording carried elsewhere

•changes in social, political, and economic conditions or in laws, regulations and policies governing foreign trade, manufacturing, development, and investment both domestically as well as in the other countries and jurisdictions into which we sell our products, including as a result of the withdrawal of the U.K. from the E.U.;