ENvue Medical, Inc.
For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Mar 31, 2025.
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FY2024 · Filed Mar 31, 2025
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ITEM 1A. : RISK FACTORS
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the following risks, together with the financial and other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10–K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and our other periodic filings with the SEC. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of may become important factors that affect us. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial conditions and operating results may be materially and adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our common stock may decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Summary of Risk Factors
Below is a summary of the principal factors that make an investment in our common stock speculative or risky. This summary does not address all of the risks that we face. Additional discussion of the risks summarized in this risk factor summary, and other risks that we face, can be found below under the heading “Risk Factors” and should be carefully considered, together with other information in this Form 10-K and our other filings with the SEC, before making an investment decision regarding our securities.
Risks Related to the Combined Company Following the Merger with Predecessor ENvue
| ● | The intended benefits of the Merger may not be realized |
| ● | NanoVibronix may become involved in securities litigation or stockholder derivative litigation in connection with the Merger, and this could divert the attention of NanoVibronix management and harm the combined company’s business, and insurance coverage may not be sufficient to cover all related costs and damages. |
| ● | NanoVibronix stockholders may not realize a benefit from the Merger commensurate with the ownership dilution they will experience in connection with the Merger. |
| ● | We have a history of losses, and we expect to continue to incur losses and may not achieve or maintain profitability |
| ● | If we are unable to raise additional capital, our clinical trials and product development will be limited and our long-term viability will be threatened; however, if we do raise additional capital, your percentage ownership as a stockholder could decrease and constraints could be placed on the operations of our business. |
| ● | If we fail to obtain an adequate level of reimbursement for our approved products by third party payers, there may be no commercially viable markets for our approved products or the markets may be much smaller than expected. |
| ● | We face the risk of product liability claims and may not be able to obtain insurance. |
| ● | Our product candidates may not be developed or commercialized successfully. |
| ● | Our need to increase the size of our organization in order to successfully manage our growth. |
| ● | Our failure to protect our intellectual property rights could diminish the value of our solutions, weaken our competitive position and reduce our revenue. |
| ● | The Company’s financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, and do not include adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern. Management has substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. |
| ● | Our business and operations would suffer in the event of computer system failures, cyber-attacks or deficiencies in our cyber-security. |
Risks Related to the Regulation of NanoVibronix’s Products
| ● | We are subject to extensive governmental regulation, including the requirement of U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval or clearance before our product candidates may be marketed and after approval or clearance and during the marketing of our products. |
| ● | UroShield has not been cleared or approved by the FDA, nor has it undergone the same type of review as an FDA-approved or cleared device. |
| ● | Failure to obtain regulatory approval in foreign jurisdictions will prevent us from marketing our products abroad. |
| ● | We are uncertain regarding the success of our clinical trials for our products in development. |
| ● | Healthcare reform measures could adversely affect our business and financial results. |
Risks Related to NanoVibronix’s Operations in Israel
| ● | We conduct our operations in Israel and therefore our results may be adversely affected by political, economic and military instability in Israel and its region. |
| ● | Because a certain portion of our expenses is incurred in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, our results of operations may be harmed by currency fluctuations and inflation. |
Risks Related to NanoVibronix’s Organization and NanoVibronix’s Securities
| ● | The price of our securities may be volatile, and the market price of our securities may drop below the price you pay. |
| ● | We have a significant number of warrants and options, and future sales of our common stock upon exercise of these options or warrants, or the perception that future sales may occur, may cause the market price of our common stock to decline, even if our business is doing well. |
| ● | Although our shares of common stock are listed on Nasdaq, we currently have a limited trading volume, which results in higher price volatility for, and reduced liquidity of, our common stock. |
| ● | If we fail to comply with the continued listing requirements of Nasdaq, our common stock may be delisted and the price of our common stock and our ability to access the capital markets could be negatively impacted. |
| ● | If we fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, our business, financial condition or results of operations may be adversely affected. |
Risks Related to ENvue’s Financial Condition, Business and Operations
| ● | The financial statement footnotes of the Company include disclosure regarding the substantial doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern. |
| ● | We conduct certain of our operations in Israel. Conditions in Israel, including the October 2023 attack by Hamas and other terrorist organizations from the Gaza Strip and Israel’s war against them, may affect our operations. |
| ● | The impact of planned changes in the Israeli Judicial System on capital raising in the high-tech sector is difficult to predict. |
Risks Related to the ENvue System
| ● | If we are not successful in enhancing awareness of our ENvue System, driving adoption across our current target population and expanding the population of eligible patients, our sales, business, financial condition and results of operations will be negatively affected. |
| ● | Our commercial success and revenues will depend on the future adoption of the ENvue System into patient work streams in facilities and other healthcare settings. If we are unable to successfully drive interest in our ENvue System, our business, financial condition and results of operations would be harmed. |
| ● | We may be unable to compete successfully with competitive technologies, which could harm our sales, business, financial condition and results of operations. |
| ● | Use of our ENvue System requires appropriate training and inadequate training may lead to negative clinician experiences, which could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations. |
| ● | Future sales of our ENvue System may depend on providers’ and patients’ ability to obtain reimbursement from third-party payors, such as insurance carriers. |
Risks Related to ENvue Legal, Regulatory and Compliance Matters
| ● | Complying with regulations enforced by FDA and other regulatory authorities is expensive and time consuming, and failure to comply could result in substantial penalties. |
| ● | We may not receive the necessary authorizations to market future versions, if any, of our ENvue System or any future new product candidates, and any failure to timely do so may adversely affect our ability to grow our business. |
| ● | Certain modifications to our products may require new 510(k) clearance or other marketing authorizations. |
Risks Related to ENvue’s Intellectual Property
| ● | Our success depends in part on our proprietary technology, and if we are unable to successfully enforce our intellectual property rights, our competitive position may be harmed. |
| ● | If we infringe or violate the patents or proprietary rights of other parties or are subject to an intellectual property infringement or misappropriation claim, our ability to grow our business may be severely limited. |
Risks Related to the Combined Company Following the Merger with Predecessor ENvue
The Merger poses risks for NanoVibronix’s ongoing operations, including, among others:
| ● | that senior management’s attention may be diverted from the management of NanoVibronix’s current operations and development of its products; |
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| ● | costs and expenses associated with any undisclosed or potential liabilities; and |
| ● | unforeseen difficulties may arise in integrating ENvue’s business in the combined company. |
As a result of the foregoing, NanoVibronix may be unable to realize the full strategic and financial benefits currently anticipated from the Merger, and NanoVibronix cannot assure you that the Merger will be accretive to NanoVibronix in the near term or at all. Furthermore, if NanoVibronix fails to realize the intended benefits of the Merger, the market price of NanoVibronix’s common stock could decline to the extent that the market price reflects those benefits. NanoVibronix’s stockholders will have experienced substantial dilution of their ownership interests in NanoVibronix without receiving any commensurate benefit, or only receiving part of the commensurate benefit to the extent NanoVibronix is able to realize only part of the strategic and financial benefits currently anticipated from the Merger.
NanoVibronix may become involved in securities litigation or stockholder derivative litigation in connection with the Merger, and this could divert the attention of NanoVibronix management and harm the combined company’s business, and insurance coverage may not be sufficient to cover all related costs and damages.
Securities litigation or stockholder derivative litigation frequently follows the announcement of certain significant business transactions, such as the sale of a business division or announcement of a business combination transaction. In the future, NanoVibronix may become involved in this type of litigation in connection with the Merger. Litigation often is expensive and diverts management’s attention and resources, which could adversely affect the business of NanoVibronix.
If NanoVibronix is unable to realize the full strategic and financial benefits currently anticipated from the Merger, NanoVibronix stockholders will have experienced substantial dilution of their ownership interests in the company without receiving any commensurate benefit, or only receiving part of the commensurate benefit to the extent NanoVibronix is able to realize only part of the strategic and financial benefits currently anticipated from the Merger. Furthermore, if we fail to realize the intended benefits of the Merger, the market price of NanoVibronix common stock could decline to the extent that the market price reflects those benefits.
If the Merger does not qualify as a “reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the Code, U.S. holders of ENvue may be required to pay additional U.S. federal income taxes.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Merger is intended to qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
If the Merger does not qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, a U.S. holder of ENvue common stock generally would recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes on each share of ENvue common stock surrendered in the Merger in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value, at the time of the Merger, of the NanoVibronix common stock received in the Merger and such holder’s adjusted tax basis in the ENvue common stock surrendered in the Merger. Gain or loss must be calculated separately for each block of ENvue common stock exchanged by such U.S. holder if such blocks were acquired at different times or for different prices. Any gain or loss recognized generally would be capital gain or loss, and generally would be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period in a particular block of ENvue common stock is more than one year at the effective time of the Merger. Long-term capital gain of certain non-corporate taxpayers, including individuals, generally is taxed at reduced U.S. federal income tax rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. A U.S. holder’s tax basis in shares of NanoVibronix common stock received in the Merger would be equal to the fair market value thereof as of the effective time of the Merger, and such U.S. holder’s holding period in such shares would begin on the day following the closing of the Merger.
The market price of NanoVibronix’s common stock after the Merger may be subject to significant fluctuations and volatility, and the stockholders of the company may be unable to resell their shares at a profit and may incur losses.
The market price of NanoVibronix’s common stock could be subject to significant fluctuation following the Merger. The current business of NanoVibronix differs from that of ENvue in important respects and, accordingly, the results of operations of the combined company and the market price of our common stock following the Merger may be affected by factors different from those currently affecting the results of operations of NanoVibronix. Market prices for securities of life sciences and medical technology companies in particular have historically been particularly volatile and have shown extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. Broad market and industry factors, as well as general economic, political and market conditions such as recessions or interest rate changes, may seriously affect the market price of the combined company’s common stock, regardless of the actual operating performance of NanoVibronix. Some of the factors that may cause the market price of NanoVibronix’s common stock to fluctuate include:
| ● | investors reacting negatively to the effect on the combined company’s business and prospects from the Merger; |
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| ● | the announcement of new products, new developments, services or technological innovations by the combined company or the combined company’s competitors; |
| ● | actual or anticipated quarterly increases or decreases in revenue, gross margin or earnings, and changes in the combined company’s business, operations or prospects; |
| ● | announcements relating to strategic relationships, mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, collaborations, joint ventures, capital commitments, or other events by the combined company or the combined company’s competitors; |
| ● | conditions or trends in the life sciences and medical technology industries; |
| ● | changes in the economic performance or market valuations of other life sciences and medical technology companies; |
| ● | general market conditions or domestic or international macroeconomic and geopolitical factors unrelated to the combined company’s performance or financial condition; |
| ● | sale of the combined company’s common stock by stockholders, including executives and directors; |
| ● | volatility and limitations in trading volumes of the combined company’s common stock; |
| ● | volatility in the market prices and trading volumes of the life sciences and medical technology stocks; |
| ● | the combined company’s ability to finance its business; |
| ● | ability to secure resources and the necessary personnel to pursue the plans of the combined company; |
| ● | failure to meet external expectations or management guidance; |
| ● | changes in the combined company’s capital structure or dividend policy, future issuances of securities, sales or distributions of large blocks of common stock by stockholders; |
| ● | the combined company’s cash position; |
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| ● | announcements and events surrounding financing efforts, including debt and equity securities; |
| ● | analyst research reports, recommendations and changes in recommendations, price targets, and withdrawals of coverage; |
| ● | departures and additions of key personnel; |
| ● | disputes and litigation related to intellectual properties, proprietary rights, and contractual obligations; |
| ● | investigations by regulators into the operations of the combined company or those of the combined company’s competitors; |
| ● | changes in applicable laws, rules, regulations, or accounting practices and other dynamics; and |
| ● | other events or factors, many of which may be out of the combined company’s control. |
In the past, following periods of volatility in the overall market and the market prices of particular companies’ securities, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against these companies. Litigation of this type, if instituted against the combined company, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources of the combined company. Any adverse determination in any such litigation or any amounts paid to settle any such actual or threatened litigation could require that the combined company make significant payments.
Changes in the business operations, strategies and focus of the combined company following the Merger may not result in an improvement in the value of NanoVibronix common stock.
It is currently anticipated that, following the Merger, NanoVibronix would focus some of its resources on executing ENvue’s current business plan. Consequently, an investment in NanoVibronix’s common stock partially represents an investment in the business operations, strategies and focus of ENvue. ENvue’s failure to successfully market the ENvue System, as well as its other products, will significantly diminish the anticipated benefits of the Merger and have a material adverse effect on the business of NanoVibronix. There is no assurance that NanoVibronix’s business operations, strategies or focus will be successful following the Merger, and the Merger could depress the value of the NanoVibronix’s common stock.
The concentration of the capital stock ownership with insiders of NanoVibronix after the Merger will likely limit the ability of the stockholders of NanoVibronix to influence corporate matters.
Following the Merger, the executive officers, directors, five percent or greater stockholders, and the respective affiliated entities of NanoVibronix, in the aggregate, beneficially own approximately 65% of NanoVibronix’s outstanding common stock. As a result, these stockholders, acting together, have control over matters that require approval by NanoVibronix’s stockholders, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. Corporate actions might be taken even if other stockholders oppose them. This concentration of ownership might also have the effect of delaying or preventing a corporate transaction that other stockholders may view as beneficial.
NanoVibronix may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on its financial condition, results of operations and stock price, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.
Although NanoVibronix has conducted due diligence on ENvue, there can be no assurances that our diligence revealed all material issues that may be present in ENvue’s business, that all material issues through a customary amount of due diligence will be uncovered, or that factors outside of NanoVibronix’s control will not later arise. As a result, NanoVibronix may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in losses. Even if due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise, and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with NanoVibronix’s preliminary risk analysis. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and may not have an immediate impact on liquidity, the fact that NanoVibronix reports charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about NanoVibronix or its securities. In addition, charges of this nature may make future financing difficult to obtain on favorable terms or at all.
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, we are required to obtain stockholder approval for conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series X Preferred Stock into shares of our common stock. We cannot guarantee that our stockholders will approve this matter.
Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, we agreed to take all action necessary under applicable law to obtain the requisite approval for the conversion of all outstanding shares of Series X Preferred Stock issued in the Merger into shares of our common stock, as required by the Nasdaq Listing Rules, at a stockholders meeting to be held as soon as practicable following the execution of the Merger Agreement, which would be time consuming and costly. Additionally, if we breach any of our obligations and covenants set forth in the Series X Certificate of Designation, then we shall, at the request of the requisite Series X Preferred Stock holders (the “Settlement Request”), pay, out of funds legally available therefor, and prior to any payment in satisfaction of any redemption rights of any other class or series of capital stock, an amount in cash equal to the stated value of the shares of Series X Preferred Stock held by each holder, with such payment to be made within two (2) Business Days from the date of Settlement Request, and upon payment in full of the stated value for such shares of Series X Preferred Stock, such shares shall be redeemed, retired and no longer be outstanding. Such Settlement Request could therefore materially affect our results of operations.
We have a history of losses, and we expect to continue to incur losses and may not achieve or maintain profitability.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, we had a net loss of approximately $3.7 million and $3.7 million, respectively, with revenues of approximately $2.5 million and $2.3 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, and 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $70.0 million and $66.1 million, respectively. We expect to incur losses for at least the next year, as we continue to incur expenses related to seeking U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approval for UroShield, and market acceptance of PainShield, which will require costly additional clinical trials and research, further product development and professional fees associated with regulatory compliance. Even if we succeed in commercializing our new products, we may not be able to generate sufficient revenues to cover our expenses and achieve profitability or be able to maintain profitability.
The Company’s financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, and do not include adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern. Management has substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company’s cash used in operations was $2.5 million leaving a cash balance of $752,000 as of December 31, 2024. Because the Company does not have sufficient resources to fund our operations for the next twelve months from the date of this filing, management has substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. In addition, the Company has incurred additional short-term debt related to the merger transaction. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of asset amounts or the classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
The Company will need to raise additional capital to finance its losses, debt obligations, and negative cash flows from operations and may continue to be dependent on additional capital raising as long as our products do not reach commercial profitability. There are no assurances that the Company would be able to raise additional capital on terms favorable to it. If the Company is unsuccessful in commercializing its products and raising capital, it will need to reduce activities, curtail, or cease operations.
Global economic and political instability and conflicts, such as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our business could be adversely affected by unstable economic and political conditions within the United States and foreign jurisdictions and geopolitical conflicts, such as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. While we do not have any customer or direct supplier relationships in either country at this time, the current military conflict, and related sanctions, as well as export controls or actions that may be initiated by nations including the United States, the European Union or Russia (e.g., potential cyberattacks, disruption of energy flows, etc.) and other potential uncertainties could adversely affect our business and/or our supply chain, business partners, employees or customers, and interrupt our ability to supply products, or otherwise adversely impact our business.
Inflation, as well as some of the measures taken by or that may be taken by the governments in countries where we operate in an attempt to curb inflation may have negative effects on the economies of those countries generally. If the United States or other countries where we operate experience substantial inflation in the future, our business may be adversely affected. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. Specifically, our existing distributor agreements limit the amount that we can increase the price that we sell our products to the distributors. Accordingly, an inflationary environment, including factors such as increasing freight and materials prices, could make it less profitable for us to do business.
If we are unable to raise additional capital, our clinical trials and product development will be limited and our long-term viability will be threatened; however, if we do raise additional capital, your percentage ownership as a stockholder could decrease and constraints could be placed on the operations of our business.
We have experienced negative operating cash flows since our inception and have funded our operations primarily from proceeds of the sale of our securities, with only limited revenue being generated from our product sales. In order to fully realize our business objectives, we may need to raise additional capital. We will seek to raise such additional funds through equity or debt financings, or strategic alliances with third parties, either alone or in combination with equity financings. These financings could result in substantial dilution to the holders of our common stock, or require contractual or other restrictions on our operations or on alternatives that may be available to us. If we raise additional funds by issuing debt securities, these debt securities could impose significant restrictions on our operations through the imposition of restrictive covenants and requiring us to pledge assets in order to secure repayment. In addition, if we raise funds through the sale of equity, we may issue equity securities with rights superior to our common stock, including voting rights, rights to proceeds upon our liquidation or sale, rights to dividends and rights to appoint board members. There can be no assurance that we will be able to complete a required financing on acceptable terms or at all. If such financing is not available on satisfactory terms, or is not available in sufficient amounts, we may be required to delay, limit or eliminate the development of business opportunities. The failure to procure such required financing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, or threaten our ability to continue as a going concern.
A variety of factors could impact the timing and amount of any required financings, including, without limitation:
| ● | unforeseen developments during our clinical trials; |
| ● | delays in our receipt of required regulatory approvals; |
| ● | delayed market acceptance of our products; |
| ● | unanticipated expenditures in our acquisition and defense of intellectual property rights, and/or the loss of those rights; |
| ● | the failure to develop strategic alliances for the marketing of some of our product candidates; |
| ● | unforeseen changes in healthcare reimbursement for any of our approved products; |
| ● | lack of financial resources to adequately support our operations; |
| ● | difficulties in maintaining commercial scale manufacturing capacity and capability; |
| ● | unanticipated difficulties in operating in international markets; |
| ● | unanticipated financial resources needed to respond to technological changes and increased competition; |
| ● | unforeseen problems in attracting and retaining qualified personnel; |
| ● | enactment of new legislation or administrative regulations; |
| ● | the application to our business of new regulatory interpretations; |
| ● | claims that might be brought in excess of our insurance coverage; |
| ● | the failure to comply with regulatory guidelines; |
| ● | the uncertainty in industry demand; and |
| ● | the delisting of our common stock from Nasdaq. |
Any required financing efforts may divert our management from their day-to-day activities, which may adversely affect its ability to develop and commercialize our products. Moreover, if we complete additional financing by issuing equity securities, the percentage ownership of its existing stockholders may be reduced, and accordingly these stockholders may experience substantial dilution. Given our need for cash and that equity issuances are the most common type of fundraising for similarly situated companies, the risk of dilution is particularly significant for our stockholders.
In addition, although we have no present commitments or understandings to do so, we may seek to expand our operations and product lines through acquisitions or joint ventures. Any acquisition or joint venture would likely increase our capital requirements.
If we fail to obtain an adequate level of reimbursement for our approved products by third party payers, there may be no commercially viable markets for our approved products or the markets may be much smaller than expected.
The availability and levels of reimbursement by governmental and other third party payers affect the market for our commercial products. The efficacy, safety, performance and cost-effectiveness of our product and product candidates, and of any competing products, will determine the availability and level of reimbursement. Reimbursement and healthcare payment systems vary significantly by country, and include both government sponsored healthcare and private insurance. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval in some countries, we may be required to produce clinical data, which may involve one or more clinical trials, that compares the cost-effectiveness of our approved products to other available therapies. We may not obtain reimbursement or pricing approvals in markets we seek to enter in a timely manner, if at all. Our failure to receive reimbursement or pricing approvals in target markets would negatively impact market acceptance of our products in these jurisdictions, placing us at a material cost disadvantage to our competitors.
Even if we obtain reimbursement approvals for our products, we believe that, in the future, reimbursement for any of our products or product candidates may be subject to increased restrictions both in the United States and in international markets. Future legislation, regulation or policies of third party payers that limit reimbursement may adversely affect the demand for our products currently under development and our ability to sell our products on a profitable basis. In addition, third party payers continually attempt to contain or reduce the costs of healthcare by challenging the prices charged for healthcare products and services.
In the United States, specifically, health care providers, such as hospitals and clinics, and individual patients, generally rely on third-party payers. Third-party reimbursement is dependent upon decisions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, contracted Medicare carriers or intermediaries, individual managed care organizations, private insurers, other governmental health programs and other payers of health care costs. Failure to receive or maintain favorable coding, coverage and reimbursement determinations for our products by these organizations could discourage medical practitioners from using or prescribing our products due to their costs. In addition, with recent federal and state government initiatives directed at lowering the total cost of health care, the U.S. Congress and state legislatures will likely continue to focus on health care reform including the reform of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and on the cost of medical products and services, which could limit reimbursement. Additionally, third-party payers are increasingly challenging the prices charged for medical products and services, and imposing conditions on payment. We may be unable to sell our products on a profitable basis if third-party payers deny coverage, provide low reimbursement rates or reduce their current levels of reimbursement.
The medical device and therapeutic product industries are highly competitive and subject to rapid technological change. If our competitors are able to develop and market products that are safer and more effective than any products we may develop, our commercial opportunities will be reduced or eliminated.
Our success depends, in part, upon our ability to maintain a competitive position in the development of technologies and products. We face competition from established medical device companies, such as Neurometrix Inc., Zetrox, (a subsidiary of the 3M Company) and Smith & Nephew plc, manufacturers of certain portable ultrasound devices capable of self-administered use, as well as from academic institutions, government agencies, and private and public research institutions in the United States and abroad. Most, if not all, of our principal competitors have significantly greater financial resources and expertise than we do in research and development, manufacturing, pre-clinical testing, conducting clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals, marketing approved products, protecting and defending their intellectual property rights and designing around the intellectual property rights of others. Other small or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements, or mergers with, or acquisitions by, large and established companies, or through the development of novel products and technologies.
The industry in which we operate has undergone, and we expect it to continue to undergo, rapid and significant technological change, and we expect competition to intensify as technological advances are made. Our competitors may be able to respond to changes in technology or the marketplace faster than us. Our competitors may develop and commercialize medical devices that are safer or more effective or are less expensive than any products that we may develop. We also compete with our competitors in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel, in establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, and in acquiring technologies complementary to our programs or advantageous to our business. Given our small size and lack of resources, we are often at a disadvantage with our competitors in all of these areas, which could limit or eliminate our commercial opportunities.
We face the risk of product liability claims and may not be able to obtain insurance.
Our business exposes us to the risk of product liability claims that are inherent in the development of medical devices and products. If the use of one or more of our products harms people, we may be subject to costly and damaging product liability claims brought against us by clinical trial participants, consumers, health care providers, pharmaceutical companies or others selling our products. We currently carry clinical trial and product liability insurance for the products we sell. However, we cannot predict all of the possible harms or side effects that may result and, therefore, the amount of insurance coverage we hold may not be adequate to cover all liabilities we might incur. We intend to expand our insurance coverage to include the sale of additional commercial products as we obtain marketing approval for our product candidates in development and as our sales expand, but we may be unable to obtain commercially reasonable product liability insurance for such products. If we are unable to obtain insurance at an acceptable cost or otherwise protect against potential product liability claims and we continue to make sales, or if our coverages turns out to be insufficient, we may be exposed to significant liabilities, which may materially and adversely affect our business and financial position. If we are sued for any injury allegedly caused by our products and do not have sufficient insurance coverage, our liability could exceed our total assets and our ability to pay the liability. A product liability claim or series of claims brought against us would decrease our cash and could reduce our value or marketability.
Our product candidates may not be developed or commercialized successfully.
Our product candidates are based on a technology that has not been used previously in the manner we propose and must compete with more established treatments currently accepted as the standards of care. Market acceptance of our products will largely depend on our ability to demonstrate their relative safety, efficacy, cost-effectiveness and ease of use.
We are subject to the risks that:
| ● | the FDA or a foreign regulatory authority finds our product candidates ineffective or unsafe; |
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| ● | we do not receive necessary regulatory approvals; |
| ● | the regulatory review and approval process may take much longer than anticipated, requiring additional time, effort and expense to respond to regulatory comments and/or directives; |
| ● | we are unable to get our product candidates in commercial quantities at reasonable costs; and |
| ● | the patient and physician community does not accept our product candidates. |
In addition, our product development program may be curtailed, redirected, eliminated or delayed at any time for many reasons, including:
| ● | adverse or ambiguous results; |
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| ● | undesirable side effects that delay or extend the trials; |
| ● | the inability to locate, recruit, qualify and retain a sufficient number of clinical investigators or patients for our trials; and |
| ● | regulatory delays or other regulatory actions. |
Additionally, we currently have limited experience in marketing or selling our products, and we have a limited marketing and sales staff and distribution capabilities. Developing a marketing and sales force is time-consuming and will involve the investment of significant amounts of financial and management resources, and could delay the launch of new products or expansion of existing product sales. In addition, we compete with many companies that currently have extensive and well-funded marketing and sales operations. If we fail to establish successful marketing and sales capabilities or fail to enter into successful marketing arrangements with third parties, our ability to generate revenues will suffer.
Furthermore, even if we enter into marketing and distributing arrangements with third parties, we may have limited or no control over the sales, marketing and distribution activities of these third parties, and these third parties may not be successful or effective in selling and marketing our products. If we fail to create successful and effective marketing and distribution channels, our ability to generate revenue and achieve our anticipated growth could be adversely affected. If these distributors experience financial or other difficulties, sales of our products could be reduced, and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed.
We cannot predict whether we will successfully develop and commercialize our product candidates. If we fail to do so, we will not be able to generate substantial revenues, if any.
If we fail to retain our key management, or to attract and keep additional key personnel, we may be unable to successfully execute our business plan.
Our success depends on our ability to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified management and personnel. As a small company with ten full-time employees and six part-time employees, our success depends on the continuing contributions of our management team and qualified personnel and on our ability to attract and retain highly qualified personnel. We face intense competition in our hiring efforts from other medical device companies, as well as from universities and nonprofit research organizations, and we may have to pay higher salaries to attract and retain qualified personnel. We are also at a disadvantage in recruiting and retaining key personnel as our small size and limited resources may be viewed as providing a less stable environment, with fewer opportunities than would be the case at one of our larger competitors. The loss of one or more of these individuals, or our inability to attract additional qualified personnel, could substantially impair our ability to implement our business plan. In addition, the replacement of key personnel likely would involve significant time and costs, and may significantly delay or prevent the achievement of our business objectives.
Our need to increase the size of our organization in order to successfully manage our growth.
We are a clinical-stage company with a small number of planned employees, and our management systems currently in place are not likely to be adequate to support our future growth plans. Our ability to grow and to manage our growth effectively will require us to hire, train, retain, manage and motivate additional employees and to implement and improve its operational, financial and management systems. These demands also may require the hiring of additional senior management personnel or the development of additional expertise by our senior management personnel. Hiring a significant number of additional employees, particularly those at the management level, would increase our expenses significantly. Moreover, if we fail to expand and enhance its operational, financial and management systems in conjunction with its potential future growth, such failure could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our failure to protect our intellectual property rights could diminish the value of our solutions, weaken our competitive position and reduce our revenue.
We regard the protection of our intellectual property, which includes patents and patent applications, trade secrets, trademarks and domain names, as critical to our success. We strive to protect our intellectual property rights by relying on federal, state and common law rights, as well as contractual restrictions. We enter into confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with our employees, consultants and contractors, and confidentiality agreements with parties with whom we conduct business in order to limit access to, and disclosure and use of, our proprietary information. However, these contractual arrangements and the other steps we have taken to protect our intellectual property may not prevent the misappropriation of our proprietary information or deter independent development of similar technologies by others.
We have patents, as well as pending patent applications, in both the United States and relevant foreign jurisdictions. There can be no assurance that our patent applications will be approved, that any patents issued will adequately protect our intellectual property, or that these patents will not be challenged by third parties or found to be invalid or unenforceable or that our patents would prevent a competitor from designing around our claims in our patents. We have also obtained trademark registration in the United States and in foreign jurisdictions. Effective trade secret, trademark and patent protection is expensive to develop and maintain, both in terms of initial and ongoing registration requirements and the costs of defending our rights. We may be required to protect our intellectual property in an increasing number of jurisdictions, a process that is expensive and may not be successful or which we may not pursue in every location. We may, over time, increase our investment in protecting our intellectual property through additional patent filings that could be expensive and time-consuming.
We have granted US issued patents, as well as issued patents in Europe and China and a number of corresponding foreign patents in other relevant jurisdictions, covering UROSHIELD devices and have expiration dates ranging from May of 2023 to July of 2030. We also have pending patent applications related to UROSHIELD devices, which would have expected expiration dates, if granted, ranging from December of 2041 to March of 2044.
Granted patents related to PAINSHIELD, PAINSHIELD PLUS, WOUNDSHIELD have expiration dates of August of 2033 in the United States, and February of 2027 in Europe, China and Israel. We also have pending patent applications related to PAINSHIELD, PAINSHIELD PLUS, WOUNDSHIELD devices, which would have expected expiration dates, if granted, ranging from September of 2040 to December of 2041.
Monitoring unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult and costly. Our efforts to protect our proprietary rights may not be adequate to prevent misappropriation of our intellectual property. We may not be able to detect unauthorized use of, or take appropriate steps to enforce, our intellectual property rights. Further, our competitors may independently develop technologies that are similar to ours but which avoid the scope of our intellectual property rights. Further, the laws in the United States and elsewhere change rapidly, and any future changes could adversely affect us and our intellectual property. Our failure to meaningfully protect our intellectual property could result in competitors offering solutions that incorporate our most technologically advanced features, which could seriously reduce demand for our products. In addition, we may in the future need to initiate infringement claims or litigation. Litigation, whether as a plaintiff or a defendant, can be expensive, time-consuming and may divert the efforts of our technical staff and managerial personnel, which could harm our business, whether or not the litigation results in a determination that is unfavorable to us. In addition, litigation is inherently uncertain, and thus we may not be able to stop our competitors from infringing our intellectual property rights.
We could incur substantial costs and disruption to our business as a result of any dispute related to, or claim of infringement of another party’s intellectual property rights, which could harm our business and operating results.
In recent years, there has been significant litigation in the United States over patents and other intellectual property rights. From time to time, we may face allegations that we or customers who use our products have infringed the trademarks, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property rights of third parties, including allegations made by our competitors or by non-practicing entities, or that we or our customers have misappropriated the intellectual property rights of such third parties. We cannot predict whether assertions of third party intellectual property rights or claims arising from these assertions will substantially harm our business and operating results. If we are forced to defend any infringement or misappropriation claims or attacks on the validity of our intellectual property rights, whether they are with or without merit or are ultimately determined in our favor, we may face costly litigation and diversion of technical and management personnel. Most of our competitors have substantially greater resources than we do and are able to sustain the cost of complex intellectual property litigation to a greater extent and for longer periods of time than we could. Furthermore, an adverse outcome of a dispute may require us, among other things: to pay damages, potentially including treble damages and attorneys’ fees, if we are found to have willfully infringed a party’s patent or other intellectual property rights; to cease making, licensing or using products that are alleged to incorporate or make use of the intellectual property of others; to expend additional development resources to redesign our products; and to enter into potentially unfavorable royalty or license agreements in order to obtain the rights to use necessary technologies. Royalty or licensing agreements, if required, may be unavailable on terms acceptable to us, or at all. In any event, we may need to license intellectual property which would require us to pay royalties or make one-time payments. Even if these matters do not result in litigation or are resolved in our favor or without significant cash settlements, the time and resources necessary to resolve them could harm our business, operating results, financial condition and reputation.
We may, in the future, be involved in one or more lawsuits, claims or other proceedings. These suits could concern issues including contract disputes, employment actions, employee benefits, taxes, environmental, health and safety, fraud and abuse, personal injury and product liability matters.
On February 26, 2021, Protrade Systems, Inc. (“Protrade”) filed a Request for Arbitration (the “Request”) with the International Court of Arbitration (the “ICA”) of the International Chamber of Commerce alleging the Company is in breach of an Exclusive Distribution Agreement dated March 7, 2019 (the “Agreement”) between Protrade and the Company. Protrade alleges, in part, that the Company has breached the Agreement by discontinuing the manufacture of the DV0057 Painshield MD device in favor of an updated 10-100-001 Painshield MD device. Protrade claims damages estimated at $3 million. The Company vigorously defended the claims asserted by Protrade.
On March 15, 2022, the arbitrator issued a final award, which, determined that (i) the Company had the right to terminate the Exclusive Distribution Agreement; (ii) the Company did not breach the duty of good faith and fair dealing with regard to the Exclusive Distribution Agreement; and (iii) the Company did not breach any confidentiality obligations to Protrade. Nevertheless, the arbitrator determined that the Company did not comply with the obligation to supply Protrade with a year’s supply of patches, and awarded Protrade $1,500,250, which consists of $1,432,000 for “lost profits” and $68,250 as reimbursement of arbitration costs, on the grounds that the Company allegedly failed to supply Protrade with certain patches utilized by users of DV0057 Painshield MD device. The arbitrator based the decision on the testimony of Protrade’s president who asserted that a user would use in excess of 33 patches per each device. The Company believes that the number of patches per device alleged by Protrade is grossly inflated, and that these claims were not properly raised before the arbitrator. Accordingly, on April 13, 2022, the Company submitted an application for the correction of the award which the arbitrator denied on June 22, 2022.
On April 5, 2022, Protrade filed a Petition with the Supreme Court of New York Nassau County seeking to confirm the Award. On April 13, 2022, the Company submitted an application to the ICA seeking to correct an error in the award based on the evidence that the Company only sold 2-3 reusable patches per device contrary to the 33 reusable patches claimed by Protrade. The same arbitrator who issued the award, denied the application.
On July 22, 2022, the Company filed a cross-motion seeking to vacate arbitration award on the grounds that the arbitrator exceeded her authority, that the award was procured by fraud, and that the arbitrator failed to follow procedures established by New York law. In particular, the Company averred in its motion that Protrade’s witness made false statements in arbitration, and that the arbitrator resolved a claim that was never raised by Protrade and that has no factual basis.
On November 9, 2022, the Company filed a motion to re-argue and renew its cross-motion to vacate the arbitration decision based on newer information that was not available during the initial hearing. On the same day, the Company also filed a notice of appeal with the Appellate Division, Second Department. On March 21, 2023, the court denied the motion to re-argue and renew.
On July 10, 2023, the Company filed its appeal with the Appellate Division, Second Department. That appeal is now fully briefed. In February 2025, the Second Department informed counsel for the Company that the Second Department was beginning to process the appeal for calendaring.”
As of December 31, 2024, and 2023, the Company accrued the amount of the arbitration award to Protrade of approximately $2.1 and $2.0 million, respectively, including interest which is classified in “Other accounts payable and accrued expenses”.
In the ordinary course of our business, we collect and store sensitive data, including intellectual property, research data, our proprietary business information and that of our suppliers, technical information about our products, clinical trial plans and employee records. Similarly, our third-party providers possess certain of our sensitive data and confidential information. The secure maintenance of this information is critical to our operations and business strategy. Despite the implementation of security measures, our internal computer systems, and those of third parties on which we rely, are vulnerable to damage from computer viruses, malware, ransomware, cyber fraud, natural disasters, terrorism, war, telecommunication and electrical failures, cyber-attacks or cyber-intrusions over the Internet, attachments to emails, persons inside our organization, or persons with access to systems inside our organization. The risk of a security breach or disruption, particularly through cyber-attacks or cyber intrusion, including by computer hackers, foreign governments, and cyber terrorists, has generally increased as the number, intensity and sophistication of attempted attacks and intrusions from around the world have increased. Any such breach could compromise our networks and the information stored there could be accessed, publicly disclosed, encrypted, lost or stolen. Any such access, inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information or other loss of information, including our data being breached at third-party providers, could result in legal claims or proceedings, liability or financial loss under laws that protect the privacy of personal information, disruption of our operations or our product development programs and damage to our reputation, which could adversely affect our business.
NanoVibronix may acquire additional businesses or products, form strategic alliances, or create joint ventures with third parties that the Company believes will complement or augment its existing business. If NanoVibronix acquires businesses with promising markets or technologies, it may not be able to realize the benefit of acquiring such businesses if it is unable to successfully integrate them with its existing operations and company culture. NanoVibronix may encounter numerous difficulties in developing, manufacturing, and marketing any new products resulting from a strategic alliance or acquisition that delay or prevent it from realizing their expected benefits or enhancing its business. There is no assurance that, following any such acquisition, the combined company will achieve the synergies expected to justify the transaction, which could result in a material adverse effect on the combined company’s business and prospects.
Certain stockholders could attempt to influence changes within NanoVibronix, which could adversely affect NanoVibronix’s operations, financial condition and the value of NanoVibronix’s common stock.
NanoVibronix’s stockholders may from time to time seek to acquire a controlling stake in NanoVibronix, engage in proxy solicitations, advance stockholder proposals or otherwise attempt to effect changes. Campaigns by stockholders to effect changes at publicly traded companies are sometimes led by investors seeking to increase short-term stockholder value through actions such as financial restructuring, increased debt, special dividends, stock repurchases or sales of assets or the entire company. Responding to proxy contests and other actions by activist stockholders can be costly and time-consuming. These actions could adversely affect the combined company’s operations, financial condition, and the value of NanoVibronix’s common stock.
Risks Related to NanoVibronix’s Regulatory and Compliance Matters
We are subject to extensive governmental regulation, including the requirement of U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval or clearance before our product candidates may be marketed and after approval or clearance and during the marketing of our products.
The process of obtaining FDA approval is lengthy, expensive and uncertain, and we cannot be sure that our additional product candidates will be approved in a timely fashion, or at all. If the FDA does not approve or clear our product candidates in a timely fashion, or at all, our business and financial condition would likely be adversely affected.
Both before and after approval or clearance of our product candidates, we, our product candidates, our suppliers and our contract manufacturers are subject to extensive regulation by governmental authorities in the United States and other countries. Failure to comply with applicable requirements could result in, among other things, any of the following actions:
| ● | FDA issuance of Form 483 or Warning Letters, which may be made public and may lead to further regulatory or enforcement actions, or similar letters by other regulatory authorities; |
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| ● | fines and other monetary penalties; |
| ● | unanticipated expenditures; |
| ● | delays in FDA approval and clearance, or FDA refusal to approve or clear a product candidate; |
| ● | product recall or seizure; |
| ● | interruption of manufacturing or clinical trials; |
| ● | operating restrictions; |
| ● | injunction or other restrictions imposed on our operations, including closing our facilities or our contract manufacturers’ facilities; or |
| ● | criminal prosecutions. |
In addition to the approval and clearance requirements, numerous other regulatory requirements apply, both before and after approval or clearance, to us, our products and product candidates, and our suppliers and contract manufacturers. These include requirements related to the following:
| ● | testing and quality control; |
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| ● | manufacturing; |
| ● | quality assurance; |
| ● | labelling; |
| ● | advertising; |
| ● | promotion (including the prohibition on promoting devices for “off-label” uses); |
| ● | distribution; |
| ● | export; |
| ● | reporting to the FDA certain adverse experiences associated with the use of the products, as well as our discovery of defects or a product’s failure to comply with design specifications or applicable law; and |
| ● | obtaining additional approvals or clearances for certain modifications to the products or their labelling or claims. |
We are also subject to inspection by the FDA to determine our compliance with regulatory requirements, as are our suppliers and contract manufacturers, and we cannot be sure that the FDA will not identify compliance issues that may disrupt production or distribution, or require substantial resources to correct. We also cannot be sure that the FDA will agree with our analysis of, conclusions regarding, or handling of various situations that arise with our products. If it is determined that we failed to comply with any of our regulatory obligations, we could be subject to a wide range of enforcement actions that could limit our ability to continue to successfully commercialize impacted products or otherwise adversely impact us.
The FDA’s requirements may change and additional government regulations may be promulgated that could affect us, our product candidates, and our suppliers and contract manufacturers. We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative action. There can be no assurance that we will not be required to incur significant costs to comply with such laws and regulations in the future, or that such laws or regulations will not have a material adverse effect upon our business.
UroShield has not been cleared or approved by the FDA, nor has it undergone the same type of review as an FDA-approved or cleared device.
In September 2020, the FDA exercised its Enforcement Discretion to allow distribution of our UroShield device in the United States. According to the FDA, “UroShield device could use Intended Use Code (IUC) 081.006: Enforcement discretion per final guidance, and FDA product code QMK (extracorporeal acoustic wave generating accessory to urological indwelling catheter for use during the COVID-19 pandemic)” Accordingly, the FDA’s Enforcement Discretion temporarily cleared the way for import of UroShield to the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic, immensely expanding the company’s addressable market for the device during this time period. As of the date of this report, we have not been notified of any change in our Enforcement Discretion status and we will continue to operate under Enforcement Discretion guidelines, or until we are notified of a change in status by a qualified regulatory body. The device is designed to aid in the prevention of CAUTI incidence in patients requiring long-term indwelling catheterization, defined as 14 days or greater.
This temporary authorization was limited to use as an extracorporeal acoustic wave generating accessory to urological indwelling catheter for use during the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. government has since-terminated the public health emergency, and FDA recently confirmed via guidance that the applicable policy of Enforcement Discretion under which UroShield was marketed during the pandemic will expire in November 2023. Accordingly, if we do not obtain FDA approval or clearance by the expiration of the applicable Enforcement Discretion policy in November 2023, we will have to discontinue distribution of UroShield in the U.S. until FDA grants the requisite premarket authorization, which may not occur in a timely manner, if at all. There is no guarantee that our collaborators or customers will purchase or use the UroShield, that any sales of UroShield by us will generate any revenue or profits, or that we will ever be successful in obtaining FDA clearance or approval for the UroShield.
Failure to obtain regulatory approval in foreign jurisdictions will prevent us from marketing our products abroad.
International sales of our products and any of our product candidates that we commercialize are subject to the regulatory requirements of each country in which the products are sold. Accordingly, the introduction of our product candidates in markets outside the United States where we do not already possess regulatory approval will be subject to regulatory approvals in those jurisdictions. The regulatory review process varies from country to country. Many countries impose product standards, packaging and labelling requirements, and import restrictions on medical devices. In addition, each country has its own tariff regulations, duties and tax requirements, as well as reimbursement and healthcare payment systems. The approval by foreign government authorities is unpredictable and uncertain, and can be expensive. We may be required to perform additional pre-clinical, clinical or post-approval studies even if FDA approval has been obtained. Our ability to market our approved products could be substantially limited due to delays in receipt of, or failure to receive, the necessary approvals or clearances.
We are uncertain regarding the success of our clinical trials for our products in development.
We believe that all of our novel lines of product candidates in development, which currently consists of only RenooSkin, will require clinical trials to determine their safety and efficacy by regulatory bodies in their target markets, including the FDA and various foreign regulators. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully complete the U.S. and foreign regulatory approval processes for products in development. In addition, there can be no assurance that we will not encounter additional problems that will cause us to delay, suspend or terminate our clinical trials. In addition, we cannot make any assurance that clinical trials will be deemed sufficient in size and scope to satisfy regulatory approval requirements, or, if completed, will ultimately demonstrate our products to be safe and efficacious.
Healthcare reform measures could adversely affect our business and financial results.
In the United States, there have been, and we expect there will continue to be, a number of legislative and regulatory changes to the healthcare system in ways that may adversely affect our business and financial results. Federal and state lawmakers regularly propose and, at times, enact legislation that could result in significant changes to the healthcare system, some of which are intended to contain or reduce the costs of medical products and services. Current and future legislative proposals to further reform healthcare or reduce healthcare costs may limit coverage of or lower reimbursement for our products. The cost containment measures that payers and providers are instituting and the effect of any healthcare reform initiative implemented in the future could impact our revenue from the sale of our products. For example, the Patient Protection and Affordable Act of 2010, commonly referred to as the Affordable Care Act, contains a number of provisions, including those governing enrollment in federal healthcare programs, reimbursement changes and fraud and abuse measures, all of which will impact existing government healthcare programs and will result in the development of new programs.
There have been executive, judicial and Congressional challenges to certain aspects of the Affordable Care Act for over a decade. However, as of the Supreme Court’s ruling ordering the dismissal of, arguably, the most promising case challenging the Affordable Care Act to-date in June 2021, it appears that the Affordable Care Act will remain in-effect in its current form for the foreseeable future. We cannot predict what additional challenges to the Affordable Care Act may arise in the future, the outcome thereof, or the impact any such actions may have on our business. Additionally, the Biden administration has introduced various measures in recent years, focusing on healthcare and medical-product pricing, in particular. It remains to be seen how these measures will affect our business and there is uncertainty as to what other healthcare programs and regulations may be implemented or changed at the federal and/or state level in the U.S., but it is possible that such initiatives could have an adverse effect on our ability to obtain FDA approval or clearance and/or successfully commercialize products in the U.S. in the future. For example, any changes that reduce, or impede the ability of healthcare providers to obtain reimbursement for medical procedures in which the products we currently, or intend to, commercialize are used, or that reduce medical procedure volumes, could adversely affect our operations and/or future business plans. The financial impact of U.S. healthcare reform legislation over the next few years will depend on a number of factors, including the policies reflected in implementing regulations and guidance and changes in sales volumes for medical devices affected by the legislation. From time to time, legislation is drafted, introduced, and passed that could significantly change the statutory provisions governing coverage, reimbursement, pricing, and marketing of medical device products. In addition, third-party payor coverage and reimbursement policies are often revised or interpreted in ways that may significantly affect our business and our products.
If we fail to comply with the U.S. federal and state fraud and abuse and other health care laws and regulations, we could be subject to criminal and civil penalties and exclusion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which would have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
All of our financial relationships with health care providers and others who provide products or services to federal health care program beneficiaries are potentially governed by the federal and state fraud and abuse laws, and other health care laws and regulations may be or become applicable to our business and operations and expose us to risk. For example:
| ● | The federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits the offer, payment, solicitation or receipt of any form of remuneration in return for referring, ordering, leasing, purchasing or arranging for, or recommending the ordering, purchasing or leasing of, items or services payable by Medicare, Medicaid or any other federal health care program. |
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| ● | Federal false claims laws and civil monetary penalty laws, including the False Claims Act, that prohibit, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment from Medicare, Medicaid or other government health care programs that are false or fraudulent, or making a false statement to avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government. |
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| ● | The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which prohibits knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program or obtain, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, any of the money or property owned by, or under the custody or control of, any health care benefit program, and for knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making any materially false statements in connection with the delivery of or payment for health care benefits, items or services. |
| ● | HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009, and its implementing regulations, which also impose obligations and requirements on health care providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses as well as their respective business associates that perform certain services for them that involve the use or disclosure of individually identifiable health information, with respect to safeguarding the privacy and security of certain individually identifiable health information. |
| ● | The federal transparency requirements under the Affordable Care Act, including the provision commonly referred to as the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, which requires certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies that are reimbursable under Medicare, Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program to report annually to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians and teaching hospitals, and ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members. |
| ● | Analogous state and foreign laws and regulations, such as state anti-kickback and false claims laws, which may be broader in scope and apply to referrals and items or services reimbursed by both governmental and non-governmental third-party payers, including private insurers, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and often are not pre-empted by federal law, thus complicating compliance efforts. |
Because of the breadth of these laws and the narrowness of the statutory exceptions and safe harbors available, it is possible that some of our business activities could be subject to challenge under one or more of such laws. In addition, recent health care reform legislation has strengthened these laws. Efforts to ensure that our business arrangements with third parties and our operations are compliant with applicable health care laws and regulations will involve the expenditure of appropriate, and possibly significant, resources. If we are found to be in violation of any current or future statutes or regulations involving applicable fraud and abuse or other health care laws and regulations, we may be subject to significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, imprisonment, exclusion from government funded health care programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and future earnings, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. If any physicians or other health care providers or entities with whom we expect to do business are found to not be in compliance with applicable laws, they may be subject to criminal, civil or administrative sanctions, including exclusions from government funded health care programs, which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our results of operations.
Risks Related to NanoVibronix’s Operations in Israel
We conduct our operations in Israel. Conditions in Israel, including the recent attack by Hamas and other terrorist organizations from the Gaza Strip, and the region, and Israel’s war against them, may affect our operations.
Because we are incorporated under the laws of the state of Israel and our operations are conducted in Israel, our business and operations are directly affected by economic, political, geopolitical, and military conditions in Israel. Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, a number of armed conflicts have occurred between Israel and its neighboring countries and terrorist organizations active in the region. These conflicts have involved missile strikes, hostile infiltrations, and terrorism against civilian targets in various parts of Israel, which have negatively affected business conditions in Israel.
In October 2023, Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel’s southern border from the Gaza Strip and conducted a series of attacks on civilian and military targets. Hamas also launched extensive rocket attacks on the Israeli population and industrial centers located along Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip and in other areas within the State of Israel. Following the attack, Israel’s security cabinet declared war against Hamas and a military campaign against the terrorist organization commenced in parallel to their continued rocket and terror attacks.
Following the attack by Hamas on Israel’s southern border, Hezbollah in Lebanon has also launched missiles, rockets, and shooting attacks against Israeli military sites, troops, and Israeli towns in northern Israel. In response to these attacks, the Israeli army has carried out a number of targeted strikes on sites belonging to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and begun conducting a limited ground operation in southern Lebanon, which has the potential to escalate into a wider regional conflict.
In addition, Iran recently launched direct attacks on Israel. Iran is also believed to have a strong influence among extremist groups in the region, such as Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthi movement in Yemen and various rebel militia groups in Syria and Iraq. The Houthis, a military organization based in Yemen, have launched a series of attacks on global shipping routes in the Red Sea, as well as direct attacks on various parts of Israel.
Such incidents contribute to regional instability and could potentially escalate into broader conflicts with Iran and its proxies in the middle east, affecting Israel’s political and trade relations, especially with neighboring countries and global allies. The situation remains fluid, and the potential for further escalation exists.
Any hostilities involving Israel, or the interruption or curtailment of trade within Israel or between Israel and its trading partners, or the ability to ship our products overseas, could adversely affect our operations and results of operations and could make it more difficult for us to raise capital. Parties with whom we may do business have sometimes declined to travel to Israel during periods of heightened unrest or tension, forcing us to make alternative arrangements when necessary. The conflict situation in Israel could cause situations where medical product certifying or auditing bodies could not be able to visit manufacturing facilities of our subcontractors in Israel in order to review our certifications or clearances, thus possibly leading to temporary suspensions or even cancellations of our product clearances or certifications. The conflict situation in Israel could also result in parties with whom we have agreements involving performance in Israel claiming that they are not obligated to perform their commitments under those agreements pursuant to force majeure provisions in such agreements.
There have been travel advisories issued related to travel to Israel, restriction on travel, and delays and disruptions as related to imports and exports may be imposed in the future. An inability to receive supplies and materials, shortages of materials or difficulties in procuring our materials, among others, or conversely, our ability to ship products to our US facilities or overseas customers, may adversely impact our ability to commercialize and manufacture our product candidates and products in a timely manner. This could cause a number of delays and/or issues for our operations, including delay of the review of our product candidates by regulatory agencies, which in turn would have a material adverse impact on our ability to commercialize our product candidates.
Additionally, members of our management and employees are located and reside in Israel. Shelter-in-place and work-from-home measures, government-imposed restrictions on movement and travel, and other precautions taken to address the ongoing conflict may temporarily disrupt our management and employees’ ability to effectively perform their daily tasks.
The IDF, the national military of Israel, is a conscripted military service, subject to certain exceptions. None of our employees are subject to military service in the IDF and have been called to serve, but many do serve on guard duty in their local communities from time to time. It is possible that there will be further military reserve duty call-ups in the future, which may affect our business due to a shortage of skilled labor and loss of institutional knowledge, and necessary mitigation measures we may take to respond to a decrease in labor availability, such as overtime and third-party outsourcing, for example, which may have unintended negative effects and adversely impact our results of operations, liquidity, or cash flows.
Because a certain portion of our expenses is incurred in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, our results of operations may be harmed by currency fluctuations and inflation.
We expect our revenues from future licensing agreements to be denominated mainly in U.S. dollars or in Euros. We pay a substantial portion of our expenses in U.S. dollars; however, a portion of our expenses, related to salaries of the employees in Israel and payment to part of the service providers in Israel and other territories, are paid in New Israeli Shekels, or NIS, and in other currencies. In addition, a portion of our financial assets is held in NIS and in other currencies. As a result, we are exposed to the currency fluctuation risks, and we do not attempt to hedge against such risks. For example, if the NIS strengthens against the U.S. dollar, our reported expenses in U.S. dollars may be higher than anticipated. In addition, if the NIS weakens against the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of our financial assets held in NIS will decline.
It may be difficult for investors in the United States to enforce any judgments obtained against us or any of our directors or officers.
Almost all of our assets are located outside the United States, although we do maintain a permanent place of business within the United States. In addition, some of our officers and directors are nationals and/or residents of countries other than the United States, and all or a substantial portion of such persons’ assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to enforce within the United States any judgments obtained against us or any of our non-U.S. directors or officers, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof. Additionally, it may be difficult to assert U.S. securities law claims in actions originally instituted outside of the United States. Israeli courts may refuse to hear a U.S. securities law claim because Israeli courts may not be the most appropriate forums in which to bring such a claim. Even if an Israeli court agrees to hear a claim, it may determine that the Israeli law, and not U.S. law, is applicable to the claim. Further, if U.S. law is found to be applicable, certain content of applicable U.S. law must be proved as a fact, which can be a time-consuming and costly process, and certain matters of procedure would still be governed by the Israeli law. Consequently, you may be effectively prevented from pursuing remedies under U.S. federal and state securities laws against us or any of our non-U.S. directors or officers.
Risks Related to NanoVibronix’s Organization and Securities
The price of our securities may be volatile, and the market price of our securities may drop below the price you pay.
We expect that the price of our securities will fluctuate significantly. Market prices for securities of early-stage medical device companies have historically been particularly volatile. In addition to the factors discussed in this “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in this Annual Report, these factors include:
| ● | progress, or lack of progress, in developing and commercializing our products; |
|---|---|
| ● | favorable or unfavorable decisions about our products or intellectual property from government regulators, insurance companies or other third-party payers; |
| ● | our ability to recruit and retain qualified regulatory and research and development personnel; |
| ● | changes in investors’ and securities analysts’ perception of the business risks and conditions of our business; |
| ● | changes in our relationship with key collaborators; |
| ● | changes in the market valuation or earnings of our competitors or companies viewed as similar to us; |
| ● | changes in key personnel; |
| ● | depth of the trading market in our common stock; |
| ● | changes in our capital structure, such as future issuances of securities or the incurrence of additional debt; |
| ● | the granting or exercise of employee stock options or other equity awards; |
| ● | realization of any of the risks described under this section entitled “Risk Factors”; and |
| ● | general market and economic conditions. |
In recent years, the stock markets, in general, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations especially in the biotechnology sector. Broad market and industry factors may materially harm the market price of shares of our common stock. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against that company. If we were involved in any similar litigation, we could incur substantial costs and our management’s attention and resources could be diverted. In the recent past, the U.S. and global markets have been experiencing volatility and disruption following the escalation of geopolitical tensions and the start of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and certain hostile entities. A continuation or worsening of the levels of market disruption and volatility could have an adverse effect on our ability to access capital, on our business, results of operations and financial condition, and on the market price of our common stock.
We have a significant number of warrants and options, and future sales of our common stock upon exercise of these options or warrants, or the perception that future sales may occur, may cause the market price of our common stock to decline, even if our business is doing well.
Sales of a significant number of shares of our common stock in the public market could harm the market price of our common stock and make it more difficult for us to raise funds through future offerings of common stock. Our stockholders and the holders of our outstanding warrants and options, upon exercise of these options or warrants, may sell substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market. The availability of these shares of our common stock for resale in the public market has the potential to cause the supply of our common stock to exceed investor demand, thereby decreasing the price of our common stock.
In addition, the fact that our stockholders and holders of our warrants and options can sell substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, whether or not sales have occurred or are occurring, could make it more difficult for us to raise additional financing through the sale of equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem reasonable or appropriate.
Although our shares of common stock are listed on Nasdaq, we currently have a limited trading volume, which results in higher price volatility for, and reduced liquidity of, our common stock.
Although our shares of common stock are listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “NAOV,” trading volume in our common stock has been limited and an active trading market for our shares of common stock may never develop or be maintained. The absence of an active trading market increases price volatility and reduces the liquidity of our common stock. As long as this condition continues, the sale of a significant number of shares of common stock at any particular time could be difficult to achieve at the market prices prevailing immediately before such shares are offered.
On April 10, 2024, we received the Letter from the Staff of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC indicating that, based upon the closing bid price of our common stock for the 30 consecutive business days between February 27, 2024 and April 9, 2024, we did not meet the minimum bid price of $1.00 per share required for continued listing on Nasdaq pursuant to the Bid Price Rule. The Letter also indicated that we were provided with a compliance period of 180 calendar days, or until October 7, 2024, in which to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A). We did not regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule by October 7, 2024, and on October 8, 2024, Nasdaq notified us that our securities were subject to delisting from Nasdaq unless we timely requested a hearing before the Panel. We subsequently timely requested a hearing before the Panel, which was held on December 5, 2024.
On November 19, 2024, we received an additional deficiency notice from the Staff indicating that we no longer satisfied the $2.5 million stockholders’ equity requirement set forth in the Equity Rule for continued listing on Nasdaq. The Staff indicated that our non-compliance with the Equity Rule would be considered by the Panel at the Hearing and could serve as an additional basis for delisting of our securities from Nasdaq.
On December 26, 2024, we received the Decision Letter from the Panel granting a limited extension of time for us to demonstrate compliance with the Bid Price Rule and the Equity Rule for continued listing on Nasdaq, subject to the following conditions: (i) on or before February 27, 2025, we will have obtained stockholder approval to effect a reverse stock split of our common stock; (ii) on or before March 31, 2025, we shall have effected a reverse stock split and, thereafter, maintain a $1.00 closing bid price of our common stock for a minimum of ten consecutive trading days; (iii) on or before March 31, 2025, we are required to demonstrate compliance with the Equity Rule by filing public disclosure with the SEC and demonstrate long-term compliance with the Equity Rule; and (iv) on or before March 31, 2025, we are required to demonstrate compliance with all continued listing requirements for Nasdaq. On February 24, 2025, we obtained approval from our stockholders to file a certificate of amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to effectuate the 2025 Reverse Stock Split, among others, and on March 13, 2025, the 2025 Reverse Stock Split became effective. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we have not formally regained compliance with listing rules of Nasdaq.
There can be no assurance that we will ultimately regain compliance with all applicable requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq.
We are a smaller reporting company, and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to our filing status will make our common stock less attractive to investors.
We are a “smaller reporting company” and, thus, have certain decreased disclosure obligations in our SEC filings, including, among other things, simplified executive compensation disclosures and only being required to provide two years of audited financial statements in annual reports. Decreased disclosures in our SEC filings due to our status as a “smaller reporting company” may make it harder for investors to analyze our results of operations and financial prospects and may make our common stock a less attractive investment. If some investors find our common stock less attractive, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.
Anti-takeover provisions of our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and Delaware law could make an acquisition of us, which may be beneficial to our stockholders, more difficult and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove the current members of our board and management.
Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws could discourage, delay or prevent a Merger, acquisition or other change of control that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which you might otherwise receive a premium for your shares. Furthermore, these provisions could prevent or frustrate attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove members of our Board of Directors (the “Board” or “Board of Directors”). These provisions also could limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for our securities, thereby depressing the market price of our securities. Stockholders who wish to participate in these transactions may not have the opportunity to do so. These provisions, among other things:
| ● | allow the authorized number of directors to be changed only by resolution of our Board; |
|---|---|
| ● | authorize our Board to issue, without stockholder approval, preferred stock, the rights of which will be determined at the discretion of the Board and that, if issued, could operate as a “poison pill” to dilute the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer to prevent an acquisition that our Board does not approve; |
| ● | establish advance notice requirements for stockholder nominations to our Board or for stockholder proposals that can be acted on at stockholder meetings; and |
| ● | limit who may call a stockholder meeting. |
In addition, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law that may, unless certain criteria are met, prohibit large stockholders, in particular those owning 15% or more of the voting rights on our common stock, from merging or combining with us for a prescribed period of time.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports or publish unfavorable research about our business, the price of our securities and their trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our securities will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. Currently there is only one research coverage by a securities and industry analyst. If one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades our securities, the price of our securities would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases to cover us or fails to publish regular reports on us, interest in the purchase of our securities could decrease, which could cause the price of our securities and their trading volume to decline.
We may be subject to ongoing restrictions related to grants from the Israeli Office of the Chief Scientist.
Through our Israeli subsidiary, as of December 31, 2017, we received grants of $437,000 from the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, or the Office of the Chief Scientist, for research and development programs related to products that we are not currently commercializing or marketing. Because we are no longer developing the product to which the grants relate, we do not believe that we are subject to any material conditions with respect to the grants, except for the restrictions on our ability to make certain transfers of the technology or intellectual property related to these grants described below. We could in the future determine to apply for further grants. If we receive any such grants, we would have to comply with specified conditions, including paying royalties with respect to grants received. If we fail to comply with these conditions in the future, sanctions might be imposed on us, such as grants could be cancelled and we could be required to refund any payments previously received under these programs.
Pursuant to the Israeli Encouragement of Industrial Research and Development Law, any products developed with grants from the Office of the Chief Scientist are required to be manufactured in Israel and certain payments may be required in connection with the change of control of the grant recipient and the financing, mortgaging, production, exportation, licensing and transfer or sale of its technology and intellectual property to third parties, which will require the Office of the Chief Scientist’s prior consent and, in case such a third party is outside of Israel, extended royalties and/or other fees. This could have a material adverse effect on and significant cash flow consequences to us if, and when, any technologies, intellectual property or manufacturing rights are exported, transferred or licensed to third parties outside Israel. If the Office of the Chief Scientist does not wish to give its consent in any required situation or transaction, we would need to negotiate a resolution with the Office of the Chief Scientist. In any event, such a transaction, assuming it was approved by the Office of the Chief Scientist, would involve monetary payments, such as royalties or fees, of not less than the applicable funding received from the Office of the Chief Scientist plus interest, not to exceed, in aggregate, six times the applicable funding received from the Office of the Chief Scientist.
Because we do not expect to pay cash dividends for the foreseeable future, you must rely on appreciation of our common stock price for any return on your investment. Even if we change that policy, we may be restricted from paying dividends on our common stock.
We do not intend to pay cash dividends on shares of our common stock for the foreseeable future. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board and will depend upon results of operations, financial performance, contractual restrictions, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors our Board deems relevant. Accordingly, you will have to rely on capital appreciation, if any, to earn a return on your investment in our common stock. Investors seeking cash dividends in the foreseeable future should not purchase our common stock.
Our ability to utilize our federal net operating loss, carry forwards and federal tax credit may be limited under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The limitations apply if an “ownership change,” as defined by Section 382, occurs. Generally, an ownership change occurs if the percentage of the value of the stock that is owned by one or more direct or indirect “five percent shareholders” increases by more than 50% over their lowest ownership percentage at any time during the applicable testing period (typically three years). If we have experienced an “ownership change” at any time since our formation, we may already be subject to limitations on our ability to utilize our existing net operating losses and other tax attributes to offset taxable income. In addition, future changes in our stock ownership, which may be outside of our control, may trigger an “ownership change” and, consequently, Section 382 and 383 limitations. As a result, if we earn net taxable income, our ability to use our pre-change net operating loss carry forwards and other tax attributes to offset U.S. federal taxable income may be subject to limitations, which could potentially result in increased future tax liability to us.
If we fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, our business, financial condition or results of operations may be adversely affected.
As a public reporting company, we are required to establish and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting. Failure to establish such internal control, or any failure of such internal control once established, could adversely impact our public disclosures regarding our business, financial condition or results of operations. Any failure of our internal control over financial reporting could also prevent us from maintaining accurate accounting records and discovering accounting errors and financial frauds.
Rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 require annual assessment of our internal control over financial reporting. The standards that must be met for management to assess the internal control over financial reporting as effective are complex, and require significant documentation, testing and possible remediation to meet the detailed standards. We may encounter problems or delays in completing activities necessary to make an assessment of our internal control over financial reporting. If we cannot assess our internal control over financial reporting as effective, investor confidence and share value may be negatively impacted. In addition, management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting may identify weaknesses and conditions that need to be addressed in our internal control over financial reporting or other matters that may raise concerns for investors. Any actual or perceived weaknesses and conditions that need to be addressed in our internal control over financial reporting (including those weaknesses identified in our periodic reports), or disclosure of management’s assessment of our internal control over financial reporting may have an adverse impact on the price of our securities.
As disclosed in Part II, Item 9A, “Controls and Procedures,” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting due to lack of adequate controls over management’s review procedures for processing, recording and reviewing transactions related to certain contracts, accounting memos and certain monthly closing procedures. Therefore, we concluded that our internal control over financial reporting and related disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2024.
Risks Related to ENvue
References in this section to the“Company,” “we,” “our,”or“us”generally refer to ENvue Medical Holdings, Corp. and its subsidiaries.
Risks Related to ENvue’s Financial Condition, Business and Operations
The financial statement footnotes of the Company include disclosure regarding the substantial doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern.
ENvue’s financial statement footnotes include disclosure regarding the substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern and indicated that, as of December 31, 2024, they had recurring losses with minimal revenue from operations.
To strengthen our liquidity in the foreseeable future, we have taken the following measures: (i) negotiating with existing and new investors to raise additional capital; and (ii) taking various cost control measures to reduce the operational cash burn. While our management believes that we can continue raising additional equity capital to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, if we are unable to raise additional capital, we may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity. No assurances can be provided that new financing will be available to us on commercially acceptable terms, if at all.
We are subject to operating risks, including excess or constrained capacity and operational inefficiencies, which could adversely affect our results of operations.
We are subject to operating risks, including excess or constrained capacity and pressure on our internal systems and personnel. In order to manage current and anticipated future operations effectively, we must continually implement and improve our operational, financial and management information systems, hire, train, motivate, manage and retain employees. We may be unable to balance near-term efforts to meet existing demand with future customer demand, including adding personnel, creating scalable, secure and robust systems and operations, and automating processes needed for long term efficiencies. Any such failure could have a material impact on our business, operations and prospects.
Our products and information technology systems are critical to our business. Issues with product development or enhancements, IT system integration, implementation, updates and upgrades could disrupt our operations and have a material impact on our business and operating results.
We rely on the efficient, uninterrupted and secure operation of our IT systems and are dependent on key third-party software embedded in our products and IT systems as well as third-party hosted IT systems to support our operations. All software and IT systems are vulnerable to damage, cyber-attacks or interruption from a variety of sources. To effectively manage and improve our operations, our IT systems and applications require an ongoing commitment of significant expenditures and resources to maintain, protect, upgrade, enhance and restore existing systems and develop new systems to keep pace with continuing changes in information processing technology, evolving industry and regulatory standards, increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, and changing consumer preferences. Failure to adequately protect and maintain the integrity of our products and IT systems may result in a material effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
We plan to continuously upgrade and issue new releases of our products and customer-facing software applications, upon which our operations depend. Software applications and products containing software frequently contain errors or defects, especially when first introduced or when new versions are released. Additionally, the third-party software integrated into or interoperable with our products and services will routinely reach end of life, and as a consequence, may be exposed to additional vulnerabilities, including increased security risks, errors and malfunctions that may be irreparable or difficult to repair. The discovery of a defect, error or security vulnerability in our products, software applications or IT systems, incompatibility with future customers’ computer operating systems and hardware configurations with a new release or upgraded version or the failure of our products or primary IT systems may cause adverse consequences, including: delay or loss of revenues, significant remediation costs, delay in market acceptance, loss of data, disclosure of financial, health or other personal information of any customers or patients, product recalls, damage to our reputation, or increased service costs, any of which could have a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of our operations and the operations of our potential customers or our business partners.
Our operations and financial performance depend on global and regional economic conditions. Inflation, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, changes in consumer confidence and demand, and weakness in general economic conditions and threats, or actual recessions, could materially affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Macroeconomic conditions impact consumer confidence and discretionary spending, which could adversely affect demand for any products we bring to market. Consumer spending habits are affected by, among other things, inflation, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, weakness in general economic conditions, threats or actual recessions, pandemics, wars and military actions, levels of employment, wages, debt obligations, discretionary income, interest rates, volatility in capital, and consumer confidence and perceptions of current and future economic conditions. Changes and uncertainty can, among other things, drive GPOs, hospitals, nursing homes and other customers towards other options in the marketplace that may cost less than our products. The recent declines in, or uncertain economic outlooks for, the U.S., European and certain other international economies has and may continue to adversely affect consumer and healthcare practice spending. The increase in the cost of fuel and energy, food and other essential items along with elevated interest rates could reduce consumers’ disposable income, resulting in less discretionary spending for products like ours. Decreases in disposable income and discretionary spending or change in consumer confidence and spending habits may adversely affect our revenues and operating results.
While we have not taken on financial obligations from banking institutions and the impact of rising interest rates (in Israel and globally) on our financing expenses and income has not been significant, inflation continues to adversely impact spending and trade activities worldwide and we are unable to predict the impacts of higher inflation on global and regional economies. Higher inflation has also increased domestic and international shipping costs, raw material prices, and labor rates, which could adversely impact the costs of producing, procuring and shipping any products we bring to market. If similar trends continue our ability to recover these cost increases through price increases may have limited effectiveness, resulting in downward pressure on our operating results. Attempts to offset cost increases with price increases could reduce sales, increase customer dissatisfaction or otherwise harm our reputation. Further, we are unable to predict the impact of efforts by central banks and federal, state and local governments to combat elevated levels of inflation. If their efforts to reduce inflation are too aggressive, they may lead to a recession. Alternatively, if they are insufficient or are not sustained long enough to lower inflation to more acceptable levels, consumer spending may be adversely impacted for a prolonged period of time. Any of these events could materially affect our business and operating results.
Our business could be impacted by political events, trade and other international disputes, war, and terrorism, including the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Political events, trade and other international disputes, war, and terrorism could harm or disrupt international commerce and the global economy and could have a material effect on our business as well as our potential customers, suppliers, contract manufacturers, distributors, and other business partners.
Political events, trade and other international disputes, wars, and terrorism can lead to unexpected tariffs or trade restrictions, which could adversely impact our business. These increased costs could adversely impact our gross margin and make our products less competitive or reduce demand. Countries could also adopt other measures, such as controls on imports or exports of goods, technology or data, that could adversely impact our operations and supply chain and limit our ability to offer products and services. These measures could require us to take various actions, including changing suppliers or restructuring business relationships. Complying with new or changed trade restrictions is expensive, time-consuming and disruptive to our operations. Such restrictions can be announced with little or no advance notice and we may be unable to effectively mitigate the adverse impacts of such measures. If disputes and conflicts escalate in the future, actions by governments in response could be significantly more severe and restrictive and could materially affect our business.
Political unrest, threats, tensions, actions and responses to any social, economic, business, geopolitical, military, terrorism, or acts of war involving key commercial, development or manufacturing markets such as China, Mexico, Israel, Europe, or other countries or regions could materially impact any international operations we undertake. For example, our employees in Israel could be obligated to perform annual reserve duty in the Israeli military and be called for additional active duty under emergency circumstances. If any of these events or conditions occur, the impact on us, our employees and potential customers is uncertain, particularly if emergency circumstances, armed conflicts or an escalation in political instability or violence disrupts our product development, data or information exchange, payroll or banking operations, product or materials shipping by us or our suppliers and other unanticipated business disruptions, interruptions and limitations in telecommunication services or critical systems or applications reliant on a stable and uninterrupted communications infrastructure.
U.S. and global markets are experiencing volatility and disruption following the escalation of geopolitical tensions and the start of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. On February 24, 2022, a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops was reported. In response to the military conflict, the United States and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization member states, as well as non-member states, announced targeted economic sanctions on Russia, including certain Russian citizens and enterprises, and the continuation of the conflict may trigger additional economic and other sanctions. The potential impacts of the conflict and related sanctions could include supply chain and logistics disruptions, macro financial impacts resulting from the exclusion of Russian financial institutions from the global banking system, volatility in foreign exchange rates and interest rates, inflationary pressures on raw materials and energy and heightened cybersecurity threats. We have no way to predict the progress or outcome of the conflict in Ukraine or the reactions by governments, businesses or consumers. A prolonged conflict, intensified military activities or more extensive sanctions impacting the region and the resulting economic impact could have a material effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, growth prospects and business outlook.
We conduct certain of our operations in Israel. Conditions in Israel, including the October 2023 attack by Hamas and other terrorist organizations from the Gaza Strip and Israel’s war against them, may affect our operations.
We currently have 4 full-time employees, including 4 employees who are members of senior management, as well as engagements with 5 contractors, who are located in and/or reside in Israel. As a result, our business and operations are directly affected by economic, political, geopolitical and military conditions in Israel. Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, a number of armed conflicts have occurred between Israel and its neighboring countries and terrorist organizations active in the region. These conflicts have involved missile strikes, hostile infiltrations and terrorism against civilian targets in various parts of Israel, which have negatively affected business conditions in Israel.
In October 2023, Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel’s southern border from the Gaza Strip and conducted a series of attacks on civilian and military targets. Hamas also launched extensive rocket attacks on Israeli population and industrial centers located along Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip and in other areas within the State of Israel. Following the attack, Israel’s security cabinet declared war against Hamas and a military campaign against these terrorist organizations commenced in parallel to their continued rocket and terror attacks. Moreover, the clash between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, may escalate in the future into a greater regional conflict.
Any hostilities involving Israel could adversely affect our operations and results of operations. Shelter-in-place and work-from-home measures, government-imposed restrictions on movement and travel and other precautions taken to address the ongoing conflict may temporarily disrupt our employees’ ability to effectively perform their daily tasks.
The Israel Defense Force (the “IDF”), the national military of Israel, is a conscripted military service, subject to certain exceptions. Several of our employees are subject to military service in the IDF and have been and may be called to serve. It is possible that there will be further or longer military reserve duty call-ups in the future, which may affect our business due to a shortage of skilled labor and loss of institutional knowledge, and necessary mitigation measures we may take to respond to a decrease in labor availability, such as overtime and third-party outsourcing, for example, which may have unintended negative effects and adversely impact our results of operations, liquidity or cash flows.
It is currently not possible to predict the duration or severity of the ongoing conflict or its effects on our business, operations and financial conditions. The ongoing conflict is rapidly evolving and developing, and could disrupt our business and operations.
The impact of planned changes in the Israeli Judicial System on capital raising in the high-tech sector is difficult to predict.
In January and February 2023, the Israeli government began promoting a plan to implement changes in the judicial system in Israel, as well as additional legislative changes. According to various assessments and publications, the proposed changes (some of which have already passed the first, second, and even third readings in the Knesset) are causing significant controversy and, therefore, may also impact the performance and resilience of the Israeli economy. According to some forecasts, this plan may lead, among other things, to a downgrade in Israel’s credit rating, damage to the local currency, increased inflation, a reduction in investments in the Israeli economy, capital outflow from Israel, an increase in the cost of capital raising in the Israeli economy, and harm to the activity of the economic sector in general and the high-tech sector in particular. The forecast from the Bank of Israel’s research unit in July 2023 provided evidence of a decline in the volume of fundraising for investments in start-up companies in Israel.
Since October 2023, following the start of Israel-Hamas war, public and media focus on legislative changes has diminished. It is currently not possible to predict whether the legislative efforts will be renewed and or their effects on our business, operations and financial conditions.
Our “Israeli identity” may have negative impact on our sales.
Part of our management, and the majority of development, are based in Israel, while all our product sales including operations are made outside of Israel. Accordingly, the political status of the State of Israel may impact our activity. The Israeli identity sometimes serves as a sales promoter (due to the recognition of Israel’s technological advantages), while in other cases, it may be a disadvantage and could even lead to the cancellation of deals (such as within the framework of coordinated efforts to boycott Israeli products and/or divest from Israel). Additionally, some countries worldwide have imposed or may impose restrictions on doing business in or with Israeli companies from time to time.
Our operations may be impacted by natural disasters, which may become more frequent or severe as a result of climate change and may adversely impact our business and operating results as well as those of our potential customers and suppliers.
Natural disasters can impact us and our potential customers, as well as suppliers critical to our operations. Natural disasters include earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, droughts, hurricanes, wildfires, and other extreme weather conditions that can cause deaths, injuries, and critical health crises, power outages, restrictions and shortages of food, water, shelter, and medical supplies, telecommunications failures, materials scarcity, price volatility and other ramifications. Climate change is likely to increase both the frequency and severity of natural disasters and, consequently, risks to our business and operations.
The effects of climate change on regional and global economies could change the supply, demand or availability of sources of energy or other resources material to our products and operations and affect the availability or cost of natural resources and goods and services on which we and our suppliers rely.
Risks Related to the ENvue System
If we are not successful in enhancing awareness of our ENvue System, driving adoption across our current target population and expanding the population of eligible patients, our sales, business, financial condition and results of operations will be negatively affected.
Our business currently depends primarily on our ability to successfully market our ENvue System, which involves successfully engaging with group purchasing organizations or GPOs (i.e. entities that assist healthcare providers, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies, to achieve savings and efficiency by using aggregate purchasing volume to negotiate discounts with manufacturers, distributors, and other suppliers) to increase adoption of and utilization our ENvue System.
The medical community’s awareness of performing the feeding tube insertion procedure using our product and the medical community’s adoption of the solution offered by us, instead of existing methods and products in the market for performing the procedure, is significant and crucial for our success. We are aiming to increase awareness about our ENvue System, work with medical professionals in the United States to raise awareness among the medical community and grow the number of facilities that utilize our ENvue System, but there can be no assurance that we will succeed.
The commercial success of our ENvue System will continue to depend on a number of factors, including the following:
| ● | the actual and perceived effectiveness and clinical benefit, of our ENvue System; |
|---|---|
| ● | the prevalence and severity of any adverse patient events involving our ENvue System; |
| ● | our ability to provide earlier awareness of and education about our ENvue System to GPOs; |
| ● | the degree to which medical professionals and GPOs adopt our ENvue System; |
| ● | the availability, relative cost and perceived advantages and disadvantages of alternative technologies or treatment methods for cognitive disorders; |
| ● | the results of future clinical and other studies relating to the health, economic or other benefits of our ENvue System; |
| ● | whether key thought leaders in the medical community accept that our future clinical utility is sufficiently meaningful to influence their decision to adopt our ENvue System; |
| ● | the extent to which we are successful in educating medical professionals, GPOs and patients about the benefits of our ENvue System; |
| ● | our reputation among GPOs and medical professionals; |
| ● | our ability to predict product performance; |
| ● | the strength of our marketing and distribution infrastructure, including our ability to drive adoption and utilization of our ENvue System; |
| ● | our ability to obtain, maintain, protect, enforce and defend our intellectual property rights, including those covering our ENvue System; |
| ● | our ability to maintain compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements, including FDA medical device postmarket surveillance regulations applicable to our ENvue System; and |
| ● | our ability to continue to attract and retain key talent. |
If we fail to market and sell our ENvue System cost-effectively, our sales, business, financial condition and results of operations will be negatively affected.
Our commercial success and revenues will depend on the future adoption of the ENvue System into patient work streams in facilities and other healthcare settings. If we are unable to successfully drive interest in our ENvue System, our business, financial condition and results of operations would be harmed.
Our commercial success and revenues will depend in large part on the future adoption of the ENvue System into patient work streams in facilities and other healthcare settings. Our revenues are based and are expected to be based on the sale of the ENvue System and the sale of the dedicated feeding tubes (which are consumable products) to hospitals. Hospital procurement budgets, including capital equipment budgets, are sometimes shared by the entire institution or several departments within it. As such, expenses related to the purchase of other equipment by certain departments of a medical institution may reduce the budgets available for the purchase of our products by other departments interested in purchasing them.
If we are unable to successfully scale our marketing, training and quality control systems our business, financial condition and results of operations would be harmed.
We began our marketing and sales activities in the beginning of 2020, and as of the date of this filing, we have not yet begun large-scale production and marketing. Accordingly, the use of the ENvue System has not yet been tested and proven on a large commercial scale. We are a continuous process of receiving feedback from product users, developing, and improving products, distributing the improved products, and continuously reviewing our training procedures and quality control. We estimate that we will need to develop our marketing, training, and quality control systems to a scale not currently available to us (or alternatively, enter into an agreement with a strategic distributor or marketer who has such capabilities). There is no assurance that we will be able to do so in a way that allows us to achieve our objectives. If we are unable to successfully implement such marketing, training and quality control systems our business, financial condition and results of operations would be harmed.
We may be unable to compete successfully with competitive technologies, which could harm our sales, business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our industry is competitive and has been evolving rapidly. As of February 13, 2019, the ENvue System and ENvue Feeding Tube has received FDA clearance for marketing in the U.S. under the 510(k) procedure for use in adults (age 22 and older). As we continue to engage with target GPOs to increase adoption of and utilization our ENvue System, we expect to face competition in the market from competing technologies, as well as competition from new companies that may enter the market or introduce new technologies in the future. Third-party payors may encourage the use of competitors’ products due to lower costs of competing products or alternatives. Additionally, treating physicians may promote the use of other competitors’ products or alternative therapies.
Our current and future competitors may include large, well-capitalized companies with significant market share and resources. They may have more established sales and marketing programs than we do and have greater name recognition. In addition to competing for market share, competitors may develop or acquire patents or other rights that may limit our ability to compete.
We believe that the competitive advantages of our ENvue System will be important factors in our future success. Our continued success depends on, among other things, our ability to:
| ● | successfully engage with GPOs to increase adoption of and utilization our ENvue System; |
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| ● | attract and retain skilled research, development, sales, marketing and clinical personnel; |
| ● | continue to innovate in order to improve our ENvue System and enhance the patient and provider experience; |
| ● | adequately predict and respond to product performance and safety; |
| ● | obtain and maintain regulatory clearances, including for expanded indications; |
| ● | cost-effectively market and sell our ENvue System; |
| ● | obtain, maintain, protect, enforce and defend our intellectual property rights and operate our business without infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the intellectual property rights of others; and |
| ● | acquire products or technologies complementary to or necessary for our business. |
The medical device industry is intensely competitive, subject to rapid change and significantly affected by new product introductions and other market activities of industry participants. There can be no assurance that other companies or institutions will not succeed in developing or marketing devices and products that are more effective than our ENvue System or that would render our ENvue System obsolete or noncompetitive.
Use of our ENvue System requires appropriate training and inadequate training may lead to negative clinician experiences, which could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The successful use of our ENvue System depends in part on the training and skill of the clinician. According to the regulatory clearance of the ENvue System by the FDA, users of the system are required to undergo training provided by us, according to a unique and easy-to-implement training model developed by us for system users. The training is usually provided in a concentrated manner to system users on behalf of the hospital, lasts approximately five days, and includes both theoretical and practical components regarding the system and its use. Providers could experience difficulty using our ENvue System. Moreover, medical providers rely on their previous medical training and experience when recommending or utilizing our ENvue System, and we cannot guarantee that all clinicians will have the necessary skills to properly utilize the ENvue System. We cannot be certain that clinicians that will use our ENvue System will have received sufficient training, and clinicians who have not received adequate training may nonetheless attempt to use our ENvue System with their patients. If medical providers utilize our ENvue System incorrectly, or without adhering to or completing all relevant training, their patient outcomes may not be consistent with the outcomes achieved in our research studies and any future clinical studies. Adverse safety outcomes that arise from improper or incorrect use of our ENvue System may negatively impact the perception of patient benefit and the safety of our ENvue System, notwithstanding results from our research studies and any future clinical studies. These results could limit adoption of our ENvue System, which would harm our sales, business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We are highly dependent on our senior management and key personnel. Our success will depend on our ability to retain senior management and to attract and retain qualified personnel in the future, including sales and marketing professionals, engineers, scientists, data science specialists and other highly skilled personnel and to integrate current and additional personnel in all departments.
As we engage with GPOs and target medical providers to increase adoption of and utilization our ENvue System, expand our product offerings in the future and increase our future marketing efforts, we will need to build and expand the reach of our marketing and sales networks. Our future success will depend largely on our ability to continue to hire, train, retain and motivate skilled employees with significant technical knowledge in various areas. An inability to attract, hire, train and retain employees will harm our sales, business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We expect to increase the size of our organization in the future, and we may experience difficulties in managing the operational elements or timing of this growth. If we are unable to manage or appropriately time the anticipated growth of our business, our future revenue and operating results may be harmed.
As of February 9, 2025, we have 16 employees and consultants, of whom ten employees and consultants operate in the United States as part of the Company’s subsidiary. As our sales and marketing strategies evolve and as we continue commercialization of our ENvue System, we may need additional managerial, operational, sales, marketing, financial and other personnel. Future growth would impose significant added responsibilities on members of management, including:
| ● | managing our internal development efforts effectively, while complying with our contractual obligations to contractors and other third parties; and |
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| ● | improving our operational, financial and management controls, reporting systems and procedures. |
Our future financial performance and our ability to successfully market and sell our ENvue System will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively manage or time any future growth, and our management may also have to divert a disproportionate amount of attention away from day-to-day activities in order to devote a substantial amount of time to managing these growth activities.
As demand for our ENvue System increases in the future, we will need to expand customer service, billing and systems processes and enhance our internal quality assurance program. We cannot be certain that any increases in scale, related improvements and quality assurance will be successfully implemented or that appropriate personnel will be available to facilitate the growth of our business. If we encounter difficulty meeting market demand, quality standards or clinician expectations, our reputation will be harmed and our business will suffer. Additionally, additional growth may result in higher fixed costs and may slow our ability to reduce costs in the face of a sudden decline in demand for our products.
We may not be able to achieve or maintain satisfactory pricing and margins for our ENvue System, which could harm our business and results of operations.
The medical device industry has a history of price competition, and we can give no assurance that we will be able to maintain satisfactory prices for our ENvue System or any future products at competitive levels. The pricing of our products could be impacted by several factors, including change of supplies, price changes of components, and shipping costs. If we are forced to lower or are unable to increase the price we charge for our ENvue System, our gross margins will decrease, which will harm our ability to invest in and grow our business. If we are unable to maintain our prices, or if our costs increase and we are unable to offset such increase with an increase in our prices, our margins could erode, which could harm our business and results of operations.
Future sales of our ENvue System may depend on providers’ and patients’ability to obtain reimbursement from third-party payors, such as insurance carriers.
Future sales of our ENvue System may depend on our provider customers’ and patients’ ability to obtain reimbursement from third-party payors, such as insurance carriers. Our customers typically rely significantly on insurance or third-party reimbursement for the treatment and care they provide to patients. Any reduction in insurance or other third-party payor reimbursement for such patient care may cause negative price pressure that affects their ability to purchase our ENvue System, which would reduce our revenues. Without a corresponding reduction in the cost to produce such products, the result would be a reduction in our overall gross profit. Similarly, any increase in the cost of such products would likely reduce our overall gross profit unless there was a corresponding increase in third-party payor reimbursement. Failure by our provider customers or their patients to obtain or maintain coverage or to secure adequate reimbursement for treatment by third-party payors could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Our results of operations may be harmed if we are unable to accurately forecast clinician demand for our ENvue System or any future products.
Our ability to accurately forecast demand for our ENvue System or our future our products could be negatively affected by many factors, including our failure to accurately manage our expansion strategy, product introductions by competitors, our inability to forecast the lifecycle of our products, an increase or decrease in customer demand for our products or for competitor products, our failure to accurately forecast customer adoption of new products, unanticipated changes in general market conditions or regulatory matters and weakening of economic conditions or consumer confidence in future economic conditions. For us to succeed, it is essential to introduce and integrate the ENvue System into our target market, including through the creation of strategic partnerships and the establishment of effective marketing and distribution networks, as well as the successful execution of commercial validation of the ENvue System. Inventory levels in excess of customer demand may result in inventory write-downs or write-offs, which would cause our gross margin to be adversely affected and could impair the strength of our brand, which may negatively affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Adoption of our ENvue System depends on positive clinical data as well as medical providers’ acceptance of the data and our products, and negative clinical data, publicly reported adverse events, or perceptions among these medical providers would harm our sales, business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The rate of adoption and sales of our products is heavily influenced by clinical data. There can be no assurance that future clinical studies, including those to demonstrate the efficacy of our ENvue System or future products in current target patient populations and those to support label retention and expansion for our products, will demonstrate clinical utility and effectiveness. Unfavorable or inconsistent clinical data from future clinical studies conducted by us, our competitors, or third parties, adverse events publicly reported by us, patients, or healthcare providers, or the negative interpretation of our clinical data internally and externally, including by customers, competitors, patients, and regulators could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The rate of adoption and sales of our products are also influenced by clinician perceptions. Negative perceptions of our products by medical providers, including due to negative clinical data or adverse events, could result in decreased adoption or use of our products, which would harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Further, if we are not able to attain strong working relationships with medical providers and receive their advice and input, the marketing of our products could suffer, which could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our future success also depends upon patients having an experience with our products that meets their expectations in order to increase clinician demand for our products as a result of positive feedback and word-of-mouth. Patients may experience negative clinical outcomes if the performing medical providers are not adequately trained on use of our ENvue System. If the results of our products do not meet the expectations of the patients or their providers it could discourage continuing use of our device or referring our products to others. Dissatisfied providers or patients may express negative opinions through social media, advocacy, or other publicity. Any failure to meet provider or patient expectations and any resulting negative publicity could harm our reputation and future sales.
Risks Related to ENvue Legal, Regulatory and Compliance Matters
Complying with regulations enforced by FDA and other regulatory authorities is expensive and time consuming, and failure to comply could result in substantial penalties.
Our product, the ENvue System (for which we have obtained FDA 510(k) clearance), and our future products are considered medical devices and, accordingly, are subject to rigorous regulation by government agencies in the U.S. and other countries in which we intend to sell our products. Compliance with these rigorous regulations will affect capital expenditures, earnings and the competitive position of the Company. These regulations vary from country to country but cover, among other things, the following activities with respect to medical devices:
| ● | design, development and manufacturing; |
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| ● | testing, labeling, content and language of instructions for use and storage; |
| ● | product storage and safety; |
| ● | marketing, sales and distribution; |
| ● | pre-market clearance or approval; |
| ● | record keeping procedures; |
| ● | advertising and promotion; |
| ● | recalls and field safety corrective actions; |
| ● | post-market surveillance; |
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| ● | post-market approval studies; and |
| ● | product import and export. |
The regulations to which we are subject are complex. Regulatory changes could result in restrictions on our ability to carry on or expand our operations, higher than anticipated costs, or lower than anticipated sales. Our failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements could result in enforcement action by FDA or state agencies, which may include any of the following sanctions:
| ● | warning letters, fines, injunctions, consent decrees, and civil penalties; |
|---|---|
| ● | repair, replacement, refunds, recall, or seizure of our products; |
| ● | operating restrictions or partial suspension or total shutdown of production; |
| ● | refusing our requests for 510(k) clearance or pre-market approval of new products, new intended uses, or modifications to existing products; |
| ● | withdrawing clearance or pre-market approvals that have already been granted; and |
| ● | criminal prosecution. |
If any of these events were to occur, they could harm our business.
We may not receive the necessary authorizations to market future versions, if any, of our ENvue System or any future new product candidates, and any failure to timely do so may adversely affect our ability to grow our business.
Before we can sell a new medical device in the U.S., or market a new use of, new claim for, or significant modification to a legally marketed device, we must first obtain either FDA 510(k) clearance or pre-market approval, unless an exemption applies. In the 510(k) clearance process, before a device may be marketed, the applicant must submit a premarket notification to FDA under Section 510(k) of the FD&C Act, and FDA must determine that a proposed device is “substantially equivalent” to a legally-marketed “predicate” device. To be “substantially equivalent,” the proposed device must have the same intended use as the predicate device, and either have the same technological characteristics as the predicate device or have different technological characteristics, not raise different questions of safety or effectiveness than the predicate device, and be as safe and as effective as the predicate device. The 510(k) clearance process can be expensive and uncertain and typically takes from three to 12 months, but may last significantly longer. Clinical data may be required in connection with an application for 510(k) clearance. Furthermore, even if we are granted regulatory clearances, they may include limitations on the indications for use or intended uses of the device, which may limit the market for the device.
Our ENvue System is a Class II medical device and received FDA clearance under the 510(k) pathway for marketing to adults (ages 22 and above) only.
FDA can delay, limit, or deny 510(k) clearance, or approval or reclassification, of a device for many reasons, including:
| ● | we may be unable to demonstrate to FDA’s satisfaction that the product candidate or modifications are substantially equivalent to a proposed predicate device or safe and effective for their intended uses; |
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| ● | we may be unable to demonstrate that the clinical and other benefits of the device outweigh the risks; and |
| ● | the applicable regulatory authority may identify deficiencies in our submissions or in the facilities or processes of our third party contract manufacturers. |
Any delay or failure to obtain necessary regulatory clearances or approvals could harm our business. For example, if we decide to market the ENvue System for a broader or additional indication(s) for use and/or make any material modifications to any element of the device and/or the manufacturing or distribution thereof in the future, an additional 510(k) submission, and FDA clearance thereof, will be required prior to making any promotional communications expressly or impliedly claiming that the device may be used for such indication(s) and/or prior to making such modification, respectively.
In addition, FDA may change its policies, adopt additional regulations, revise existing regulations, or take other actions, or Congress may enact different or additional statutory requirements, which may prevent or delay clearance of our future products under development or impact our ability to modify our currently marketed products on a timely basis. Such policy, statutory, or regulatory changes could impose additional requirements upon us that could delay our ability to obtain new 510(k) clearances, increase the costs of compliance, or restrict our ability to maintain our current marketing authorizations.
We received our European CE mark, indicating that we affirm our product’s conformity with European health, safety and environmental protection standards, in 2021. We will also need to obtain regulatory approval in other foreign jurisdictions in which we plan to market and sell our products. The time required to obtain registrations or approvals, if required by other countries, may be longer than that required for FDA clearance, and requirements for such registrations, clearances, or approvals may significantly differ from FDA requirements. If we modify our products, we may need to apply for additional regulatory approvals before we are permitted to sell the modified product. In addition, we may not continue to meet the quality and safety standards required to maintain the authorizations that we have received. If we are unable to maintain our authorizations in a particular country, we will no longer be able to sell the applicable product in that country.
Failure to comply with these rules, regulations, self-regulatory codes, circulars, and orders could result in significant civil and criminal penalties and costs and could have a material adverse impact on our business. Also, these regulations may be interpreted or applied by a prosecutorial, regulatory, or judicial authority in a manner that could require us to make changes in our operations or incur substantial defense and settlement expenses. Even unsuccessful challenges by regulatory authorities or private relators could result in reputational harm and the incurring of substantial costs. In addition, many of these laws are vague or indefinite and have not been interpreted by the courts and have been subject to frequent modification and varied interpretation by prosecutorial and regulatory authorities, increasing compliance risks.
Certain modifications to our products may require new 510(k) clearance or other marketing authorizations.
Once a medical device is permitted to be legally marketed in the U.S. pursuant to a 510(k) clearance, a medical device developer may be required to notify FDA of certain modifications to the device. Medical device developers determine in the first instance whether a change to a product requires a new premarket submission, but FDA may review any such decision.
While our ENvue System received 510(k) clearance in February 2019, we may in the future apply for 510(k) clearance for updated components of our ENvue System, which must, then, be found by the FDA to be substantially equivalent to the cleared ENvue System and, thus, may not be lawfully marketed in the U.S. until FDA make a substantial equivalence determination and issues the requisite 510(k) clearance for the updated ENvue System. Although the development of our ENvue System has been carefully monitored and documented by professionals who are experienced in the FDA clearance process, there is no assurance that the FDA will agree that an updated component of our ENvue System is substantially equivalent to the cleared ENvue System and allow the updated ENvue System to be marketed in the United States. The FDA may determine that the device is not substantially equivalent and require a premarket approval (“PMA”) or, more likely, ade novo reclassification, and/or require further information, such as additional test data, including data from additional clinical studies, before it is able to make a determination regarding substantial equivalence or PMA. By requesting additional information, the FDA can delay market introduction of an updated ENvue System and increase the resources needed to gain clearance or PMA. Delays in receipt of or failure to receive any necessary 510(k) clearance, de novo classification, or PMA, or the imposition of stringent restrictions for our ENvue System, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
In the future, we may make other modifications to our products, including our ENvue System, and determine, based on our review of the applicable FDA regulations and guidance, that in certain instances new 510(k) clearances or other premarket submissions are not required. If FDA disagrees with our determinations, we may be subject to a wide range of enforcement actions, including, for example, a warning letter, among other consequences, after which we will likely have to cease marketing the applicable modified product and/or to recall distributed units of such modified product until we obtain the requisite clearance or approval.
Ongoing changes in healthcare regulation could negatively affect our revenues, business and financial condition.
The United States healthcare system has been continually evolving at the federal and state level due to comprehensive reforms relating to the payment for, the availability of and reimbursement for healthcare services. Key reforms have ranged from fundamentally changing federal and state healthcare reimbursement programs, including providing comprehensive healthcare coverage to the public under government-funded programs, to minor modifications to existing programs, and many have been challenged (with some being overturned or modified) along the way. One example, among countless others, is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the “Affordable Care Act”), which was the most significant federal healthcare reform law enacted in the U.S. in recent history. The Affordable Care Act has undergone substantial challenges and changes since its enactment in 2010, and numerous other federal healthcare reform legislation, executive orders, and judicial rulings have been implemented in the years since, most of which have been or are aimed at lowering healthcare costs in the U.S. To the extent any such reform measures or any future initiatives reduce reimbursement or coverage eligibility or amount(s) for treatment involving our ENvue System and/or any future products we may market in the U.S. (if any), our business may be adversely affected.
Healthcare reform initiatives will continue to be proposed and may reduce healthcare related funding. It is impossible to predict the ultimate content and timing of any healthcare reform legislation and its resulting impact on us. If significant reforms are made to the healthcare system in the United States, or in other jurisdictions, those reforms may increase our costs or otherwise negatively effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
On April 5, 2017, the European Parliament passed the Medical Devices Regulation (Regulation 2017/745), which repeals and replaces the EU Medical Device Directive and became effective on May 26, 2021. The Medical Devices Regulation, among other things, is intended to establish a uniform, transparent, predictable, and sustainable regulatory framework across the EEA for medical devices and ensure a high level of safety and health while supporting innovation. The new regulations, among other things:
| ● | strengthen the rules on placing devices on the market and reinforce surveillance once they are available; |
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| ● | establish explicit provisions on manufacturers’ responsibilities for the follow-up of the quality, performance and safety of devices placed on the market; |
| ● | improve the traceability of medical devices throughout the supply chain to the end-user or patient through a unique identification number; |
| ● | set up a central database to provide patients, healthcare professionals and the public with comprehensive information on products available in the European Union; and |
| ● | strengthen rules for the assessment of certain high-risk devices, such as implants, which may have to undergo an additional check by experts before they are placed on the market. |
Any change in the laws or regulations that govern the clearance and approval processes relating to our current, planned and future products could make it more difficult and costly to obtain clearance or approval for new products or to produce, market and distribute existing products. Significant delays in receiving clearance or approval or the failure to receive clearance or approval for our new products would have an adverse effect on our ability to expand our business.
Our products may cause or contribute to adverse medical events that we are required to report to FDA and other governmental authorities, and if we fail to do so, we would be subject to sanctions that could harm our reputation, business, results of operations, and financial condition. The discovery of serious safety issues with our products, or a recall of our products either voluntarily or at the direction of FDA or another governmental authority, could have a negative impact on us.
We are required to timely file various reports with FDA, including reports required by the medical device reporting regulations which require us to report to FDA when we receive or become aware of information that reasonably suggests that one of our products may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or malfunctioned in a way that, if the malfunction were to recur in the device or a similar device that we market, could cause or contribute to a death or serious injury. If we fail to comply with our reporting obligations, FDA or other governmental authorities could take action, including warning letters, untitled letters, administrative actions, criminal prosecution, imposition of civil monetary penalties, revocation of our device clearance, seizure of our products, or delay in clearance of future products. FDA and certain foreign regulatory bodies have the authority to require the recall of commercialized products under certain circumstances.
A government-mandated or voluntary recall by us could occur as a result of an unacceptable risk to health, component failures, malfunctions, labeling or design deficiencies, packaging defects, or other deficiencies, or failures to comply with applicable regulations. If we do not adequately address problems associated with our devices, we may face additional regulatory requirements or enforcement action, including required new marketing authorizations, FDA warning letters, product seizure, injunctions, administrative penalties, or civil or criminal proceedings.
We may initiate voluntary withdrawals, removals, or corrections for our products in the future that we determine do not require notification of FDA because no material compliance issue or safety risk is involved. If FDA disagrees with our determinations, it could require us to report those actions and we may be subject to enforcement action. A future recall announcement or other corrective action could harm our financial results and reputation, potentially lead to product liability claims against us, require the dedication of our time and capital, and negatively affect our sales.
In addition, FDA’s and other regulatory authorities’ policies may change, and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent, limit, or delay regulatory clearance or approval of our future products. For example, in November 2018, FDA announced that it plans to develop proposals to drive manufacturers utilizing the 510(k) pathway toward the use of newer predicates. It is unclear the extent to which any proposals, if adopted, could impose additional regulatory requirements on us that could delay our ability to obtain new 510(k) clearances, increase the costs of compliance, or restrict our ability to maintain our current clearances.
We also cannot predict the likelihood, nature, or extent of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative or executive action, either in the U.S. or abroad. For example, the Trump Administration previously enacted several executive actions that could impose significant burdens on, or otherwise materially delay, FDA’s ability to engage in routine regulatory and oversight activities. It is difficult to predict how these executive actions and executive actions that may be taken under the Biden Administration or future administrations may affect FDA’s ability to exercise its regulatory authority. If these executive actions impose constraints on FDA’s ability to engage in oversight and implementation activities in the normal course, our business may be negatively impacted.
Changes in internet regulations could adversely affect our business.
Laws, rules, and regulations governing internet communications, advertising, and e-commerce are dynamic, and the extent of future government regulation is uncertain. Federal and state regulations govern various aspects of our online business, including intellectual property ownership and infringement, trade secrets, the distribution of electronic communications, marketing and advertising, user privacy and data security, search engines, and internet tracking technologies. Future taxation on the use of the internet or e-commerce transactions could also be imposed. Existing or future regulation or taxation could increase our operating expenses and expose us to significant liabilities.
Disruptions at the FDA, other agencies or notified bodies caused by funding shortages or global health concerns could hinder their ability to hire, retain, or deploy key leadership and other personnel, or otherwise prevent new or modified products from being developed, cleared or approved, or commercialized in a timely manner, or at all, which could negatively impact our business.
The ability of the FDA, other agencies and notified bodies to review and authorize or certify for marketing new products can be affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding levels, statutory, regulatory and policy changes, agency’s or notified body’s ability to hire and retain key personnel and accept the payment of user fees, and other events that may otherwise affect the agency’s or notified body’s ability to perform routine functions. Average review times at the FDA and other agencies and notified bodies have fluctuated in recent years as a result. In addition, government funding of other government agencies that fund research and development activities is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable. Disruptions at the FDA, other agencies and notified bodies may also slow the time necessary for new medical devices or modifications to be reviewed and/or cleared, approved or certified by necessary agencies or notified bodies, which would adversely affect our business. For example, over the last several years, the U.S. government has shut down several times and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA, have had to furlough critical FDA employees and stop critical activities. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, or if global health concerns, including pandemics, were to prevent the FDA or other regulatory authorities from conducting their regular inspections, reviews, or other regulatory activities, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA or other regulatory authorities to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
In the EU, notified bodies must be officially designated to certify products and services in accordance with the MDR, which regulates the development and sale of medical devices in Europe. While several notified bodies have been designated, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly slowed down their designation process and the current designated notified bodies are facing a large amount of requests with the new regulation, as a consequence of which review times have lengthened although a regulation amending the EU MDR was adopted in March 2023, extending existing transitional provisions to December 31, 2028. This situation could significantly impact the ability of notified bodies to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business in the EU and EEA (which consists of the 27 EU member states plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland).
The misuse or off-label use of our ENvue System may harm our reputation in the marketplace, result in injuries that lead to product liability suits or result in costly investigations, fines or sanctions by regulatory bodies, particularly if we are deemed to have engaged in the promotion of these uses, any of which could be costly to our business.
Our ENvue System is a Class II medical device cleared by FDA for commercialization in the U.S. to aid qualified operators in the placement of ENvue Medical Enteral Feeding Tube into the stomach or small intestine pursuant to the 510(k) notification process in February 2019 for use in adults (aged 22 and over). We, thus, are not currently able to promote the ENvue System for any other indications for use or make any promotional claims that are inconsistent with, or outside the scope of, such FDA clearance (often referred to as “off-label” claims). However, the assessment of whether a given claim is or is not consistent with a given FDA clearance or approval can often be subjective, and we cannot guarantee that FDA will always agree with our position regarding a particular claim or that all of our employees, representatives, and agents will abide by our marketing policies. If FDA determines that we have promoted any product without the requisite clearance or approval and/or for an off-label or unapproved use, it could take any number of enforcement actions against us, including (among others), issuing untitled or warning letters and/or pursuing an injunction, seizure, civil fine and/or criminal penalties. It is also possible that other federal, state or foreign enforcement authorities might take action under other regulatory authority, such as laws prohibiting false claims for reimbursement, any of which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and/or business as a whole.
Additionally, we must have competent and reliable scientific evidence or, where applicable, other adequate substantiation for each reasonable interpretation of every promotional claim we make. In particular, comparative or superiority claims generally require adequate, well controlled, head-to-head clinical studies, comparing the product to the applicable competing products. To the extent we make any claims, or are otherwise held responsible for third-party claims about any product we may market in the United States, without the requisite clinical substantiation, we could be subject to enforcement action by FDA and/or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as well as a competitor challenge via the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Better Business Bureau. Our plans to utilize social media as a primary promotional tool for our device(s) increases the applicable enforcement risk, as it makes it easier for our employees, affiliates, and any third parties with which we may have a relationship and/or arrangement under which we are deemed responsible for such party’s claims about our product(s) to disseminate promotional claims about our product(s) that may be inconsistent with applicable regulations governing device promotions. Further, consumers can bring private false-advertising lawsuits, including class actions, against us for any material misrepresentations and/or deceptive or unsubstantiated claims (among other similar causes of action) in our promotional materials or other advertising. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business.
There are numerous U.S. federal and state, as well as foreign, laws pertaining to healthcare fraud and abuse, including anti-kickback, false claims, and physician transparency laws. Efforts to ensure that our business arrangements with third parties will comply with applicable healthcare laws and regulations may involve substantial costs. Our business practices and relationships with providers and patients are subject to scrutiny under these laws. We may also be subject to patient information privacy and security regulation by both the federal government and the states and foreign jurisdictions in which we conduct our business. The healthcare laws and regulations that may affect our ability to operate include:
| ● | the federal healthcare Medicare and Medicaid Patient Protection Act of 1987 (the “Anti-Kickback Statute”), which prohibits, among other things, persons, and entities from knowingly and willfully soliciting, offering, receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind, to induce or reward either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, lease, order, or arrange for or recommend a good or service, for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, under federal healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid. The term “remuneration” has been broadly interpreted to include anything of value. The government can establish a violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute without proving that a person or entity had actual knowledge of the law or a specific intent to violate. Moreover, the government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal healthcare Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the federal civil False Claims Act. Although there are a number of statutory exceptions and regulatory safe harbors to the federal healthcare Anti-Kickback Statute protecting certain common business arrangements and activities from prosecution or regulatory sanctions, the exceptions and safe harbors are drawn narrowly. Practices that involve remuneration to those who prescribe, purchase, or recommend medical device products, including discounts, or engaging individuals as speakers, consultants, or advisors, may be subject to scrutiny if they do not fit squarely within an exception or safe harbor. Our practices may not in all cases meet all of the criteria for safe harbor protection from anti- kickback liability. Moreover, there are no safe harbors for many common practices, such as reimbursement support programs, educational or research grants, or charitable donations; |
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| ● | the federal civil False Claims Act, which prohibits, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, false or fraudulent claims for payment of federal government funds, and knowingly making, using or causing to be made or used a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim to avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government. Private individuals, commonly known as “whistleblowers,” can bring civil False Claims Act qui tam actions, on behalf of the government and such individuals and may share in amounts paid by the entity to the government in recovery or settlement. False Claims Act liability is potentially significant in the healthcare industry because the statute provides for treble damages and serious mandatory penalties for each false or fraudulent claim or statement. The government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim under the federal civil False Claims Act. Many pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers have been investigated and have reached substantial settlements under the federal civil False Claims Act in connection with alleged off-label promotion of their products and allegedly providing free products to customers with the expectation that the customers would bill federal health care programs for the product. In addition, manufacturers can be held liable under the federal civil False Claims Act even when they do not submit claims directly to government payers if they are deemed to “cause” the submission of false or fraudulent claims. There are also criminal penalties, including imprisonment and criminal fines, for making or presenting false, fictitious or fraudulent claims to the federal government; |
| ● | Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), which created additional federal criminal statutes that prohibit, among other things, knowingly and willfully executing or attempting to execute a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program, including private third-party payers, knowingly and willfully embezzling or stealing from a healthcare benefit program, willfully obstructing a criminal investigation of a healthcare offense, and knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statements or representations, or making or using any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or entry in connection with the delivery of, or payment for, healthcare benefits, items or services. Similar to the federal healthcare Anti-Kickback Statute, a person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it to have committed a violation; |
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| ● | the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act under the Affordable Care Act, which requires certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (with certain exceptions) to report annually to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians (defined to include doctors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists and chiropractors) and teaching hospitals, and applicable manufacturers and group purchasing organizations, as well as ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members. Since January 2022, applicable manufacturers are also required to report information regarding payments and transfers of value provided to physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse anesthetists, and certified nurse-midwives; |
| ● | HIPAA, as amended by Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (“HITECH”), and their respective implementing regulations, which imposes privacy, security, and breach reporting obligations with respect to Protected Health Information (“PHI”), upon entities subject to the law, such as health plans, healthcare clearinghouses and certain healthcare providers, and their respective business associates that perform services on their behalf that involve PHI. HITECH also created new tiers of civil monetary penalties, amended HIPAA to make HIPAA compliance as well as civil and criminal penalties directly applicable to business associates, and gave state attorneys general new authority to file civil actions for damages or injunctions in federal courts to enforce the HIPAA laws and seek attorneys’ fees and costs associated with pursuing federal civil actions; and |
| ● | analogous state and foreign law equivalents of each of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payer, including commercial insurers or patients; state laws that require device companies to comply with the industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the applicable compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government or otherwise restrict payments that may be made to healthcare providers and other potential referral sources; state and local laws that require the licensure of sales representatives; state laws that require device manufacturers to report information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians and other healthcare providers or marketing expenditures and pricing information; data privacy and security laws and regulations in foreign jurisdictions that may be more stringent than those in the United States (such as the EU, which adopted the General Data Protection Regulation, which became effective in May 2018); state laws governing the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and may not have the same effect, thus complicating compliance efforts; and state laws related to insurance fraud in the case of claims involving private insurers. |
These laws and regulations, among other things, constrain our business, marketing, and other promotional activities by limiting the kinds of financial arrangements, including sales programs, we may have with physicians or other potential purchasers of our products. We have also entered into consulting agreements with physicians, which are subject to these laws. Further, while we do not submit claims and our future customers will make the ultimate decision on how to submit claims, we may provide reimbursement guidance and support regarding our products. Due to the breadth of these laws, the narrowness of statutory exceptions and regulatory safe harbors available, and the range of interpretations to which they are subject, it is possible that some of our current or future practices might be challenged under one or more of these laws.
Certain enforcement bodies have recently increased their scrutiny of interactions between healthcare companies and healthcare providers, which has led to a number of investigations, prosecutions, convictions and settlements in the healthcare industry. For example, U.S. federal and state regulatory and enforcement agencies continue to actively investigate violations of healthcare laws and regulations, including pursuing novel theories of liability under these laws. These government agencies recently have increased regulatory scrutiny and enforcement activity with respect to manufacturer reimbursement support activities and patient support programs, including bringing criminal charges or civil enforcement actions under the federal healthcare Anti-Kickback statute, federal civil False Claims Act, the health care fraud statute, and HIPAA privacy provisions. Responding to investigations can be time and resource consuming and can divert management’s attention from the business. Any such investigation or settlement could increase our costs or otherwise have an adverse effect on our business. Even an unsuccessful challenge or investigation into our practices could cause adverse publicity, and be costly to respond to.
If our operations are found to be in violation of any of the healthcare laws or regulations described above or any other healthcare regulations that apply to us, we may be subject to administrative, civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, substantial monetary penalties, exclusion from participation in government healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, imprisonment, additional reporting obligations, and oversight if we become subject to a corporate integrity agreement or other agreement to resolve allegations of non-compliance with these laws, reputational harm, and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations.
Our business could be adversely affected by professional and legal challenges to our business model or by new state actions restricting our ability to provide our products and services in certain states.
Since the success of our business will be dependent on the widespread adaptation of our ENvue System as an efficient and safer solution for feeding tube insertion compared to the alternative methods currently available on the market, clinicians and medical professionals across multiple geographies will be needed to use our ENvue System and provide positive feedback and results. This will expose the Company to legal risk of patients or medical providers who may have a negative experience with our ENvue System filing lawsuits claiming damages or other claims. Although the Company will seek insurance coverage for such legal actions, there is no assurance that the amount of coverage will be sufficient to cover these claims. In addition, such legal actions from consumers and medical providers may result in material and adverse effects on our ability to continue to conduct business due to negative press.
Security breaches, data breaches, cyber attacks, other cybersecurity incidents or the failure to comply with privacy, security and data protection laws could materially impact our operations, patient care could suffer, we could be liable for damages, and our business, operations and reputation could be harmed.
We expect to retain confidential customer personal and financial, patient health information and our own proprietary information and data essential to our business operations. We will rely upon the effective operation of our IT systems, and those of our service providers, vendors, and other third parties to safeguard the information and data. Additionally, our success may be dependent on the success of healthcare providers, many of whom are comprised of individual or small operations with limited IT experience and inadequate or untested security protocols, in managing data privacy and data security requirements. It is critical that the facilities, infrastructure and IT systems on which we depend to run our business and the products we develop remain secure and be perceived by the marketplace and our potential customers to be secure. Despite the implementation of security features in our products and security measures in our IT systems, we and our service providers, vendors, and other third parties may become subject to physical break-ins, computer viruses or other malicious code, unauthorized or fraudulent access, programming errors or other technical malfunctions, hacking or phishing attacks, malware, ransomware, employee error or malfeasance, cyber attacks, and other breaches of IT systems or similar disruptive actions, including by organized groups and nation-state actors. For example, we may experience cybersecurity incidents and unauthorized internal employee exfiltration of company information.
Further, the frequency of third-party cyber-attacks has increased over the last several years. The military conflict in Ukraine may cause nation-state actors or hackers sympathetic to either side of the conflict to carry out cyber-attacks to achieve their goals, which may include espionage, information gathering operations, monetary gain, ransomware, disruption, and destruction. Significant service disruptions, breaches in our infrastructure and IT systems or other cybersecurity incidents could expose us to litigation or regulatory investigations, impair our reputation and competitive position, be distracting to our management, and require significant time and resources to address. Affected parties or regulatory agencies could initiate legal or regulatory action against us, which could prevent us from resolving the issues quickly or force us to resolve them in unanticipated ways, cause us to incur significant expense and liability, or result in judicial or governmental orders forcing us to cease operations or modify our business practices in ways that could materially limit or restrict the products and services we provide. Concerns over our privacy practices could adversely affect others’ perception of us and deter potential customers, patients and partners from using our products. In addition, patient care could suffer, and we could be liable if our products or IT systems fail to deliver accurate and complete information in a timely manner. We have internal monitoring and detection systems as well as cybersecurity and other forms of insurance coverage related to a breach event covering expenses for notification, credit monitoring, investigation, crisis management, public relations and legal advice. However, damages and claims arising from such incidents may not be covered or may exceed the amount of any coverage and do not cover the time and effort we may incur investigating and responding to any incidents, which may be material. The costs to eliminate, mitigate or recover from security problems and cyber attacks and incidents could be material and depending on the nature and extent of the problem and the networks or products impacted, may result in network or systems interruptions, decreased product sales, or data loss that may have a material impact on our operations, net revenues and operating results.
Our business will expose us to potential liability for the quality and safety of our products and services, how we advertise and market those products and services and how and to whom we sell them, and we may incur substantial expenses or be found liable for substantial damages or penalties if we are subject to claims or litigation.
Our products and services involve an inherent risk of claims concerning their design, manufacture, safety and performance, how they are marketed and advertised in a complex framework of highly regulated domestic and international laws and regulations, how we package, bundle or sell them to potential customers, who may be private individuals or companies or public entities such as hospitals and clinics, and how we train and support doctors, their staffs and patients who administer or use our products. Moreover, consumer products and services are routinely subject to claims of false, deceptive or misleading advertising, consumer fraud and unfair business practices. Additionally, we may be held liable if any product we develop or manufacture or services we offer or perform causes injury or is otherwise found unhealthy. If our products are safe but they are promoted for off-label usage, we may be investigated, fined or have our products or services enjoined or clearances rescinded or we may be required to defend ourselves in litigation. Although we maintain insurance for product liability, business practices and other types of activities we make or offer, coverage may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all, and may be insufficient for actual liabilities. Any claim for product liability, sales, advertising and business practices, regardless of its merit or eventual outcome, could result in material legal defense costs and damage our reputation, increase our expenses and divert management’s attention.
Increased focus on current and anticipated environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) laws and increased scrutiny of our ESG policies and practices may materially increase our costs, expose us to potential liability, adversely impact our reputation, employee retention, willingness of potential customers and suppliers to do business with us and willingness of investors to invest in us.
Our operations are subject to a variety of existing local, regional and global ESG laws and regulations, and we will likely be required to comply with new, broader, more complex and more costly laws and regulations that focus on ESG matters. Our compliance obligations will likely span all aspects of our business and operations, including product design and development, materials sourcing and other procurement activities, product packaging, product safety, energy and natural resources usage, facilities design and utilization, recycling and collection, transportation, disposal activities and workers’ rights.
Environmental regulations related to greenhouse gases are expected to have an increasingly larger impact on our or our suppliers’ energy sources. Many U.S. and foreign regulators have enacted or are considering enacting new or additional disclosure requirements or limits on the emissions of greenhouse gases, including, but not limited to, carbon dioxide and methane, from power generation units using fossil fuels. The effects of greenhouse gas emission limits on power generation are subject to significant uncertainties, including the timing of any new requirements, levels of emissions reductions and the scope and types of emissions regulated. These limits may have the effect of increasing our costs and those of our suppliers and could result in manufacturing, transportation and supply chain disruptions and delays if clean energy alternatives are not readily available in adequate amounts when required. Moreover, alternative energy sources, coupled with reduced investments in traditional energy sources and infrastructure, may fail to provide the predictable, reliable, and consistent energy that we, our suppliers and other businesses need for operations.
Meeting our obligations under existing ESG laws, rules, or regulations is already costly to us and our suppliers, and we expect those costs to increase as new laws are enacted, possibly materially. Additionally, we expect regulators to perform investigations, inspections and periodically audit our compliance with these laws and regulations, and we cannot provide assurance that our efforts or operations will be compliant. If we fail to comply with any requirements, we could be subject to significant penalties or liabilities and we may be required to implement new and materially more costly processes and procedures to come into compliance. Further, these laws are subject to unpredictable changes. Even if we successfully comply with these laws and regulations, our suppliers may fail to comply. We may also suffer financial and reputational harm if future customers require, and we are unable to deliver, certification that our products are conflict free. In all of these situations, our future customers may stop purchasing products from us, and may take legal action against us, which could harm our reputation, revenues and results of operations.
Investor advocacy groups, institutional investors, investment funds, proxy advisory services, stockholders, and consumers are also increasingly focused on corporate ESG practices. Additionally, public interest and legislative pressure related to public companies’ ESG practices continues to grow. If our ESG practices fail to meet investors’ or other industry stakeholders’ evolving expectations and standards, including environmental stewardship, support for local communities, board of director and employee diversity, human capital management, employee health and safety practices, product quality, supply chain management, corporate governance and transparency and employing ESG strategies in our operations, our brand, reputation and employee retention may be negatively impacted, potential customers and suppliers may be unwilling to do business with us and investors may be unwilling to invest in us. In addition, as we work to align our ESG practices with industry standards, we have expanded and will likely continue to expand our disclosures in these areas. We also expect to incur additional costs and require additional resources to monitor, report, and comply with our various ESG practices. If we fail to adopt ESG standards or practices as quickly as stakeholders desire, report on our ESG efforts or practices accurately, or satisfy the disclosure and other expectations of stakeholders, our reputation, business, financial performance, growth, and stock price may be adversely impacted.
We are subject to consumer protection laws that regulate our marketing practices and prohibit unfair or deceptive acts or practices. Our actual or perceived failure to comply with such obligations could harm our business, and changes in such regulations or laws could require us to modify our products, marketing or advertising efforts.
In connection with the marketing or advertisement of our products and services, we could be the target of claims relating to false, misleading, deceptive, or otherwise noncompliant advertising or marketing practices, including under the auspices of the FTC and state consumer protection statutes. If we rely on third parties to provide any marketing and advertising of our products and services, we could be liable for, or face reputational harm as a result of, their marketing practices if, for example, they fail to comply with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
If we are found to have breached any consumer protection, advertising, unfair competition, or other laws or regulations, we may be subject to enforcement actions that require us to change our marketing and business practices in a manner which may negatively impact us. This could also result in litigation, fines, penalties, and adverse publicity that could cause reputational harm and loss of patient trust, which could have an adverse effect on our business.
Risks Related to ENvue’s Intellectual Property
References in this section to the“Company,” “we,” “our,”or“us”generally refer to ENvue Medical Holdings, Corp.
Our success depends in part on our proprietary technology, and if we are unable to successfully enforce our intellectual property rights, our competitive position may be harmed.
Our success will depend in part on our ability to maintain existing intellectual property and to obtain and maintain further intellectual property protection for our products and services, both in the U.S. and in other countries. We intend to protect our intellectual property rights, including our AI technology and related algorithms, through a combination of patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret laws, as well as third-party confidentiality and assignment agreements. Our inability to do so could harm our competitive position.
We rely on our portfolio of issued and pending patent applications in the U.S. and other countries to protect a large part of our intellectual property and our competitive position; however, our currently pending or future patent filings may not result in the issuance of patents. While we generally apply for patents in those countries where we intend to make, have made, use, or sell patented products, we may not accurately predict all of the countries where patent protection will ultimately be desirable. If we fail to timely file for a patent, we may be precluded from doing so at a later date.
Patent rights are territorial, and patent protection extends only to those countries where we have issued patents. Filing, prosecuting and defending patents on our products and our future products in all countries and jurisdictions throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive, and our intellectual property rights in some countries outside the United States could be less extensive than those in the United States. Many countries do not protect intellectual property to the same extent as the U.S. or Europe, and their litigation processes differ. Competitors may successfully challenge or avoid our patents, or manufacture products in countries where we have not applied for patent protection. Changes in the patent laws in the U.S. or other countries may diminish the value of our patent rights. As a result of these and other factors, the scope, validity, enforceability, and commercial value of our patent rights are uncertain and unpredictable.
Furthermore, the patent positions of medical device companies involve complex legal and factual questions, and, therefore, the issuance, scope, validity and enforceability of any patent claims that we may obtain cannot be predicted with certainty. The issuance of a patent, while presumed valid and enforceable, is not conclusive as to its validity or its enforceability and it may not provide us with adequate proprietary protection or competitive advantages against competitors with similar products. Any patents issued to us may be challenged, invalidated, held unenforceable, circumvented, or may not be sufficiently broad to prevent third parties from producing competing products similar in design to our products. In addition, any protection afforded by foreign patents may be more limited than that provided under U.S. patent and intellectual property laws. There can be no assurance that any of our patents, any patents licensed to us, or any patents which we may be issued in the future, will provide us with a competitive advantage or afford us protection against infringement by others, or that the patents will not be successfully challenged or circumvented by third parties, including our competitors. Further, there can be no assurance that we will have adequate resources to enforce our patents. Competitors may also be able to design around our patents. Other parties may develop and obtain patent protection for more effective technologies, designs or methods.
Moreover, advances in AI technology may generate developments that existing IP laws do not adequately protect. The legislative and regulatory environment is out of our control, may change rapidly and unpredictably, and may negatively influence our revenue, costs, earnings, and growth. Some rules and regulations may be subject to litigation or other challenges that delay or modify their implementation and impact on us.
We also may seek to rely on protection of copyright, trade secrets, know how, and confidential and proprietary information. We generally enter into confidentiality and non-compete agreements with our employees, consultants, and collaborative partners upon their commencement of a relationship with us. However, these agreements may not provide meaningful protection against the unauthorized use or disclosure of our trade secrets or other confidential information, and adequate remedies may not exist if unauthorized use or disclosure were to occur. The exposure of our trade secrets and other proprietary information would impair our competitive advantages and could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition, and future growth prospects. In particular, a failure to protect our proprietary rights might allow competitors to copy our technology, which could adversely affect our pricing and market share. We may not be able to prevent the unauthorized disclosure or use of our technical knowledge or trade secrets by consultants, vendors, former employees and current employees. Further, other parties may independently develop substantially equivalent know-how and technology.
We currently own registered trademarks for our ENvue System, and we intend to rely on both registered and common law rights for our trademarks in the future. There can be no assurance that our future trademark applications will be approved. Third parties may also oppose our trademark applications, or otherwise challenge our use of the trademarks. In the event that our trademarks are successfully challenged, we could be forced to rebrand our products and services, which could result in loss of brand recognition, and could require us to devote resources to advertising and marketing new brands. Further, there can be no assurance that competitors will not infringe our trademarks, or that we will have adequate resources to enforce our trademarks.
Litigation, interferences, oppositions, re-exams, inter partes reviews, post grant reviews, or other proceedings are, have been, and may in the future be necessary in some instances to determine the validity and scope of certain of our proprietary rights, and in other instances to determine the validity, scope, or non-infringement of certain proprietary rights claimed by third parties to be pertinent to the manufacture, use, or sale of our products or provision of our services. These types of proceedings are unpredictable and may be protracted, expensive, and distracting to management. The outcome of such proceedings could adversely affect the validity and scope of our patent or other proprietary rights, hinder our ability to manufacture and market our products and provide our services, require us to seek a license for the infringed product or technology, or result in the assessment of significant monetary damages. An unfavorable ruling could include monetary damages or, in cases where injunctive relief is sought, an injunction prohibiting us from selling our products or providing our services. Any of these results from litigation could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Successful cybersecurity attacks, data breaches, unapproved use of machine learning or AI tools, or other security incidents could result in the loss of IP and key technological advantages. Security incidents could result in, for example, unauthorized access to, disclosure, modification, misuse, loss, or destruction of company, patient, or other third party data; theft or import of sensitive, regulated, or confidential data including personal information and IP, such as key innovations in AI; the loss of access to critical data or systems through ransomware; and business delays.
If we infringe or violate the patents or proprietary rights of other parties or are subject to an intellectual property infringement or misappropriation claim, our ability to grow our business may be severely limited.
Our commercial success also depends upon our ability, and the ability of any third party with which we may partner, to develop, manufacture, market and sell our products, if approved, and use our patent-protected technologies without infringing the patents of third parties. Extensive litigation over patents and other intellectual property rights is common in the medical device industry.
We may not have identified all patents, published applications or published literature that affect our business either by blocking our ability to commercialize our products, by preventing the patentability of one or more aspects of our products, or by covering the same or similar technologies that may affect our ability to market our products. For example, we may not have conducted a patent clearance search sufficient to identify potentially obstructing third party patent rights. Moreover, patent applications in the United States are maintained in confidence for up to 18 months after their filing. In some cases, however, patent applications remain confidential in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or the USPTO, for the entire time prior to issuance as a U.S. patent. Patent applications filed in countries outside of the United States are not typically published until at least 18 months from their first filing date. Similarly, publication of discoveries in the scientific or patent literature often lags behind actual discoveries. We cannot be certain that we were the first to invent, or the first to file, patent applications covering our products. We also may not know if our competitors filed patent applications for technology covered by our pending applications or if we were the first to invent the technology that is the subject of our patent applications. Competitors may have filed patent applications or received patents and may obtain additional patents and proprietary rights that block or compete with our patents.
We may therefore in the future be the subject of patent or other litigation. From time to time, we may in the future receive letters from third parties drawing our attention to their patent rights. While we do not believe that we infringe upon any valid and enforceable rights that have been brought to our attention, and we take necessary steps to ensure that we do not infringe on the rights of others, there may be other more pertinent rights of which we are presently unaware. The defense and prosecution of intellectual property suits, interference proceedings, and related legal and administrative proceedings could result in substantial expense to us and significant diversion of effort by our technical and management personnel. An adverse determination of any litigation or interference proceeding to which we may become a party could subject us to significant liabilities. An adverse determination of this nature could also put our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly or require us to seek licenses from third parties. Licenses may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all, in which event, our business would be materially adversely affected. Intellectual property litigation or claims could force us to cease developing, selling or otherwise commercializing one or more of our products; to pay substantial damages for past use of the asserted intellectual property; and redesign, or rename in the case of trademark claims, our product(s) to avoid such third party rights, which may not be possible or which could be costly and time-consuming. Any of these risks coming to fruition could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
Patents have a limited lifespan. In the United States, if all maintenance fees are timely paid, the natural expiration of a patent is generally 20 years from its earliest U.S. non-provisional filing date. Various extensions may be available, but the life of a patent, and the protection it affords, is limited. Even if patents covering our products are obtained, once the patent life has expired for a product, we may be open to competition from competitive products. Given the amount of time required for the development, testing and regulatory review of new products, patents protecting such products might expire before or shortly after such products are commercialized. As a result, our patent portfolio may not provide us with sufficient rights to exclude others from commercializing products similar or identical to ours.
We may be subject to claims that former employees, collaborators or other third parties have an interest in our patents or other intellectual property as an inventor or co-inventor or an author. For example, we may have inventorship or ownership disputes arise from conflicting obligations of consultants or others who are involved in developing our products. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these and other claims challenging inventorship or our ownership of our patents or other intellectual property. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights, such as exclusive ownership of, or right to use, valuable intellectual property. Such an outcome could have a material adverse effect on our business. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees.
We incorporate AI solutions into our ENvue System, services, and features, and these applications are important in our operations. Our competitors or other third parties may incorporate AI into their products more quickly or more successfully than us, which could impair our ability to compete effectively and adversely affect our results of operations.
Additionally, if the content, analyses, or recommendations that AI applications assist in producing are or are alleged to be deficient, inaccurate, or biased, our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be adversely affected. Our use of AI and machine learning is subject to risks related to flaws in our algorithms and datasets that may be insufficient or contain biased information. The development of AI technologies is complex, and there are several challenges associated with achieving the desired level of accuracy, efficiency, and reliability. The algorithms and models used in our AI systems may have limitations, including biases, errors, or inability to handle certain data types or scenarios. There is a risk of system failures, disruptions, or vulnerabilities that could compromise the integrity, security, or privacy of our platform. These failures could result in reputational damage, legal liabilities, or loss of user confidence, which could materially affect our business.
The use of AI applications has resulted in, and may in the future result in, cybersecurity incidents that implicate the personal data of patients and users of such applications. Any such cybersecurity incidents related to our use of AI applications could adversely affect our reputation and results of operations. AI also presents emerging ethical issues, and if our use of AI becomes controversial, we may experience brand or reputational harm, competitive harm, or legal liability. The rapid evolution of AI, including potential government regulation of AI, will require significant resources to develop, test and maintain our platform, services, and features to help us implement AI ethically in order to minimize unintended, harmful impact.
Legislative and governmental activity in the privacy area may result in new laws or regulations that are applicable to us and that may hinder our business, for example, by restricting use or sharing of patient data, limiting our ability to provide certain data to our customers, limiting our ability to develop or modify our AI systems, or otherwise regulating AI and machine learning, including the use of algorithms and automated processing in ways that could materially affect our business, or which may lead to significant increases in the cost of compliance.
Risks Related to the 2025 Reverse Stock Split
The 2025 Reverse Stock Split may not increase the price of our common stock over the long-term and our common stock may be delisted.
The principal purpose of the 2025 Reverse Stock Split was to increase the trading price of our common stock to meet the minimum stock price standards of Nasdaq. However, the effect of a reverse stock split on the market price of our common stock cannot be predicted with any certainty, and we cannot assure you that a reverse stock split will accomplish this objective for any meaningful period of time, or at all. While we expect that the reduction in the number of outstanding shares of common stock will proportionally increase the market price of our common stock, we cannot assure you that a reverse stock split will increase the market price of our common stock by a multiple of any reverse stock split ratio, or result in any permanent or sustained increase in the market price of our common stock sufficient to regain compliance with the conditions required by the Panel. The market price of our common stock may be affected by other factors which may be unrelated to the number of shares outstanding, including our business and financial performance, general market conditions, and prospects for future success.
There can be no assurance that we will satisfy the conditions required by the Panel regarding the market price or ultimately regain compliance with all applicable requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq and maintain listing of our common stock.
If we are delisted from Nasdaq, among other things, it will increase the difficulty in our ability to raise money through the sale of our securities. A delisting of our common stock from Nasdaq could materially reduce the liquidity of our common stock and result in a corresponding material reduction in the price of our common stock. In addition, delisting could harm our ability to raise capital through alternative financing sources on terms acceptable to us, or at all, and may result in the potential loss of confidence by investors, suppliers, customers and employees and fewer business development opportunities.
The 2025 Reverse Stock Split may decrease the liquidity of our common stock.
The 2025 Reverse Stock Split reduced the total number of outstanding shares of common stock, which may lead to reduced trading and a smaller number of market makers for our common stock, particularly if the price per share of our common stock does not increase as a result of a reverse stock split.
The 2025 Reverse Stock Split had the effect of increasing the number of stockholders who own “odd lots” of less than 100 shares of common stock. A purchase or sale of less than 100 shares of common stock (an “odd lot” transaction) may result in incrementally higher trading costs through certain brokers, particularly “full service” brokers. Therefore, those stockholders who own fewer than 100 shares of common stock following a reverse stock split may be required to pay higher transaction costs if they sell their common stock.
The 2025 Reverse Stock Split may lead to a decrease in our overall market capitalization.
A reverse stock split, including the 2025 Reverse Stock Split, may be viewed negatively by the market and, consequently, could lead to a decrease in our overall market capitalization. If the per share market price of our common stock does not increase in proportion to the reverse stock split ratio, or following such increase does not maintain or exceed such price, then our value, as measured by our market capitalization, will be reduced. Additionally, any reduction in our market capitalization may be magnified as a result of the smaller number of total shares of common stock outstanding following a reverse stock split.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.