Nautilus Biotechnology Inc

Previous wording

•We may need to raise additional capital to fund our development and commercialization plans.

Current wording

•We expect that we will need to raise additional capital to fund our development and commercialization plans.

Previous wording

We will continue to incur significant increased costs and management resources as a result of operating as a public company.

Current wording

•We will continue to incur significant costs and management resources as a result of operating as a public company.

Previous wording

We are a development stage company that has incurred net losses in each quarterly and annual period since inception and that has not yet generated any revenue. We expect to incur increasing costs as we continue to devote substantially all of our resources towards the development and anticipated future commercialization of our Nautilus platform, which includes our end-to-end solution comprised of instruments, consumables, and software analysis. We cannot be certain if we will ever generate revenue or if or when we will produce sufficient revenue from operations to support our costs. Even if profitability is achieved, we may not be able to sustain profitability. We incurred net losses of $63.7 million and $57.9 million during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $202.2 million. These losses and accumulated deficit were primarily due to the substantial investments we made in the scientific and technological development of our Nautilus platform. We expect to incur substantial losses and negative cash flows for the foreseeable future. In addition, as a public company, we will continue to incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. These increased expenses will make it harder for us to achieve and sustain future profitability. We may incur significant losses in the future for a number of reasons, many of which are beyond our control, including the other risks described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Current wording

We are a development stage company that has incurred net losses in each quarterly and annual period since inception and that has not yet generated any revenue. We expect to incur increasing costs as we continue to devote substantially all of our resources towards the development and anticipated future commercialization of our Nautilus platform, which includes our end-to-end solution comprised of instruments, consumables, and software analysis. We cannot be certain if we will ever generate revenue or if or when we will produce sufficient revenue from operations to support our costs. Even if profitability is achieved, we may not be able to sustain profitability. We incurred net losses of $70.8 million and $63.7 million during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $273.0 million. These losses and accumulated deficit were primarily due to the substantial investments we made in the scientific and technological development of our Nautilus platform. While we anticipate certain cost-savings associated with our recently announced workforce reductions, we expect to incur substantial losses and negative cash flows for the foreseeable future. In addition, as a public company, we will continue to incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses. These expenses will make it harder for us to achieve and sustain future profitability. We may incur significant losses in the future for a number of reasons, many of which are beyond our control, including the other risks described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Previous wording

Our future success is entirely dependent on our ability to successfully develop and commercialize our Nautilus platform, which is based on innovative yet complex and unproven technologies and which is anticipated to be used in demanding scientific research that requires substantial levels of accuracy and precision. We are investing substantially all of our management efforts and financial resources in the development and commercialization of our Nautilus platform. Additionally, in developing our platform technology, we currently rely on co-development partners to assist us in the development of certain component technologies in our platform. We have experienced difficulties with some of these partners successfully delivering these component technologies on time and to our specifications, and these partners may not be successful in delivering these component technologies on time, to our specifications, or at all, in the future, which could have an adverse impact on our ability to meet our development timelines, and/or our products’ level of currently anticipated functionality and performance. While our goal is to leverage our Nautilus platform to comprehensively measure the human proteome, the human proteome is dynamic and far more complex and diverse in structure, composition and number of variants than either the genome or transcriptome. If we cannot successfully complete platform development, if we are unable to achieve our goals for mapping the proteome, if our products fail to deliver currently anticipated functionality and levels of performance, if our products are found by a court of law to infringe the intellectual property of another party, or if we are unable to obtain broad scientific and market acceptance of our products and technologies, we may never recognize material revenue and may be unable to continue our operations.

Current wording

Our future success is entirely dependent on our ability to successfully develop and commercialize our Nautilus platform, which is based on innovative yet complex and unproven technologies and which is anticipated to be used in demanding scientific research that requires substantial levels of accuracy and precision. We are investing substantially all of our management efforts and financial resources in the development and commercialization of our Nautilus platform, which remains in the development stage and subject to scientific and technical validation. Additionally, in developing our platform technology, we currently rely on co-development partners to assist us in the development of certain component technologies in our platform. We have experienced difficulties with some of these partners successfully delivering these component technologies on time and to our specifications, and these partners may not be successful in delivering these component technologies on time, to our specifications, or at all, in the future, which could have an adverse impact on our ability to meet our development timelines, and/or our products’ level of currently anticipated functionality and performance. While our goal is to leverage our Nautilus platform to comprehensively measure the human proteome, the human proteome is dynamic and far more complex and diverse in structure, composition and number of variants than either the genome or transcriptome. If we cannot successfully complete platform development, if we are unable to achieve our goals for mapping the proteome, if our products fail to deliver currently anticipated functionality and levels of performance, if our products are found by a court of law to infringe the intellectual property of another party, or if we are unable to obtain broad scientific and market acceptance of our products and technologies, we may never recognize material revenue and may be unable to continue our operations.

Previous wording

We anticipate commercializing our Nautilus platform in three phases involving first collaboration with biopharmaceutical companies and key opinion leaders to validate the performance and utility of our product, during which we do not expect to recognize significant revenue, if any; secondly an early access limited release phase in which we expect to recognize limited revenue; and finally a broader commercial launch phase. We are currently in the collaboration phase during which we have entered into collaborations with a small number of research customers, including with biopharmaceutical companies and key opinion leaders in proteomics whose assessment and validation of our products can significantly influence other researchers in their respective markets and/or fields. We do not anticipate that these activities will result in any material revenue. During the second, early access phase, we expect to work closely with early access customers to demonstrate a unique value proposition for our Nautilus platform. During this phase, we plan to provide early access program partners with broad-scale analysis and profiling of samples analyzed in our facility and shared via a cloud platform. We anticipate early access engagements and associated revenue in 2025. We expect this second phase to lead into the third phase of broad commercialization and launch of our proteome analysis platform in 2025. Voice of customer studies have suggested that there is market demand for a proteomics platform with specifications that are initially lower than what we have previously disclosed, for example, around characteristics such as sample input and proteome coverage. Consequently, as we balance our time to market goals with our evolving view of customer requirements, we are refining our initial launch specifications. We believe that subsequent consumable releases will enable our platform to meet or exceed our previously announced product specifications.

Current wording

We anticipate commercializing our Nautilus platform in three phases involving first collaboration with biopharmaceutical companies and key academic opinion leaders exploring utility of pre-commercial versions of the platform, during which we do not expect to recognize significant revenue, if any; secondly an early access limited release phase in which we expect to recognize limited revenue; and finally a broader commercial launch phase. We are currently in the collaboration phase during which we have entered into collaborations with a small number of research customers, including with biopharmaceutical companies and key opinion leaders in proteomics whose assessment and validation of our products can significantly influence other researchers in their respective markets and/or fields. During the second, early access phase, we expect to work closely with early access collaborators to demonstrate a unique value proposition for our Nautilus platform. During this phase, we plan to provide early access to our collaborators with broad-scale and targeted analyses and profiling of samples analyzed in our facility or at the customers’ facilities and shared via a cloud platform. We believe there is significant interest in our platform for targeted proteoform analyses. As such, we expect to be working with our initial early access collaborators in this area, and to leverage our learnings from those collaborations for the benefit of both our broad-scale and targeted products and services. We do not anticipate that these activities will result in any material revenue. We expect this second phase to lead into the third phase of launch of our proteome analysis platform in late 2026 and subsequent broad commercialization thereafter. Voice of customer studies have suggested that there is market demand for a proteomics platform with specifications that are initially lower than what we have previously disclosed, for example, around characteristics such as sample input and proteome coverage. Consequently, as we balance our time to market goals with our evolving view of customer requirements, we are refining our initial launch specifications. We believe that subsequent consumable releases will enable our platform to meet or exceed our previously announced product specifications.

Previous wording

We rely on single source suppliers for certain components and materials used in our Nautilus platform, including our click-reagent modified oligos, glass or silicon that is nano-fabricated into our biochips and high-speed stage used in the instrument. The loss of any of these single source suppliers would require us to expend significant time and effort to locate and qualify an alternative source of supply for these components. Though we do not currently have contracts for third parties to provide manufacturing capabilities for each component of our Nautilus platform for which we expect to employ such third party manufacturers, if we are successful in reaching the point of manufacturing our products for commercialization, we may rely on a single company for such manufacturing. Any contractual disputes between us and such manufacturer or loss of manufacturing ability by such manufacturer could similarly require significant time, effort and expense to locate and qualify an alternative source of manufacturing, which could materially harm our business.

Current wording

We rely on single source suppliers for certain components and materials used in our Nautilus platform. The loss of any of these single source suppliers would require us to expend significant time and effort to locate and qualify an alternative source of supply for these components. Though we do not currently have contracts for third parties to provide manufacturing capabilities for each component of our Nautilus platform for which we expect to employ such third party manufacturers, if we are successful in reaching the point of manufacturing our products for commercialization, we may rely on a single company for such manufacturing. Any contractual disputes between us and such manufacturer or loss of manufacturing ability by such manufacturer could similarly require significant time, effort and expense to locate and qualify an alternative source of manufacturing, which could materially harm our business.

Previous wording

We face significant competition in the life sciences technology market. We currently compete with technology and diagnostic companies that supply components, products, and services to customers engaged in proteomics analysis. These companies include Agilent Technologies; Becton, Dickinson and Company; Bruker Corporation; Danaher; Luminex; Olink Proteomics; Quanterix; Standard Biotools (formerly known as SomaLogic); Quantum-Si; and Thermo Fisher Scientific. We also compete with a number of emerging companies that are developing proteomic products and solut ions.

Current wording

We face significant competition in the life sciences technology market. We currently compete with technology and diagnostic companies that supply components, products, and services to customers engaged in proteomics analysis. Major competitors include Thermo Fisher Scientific (including Olink); Bruker Corporation; Agilent Technologies; Danaher; (SCIEX); Becton, Dickinson and Company; Quanterix; and Standard Biotools (formerly known as Somalogic). We also compete with a number of emerging companies that are developing proteomic products and solut ions.

Previous wording

We cannot assure investors that our products will compete favorably or that we will be successful in the face of increasing competition from products and technologies introduced by our existing or future competitors or by companies entering our markets or that are developed by our customers internally. In addition, we cannot assure investors that our competitors do not have or will not develop products or technologies that currently or in the future will enable them to produce competitive products with superior functionality or performance or at lower costs than ours or that are able to run comparable experiments at a lower total experiment cost. Any failure to compete effectively could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

Current wording

We cannot assure investors that our products will compete favorably or that we will be successful in the face of increasing competition from products and technologies introduced by our existing or future competitors or by companies entering our markets or that are developed by our customers internally. In addition, we cannot assure investors that our competitors do not have or will not develop products or technologies that currently or in the future will enable them to produce competitive products with superior functionality or performance or at lower costs than ours or that are able to run comparable experiments at a lower total experiment cost. Additionally, the merger or consolidation of significant competitors would result in competitors with greater resources, which may enable them to offer a different market approach, or a lower cost structure through economies of scale or other efficiencies that we may be unable to match and which may intensify competition. Further, our competitors may seek to vertically integrate by buying suppliers that also supply products or components to us, which could enable them to further reduce prices, or could increase our costs. Any failure to compete effectively could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

Previous wording

•decreases in government funding of research and development;

Current wording

•decreases in government funding of research and development, including any reductions in funding to the U.S. National Institutes of Health;

Previous wording

•the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, recent and any potential future financial institution failures, and other national and global events on the economy, investment in life sciences and research industries, our business operations, and resources and operations of our customers, suppliers, and distributors; and

Current wording

•the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, any potential future financial institution failures, and other national and global events on the economy, investment in life sciences and research industries, our business operations, and resources and operations of our customers, suppliers, and distributors; and

Previous wording

We may need to raise additional capital to fund our development and commercialization plans.

Current wording

We expect that we will need to raise additional capital to fund our development and commercialization plans.

Previous wording

We may be unable to raise additional funds or to enter into such agreements or arrangements on favorable terms, or at all. Our ability to raise additional funds may be adversely impacted by potential worsening global economic conditions and the recent disruptions to, and volatility in, the credit and financial markets in the United States and worldwide resulting from the ongoing COVID‑19 pandemic, the conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and otherwise. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on terms satisfactory to us, if we require it, our ability to continue to pursue our business objectives and to respond to business opportunities, challenges, or unforeseen circumstances could be significantly limited, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Current wording

We may be unable to raise additional funds or to enter into such agreements or arrangements on favorable terms, or at all. Our ability to raise additional funds may be adversely impacted by potential worsening global economic conditions and the recent disruptions to, and volatility in, the credit and financial markets in the United States and worldwide resulting from the COVID‑19 pandemic, the conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and otherwise. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on terms satisfactory to us, if we require it, our ability to continue to pursue our business objectives and to respond to business opportunities, challenges, or unforeseen circumstances could be significantly limited, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Previous wording

Changes in either the patent laws or interpretation of the patent laws in the United States or in other jurisdictions could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of patent applications and the enforcement or defense of issued patents. In the last decade, the US Congress made sweeping changes to patent law in passing the America Invents Act (AIA). These changes include, among others, allowing third-party submission of prior art to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) during patent prosecution and additional procedures to challenge the validity of a patent by USPTO administered post-grant proceedings, including post-grant review, inter partes review and derivation proceedings. The changes brought about by the AIA have not been extensively tested, and therefore increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Current wording

Changes in either the patent laws or interpretation of the patent laws in the United States or in other jurisdictions could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of patent applications and the enforcement or defense of issued patents. In the last decade, the US Congress made sweeping changes to patent law in passing the America Invents Act (“AIA”). These changes include, among others, allowing third-party submission of prior art to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) during patent prosecution and additional procedures to challenge the validity of a patent by USPTO administered post-grant proceedings, including post-grant review, inter partes review and derivation proceedings. The changes brought about by the AIA have not been extensively tested, and therefore increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications

Previous wording

In addition, our competitors and others may have patents or may in the future obtain patents and may claim that use of our products infringes these patents. For example, we have received and may from time to time in the future receive letters, notices or “invitations to license” related to the use of intellectual property in our products or services, or may become the subject of claims that our products and business operations infringe or violate the intellectual property rights of others. For example, on December 14, 2023, we filed suit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against Somalogic, Inc. (Somalogic) which recently merged with and is now part of “Standard Biotools, Inc.”, and the California Institute of Technology. This suit seeks declaratory judgment that we do not infringe any claims of US Patent No. 7,842,793 related to DNA origami structures (the ‘793 Patent), which Somalogic has allegedly licensed from the California Institute of Technology through its purchase of Palamedrix, Inc. We took this action in response to Somalogic’s allegations that our proteome analysis platform infringes the claims of the ‘793 Patent. Notwithstanding our belief as to the strength of our claims, litigation generally, and patent litigation in particular, can be unpredictable. If we do not succeed in establishing that our products or services do not infringe the claims of the ‘793 Patent, it could negatively impact our business by imposing royalties on our products or services, requiring significant redevelopment of certain aspects of our products and/or preventing us from making, using or selling our products or services. Even if we were to prevail in this or any future litigation, litigation could also result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition.

Current wording

In addition, our competitors and others may have patents or may in the future obtain patents and may claim that use of our products infringes these patents. For example, we have received and may from time to time in the future receive letters, notices or “invitations to license” related to the use of intellectual property in our products or services, or may become the subject of claims that our products and business operations infringe or violate the intellectual property rights of others. Even if we were to prevail in any future litigation, litigation could also result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition.

Previous wording

We may in the future register with the FDA as a medical device manufacturer and list some of our products with the FDA pursuant to an FDA Class I listing for general purpose laboratory equipment. While this regulatory classification is exempt from certain FDA requirements, such as the need to submit a premarket notification commonly known as a 510(k) application, and some of the requirements of the FDA’s Quality System Regulations (the “QSRs”), we would be subject to ongoing FDA “general controls,” which include compliance with FDA regulations for labeling, inspections by the FDA, complaint evaluation, corrections and removals reporting, promotional restrictions, reporting adverse events or malfunctions for our products, and general prohibitions against misbranding and adulteration.

Current wording

We may in the future register with the FDA as a medical device manufacturer and list some of our products with the FDA pursuant to an FDA Class I listing for general purpose laboratory equipment. While this regulatory classification is exempt from certain FDA requirements, such as the need to submit a premarket notification commonly known as a 510(k) application, and some of the requirements of the FDA’s Quality System Regulation (the “QSR”), which include compliance with FDA regulations for labeling, inspections by the FDA, complaint evaluation, corrections and removals reporting, promotional restrictions, reporting adverse events or malfunctions for our products, and general prohibitions against misbranding and adulteration. The FDA’s new Quality Management System Regulation (“QMSR”), which incorporates by reference certain requirements under ISO 13485, will go into effect on February 2, 2026.

Previous wording

In addition, we could decide to seek regulatory clearance or approval for certain of our products in countries outside of the United States. Sales of such products outside the United States will likely be subject to foreign regulatory requirements, which can vary greatly from country to country. As a result, the time required to obtain clearances or approvals outside the United States may differ from that required to obtain FDA clearance or approval and we may not be able to obtain foreign regulatory approvals on a timely basis or at all. Following Brexit, medical device products entering the U.K. market will have to comply with the regulatory requirements of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (the “MHRA”), including the new UK Medical Device Regulations, which are scheduled to go into effect by July 2024. In July 2023, MHRA updated its guidance to reflect that the government now aims to delay implementation of the core aspects of the regulations to July 2025. These foreign regulations and any future requirements that may be implemented by regulatory authorities will increase the difficulty of obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals and compliance in Europe in the future. In addition, the FDA regulates exports of medical devices. Failure to comply with these regulatory requirements or obtain and maintain required approvals, clearances or certifications could impair our ability to commercialize our products for diagnostic use outside of the United States.

Current wording

In addition, we could decide to seek regulatory clearance or approval for certain of our products in countries outside of the United States. Sales of such products outside the United States will likely be subject to foreign regulatory requirements, which can vary greatly from country to country. As a result, the time required to obtain clearances or approvals outside the United States may differ from that required to obtain FDA clearance or approval and we may not be able to obtain foreign regulatory approvals on a timely basis or at all. Following Brexit, medical device products entering the U.K. market will have to comply with the regulatory requirements of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (the “MHRA”), including the new UK Medical Device Regulations. In December 2024, the MHRA published a revised roadmap towards the future regulatory framework for medical devices and updating the intended timelines to implement future medical device regulations. These foreign regulations and any future requirements that may be implemented by regulatory authorities will increase the difficulty of obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals and compliance in Europe in the future. In addition, the FDA regulates exports of medical devices. Failure to comply with these regulatory requirements or obtain and maintain required approvals, clearances or certifications could impair our ability to commercialize our products for diagnostic use outside of the United States.

Previous wording

The FDA has historically exercised enforcement discretion in not enforcing the medical device regulations against laboratories offering LDTs. FDA recently issued a proposed rule that, if finalized, will amend FDA’s regulations to make explicit thatin vitro diagnostis (“IVDs”) are devices under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, including when the manufacturer of the IVD is a laboratory and will phase out its enforcement discretion for LDTs. It is unclear how this proposed rule, if finalized, as well as future legislation by the government will impact the industry, including our business and that of our customers. Any restrictions on LDTs by the FDA, Congress, or regulatory authorities may decrease the demand for our products. The adoption of new restrictions on RUO products, whether by the FDA or Congress, could adversely affect demand for our specialized reagents and instruments. Further, we could be required to obtain premarket clearance or approval before we can sell our products to certain customers.

Current wording

The FDA has historically exercised enforcement discretion in not enforcing the medical device regulations against laboratories offering LDTs. In May 2024, FDA issued a final rule that amends FDA’s regulations to make explicit thatin vitro diagnostics (“IVDs”) are devices under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, including when the manufacturer of the IVD is a laboratory, and phases out its enforcement discretion for LDTs. Multiple lawsuits have been filed against FDA, challenging this FDA final rule, including lawsuits filed by the American Clinical Laboratory Association and the Association for Molecular Pathology. Further, in June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled the Chevron doctrine, which gives deference to regulatory agencies’ statutory interpretations in litigation against federal government agencies, such as the FDA, where the law is ambiguous. This landmark Supreme Court decision may invite more companies and other stakeholders to bring lawsuits against the FDA to challenge FDA’s statutory interpretations, including its decision to regulate LDTs as medical devices. These judicial challenges can lead to uncertainties in the industry. We cannot predict the full impact of the LDT final rule and ongoing litigation against the FDA on us or the industry in general. Any restrictions on LDTs by the FDA, Congress, or regulatory authorities may decrease the demand for our products. The adoption of new restrictions on RUO products, whether by the FDA or Congress, could adversely affect demand for our specialized reagents and instruments. Further, we could be required to obtain premarket clearance or approval before we can sell our products to certain customers.

Previous wording

Even if the FDA does not modify its policy of enforcement discretion, whether due to changes in FDA policy or legislative action, the FDA may disagree with the marketing of our current products in the United States. We may also be required to conduct clinical studies to support our currently marketed products or planned product launches. If we are required to conduct such clinical trials or to obtain regulatory authorization, delays in the commencement of our product launches or our changes to our current marketing strategy could significantly increase our costs and delay our commercialization plans, which could harm our financial prospects.

Current wording

Changes in the leadership of FDA and other federal agencies under the new Trump administration may lead to changes in policies and regulations that can impact our industry. Even if the FDA does not modify its policy of enforcement discretion, whether due to changes in FDA policy or legislative action, the FDA may disagree with the marketing of our current products in the United States. We may also be required to conduct clinical studies to support our currently marketed products or planned product launches. If we are required to conduct such clinical trials or to obtain regulatory authorization, delays in the commencement of our product launches or our changes to our current marketing strategy could significantly increase our costs and delay our commercialization plans, which could harm our financial prospects.

Previous wording

We are currently subject to, and may in the future become subject to additional, U.S. federal and state laws and regulations imposing obligations on how we collect, store and processes personal information. Our actual or perceived failure to comply with such obligations could harm our business. Ensuring compliance with such laws could also impair our efforts to maintain and expand our future customer base, and thereby decrease our revenue.

Current wording

We are currently subject to, and may in the future become subject to additional, U.S. federal and state laws and regulations imposing obligations on how we collect, store and process personal information. Our actual or perceived failure to comply with such obligations could harm our business. Ensuring compliance with such laws could also impair our efforts to maintain and expand our future customer base, and thereby decrease our revenue.

Previous wording

In the ordinary course of our business, we currently, and, in the future, will, collect, store, transfer, use or process sensitive data, including personally identifiable information of employees, and intellectual property and proprietary business information owned or controlled by us and other parties. The secure processing, storage, maintenance, and transmission of this critical information are vital to our operations and business strategy. We are, and may increasingly become, subject to various laws and regulations, as well as contractual obligations, relating to data privacy and security in the jurisdictions in which we operate. The regulatory environment related to data privacy and security is increasingly rigorous, with new and constantly changing requirements applicable to our business, and enforcement practices are likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future. These laws and regulations may be interpreted and applied differently over time and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and it is possible that they will be interpreted and applied in ways that may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Current wording

In the ordinary course of our business, we currently, and, in the future, will, collect, store, transfer, use or process sensitive data, including personal information of employees, and intellectual property and proprietary business information owned or controlled by us and other parties. The secure processing, storage, maintenance, and transmission of this critical information are vital to our operations and business strategy. We are, and may increasingly become, subject to various laws and regulations, as well as contractual obligations, relating to data privacy and security in the jurisdictions in which we operate. The regulatory environment related to data privacy and security is increasingly rigorous, with new and constantly changing requirements applicable to our business, and enforcement practices are likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future. These laws and regulations may be interpreted and applied differently over time and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and it is possible that they will be interpreted and applied in ways that may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Previous wording

In the United States, various federal and state regulators, including governmental agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission, have adopted, or are considering adopting, laws and regulations concerning personal information and data security. Certain state laws may be more stringent or broader in scope, or offer greater individual rights, with respect to personal information than federal, international or other state laws, and such laws may differ from each other, all of which may complicate compliance efforts. For example, the California Consumer Privacy Act (the “CCPA”), which increases privacy rights for California residents and imposes obligations on companies that process their personal information, came into effect on January 1, 2020. Among other things, the CCPA requires covered companies to provide new disclosures to California consumers and provide such consumers new data protection and privacy rights, including the ability to opt-out of certain sales of personal information. The CCPA provides for civil penalties for violations, as well as a private right of action for certain data breaches that result in the loss of personal information. This private right of action may increase the likelihood of, and risks associated with, data breach litigation. In November 2020, California passed the California Privacy Rights Act (the “CPRA”), which amended and expanded the CCPA as of January 1, 2023. Although the CCPA includes exemptions for certain clinical trial data, the law may increase our compliance costs and potential liability with respect to other personal information we collect about California customers. It is possible that these consumer, health-related and data protection laws may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent with our practices. If so, this could result in government-imposed fines or orders requiring that we change our practices, which could adversely affect our business. In addition to the CCPA, numerous other states’ legislatures are considering or have enacted similar data privacy laws. For example, Virginia, Colorado, Utah and Connecticut have each passed laws similar to but different from the CCPA and CPRA that have taken effect in 2023; Florida, Montana, Oregon and Texas have enacted similar laws that go into effect in 2024; Tennessee, Delaware and Iowa have enacted similar laws that go into effect in 2025; and Indiana has enacted a similar law that will go into effect in 2026. Additionally, certain other state laws govern the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, such as Washington’s My Health, My Data Act, which contains a private right of action. These new state laws will require ongoing compliance efforts and investment. In addition, laws in all 50 U.S. states require businesses to provide notice to consumers whose personal information has been disclosed as a result of a data breach. State laws are changing rapidly and the…

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Current wording

In the United States, various federal and state regulators have adopted, or are considering adopting, laws and regulations concerning personal information and data security. Certain state laws may be more stringent or broader in scope, or offer greater individual rights, with respect to personal information than federal, international or other state laws, and such laws may differ from each other, all of which may complicate compliance efforts. For example, the California Consumer Privacy Act (the “CCPA”), which provides for certain privacy rights for California residents and imposes obligations on companies that process their personal information, came into effect on January 1, 2020. Among other things, the CCPA requires covered companies to provide certain disclosures to California consumers and provide such consumers with certain data protection and privacy rights, including the ability to opt-out of certain sales of personal information. The CCPA provides for civil penalties for violations, as well as a private right of action for certain data breaches that result in the loss of personal information. This private right of action may increase the likelihood of, and risks associated with, data breach litigation. In November 2020, California passed the California Privacy Rights Act (the “CPRA”), which amended and expanded the CCPA as of January 1, 2023. Although the CCPA includes exemptions for certain clinical trial data, the law may increase our compliance costs and potential liability with respect to other personal information we collect about California customers. In addition to the CCPA, numerous other states’ legislatures are considering or have enacted similar data privacy laws. For example, Virginia, Colorado, Utah and Connecticut have each passed laws similar to but different from the CCPA and CPRA that took effect in 2023; Florida, Montana, Oregon and Texas have enacted similar laws that took effect in 2024; Tennessee, Delaware, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Nebraska and New Jersey have enacted similar laws that have taken or will take effect in 2025; and Indiana, Rhode Island and Kentucky have enacted similar laws that will take effect in 2026. Additionally, certain other state laws govern the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, such as Washington’s My Health, My Data Act, which contains a private right of action. These new state laws will require ongoing compliance efforts and investment. In addition, laws in all 50 U.S. states require businesses to provide notice to consumers whose personal information has been disclosed as a result of a data breach. State laws are changing rapidly and there is discussion in the U.S. Congress of comprehensive federal data privacy legislation. It is possible that these or other laws, regulations, or other actual or asserted obligations relating to privacy or security matters may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent with our practices.…

Excerpt shortened here; the source contains the full paragraph.

Previous wording

Furthermore, regulations promulgated pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (the “HIPAA”), establish privacy and security standards that limit the use and disclosure of certain individually identifiable health information defined in HIPAA as “protected health information” and require the implementation of administrative, physical and technological safeguards to protect the privacy of protected health information and ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of electronic protected health information. Determining whether protected health information has been handled in compliance with applicable privacy standards and our contractual obligations can require complex factual and statistical analyses and may be subject to changing interpretation. Although we take measures to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access, use or disclosure, our information technology and infrastructure may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers or viruses or breached, subject to a security incident, or otherwise compromised or disrupted due to various causes, including employee error, malfeasance or other malicious or inadvertent actions. Any such breach, incident, compromise or disruption could compromise our networks and the information stored there could be accessed by unauthorized parties, manipulated, publicly disclosed, lost, stolen, corrupted, made unavailable, or misused or otherwise processed without authorization. Any such access, breach or other loss of information could result in legal claims or proceedings, and liability under federal or state laws that protect the privacy of personal information, such as the HIPAA, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, and regulatory penalties. Notice of breaches must be made to affected individuals, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and for extensive breaches, notice may need to be made to the media or State Attorneys General. Such a notice could harm our reputation and our ability to compete.

Current wording

Furthermore, regulations promulgated pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) establish privacy and security standards that limit the use and disclosure of certain individually identifiable health information defined in HIPAA as “protected health information” and require the implementation of administrative, physical and technological safeguards to protect the privacy of protected health information and ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of electronic protected health information. Determining whether protected health information has been handled in compliance with applicable privacy standards and our contractual obligations can require complex factual and statistical analyses and may be subject to changing interpretation. Although we take measures to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access, use or disclosure, our information technology and infrastructure may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers or viruses or breached, subject to a security incident, or otherwise compromised or disrupted due to various causes, including employee error, malfeasance or other malicious or inadvertent actions. Any such breach, incident, compromise or disruption could compromise our networks and the information stored there could be accessed by unauthorized parties, manipulated, publicly disclosed, lost, stolen, corrupted, made unavailable, or misused or otherwise processed without authorization. Any such access, breach or other loss of information could result in legal claims or proceedings, and liability under federal or state laws that protect the privacy of personal information, such as the HIPAA, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, and regulatory penalties. Notice of breaches must be made to affected individuals, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and for extensive breaches, notice may need to be made to the media or State Attorneys General. Such a notice could harm our reputation and our ability to compete.

Previous wording

We are in the process of evaluating compliance needs but do not currently have in place formal policies and procedures related to the storage, collection and processing of information, and have not conducted any internal or external data privacy audits to fully assess our compliance with all applicable data protection laws and regulations. Additionally, we do not currently have policies and procedures in place for assessing our third-party vendors’ compliance with applicable data protection laws and regulations. All of these evolving compliance and operational requirements impose significant costs, such as costs related to organizational changes, implementing additional protection technologies, training employees and engaging consultants, which are likely to increase over time. In addition, such requirements may require us to modify our data processing practices and policies, distract management or divert resources from other initiatives and projects, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Any failure or perceived failure by us or our third-party vendors, collaborators, contractors and consultants to comply with any applicable federal, state or similar foreign laws and regulations, contractual obligations or any other actual or asserted obligations relating to data privacy and security could result in damage to our reputation, as well as claims, demands, proceedings or litigation by governmental agencies or other third parties, including class action privacy litigation in certain jurisdictions, which would subject us to significant fines, sanctions, awards, penalties, judgments and other liabilities, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Current wording

We are in the process of evaluating compliance needs but do not currently have in place formal policies and procedures related to the storage, collection and processing of information, and have not conducted internal or external data privacy audits to fully assess our compliance with all applicable data protection laws and regulations. Additionally, we do not currently have policies and procedures in place for assessing our third-party vendors’ compliance with applicable data protection laws and regulations. All of these evolving compliance and operational requirements impose significant costs, such as costs related to organizational changes, implementing additional protection technologies, training employees and engaging consultants, which are likely to increase over time. In addition, such requirements may require us to modify our data processing practices and policies, which may distract management or divert resources from other initiatives and projects, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Any failure or perceived failure by us or our third-party vendors, collaborators, contractors or consultants to comply with any applicable federal, state or similar foreign laws and regulations, contractual obligations or any other actual or asserted obligations relating to data privacy and security could result in damage to our reputation, as well as claims, demands, proceedings or litigation by governmental agencies or other third parties, including class action privacy litigation in certain jurisdictions, which would subject us to significant fines, sanctions, awards, penalties, judgments and other liabilities, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Previous wording

We have incorporated and may continue to incorporate additional artificial intelligence and machine learning, or AIML, technologies into our platform, including within our decoding pipelines and otherwise within our business, and these solutions and features are key elements of our technological approach and to our future growth over time. We rely and expect to rely on AIML technologies in our platform, but there can be no assurance that we will realize the desired or anticipated benefits from AIML or any at all. We may also fail to properly implement or utilize AIML technologies. Our competitors or other third parties may incorporate AIML into their products and services or otherwise within their business more quickly or more successfully than us, which could impair our ability to compete effectively and adversely affect our results of operations. Additionally, our use of AIML technologies may expose us to additional claims, demands and proceedings by private parties and regulatory authorities and subject us to legal liability as well as brand and reputational harm. For example, if output from AIML technologies or that they assist in producing are or are alleged to be deficient, inaccurate, or biased, or for such output, or such technologies or their development or deployment, including the collection, use, or other processing of data used to train or create such AIML technologies, to alleged to infringe upon or to have misappropriated third-party intellectual property rights or to violate applicable laws, regulations, or other actual or asserted legal obligations to which we are or may become subject, then our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be adversely affected. The legal, regulatory, and policy environments around AIML are evolving rapidly, and we may become subject to new and evolving legal and other obligations. These and other developments may require us to make significant changes to our use of AIML, including by limiting or restricting our use of AIML, and may require us to make significant changes to our policies and practices, which may necessitate expenditure of significant time, expense, and other resources, AIML also presents emerging ethical issues, and if our use of AIML becomes controversial, we may experience brand or reputational harm.

Current wording

We have incorporated and may continue to incorporate additional artificial intelligence and machine learning, or AIML, technologies into our platform, including within our decoding pipelines and otherwise within our business, and these solutions and features are key elements of our technological approach and to our future growth over time. We rely and expect to rely on AIML technologies in our platform, but there can be no assurance that we will realize the desired or anticipated benefits from AIML or any at all. We may also fail to properly implement or utilize AIML technologies. Our competitors, customers, or other third parties may incorporate AIML into their products and services or otherwise within their business more quickly or more successfully than us, which could impair our ability to compete with or serve them effectively, which could adversely affect our results of operations. Additionally, our use of AIML technologies may expose us to additional claims, demands and proceedings by private parties and regulatory authorities and subject us to legal liability as well as brand and reputational harm. For example, if output from AIML technologies or that they assist in producing are or are alleged to be deficient, inaccurate, or biased, or for such output, or such technologies or their development or deployment, including the collection, use, or other processing of data used to train or create such AIML technologies, to alleged to infringe upon or to have misappropriated third-party intellectual property rights, to violate other rights, or to violate applicable laws, regulations, or other actual or asserted legal obligations to which we are or may become subject, then our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be adversely affected. The legal, regulatory, and policy environments around AIML are evolving rapidly, and we may become subject to new and evolving legal and other obligations. These and other developments may require us to make significant changes to our use of AIML, including by limiting or restricting our use of AIML, and may require us to make significant changes to our policies and practices, which may necessitate expenditure of significant time, expense, and other resources, AIML also presents emerging ethical issues, and if our use of AIML becomes controversial, we may experience brand or reputational harm.

Previous wording

If we commercialize our Nautilus platform outside of the United States, our international business may be adversely affected by changing economic, political and regulatory conditions in foreign countries. Engaging in international business inherently involves a number of difficulties and risks, including:

Current wording

If we commercialize our Nautilus platform outside of the United States, our international business may be adversely affected by changing economic, political and regulatory conditions in foreign countries, as well as changes resulting from new political administrations in the United States. Engaging in international business inherently involves a number of difficulties and risks, including:

Previous wording

•changes in social, economic, and political conditions or in laws, regulations and policies governing foreign trade, intellectual property, manufacturing, research and development, and investment both domestically as well as in the other countries and jurisdictions in which we operate and into which we may sell our products including as a result of the separation of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Brexit);

Current wording

•changes in social, economic, and political conditions or in laws, regulations and policies governing foreign trade, tariffs, intellectual property, manufacturing, research and development, and investment both domestically as well as in the other countries and jurisdictions in which we operate and into which we may sell our products including as a result of the separation of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Brexit);

Previous wording

We rely on information technology systems to keep financial records, facilitate our research and development initiatives, manage our manufacturing operations, maintain quality control, fulfill customer orders, process customer data and information, maintain corporate records, communicate with staff and external parties and operate other critical functions. Our information technology systems and those of our vendors and partners are potentially vulnerable to disruption, failure and compromise due to breakdown, malicious intrusion and computer viruses, ransomware or other malicious software, or other disruptive events, including, but not limited to, natural disasters and catastrophes. Like other life sciences technology companies, we have experienced cybersecurity incidents in the past, and we may experience them again in the future. For example, in January 2024, we experienced an incident involving unauthorized access to an employee account. The Company has worked, and continues to work with external cybersecurity experts, in detecting, blocking, containing, remediating, and investigating any cyber security incidents and risks, and in further enhancing our cybersecurity safeguards. This incident did not, and other incidents have not impacted the availability of our systems, materially disrupted our operations, or had any material impact on our financial or operating results. Cyber security risks are constantly evolving, and as such, we anticipate additional work and expense in the future as we continue to further enhance our security processes and initiatives to meet the changing landscape of cyber security risks. While cyber insurance may be available for companies, any available insurance for cyber events, may be limited in amount, subject to deductibles, and may not be adequate to cover us for all costs arising from cyber security incidents. Given increasing cyber security risks, cyber insurance may not be available to us in the future, or may not be available on commercially reasonable terms.

Current wording

We rely on information technology systems to keep financial records, facilitate our research and development initiatives, manage our manufacturing operations, maintain quality control, fulfill customer orders, process customer data and information, maintain corporate records, communicate with staff and external parties and operate other critical functions. Our information technology systems and those of our vendors and partners are potentially vulnerable to disruption, failure and compromise due to breakdown, malicious intrusion and computer viruses, ransomware or other malicious software, or other disruptive events, including, but not limited to, natural disasters and catastrophes. Like other life sciences technology companies, we have experienced security incidents in the past, and we may experience them again in the future. For example, in January 2024, we experienced an incident involving unauthorized access to an employee account. The Company has worked, and continues to work with external cybersecurity experts, in detecting, blocking, containing, remediating, and investigating any security incidents and risks, and in further enhancing our cybersecurity safeguards. This incident did not, and other incidents have not impacted the availability of our systems, materially disrupted our operations, or had any material impact on our financial or operating results. Cybersecurity risks are constantly evolving, and as such, we anticipate additional work and expense in the future as we continue to further enhance our security processes and initiatives to meet the changing landscape of cybersecurity risks. While cyber insurance may be available for companies, any available insurance for cyber events, may be limited in amount, subject to deductibles, and may not be adequate to cover us for all costs arising from security incidents. Given increasing cybersecurity risks, cyber insurance may not be available to us in the future, or may not be available on commercially reasonable terms.

Previous wording

Middle East. Methods of attacks on information technology systems and attempting or effecting data security breaches and incidents change frequently, are increasingly complex and sophisticated, including social engineering and phishing scams, and can originate from a wide variety of sources. In addition to traditional computer “hackers,” malicious code, such as viruses and worms, employee theft or misuse, denial-of-service attacks and sophisticated nation-state and nation-state supported actors now engage in attacks, including advanced persistent threat intrusions. Despite our efforts to create security barriers to such threats, it is virtually impossible for us to entirely mitigate these risks. Despite any of our current or future efforts to protect against cybersecurity attacks and data security breaches, there is no guarantee that our efforts are adequate to safeguard against all such attacks and breaches. Moreover, it is possible that we may not be able to anticipate, detect, appropriately react and respond to, or implement effective preventative measures against, all cybersecurity incidents.

Current wording

Cyberattacks and other malicious internet-based activity continue to increase and cloud-based platform providers of services have been and are expected to continue to be targeted. Furthermore, there may be a heightened risk of potential cyberattacks by state actors or others since the escalation of the conflicts in Eastern Europe and intensified conflicts in the Middle East. Methods of attacks on information technology systems and attempting or effecting data security breaches and incidents change frequently, are increasingly complex and sophisticated, including social engineering and phishing scams, and can originate from a wide variety of sources. In addition to traditional computer “hackers,” malicious code, such as viruses and worms, employee theft or misuse, denial-of-service attacks and sophisticated nation-state and nation-state supported actors now engage in attacks, including advanced persistent threat intrusions. Despite our efforts to create security barriers to such threats, it is virtually impossible for us to entirely mitigate these risks. Despite any of our current or future efforts to protect against cyberattacks and security breaches and incidents, there is no guarantee that our efforts are adequate to safeguard against all such attacks, breaches, and incidents. Moreover, it is possible that we may not be able to anticipate, detect, appropriately react and respond to, or implement effective preventative measures against, all security incidents.

Previous wording

If our security measures, or those of our vendors and partners, are compromised due to cybersecurity attacks or security breaches or incidents, including as a result of third-party action, employee or customer error, malfeasance, stolen or fraudulently obtained log-in credentials or otherwise, or if any of these events is perceived to have occurred, our reputation could be damaged, our business and reputation may be harmed, we could become subject to claims, demands and litigation by private parties, and regulatory investigations and other proceedings, and we could incur significant liability. If we were to experience a prolonged system disruption in our information technology systems or those of certain of our vendors and partners, it could negatively impact our ability to serve our customers, which could adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. If operations at our facilities were disrupted, it may cause a material disruption in our business if we are not capable of restoring functionality on an acceptable timeframe. In addition, our information technology systems, and those of our vendors and partners, are potentially vulnerable to data security breaches and incidents, whether by internal bad actors, such as employees or other third parties with legitimate access to our or our third-party providers’ systems, or external bad actors, which could lead to the exposure of personal data, sensitive data and confidential information to unauthorized persons. Any such data security breaches or incidents could lead to the loss of trade secrets or other intellectual property, or could lead to the loss, unavailability, exposure, unauthorized modification, alteration or other processing of personal information, including sensitive personal information, of our employees, customers and others, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, financial condition and results of operations.

Current wording

If our security measures, or those of our vendors and partners, are compromised due to cyberattacks or security breaches or incidents, including as a result of third-party action, employee or customer error, malfeasance, stolen or fraudulently obtained credentials or otherwise, or if any of these events is perceived to have occurred, our reputation could be damaged, our business and reputation may be harmed, we could become subject to claims, demands and litigation by private parties, and regulatory investigations and other proceedings, and we could incur significant liability. If we were to experience a prolonged system disruption in our information technology systems or those of certain of our vendors and partners, it could negatively impact our ability to serve our customers, which could adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. If operations at our facilities were disrupted, it may cause a material disruption in our business. In addition, our information technology systems, and those of our vendors and partners, are potentially vulnerable to security breaches and incidents, whether by internal bad actors, such as employees or other third parties with legitimate access to our or our third-party providers’ systems, or external bad actors, which could lead to the exposure of personal data, sensitive data and confidential information to unauthorized persons. Any such security breaches or incidents could lead to the loss of trade secrets or other intellectual property, or could lead to the loss, unavailability, exposure, unauthorized modification, alteration or other processing of personal information, including sensitive personal information, of our employees, customers and others, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, financial condition and results of operations.

Previous wording

In addition, any such access, disclosure or other loss or unauthorized use of information or data could result in legal claims or proceedings, regulatory investigations or actions, and other types of liability under laws that protect the privacy and security of personal information, including federal, state and foreign data protection and privacy regulations, violations of which could result in significant penalties and fines. Furthermore, defending a suit, regardless of its merit, could be costly, divert management’s attention and harm our reputation. In addition, although we seek to detect and investigate data security incidents, security breaches and other incidents of unauthorized access to our information technology systems and data can be difficult to detect and any delay in identifying such breaches or incidents may lead to increased harm and legal exposure of the type described above. Moreover, there could be public announcements regarding any actual or perceived cybersecurity incidents and any steps we take to respond to or remediate such incidents, and if securities analysts or investors perceive these announcements to be negative, it could, among other things, have a material adverse effect on the price of our Common Stock.

Current wording

In addition, any such access, disclosure or other loss or unauthorized use of information or data could result in legal claims or proceedings, regulatory investigations or actions, and other types of liability under federal, state and foreign laws and regulations relating to the privacy and security of personal information, violations of which could result in significant penalties and fines. Furthermore, defending a suit, regardless of its merit, could be costly, divert management’s attention and harm our reputation. In addition, although we seek to detect and investigate security incidents, security breaches and other incidents of unauthorized access to our information technology systems and data, these can be difficult to detect and any delay in identifying such breaches or incidents may lead to increased harm and legal exposure of the type described above. Moreover, there could be public announcements regarding any actual or perceived security breaches or incidents and any steps we take to respond to or remediate such breaches or incidents, and if securities analysts or investors perceive these announcements to be negative, it could, among other things, have a material adverse effect on the price of our Common Stock.

Previous wording

The cost of protecting against, investigating, mitigating and responding to potential breaches of our information technology systems and data security breaches and incidents and complying with applicable breach notification obligations to individuals, regulators, partners and others can be significant. As cybersecurity incidents continue to evolve, we may be required to expend significant additional resources to continue to modify or enhance our protective measures or to investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities. The inability to implement, maintain and upgrade adequate safeguards could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Current wording

The cost of protecting against, investigating, mitigating and responding to potential breaches of and other incidents impacting our information technology systems and data security breaches and incidents and complying with applicable breach notification obligations to individuals, regulators, partners and others can be significant. As security incidents continue to evolve, we may be required to expend significant additional resources to continue to modify or enhance our protective measures or to investigate and remediate information security vulnerabilities. Any failure to implement, maintain and upgrade adequate safeguards, or for this to be believed or asserted to be the case, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Previous wording

Our anticipated growth will place significant strains on our management, operational and manufacturing systems and processes, sales and marketing team, financial systems and internal controls and other aspects of our business. We must upgrade our internal business processes and capabilities to create the scalability that a growing business demands. As of December 31, 2023, we had 167 employees. To execute our anticipated growth successfully, we must continue to attract and retain qualified personnel and manage and train them effectively. Developing and commercializing our Nautilus platform will require us to hire and retain scientific, sales and marketing, software, manufacturing, customer service, distribution and quality assurance personnel. In addition, we expect that we will need to hire additional accounting, finance and other personnel as a public company. As a public company, our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time towards maintaining compliance with these requirements and effectively manage these growth activities. We may face challenges integrating, developing and motivating our rapidly growing employee base.

Current wording

Our anticipated growth will place significant strains on our management, operational and manufacturing systems and processes, sales and marketing team, financial systems and internal controls and other aspects of our business. We must upgrade our internal business processes and capabilities to create the scalability that a growing business demands. As of December 31, 2024, we had 155 employees. While in the first quarter of 2025 we began implementing workforce reductions, to execute our anticipated growth successfully, we must continue to attract and retain qualified personnel and manage and train them effectively. Developing and commercializing our Nautilus platform will require us to hire and retain scientific, sales and marketing, software, manufacturing, customer service, distribution and quality assurance personnel. In addition, we expect that we will need to hire additional accounting, finance and other personnel as a public company and as we begin commercialization. As a public company, our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time towards maintaining compliance with these requirements and effectively manage our expected growth activities. We may face challenges integrating, developing and motivating our employee base.

Previous wording

In addition, our research and product development efforts could be delayed or curtailed if we are unable to attract, train and retain highly skilled employees, particularly, senior scientists and engineers. To expand our research and product development efforts, we need additional people skilled in areas such as molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, surface chemistry, software, bioinformatics, assay development, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, optics, fluidics and manufacturing. Competition for these people is intense. Because of the complex and technical nature of our system and the dynamic market in which we compete, any failure to attract and retain a sufficient number of qualified employees could materially harm our ability to develop and commercialize our technology. As part of our retention and incentive efforts, in addition to salary and cash incentives, we have issued stock options that vest over time. The value to employees of stock options that vest over time may be significantly affected by decreases in our stock price (whether or not related to or proportional to our operating performance) and may at any time be insufficient to counteract more lucrative offers from other companies. We may face challenges in retaining and recruiting such individuals due to sustained declines in our stock price that could reduce the retention value of equity awards.

Current wording

In addition, our research and product development efforts could be delayed or curtailed if we are unable to attract, train and retain highly skilled employees, particularly, senior scientists and engineers. To expand our research and product development efforts, we need additional people skilled in areas such as molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, surface chemistry, software, bioinformatics, assay development, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, optics, fluidics and manufacturing. Competition for these people is intense. Because of the complex and technical nature of our system and the dynamic market in which we compete, any failure to attract and retain a sufficient number of qualified employees could materially harm our ability to develop and commercialize our technology. Workforce reductions, such as the workforce reduction we began implementing during the first quarter of 2025, may be negatively received by potential or current employees and accordingly result in attrition or difficulty in recruiting desirable candidates. As part of our retention and incentive efforts, in addition to salary and cash incentives, we have issued stock options that vest over time. The value to employees of stock options that vest over time may be significantly affected by decreases in our stock price (whether or not related to or proportional to our operating performance) and may at any time be insufficient to counteract more lucrative offers from other companies. We may face challenges in retaining and recruiting such individuals due to sustained declines in our stock price that could reduce the retention value of equity awards.

Previous wording

Unfavorable U.S. or global economic conditions as a result of multiple global events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, increasing interest rates, instability in the global financial markets, and general economic downturns, could adversely affect our ability to raise capital and our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Current wording

Unfavorable U.S. or global economic conditions as a result of multiple global events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, changing interest rates, instability in the global financial markets, and general economic downturns, could adversely affect our ability to raise capital and our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Previous wording

While the potential economic impact brought by multiple adverse global circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, potential uncertainty related to Taiwan and its relationship with China, increasing interest rates and general economic downturns, and the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and other financial institutions in March 2023, and related instability in the global financial markets, are difficult to assess or predict, both as to magnitude and duration, these events have resulted in, and may continue to result in, extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets, reducing our ability to raise additional capital through equity, equity-linked or debt financings, which could negatively impact our short-term and long-term liquidity and our ability to operate in accordance with our operating plan, or at all. Additionally, these events have resulted, and in the future may result, in disruptions in our supply chains or the supply chains of those entities providing services or products to us, restrictions in our ability to deploy our workforce in our own facilities, locally, nationally or internationally, restrictions on the operating capacity of the laboratories or research facilities of our customers, decreases in government funding of research and development, or changes to programs that provide funding to research laboratories that may have the impact of redirecting funding to other areas of research, or prolonging or delaying funding cycles, any of which could adversely impact our ability to manufacture and sell our products. Moreover, our results of operations could be adversely affected by general conditions in the global economy and financial markets. A severe or prolonged economic downturn could result in a variety of risks to our business, including weakened demand for our Nautilus platform and our ability to raise additional capital when needed on favorable terms, if at all. A weak or declining economy could strain our customers’ budgets or cause delays in their payments to us. As a result of such events, we or our contractors, partners and/or suppliers could experience shortages, business disruptions or delays for materials sourced or manufactured in countries affected by such events, and their ability to supply us with services or components may be adversely affected. In addition, our contractors and suppliers have raised and may continue to raise prices for goods and services we employ in our research and development efforts and for components or materials used in our Nautilus platform.

Current wording

While the potential economic impact brought by multiple adverse global circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, potential uncertainty related to Taiwan and its relationship with China, changing interest rates and general economic downturns, and the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and other financial institutions in March 2023, and related instability in the global financial markets, are difficult to assess or predict, both as to magnitude and duration, these events have resulted in, and may continue to result in, extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets, reducing our ability to raise additional capital through equity, equity-linked or debt financings, which could negatively impact our short-term and long-term liquidity and our ability to operate in accordance with our operating plan, or at all. Additionally, these events have resulted, and in the future may result, in disruptions in our supply chains or the supply chains of those entities providing services or products to us, restrictions in our ability to deploy our workforce in our own facilities, locally, nationally or internationally, restrictions on the operating capacity of the laboratories or research facilities of our customers, decreases in government funding of research and development, or changes to programs that provide funding to research laboratories that may have the impact of redirecting funding to other areas of research, or prolonging or delaying funding cycles, any of which could adversely impact our ability to manufacture and sell our products. Moreover, our results of operations could be adversely affected by general conditions in the global economy and financial markets. A severe or prolonged economic downturn could result in a variety of risks to our business, including weakened demand for our Nautilus platform and our ability to raise additional capital when needed on favorable terms, if at all. A weak or declining economy could strain our customers’ budgets or cause delays in their payments to us. As a result of such events, we or our contractors, partners and/or suppliers could experience shortages, business disruptions or delays for materials sourced or manufactured in countries affected by such events, and their ability to supply us with services or components may be adversely affected. In addition, our contractors and suppliers have raised and may continue to raise prices for goods and services we employ in our research and development efforts and for components or materials used in our Nautilus platform. Tariffs imposed upon products and materials used in manufacturing our products, or responsive tariffs imposed upon our exported products could impact our costs of manufacturing and ability to sell products in foreign countries, which could have a negative impact on our business.

Previous wording

Additionally, there is ongoing uncertainty regarding the federal budget and federal spending levels, including the possible impacts of a failure to increase the “debt ceiling.” Any U.S. government default on its debt could have broad macroeconomic effects that could, among other things, disrupt access to capital markets and deepen recessionary conditions. Further, as of December 31, 2023, we had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $264.1 million, consisting of U.S. treasury securities, mutual funds, commercial paper, corporate debt securities, and agency securities. Any default by the U.S. government or credit downgrade of the securities we hold could impact the liquidity or valuation of our investments.

Current wording

Further, changes in U.S. government spending resulting from new political administrations could have adverse consequences on our financial position, results of operations and business Additionally, there is ongoing uncertainty regarding the federal budget and federal spending levels, including the possible impacts of a failure to increase the “debt ceiling.” Any U.S. government default on its debt could have broad macroeconomic effects that could, among other things, disrupt access to capital markets and deepen recessionary conditions. Further, as of December 31, 2024, we had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $206.3 million, consisting of U.S. treasury securities, mutual funds, commercial paper, and agency securities. Any default by the U.S. government or credit downgrade of the securities we hold could impact the liquidity or valuation of our investments.

Previous wording

Recently, stock markets in general, and the market for life sciences technology companies in particular, have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to changes in the operating performance of the companies whose stock is experiencing those price and volume fluctuations, particularly in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Broad market and industry factors may seriously affect the market price of our Common Stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. These fluctuations may be even more pronounced in the trading market for our Common Stock. Following periods of such volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought against that company. Because of the potential volatility of our Common Stock price, we may become the target of securities litigation in the future. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and divert management’s attention and resources from our business.

Current wording

Recently, stock markets in general, and the market for life sciences technology companies in particular, have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to changes in the operating performance of the companies whose stock is experiencing those price and volume fluctuations, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Broad market and industry factors may seriously affect the market price of our Common Stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. These fluctuations may be even more pronounced in the trading market for our Common Stock. Following periods of such volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought against that company. Because of the potential volatility of our Common Stock price, we may become the target of securities litigation in the future. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and divert management’s attention and resources from our business.

Previous wording

As of December 31, 2023, our directors, executive officers, holders of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock and their respective affiliates beneficially owned, collectively, approximately 68.8% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. As a result, these stockholders, if they act together, may significantly influence all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our company that our other stockholders may believe is in their best interests. This in turn could have a material adverse effect on our stock price and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove the board of directors or management.

Current wording

As of December 31, 2024, our directors, executive officers, holders of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock and their respective affiliates beneficially owned, collectively, approximately 68.7% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. As a result, these stockholders, if they act together, may significantly influence all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our company that our other stockholders may believe is in their best interests. This in turn could have a material adverse effect on our stock price and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove the board of directors or management.

Previous wording

Our U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards, or NOLs, may be unavailable to offset future taxable income because of restrictions under U.S. federal and/or state law. U.S. federal NOLs that arose in tax years ending on or prior to December 31, 2017, are only permitted to be carried forward for 20 years. U.S. federal NOLs that arose in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, may be carried forward indefinitely, but for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020, the deductibility of such U.S. federal NOLs will be limited to 80% of our current year taxable income. Our state NOLs may be subject to similar or different limitations. As of December 31, 2023, we had U.S. federal NOLs of $71.2 million, of which $70.6 million do not expire, and state NOLs of $95.5 million that will begin to expire in 2037.

Current wording

Our U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards, or NOLs, may be unavailable to offset future taxable income because of restrictions under U.S. federal and/or state law. U.S. federal NOLs that arose in tax years ending on or prior to December 31, 2017, are only permitted to be carried forward for 20 years. U.S. federal NOLs that arose in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, may be carried forward indefinitely, but for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020, the deductibility of such U.S. federal NOLs will be limited to 80% of our current year taxable income. State NOLs may be subject to similar or different limitations. As of December 31, 2024, we had U.S. federal NOLs of $105.6 million, of which $105.1 million do not expire, and state NOLs of $150.4 million that will begin to expire in 2037.

Previous wording

in a timely manner, or at all. In addition, any testing by us conducted in connection with Section 404(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“SOX”) or any subsequent testing by our independent registered public accounting firm in connection with Section 404(b) of SOX, may reveal deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be significant deficiencies or material weaknesses or that may require prospective or retroactive changes to our financial statements or identify other areas for further attention or improvement. Ineffective internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our Common Stock.

Current wording

Effective internal controls over financial reporting are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, are designed to prevent fraud. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations in a timely manner, or at all. In addition, any testing by us conducted in connection with Section 404(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“SOX”) or any subsequent testing by our independent registered public accounting firm in connection with Section 404(b) of SOX, may reveal deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be significant deficiencies or material weaknesses or that may require prospective or retroactive changes to our financial statements or identify other areas for further attention or improvement. Ineffective internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our Common Stock.